stovkieb Posted April 8, 2020 #1 Share Posted April 8, 2020 My husband and I am trying to decide between the NCL Bliss to the Mexican Riviera or the NCL Epic to the Southern Caribbean for March 2021. We plan to book a Haven suite. Please give me your opinion of pros and cons of both ships and routes. The Epic is scheduled for dry dock so may be updated but I am not sure what will be done. The Bliss is relatively new, correct? Any advice would be welcomed. Thank you in advance for your input. Lisa 1 Link to post Share on other sites
BirdTravels Posted April 8, 2020 #2 Share Posted April 8, 2020 57 minutes ago, stovkieb said: My husband and I am trying to decide between the NCL Bliss to the Mexican Riviera or the NCL Epic to the Southern Caribbean for March 2021. We plan to book a Haven suite. Please give me your opinion of pros and cons of both ships and routes. The Epic is scheduled for dry dock so may be updated but I am not sure what will be done. The Bliss is relatively new, correct? Any advice would be welcomed. Thank you in advance for your input. Lisa Hi Lisa, The Bliss was launched in February 2018. So, it will be 3 years old when you plan to cruise. The Epic did a dry dock in late 2015 (5-year dry dock). During that dry dock, NCL demo'ed all of the public areas down to the deck plates and rebuilt them. We sailed on the first cruise out of dry dock in the Haven and she felt brand new. The Bliss is a newer ship with more restaurants, more public features. Both ships hold about the same number of passengers. The Epic has the best Haven in the fleet (multi-story Posh Club sun deck, larger restaurant, much larger lounge, outdoor restaurant, private gym, sauna and steam room). If you want a new, contemporary ship experience, sail on the Bliss. I would chose by itinerary, so I would sail on the Epic (since NCL has not started that Southern Caribbean itinerary this year, cut short by the virus. Link to post Share on other sites
stovkieb Posted April 9, 2020 Author #3 Share Posted April 9, 2020 13 hours ago, BirdTravels said: Hi Lisa, The Bliss was launched in February 2018. So, it will be 3 years old when you plan to cruise. The Epic did a dry dock in late 2015 (5-year dry dock). During that dry dock, NCL demo'ed all of the public areas down to the deck plates and rebuilt them. We sailed on the first cruise out of dry dock in the Haven and she felt brand new. The Bliss is a newer ship with more restaurants, more public features. Both ships hold about the same number of passengers. The Epic has the best Haven in the fleet (multi-story Posh Club sun deck, larger restaurant, much larger lounge, outdoor restaurant, private gym, sauna and steam room). If you want a new, contemporary ship experience, sail on the Bliss. I would chose by itinerary, so I would sail on the Epic (since NCL has not started that Southern Caribbean itinerary this year, cut short by the virus. Link to post Share on other sites
stovkieb Posted April 9, 2020 Author #4 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Thank you for the information, Bird Travels. It is a toss up as you are correct very similar sizes but different routes. Is there any information on the ports that would help make the decision. Thank you for all your help to make this decision between the Epic and Bliss Looking forward to your replies. Link to post Share on other sites
ggTexasGal Posted April 9, 2020 #5 Share Posted April 9, 2020 38 minutes ago, stovkieb said: Thank you for the information, Bird Travels. It is a toss up as you are correct very similar sizes but different routes. Is there any information on the ports that would help make the decision. Thank you for all your help to make this decision between the Epic and Bliss Looking forward to your replies. Cruise Critic has plenty of info available! Use the "Research" tab at the top of the page and follow through to where you wish to go. and/or... https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/456-caribbean/ will offer you port specific information. But you will have to search for what is important to YOU! Link to post Share on other sites
stovkieb Posted April 9, 2020 Author #6 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Thank you so much for the suggestion. Just trying to make a decision this week and looking for the many experts on here to assist me. Thanks again. Link to post Share on other sites
Ragdollbd Posted April 9, 2020 #7 Share Posted April 9, 2020 I cruised on the Epic early February on a 10 day Southern Caribbean cruise. It was a great trip, would definitely do it again! Link to post Share on other sites
nelsonewong Posted April 9, 2020 #8 Share Posted April 9, 2020 10 hours ago, stovkieb said: Thank you for the information, Bird Travels. It is a toss up as you are correct very similar sizes but different routes. Is there any information on the ports that would help make the decision. Thank you for all your help to make this decision between the Epic and Bliss Looking forward to your replies. Travel logistics to/from Los Angeles vs. San Juan would be a factor for me. Link to post Share on other sites
stovkieb Posted April 10, 2020 Author #9 Share Posted April 10, 2020 We live on the east coast but are willing to fly if the Bliss is extra special. Looking for all information by tomorrow. Need to make decision and still a toss up. Looking for Bliss cruisers and Epic recent cruisers to respond asap. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites
Nola26 Posted April 12, 2020 #10 Share Posted April 12, 2020 I think the Bliss is a better ship if traveling without kids. I would prefer the itinerary of the Epic. We sailed the Epic for a Mediterranean cruise and it was fantastic so no qualms sailing her again. If the ship is more important the Bliss is a no brainers. The Observation lounge and the fact that the smoking section of the casino is enclosed are just a few of the nice things on the ship. Jersey Boys is Broadway quality too. Link to post Share on other sites
complawyer Posted April 12, 2020 #11 Share Posted April 12, 2020 no brainer southern carribbean wins hands down Link to post Share on other sites
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