RCI crusted couple looking to book EPIC, push me over the NCL threshold!

[Verfai]

Hello NCL board, we are a couple in our early 30s, been sailing on Royal Caribbean the past three years…So it might be time to try something different, so looking to book EPIC this September.

I don’t really like the look of EPIC (yes I am sensitive to that :p LOL) , but after doing Allure in February, we can’t really go worse than that (did not really like the ship after the humongous wow feeling dissipated after two days on her)…And its what’s on the inside that is most important, by example we LOVE the Freedom & Voyager class on RCI.

 

Any convincing and or pointers comparing RCI to NCL (for better or worse) are more than welcome…So shoot and try to convince me to book this cruise :D

 

For some reason the “freestyle dining” scares me the most...We enjoy the mingling on cruises a lot as well as the dining at night with the new table mates…With everybody doing what they want, when they want, how do you get people together on a table???

 

We have some level of insight on EPIC from a friend, but still need an extra push :D

 

Thanks!

[HokiePoq]

Hello NCL board, we are a couple in our early 30s, been sailing on Royal Caribbean the past three years…So it might be time to try something different, so looking to book EPIC this September.

I don’t really like the look of EPIC (yes I am sensitive to that :p LOL) , but after doing Allure in February, we can’t really go worse than that (did not really like the ship after the humongous wow feeling dissipated after two days on her)…And its what’s on the inside that is most important, by example we LOVE the Freedom & Voyager class on RCI.

 

Any convincing and or pointers comparing RCI to NCL (for better or worse) are more than welcome…So shoot and try to convince me to book this cruise :D

 

For some reason the “freestyle dining” scares me the most...We enjoy the mingling on cruises a lot as well as the dining at night with the new table mates…With everybody doing what they want, when they want, how do you get people together on a table???

 

We have some level of insight on EPIC from a friend, but still need an extra push :D

 

Thanks!

 

We cruise both lines, but I love the Freestyle Dining on NCL. DH LOVES not having the pressure of carrying a suit with him on airplane flights taking up the weight. (Shirt and tie will do on formal or not night with not also being okay.) You can still sit with others during busy times if you wish, choosing the share table option. We've only been on two RCCL cruises but so far we've found the lounge entertainment on NCL is way better. The drink prices are way better. We loved Fat Cats and Howl at the Moon lounge entertainment on the Epic. We also enjoyed Blue Man, Second City, and Legends, but found ourselves spending more time at the lounges after seeing the big name shows once. (If you want to see shows another time, you can wait and be on standby at the door if the venues are not full.)

We were lucky to be able to upgrade to a suite for a segment of our cruise. The suite experience is fantastic (Epic Club private dining is awesome, but the regular dining is okay and much better in my personal opinion than on the two RCCL cruises we've taken.) I'd give RCCL pools and bathrooms in cabins the higher rating. The Epic (for fee) spa is great. Hope you decide to give NCL and the Epic a try!

[debshomespun]

We cruiser mostly RC...and have done 3 NCL and our next is on NCL Jewel. We enjoy the flexibility of being able to dine at any time. Also...the Blue Lagoon has an excellent menu for snacks...not sure if on the Epic though. We enjoy trying the other cruise lines for the difference they offer. The casino has always treated us to more winnings on NCL too!

[Verfai]

You both speak of the flexibility of the dining, how does it actually work in practice? You show up when your hungry, or you go for pre dinner drinks and watch on those monitors what is available??? Or are there other ways to make reservations (as I understand you can do so 24h in advance).

 

Well for NCL I will not be bringing my suite either unless people actually do dress up that much (We do enjoy the dress up thing a lot on RCI, but I will not want to stand out on NCL if nobody has a formal suit on).

[WaldosPepper]

I happened to notice your review links in your signature, and took note of the Oasis review indicating that you didn't like the ship, so I took the time to read and learn why. After reading that, and realizing that one of the things you hated about the ship was the disconnect from the sea, I fear that you may also hate the Epic, for the very same reason. Many complained about that same feeling, and fortunately NCL listed, and has rectified this problem with the Breakaway and Getaway. ;) For this specific reason, I would strongly encourage you to consider your first NCL experience on the Star or the Jade, if you are set on a European itinerary. These two ships allow you to truly enjoy the at-sea experience, but will also provide more than enough options for entertainment.

 

I also read on another of your reviews how much you disliked the continual Latin music theme on one of your cruises, and have to say that you will NEVER find a situation like that on any NCL ship, with the exception of the music-theme charters which are exclusive to the Pearl. :D

 

After reading your reviews and getting a good feel for what you both enjoy about a cruise, I suspect you will fall in love with NCL. Entertainment options are extensive, as are dining options. There are bars and lounges everywhere, and varied enough to suit whatever mood you are in. Dining options are plentiful as well, including wonderful poolside BBQ.

 

I did note that you enjoy meeting your fellow cruisers, and were fortunate enough to meet some fellow cc'ers as your tablemates. While NCL does not offer the standard fixed seating, the best way to meet new friends onboard is to attend the meet & greet for your sailing. No other cruise line puts on a m&g as well as NCL, complete with numerous officers in attendance, and there is no set minimum number of attendees either. You can also make arrangements to dine with other cc members whenever you choose, so you can truly have the best of both worlds.

 

I hope you will NCL, but based upon your opinion of the Oasis, I would definitely recommend any ship other than the Epic. ;)

[WaldosPepper]

You both speak of the flexibility of the dining, how does it actually work in practice? You show up when your hungry, or you go for pre dinner drinks and watch on those monitors what is available??? Or are there other ways to make reservations (as I understand you can do so 24h in advance).

 

Well for NCL I will not be bringing my suite either unless people actually do dress up that much (We do enjoy the dress up thing a lot on RCI, but I will not want to stand out on NCL if nobody has a formal suit on).

 

With Freestyle, you dine where you choose, when you choose, and with whom you choose. At any of the included venues you simply show up when you are hungry. There are monitors all around the ship which will let you know which venues are most crowded at any given time, which helps you decide where to go. ;)

 

For the specialty restaurants, you should make a reservation, but we have very often been able to simply walk up and get a table when they are not sold-out. The monitors will also display these venues, so it's very easy to determine when this is possible.

 

Regarding suits, by all means bring and wear your suit if you are so inclined. That's the beauty of freestyle! You wear what you want, regardless of whether or not it is a dress-up night. On any given night you will find people dressed in the entire range, and nobody thinks twice about it.

 

Ya gotta love freestyle! :D

[Verfai]

 

I hope you will NCL, but based upon your opinion of the Oasis, I would definitely recommend any ship other than the Epic. ;)

 

Well that's why I put them in the signature :D .

You are spot on about the warnings and some people already gave us these, as did you, that EPIC is very like Allure when it comes to being a lot except for a cruise ship :D...The thing is we are looking at September 22 and she basically is the only ship that is affordably priced as a kind of last minute cruise...

And I do enjoy a modern ship with a party atmosphere, just with a connection to the sea I guess...

[Verfai]

With Freestyle, you dine where you choose, when you choose, and with whom you choose. At any of the included venues you simply show up when you are hungry. There are monitors all around the ship which will let you know which venues are most crowded at any given time, which helps you decide where to go. ;)

 

For the specialty restaurants, you should make a reservation, but we have very often been able to simply walk up and get a table when they are not sold-out. The monitors will also display these venues, so it's very easy to determine when this is possible.

 

Regarding suits, by all means bring and wear your suit if you are so inclined. That's the beauty of freestyle! You wear what you want, regardless of whether or not it is a dress-up night. On any given night you will find people dressed in the entire range, and nobody thinks twice about it.

 

Ya gotta love freestyle! :D

 

I think I'll pass on the suit for EPIC :D

What happens at the door of your chosen dining venue? Somebody takes you to a table, or you get number that is called when a table is avalibe?

[graphicguy]

OP...I felt exactly the same as you about Allure. Epic is my favorite ship so far (headed out on the Breakaway in 3 weeks, so that may change). Epic gives you much more of an "out to sea" experience than the Allure. Entertainment is a quantum leap better.

 

And, as others say, dress how you want, eat when you want, anywhere you want. You may have to wait 10 minutes or so during busy times, but I waited longer than that on the Allure in the MDR.

 

Something tells me you'll love Epic.

[Verfai]

OP...I felt exactly the same as you about Allure. Epic is my favorite ship so far (headed out on the Breakaway in 3 weeks, so that may change). Epic gives you much more of an "out to sea" experience than the Allure. Entertainment is a quantum leap better.

 

And, as others say, dress how you want, eat when you want, anywhere you want. You may have to wait 10 minutes or so during busy times, but I waited longer than that on the Allure in the MDR.

 

Something tells me you'll love Epic.

 

Can you be bit more specific how the EPIC is more a ship as compared to Allure? You are putting my mind more at ease ;)

[WaldosPepper]

I think I'll pass on the suit for EPIC :D

What happens at the door of your chosen dining venue? Somebody takes you to a table, or you get number that is called when a table is avalibe?

 

Smart decision. Hubby takes a sport coat, but nothing fancier than that. ;)

 

When you arrive at a dining room, if there is a table immediately available you are seated right then. Other wise, you are given a disk that will light up and vibrate when your table is ready. In four cruises since the inception of full-on freestyle, we have NEVER ONCE had to wait for a table! Use the monitors to gauge your timing and venue. ;)

[Verfai]

Smart decision. Hubby takes a sport coat, but nothing fancier than that. ;)

 

When you arrive at a dining room, if there is a table immediately available you are seated right then. Other wise, you are given a disk that will light up and vibrate when your table is ready. In four cruises since the inception of full-on freestyle, we have NEVER ONCE had to wait for a table! Use the monitors to gauge your timing and venue. ;)

 

thx

[tomjohnsonjr]

Ok

Maybe we will go.

[Sauer-kraut]

I think I'll pass on the suit for EPIC :D

What happens at the door of your chosen dining venue? Somebody takes you to a table, or you get number that is called when a table is avalibe?

 

A hostess will swipe your card and another assistant will then take you to a table. You may tell the hostess that you are willing to share a table, but there might not be anyone else to seat you with. Many prefer to dine with their immediate party. Even though your card is swiped you are more than welcome to have a second meal at any other restaurant, excluding the specialty restaurants which incur a fee. IF the venue is full, you will be given a beeper (just like on land) and will get a coupon for a drink at the bar, where you can wait until your table is ready.

 

There might be a line at popular times, so that is why the boards are around showing where more availability will be. There are so many dining venues on the EPIC, I ate mostly at Manhattan MDR as I was a solo cruiser and our group tended to get a table there. Taste is also nice and the Buffet was actually pretty good as well. I didn't dine in any specialty restaurants so can't comment on them. I did eat a breakfast at O'Sheehans as well as a lunch as they had bangers and mash as a daily special one day.

 

I did miss the sea, but I bought a spa pass and there is a large aft balcony where I could sit and watch. I wasn't able to traverse the ship much as I was in a walking cast so the spa pass was a good deal for me.

 

As to dressing up.... Many do, many don't; many opt to dress up on the 'non' designated "Norwegian's Night Out" evening. So if its not a big deal to bring dressier attire and you enjoy dressing, go for it!

[sdmike]

OP - Do a search on RCI vs NCL or CCL vs NCL and get lots of information on how NCL is different.

 

The restaurants are just like being on land. About half the options are free, and you just show up. Most of the time they will seat you immediatly. If busy, you might have to want 10 minutes or so. It's never long. You can make reservations at the specialty restaurants 45 days in advance if you want, or you can do so on board...or you can just show up. Teppanyaki is the one that's usually booked up in advance. There are also a la carte options - sushi, a noodle bar where you would just walk up. They will also deliver pizza to you any place on the ship for $5.

 

There's lots of Epic information in my signature area

[Verfai]

FYI, over here, we don't have the pager system at restaurants :D you have a reservation or not, empty tables are filled if somebody cancels or available...They generally just tell you when to come back if the venue is full at the time.

 

Thx all for all the info in EPIC, we will be asking leave at work tomorrow for Sep 22 :D

[jonbgd]

interesting you like the Voyager/Freedom class but didnt like the Oasis. I feel diconnected fron the sea on those ships compared to the Radiance.

Saying that you will be even more disconnected from the sea on the Epic

At least on the Voyager class you can walk outside of th ship all the way around on the promenade deck

Also the pool deck is difficult to navigate on the Epic but less CHOGS

 

 

We dont like the freestyle dining of NCL as we enjoy the same waiter every night like you get with RCCL.

But you can put a request in at the door(NCL) if there is a certain waiter you want and are willing to wait for a table to open.

Its like going to a land restaurant

 

The specalty restaurants offer alot of great choices Teppanyaki was awesome

The Buffet of the Epc is the best at sea of any of the 6 cruiselines Ive been on

My biggest complaint is the bathroom setup but it didnt stop us from bookiing it again for a TA.

 

 

I would recommend the Epic to anyone that enjoys cruising just go with an open mind.

SHe isnt perfect but for the cheaper than Carnival prices it is a good deal

[graphicguy]

Can you be bit more specific how the EPIC is more a ship as compared to Allure? You are putting my mind more at ease ;)

 

Sounds like the others have explained their preferences. Be happy to answer any specific questions you might have.

[niclan6]

We sailed on Oasis of the Seas in March 2011 and are booked on Epic in December. My wife and I sailed on Norwegian Sky as our only NCL experience and loved it! We are so excited for Epic. We found the atmosphere so much more relaxed on NCL than on Oasis and it had much more of a party (fun) atmosphere. The nightlife was great and the White Hot Party was a blast. On Oasis we were with our kids but on the Sky we were alone so that might have had something to do with it. I agree with you about the look of Epic, it is not a great looking ship but it sounds like there are a lot of great things on the inside. To me it looks like the Haven area at the top of the ship was an add-on after the fact and just looks awkward. The food, waterslides, entertainment and service (we are booked in a Haven Suite for the first time) are what we are looking forward to the most. Although we enjoyed all of that on Oasis, from what I have read, sounds like Epic is even better in all of these categories (exept waterslides, which oasis does not have but the flowriders and zip line on Oasis were both fun).

[Verfai]

Well I will be sure to come back with a review here :D the price is the main thing that makes us book this...When the leave is approved from work, we will book asap :D It just is time to try something else.

 

Gretz