Allure or Epic?

[fozziscooter]

I need some help picking a cruise for November of this year. I realize I am on the Royal board so I'll probably post this on both NCL and Royal. We have never been on a Norwegian cruise...but have cruised 7 times before. I have been wanting to go on the Oasis or Allure but the price for a family of 4 seems like a lot. We have been researching the Epic and it looks like it may be a boat that we would enjoy. It will be our family of four plus my parents who have never cruised before. Which cruise should we pick? The Allure will cost us about $700 more, however our 2 year old will be able to participate in the kids program. We would either book a family balcony on the Epic or a Boardwalk balcony on the Allure. I am having a really hard time figuring out which one would work best for us. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts!

[LBumb]

we had a boardwalk balcony on allure and loved it

we were towards the back by the diving show

ship is amazing

[elaine5]

having traveled with toddler--go for the one with toddler program! also, not a lot to do for young kids on the Epic. Also, it might not matter to you--but the Epic has a very weird bathroom set up. Lastly, I think NCL still allows smoking on balconies--last summer, we had 2 heavy smokers next door--out balcony was almost unusable.

We enjoyed the Epic. Food in MDR was quite good. We like the Blue Man Group and Legends, and the Cirque dinner show was excellent. We had fun family bowling. Big slide was fun.

[BobbyD]

On the Allure next week! We have looked into the Epic but the bathrooms scare me off. I know it shouldn't but it just seems a bit odd taking a shower in the room!

[windjamming]

The Allure is amazing. It's pricey, but it's definitely a WOW and sure to impress first time cruisers.

 

I agree with the previous posters about the bathrooms on the Epic scaring me off. It may not matter to you, but the layout and placement of the toilet and shower just seem .. odd to me.

 

If you want a similar experience to the Epic, you may want to try the Breakaway or Getaway. Many of the same types of shows and activities (and freestyle dining), but regular bathrooms!

[Sitzmark]

I've heard other mention the bathrooms on that boat, but no details. What is it about them that is odd?

[Clarea]

I've heard other mention the bathrooms on that boat, but no details. What is it about them that is odd?

I don't know if all the staterooms are set up this way, but some are set so the shower is on one room, the toilet in another, and the sink in the main part of the stateroom.

[Cruisegirl6]

I have been on 53 cruises so far the last one being the Allure four weeks ago.

 

My worst hated ship ever was the NCL Breakaway last year, too many negatives hate hate hate so many things about that ship.

 

My best cruise ever was the RC Allure of the Seas, so great that if you take a look we booked up her sister ship for next year on the Oasis, as the Allure be in Europe next year, they both are identical and you must go on the Allure trust me.

[fozziscooter]

I really do want to go on the Allure or Oasis...hoping the price goes down some after the sale ends on the 30th!!

 

 

 

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[m*u*g*]

Been on Allure and Oasis and liked the Allure better. Subtle differences but we liked it better.

 

Booked our 2nd on Allure (Western Med).

 

I 'looked' at Epic, and it does seems to be a little quirky in design (room shapes), and other differences.

 

Allure seems more like a theme park on water (without the water slide of Epic). Something for everyone, and a lot of it.

 

I know I'm paying more, but I know what I'm getting also.

Edited June 18, 2014 by m*u*g*

[BillOh]

Maybe search for posts from jarz85. There are probably more people, but he is one I know has been on both ships. He was on Allure with me in 2013.

[kamfo]

We have done both the Epic and the Allure. I pick Allure hands down. We were a group of 6 in our family and everyone hated the Epic. The bathroom set up is just stupid and the casino is in the middle of the ship so smoke from the smokers in the casino is all over the ship. The Epic had some good shows but the ones on the Allure were a bit better I think. Also my kids (who are now 25 and 22) have been cruising since the older one was 2 and they have always said Royal had a better program for kids. Just my opinion of course but Allure wins with my family hands down!

[Sitzmark]

I don't know if all the staterooms are set up this way, but some are set so the shower is on one room, the toilet in another, and the sink in the main part of the stateroom.

 

 

Sounds a little like the split bathroom that people rave about on the Disney ships, except that on Disney they put a sink in each of the bathrooms. It does sound a little odd having the sink in the stateroom only.

[azkcruizers]

My family of six sailed both the epic and the oasis this year. All of us would easily choose the oasis class over the epic.... So much that we have already booked the allure. Food, service and entertainment were all enjoyed more on the oasis. The bathroom setup was very inconvenient as well on the epic. The doors are see through and open on the top. Seriously felt like you were using the restroom with everyone right around you. It gets cozy fast and the brunt of many jokes for the week! Good luck with whichever you choose!

[Sitzmark]

The doors are see through and open on the top. Seriously felt like you were using the restroom with everyone right around you. It gets cozy fast and the brunt of many jokes for the week!

 

Yikes, I wonder who dreamed that design up.

[BamaGuy44]

Sounds a little like the split bathroom that people rave about on the Disney ships, except that on Disney they put a sink in each of the bathrooms. It does sound a little odd having the sink in the stateroom only.

 

It's not like the Disney bathrooms. find some videos on youtube thats the only way to truly appreciate the weirdness of it. I showed it to my wife she thought it was a parody or something, couldn't believe they really built a ship that way

[eileenfa]

I have been on epic - everybody is right . They are small and strange. Did not like the ship at all. The layout was just unusual - and they charge u for everything .

 

 

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[molsonschooner]

Personally I have not been on a Norwegian ship but 2 of my sisters just got off the Breakaway, which I believe is a sister to the Epic. They have also cruised on the Oasis. They were not pleased with the breakaway at all. In fact they said the only time they would consider Norwegian again would be for Hawaii. They really liked Oasis and would cruise on her again. .

[cruiseblues2013]

Love Both, how is that for being objective. We did not mind the bathrooms on the Epic, I liked them because one person did not hold up the bathroom at a time! Love RCI, Love NCL and the entertainment and dining options.

 

 

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[BobbyD]

We did not mind the bathrooms on the Epic, I liked them because one person did not hold up the bathroom at a time!

 

Great point. That probably is the theory behind the split bathroom. One person can brush their teeth and the other person can do their business. Whatever their business might be! Actually, I found the shower aspect the strangest. Seemed like it was right in the room with see-through doors? At least that what it looks like from pictures.

[BobbyD]

I have been on 53 cruises so far the last one being the Allure four weeks ago.

 

My worst hated ship ever was the NCL Breakaway last year, too many negatives hate hate hate so many things about that ship.

 

My best cruise ever was the RC Allure of the Seas, so great that if you take a look we booked up her sister ship for next year on the Oasis, as the Allure be in Europe next year, they both are identical and you must go on the Allure trust me.

 

On the Allure in 11 days! Can't wait!

[Cruisegirl6]

BobbyD thats great!!!!! :D

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

We definitely do not recommend the Epic. Just too many things not going for it. Bathrooms, as stated before are not good. The design of the whole ship is just bad. You have to walk through the casino quite often, and it is often filled with smoke. We felt the service lacked, as well as the food. It felt like we had to pay to get a good meal. We did like the Epic's buffet, Garden Cafe, though! We've never been on the Allure/Oasis, but our recent cruise on the Radiance of the Seas was just amazing..

[GOIN2C]

I need some help picking a cruise for November of this year. I realize I am on the Royal board so I'll probably post this on both NCL and Royal. We have never been on a Norwegian cruise...but have cruised 7 times before. I have been wanting to go on the Oasis or Allure but the price for a family of 4 seems like a lot. We have been researching the Epic and it looks like it may be a boat that we would enjoy. It will be our family of four plus my parents who have never cruised before. Which cruise should we pick? The Allure will cost us about $700 more, however our 2 year old will be able to participate in the kids program. We would either book a family balcony on the Epic or a Boardwalk balcony on the Allure. I am having a really hard time figuring out which one would work best for us. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts!

 

 

The Allure is amazing. We have been on her twice and the Oasis twice. DH and I have had Central Park, ocean view and boardwalk balconies.

 

The boardwalk balcony was wonderful for people watching. We had a very end stateroom so we were able to watch the shows from there, also able to see the ocean.

 

That being said....you have a toddler. The stateroom was very noisy in the afternoon and evening. My DH and I were not able to take a mid afternoon nap and the noise went till at least 11 pm. Please keep the noise factor in mind if booking a boardwalk balcony.

[tidygirl]

I've heard other mention the bathrooms on that boat, but no details. What is it about them that is odd?

 

I actually had a cruise booked on the Epic sharing a room with our adult daughter and son, after checking reviews and seeing about the bathrooms I am now booked on Liberty! The toilet and shower are separated with the sink kind of in the room which I could have dealt with, but the walls are frosted glass that you can see the forms of people from what I understand. There is a curtain that you are supposed to be able to pull close but if someone needed in or out of the room could see you sitting on the toilet! I figured no privacy in the room from the kids, but would at least like to have some privacy while in the bathroom! If it would have been just DH and I it would have been fine. I did end up getting Liberty way cheaper with the 3/4 guest sail free!

Also it sounds like a lot of the ship is enclosed so if you want to enjoy the ocean breezes may be difficult?

Edited June 19, 2014 by tidygirl