My Epic adventure! Dec. 10-17

[jdvmd]

Thanks so much for sharing! So glad you all had a wonderful time!

[kerrytens]

Ship itself - I thought I'd touch on the ship for a bit. I know many others have given their opinions as well but I wanted to add one more opinion. Personally, I loved it. We had no issues getting around it and if truth be told, it felt smaller to me than what I was expecting.

 

Our cabin on deck 12 right near the bay of elevators so perhaps that helped in my perspective of the ship. The buffet and lido deck were a quick 3 floor climb of the stairs.

 

I didn't miss an outside promenade deck but then again I've never really used it on any other ship. I quite liked the atrium area. A soaring ceiling and winding staircase were, again, not missed by me. The casino didn't bother me one bit. The times that I walked through it, there was no smoke smell to be found (NCL really has taken care of that issue from early sailings, it seems). Yes, it was loud for a non-casino person but it wasn't like I was going to hang out there. I was just walking through. I could see how a gambler would love this casino though - it is huge. LOL!

 

Outside decks were busy but there was always some loungers available. It really amazed me that you could put 4500 pax on this ship and yet it still didn't feel totally crowded to me. There was always a spot to go to, if you wanted.

[kerrytens]

Now, for the part that was basically my last impression of the ship - debarkation. I really wish I could say that it was seamless but it wasn't. It was the moment I left my cabin with carryon in hand, that I truly realized just how many people there were on this ship. There was NO WAY three of us were going to fit onto an elevator - each one that opened was packed. I finally told my sister where we'd meet and kiddo and I headed down the stairs with the others who had obviously given up.

 

Once we reached deck 7, we had to switch staircases to get to the next level as the crew had blocked ours off. We got to deck 6 and were met by a sea of humanity that wanted to go in the opposite direction of us (they were lined up all the way back to O'Sheehans - our destination actually). We eventually did arrive there and my sister arrived about 5 minutes later explaining that you had to just go for it in order to squeeze yourself in an elevator. At one point as we were waiting, the CD made an announcement saying that the port folks had requested that the ship stop allowing folks out as it was very crowded in the terminal. Yikes!!!

 

We waited until they basically said get the heck off now announcement and it was fine in the terminal for the most part but that sea of humanity had made its way to the taxi lineup up:eek: Not totally NCL's fault but I did expect it to be much less crowded based on other's reviews. Oh well. It just wasn't the way I wanted to end my cruise. And again, priority debarkation was something that another cruiseline had arranged for us so yet another negative comparison.

 

I left the ship sad actually. I wanted to purchase a future cruise credit onboard but I couldn't make myself do it based on the start but the end sort of sealed it for me.

 

Now, with the benefit of time, I have realized that my daughter was totally fine with how everything ran for us (despite my frustrations) so I have begun to concentrate more on the good about the trip.

 

I have written to my access contact and she was horrified by all that happened. She has promised me that she'll have her supervisor contact me once she returns from her vacation. I'm not really looking for anything at all, if truth be told, but it is more me trying to smooth the road for future families who may have simple requests like priority boarding and debarkation. I really want the line to know that there seems to be a drop in communication somewhere between the access department and the ship.

 

So, as to not end my review on a negative note ... let's just say that we had a fabulous time if you take the beginning and end out of our cruise;)

 

I am going to post some pics and let them do most of the talking now!!

[kerrytens]

View directly below my balcony

 

 

Looking forward while sailing. You can't really tell in this shot but it sure felt rougher than it appears. LOL! One night we had spray hitting our balcony!

 

 

 

Thanks Miami Port Authority!!!

 

 

OK, more pics to follow later today!!!!

[CathyCanada]

Enjoying your report. I was on that sailing "for work" and met a lot of solo travellers (including a few fellow Canucks) but knew we likely would have "class time" when your meet was so couldn't attend.

 

I have a son with special needs as well and understand how easy it is to compare cruise lines regarding how each deals with your child's individual needs. Some were great, others not so much :(

 

Love to hear about the Crew that made the trip special for your daughter too and sure hope you had time to do a guest comment card.

 

The glass on our balcony was filthy as well and if we could ever pin our stateroom host down, we may have asked him to clean it but considering it took him 3 requests to separate the beds, I wasn't holding my breath. Fortunately he was the exception and not the rule as we found every other crew member to be wonderful. Armando in Shakers (and Ganesh too) were awesome!

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures.

[Ontario cruise duo]

Kerrytens, good review. Glad to read that things turned around for you after your initial boarding. Just wanted to mention on the subject of debarkation, when we were on the Epic in November, 2010 and debarking, and in no hurry to get to an airport as we were staying one extra day in FLL, we took our `sweet old time` getting off the ship, which I believe was one of the first times we have done this in our previous six sailings. We were in the building picking up our luggage around 9:00 and there were very few luggages left as well as departing cruisers. Very unstressful, probably the easiest that we`ve ever been able to spot our all black luggage, and a swift passage through customs. Would greatly suggest more people do this, if they are not heading to the airport to catch an early flight!! Also, still loads of taxi`s outside waiting for clients. Have since purchased a new set of luggage, one piece with store tags still on them from December 2010 and I`ll be able to spot that black plaid luggage even quicker for our upcoming March cruise on the Dawn. Calgone... take me (us) away!

[kerrytens]

I have a son with special needs as well and understand how easy it is to compare cruise lines regarding how each deals with your child's individual needs. Some were great, others not so much :(

 

Love to hear about the Crew that made the trip special for your daughter too and sure hope you had time to do a guest comment card.

 

The glass on our balcony was filthy as well and if we could ever pin our stateroom host down, we may have asked him to clean it but considering it took him 3 requests to separate the beds, I wasn't holding my breath. Fortunately he was the exception and not the rule as we found every other crew member to be wonderful. Armando in Shakers (and Ganesh too) were awesome!

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures.

Thanks so much for the nice comments. Like I said earlier, I really struggled with this review because I really did have a great time ... eventually;) but that initial contact was so upsetting.

 

And yes, I definitely filled out comment cards for all of the staff that made a difference for me and my family!!

[kerrytens]

Kerrytens, good review. Glad to read that things turned around for you after your initial boarding. Just wanted to mention on the subject of debarkation, when we were on the Epic in November, 2010 and debarking, and in no hurry to get to an airport as we were staying one extra day in FLL, we took our `sweet old time` getting off the ship, which I believe was one of the first times we have done this in our previous six sailings. We were in the building picking up our luggage around 9:00 and there were very few luggages left as well as departing cruisers. Very unstressful, probably the easiest that we`ve ever been able to spot our all black luggage, and a swift passage through customs. Would greatly suggest more people do this, if they are not heading to the airport to catch an early flight!! Also, still loads of taxi`s outside waiting for clients. Have since purchased a new set of luggage, one piece with store tags still on them from December 2010 and I`ll be able to spot that black plaid luggage even quicker for our upcoming March cruise on the Dawn. Calgone... take me (us) away!

We did the debark you did actually. We waited until they booted us off of the ship and our luggage was some of the last in the storage area (mind you pink wasn't hard to find:D ). It was the running of the bulls, LOL, that was the hard part of it. I would do it all over again but wait longer in my room!

 

Have a great cruise!!!!

[Ajkcruiser]

I would like to pick ur brain about the Epic's kids club.

 

I had an amazing experience on the Spirit and as u know.....doing another TA on the Epic....

 

I want my little girl to experience it ALL.....so I have a hundred and one questions about the Epic from ur integration views.......this is soooo very important to me.

 

I only left my girl at the Spirit club few hours.....and would like to know about the Epic's activities for the kids....

 

Thanks

 

AJ

[Prnsessmoi]

Great review. I really appreciate the fact that you included the "disappointments" that you encountered. It helps others, as they know that there can be "hiccups", even when you think you've gotten everything covered. I also appreciate the fact that you didn't just "write off" the cruise as a failure because of a few hiccups.

 

So glad you and your family had a great time!

[NYGirl1002]

Thank for your review. I know it was awhile ago but I had never seen it.

 

I, too, have a special needs daughter and it's so true that we look at how our children are treated. I have been very lucky on all of our cruises to have the staff treat her very well...the best being Disney.

 

She loves to cruise and I try and book as many as I can afford. Our first NCL is in about 40 days.

[kerrytens]

Great review. I really appreciate the fact that you included the "disappointments" that you encountered. It helps others, as they know that there can be "hiccups", even when you think you've gotten everything covered. I also appreciate the fact that you didn't just "write off" the cruise as a failure because of a few hiccups.

 

So glad you and your family had a great time!

 

 

Thank for your review. I know it was awhile ago but I had never seen it.

 

I, too, have a special needs daughter and it's so true that we look at how our children are treated. I have been very lucky on all of our cruises to have the staff treat her very well...the best being Disney.

 

She loves to cruise and I try and book as many as I can afford. Our first NCL is in about 40 days.

 

Thanks to both of you! My sister just told me that there have been new posts in my review.

 

As the months have gone by, I've come to realize that this cruise really was THE best cruise we've taken so far and that is solely due to my daughter. She adored this ship and I did too. It is because of her that we are all booked again ... yes, we are waiting until 2014 but an 8 day on this ship will be worth it:D

 

I should also mention that I did receive the personal call from the access dept manager - she was nothing short of wonderful. I discovered shortly after booking our next cruise that she is already aware of our booking too and has promised to personally oversee it. How is that for some incredible customer service?

 

I am a huge fan of this line and a large part of that is because of their staff.

 

Now, if only it were January 2014;)