Norwegian Epic Studios: Too Tiny or Super Chic?

[LOWTYD]

Is it me, or is there a window?

 

Edit: I read that there is a window, but into the hallway.

 

 

I saw that too and thoght maybe it was a fake. Don't sleep with the blinds open.

 

PS: I wish my living room looked like that!

[SouthHrbrBlvd]

Really small! Too small! :eek:

[sjbdtz]

My friend, that is exactly how NCL makes their money. They offer lower price points for their cruises, but then nickle and dime you to death once you get onboard. By week's end, by the time you've paid for so many specialty restaurant dinners ... because the included restaurants generally have long lines and sub-standard food and service ... and paid the high drink prices and for just about everything else in between ... NCL has "gotcha!" You've wound up paying just as much for your cruise and your friends did who just returned from their Princess or HAL cruise. And guess what? They probably had a much nicer cruise than you did.

 

Joke's on you.

 

The only way I would even consider one of these cabins would be if there was a zero ... zilch, nada, zip ... single supplement on them ... but somehow I don't think that's gonna be the case at all.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

 

 

I'm surprised you can't find anybody willing to cruise with you. :rolleyes:

[*Wink*]

Maybe this has been mentioned already, but I found the studio's "love setting" on the ambiance lights to be hilarious!! WTH does that mean??

[nofishforme]

I think for the solo cruiser like myself they would be great I could handle the size of the room cause im never in there if the sun is out . I also think they would be great if you had a group take all them up so you had your own private place for meeting and retire to your room when you tired of them

[retiredonthesea]

Way to small, but very cool looking. We still need the larger space as we spend alot of time in our suite---can't wait to see what a suite is like on the Epic!!

[johnritt]

Maybe this has been mentioned already, but I found the studio's "love setting" on the ambiance lights to be hilarious!! WTH does that mean??

 

Turn the lights to "love setting" and you also get Barry White, a drop down swing, and a complementary set of "lovecuffs" with the NCL logo on them for a momento.

[nyflush]

The Studio does not have access to the spa. There are 39 spa suites and 60 of another type suite that have spa access. :(

 

Yes youre right, I would go for the spa cabin:)

[Jerrycobra_RCI]

its bigger than easy cruise cabins :D

[virginiab]

I found our inside cabin on the Pearl to be small enough that we didn't spend much time in it anyway, so a bit smaller plus the addition of the living room would make it worth a try. (If you want a small cabin you can hang out in, pick a different cruise line, because neither these studio cabins nor the regular inside cabins are going to suit you. Try Carnival for cheap inside cabins with 185 square feet, for example.)

 

I would enjoy trying the studio for one cruise. If I liked it, I'd repeat the experience.

[Jerrycobra_RCI]

i stand corrected, even easy cruise have bigger cabins

[Jane110]

...... Also, Studio guests get an exclusive, shared social space called the Living Room that features a bar; two large TV screens; a concierge, for booking dinner reservations and shore excursions.......

A living room and TV screens in a "shared social space". HUH??? Doesn't this describe the entire ship??? I've always found communal spots on all ships with TV's and space for socializing. It's just part of the whole cruising experience. Or does the cruiseline feel that those in the tiny cabins prefer to be with others stuck in their cooly lit jail cells???

A concierge for booking appts, and a bar stocked with free drinks is a nice trade-off for squeezing too many people into a space too small for them to fit comfortably.

The only way I would possibly consider this is if I went with a group of people and we all took these rooms, and I had one to myself. I'd never share this room with my husband!

[CruisnGram]

Thank you Rita.

 

I see from your past cruises you have vast extensive experience on NCL. :rolleyes: How often did you find that you had to eat in a specialty restaurant or experience sub-standard food and service? What was the longest you had to wait for dinner ?What was your average onboard charges that erased the great fare you got :confused:

 

Thanks for the clouds.

 

I don't have vast experience with NCL. Just 3 cruises so far. And I'm not Nita, but I can answer your questions according to my experience.

 

1) Have only eaten in a specialty restaurant once. I simply wanted to see what everyone was raving about. It was good but for me, I see no need to spend extra money on food as the food and service in the main dining rooms is excellent.

 

2) Longest I've ever had to wait for dinner was 10 minutes...one time.

 

3) Onboard charges varied on my 3 cruises. My first had higher onboard charges because I booked an excursion in every port through NCL. The rest of my cruises, my on board charges were almost non existant. I booked through CAS and got all my drinks for free in the casino. I booked all my excursions privately. And, I purchased a future cruise reward certificate which gave me an extra $100 OBC. I had to actually look for things to buy on board to use up my OBC.

 

4) The great fare that I got was never "erased". For me, NCL offers the absolute best deal I can find anywhere. No other cruiseline even comes close. And I enjoy their product immensely. Plus, I hate traditional dining. So why would I ever consider paying LOTS more money to sail another cruise line?

CG

[Suni99]

some of these cabins look beautiful

 

I could not share a living room tho.

I would at least need an inside where I have my own TV.

[rochelle_s]

I too think these would be great for solo cruisers, but would not pay a 200% supplement. When cruising solo I look for lines with a much more favourable single supplement. The shared space and concierge service are not draws for me... certainly not enough to pay that 200%.

 

Rochelle

[CruisnGram]

I don't have vast experience with NCL. Just 3 cruises so far. And I'm not Nita, but I can answer your questions according to my experience.

 

1) Have only eaten in a specialty restaurant once. I simply wanted to see what everyone was raving about. It was good but for me, I see no need to spend extra money on food as the food and service in the main dining rooms is excellent.

 

2) Longest I've ever had to wait for dinner was 10 minutes...one time.

 

3) Onboard charges varied on my 3 cruises. My first had higher onboard charges because I booked an excursion in every port through NCL. The rest of my cruises, my on board charges were almost non existant. I booked through CAS and got all my drinks for free in the casino. I booked all my excursions privately. And, I purchased a future cruise reward certificate which gave me an extra $100 OBC. I had to actually look for things to buy on board to use up my OBC.

 

4) The great fare that I got was never "erased". For me, NCL offers the absolute best deal I can find anywhere. No other cruiseline even comes close. And I enjoy their product immensely. Plus, I hate traditional dining. So why would I ever consider paying LOTS more money to sail another cruise line?

CG

 

Duh. The Nita's and the Rita's have me confused. I get it now Time2cruise.......just took a while. :)

 

 

CG

[ukchris]

Rita, Could I ask you which NCL ship you last sailed on and how long ago it was? The reason that I ask is that you don't have any NCL cruises listed in your signature, so I'm wondering if maybe it was a long time ago and things have changed a lot since you last sailed them.

 

Most of the things that you stated as being a problem on NCL(bad food, bad service, long lines), I've never encountered. Of course, I just started sailing on NCL last year, so I'm really not that familiar with them on a long term basis.

 

CG

I'm curious too, funny how Kryos hasn't come back with an explentaion of her in depth knowledge of NCL.

[ukchris]

The data for the Gem is from NCL newly issued literature. The data for the Dream/Dawn come from other sources BUT I know of no cutback in the shipboard staff-yes there were some land layoffs but there have been no reported ship board crew cut backs.

 

One more thing I think these rooms would make for a great swingers weekend....different room and roommate every night...who cares what size the room is....size isn't important :)

Hmmm, tell that to the senior stateroom stewards who have all lost their jobs.

[melissa@cruisecritic]

LOL! Seriously. If you need mood lighting, just turn the lights off, right?

 

Turn the lights to "love setting" and you also get Barry White, a drop down swing, and a complementary set of "lovecuffs" with the NCL logo on them for a momento.

[melissa@cruisecritic]

The studios do have a TV, just to clarify!

 

some of these cabins look beautiful

 

I could not share a living room tho.

I would at least need an inside where I have my own TV.

[time2cruise1]

I found our inside cabin on the Pearl to be small enough that we didn't spend much time in it anyway, so a bit smaller plus the addition of the living room would make it worth a try. (If you want a small cabin you can hang out in, pick a different cruise line, because neither these studio cabins nor the regular inside cabins are going to suit you. Try Carnival for cheap inside cabins with 185 square feet, for example.)

 

I would enjoy trying the studio for one cruise. If I liked it, I'd repeat the experience.

 

Add this information to your selection and you may have made a wise decision to try the Studios. The standard inside on the Epic are not much larger. Both the same price.

The Studios are priced at the same level as the 128sq ft inside staterooms, giving the budget traveler a choice. ‘In this environment, it’s very timely to have choices for budget travelers,’ Stuart said.

[sailorgirl]

Definitely a claustrophobic experience for me!

[nitnyleo]

One question we have is whether NCL would waive the single supplements for solo travelers in these cabins

 

That is THE question . . .

 

And, it's a crapshoot (like fixed dining) . . . it only takes one idiot to make the communal space a special kind of hell . . .

 

But, I am intrigued by the concept . . .

[smeyer418]

Hmmm, tell that to the senior stateroom stewards who have all lost their jobs.

first I heard of it. Where did you see this? Has anyone on the ships notice less crew?

[GaNavy]

I'd book one of these cabins only if I was traveling alone and got a GREAT deal. Otherwise, give me more space and a balcony - especially on a ship this big with this many passengers.

 

Even though I spend a lot of time outside my cabin, I still need that retreat. And I don't see anything likely to be restful about this arrangement - how d'ya think this whole idea will work when the party crowd books about 8 or 10 of these? Fine if you're one of them or like that sort of thing, otherwise, not so much.

 

Not for me, thanks.