The Good, The Bad and The Ugly......

[kattchatt]

What cruise line has "big production show(s)" every night??? In my experience they have 2-3 production shows that are repeated thru the week. As are the ones on EPIC. Plus EPIC has Cirque Dreams, comedy club, Jazz/Blues club, O'Sheehans for games, piano near Shakers and other things to do during the evenings... I cannot believe you were bored.

 

 

~Intrepid <-- Scratching his head.

 

Well, believe it!!!!

 

RCCL, Princess and Disney all have more shows...BMG and Legends were the only two shows in the theater...As posted earlier, Second City (which is very good) is not a theater show, it takes place in Headliners a few nights a week...The comedy club is really just a comedy magician with the same show...

[sjbdtz]

Please feel FREE to share your ideas for filling gaps :) :

 

Night 1.

Dinner: Manhattan--- Theatre: BMG --------Club: The Second City

 

Night 2.

Dinner: Le Bistro------Theatre: Legends ---Club: Fat cats

 

Night 3.

Dinner: Cagney's------Cirque -------------Club: Howl at the Moon

 

Night 4.

Dinner: Moderno-------Theatre: Skip...too busy at casino---Club: Bliss

 

Night 5.

Dinner: Teppanyaki----Theatre: Second City ----Club: Fat Cats

 

Night 6.

Dinner: La Cucina------Theatre: Legends ---------Club: Bliss

 

Night 7.

Dinner: Shanghai's-----Theatre: Jeff Hobson ---------Club: Bliss

 

Sure thing. I did this in a previous post, but I'll help you out.

 

 

 

If you're really enamored with the idea of Theatre then Club each night, you should be aware before final payment date...that this is not the way NCL entertainment is structured.

 

 

NCL's entertainment starts at staggered times, and there is something different going on in different parts of the ship, throughout the evening.

 

It's not all regimented...lets line up at the theatre, now lets all leave the theatre, etc.

 

some nights you might go to dinner, then head for a martini and listen to the vocalist/guitarist at the martini bar.....another night you might have a late dinner, having enjoyed a longer shore excursion....then after the late dinner, you might head directly to Bliss.

 

If this isn't what you want as an experience, you may still have time to cancel. But please understand....if you're trying to suggest that this is a BAD THING, myself, and many others here who cruise this line BECAUSE of this flexibility.....will not be in agreement with you.

[kattchatt]

If this isn't what you want as an experience, you may still have time to cancel. But please understand....if you're trying to suggest that this is a BAD THING, myself, and many others here who cruise this line BECAUSE of this flexibility.....will not be in agreement with you.

 

 

 

Again, because I was comparing my experiences from other lines; RCCL, Princess and Disney is why I think I was so disappointed...If this had been my 1st cruise or if this had been the only line I had ever sailed it might have been a satisfying experience as I would not have any thing else to compare it to!!

[intrepid_guy]

Well, believe it!!!!

 

RCCL, Princess and Disney all have more shows...BMG and Legends were the only two shows in the theater...As posted earlier, Second City (which is very good) is not a theater showIt IS a theatre show on every other NCL ship! but in this case they were given their own venue to use... , it takes place in Headliners a few nights a week...The comedy club is really just a comedy magician with the same show...

 

WELL I dont believe it! I have been on RCI and I know for a fact they did not have 7 different shows in the theater. That is FALSE. I actually spent 9 nights on RCI and there was not 7 different shows much less 9 shows.

 

Sorry you did not love the cruise. I am looking forward to mine for many reasons. I will see a few of the shows (I have reservations for BMG and Cirque) then on the other nights I will find something to enjoy... throwing away money in the casino, sitting in Shakers enjoying too many martinis, dancing away at Bliss, eating too late at O'Sheehans. Or WHATEVER!! I DO NOT need/want a production show every day... That is why there are so many choices on the ship. I have seen the dailies from the 1st Caribbean cruise and I think it looks like more choice/activities than any other ship I have been on.

 

~Intrepid <-- enough of the guff.

[sjbdtz]

If this isn't what you want as an experience, you may still have time to cancel. But please understand....if you're trying to suggest that this is a BAD THING, myself, and many others here who cruise this line BECAUSE of this flexibility.....will not be in agreement with you.

 

 

 

Again, because I was comparing my experiences from other lines; RCCL, Princess and Disney is why I think I was so disappointed...If this had been my 1st cruise or if this had been the only line I had ever sailed it might have been a satisfying experience as I would not have any thing else to compare it to!!

 

 

I was responding to another poster.....not to your OP. Not to worry.

[lusitanica]

Sure thing.

 

Night 1.

Dinner: Manhattan--- Theatre: BMG -------------------Club: The Second City

 

Night 2.

Dinner: Le Bistro------Theatre: Legends --------------Club: Fat cats

 

Night 3.

Dinner: Cagney's------Cirque ---------------------------Club: Howl at the Moon

 

Night 4.

Dinner: Moderno-------Theatre: Skip...too busy at casino---Club: Bliss

 

Night 5.

Dinner: Teppanyaki----Theatre: Second City ---------Club: Fat Cats

 

Night 6.

Dinner: La Cucina------Theatre: Legends -------------Club: Bliss

 

Night 7.

Dinner: Shanghai's-----Theatre: Jeff Hobson ---------Club: Bliss

 

Thank you.

Two times The Second City and two times Legends - isn't it too much?

[intrepid_guy]

Thank you.

Two times The Second City and two times Legends - isn't it too much?

 

Maybe too much but so is going to Cagney's and Cirque the same night... that is a lot of food. So move Cirque to another night. In reference to Second City... see their regular show one night and their adult show another night. Legends can be seen in the show room, then in the Manhattan room as Legends:Unplugged. They could be different shows, I don't know.

[sjbdtz]

Well, believe it!!!!

 

RCCL, Princess and Disney all have more shows...BMG and Legends were the only two shows in the theater...As posted earlier, Second City (which is very good) is not a theater show, it takes place in Headliners a few nights a week...The comedy club is really just a comedy magician with the same show...

 

 

The difference with EPIC from all other ships, is that the "theatre" has been recreated in four different places, shapes & styles.

 

 

Theatre 1 has plush, tiered seating and hosts Legends & BMG

 

Theatre 2 has bar-stool type seating and hosts the Second City, and Howl at the Moon

 

Theatre 3 has a tent-like feel to it, and is home to the Murder Mystery lunch and the Cirque Dreams dinner theatre show.

 

Theatre 4 has jazz & blues (currently the Slam Alan band)

 

Theatre 4.5 is a stage situated in the main dining room (Manhattan room) and visible from Cagneys & Moderno, where Legends unplugged plays 3x / week. This is also a space converted from a dining room into a dancefloor, as the evening progresses.

 

Theatre 4.75 is Spice H20, where groups such as the "Oh What A Night" tribute to Frankie Valli take place on the stage in front of the video screen. During the day, this stage is hydraulically lowered to accommodate a swimming pool.

 

 

 

With 4.75 theatres, some with multiple different shows, it's easy to see different acts every night of the cruise....just not all in the same place.

[intrepid_guy]

Thank you.

 

This is a sample schedule.

From your experience, any ideas about filling gaps?:)

Note: I consider The Second City a club venue, not a major show. At the same time The Cirque is neither a main show nor the club. I put it with the "main" though...

 

 

Night 1.

Dinner: Manhattan--- It's your first night, explore the ship

Night 2.

Dinner: Le Bistro------Theatre: Legends ---Club: Fat cats

 

Night 3.

Dinner: Cagney's-----Blue Man Group ----Club: Howl at the Moon

 

Night 4.

Dinner: Moderno-------Casino action ---------Club: Bliss

 

Night 5.

Dinner:Cirque Dreams----2nd City adult show ---------Club:Casino!

 

Night 6.

Dinner: La Cucina------2nd City regular show---------Club: Shakers!!

 

Night 7.

Dinner: Shanghai's-----Theatre: Packing :) ---------Club:All of them one last time

 

Just some thoughts.... There really are a thousand possibilities. Also, there are other dining venues not used in the above, Teppan, Wasabi, O'Sheehans, Taste, Noodle Bar... There are many ways to do it and be happy at the end.

 

~Intrepid <-- will be moving and shaking.

[AustinOO]

Yeah, I dunno', the entertainment looks alright for me. We have not been on many cruises but did cruise Disney last March. On the 7 night they had three good production shows and well I did not really care for the comedians and other offerings.

 

I have seen BMG in Vegas but my wife has yet to see them. Legends looks like something she'll enjoy to a degree and so I will also vicariously. To me the Howl at the Moon and Second City shows are entertainment options I actually would prefer over most big production type shows.

 

With regard to specialty restaurants, I don't mind so much. Actually I like the fact I can grab dinner in a different atmosphere and food style each night if I so choose. (I doubt we'll eat any dinners at the MDRs) That said, we're traveling without the kids and have ~half the cost. (I said "~" as I have seen some people get special rates at specialty restaurants with kids)

 

Of course all that said, I paid way too much for our Disney cruise which was our family of 4 (kids are both 6 or under), and we booked a couple months before and it was Spring Break - but it was around $7500 for an Ocean View. We're in BA's on the Epic in October (just two of us, not Spring Break and booked back in May irrc) for ~$2300. I think I can find room to pay for the specialty restaurants. (Although Disney lets you cruise with BYOB for free)

 

We're going to have a great time!

[lusitanica]

Night 1.

Dinner: Manhattan--- It's your first night, explore the ship

Night 2.

Dinner: Le Bistro------Theatre: Legends ---Club: Fat cats

 

Night 3.

Dinner: Cagney's-----Blue Man Group ----Club: Howl at the Moon

 

Night 4.

Dinner: Moderno-------Casino action ---------Club: Bliss

 

Night 5.

Dinner:Cirque Dreams----2nd City adult show ---------Club:Casino!

 

Night 6.

Dinner: La Cucina------2nd City regular show---------Club: Shakers!!

 

Night 7.

Dinner: Shanghai's-----Theatre: Packing :) ---------Club:All of them one last time

 

That's how you see your "differently structured" Epic entertainment.

Thank you.

[intrepid_guy]

That's how you see your "differently structured" Epic entertainment.

Thank you.

 

Exactly, and no two will be exactly the same. So many combinations of things to do, you can really tailor your experience. Sadly, for me, I feel like there probably won't be enough time to do everything I might want to do. But we are going to do our best to see and do as much as possible. Now, if I can convince my job to give me another week vacation to recover from my vacation... that would rock.

 

~Intrepid <-- will be exhausted on Aug 28.

[Collcoll]

What cruise line has "big production show(s)" every night??? In my experience they have 2-3 production shows that are repeated thru the week. As are the ones on EPIC. Plus EPIC has Cirque Dreams, comedy club, Jazz/Blues club, O'Sheehans for games, piano near Shakers and other things to do during the evenings... I cannot believe you were bored.

 

 

~Intrepid <-- Scratching his head.

 

When we sailed Carnival last year they had a different show every night.

[lusitanica]

First, let me start by saying this was our 1st NCL cruise. I've been a little leary as I have not heard too many positives about the line but with the new ship I thought it was time to give it a try. The following is what we; DW, DH, DD & her boyfriend experienced...

 

The Good.....

*Embarkation (easy)

*A pretty ship on the inside

*Excellent paid restaurants (Moderno my favorite)

*Great entertainment/shows but not enough of them

*3 water slides

*Lots of cabin storage space

*Comfy bed BUT.....(see the bad)

*Big shower

*Friendly staff

*Disembarkation (the best I've experienced)

 

The Bad.....

*No excitement upon entering the ship (a letdown)

*Boring sailing away party (probaby the worst)

*Promenade deck does not go around the ship at all, just along the sides

*Pools are too small, a lot of wasted space with sprinklers

*Cabin very narrow, could not get by the bed without almost turning sideways, always in each others way

*Bathroom/shower area not the best set up

*Beds are SHORT, I'm 5'5 and my toes were at the end

*No nightclub type atmopheres with dancing and lots of people having fun

*Way too many extra charges

*The food wasn't that great outside of the paid restaurants, seemed like it was always the same menu in Taste and Manhattern and the buffet got sickening after a few days.We felt like we were forced to eat at the paid restaurants to get a decent meal. First time we've ever paid to eat on board a ship, we've always been satisfied with the dining room food for the most part.

*MIA cruise director, Silas Cook was the worst, he was hardly visible the entire cruise so, so different then other lines "in my opinion a cruise director, a good one anyway, sets the tone each day and night not Silas!!!!

 

The Ugly.....

*The sink is just a total screw up...A shorter neck faucet might help but it was impossible to wash your face, shave or even brush your teeth without needing extra towels to wipe up all the water.It's also in a real BAD area especially if your bed is near the door...

*The ship just isn't very pretty to look at. It's big and awkward looking

 

I guess I/we arrived at most of these opinions by comparing experiences on this ship with that of our experiences on other ships. Needless to say, I'm glad I got the experience of sailing NCL, we did have good times and memories were made but it will be the last cruise we sail with them.

 

Very good review.

Why not look at this recommendation: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=25398519&postcount=1

[kattchatt]

Thanks Lusitanica....

 

I just tried to be honest based on my own experience but either way we had a great time...These were just things that we thought could have been improved....You'll fill your time, we did...I ended up on the internet alot to check on my parents and dog at home...I also spent a lot of time looking at pictures that were taken...It's oretty cool how they do it now...

 

Enjoy

[Kruizin'Kath]

I hope people aren't forgetting to take some free time to just enjoy....the view! Not too much that is more majestic than looking at the ocean, IMHO! And nothing beats a relaxing evening after a busy shore excursion;)! I know we won't get to everything we want to do (and eat)!