Epic or Dawn vacation???

[richyanks]

Looking to take my mother on a cruise at the end of the year, we are currently looking at the Epic which goes to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel or on the Dawn going to the usual Western stops. We went out of NO in 2007 and 2008 on the Sun and the horrible Spirit so we've seen all 4 stops it makes but I loved shopping in Belize. I havent heard to much about how it is in the caymans and jamaica so thats why I figured I'd make a post and ask which destinations people liked more and if there was a lot to do on those 2 stops. My mom doesnt move around to good anymore so she wouldn't be doing any excursions unless they were bus tours. Mainly were looking for good local shopping.

 

I just dont like that the epic has all the sea time, I enjoy more land stops but on the other hand I dont know if its worth going to someplace for a third time.

 

Thanks for any help.

[CruzLover80]

I think it comes down to personal preference. Remember, the Epic is a larger ship than Dawn which may be difficult for your Mom to navigate. We are booked on the Epic (1st time) in November, so we are really looking forward to sailing her with the same ports. I'm not a big shopper (while cruising), so that has never been a draw to me. I have been to Grand Cayman and Cozumel before and both have a lot of shopping. Grand Cayman is a little heavier on the water activities. I am not familiar too much with Jamaica but from what I have read, people can be a little pushy. I already am mentally prepared for that.

[richyanks]

Yeah i dont do to much on cruise shopping, but on the stops I like to get like small knick knacks for friends and what not and get local drinks and food

[brookie848]

A few notes about the Epic.

 

I wouldn't worry about the amount of sea days. There is plenty to do on the ship and I honestly wouldn't want another port on a large ship. Having three sea days gives you ample time to do everything you want on the ship and to have some time for relaxing as well.

 

When we were on the Epic earlier this year, I made my parents switch their cabin so that they were near the forward elevators. My Mom has mobility issues like yours and being near the elevator is a must. I would also consider being near a forward elevator since the buffet and showrooms are all forward.

[awaywego0000]

Well I liked Spirit a lot better than Dawn. So I vote Epic.

[richyanks]

A few notes about the Epic.

 

I wouldn't worry about the amount of sea days. There is plenty to do on the ship and I honestly wouldn't want another port on a large ship. Having three sea days gives you ample time to do everything you want on the ship and to have some time for relaxing as well.

 

When we were on the Epic earlier this year, I made my parents switch their cabin so that they were near the forward elevators. My Mom has mobility issues like yours and being near the elevator is a must. I would also consider being near a forward elevator since the buffet and showrooms are all forward.

 

Thanks for the advice about placement on the ship.

[Pitzel]

I have sailed both the Epic and the Dawn and like them both, but for very different reasons. The Epic is great for sea days -- lots to do on board. I actually got bored on the Dawn a few times, especially if I wasn't into that evening's entertainment options.

 

On the flip side, we loved the suite life on the Dawn and found it to be much more affordable than on the newer ships. We were treated royally -- for not much more than we would have paid for a mini-suite on the Epic without all of the perks.

 

Belize would be tricky for someone with limited mobility, as the tender is not easy to get on or off of. We had rough water when we went and the crew spent 10-15 minutes helping one passenger off of the tender.

[Cubechick]

I am not sure why you found the Spirit to be horrible. However, as the Dawn is more similar to the Spirit than the Epic, I would vote Epic in your case.

[richyanks]

Just found there wasnt much to do on the spirit and the decor just seamed really tacky. I heard it got redone though, not to sure though.

[Love my butler]

No contest. The Dawn wins. Epic has too many issues and is more like being in a crowded hotel than a cruise ship.

[richyanks]

No contest. The Dawn wins. Epic has too many issues and is more like being in a crowded hotel than a cruise ship.

 

What did you like and dislike about both ships?

[rajones007]

What did you like and dislike about both ships?

(I'm not the person you asked, but I agree with him/her. If you don't mind, I'll give you my personal reasons.)

 

I'd take the Dawn over the Epic too. I've been on both, and enjoyed both cruises immensely, but if they were doing the same itinerary I would choose the Dawn over the Epic without much thought.

 

The Epic was too big and too crowded. Everywhere you went there were masses of people. There's a couple bottlenecks that heavily disrupted the flow of people in the midship area down around the casino and O'Sheehans. No central elevator bank meant having to filter through these bottlenecks almost every time you wanted to get somewhere. Due to the shortage of elevators meant that quite often the wait for an elevator was ridiculously long. Everywhere you went there were masses of people. Everywhere. You couldn't escape.

 

Luckily we were in the Haven, so outside of our cabin we had ample quiet space to retreat to and enjoy. I don't think I could ever stay in a non-Haven cabin on the Epic and retain my sanity.

 

Keep in mind I'm probably going on the Epic again this February, so it's not like the issues I found were insurmountable. I do not hate the Epic, I just dislike some aspects of her design. I think NCL learned a lot from the Epic, they made some mistakes, and from what I hear they acknowledged and addressed them in their newer ships.

 

The Dawn, on the other hand, has lots of space to wander. There's room for everybody. It obviously doesn't have the multitude of entertainment options that the Epic offers, but you'd still have to work hard to be bored on the Dawn.

[Freespir8]

(I'm not the person you asked, but I agree with him/her. If you don't mind, I'll give you my personal reasons.)

 

I'd take the Dawn over the Epic too. I've been on both, and enjoyed both cruises immensely, but if they were doing the same itinerary I would choose the Dawn over the Epic without much thought.

 

The Epic was too big and too crowded. Everywhere you went there were masses of people. There's a couple bottlenecks that heavily disrupted the flow of people in the midship area down around the casino and O'Sheehans. No central elevator bank meant having to filter through these bottlenecks almost every time you wanted to get somewhere. Due to the shortage of elevators meant that quite often the wait for an elevator was ridiculously long. Everywhere you went there were masses of people. Everywhere. You couldn't escape.

 

Luckily we were in the Haven, so outside of our cabin we had ample quiet space to retreat to and enjoy. I don't think I could ever stay in a non-Haven cabin on the Epic and retain my sanity.

 

Keep in mind I'm probably going on the Epic again this February, so it's not like the issues I found were insurmountable. I do not hate the Epic, I just dislike some aspects of her design. I think NCL learned a lot from the Epic, they made some mistakes, and from what I hear they acknowledged and addressed them in their newer ships.

 

The Dawn, on the other hand, has lots of space to wander. There's room for everybody. It obviously doesn't have the multitude of entertainment options that the Epic offers, but you'd still have to work hard to be bored on the Dawn.

 

I really enjoyed reading your reasoning. We have been on the Star (the sister ship to Dawn) and love her. I have been pricing out other cruises to experience the bigger ships but it is definitely a huge price difference when booking a suite. We don't like crowds and the Star never felt crowded. I hear that you can really feel the crowds on the larger ships so I think the Haven would be a must. Only problem is the $2000 price difference. :(

 

That being said, to the OP, it really depends upon the type of person you are. We aren't big "partiers" (is that a word?) or nightlife people so the Dawn class seems like a better fit for us. If you like more activity and from what you mentioned about your feelings on the Spirit, Epic looks like a good choice. I would be interested in hearing what you end up choosing and what your thoughts are after you cruise. :D

[TrumpyNor]

I have been on both the Dawn and the Epic, and I would choose the Dawn over Epic any time, just because of the size of the ship. The Epic is very large, and because of the lay-out also seems much more crowded. The promenade deck on the Epic is "build in" by life boats, the cabins on the Epic has the bathroom sink in the cabin itself and not in a separate bathroom, and even though Epic is huge, it only have elevators/staircases forward and aft and not mid-ships. So be prepared to do a lot of walking if you end up choosing the Epic.

 

In my opinion the service on board the Epic is also less "personal" than on a ship of a bit smaller size, just because it is so many passengers on board and so many crew members. Some times "hard" to bump in to the same crew member (or any of your fellow passengers) twice during a cruise....

 

You should also be prepared that there most likely will be more children on the Epic than on the Dawn - since it is more of a "family ship".

 

But that said - many people love the Epic since it is so much to do on board, and I almost hate Epic myself, I have done 2 cruises on the Epic and will never ever set my foot on the Epic in the future (didn't like it the first time, but wanted to give it a second chance since I thought that maybe I had set too high expectations, since this was when the Epic was the new ship in the fleet), didn't like it the second time either). Luckily for me, NCL have many other ships to choose from....

[richyanks]

Thanks for all the responses people. Making it a tough decision now, was looking at the epic because it goes to jamaica and we havent been there before. But might just have to go back and see the same stuff we have before which isnt a bad thing.

[JMHAM1]

I have not been on the Dawn yet but am booked on her because we like to sail out of New Orleans as well. Grand Cayman is a tender port if I recall correctly and there is loads of shopping right around the port area. You can also book a tour on your own from a variety of operators right at the pier.

 

Jamaica, at least where we were moored on the Jewel, was at some sort of industrial area and we had to take a bus to get to the regular cruise terminal. There are maybe 2 stores there kind of like at the airport. I would recommend some sort of excursion if you stop in Jamaica.

 

I was thinking that the Epic might be good due to the onboard entertainment. The ship is much larger but you could choose to stay onboard at a port and still have plenty to do.

 

If it was in the post, I missed it but maybe you could rent a motorized scooter to use during this vacation if you don't have one already. I saw lots of them on all of our prior cruises and it didn't slow anyone down.

 

I don't think you can go wrong either way with proper planning and for that, you are in the right spot!!

[richyanks]

Thanks for the advice about the scooters, didnt even know they had them for rent at ports. My mother has a walker but we dont even know yet how we can take it on the plane, so we might just have to buy one in NO or Miami. I think shes really sold on the epic though because of some of the shows I told her about. She really likes the blue man group.

[brookie848]

You can definitely take a walker with you. It will not be in the plane cabin with you -- it will be tagged, taken from you right before you get on the plane and then brought out when you land.

 

If your Mom has standing issues, the best bet is to get her in a wheelchair when you check luggage. It makes going through security much easier. Also, make sure she gets to pre-board. You either do this when you check your luggage or at the gate. I think it depends on the airline.

[Hroswitha]

We generally prefer Princess and were--in most ways--unimpressed with the Epic. (Much too big, crowded, noisy, and "closed in" from the sea for our taste.)

 

Yet we've enthusiastically booked a second cruise on the Epic. Why?

 

The Epic spa is beyond wonderful and far better than we've experienced on any other ship! I'm not talking here about any kind of spa treatments or services but rather about the spa area itself. Huge thalassotherapy pool with whirlpools, heated tile loungers, lots of comfy recliners in a serene, uncrowded, kid-free space. And a wonderful, rear-facing balcony.

 

Daily and whole-cruise passes are available for a price, and there are also cabins located nearby which include use of the spa in the fare. That's what we have booked this time!

 

Total relaxation! Perhaps your mother--with her limited mobility--would enjoy spending time there.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Hroswitha
typo

[Barb Nahoumi]

The only time that I was at Grand Cayman, we were tendered in. If this is still the case, would tendering be too difficult for your mother?

 

Personally, I didn't care for the Western Caribbean itinerary. Grand Cayman was my favorite of all the ports we visited on that cruise.

 

I have never been on the Epic, but have enjoyed the Dawn on three cruises. The Dawn might be easier for your mom, because it's smaller and less crowded. As others have posted, choose a cabin near the elevators to facilitate mobility issues for Mom. On the Dawn, the Deluxe Owner's suites have bathtubs, as well as walk-in showers......another issue to consider.