RCI Nursery for 3 year old? or the NCL Epic?

[maui_zaui]

Debating a last minute cruise at the end of May. My little one turns 3 years old on May 10. She is not yet potty trained, and may or may not be at the time of the cruise. Do you think the RCCL royal tots will accept her, since she will still technically be 36 months old ( I think so at least...May 2010 - May 2013....36 months)?

 

Else, we can go on the Epic, but I am little wary of how big it is. I am not too keen on the freestyle dining concept, though I admit I have never done it before. I don't want to feel nickle'd and dime'd for everything.

 

We are also traveling with an 8 year old, and I think she will like the Epic more. We have been on the Mariner of the Seas and loved it, but the LOS seems to have less on offer.

 

So, a couple factors in play here. But primarily, we want to be able to leave our little one for a few hours here and there.

[mjkacmom]

I never understand the nickle and dimming comments with regards to NCL. NCL just doesn't have assigned dining times (just like restaurants on land). NCL provides more free dining, and more fee-based dining, than the other lines. You get more choices! The other lines charge for the same things - photos, casino, alcohol, excursions, etc.

[boulders]

The Epic is only 12% larger than the Mariner. Are you talking about Liberty of the Seas or Legend of the Seas? Liberty would definitely have more for the 8 year old than Mariner.

[maui_zaui]

I'm talking Legend of the Seas.

 

And regards to NCL, I admit that I've never been before and realize that the add ons are indeed more options. However, I wonder if so many add-ons result in the the base/normal/included foods being at a lower standard, etc.

[youngestof9]

I'm talking Legend of the Seas.

 

And regards to NCL, I admit that I've never been before and realize that the add ons are indeed more options. However, I wonder if so many add-ons result in the the base/normal/included foods being at a lower standard, etc.

 

That's what the anti-NCL'ers would have you think. But I've sailed the Epic twice and the buffet and the main dining rooms are excellent. I was in a suite and had the option to eat in the Epic Club (which is their private restaurant) and still opted to eat at both the Manhattan Room and Taste (both free MDRs). We also loved O'Sheehans, which is a 24-hour restaurant with the best of comfort foods (meatloaf, burgers, wings, chicken pot pie and amazing brownie sundaes!).

 

There are an abundance of specialty restaurants. And while you do have to pay more for them, to me it was nice having the option to do so. We ate in 3 specialties for the week, plus the Cirque Dreams dinner show. We ate in Teppanyaki (hibachi style), LaCucina (Italian - with great views - ask for the very front if you dine here) and Moderno (without the kids - Brazilian - meat meat and more meat). And while they were worth it to us, I was more than happy at the MDRs. The buffet is delicious and has a lot of choices.

 

The Epic is large but there's a lot to do. As far as the kids club, they have to be 3 (as in they have had to celebrated their third birthday) to be in the regular kids club. We were happy with the kids club on both sailings (5 & 12 first time, 7 and 14 (teen club) the second time), although I don't like that they close from 12-2 and 5-7 for meals. But we worked around it.

 

Good luck making your choice!