An EPIC review 3/23-3/30

[yasbindmd]

We just returned from our EPIC cruise (3/23-3/30/13). I learned a lot about the EPIC from CC and felt a review is a nice way to return the favor. So, here it goes.....

 

First off, a little about us. It was myself(37), my wife(36), 2 sons (6 and 3) and my in-laws. We travel a decent amount and travel together often. We booked this cruise about a year ago after taking the kids on their first cruise on Royal's Enchantment. We live in Baltimore, so we figured doing a cruise out of our hometown would be a good test. Everyone had a good time so we decided to do another one for Spring Break this year. While we enjoyed the Enchantment, we wanted to try a 'mega' ship for this cruise. It really came down to the Oasis/Allure or the EPIC. We chose the EPIC primarily because of the Haven and all it claimed to offer.

 

We are so glad we chose the ship we did. We all flat out LOVED the cruise. The suites, the food, the entertainment, the service were all top notch. I had been reading a number of critical reviews prior to our sailing and was beginning to worry. There were some specifically about the Haven and problems people were having. Happy to report that my worries were completely unfounded.

 

EMBARKATION:

 

We flew down to Miami Friday night. Highlight of the flight was that we flew down with the Obama girls!! Regardless of your politics, it's a pretty cool memory to have to fly with a member of the first family. Anyway, got into Miami around 8 and stayed at the Marriott, South Beach. Took the kids onto the beach in the dark so they could at least say they were at South Beach. Saturday morning, we woke up, had breakfast at Big Pink and then headed over to the ship.

 

Got to the port around 10:45 and WOW, what a big ship. This is when we begin to realize what staying in the Haven is all about. We were supposed to check in at terminal C and my in-laws at terminal B. Well, we all went in to terminal B and right away went into our own, Haven check in. When the check in people realized we were in the wrong terminal, they simply sent someone over to the other terminal to get our Sea passes. After waiting about 10 minutes to get the packet from the other terminal we were escorted to the Haven waiting area in the terminal. There were some snacks and drinks there which we didn't eat because as soon as we got there, they announced we could board the ship.

 

We were one of the first few dozen people on the ship. It's true that there is no 'grand entrance' onto the ship like others we've been on, but no biggie for us. Once on, as Haven guests we were escorted onto an elevator that was designated as a priority elevator for the Haven. Next thing we knew we were in the Haven....

 

 

HAVEN:

What can I say, everything positive I read about the Haven is true. The end. Seriously, the Haven is great. Own pool, lounge, restaurant, steam room, sauna, gym. One could spend their entire week in the Haven and be perfectly content. When we got off the elevator, Adrian, our concierge welcomed us and gave us a brief overview of the Epic and the Haven. We were then given a tour of the Haven facilities by our butler, Joha. After the tour, we had some lunch in the grill area next to the Epic Club and then we were told we could drop our backpacks off in the rooms even though they technically weren't open. We got to the rooms and were speechless.....

 

 

ROOMS/SUITES:

 

We were in 16001 which we chose based on the reviews on CC. Front of the ship, couple feet wider than the 'normal' 2 bedroom and a solarium instead of a balcony. I didn't know how I would feel about not having a true balcony. With two small kids, however, the solarium was perfect. Our 3 year old wakes up early (6:45-7) and liked to watch his shows on an iPad in the Solarium by himself. No way I'm letting him do that on a balcony, but with a Solarium, no problem. The suite had plenty of storage, plenty of light and what can I say that hasn't already been said about the bathroom. My 6 year old loved showering in the big shower and singing a song he made up about how the captain was looking at his butt!! :)). After being impressed by our room we went to see my in-laws room, 17007, a deluxe owners suite.

 

17007 is flat out unbelievable!! Some of the nicest accommodations any of us have ever seen, either on land or at sea. The floor to ceiling wrap around windows in the bedroom is incredible. Both bathrooms are spacious and the oversized balcony is great. We chose this suite because it had a balcony as opposed to a solarium and it was in the front as opposed to the back of the Haven. The rear DOS balconies face the pool deck which doesn't offer a lot of privacy. After being impressed by the accommodations we then toured the rest of the ship.

 

 

SHIP:

I think reading all the reviews of the EPIC paints a pretty accurate picture of the ship. Big buffet, nice pool deck, but overall pool size is too small for a ship this large. The main decks, 5, 6, and 7 definitely feel more like a Vegas casino than a cruise ship. Lack of a large atrium and windows inviting you to go outside onto the promenade contribute to this. Obviously, NCL has heard all the criticism based on the breakaway/getaway changes. That being said, we really liked the ship and were impressed by all the things it has to offer.

 

The ship is so big that there were things that everyone in our group didn't see. The kids never even saw the arcade and ping pong tables, which is great being that our kids are so young. My wife only saw the Spice H20 area because we took a walk around the ship while the kids were in camp. Again, because of how much we loved the Haven, we pretty much never made it to the back half of the ship!!!

 

 

DINING:

 

We ate all of our breakfasts at the Epic Club. Loved the crab cakes Benedict. I can't compare it to the main dining room or buffet, but thought breakfast was great. Limited menu, but all good and most mornings they had a mini buffet with fruits, pastries, cereal, etc.

 

Lunches were usually at the Haven either by the pool or the courtyard. Again, limited selections, but all good. My one complaint is that you can't order lunch from the Epic Club and eat outside. It would have been nice to eat a nicer lunch but not have to do it in a dining room. Not a big deal by any stretch. We did do lunch one sea day at Tappenyaki. Typical Hibachi style. No better or worse than a land one. Also did lunch at O'Sheehans once. Thought it was okay, nothing special. Did read reviews about spotty service and happy to report we had great service at the pub.

 

Dinners were mostly specialties....Cagneys, La Cucina, Le Bistro, and Moderno. While waiting for Cagneys on the first night, a man next to us told us what he thought of Cagneys which turned out to be completely accurate.....better than Outback, not quite the Palms. In fact, I would say that comparison holds up to all the restaurants. They are all very good, but they are not "the best ever". As far as eating on a cruise goes however, we were all pleased.

 

The other dinners we had were at the Cirque show, Chef's Table, and a Passover Seder.

 

The cirque dinner was the only disappointing meal I ate on the entire cruise. It was like eating a bad meal at a wedding. Completely forgettable. For as good as the Cirque show is, they really need to do something about that meal.

 

On the other extreme was the Chef's Table. Excellent meal. I have done many tasting menus and this one was very good. Not the best one I have ever had, but probably the best meal at sea I have ever had. Special kudos to the staff who helped take care of our three year old for the second half of the meal after the kids club called (he had enough!!). I fully expected to miss the rest of the dinner and take him back to the room. The staff would have none of that! We set my son up in the lounge with an iPad and they watched and played with him while I got to finish the meal.

 

The other meal we had was part of a Passover Seder that was done at Taste. There were over 170 people participating!! Apparently, NCL wasn't going to do a Seder this year, but there was enough interest and pressure that they agreed. I'm glad they did and they did a great job. My oldest attends a Jewish Day school, so watching him help lead the 4 questions is one of those memories that will stay with us forever. If anyone from NCL is reading this, please continue to do this. It's important!! The meal itself was actually okay. Gefilte fish, chopped liver, matzah ball soup, salad, chicken, and flour less chocolate cake. I have had far worse meals for a Passover Seder.

 

We also got pizza delivered once for the kids and went to the buffet a few times for snacks. Fortunately, we didn't discover the crepe station (yummy nutella and bananas) until the end of the cruise. I thought the buffet was very well done. Overall, I thought the food on the ship was excellent. I realize food is subjective, but I have to say some of the criticisms I have read on other reviews are completely unfounded. This was my fifth cruise (2 on Princess, 1 celebrity, 1 royal) and I felt the food was far superior to Royal, and almost on par with Celebrity. And yes, I consider myself a 'food snob'.

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT:

 

Traveling with the kids we didn't get to do all the shows we wanted to see. We did see The Blue Man Group and the Cirque show. Both were great. My kids wanted to be in the front for BMG. This is where staying in the Haven comes in handy. We went down before the doors opened and got to sit second row center. We could have sat in the front row, but my oldest wanted the second row. It was the first time I saw BMG and thought it was fun. Not the greatest show I've ever seen, but enjoyable.

 

I thought the cirque show was amazing. We had premium seating and again, went down with the concierge before the doors opened. I have seen a lot of cirque shows in Vegas and thought the stunts in this show were on par with those. The roller skating routine may have been the single greatest Cirque stunt I have ever seen. Two performers, on roller skates, performing on an 8 foot circular table, just feet from the audience, while the ship is moving!! We were all impressed. Like any Cirque show, though, I thought it was a little longer than it needed to be.

 

The other major entertainment I took part in was the casino. By far the best casino at sea I have ever been to. I'm a craps player and the table rules were the same as Vegas (3-4-5x odds with a $15 min) with well trained and personable dealers. It was a little smokey, but no more than any other casino.

 

 

KIDS CLUB:

 

We did utilize the kids club quite a bit, especially for our oldest. He loves the whole 'camp' thing and is very outgoing. Our youngest went a few times but it didn't go as well. We got called about him being upset and wanting to leave. No biggie, it just changed our plans a little. The staff were all very friendly and knew our kids by the second day. My one complaint about the kids club was the drop off and pickup procedures. Way too long of a line and way too disorganized. Granted, this cruise had over 1600 kids (NOT A TYPO!!) but there has to be a better way.

 

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

 

-I don't know if we will ever cruise again outside of the Haven. My mother thinks that this is a snobby statement, but she didn't come with us and experience the Haven :)). The accommodations and service are top notch. On a ship with 4900 guests, having priority everything and a staff dedicated to making your trip perfect is priceless. Also, the seclusion and spaciousness that the Haven offers is wonderful.

 

-I've read reviews about the Haven pool and Posh bring crowded and there being chair hogs. On this cruise, there was none of that. We could go to the Haven pool at any time and get chairs. My wife and I went to Posh around 11:00 one sea day and there were SEVEN people up there.

 

-Chair hogs on the main pool deck is another story. I was walking to the main gym one morning around 8 and the amount of towels on chairs was INSANE. Listen up, NCL, you HAVE to do something about this. This is so easy to fix. On our celebrity cruise the staff put cards on chairs with stuff and no people stating that after x number of minutes their belongings will be removed and left instructions where to pick them up. Easy, problem solved. All NCL needs is pressure from cruisers like yourselves!!

 

-The elevators are a big problem. Simply put, there aren't enough of them! Staying on the 16th floor I got a pretty good workout walking up and down from 16 to 7 on multiple occasions. It also doesn't help that the elevators are dark and feel small. Not to sound too snobby, but it would be nice to have at least one elevator with priority access to the Haven.

 

-I had a shave at the barber shop and my wife had a massage in the Haven. We both thought we got our money's worth.

 

-The concierge and butler are there for you, but they can't read your minds. They will do pretty much anything you ask, but you have to ask! Examples:....asked the butler for some sweets in the afternoons for the kids, he returns with two bowls of m&m's (peanut and regular) that were refreshed throughout the cruise; my youngest is short and needs a step stool in the bathroom. Asked for one and it was in the second bathroom in no time; kids wanted cookies one afternoon by the pool, we asked and a dozen were delivered. Asked for a lounge chair for the solarium and it was there within an hour. You get the picture.

 

-The excellent service extended well beyond the Haven. Kids Club staff, restaurant staff, casino staff, bar staff were all friendly and helpful. Again, all you have to do is ask.

 

-The ice bar is fun and a novel thing to do. We lasted about a half hour before my wife and her sandal wearing feet began to freeze.

 

-I'm not a waterside lover but thought the Epic plunge was pretty cool. My 6 year old, though, LOVED the waterslides.

 

-Disembarkation was a breeze. It was nice to wake up and have a nice, relaxed breakfast one last time in the Epic Club. I think we may have been one of the last groups of people off the ship.

 

 

 

In summary, we had a GREAT cruise and are totally sold on the NCL experience. With two small kids, the Caribbean is our destination of choice, so we will probably be doing our next cruise on the Getaway.

[Sue Do'nym]

I love reading reviews and getting perspectives from others-nice to see the Haven perspective. I agree on Posh-had a Posh pass and on my cruise it was rarely crowded. Also, the Cirque dinner is not good-seems they could fix that...

[david_sobe]

Welcome back and thanks for the review. You brought back some great memories. I also stayed in 16001 and also had Joha as a butler.

[Sundiego]

Great review! We also loved the Epic. Didn't stay in the Haven but saw a lot of what it had to offer during a cabin crawl. Your description of your sons made me smile! Thank God for iPads :)

[toledo]

Loved your review for the postitives and the negatives and the humor.

 

My 6 year old loved showering in the big shower and singing a song he made up about how the captain was looking at his butt!! :)).

 

We sailed the week after you, which was also crowded. I tried to purchase a Posh Pass, but was told there were none available, due to sailing at capacity. Imagine my surprise when my Haven friends invited me over to see it and there were less than 10 people up there at noon on a sea day.

 

I agree with your comment on the lack of elevators. The problem seems worse when you're staying on the top floor.

 

The other problem that was worse for Haven guests was rough seas. Our cruise was fairly rough and I was glad I picked a lower floor, midship. They reported not being able to sleep a couple of nights.

 

I'm glad the offered a Seder dinner because nothing was offered on Easter for us. With 4900 passengers, you'd have thought they could have offered an Easter service. Just because we're on vacation doesn't mean we abandon our religious practices, especially on the most Holy day of the Christian calendar.

[SissasMomE]

I'm glad the offered a Seder dinner because nothing was offered on Easter for us. With 4900 passengers, you'd have thought they could have offered an Easter service. Just because we're on vacation doesn't mean we abandon our religious practices, especially on the most Holy day of the Christian calendar.

 

This is the first Easter cruise I have been on where they didn't offer a service. If a pastor or a priest is onboard, and volunteers to do the service, they will have one. I guess either one wasn't onboard, or did not volunteer.

[yasbindmd]

Welcome back and thanks for the review. You brought back some great memories. I also stayed in 16001 and also had Joha as a butler.

 

David, thanks. And thanks for your review as well. It was very helpful, especially with us staying in the same room.

[yasbindmd]

This is the first Easter cruise I have been on where they didn't offer a service. If a pastor or a priest is onboard, and volunteers to do the service, they will have one. I guess either one wasn't onboard, or did not volunteer.

 

They weren't going to do a Seder either. Apparently there was a family on board whose son was being bar mitzvahed on the ship and put pressure on NCL to do a Seder. My aunt's friend is the one who actually put the Seder together and led it, so I have a little insight into the situation.

 

I would recommend contacting NCL and let them know that it's important to you to have religious services on board regardless of denomination.

[SissasMomE]

They weren't going to do a Seder either. Apparently there was a family on board whose son was being bar mitzvahed on the ship and put pressure on NCL to do a Seder. My aunt's friend is the one who actually put the Seder together and led it, so I have a little insight into the situation.

 

I would recommend contacting NCL and let them know that it's important to you to have religious services on board regardless of denomination.

 

I didn't know you could do that. Thanks!

[Keith1010]

Enjoyed the review.

 

Keith