Epic journey March 31-April 6

[LPut714]

I 60 and husband 65 just returned from the 3/31-4/6 sailing of the Norwegian Epic. We have about 16 cruises under our belts, most with RC and Carnival. We got this ‘free cruise’ thru Caesars Windsor casino and thought we would give it a shot. We had done the Allure of the Seas in Feb and loved it so the bar was set pretty high.

 

I am not going to do a long wordy review just highlight some things and hope that helps.

 

We flew down to Miami the day before on Delta-flights weren’t cheap. Check in and check you bags at the curb side check in-will definitely save time. Flight was bumpy the entire way, but not unpleasant

 

We arrived in Miami at around noon. I had pre paid for a night at Comfort Inn and Suites Airport North on Minola Avenue ($168 included airport pick up, breakfast and shuttle to port). A quick call to them once we had our bags and the van was there to pick us up in about ten minutes. Being early no rooms were ready so we just stored our bags. I had read about Tom’s NFL Sports Bar on Cruise Critic, so thought we would try it for a late lunch (it is a short walk from the hotel). We had sandwiches and a couple of beers-not to exciting but filled us up. We then wanted to get some beer to have pool side and vodka to fill my rum runners. We walked in the opposite direction to Airport Café and Liquor (both places are located on 36th street). Back to the hotel to find room ready-but as soon as we entered found it extremely musty smelling-they changed us to room 102 which was much better but now had the noise of all the people going to the elevator. We unpacked a few things and then relaxed by the pool. We had brought some snacks from home, so just munched and relaxed. There was A LOT of airport noise, being a light sleeper didn’t allow for a sound sleep. We had booked a 9:30am shuttle pick up (done at check in) so up early and showered and then to breakfast. Not as good as some we have had in the past. Did have cold/hot cereal, waffles, juice, coffee/tea-so no problems with filling up. It did get more crowded as the morning went on. We met in the lobby at our assigned time. They offered shuttles from the port to the airport (Miami) for $10 per person thru KSA tours-we went ahead and booked them since I had read a taxi was $25.

 

We boarded the shuttle and we were at the pier in about 15 minutes. There were plenty of porters to take your bags, with the $1 per bag tip. Check in was extremely easy-since we were guests of Casinos at Sea we just went to their desk. Within 5 minutes we were done and given boarding group one at 10am. This is where it gets crazy. On our past cruises they have some sort of system to seat you by i.e. group 1 in one row, group 2 the next, etc. But here they just let everyone sit where ever. Several times groups just got up and tried to get on. Our group was called about 11:45am, by this time the waiting area was standing room only. We were on the ship at noon.

 

We headed to the Garden Café and found a spot. The ‘washy washy’ police were out in force. The Epic has lines for the buffet vs. various stations, this made it hard if you just wanted to grab one item do you cut in line or go to the end. They also offer hamburgers/hot dogs at the Great Outdoors. Their offered items would change during the week. The food was ok, we thought over the entire food lacked flavor. If you went to the buffet, by the time you found a seat your food would be cold.

Some other food info-

¨ The buffet at breakfast does eggs benedict and omelet’s (just be sure to get in the right line) for dinner you can get desert crepes made. Lobster is only offered in the buffet (2nd night) some were very tasty and others half cooked-they do limit you to one at a time

¨ We did try O’Sheehan’s for breakfast and snacks-not good. Service seemed to be very slow

¨ We ate most nights in the Manhattan Dining room-you can request to be seated with a certain server if you liked them-we loved Lovely and sat there 4 nights. We didn’t feel anything stood out at dinner-spring rolls very good, steaks tough. We didn’t pay for any specialty dining

¨ We did notice that some of the stations seemed to run out of things a lot-plates were gone on many stations and then they ran out of lemonade on the first day. I don’t know if they don’t have enough staff to restock items.

 

We were able to get into the cabins at 1:30pm. We were in cabin 12235 and inside mid but were definitely closer to the aft. We liked being on 12 as it was just a couple of decks up to the pools and buffet. It was a hike after the shows-we don’t use elevators in order to get some exercise.

Some cabin thoughts-

¨ Slept like a rock every night-bed extremely comfortable

¨ Lighting is horrible-very dark-there are two lights that can be accessed by the switch under the medicine cabinet. I did have them send a make up mirror to help me see

¨ When I sat on the vanity seat, I could only see half of my face in the mirror

¨ Hated where the electrical plugs are-under the vanity at the end

¨ Tons of storage-we have shelves and nooks that we didn’t use-plenty of hangers. I hung a shoe holder at the end of our closet (on the outside) and stored post its, sharpies, pens, etc. Loved the room in the medicine cabinet above the sink

¨ Toilet/shower set up is very poor. Sink outside is very small. If I wasn’t traveling with my husband it would be uncomfortable. They was a curtain you could pull for some privacy. There is no ‘noise reduction’ doors on the toilet door. No bar in shower for shaving legs. Shampoo and shower gel are provided as is soap above the sink.

¨ Small safe that you set up with 4 digit code-IPAD wouldn’t fit so we just stood it along side

¨ I did call to have a robe sent up so I could put it on after showers, sent up in no time

¨ Had 3 different towel animals

¨ No noise or anything to keep us awake

¨ No fridge in room, just had a cooling drawer that you could put things and cover with ice-didn’t use

¨ Cases fit under the beds no problem

¨ Working the lights is a little crazy-you have to put your key card in the slot when you first enter-then work the lights. Our light was out in the toilet area and took until the second day to get it fixed even tho we left a not for room attendant

All the staff we encountered all over the ship were excellent. They would go out of there way to say ‘Hello”. I had ready about some looking like they didn’t enjoy their jobs-we didn’t encounter that at all.

 

I had booked my shows on line 45 days before we left. The entertainment that we did see for the most part was GOOD. We loved Blue Man Group-went to show about half hour before and got great seats. The Legends show was ok-Steven Tyler was good. We loved listening to Howl at the Moon in the Headliners club-no reservations needed. We did go to the Adult only 2nd City and it was very good. We didn’t book the Cirque show but heard it was good. We didn’t care for the Hypnotist Nadeen.

 

The reason we were on the cruise was for Casinos at Sea-so naturally we spent quite a bit of time there. It is a very large casino with a lot of various slots-none paying to well that I saw. We did get free drinks while gambling but always made to tip the server as they didn’t get the 15% gratuity as like on other drinks. We did find that it was smokey in spots but nothing too bad. They did offer slot tournaments on all the sea days. Got to know many of the drink server’s quite well, loved hearing about the home countries, families, etc.-Gus, Rusty, Soledad, and Martina-you were the GREATEST.

 

For our port trips-We books a tour to the Blue Hole with Courtney Taylor. This was the BEST. It is a lot less crowded than at Dunn’s river. The guides that go with you are so polite and patient-we did make sure to tip them at the end. The transportation was $25/person, $10 entrance to the Blue Hole-very well worth it. We were gone about 3 hours-there were only 4 of us in the van. Got to get a little tour on the way there and back. If you have any type of mobility impairment you probably couldn’t do this as there is a good amount of walking and climbing on uneven surfaces.

Unfortunately we couldn’t dock in Costa Maya due to the winds, the captain announced that they had made several attempts-so another sea day-port charges were returned to account.

In Cozumel we just walked the main drag. NCL docks more to the center of town, so it is a very easy walk to town.

 

It didn’t take that long to learn the ships lay out-the main decks you use are 5, 6, 7 and then 15, 16, 17.

¨ Pools are definitely too small for the number of people

¨ 3 water slides are great

¨ deck décor on 5, 6 and 7 is darker

¨ Had to hunt for lounge chairs a couple of time, but always could move one here or there. The lounge chairs are looking quite worn with many broken. We did find a great spot on deck 17 all the way forward-they have ‘cushy’ loungers, chairs, beds and clam shells. This is a ‘quiet zone’ kids are allowed but just encouraged to keep noise low.

¨ I was a little disappointed in the Adult only Spice H2O area-being used to the similar areas on Carnival and NCL-we found this to look like a regular deck-same faded/broken chairs-one very small pool and 2 hot tubs

JC cruise director gets on your nerves, is hard to hear and understand at time

 

 

Despite all my comments, critiques-we had a great time-met tons of great people both staff and guests-never went hungry or thirsty. A day at sea is better than a day home in cold Michigan. We have cruised enough to learn not to sweat the small stuff.

 

Happy cruising

Any questions, hopefully I can answer them

Lesley

[Sheila3]

Thank you for posting this review.

 

Think I will bring a lighted make-up mirror with me.

 

 

 

 

Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met behulp van Tapatalk

[Jimino]

Thank you Lesley was a great help. Im 53 and grandchild is 13. did you book your port trips with NCL or on shore?

[BrittanyandBrodysMom]

Thank you for taking the time to post your review!

[ALadyNCal]

Great info -- thanks! Two questions: Was 11:45 boarding the earliest? Your group with Courtney Taylor -- how many were in your party? We were quoted $30 pp and I'm just comparing group size. Thanks :)

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for your review.

[anandaindonesia]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Keep cruising!

[FreestyleNovice]

No fridge in an inside? Hm was sure we had one in 2011.

[LPut714]

Thank you Lesley was a great help. Im 53 and grandchild is 13. did you book your port trips with NCL or on shore?

 

I only booked the excursion in Jamaica directly with Courtney Taylor, Google for website. Great to work with and great time. In Cozumel we just walked around as we have been there many times, going to Mr Sanchos, and Chankanaab

[LPut714]

Great info -- thanks! Two questions: Was 11:45 boarding the earliest? Your group with Courtney Taylor -- how many were in your party? We were quoted $30 pp and I'm just comparing group size. Thanks :)

 

They were letting folks in the Haven and suites on earlier, but for us pions it was 11:45

Regarding Courtney Taylor, when I emailed them was quoted $25 for transportation, and $15 to enter the Blue hole area, this is per person. It ended up being $10/person. We could have stopped at a Jamaican restaurant to eat, paying on our own but opted to go back to the boat. They load you in larger buses at the port just to get you away from there, then break you into smaller groups near by. We had a total of 4 on our group. Very enjoyable. Just be sure all going can walk ok on uneven surfaces and climb

[LPut714]

No fridge in an inside? Hm was sure we had one in 2011.

 

Ours was more like an ice chest. We prob could have had the mini bar cleared out but just used ice provided

[FreestyleNovice]

Ours was more like an ice chest. We prob could have had the mini bar cleared out but just used ice provided

 

Ah, my bad. Yeah, we had the minibar items removed, that way I call it a fridge. Sorrrrry.. :D

[kirsty_r]

Ah, my bad. Yeah, we had the minibar items removed, that way I call it a fridge. Sorrrrry.. :D

 

yep - mini bar is a fridge. :)