EPIC Family Adventure 11.24.12

[crusinmama06]

Day 5 - St. Thomas

 

Awaken to another beautiful day pulling into port. It's hard for me to sleep in when I have this going on outside balcony door.

 

 

 

Again we have some other ships joining this party. Explorer OTS, Vision OTS, a HAL ship, and then Norwegian Sun.

 

 

And finally, Little Gaga has awaken and is ready to start her day!

 

[crusinmama06]

Day 5 - Continued - Bolongo Bay

 

A group of us got together to head over to Bolongo Bay Beach Resort. The cost of the taxi was $8pp. They do have day passes available. The price of those day passes was kind of hazy - do double check if you would like to go. I think we were told $120 for a "family of 4, no alcohol, no lunch, non-motorized water sports" but you can purchase lunch and drinks there at the resort.

 

 

 

The beach - although almost completely private and deserted was VERY rocky at the entry point. They said they had some hurricane damage. So bring water shoes.

 

 

And thanks to this resort - my little one has a new obsession - can you spot the iguana over her head?

 

 

Introducing Drazil (lizard spelled backwards) her new best friend from St.Thomas. She wants a real one for Christmas :o

 

[NYGirl1002]

You have a beautiful family. Your daughters are so adorable.

[raylene5]

For sanitary reasons, we don't use the pools, hot tubs, or the water slides. There are just too many people in too little water.

 

Ha ha...yeah, we don't either! :)

[ClaireAndMike]

OMG the poop soup thing (that's a hilarious way to describe it) makes me want to vomit!!! Especially to me who is not kid friendly, though I have no problem picking up my Maltese's little poops in the backyard, go figure. Although, hers are "in tact" rather than "poop soup" (hahaha, still laughing at that).

 

Seriously though, that's really irritating. Why can't people follow that rule?

[sjn911]

Wonderful review..thanks so much,,Sarah

[crusinmama06]

Night 5 - Wednesday

 

Legends!

 

Tuesday night - we went to see the "pre-booked" performance of Legends without the kids (remember, Pirate party conflict). And after seeing it we knew this was something the girls would not want to miss!

 

AMAZING! The best show! We screamed until we lost our voices!

 

The show starts off with Whoopi hosting (and a song from Sister Act), then 4 songs from Jimmy Buffet, then 4 from Donna Summer and the screaming came to a fever pitch when Michael Jackson took the stage. Michael was perfect. And stayed in character the entire show. Even when people were screaming "We love you Michael!!!!!!"

 

He performed Thriller, Billie Jean, Want To Be Starting Something and Black/White

 

And of course - pictures available with everyone after the show.

 

 

After Legends the kids ran to change for the "Splash Family Deck Party" - dancing, riding water slides, swimming and hot tubs from 9pm - 11pm

 

Again - another not to miss for Families!

[crusinmama06]

Day 6 - Thursday - Sea Day

 

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea...

 

Today is our Breakfast with Nickelodeon in the Spiegel Tent!

 

Cost is $10 for children - $15 for adults

 

The menu is the same for all who attend - this is the child's breakfast appetizer: jello, yogurt, fruit loops, fruit

 

 

The adult breakfast appetizer - fruit, jello, yogurt

 

 

And then both children and adults get this as the main plate - eggs, banana pancakes, bacon, sausage, hash brown patties

 

 

The Nick crew announce that we are all suppose to stay "behind the tape lines" for our safety and the characters come out and do a 10 minute dance show

 

 

 

[crusinmama06]

Nick Breakfast Continued....

 

After the first character intro - the Nick Host calls each table up by number to meet the characters one by one and get pictures taken and autographs (stamps done on the menu)

 

This was one day that I was glad we had the "unlimited photo package" tee hee

 

We are goofy goobers yeah!

 

 

Dooo do do do do Dora!

 

 

Aang from Avatar

 

 

Go Diego Go!

 

 

And the breakfast ended with the Goofy Goober song. Huge smiles all around :D

[crusinmama06]

Day - 6 - Sea Day - Nickelodeon Arts & Crafts

 

Today seems to be our Nick day. We had missed an earlier arts & crafts with Nick so we head to Bliss Lounge to do this one. It's no added charge. And this one happened to be Spongebob bandanas. Very stylin' lol

 

 

 

 

After bandanas - the girls headed to the kids crew for a little Circus training. Which we didn't know hadn't completed yet when we picked them up for Family Cupcake Decorating. So they were a little miffed at mom and dad that their circus aspirations (blood, sweat & tears) had all been for naught.

 

See - she is still mad - thinking "I will never realize my dream of being a professional plate spinner"

 

 

Little Gaga is easier to please - everything is better with sugar

 

[crusinmama06]

Night 6 - Dinner in Taste

 

We need to fuel up because its WHITE HOT NIGHT! And the Epic has FAMILY White Hot :D

 

 

 

 

[crusinmama06]

Night 6 - FAMILY White Hot Party!

 

This was our first Family White Hot Party and I know it's not done on every ship but Norwegian should seriously consider doing this on all ships with a moderate to high amount of kids onboard because it was FANTASTIC for the kids and I know the adults loved having their own Adult only White Hot (I saw enough pictures)

 

This was the schedule:

Family White Hot - Main Pool 10pm - 11:30

Adult White Hot - Spice H20 10:30pm

Teen White Hot - Entourage Teen Club - AFTER Family ended at 11:30

 

Video of the Family White Hot here

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f144/cruisinmama08/323AC92C-616B-48C1-B237-6E09500C69D9-418-0000004DFBAB54E5.mp4

 

The kids had such a great time (and some parents too) This was such a highlight! All of the friends the kids had met onboard were there and everyone was dancing their little hearts out.

 

 

Fan boy from "Fan Boy & Chum Chum" came out to join the party (pictured dancing on the right)

 

 

One of my angels

 

 

And the other...

 

[Cupcrazy]

Another fantastic review Michele! Thanks for posting. Great pictures too

[crusinmama06]

Day 7 - Nassau, Bahamas

 

It's the last day of our cruise and the skies aren't looking great. I am not one of those who *usually* stays onboard in Nassau. I love Nassau and we have done some great things here (swam with dolphins at Blue Lagoon, swam with stingrays at Blackbeards, hit the waterslides at Atlantis).

 

But TODAY - the skies are against us. So we decide against my original plans (I wanted to check out the Sheraton-Nassau - $40 day pass - but that's too much to spend on a rained out day)

 

So we use the Epic facilities for the day. My husband did get off the ship with a friend and as guys do - completed a day's worth of shopping in 20 minutes at the port.

 

The seagulls loved our arrival.

 

 

 

The British Colonial Hilton that everyone talks about going to was right off of our balcony view.

 

 

Tonight for the girls - PJ Party! The girls dressed in PJs and we went to the Garden Buffet for dinner. Then dropped them off at the Kids Crew for their party.

 

We headed back to the cabin and packed. Always such a sad night on the cruise - bringing those bags back out from underneath the bed.

[crusinmama06]

Day 8 - Welcome to Miami

 

I wake up before sunrise and see Miami off our balcony. I love the mornings on the balcony. It's my time to reflect and get my head together before the rest of the Fam wake up.

 

 

We decided to do the Self Express walk off. So we still have our luggage. A little after 7am there is a knock at the door "Helloooo, Good morning Miss Michele. Ok"

 

Code for "Cruise over - GET OFF MY SHIP!" Why is it they always seem so much nicer on Day 1? Lol

 

I wake the kids and by 8:05 we are walking off the ship. We have arrangements with QLS to pick us up and take us to FLL ($12pp) We have to "call when we are outside the ship".

 

The shuttle finds us. And then starts the rounds to pick up passengers from CCL and X - bye bye Epic!

 

 

A little note on QLS - we did a "tour of Hiltons in Fort Lauderdale" because the driver was to drop off passengers at Hilton Garden and he took them to the Hilton. I had a migraine at this point and wasn't happy we were driving all around to drop 4 guest off. He should have confirmed the address with them at the start of the trip.

 

But we finally arrive at the airport and we are on our way back home to 34 degree temps. Yikes!

 

 

Everyone asks "What is your favorite?" I have to say - we had an INCREDIBLE cruise on Epic. The girls had a serious case of "PCD" (Post Cruise Depression) the second we stepped off the ship. Which means that they loved it!

 

Was everything perfect? No, of course not. As others have said in the past - there is a disconnect with the ocean on this ship. The kids crew was not as warm and welcoming as our experience on Gem - which also has to do with the sheer number of kids.

 

But if you want a Family Fun - activity packed ship that has non-stop action going on for the kids from sun up to sun down (and then some) - then EPIC is the ship for your family.

 

Till next time....maybe we have to Breakaway :D

[OnTheGoMom921]

Thanks for a great review, love the pictures! Glad overall you had a good time!

 

~Michele:D

[QTMichele]

Okay, so what are your favorite ships? My favorites are the Freedom Class and Oasis Class - so far! I've been seriously toying with booking Epic, but our schedule conflicts with theirs (i.e. summer!). How does the NCL experience compare with Royals?

 

Thanks again, Michele!

[NYGirl1002]

I just cannot get over how adorable your younger daughter is. I love her hats and her smile.

 

Thank you for your wonderful review.

[crusinmama06]

Okay, so what are your favorite ships? My favorites are the Freedom Class and Oasis Class - so far! I've been seriously toying with booking Epic, but our schedule conflicts with theirs (i.e. summer!). How does the NCL experience compare with Royals?

 

Thanks again, Michele!

 

We have had nothing but a great experience on Norwegian ships. You know me - it all comes down to "Are the kids having fun?" The Epic knocked it out of the park for them.

 

We missed some of the personalized attention of the dining staff. Little Gaga wanted her "guacamole and chips with 50/50 ice tea/lemonade waiting for her at the dining table" -- not going to happen. But what we gave up in personalized attention more than made up for it in Entertainment/Activities.

[iluvdoxies]

Love your little Gaga !

[QTMichele]

We have had nothing but a great experience on Norwegian ships. You know me - it all comes down to "Are the kids having fun?" The Epic knocked it out of the park for them.

 

We missed some of the personalized attention of the dining staff. Little Gaga wanted her "guacamole and chips with 50/50 ice tea/lemonade waiting for her at the dining table" -- not going to happen. But what we gave up in personalized attention more than made up for it in Entertainment/Activities.

 

The entertainment is why I want to go on Epic. :) I'm attracted to the freestyle aspect as well. I love that your girls enjoyed themselves - makes for a great trip!

[kerrytens]

Thanks again for a great review Michele. Your daughters are just adorable:D

[Twinkstarr]

Hey Michele, was on the roll call with you. Between your pics(especially the ones of the Family White Hot Party) and how much fun I had, the boys and DH want to go on the Epic.

 

Now it won't be until 2014, which is okay as DH would rather do the Western route and Easter is late that year, so we'll go on break in my guess early April.

[dirtgirl]

Great review, Michele!!! Were we even on the same ship? :D It was a whole different cruise for me entirely! ;) Mind you, I was in a studio cabin and just hung with adults all week, so I missed every single family activity that you mentioned. Sounds like you all had an amazing time! That poop thing is GROSS, though. :eek: One day we will actually have to cruise together, and get to see each other. :)

[youngestof9]

okay girl you have me even more excited for February!!