Epic or Escape?

[CielG22]

I currently have a cruise booked this August on Epic (9 days out of Barcelona). At the moment, I'm in the position of I have been offered a new job. As of yet, I haven't been given a start date and, until that comes through, I won't know whether or not I have the dates for the cruise off. Now, I could wait until I get confirmation of the start date to make this decision, however, I'm not that patient a person and don't like the idea of waiting too long. I've spoken with my friend who is cruising with me and we decided to cancel and rebook for next year.

Because that was our decision, I decided to do a bit of looking at the itinerary we like. Turns out that Epic isn't on that itinerary next year, Escape is. Epic is on an itinerary that is a day longer but still includes ports we'd be interested in. There's not a huge amount to choose between the itineraries and so it comes down to the ships.

Those of you who have cruised on both ships, which would you pick?

[Ixtoras]

Escape hands down.  We've done both once and while I don't dislike the Epic, the design and config of the escape is more to my liking.  We were considering the epic for a southern caribbean itenerary this year but decided to either wait for the Viva or take one of the jewel ships instead.   

[jules181]

I've been on the epic 3 times and did a TA on the Escape. 10000000% you Escape.  

 

Was just on the epic last week. It's showing its wear. Lots of mechanical issues.  Also the layout on the escape is much better. 

[KeithJenner]

Escape, without a question for me.

[brookie848]

The Escape. I've been on both ships twice. The Escape is a better all-around ship.

[G-DawgMN]

 The Escape for sure. We've done the Epic twice, the last time was due to the amazing itinerary that we couldn't get on any other ship, but we will not do it a 3rd time.

[MeMetwo]

The Escape without question. We sailed Epic three times before Escape was launched, and it has some good features but there are many deficiencies. The main one being that there is no Waterfront to enjoy the sea.  Escape’s layout is much better, and Spice H20 is particularly good. Also, traveling with a friend could be a little awkward with the strange restroom set up in the cabin on the Epic.  Whichever you choose, happy sailing.

[spanishguy1970]

We are going on the Epic in April and it will be our 6th time on that ship, we enjoy it. We were on the Escape last November and we loved that ship. Between both ships? i would go with the Escape but for us depends on the price. :-).

[G-DawgMN]

2 hours ago, MeMetwo said:

The Escape without question. We sailed Epic three times before Escape was launched, and it has some good features but there are many deficiencies. The main one being that there is no Waterfront to enjoy the sea.  Escape’s layout is much better, and Spice H20 is particularly good. Also, traveling with a friend could be a little awkward with the strange restroom set up in the cabin on the Epic.  Whichever you choose, happy sailing.

 

 I learned on our last Epic cruise that having the bed by the bathroom really sucks...that toilet loud and sounds like it's right by your head if someone gets up in the middle of the night!

[FLcruisergrl]

Another vote for the Escape.

[jljlinda]

AND....Another vote for the Escape!!

 

[BenDover]

No comparison - Escape!

There’s a reason they never built a other ship like Epic

[BirdTravels]

We have sailed on the Epic 7 times and Escape 5 times. While the Escape is a better ship, we sail on the Epic based on itinerary. 
 

The ship is really a place to sleep. Pick your cruise based on itinerary. 

[sunkey1]

Absolutely the Escape, love that ship. Epic was just "meh" in my opinion.

[CielG22]

From responses here, it's looking like we'll choose Escape. The bathroom layout on Epic wasn't much of an issue for us. There really wasn't that much between the itineraries for us to say one was better than the other.

[Brian V]

On 2/13/2023 at 2:50 PM, KSSS2013 said:

 I learned on our last Epic cruise that having the bed by the bathroom really sucks..

Not only the noise from the toilet, the sink is at the corner of the bed...you are always tripping over each other in the morning.

 

Have not been on the Escape but...like @BenDover said - there is a reason they never built another Epic class ship.

The curvy walls just waste space in the cabins, and the overall layout is just kinda weird.

The split elevator lobbies, the "no, you cant get to deck 5 from here" issues, the "you have to go through the casino to get anywhere"...took me 4 days to get my bearings🤪

 

That said, I would go on the Epic again in a heartbeat if it was the right itinerary 😎

[Georgia_Peaches]

Escape all day long and twice on Sunday. Just a much better laid out ship. There’s a reason there’s no sister ship to Epic. I’ve sailed Epic once. It was fine. I’ve sailed Escape once. It was amazing. 

[jerseyjjs]

Escape by a mile.  There's a reason that Norwegian stopped the Epic class at one ship.