***LIVE FROM the Epic Transatlantic 2016***

[keeponcruising]

Hi Sally, sorry for the bad news about your friend. Wow about the suite party. That is just amazing that they went all out with the champagne for that. It reminds me of my TA on the Jewel in the GV. I invited the CC M & G people to the GV and this was pre UBP. I provided the champagne, wine and drinks and there must have been over 100 there and everyone had a blast.

[SuiteCruiser]

Day 5

 

Played in the casino for a bit, then up to the Epic Club for lunch. I had my favourite beef dip, and didn't see any of the guys, so ate on my own. Back to the casino for a bit and hit the "major" on the Banana King for $850, then a few other wins, cashed out at $1K.

 

Got trips dealt to me a 3 card poker to add to the winnings, then things went south, so back to the cabin for a rest.

 

Linda, Rob and I had dinner at Teppanyaki. The room was only half full and we only had 6 at our table, so lots of room for others. Our chef was great, and for a bonus, he had a great singing voice. Food was fantastic, I had the steak and chicken. I couldn't finish it, thankfully Rob still had some room, so he cleared my plate.

 

Back to the casino for ups/downs and then to bed early.

 

I woke at 8:00 AM, and headed to Posh.

[SuiteCruiser]

Day 6

 

It was a beautifully sunny day, no waves, so I spent my morning in Posh sunning and reading. Started to feel a bit of a burn, so headed in for lunch. Met up with 5 of the guys in the Epic Club, so I joined them. Burger for lunch and it was fantastic.

 

Headed off to the casino and had a really great run on 3 Card, so cashed in and went back to Posh to sit in the shade and read.

 

Back to the casino to meet up with Rob and Linda, played UTH for a while, then went to Cagney's for dinner. Prime rib and baked potato soup for me. It was really great

 

Casino afterwards, where I added to my winnings, and then to bed at midnight.

 

I'm having dinner at La Cucina tomorrow with some of the guys, look forward to it!

[Rhea98]

CasinoCruzGirl- Could you find out from a smoker on board if you can have a cigarette on promenade deck? I really would much appreciate that answer without starting a thread. Thank you!

I didn't see the answer to this. You may smoke on port side (smokers' side in pool area, too) which is the shuffleboard area. I noticed ash cans near the aft doors so probably near forward doors, too. People were smoking in that area also. There's a no smoking sign on the sb side forward which is where the jogging track is located although technically no promenade on Epic.

deck 7 sb forward

deck 7 port aft

 

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[CasinoCruzGirl]

Day 6

 

It was a beautifully sunny day, no waves, so I spent my morning in Posh sunning and reading. Started to feel a bit of a burn, so headed in for lunch. Met up with 5 of the guys in the Epic Club, so I joined them. Burger for lunch and it was fantastic.

 

Headed off to the casino and had a really great run on 3 Card, so cashed in and went back to Posh to sit in the shade and read.

 

Back to the casino to meet up with Rob and Linda, played UTH for a while, then went to Cagney's for dinner. Prime rib and baked potato soup for me. It was really great

 

Casino afterwards, where I added to my winnings, and then to bed at midnight.

 

I'm having dinner at La Cucina tomorrow with some of the guys, look forward to it!

 

Sounds like a good day in the casino. Save some money for our cruise on the Jade. Less than a month yay

[katiecat]

I didn't see the answer to this. You may smoke on port side (smokers' side in pool area, too) which is the shuffleboard area. I noticed ash cans near the aft doors so probably near forward doors, too. People were smoking in that area also. There's a no smoking sign on the sb side forward which is where the jogging track is located although technically no promenade on Epic.

deck 7 sb forward

deck 7 port aft

 

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Rhea98- That's so nice of you even to post picture.:) Not all smokers like those closed in places like the cigar bar or casino there should be a little air coming in between those life boats there.

Thanks again

[SuiteCruiser]

Day 7

 

Spent the morning in Posh where it was really hot. Only 82 by the thermometer, but sunny and not much of a breeze. Moved into the shade to read for a long while. I ordered a cheeseburger up to Posh for lunch, it was incredible. I'm not sure what they do to their burgers, but even when well done, they are thick and juicy and very yummy.

 

Mid afternoon, left the shade and back to my suite for a bit, then onto the casino.

 

Up and down, then down and down, so I headed back to Posh and remembered I had dinner planned with some of the guys. I knew where, but not when, so thought a trip to the Friends of Dorothy get together was in store. Sure enough, they were all there, the group is massive and more than take over Shakers. On days where Bliss is not in use, they move it there and they fill that up too. What a great group of guys.

 

Headed downstairs to try roulette, and won a few hundred dollars, so that was better :)

 

Dinner was at La Cucina, there were 7 of us, reservation was for 6 people, but they had no issue accommodating us. Great group of people, one new guy. He didn't have the drink package, so I bought him a drink. I have the old UDP, so covered for dinner every night and the UBP, but I also get a $100 food and beverage credit from the casino, so I'm happy to pick up some drinks for people.

 

I had the caprese salad and the lasagna bolognese. Both were really good. Others had the ciopino (totally have no idea how to spell it) but it looked lovely, even to someone who doesn't eat seafood. Lots of great chat about favourite movies and two of the guys are flight attendants and we got the dish on the celebrities who have flown with them.

 

It was a really great night, but my nasty Escape Bathtub Butt does not like the hard chairs. They have a cushion, but the cushion doesn't do anything. The other chairs around are great, but the ones in La Cucina are really hard. After the main course, I had to leave. I am amazed that a full year later I still have residual pain from the chemical burn I got last year from the bathtub on the Escape Inaugural Transatlantic. The measly $125 they sent me as a "sorry" doesn't really cover the problems I have in board meetings on hard chairs where I have to keep squirming or standing.

 

Back to the casino and had rotten luck, so headed back to the cabin, into bed early and then up at 7:00 and straight up to Posh. They hadn't opened, but I sat and read my book at the bar.

 

Beautiful day, overcast and warm with a bit of a breeze.

 

I'm sorry I don't have any crazy stories to tell. I'm having a blast, but haven't had anything out of the ordinary happening. It's all bliss though.

 

I have just been asked by one of the guys if I can lend him some makeup. He's channeling his 14 year old self by sporting a huge hickey on his neck. He's hugely embarrassed but we're having a lot of fun teasing him mercilessly.

[CraigJB]

Thank for these great blogs. Do you or anyone have a picture of the wine menu on board? From one of the specialty restaurants or MDR as we will be in balcony but not Haven unfortunately. Do have UBP. June, 2017 Western Med from Barcelona.

 

 

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[stp108]

Thanks for your review. Really enjoying it!

 

 

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[SuiteCruiser]

Day 8

 

Very early up to Posh, it was before 8:00 AM. The people who know me, know that it's crazy, I like to sleep in, but every morning I'm up early.

 

All morning in Posh, then down to the Haven Club for my favourite french dip for lunch (again) and then off to the casino. It was up and down. One of the guys at our table has a great run of luck with the tables and the slots. I think I need one of those days!

 

Dinner was in Cagney's again with Rob and Linda. It's surprising how quiet it is in there, loads of empty tables. I knew my appetite couldn't handle a big meal, so I ordered the shrimp cocktail, the baked potato soup and the caesar salad for my main.

 

All was great. Linda had the lobster bisque and wasn't a fan, but said her sea bass was the best thing she'd eaten

 

Back to the casino for a night of donating. No luck anywhere, but I'm due for a good one.

 

Thanks again for following along. I will misbehave one of these nights, I hear the Fireball calling, but until then, no crazy stories to tell.

[newmexicoNita]

thanks for taking us along on your wonderful trip. Actually we get on when you get off Sat. Enjoy the rest of your time, but leave her in good condition for us.

[katiecat]

Time for fireball.:D

[easyboy]

Enjoying your review.

[Rhea98]

Thank for these great blogs. Do you or anyone have a picture of the wine menu on board? From one of the specialty restaurants or MDR as we will be in balcony but not Haven unfortunately. Do have UBP. June, 2017 Western Med from Barcelona.

 

 

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From Moderno but same in MDR I believe. I know some are missing-very long menu to capture without the distance. If you have a specific one not seen, let me know. I may be able to check.

 

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[longhorncruuuuuzer]

quick question. going on the epic in december and i've read mixed reports on this. can you verify if there is or is not still a "freestyle" deck? i've read it's around the corner from posh and up the stairs, and that its sometimes clothing optional and sometimes just a nice quiet place to get away from the masses. also, if there is, exactly what is "clothing optional" (topless, nude, would just laying out in bathing suits be allowed, etc. would be wonderful to know. and lastly, do the rules change when going from europe to the us or do they stay the same? thanks for the help as it's quite difficult to find info on this online. many varying reports

[Rhea98]

I can state that area is there-deck 18 which includes a quiet zone port side. I really don't know about nudity. Apparently there used to be signage to that effect, but I've never noticed (5th Epic cruise since 2012). Currently, the area has a lot of people (not 100% capacity but this is a TA). I did see a woman with top down. It was hard to say whether intentional or simply the effects off gravity! Rules that change per venue? IDK. Many cruisers are European, but I haven't detected any difference in behavior (again, a TA so most people seem to be enjoying the cruise without being "hyped" by the "this is my vacation so I need to do it all!" attitude. You know what I mean. You can access this very large area by the forward stairs or by the elevator across from the sb side Great Outdoors buffet. Posh, of course, requires key entry.

 

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[CasinoCruzGirl]

Day 8

 

Very early up to Posh, it was before 8:00 AM. The people who know me, know that it's crazy, I like to sleep in, but every morning I'm up early.

 

All morning in Posh, then down to the Haven Club for my favourite french dip for lunch (again) and then off to the casino. It was up and down. One of the guys at our table has a great run of luck with the tables and the slots. I think I need one of those days!

 

Dinner was in Cagney's again with Rob and Linda. It's surprising how quiet it is in there, loads of empty tables. I knew my appetite couldn't handle a big meal, so I ordered the shrimp cocktail, the baked potato soup and the caesar salad for my main.

 

All was great. Linda had the lobster bisque and wasn't a fan, but said her sea bass was the best thing she'd eaten

 

Back to the casino for a night of donating. No luck anywhere, but I'm due for a good one.

 

Thanks again for following along. I will misbehave one of these nights, I hear the Fireball calling, but until then, no crazy stories to tell.

 

I guess your saving the cray nights for,our Jade December 4th cruise lol

[bschmitt]

Since your large group is in the DOS, does anyone have pictures of suite 17032. Will be on Epic November 12th in that suite and heard that it has an obstructed view because of the elevator. Never spend this much and now I'm worried that it may have been a mistake.

[SuiteCruiser]

Day 9

 

Up in Posh at 7:45 AM, hung out in one of the covered circular chairs where I had shad and a breeze. Off to lunch at noon, then down to the casino.

 

Had a bit of luck for a while, then it changed, so I headed back to Posh, but it was too sunny. Hung out in my suite for a bit, the balcony was nice and shaded, so read a bit longer there.

 

Headed back to the casino and had some more luck.

 

One of our table mates was having a birthday, so the Jaegermeister and Fireball came out. They did not serve it in small shot glasses, but in half-full regular glasses. It kept coming, but I never finished my third one, it was too much.

 

We needed food in our bellies, so Rob, Linda and I headed to Shanghai for pot stickers, Kung Pao chicken, lemon shrimp and Udon. It was all really good.

 

Back to the casino for a bit, luck had left, and I was exhausted and left by 11:00, which turned into 10:00 with the time change.

 

Back up to Posh at 8:00 AM and have a full day ahead.

[SuiteCruiser]

Since your large group is in the DOS, does anyone have pictures of suite 17032. Will be on Epic November 12th in that suite and heard that it has an obstructed view because of the elevator. Never spend this much and now I'm worried that it may have been a mistake.

 

That one is my neighbour who I don't know. I know the one beside his is in between the elevators, so I would think it would be a bit obstructed.

 

You should still have a decent view, even though you're looking out over the pool deck. If you can change to another one, 17030 or 17033 or forward facing it might be better.

[SuiteCruiser]

quick question. going on the epic in december and i've read mixed reports on this. can you verify if there is or is not still a "freestyle" deck? i've read it's around the corner from posh and up the stairs, and that its sometimes clothing optional and sometimes just a nice quiet place to get away from the masses. also, if there is, exactly what is "clothing optional" (topless, nude, would just laying out in bathing suits be allowed, etc. would be wonderful to know. and lastly, do the rules change when going from europe to the us or do they stay the same? thanks for the help as it's quite difficult to find info on this online. many varying reports

 

Freestyle Deck is accessible from the public deck or through the top deck of Posh by going through the emergency exit door. This cruise is definitely clothing optional as some of the guys have reported. I haven't been up there myself yet.

[bschmitt]

Thanks for the input. All DOS are booked as of yesterday, no chance to move.

[bluesea777]

Hey Sally! I'm presently on the Jade TA, and our UTH table has a new thing - an Ultimate Pair Bonus ... I wonder if the Epic has the same on their UTH tables.

 

It's something new, and I had not seen before and I have been lucky - hitting it with a pair of Aces several times so far!! :D

 

Enjoy the rest of the cruise. Here on the Jade things are quieter than Epic as most pax are elderly!

 

Next year it's the Getaway TA - Copenhagen to Miami - you on it???

 

You may not remember me but I was also on your Epic 2012 and Escape 2015 TAs - I'm the shy one who has played at your table a couple or so times.

[Linda the Book Lover]

Since your large group is in the DOS, does anyone have pictures of suite 17032. Will be on Epic November 12th in that suite and heard that it has an obstructed view because of the elevator. Never spend this much and now I'm worried that it may have been a mistake.

 

This is from youtube:

[CraigJB]

From Moderno but same in MDR I believe. I know some are missing-very long menu to capture without the distance. If you have a specific one not seen, let me know. I may be able to

 

 

Thank you very much! There are a couple of pages that are missing the right hand side of the wine list which shows whether they are available by the glass. Would you happen to have those?

 

 

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