An "Epic" European Adventure -Review of Western Med with pics

[Single Cruiser]

Will be interested to hear your ratings El. And the big question. Would you sail on Epic again?

[mejo]

elsplace2,

 

Thank you so much for this review. Our cruise departs Barcelona 3 weeks from today and can not wait now. We are also using RIL but for all three ports. You have made me so excited to go!! I know it took you a lot of time and effort to post such a review, but I am sure many people will appreciate it.

 

I am wondering if you tipped the RIL guides and how much. I have not scheduled a guide for Pompeii and wondering if I should. We are a family of 6 from 74 to 10 YO. Also, what type of transportation did they use?

 

Thanks again and I look forward to any other tips.

[Fran Record]

Thank you very much for the great review. I found it very interesting and informative. We sail 9-18-11 on Epic.

[twoontheisle]

Wow, you are providing us with all of the information I have been hoping to find, in order to make the final excursion decisions for our upcoming cruise on the EPIC the end of August. I will read this all again...and again....and

[elsplace2]

Will be interested to hear your ratings El. And the big question. Would you sail on Epic again?

 

 

I would definitely sail Epic again. As far as rating goes I'll give it a shot.

 

Food - 4 out of 5 - Did not go to any specialty rest. but the buffet, O'Sheehans, Taste and Manhatten were all very good!!

 

Entertainment - 4 out of 5 - LOVED Blue Man Group and Cirque 5 out of 5 for them!

 

Ship - 4 out of 5 - Spice H2O too small for all those adults. Other than that no complaints....did NOT notice ANY smoke at all in the Casino or any places that allowed smoking.

 

Room - 4 out of 5 - Even though it wasn't a big concern for us, I really didn't like the frosted doors at the toilet or shower, especially near the front door. Ocassionally when they were making announcements I wanted to open the door to hear them, but DH was in shower/or toilet. Could never make it on time to find it on the TV.

[elsplace2]

elsplace2,

 

Thank you so much for this review. Our cruise departs Barcelona 3 weeks from today and can not wait now. We are also using RIL but for all three ports. You have made me so excited to go!! I know it took you a lot of time and effort to post such a review, but I am sure many people will appreciate it.

 

I am wondering if you tipped the RIL guides and how much. I have not scheduled a guide for Pompeii and wondering if I should. We are a family of 6 from 74 to 10 YO. Also, what type of transportation did they use?

 

Thanks again and I look forward to any other tips.

 

 

Yes we did tip RIL....averaged to around 20%. We all paid separetly so we tipped about 20% of our share.

 

Personally I would hire a guide...they are so knowledgeable of what you are looking at. Yes they do provide other means of information....but personally I don't think they could compare to the information a guide would provide. RIL will set one up for you, just let them know you want one in one of your emails to Jany. It is so easy...they meet you right at the van then she will buy your ticket for you if you have to run to the restroom first. Very convienent.

 

As far as transportation....RIL uses vans....very comfortable. 2 different types were used in our case. In Livorno it was 3 seats in the back, 2 sets of 2 seats in the middle and one person sits up front. Very roomy.

 

In Naples it was 3 in the back, 3 in the middle and 2 people sit up front. That one was a little smaller yet still comfy in my opinion.

[elsplace2]

To the rest of you who have commented on my review....I'm glad you enjoyed it and glad to hear that it will be helpful in your future cruise.

 

I know I LOVE reviews with pics, so I was just paying it forward to those who have helped me in my planning....although....seeing Epic was new to Europe I knew I would be one of the first people to be able to do a review on our Adventure!

[manateemike67]

What night was that, Weds? One of the things I commented on when I got home was no fun in the seas. Checking out the stats we only encountered 2foot wavelets !! I missed having a little bit of ship motion!

 

Some great pics El, glad you enjoyed it! 7 day cruises are always too short!

 

 

Yes Weds. I was very nearly going from wall to wall as i walked to our cabin on 16 when we set sail. Maybe they were not using the stabilizer to save on fuel (creates drag i assume). And i agree the waves were not very big, however they were hitting side on.

[manateemike67]

elsplace2,

 

Thank you so much for this review. Our cruise departs Barcelona 3 weeks from today and can not wait now. We are also using RIL but for all three ports. You have made me so excited to go!! I know it took you a lot of time and effort to post such a review, but I am sure many people will appreciate it.

 

I am wondering if you tipped the RIL guides and how much. I have not scheduled a guide for Pompeii and wondering if I should. We are a family of 6 from 74 to 10 YO. Also, what type of transportation did they use?

 

Thanks again and I look forward to any other tips.

 

We used AP Tours for Naples. Cannot fault them at all. Avoided the huge tailback on the way to Sorrento.

 

May i suggest when working out your plan for the day that you make Pompeii first on your list. I mention this because apperently this is not the norm. When we arrived at Pompeii we were first in line to the ticket booth (no queue) and it was very quiet inside the ruins for half hour. When we left with our guide one and half hours later it was chaos around the ticket booth.

 

I imagine people were wasting at least twenty minutes in the queue. And then having to share the same space as other tour groups whilst inside.

[Single Cruiser]

Yes Weds. I was very nearly going from wall to wall as i walked to our cabin on 16 when we set sail. Maybe they were not using the stabilizer to save on fuel (creates drag i assume). And i agree the waves were not very big, however they were hitting side on.

 

I honestly don't recall that!! I do know that of all the half dozen cruises around the Med I've done that was the smooth, calmest one though.:D

[Maggie 3]

I know you did not have children with you but did you see many on the ship? we are going to have our 10 year old GD with us, I hope see will have some playmates.

[elsplace2]

I honestly don't recall that!! I do know that of all the half dozen cruises around the Med I've done that was the smooth, calmest one though.:D

 

We were bouncing wall to wall too....so were a few other people....I'm shocked you didn't feel it....we went on the balcony to see how high the waves were, but they were not very high at all....but higher then any of the other days.

 

I know you did not have children with you but did you see many on the ship? we are going to have our 10 year old GD with us, I hope see will have some playmates.

 

Yes there were lots of children on board.....it was a holiday week for the UK. I believe ManateeMike had kids....

 

Mike can you help her out as far as what your kids did for the week? I know Mark and Julie who were at the beer tasting with us had a young son and he just seemed to love the kids club!

[retiring soon]

Hi all!

 

elsplace2 ~ loved reliving my Epic cruise through your report & amazing pictures!:D

 

I was on the 4 day & 7 day before yours, solo & loved the experience so much I booked a week in the Caribbean in Nov so I can do the things I missed.

 

 

The people on Dancing with the Stars were a hoot & a lot of interesting shows,movies

& other entertainment took place in that space.

 

I also stayed 1 night at the "pink palace" which I enjoyed except for dragging my suitcase up all those stairs as I didn't see the bell.:eek: The hotel was in such a great location & had those nice areas to eat/drink & meet other cruisers.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough report.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[housepeepers]

We had seen a sign saying Plaza Catalunya was 800 m when we got off the metro, so we knew once we were done getting our photos, we would just walk back. Got back to the hotel around 1:30….yes we did all that in less than 5 hours…..but as I said we didn’t really linger at each site. Of course if you go into any of the sites it will take longer.

Went to our room and sat on our balcony and rested a bit….then off we went again to find the Gothic Quarter just off Las Ramblas. I think we found it. If this was it, it was a very interesting place and it was nice walking through its narrow, winding streets, you really got a feel for the place.

(Sorry I thought I uploaded more on photobucket, this was the only one I could find.)

Thanks for the review, it is bringing back our Med cruise in 2009. I loved Barcelona, stayed at the Hotel Colon in the Gothic Quarter and went to all the places you have been so far. We adored the Cathedral, although I am not sure what it was called. Lots of places to eat neat the Cathedral as well. Gotta love those picture menus, huh?

[manateemike67]

I know you did not have children with you but did you see many on the ship? we are going to have our 10 year old GD with us, I hope see will have some playmates.

 

 

I have a nine y/o boy. He spent all of half an hour max in Recess. I went back to give him a lanyard and he said " thanks for coming back and getting me" !!

 

In all honesty i think we dropped him off 'mid game' and he struggled to get invovled. He never has a problem making friends. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the program or staff.

 

I was happy, it was a family holiday after all and all time spent with your kids is special. He then went on to have a fun filled cruise with all the other kids and us around the pool, never once returning to Recess.

[Travelinggiraffe]

El, great review! I can not believe that I never ran into you guys after the meet and greet, it sounds like we were in the same place on several occasions - Steven Sorrentio, Blue Man Group, Howl At the Moon - I even had the same itinerary (but on the ships excursion) for Naples, and I stayed at the Pink Palace after the cruise! Two ships that passed in the night - pun intended.

 

I'm in my mid 30's and I did enjoy Steven Sorrentino, but I didn't LOVE him, he was a very good entertainer though. I do think he's geared towards a 40 or 50+ crowd.

 

I also liked Blue Man Group; but, I didn't "get" it, but had some good laughs at it.

 

I did notice the rocking that one night, didn't think it was THAT bad, but I was also deliriously tired and it seemed to help lul me to sleep. We had the solo cruiser dinner that night and no one seemed to have trouble eating.

 

The showers could have used a stronger frosting and it could have covered more of the walls, I'm a short woman and I'm not sure it went low enough. Luckily I was by myself.

[elsplace2]

We used AP Tours for Naples. Cannot fault them at all. Avoided the huge tailback on the way to Sorrento.

 

May i suggest when working out your plan for the day that you make Pompeii first on your list. I mention this because apperently this is not the norm. When we arrived at Pompeii we were first in line to the ticket booth (no queue) and it was very quiet inside the ruins for half hour. When we left with our guide one and half hours later it was chaos around the ticket booth.

 

I imagine people were wasting at least twenty minutes in the queue. And then having to share the same space as other tour groups whilst inside.

 

I believe we got to Pompei around 2:30-3:00pm. We had just enough time to use the restroom. Our guide picked up our tickets....but it didn't seem to take her long, by the time we got our of the restroom she already had our tickets (Although the line for the restroom was kinda long!).

[elsplace2]

I'm enjoying the review. You are taking me back in time to our cruise on the Jade with the same itinerary. You also make me appreciate our meal in Florence more so than I did. My one complaint with ril was how long that meal took in Florence, but it sounds as though it wasn't much different for you and your 'quick' sandwich. I guess lunch just takes time in Florence.

 

I keep reading this review, and I'll have to go back and find my old one for a bit more reminicing. ;)

 

Someday we are going back to Europe!

 

 

Sorry your post got buried in my review, I just noticed it. Anyway, I remember reading your review....I really enjoyed it and it really helped in my planning!

 

Yeah, I had read that RIL will make reservations at certain restaurants and even though they are really nice, they are time consuming.....so that's why we wanted to just have a quick "sandwich"....so much for quick, huh!! I guess in Florence/Europe it's "What's the hurry??"

 

We did have a great meal in Sorrento thanks to RIL!

[ahoy_there]

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this review and hopefully it was a little helpful. If anyone has any questions….fire away!

Wow, thanks for that, El - brought it all back. It was lovely meeting you, and thanks for organising the M & G. I only (finally) got home today, so may get around to doing a review in the next couple of days - but have a LOT of catching up to do!!! Lovely pix!!!

[JandL2011]

We found our home away from home, for the week….a mini suite, room 13046. Very nice and more roomy, then expected in our opinion. The shower was great, you can fit 2 people in it 3 if you wanted to get crazy!! LOL.

 

Sorry forgot to get a photo of the shower and the infamous bathroom situations.....although, it wasn't an issue for us.

 

This is so amazing - we got off the Epic yesterday (sailed June 5th) and we were in room 13046 !!!

Will post a review and heaps of pics once we get home (still in Paris for a few more days). I did eat at most of the specialty restaurants & got a Posh Pass - never a problem getting a deck chair :) so I'll comment on them soon.

13046, great cabin & area to stay in.

 

Jason.

[elsplace2]

Wow, thanks for that, El - brought it all back. It was lovely meeting you, and thanks for organising the M & G. I only (finally) got home today, so may get around to doing a review in the next couple of days - but have a LOT of catching up to do!!! Lovely pix!!!

 

It was great meeting you too. I know about the catching up...took me forever to catch up, especially on my sleep too!! I look forward to reading your review!!

 

This is so amazing - we got off the Epic yesterday (sailed June 5th) and we were in room 13046 !!!

Will post a review and heaps of pics once we get home (still in Paris for a few more days). I did eat at most of the specialty restaurants & got a Posh Pass - never a problem getting a deck chair :) so I'll comment on them soon.

13046, great cabin & area to stay in.

 

Jason.

 

Awww, that's so cool...I miss our old room!! :( Yes it was at the perfect location! Right near the elevators and stairs and you didn't hear a thing...I was concerned being so close to an elevator, but it was awesome!!

 

We considered getting a Posh Pass and a Spa Pass, but with the Port days being so long, I wasn't sure if we would be able to get much use out of them.

 

That's great you are writing a review with a bit of a different perspective! Looking forward to reading it and re-living it through your pics!!!

Edited June 13, 2011 by elsplace2

[mthayer295]

What is a posh pass?

[Single Cruiser]

What is a posh pass?

 

A way for non suite guests to use a sun deck/bar area normally reserved for courtyard/suite guests. Other than fancy sun beds and some water mister things I can't see much else.

 

I was on the adjacent sun deck and there was plenty of sun beds even on sea day along with bar service and they had shower cubical things as well!

Edited June 14, 2011 by Single Cruiser

[Travelinggiraffe]

I had also considered a spa pass, but with 4 long port days I decided $119 was too much for the little use I would have gotten out of it. Of course if I realized how cool it was going to be, I might have changed my mind.

 

One of the girls in the studios got a posh pass, she seemed happy with it when we discussed it.

[elsplace2]

BTW Steven Sorrintino told us that he is the Elvis on Legends….we are not sure if he was kidding or not….I believed it, DH did not.

 

 

*CORRECTION* It wasn't Elvis.......I meant to say Elton John.....Sorry about that!