A Week on the Epic - A Detailed Report

[oskarNZ]

Sorry, but the 3rd person in a Courtyard Villa is not paying very much ($500-$700) for the entire week. It's the 1st/2nd passengers who pay the big bucks!

 

Thanks for pointing this out, however I was aware of this. Regardless of what Wiselindag paid, the remainder was still being paid for by people she loves and cares about. If nothing else, she would have had high expectations for them.

[cmdchiefthom]

Wiselindag,

 

Wow great details especially about the Courtyard. I think I've read almost everything about the CV, but you put some color to what I've read. Thanks so much for taking the time to put your words together.:D I have to remember your mention of the brisket in Moderno.;)

[anthk333]

A very well thought out review. :)

[ce2000]

I too, very much enjoyed reading your review. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share it with us.

Hope you have a great cruse on the Jewel. I was on that ship in 2005, it was a brand new ship back then.

[monilein]

:):)

 

I liked the review very much it feels like being one the EPIC thank you.

 

 

Monika;);)

[teemul]

Thanks for your review! We leave for a cruise on the Epic very soon- can't wait!

[marilynd]

Thanks for the great review. My DH and I will be on the Epic next month. We are in a Deluxe Owners Suite in the Courtyard area. This will be my second time on the Epic and my husbands first.

 

My sister and I were on TransAtlantic Inagural sailing of the Epic in a Courtyard Villa suite.

It was a cold and very windy sailing. Almost all of the outdoor areas were closed. The Courtyard pool area was a wind tunnel that made loud howling noises. Glad to hear that there are wind breaks installed now. Look forward to spending some time using the pool.

 

Posh was closed during our sailing. After reading your review, it looks like a place I am anxious to spend some time catching up on some reading.

 

My sister got sick and I ended spending the last part of the cruise on my own. We had to eat every meal in the suite and I never tried the Morderno restaurant. After your description of the food, I look forward to eating there.

 

Glad to hear the Ruth is the Concierge. We had Ruth as concierge on several other cruises in the past and look forward to seeing her again.

 

Glad to hear you had such an enjoyable cruise. I have been on the Jewel several times and I love that ship. My DH and I were on the Inagural sailing on the Jewel in Europe and Ruth was the Concierge then.

[wiselindag]

Marilyn - So sorry to hear you had such a difficult crossing. I know the reviews from that cruise were quite negative. Bad weather makes a huge difference and I can't imagine what it would have been like to do this cruise without POSH and the courtyard feeling like a wind tunnel. I've only done one TA and was fortunate to have gorgeous weather all the way across the ocean. I hope your next cruise is much, much better! I thought Ruth was great and I met a couple who told me they have cruised with her many times and make a point of booking cabins on "her" ships... she certainly has a following as many of the best Concierges seem to have. I hope they have the Brisket when you are in Moderno. It was the last meat brought to our table and all I could do was moan when I put the first piece in my mouth - it was that good! Be sure to eat in the Epic Club and say hello to everyone there for us. If you didn't get to enjoy eating there last time, you are in for a treat on this cruise.

 

ce - thanks for your good wishes. It's always special to sail on a ship when it's new. I still look at the Century with fond feelings because I sailed on her during her inaugural year (and three more times including the year she was re-done), and although not new, I sailed on the NCL Spirit soon after she first came over from Asia when she still had the double casino and other areas that were later changed.

 

Chiefthom - another thing to remember in Moderno is that you can ask for meat to be cooked the way you like. I asked for rare filet mignon, and it took three tries before they brought me rare steak, but they finally did, and it was worth the wait.

 

Oskar - You are right again. I worried about my dear friends all week and was very relieved that they enjoyed the cruise and loved the Epic Club and the suite perks and the suite itself... I had recommended the ship and felt responsible for them.

 

Blindrid - I have to laugh at the NY Post. My father actually worked there for 25 years, but in the advertising department and it was long ago when the paper was totally different.

[FrancineFrancine]

Thank you so much for your detailed, objective review. Sorry to read about your butler not doing so well. Did you ever get a chance to swim in the pool

[wiselindag]

Thanks, Francine. No, by the time I got a bathing suit it was too late although I did enjoy the hot tub. I am on the Jewel this week and have found the Concierge/Butler/Courtyard Butler/and Cabin Steward Team unbelievably great (and it's only Tuesday and we got on Sunday so they have impressed me that much in only two days!) Adrian, Juremar, Zandra and Eric are wonderful. Many staff members on the Jewel are curious about the Epic and have asked lots of questions. They got a chance to see the ship when they were both docked in St. Maarten one day in January and it made quite an impression. They also can't get over the crew quarters on the Epic, which are one and two person accommodations apparently so they all hope to work there for that reason. Our CD, Silas, was the CD on the Epic. I can see why - he is very talented and amazingly full of energy... sort of an energizer bunny when on stage, which a huge ship like the Epic needs, although the CD role is so different on that ship. If you are headed to the Epic for a cruise, I hope you have a wonderful time!

[glennjudy1]

Very well written review, enjoyed reading it. The details and observations made for very interesting reading. Thank you for taking the time to write and post it.

 

We are booked in a courtyard villa for October transatlantic crossing and are really looking forward to it. This will be our first time in a full suite but we thought that it would be awesome for a 13 day cruise where there are only two port stops. Staying in the courtyard won't be something we will spring for often but your review definitely makes us feel that it was the right choice this time.

[FrancineFrancine]

Thanks, Francine. No, by the time I got a bathing suit it was too late although I did enjoy the hot tub. I am on the Jewel this week and have found the Concierge/Butler/Courtyard Butler/and Cabin Steward Team unbelievably great (and it's only Tuesday and we got on Sunday so they have impressed me that much in only two days!) Adrian, Juremar, Zandra and Eric are wonderful. Many staff members on the Jewel are curious about the Epic and have asked lots of questions. They got a chance to see the ship when they were both docked in St. Maarten one day in January and it made quite an impression. They also can't get over the crew quarters on the Epic, which are one and two person accommodations apparently so they all hope to work there for that reason. Our CD, Silas, was the CD on the Epic. I can see why - he is very talented and amazingly full of energy... sort of an energizer bunny when on stage, which a huge ship like the Epic needs, although the CD role is so different on that ship. If you are headed to the Epic for a cruise, I hope you have a wonderful time!

That's great to read that you are thoroughly enjoying your time on the Jewel, especially now that you have a very attentive concierge. Yes, staff having their own cabins on the Epic must really be a nice benefit for them. Thanks, I think we will have a wonderful time on the Epic. It's our first cruise and everyone is excited about going. I find it is beneficial to be aware of what to expect in advance so that I can better prepare.

[wiselindag]

Francine - I thought Ruth was extremely attentive and responsive, but the role of the Concierge on the two ships isn't identical. Both Adrian and Ruth are excellent. The main difference was in the quality of the Butlers because Juremar and Zandra were both outstanding and gave us amazing service and lots of attention. I, too, like to be as prepared as possible... you probably noticed that and if you saw all my Trip Notes, you'd definitely know it. I do extensive trip notes for every trip I take.

 

glennjudy - You should have a wonderful time on your Trans-Atlantic. A suite makes lots of sense on a long cruise like that.

 

Marilyn - If you didn't leave yet, hope you have a great cruise and if you did, hope it was wonderful!

 

I did write a report on the full week on the Jewel and here it is if you haven't read it and would like to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1392385&highlight=

 

Now I'm only two reports behind (I still haven't posted the reports I wrote, but need to edit, on the two new lines I tried in January (HAL and believe it or not, Carnival).

[K&M2009]

Breakfast is not a verb

[wiselindag]

K & M - Not sure what dictionary you are using, but according to these, it is.

 

break·fast (brkfst)

n.

The first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning.

v. break·fast·ed, break·fast·ing, break·fasts

v.intr.

To eat breakfast: We breakfasted on the terrace.

v.tr.

To provide breakfast for.

[Middle English brekfast : breken, to break; see break + faste, a fast (from Old Norse fasta, to fast; see past- in Indo-European roots).]

breakfast·er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

 

vb

to eat or supply with breakfast

[from break + fast2]

breakfaster n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003

 

Here are conjugations for the verb form of breakfast: http://www.verb2verbe.com/conjugation/english-verb/breakfast.aspx

 

I probably use the word because I have spent many hours of my life reading British novels.

[Minoushka]

Hi There

Nice review of EPIC Our experiences were different but I enjoyed your perspective In March smoking around Casino seemed improved due to new filtration system in most areeas except in the corner where the fish penny slots are I had to leave because of the smokers
I agree with you the minute an OP mentions something needing improvement people jump down his /her throat
I agree we should not pay 30$ for the Cirque food It really is not that good and sitting right up on stage I felt uncomfortable eating that close to performers THey should make it strictly a dessert venue with show ...FREE
I also di not care for Japanese or Italian restaurant .. IMO not worth the price
I believe NCL should make many of these restaurants FREE as we ARE paying for the cruise and NO IT IS NOT THAT CHEAP!!!THere are TOO many paying restaurants

I feel you gave a fair assessment of your experience and ignore the negativity Why is there so much of it on these boards Everyone is allowed to relate their experience and I'm glad you did


Michele

[K&M2009]

I guess I stand corrected. I've never in my life seen it used as a verb, but it is listed as a noun and verb in the dictionary upon further review. :D

[terriberri268]

Thank you for the in depth review. You answered questions I didn't know I had.
I have been thinking about booking the Epic and now I feel like I can make a well informed choice.
I appreciate your taking time to post a very well done review!