Fain on NCL Epic

[cruisnfool]

Fain is on NCL because he cannot combine his future OBC and SHC .......

 

also IMHO withoutseeing the EPIC he has nothing to worry about as far as competition goes.

[Mr. Luckytoo]

I was not greeted by the crew or have a glass of champagne offered when I cruised on RCCL.

 

I understand your concerns but cruising has changed through the years. It's less expensive with service and quality suffering. I don't know what cruise lines you've sailed, but from my experience, cruising on an upscale line or cruising in a suite on a mass market cruise line is about the only way you're going to get what you posted consistantly.

 

Stretch,

 

I got that above mentioned on Century July 2009, Equinox 2009, and I believe Monarch 2010.

 

I do agree with your comments about service and quality since my first cruise years ago...

[jsmith1195]

On my 7 cruises, I have never been escorted to my cabin (don't need to be...can find it on my own). There are plenty of crew around if you need help, regardless of what line you are on. Have found great service on all three of the major lines. I have the Liberty OTS booked for October and the Epic in December!! :D

[steamboats]

The more interesting news to me was that B. Meyer, CEO of the Meyerwerft shipyard was on one of the pre-inaugurals of the Epic. :p

The Meyerwerft has built (amongst others) i.e. the Radiance class and Solstice class ships. At the time he visited the ship STX still had not finished off all works on the EPIC and I bet Meyer was invited by NCL.:p

 

B. Meyer was there on invitation and he did take lots of notes. BTW the Meyerwerft also built the Norwegian Gem, Jade and Jewel...

 

steamboats

[Ocean Boy]

On my 7 cruises, I have never been escorted to my cabin (don't need to be...can find it on my own). There are plenty of crew around if you need help, regardless of what line you are on. Have found great service on all three of the major lines. I have the Liberty OTS booked for October and the Epic in December!! :D

 

I have never been escorted and I don't want to be. By the time I get on a ship I have studied the deck plans so much I can find my way anywhere that I want to go. I would actually find an escort to be somewhat annoying and would tell him/her not to bother.

[Mr. Luckytoo]

On my 7 cruises, I have never been escorted to my cabin (don't need to be...can find it on my own). There are plenty of crew around if you need help, regardless of what line you are on. Have found great service on all three of the major lines. I have the Liberty OTS booked for October and the Epic in December!! :D

 

I've taken 20 cruises and never needed an escourt.

 

A few times when boarding I've had many crew members asking if I needed directions.

 

However on my last Epic cruise when I boarded the ship there was no crew around at all. We walked on the ship (around noonish) and there were lots of people just milling about. The ship had sponsored a cruise convention "showing" and were paying attention to the TA's while still letting their passengers board.

 

As for being a hinderance...I personally wouldn't mind being shown to my cabin. Just like when I check into a nice hotel and the bellman shows us to our room. It's not a "must have" but it is a great personal touch.

[FLACRUISER99]

I was not greeted by the crew or have a glass of champagne offered when I cruised on RCCL.

 

I understand your concerns but cruising has changed through the years. It's less expensive with service and quality suffering. I don't know what cruise lines you've sailed, but from my experience, cruising on an upscale line or cruising in a suite on a mass market cruise line is about the only way you're going to get what you posted consistantly.

Try Freedom from Port Canaveral, I everone was offered glass of champagne when boarding in 11/09!

[flbeachmom]

I am amazed at the cattiness on this thread. I love both cruise lines for different reasons. I have heard so many posters over the year claim "once you have a balcony you would never go back", well the same could be said of me now that I've had a villa ste on NCL. It would be hard to sail NCL and not reserve one. I have a family of 5 and the 2 bedrooms/ bathrooms ste is fabulous. And I go on a cruise to be spoiled not so I can " lord it" over someones head. I love the private pool so I do not have to deal with pool chair hogs, and the other perks I get. I only wish RCCL had these same type suites, but for thanksgiving we are getting an aft balcony with the other 2 (teens) across the hall inside cabin - on the Freedom (RCCL). I wish we could stay in one room as it would be more of a family vacation but I'm happy to just be on a cruise and in no way feel as if I'm slumming in in a lower class cabin. I'm also happy for those who booked a better class cabin, not sour. Everyone has their opinion / my girlfriend loves the inside cabins as they are dark and she can sleep late, some prefer midship cabins, some aft, that is why there is so many options! Thank goodness for those options as I love to cruise!! When I'm not on a ship I'm wishing I was .

[Mr. Luckytoo]

I am amazed at the cattiness on this thread. I love both cruise lines for different reasons. I have heard so many posters over the year claim "once you have a balcony you would never go back", well the same could be said of me now that I've had a villa ste on NCL. It would be hard to sail NCL and not reserve one. I have a family of 5 and the 2 bedrooms/ bathrooms ste is fabulous. And I go on a cruise to be spoiled not so I can " lord it" over someones head. I love the private pool so I do not have to deal with pool chair hogs, and the other perks I get. I only wish RCCL had these same type suites, but for thanksgiving we are getting an aft balcony with the other 2 (teens) across the hall inside cabin - on the Freedom (RCCL). I wish we could stay in one room as it would be more of a family vacation but I'm happy to just be on a cruise and in no way feel as if I'm slumming in in a lower class cabin. I'm also happy for those who booked a better class cabin, not sour. Everyone has their opinion / my girlfriend loves the inside cabins as they are dark and she can sleep late, some prefer midship cabins, some aft, that is why there is so many options! Thank goodness for those options as I love to cruise!! When I'm not on a ship I'm wishing I was .

 

While I can't speak for others I didn't mean to be offensive to anyone in particular, especially you. I thought that Oasis had loft cabins for families.

 

The villa situation is great for families. My only "beef" is how NCL advertises or markets their suites as "exclusive" get away's. It's not the product but how "some" (not you) act.

 

I didn't detect any "cattiness" but maybe that's me.

 

Cattiness comes, in my opinion, when people start pointing to other's dressing/not dressing up for formal nights or smoking! :eek:

[GMoney]

I am amazed at the cattiness on this thread. I love both cruise lines for different reasons. I have heard so many posters over the year claim "once you have a balcony you would never go back", well the same could be said of me now that I've had a villa ste on NCL. It would be hard to sail NCL and not reserve one. I have a family of 5 and the 2 bedrooms/ bathrooms ste is fabulous. And I go on a cruise to be spoiled not so I can " lord it" over someones head. I love the private pool so I do not have to deal with pool chair hogs, and the other perks I get. I only wish RCCL had these same type suites, but for thanksgiving we are getting an aft balcony with the other 2 (teens) across the hall inside cabin - on the Freedom (RCCL). I wish we could stay in one room as it would be more of a family vacation but I'm happy to just be on a cruise and in no way feel as if I'm slumming in in a lower class cabin. I'm also happy for those who booked a better class cabin, not sour. Everyone has their opinion / my girlfriend loves the inside cabins as they are dark and she can sleep late, some prefer midship cabins, some aft, that is why there is so many options! Thank goodness for those options as I love to cruise!! When I'm not on a ship I'm wishing I was .

 

Unfortunately, it seems EVERYTHING on this site becomes an argument. It's really too bad.

[SherriZ366]

Boy has this thread been hijacked!!!! I thought it was about Richard Fain, RCCL's CEO, being on EPIC to check out the competition. Or possibly. Meyer, CEO of the Meyerwerft, looking for new business for his shipyard.

[Host Kewlguy]

In your example that may be the case. However on the NCL thread I have detected a level of "elite"ness that bothers me. I'll use my last cruise on the Epic as an example. When I board a cruise ship I want to be greeted by the crew and have a glass of champagne offered, even if I don't take it (wife doesn't drink alcohol). Then I want a crew member to be there and offer either a ship map, directions, advice - even if I don't need it. It's a courtesy that I've encountered on all ships I've sailed...

 

Except on the Epic. Once they took my picture for the seapass we walked into the atrium and there was no one to greet the passengers. However all the suite/villa/penthouse guests were personally escourted to their cabins. Now if you're paying higher fees that's fine but don't take away from the 90% of paying passengers for those suite guests.

 

Another example on the Epic is that their suites are located in the forward part of the ship that prohibits non-suite passengers from going to the open forward part of the ship on sail away or entering a port. Plus NCL lists all their eating locations for the Epic, such as Posh and Epic Club, when marketing but in reality Posh and the Epic Club are suite guests only.

 

Since the suite passengers bring in the most revenue, there should be no surprise why the cruise lines are all vying for their business. NCL has done a great job marketing their cruise line to these customers and the competition has definitely taken notice. While we rarely cruise in suites, we have spoken to many people who have and they tell us that NCL suite perks are far superior to any other mass market cruise line.

[Jumbiecruiser]

I was on the 2 day Norwegian Epic inaugural out of Miami. At a meeting I attended, Keven Sheehan announced that he invited Fain to view the Epic on it's first revenue cruise. He also stated that Fain had invited him to view the Oasis and he accepted. I got the impression that this is not an uncommon for executives.

 

Well I guess Kevin Sheehan got to see what a well designed cruise ship looks like if he was aboard the Oasis. ;)

 

Good to see Sheehan and Fain get along together. I doubt that Fain would extend the same invitation to the ole boy at Carnival Corporation. Of course what does Carnival have that Royal Caribbean would want when it comes to ideas or innovation?

[Loyal2RCCL]

Since the suite passengers bring in the most revenue, there should be no surprise why the cruise lines are all vying for their business. NCL has done a great job marketing their cruise line to these customers and the competition has definitely taken notice. While we rarely cruise in suites, we have spoken to many people who have and they tell us that NCL suite perks are far superior to any other mass market cruise line.

 

Good friends of mine sailed NCL exclusively in the Courtyard Villas. They took on average of 8 cruises a year, but got so disgusted with NCL, they've since bailed to another line. The major items that pushed them over the edge was inconsistent service (both on ship and with NCL reservations/customer service) and the horrible food. They were so disgusted they cancelled their NCL credit card and all future cruises and rebooked on another line. While NCL offers nice perks with their suites.. if they don't deliver in the remaining areas of their operation, the perks become pointless. One thing I don't understand is why NCL suites are so small... when you look at their square footage compared to the competition, the size of NCL's suites don't compare.

[Host Kewlguy]

Good friends of mine sailed NCL exclusively in the Courtyard Villas. They took on average of 8 cruises a year, but got so disgusted with NCL, they've since bailed to another line. The major items that pushed them over the edge was inconsistent service (both on ship and with NCL reservations/customer service) and the horrible food. They were so disgusted they cancelled their NCL credit card and all future cruises and rebooked on another line. While NCL offers nice perks with their suites.. if they don't deliver in the remaining areas of their operation, the perks become pointless. One thing I don't understand is why NCL suites are so small... when you look at their square footage compared to the competition, the size of NCL's suites don't compare.

 

I agree about the quality of the main dining room food being far inferior to what we're use to on Royal. And the cut backs on NCL even exceed what Royal has been doing. The old NCL Compass Rewards credit card was the best in the industry and we were sorry to see it end. It was one of the main reasons we cruised regularly on NCL a couple of years ago. You tended to overlook some of the shortcomings when you're practically cruising for free.

[stretch44]

Good friends of mine sailed NCL exclusively in the Courtyard Villas. They took on average of 8 cruises a year, but got so disgusted with NCL, they've since bailed to another line. The major items that pushed them over the edge was inconsistent service (both on ship and with NCL reservations/customer service) and the horrible food. They were so disgusted they cancelled their NCL credit card and all future cruises and rebooked on another line. While NCL offers nice perks with their suites.. if they don't deliver in the remaining areas of their operation, the perks become pointless. One thing I don't understand is why NCL suites are so small... when you look at their square footage compared to the competition, the size of NCL's suites don't compare.

 

That's been our problem, we love cruising in an NCL suite but have no interest in the rest of the ship! Okay I take some of that back, the kids would really like to try those slides on Epic but they still choose RCCL. NCL leaves a lot to be desired outside of the suite area. Once again, if they could just rip the courtyard off on the Epic and place it on an RCCL ship. we would have the perfect cruise line!

 

You are right, the square footage is smaller but the perks and service more than makes up for it. I hope RCCL soon begins enhancing the suite experience to at least come closer to matching NCL.

[stretch44]

Try Freedom from Port Canaveral, I everone was offered glass of champagne when boarding in 11/09!

 

 

Really? Was on Freedom 9/09 and there was no champagne offered.

 

Maybe I just look too young to be served alcohol!:D

[flbeachmom]

Good friends of mine sailed NCL exclusively in the Courtyard Villas. They took on average of 8 cruises a year, but got so disgusted with NCL, they've since bailed to another line. The major items that pushed them over the edge was inconsistent service (both on ship and with NCL reservations/customer service) and the horrible food. They were so disgusted they cancelled their NCL credit card and all future cruises and rebooked on another line. While NCL offers nice perks with their suites.. if they don't deliver in the remaining areas of their operation, the perks become pointless. One thing I don't understand is why NCL suites are so small... when you look at their square footage compared to the competition, the size of NCL's suites don't compare.

 

We loved their buffet so much I have to say in 2 ncl Pearl cruises we only ate in MDR 1. My kids hate to take up their cruise time sitting down for so long not to mention the time getting dressed up takes. the Pearl has the best buffet yet! I'm a cheap date. I'm looking forward this November to the Freedom, I will be able to spend some dinner time with those teens!

[bears2747]

Just got off of the EPIC and the food, dining choices, and entertainment choices are far superior to anything RCCL offers. RCCL should take notice to what the EPIC has done.

[tracyanns]

I think it comes down to if you are willing to pay $22,000 for a week for 2 people that you will pretty much get preferential treatment...

 

I have sailed both NCL and RCCL and I enjoy both...I am sailing the Oasis in a few months but I also can't wait to sail the Epic...I think the only advantage that RCCL clearly has over NCL is the food...RCCL is much better