Calling all Epicons, past and future: What do you know now, you wish you knew then?

[*Wink*]

Hey folks!

 

I'm pretty much posting to brag about my upcoming Epic cruise embarking Sat. on the WC itinerary, but I also wanted to get some insight on what you wish you'd known at the beginning of your Epic cruise so that you could have either avoided it, or enjoyed it more.

 

We're booked in a D2 on 11, Mid.

 

I hope to hear from both those who've sailed her and those who've just done some awesome research and would like to share their findings.

 

Thanks and have a wonderful Thanksgiving to my fellow American friends and family. :cool:

 

winky

 

This is for my BACE friends: the t-shirt is packed. ;)

[sdmike]

• wish I knew you could turn the light off on the phone
  
• wish I knew how good the noodle bar and o'sheehans were so I could eat there more
  
• wish i would have packed less, especially my wife's shoes. :)
  
• wish I knew that the Tissot watch prices on the ship were outstanding instead of finding out when i got home and tried to find the watch i loved online
  

[lusitanica]

Hey folks!

 

I'm pretty much posting to brag about my upcoming Epic cruise embarking Sat. on the WC itinerary, but I also wanted to get some insight on what you wish you'd known at the beginning of your Epic cruise so that you could have either avoided it, or enjoyed it more.

 

 

I did my homework before cruise on Epic so I did know practically everything about the ship and the cruise.

 

It helped neither avoid ridiculously designed cabins, lack of space, lack of connection to the sea, lack of promenades, poor food in MDR, 5 nights of 7 without a main show, tiny pools, boring comedians, noisy crowds, smokey casino, etc. nor enjoy all that more.

 

My homework helped me to book a couple of things that were worth attention an get there at the roght time.

I enjoyed BMG show, Jeff Hobson performance and lamb chops in Moderno (don't miss).

Other than that there was nothing valuable to remember about the trip on this cheap party barge.

 

Shortly after I had another cruise on a beautiful cruise ship, so Epic looks even worse in comparison now.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1281547

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNFqalyk91k

[Us2inFL]

I now know that sailing in the OS was going to be as good as I hoped.

 

I now know that (big picture) the food in all venues was very good. We ate in Manhattan Room one night. The Baked Shrimp (along the lines of escargot) and all four of our entrees were very good. The specialty restaurants were exceptional with a small hitch only in LaCucina (too salty in several entrees) and the Sushi Bar was a bit of a disappointment.

 

I knew then that a post from Lusitanica was going to be negative.

[starcat]

-How good the Blue Men were

-How mediocre the steak at Cagney's was

-How great the Modernos was

-How great the musicians around the ship and pool were

-How great Jeff Hobson was.

 

It is a great ship and a lot of fun!!!!!

[Why Knot Me]

I wished I knew that you can have the Moderno's salad bar while at Cagney's.

[Us2inFL]

I wished I knew that you can have the Moderno's salad bar while at Cagney's.

 

Sorry, had I known I would have told you. ;)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=27000519&postcount=5

[sdmike]

I wished I knew that you can have the Moderno's salad bar while at Cagney's.

 

Oh noooooo! :(

[Why Knot Me]

Sorry, had I known I would have told you. ;)

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=27000519&postcount=5

 

No problem. I'm going back in January!!!

[coka]

Although I read about it here before leaving, I wished I said, "hey, can I eat from that salad bar too" when I was at Cagneys...! Did it say it on the menu anywhere?

 

I wish I read the Freestyle Daily when it said CD Paul Scally was going to do a stand up comedy show. I would have gone.

 

I wished I booked a stateroom that did not have not have a semi-circular headboard.

 

coka

[coffeebean]

I wish I had gone on the water slides earlier on in the week. They were such fun and I would have spent more time on them if I had known how much fun they were.

[snorklinbarb]

Although I read about it here before leaving, I wished I said, "hey, can I eat from that salad bar too" when I was at Cagneys...! Did it say it on the menu anywhere?

 

I wish I read the Freestyle Daily when it said CD Paul Scally was going to do a stand up comedy show. I would have gone.

 

I wished I booked a stateroom that did not have not have a semi-circular headboard.

 

coka

 

I wish you had gone before me and written your super review. Then I would have known that I could actually have turned off the annoying blue lights on the bed lamp instead of using the piece of cardboard and paper tape concoction Bob designed! Funny thing is I did have a "dummy" card in the switch that controls the room light but I didn't know about "juggling" it like you did.:eek::D:D

 

Not only that, I shared this here and coffeebean "copied" me using electrical tape to block out the blue lights. So she probably wishes you had gone before both of us, too.;)

 

I thought I was smart knowing one can turn off the phone light (thanks to reading it here).

 

Wish I would have known that the plastic lined drawer near the sink was supposed to be used for used towels. The first week I actually stored cosmetic bags next to the far-too-small metal waste container. When Bob arrived for the 2nd wk he immediately knew it was for used towels.:rolleyes:

 

Wish I would have known how good the chicken pot pie at O'Sheehan's is (according to reports here). I can personally vouch for the excellent spinach & artichoke dip (order well browned) as well as the shepherd's pie (on rotation every 3 days).

 

The good thing is we're looking at going back on this winter so we can try out some new tips.

[coffeebean]

I wish you had gone before me and written your super review. Then I would have known that I could actually have turned off the annoying blue lights on the bed lamp instead of using the piece of cardboard and paper tape concoction Bob designed! Funny thing is I did have a "dummy" card in the switch that controls the room light but I didn't know about "juggling" it like you did.:eek::D:D

 

Not only that' date=' I shared this here and coffeebean "copied" me using electrical tape to block out the blue lights. So she probably wishes you had gone before both of us, too.;)[/color']

 

I thought I was smart knowing one can turn off the phone light (thanks to reading it here).

 

Wish I would have known that the plastic lined drawer near the sink was supposed to be used for used towels. The first week I actually stored cosmetic bags next to the far-too-small metal waste container. When Bob arrived for the 2nd wk he immediately knew it was for used towels.:rolleyes:

 

Wish I would have known how good the chicken pot pie at O'Sheehan's is (according to reports here). I can personally vouch for the excellent spinach & artichoke dip (order well browned) as well as the shepherd's pie (on rotation every 3 days).

 

The good thing is we're looking at going back on this winter so we can try out some new tips.

I thought I read all the posts in this thread. Have I missed how to turn off the blue lights around the on/off switch on the reading lights over the bed? How do you do that???

[coka]

I thought I read all the posts in this thread. Have I missed how to turn off the blue lights around the on/off switch on the reading lights over the bed? How do you do that???

 

You lift up the card a little bit from the slot by the door and it turns all the lights off including the little blue circle ones.

 

coka

[snorklinbarb]

I thought I read all the posts in this thread. Have I missed how to turn off the blue lights around the on/off switch on the reading lights over the bed? How do you do that???

 

See, I told ya you'd have been happy, like me, if Coka had gone first.;):D:D

 

Wish I would have known that the "library" in Bliss was just a few dozen books lined up on the bowling shoe "shelf." I would have made sure to bring more reading material. However, I recently read here that they now have books on some shelves so presumably it's a bit expanded.:rolleyes:

[monn_a]

*That prepaying for family members service charges three weeks before the cruise didn't mean that corporate would let the ship know until the last day of the cruise. (they had no problems charging my card three wks prior but it took six days to get the credit applied).

*That OBC issued by my TA also took six days to get applied....

*That Bon Voyage gifts ordered with the prepaid service charges didn't arrive until the last night of the cruise (again no problems charging my card).

*That the Epic Club was nothing special (great Tasting of Chocolate dessert though) and because the Courtyard is so high up it was mostly unusable because of winds.

*That you must eat really early to make any of the shows...and that they are extremely slow in the dining rooms (i knew this from previous NCL sailing but forgot)

*That you must get to any event in Headliners really early or you wouldn't get a seat (very small venues).

*That Howl at the Moon is not every night show and in Headliners (see above statement)

*That Fat Cats would become my favorite venue...didn't find out until 4 days in...:(

*That the spinach dip in O'Sheehans is the best and the mozzarella sticks...but that's about it.

*I did miss seeing the ocean without having to go up to the pool deck or sit on the balcony (which I love to do...but I missed seeing it around the ship)

*That the pool tables are not self leveling like on other lines (waste of money) and don't bowl on sea days...

 

I'm not typically a complainer though all cruises are great...I would rate this as one of my least favorites...my nieces loved the solos. I had a penthouse loved Akmad my butler but Florentina messed up the only thing I asked her to do. My room wasn't dusted when I entered for the first time and it took two days for it be done...The staff was great generally...guest services really needs some improvement. Sorry didn't mean to go on and on...I am in the process of writing my review...:)

[monn_a]

I thought I read all the posts in this thread. Have I missed how to turn off the blue lights around the on/off switch on the reading lights over the bed? How do you do that???

You have to totally remove your card from the reader for the blue light to go out..

[jiminitwins]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your great comments!

[david_sobe]

*That prepaying for family members service charges three weeks before the cruise didn't mean that corporate would let the ship know until the last day of the cruise. (they had no problems charging my card three wks prior but it took six days to get the credit applied).

*That OBC issued by my TA also took six days to get applied....

*That Bon Voyage gifts ordered with the prepaid service charges didn't arrive until the last night of the cruise (again no problems charging my card).

*That the Epic Club was nothing special (great Tasting of Chocolate dessert though) and because the Courtyard is so high up it was mostly unusable because of winds.

*That you must eat really early to make any of the shows...and that they are extremely slow in the dining rooms (i knew this from previous NCL sailing but forgot)

*That you must get to any event in Headliners really early or you wouldn't get a seat (very small venues).

*That Howl at the Moon is not every night show and in Headliners (see above statement)

*That Fat Cats would become my favorite venue...didn't find out until 4 days in...:(

*That the spinach dip in O'Sheehans is the best and the mozzarella sticks...but that's about it.

*I did miss seeing the ocean without having to go up to the pool deck or sit on the balcony (which I love to do...but I missed seeing it around the ship)

*That the pool tables are not self leveling like on other lines (waste of money) and don't bowl on sea days...

 

I'm not typically a complainer though all cruises are great...I would rate this as one of my least favorites...my nieces loved the solos. I had a penthouse loved Akmad my butler but Florentina messed up the only thing I asked her to do. My room wasn't dusted when I entered for the first time and it took two days for it be done...The staff was great generally...guest services really needs some improvement. Sorry didn't mean to go on and on...I am in the process of writing my review...:)

WOW

Your post concerns me. I prepaid lots of on board credit and already seeing issues with it not showing up online but I am printing out emails to bring to the ship to show them.

I dont want to get frustrated when my $1200 OBC does not show up.

I worked my butt off to get this money so I dont drown in Epic charges after the cruise.

[*Wink*]

Hi, OP here. Wow, Epic was everything and more I could have ever imagined.

 

I appreciated your posts, folks. I'm happy to report I didn't experience the negative stuff a few of the posters wrote about. Makes me wonder if we were on the same ship! :P

 

I'm glad I did my homework on Epic too, but had I been a new poster or new to NCL, I most likely would have canceled after reading some of the comments on this thread.

 

Thankfully, I didn't. ;)

 

 

We'll definitely sail Epic again.

[monn_a]

WOW

Your post concerns me. I prepaid lots of on board credit and already seeing issues with it not showing up online but I am printing out emails to bring to the ship to show them.

I dont want to get frustrated when my $1200 OBC does not show up.

I worked my butt off to get this money so I dont drown in Epic charges after the cruise.

Yes take your emails, I didn't because I never had to before...and they kept asking for something to show that I had purchased these things. I ended up having to call my TA from the ship and have him fax the confirmations...