Recap of first-time-ever NCLer going on EPIC . . .

[Tropicalgurl]

Don

On 5 page now... I see that you did have Natalie... She is the best... Oh and Natalie will be back... she emailed me and told me she got another contract with the Epic and was the only one... and was a little upset cause one of her best friends did not and was leaving the ship...she wanted me to come back on the cruise when her mum was coming... next week... but it was too expensive... had to go with the cheap Carnival with my family... I looked back at some of my old post.... cause I thought I remembered you... you watch my video... for the walk I did from the elevators to the living room to my room...

I will try to read all before I post again...

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...I just got off of the Valor on Sunday...

 

... But I have got to get back on the Epic... and after going Carnival last week... It only made me miss NCL so much more... I enjoyed my platinum privileges but I sure did miss that Epic and thought about her a lot... so glad I did not see her in any of the ports... they were a day ahead of us at each port... Hey did you have Natalie as your host for the solo group???

 

We booked the Valor for ONE MAIN REASON: Claudia informed us a couple of months ago that she had just started a contract there. She is a casino supervisor who we have sailed with a few times. Her and Cheryl are good friends. At any rate, a couple of weeks ago we learned that she may have to switch ships a couple of weeks prior to our sailing!! We were already in the "penalty phase" when we booked, so had to pay in full at the time of booking. To back out now would mean a loss of hundreds of $$... Of course then we could head out to Vegas... TOUGH CALL!! :D

 

Tom

[halos]

My question is how do the 3-5 night cruises on their smaller ships compare to this love sonnet of a review:)

 

 

LMAO!!

I took a short (I think it was a 4 day) NCL cruise on the Sky one year. It was fabulous!! (other than the weather in the Bahamas that week was a little on the cool side)

It was far superior to the short cruises I have taken on CCL in that it was no different from the longer NCL cruises I have taken.

My only issue with my Sky cruise was that it was way too short.

 

I haven't sailed the Epic...have only sailed on 5 NCL cruises and all of my reviews (with the exception of the very first one) would read like this love sonnet :)

It's NCL crew that make their voyages fabulous...it doesn't matter which ship you sail or how long the cruise is.

 

The last two NCL's cruises I took (both on the Dawn) were so special and I wrote to NCL about how great a time I had and mentioned the crew that made our voyage so awesome. (I do this after every cruise I take no matter what line)

The hotel director from the first Dawn cruise thanked me for the nice letter by upgrading us to VIP (even though I was in a regular balcony cabin) on the following Dawn cruise, even though he was no longer the hotel director on that ship. After that 2nd Dawn cruise (which you know was fabulous for us because we had been upgrade to have VIP priveleges) I again had such a great experience with the crew, wrote to NCL again and the hotel director from that voyage sent me a handwritten thank you....to me, it's above and beyond to write a thank you for a thank you :D

 

I write letters after every cruise I take to ensure that the crew who were top notch get recognized.....Carnival responds with a generic letter. With NCL I get handwritten notes from the hotel director.

These are the kind of things that set them apart.

Edited April 12, 2011 by halos

[sdmike]

Anyone know the earliest you can go to the MDR? I'm trying to see if I can sneak in dinner before 7:00 Blue Man. I have 2 kids, hence the early dinner. I know I can also do the Buffet to play it safe but was curious about MDR. Thanks.

 

5:30pm. You have other options too, like any of the ala-carte restaurants, O'Sheehan's, etc.

[sdmike]

 

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That's awesome, Don. I think it's the first real life sighting of Celebrity's newest ship, the "Celebrity Gorilla". I think it should be a RCI ship though... "Gorilla of the Seas" has a way better sound to it. :D

[DGP1111]

. . .I feel the Epic stands alone in their fleet. I look forward to what they are going to put together for their two new builds!

 

DITTO to every word Tom just said. :) :)

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. . . But feel I will have to bite the bullet and give this wonderful ship a try too. And Its all because of this great review Thanks DON and Tom -N-Cheryl You have convinced me!!!

 

:D Very kind words (Thanks!!), and I sincerely hope you'll have a stellar time as well.

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But you are not the only person today who had been swayed to say the experience described in this recap has 'provoked' a future booking on EPIC . . . I just booked me yet another a few minutes ago. Though it's not until late 2012, I'm very excited it's on my cruise horizon. :D

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[kerrytens]

But you are not the only person today who had been swayed to say the experience described in this recap has 'provoked' a future booking on EPIC . . . I just booked me yet another a few minutes ago. Though it's not until late 2012, I'm very excited it's on my cruise horizon. :D

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Really???? I am looking for something to book in 2012, don't ya know?

 

:D:D

[MonaCD]

DITTO to every word Tom just said. :) :)

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:D Very kind words (Thanks!!), and I sincerely hope you'll have a stellar time as well.

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But you are not the only person today who had been swayed to say the experience described in this recap has 'provoked' a future booking on EPIC . . . I just booked me yet another a few minutes ago. Though it's not until late 2012, I'm very excited it's on my cruise horizon. :D

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Don, I see you've booked the Star in 2012, I've been looking at the Apr 15 cruise to NYC from Tampa, that wouldn't be the one you've booked would it?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

But you are not the only person today who had been swayed to say the experience described in this recap has 'provoked' a future booking on EPIC . . . I just booked me yet another a few minutes ago. Though it's not until late 2012, I'm very excited it's on my cruise horizon.

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Same cabin?

 

I hope to not feel as pressured to "do everything" the second go-around. We managed to cover most of the bases, even if than meant some tight schedules (and EVEN if that meant that SOME people overslept and were a bit late arriving to "something") ! :D

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Don, I see you've booked the Star in 2012, I've been looking at the Apr 15 cruise to NYC from Tampa, that wouldn't be the one you've booked would it?

 

Already looking at a SECOND NCL sailing huh? ;)

 

:)

 

Tom

[MonaCD]

Already looking at a SECOND NCL sailing huh? ;)

 

:)

 

Tom

LOL, of course, have to find something to spend that FCC on that we're going to get on the EPIC :D Was going to mention it to you folks, take a look, see what you think.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

LOL, of course, have to find something to spend that FCC on that we're going to get on the EPIC :D Was going to mention it to you folks, take a look, see what you think.

 

Thinking ahead... good going!!

 

Did you go ahead and purchase those slot coupons for our Epic sailing?

 

I imagine if we were going to fly to a cruise, it would be Alaska or Europe - not likely one which comes down to Caribbean ports.

 

Tom

Edited April 13, 2011 by Tom-n-Cheryl

[MonaCD]

Thinking ahead... good going!!

 

Did you go ahead and purchase those slot coupons for our Epic sailing?

 

I imagine if we were going to fly to a cruise, it would be Alaska or Europe - not likely one which comes down to Caribbean ports.

 

Tom

Not yet, waiting to see if I get a bonus cheque Friday LOL. Is there a time limit on getting them?

 

Then how about the TA in April 2012, Port Canaveral to Copenhagen, Cheryl will love Copenhagen ;)

 

Edit to say, sorry, getting off topic, didn't mean to hijack Don's most excellent thread.

Edited April 13, 2011 by MonaCD

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Not yet, waiting to see if I get a bonus cheque Friday LOL. Is there a time limit on getting them?

 

Then how about the TA in April 2012, Port Canaveral to Copenhagen, Cheryl will love Copenhagen ;)

 

Edit to say, sorry, getting off topic, didn't mean to hijack Don's most excellent thread.

 

I don't know of any time limit on getting those - I went ahead a picked up one for both of us. You can lose TWICE as MUCH, for HALF the COST! :D

 

TA (on the Sun)? Too small! :D

 

EDIT - agreed, sorry getting OT (that happens with me a lot)!

 

 

Tom

Edited April 13, 2011 by Tom-n-Cheryl

[2011familycruiser]

Wow this review is GREAT! Thank you so much! I so enjoyed reading it and all of the pictures! I am definitely going to book a trip on the Epic for my family! Can't wait! :)

[DGP1111]

Really???? I am looking for something to book in 2012, don't ya know?

 

Well, hop on the 11/3/12 'bandwagon', and go for a ride. :) :)

 

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Don, I see you've booked the Star in 2012, I've been looking at the Apr 15 cruise to NYC from Tampa, that wouldn't be the one you've booked would it?

 

Colleen, I was not even aware of that option (it appears on page 2 of the itinerary pages, and I'd only looked at page 1). It is a super-dooper itinerary, and I looked closely (very closely) at it today. But I got my 7-nt balcony at a ridiculous bargain during one of the NCL promotions, and there's a huge jump if I re-booked with a balcony.

Ugh, that really is a nice 15-day itinerary.

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Same cabin?

 

I hope to not feel as pressured to "do everything" the second go-around. We managed to cover most of the bases, even if than meant some tight schedules (and EVEN if that meant that SOME people overslept and were a bit late arriving to "something") !

 

Yeppers, the exact same studio! :)

 

Since I was using two promotion codes, I had to call rather than book it online. I could see it was still available, and hoped that (with my uncanny luck) it wouldn't disappear while I was waiting for a reservationist.

 

Got yet another amazing agent on the phone, and we chatted quite a while about my recent EPIC experience after I asked her to please put a quick hold on that studio.

 

She got everything set up, confirmed my discount and onboard credit, and then said, "Well, I see you still have a Cruise Rewards certificate remaining, that I can apply to this sailing if you'd like". I had that info on my computer desk, but was so excited about getting everything arranged that I simply forgot about mentioning it.

Thanks, once again, to superb NCL customer service.

 

At "the other place" I'd have still had to mail the darn thing in via Certified Mail, and then make multiple follow-up calls to confirm it being applied after waiting a month. I do not miss that. I definitely do not miss that.

 

Regarding the "do everything" pressure . . . I fear that could happen again.

 

I need some chaperones - - Yep, that's the ticket!! :p

 

According to Wikipedia, this sailing falls during National Do Not Visit Your Dentist Week. I'd personally not heard of that, but if you read it on Wiki, it must be true, right??

 

My gut feeling is that business would be slow that week, and very few patients want to be called Scabs for crossing picket lines.

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Excuse me, did someone just say, "Balderdash"???

 

The nerve. :D

Edited April 14, 2011 by DGP1111

[DGP1111]

Edit to say, sorry, getting off topic, didn't mean to hijack Don's most excellent thread.

 

EDIT - agreed, sorry getting OT (that happens with me a lot)!

 

'tis not possible to hijack a plane that has already landed and the passengers/crew are off. :p

Everything at this point is just Epilogue.

Post away, my wonderful friends. :D

[kerrytens]

Well, hop on the 11/3/12 'bandwagon', and go for a ride. :) :)

 

According to Wikipedia, this sailing falls during National Do Not Visit Your Dentist Week. I'd personally not heard of that, but if you read it on Wiki, it must be true, right??

 

My gut feeling is that business would be slow that week, and very few patients want to be called Scabs for crossing picket lines.

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:D

 

Dude, you seriously owe me a new monitor now after that National do not visit your dentist week comment ... (tears were streaming down my face literally)

 

As for the Nov '12 date, I am thinking I may have to seriously think about it now! Think we can convince Halos to come along too? TnC obviously will be going considering the anti-dentist thing.

[Sauer-kraut]

I just really, really HATE (not really but I'm so jealous) that you can book a year or two in advance. I have to wait until the December before and start bidding on weeks, so I NEVER can get any really great deals you all seem to snag. I just keep deleting emails from cruise companies until I have an idea of what weeks might be open in the following year.

 

 

Some people get ALL the breaks! :D:p

[kerrytens]

I just really, really HATE (not really but I'm so jealous) that you can book a year or two in advance. I have to wait until the December before and start bidding on weeks, so I NEVER can get any really great deals you all seem to snag. I just keep deleting emails from cruise companies until I have an idea of what weeks might be open in the following year.

 

 

Some people get ALL the breaks! :D:p

If you get your dentistry degree, apparently there is a whole week available for you sail yearly;)

[flowerpetal2166]

Thanks!! Quite often I don't desire bells and whistles, but just a good, calm, relaxing vacation at sea to take my mind off work. I'm doing a comfortable balcony on her in October.

 

I'd been reading about Sun in order to make my choices (as well as it being less than an hour drive from my condo) :)

 

Sounds like a few things from her recent face-lift are meeting with approval.

 

 

Thanks for your great review!

 

BF and I just got off the Sun on Saturday and we loved the cruise.

 

We loved it so much, the BF booked us for another cruise, December 2012 on the Epic. Reading your review is getting us excited for our next voyage.

[MonaCD]

Well, hop on the 11/3/12 'bandwagon', and go for a ride. :) :)

Colleen, I was not even aware of that option (it appears on page 2 of the itinerary pages, and I'd only looked at page 1). It is a super-dooper itinerary, and I looked closely (very closely) at it today. But I got my 7-nt balcony at a ridiculous bargain during one of the NCL promotions, and there's a huge jump if I re-booked with a balcony.

Ugh, that really is a nice 15-day itinerary.

:D

Just keep an eye out for another good NCL promotion you might get an even better deal! I really like the intinerary too and they deposit us half way home, only thing better would be if the cruise termintated in the port of Halifax.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

Regarding the "do everything" pressure . . . I fear that could happen again.

 

I need some chaperones - - Yep, that's the ticket!! :p

 

According to Wikipedia, this sailing falls during National Do Not Visit Your Dentist Week. I'd personally not heard of that, but if you read it on Wiki, it must be true, right??

 

My gut feeling is that business would be slow that week, and very few patients want to be called Scabs for crossing picket lines.

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Excuse me, did someone just say, "Balderdash"???

 

The nerve. :D

 

Now THAT is funny!

 

(quickly checking Wiki and Google...:eek:). Guess what?! - THIS is the only reference I found to it!! :D

 

WHEW!! ;)

 

Tom

[halos]

Think we can convince Halos to come along too? TnC obviously will be going considering the anti-dentist thing.

I WISH!! But can't :(

 

I'm hoping to do an NCL cruise late Oct or early Nov of this year...next year my vacation time is already all used up.

 

I'm sailing on the Dawn out of Boston on Sept 14th 2012 (if anyone wants to join me on that one :)) and that will be my last cruise for 2012....I have too many days tied up on the CCL to Hawaii in April. My DH only gets 4 weeks vacation time and we have a land vacation to take next year due to a destination wedding.

 

BUT, if ya'll want to start thinking ahead, I am still looking at the Sun for an 11 day in Jan of 2013.

 

Oh...LOVE the dentist thing :D

Edited April 14, 2011 by halos

[happy cruzin]

Ok...ok....ok.....we just booked the Epic ;). But - just for the record - I am blaming Don, Tom AND Cheryl :eek:

 

LOL....THAT'S my story and I am stickin' to it!! :D ;)