A short review of Epic - 1-8 November + some comparisons to HAL

[debsjc]

A short review of our recent Med cruise on the Epic. Our last few cruises have been on HAL, and we weren't sure how we would find NCL in comparison, but we had a really great trip.

 

What we liked ...

 

* We had the UDP included and loved the speciality restaurants. There were a couple of small glitches in Cagneys, but generally the food and service was fantastic. I had booked a restaurant for each night online in advance of the trip, but the couple of times we requested to change the time it was no problem.

 

* The shows in the main show theatre were excellent, we saw Burn the Floor, and Priscilla. Loved the fact you could book online at home, or on your in cabin interactive TV.

 

* Mandara Spa - I booked us thermal passes for the week, and although we only actually made it to the spa 4 times, I felt it was well worth the cost. It was usually quiet, the only busy time was when I went about 6pm one evening. It's such a beautiful chill-out area.

 

* Garden Café - We had breakfast and lunch in the café everyday, and it met our needs fine. At times the seating was very busy, but the lines for food were never long, and we could always find something appetizing to eat.

 

* Tendering arrangements - Cannes was a tender port, and I was expecting it to be chaos with such a large number of passengers, but actually it was really well organised. Being able to book the tender tickets on the in-room Tv, rather than wait in a line for tickets was great.

 

* Embarkation + Disembarkation were very smooth. We arrived at the port in Barcelona at 11.10am and were on board before midday. Disembarkation was also very easy.

 

* Large Balcony - we had a large balcony stateroom, and we requested that our steward bought us 2 sun loungers, which he did and we enjoyed spending time out there.

 

* Ports - Most of the ports were repeat visits for us, so we didn't take any excursions, but we enjoyed just walking around and doing some casual sightseeing.

 

What we didn't like so much ...

 

None of these things were 'deal breakers' for us, but just a few things we felt NCL improve upon, or things we missed about HAL

 

*The Cabin interior - I travelled with my mum, and we wanted the cabin made up as a twin. With the curved bed design, you can only separate the beds by a couple of inches, which we didn't like. Also the cabin generally was a little cramped inside.

 

* Lack of inside viewing space. There is no large lounge on a high desk, where you could just watch the scenery on a cool day. Also because the pool area doesn't have a sliding roof, it can only be used in warm weather.

 

* We missed the wraparound promenade decks that HAL have

 

* It was sometimes hard to find a seat in the bars in the evenings, especially in Maltings where we liked the singer.

 

* The shows in Headliners and the Cavern had terrible sound quality, so every time we walked into a show there, we walked out again. It was way too loud & distorted.

 

* Lack of port information and maps. On HAL they provide you with a map and info sheet on each port, the day before you arrive. Unfortunately we found NCL did not offer any port info.

 

* Why put the guest services right next to the atrium bar entertainment area? I was trying to resolve a problem with the wrong photos being on our cruise cards, at the same time as 'Dance like a Norwegian' was going on behind me... it was impossible!

 

Overall

 

The main reason we changed cruise lines, was due to the terrible evening meal service in the HAL main dining room, and we didn't regret switching. Being able to go and have a great meal every night, in different restaurants, really made the trip for us.

 

Having never been on such a large ship, we thought it might be noisy and busy all the time. But in fact we could usually find a quiet spot if we wanted to. NCL seem to have great organisation, and booking things like the shows, tendering, and dinners on the interactive TV saved a lot of waiting around in lines.... and I hate to spend my vacation waiting in lines!

 

If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to try and help :)

[lachelli]

Hello and thanks for posting your review, we set sail this coming Sunday aboard the Epic and it will be our first cruise with NCL

 

May I ask if you noticed whilst docked in Livorno - Florence / Pisa if they where running the bus from the Port to Livorno centrally station, I have heard mixed reports of this and someone recently said that it was there but NCL did not advertise the fact even though it's organised through them and payable as a room charge

 

I am planning on just walking around in Cannes, does the tenders dock in a central and convenient location

 

Thanks

 

Lachelli

[punkincc]

To the OP, glad you enjoyed your cruise! If you have the opportunity, try one of the Breakaway class ships which has the wraparound Waterfront areas with indoor/outdoor restaurants, bars and lounging areas and may provide the sea connection you missed on the Epic.

 

I am puzzled about the mention of missing maps/port info on your cruise. Not sure what HAL provides, but on every NCL ship I have ever been on, there is an insert inside the Freestyle Daily with a map of the port area and shopping areas clearly marked. They are placed in your cabin every evening for the following days activities and port info. Never done a Med cruise, but I don't know why it would be any different. Are they no longer doing this?

[deladypilot]

Thank you for taking the time to review your Epic cruise. It is much appreciated

[Marion B]

As an experienced HAL cruiser who will soon board the Epic for the first time, I really appreciated your review with comparisons.

[newmexicoNita]

A short review of our recent Med cruise on the Epic. Our last few cruises have been on HAL, and we weren't sure how we would find NCL in comparison, but we had a really great trip.

 

What we liked ...

 

* We had the UDP included and loved the speciality restaurants. There were a couple of small glitches in Cagneys, but generally the food and service was fantastic. I had booked a restaurant for each night online in advance of the trip, but the couple of times we requested to change the time it was no problem.

 

* The shows in the main show theatre were excellent, we saw Burn the Floor, and Priscilla. Loved the fact you could book online at home, or on your in cabin interactive TV.

 

* Mandara Spa - I booked us thermal passes for the week, and although we only actually made it to the spa 4 times, I felt it was well worth the cost. It was usually quiet, the only busy time was when I went about 6pm one evening. It's such a beautiful chill-out area.

 

* Garden Café - We had breakfast and lunch in the café everyday, and it met our needs fine. At times the seating was very busy, but the lines for food were never long, and we could always find something appetizing to eat.

 

* Tendering arrangements - Cannes was a tender port, and I was expecting it to be chaos with such a large number of passengers, but actually it was really well organised. Being able to book the tender tickets on the in-room Tv, rather than wait in a line for tickets was great.

 

* Embarkation + Disembarkation were very smooth. We arrived at the port in Barcelona at 11.10am and were on board before midday. Disembarkation was also very easy.

 

* Large Balcony - we had a large balcony stateroom, and we requested that our steward bought us 2 sun loungers, which he did and we enjoyed spending time out there.

 

* Ports - Most of the ports were repeat visits for us, so we didn't take any excursions, but we enjoyed just walking around and doing some casual sightseeing.

 

What we didn't like so much ...

 

None of these things were 'deal breakers' for us, but just a few things we felt NCL improve upon, or things we missed about HAL

 

*The Cabin interior - I travelled with my mum, and we wanted the cabin made up as a twin. With the curved bed design, you can only separate the beds by a couple of inches, which we didn't like. Also the cabin generally was a little cramped inside.

 

* Lack of inside viewing space. There is no large lounge on a high desk, where you could just watch the scenery on a cool day. Also because the pool area doesn't have a sliding roof, it can only be used in warm weather.

 

* We missed the wraparound promenade decks that HAL have

 

* It was sometimes hard to find a seat in the bars in the evenings, especially in Maltings where we liked the singer.

 

* The shows in Headliners and the Cavern had terrible sound quality, so every time we walked into a show there, we walked out again. It was way too loud & distorted.

 

* Lack of port information and maps. On HAL they provide you with a map and info sheet on each port, the day before you arrive. Unfortunately we found NCL did not offer any port info.

 

* Why put the guest services right next to the atrium bar entertainment area? I was trying to resolve a problem with the wrong photos being on our cruise cards, at the same time as 'Dance like a Norwegian' was going on behind me... it was impossible!

 

Overall

 

The main reason we changed cruise lines, was due to the terrible evening meal service in the HAL main dining room, and we didn't regret switching. Being able to go and have a great meal every night, in different restaurants, really made the trip for us.

 

Having never been on such a large ship, we thought it might be noisy and busy all the time. But in fact we could usually find a quiet spot if we wanted to. NCL seem to have great organisation, and booking things like the shows, tendering, and dinners on the interactive TV saved a lot of waiting around in lines.... and I hate to spend my vacation waiting in lines!

 

If anyone has any questions, I'm happy to try and help :)

 

Good and nice short comarison. Our 2 favorite lines are HAL and NCL for totally different reasons. I have to add, it has been years since we have cruised HAL. We have heard they are going south a bit. What we like the most was the beauty of the HAL ships and the larger cabins; what we like better about NCL is the entertainment and the friendly crew. HAL had good service, but not as friendly. We also like the NCL cosinos better though this isn't some place we spend a lot of tme.

[debsjc]

Hello and thanks for posting your review, we set sail this coming Sunday aboard the Epic and it will be our first cruise with NCL

 

May I ask if you noticed whilst docked in Livorno - Florence / Pisa if they where running the bus from the Port to Livorno centrally station, I have heard mixed reports of this and someone recently said that it was there but NCL did not advertise the fact even though it's organised through them and payable as a room charge

 

I am planning on just walking around in Cannes, does the tenders dock in a central and convenient location

 

Thanks

 

Lachelli

 

Hi Lachelli

 

I think you will really enjoy your cruise on the Epic, there is plenty of choice of things to do.

 

In Livorno there was a port authority bus which we had to take to the town centre. The charge was 5 Euros return each, payable in cash at the dockside. It was compulsory, unless you are on a tour, they do not allow you to walk out of the port for safety reasons. I'm not sure how far the train station is from that bus drop off though, or if there was an alternative bus service run by NCL to the station.

We had been to Pisa and Florence on previous trips, so we just wandered around Livorno, including visiting the local covered market (great shopping bargains there!)

 

Cannes was my favourite port, it is very scenic. Don't forget to book your tender tickets on the in-room TV. The tender drops you just 10 minutes from the town, it's worth the climb up hill through the old town to the castle for beautiful views over the bay.

[debsjc]

To the OP, glad you enjoyed your cruise! If you have the opportunity, try one of the Breakaway class ships which has the wraparound Waterfront areas with indoor/outdoor restaurants, bars and lounging areas and may provide the sea connection you missed on the Epic.

 

I am puzzled about the mention of missing maps/port info on your cruise. Not sure what HAL provides, but on every NCL ship I have ever been on, there is an insert inside the Freestyle Daily with a map of the port area and shopping areas clearly marked. They are placed in your cabin every evening for the following days activities and port info. Never done a Med cruise, but I don't know why it would be any different. Are they no longer doing this?

 

Thanks for the advice about the Breakaway ships, we will investigate those next time we cruise.

 

We received a Freeestyle daily, but there was not any inserts in them, no maps or information at all. Luckily I had printed most of them at home and taken them with me. At a couple of ports they were available at tourist information desks as we disembarked.

[debsjc]

Good and nice short comarison. Our 2 favorite lines are HAL and NCL for totally different reasons. I have to add, it has been years since we have cruised HAL. We have heard they are going south a bit. What we like the most was the beauty of the HAL ships and the larger cabins; what we like better about NCL is the entertainment and the friendly crew. HAL had good service, but not as friendly. We also like the NCL cosinos better though this isn't some place we spend a lot of tme.

 

My main problem with HAL was the evening meals. The main dining room was a disaster on our last 2 cruises. The food was not hot, and the service was very slow. As they only offer The Pinnacle Grill as a speciality restaurant, which was also slow, there are limited options. Having said that we didn't try the NCL main dining room, so maybe it was no better, but at least there are many other options on NCL.

 

We didn't use the casino, so I can't really comment on that, but it seemed very busy.

[hlsess]

We will be on the Epic over Christmas. Is it really hard to find your way around the ship? I've been reading a lot of info and hope it won't be too hard .. We have booked most dinners and shows. Not sure about Burn though....

[debsjc]

We will be on the Epic over Christmas. Is it really hard to find your way around the ship? I've been reading a lot of info and hope it won't be too hard .. We have booked most dinners and shows. Not sure about Burn though....

 

It's not too hard to find your way around, and there are plans by all the lifts which is helpful. Most of the restaurants, bars, shops, casino and venues are on 5,6 and 7. Then the Garden Café is 15, along with the outdoor pools and main deck areas, and the spa is on 14.

 

Do try and book Burn the Floor, it is fantastic. My mum even went back to see it a second time.

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review and comparison.

[Georgina1505]

Thanks for your review, very helpful. I sail on 9th December - first time with NCL and first time in a Balcony cabin :D So Excited. Also have the Spa passes and as we have 4 sea days I plan to spend some time there. :)

[hlsess]

It's not too hard to find your way around, and there are plans by all the lifts which is helpful. Most of the restaurants, bars, shops, casino and venues are on 5,6 and 7. Then the Garden Café is 15, along with the outdoor pools and main deck areas, and the spa is on 14.

 

Do try and book Burn the Floor, it is fantastic. My mum even went back to see it a second time.

I did book it just worried that we are going to miss other night activities after reading a very lengthy review with the daily bulletin on it so I saw what goes on ...

[sail7seas]

Thanks so much for your comparison.

After a great many cruises on HAL, I had specific reason for trying NCL for the first time this summer. I was amazed what a good job they did, as far as my interests and what I want from a cruise. I agree the UDP is wonderful on NCL and the choice of so many alternative restaurants is enjoyable.

 

Happy you had a good cruise.

[cbr663]

My main problem with HAL was the evening meals. The main dining room was a disaster on our last 2 cruises. The food was not hot, and the service was very slow. As they only offer The Pinnacle Grill as a speciality restaurant, which was also slow, there are limited options. Having said that we didn't try the NCL main dining room, so maybe it was no better, but at least there are many other options on NCL.

 

We didn't use the casino, so I can't really comment on that, but it seemed very busy.

 

Thank- you for your wonderful review. We also sail HAL and are looking at alternatives due to the disappointing dining options. We have found that HAL's MDR offers a sub-par experience. There is a lot of noise, service is perfunctory at best and the quality of the food lacking.

 

We tried Celebrity earlier this year and enjoyed dining in Blu, a significant improvement over HAL's dining options. We just didn't feel though that X was the right fit for us.

 

We have been looking at NCL and may need to look again.

[debsjc]

Thanks for your review, very helpful. I sail on 9th December - first time with NCL and first time in a Balcony cabin :D So Excited. Also have the Spa passes and as we have 4 sea days I plan to spend some time there. :)

 

I hope you have a wonderful time. The spa is lovely, especially at this time of year when it gets cool in Europe in the late afternoons.

[debsjc]

Thanks so much for your comparison.

After a great many cruises on HAL, I had specific reason for trying NCL for the first time this summer. I was amazed what a good job they did, as far as my interests and what I want from a cruise. I agree the UDP is wonderful on NCL and the choice of so many alternative restaurants is enjoyable.

 

Happy you had a good cruise.

 

I recognise your name from your many helpful posts on the HAL board, so glad you had a great cruise on NCL too :)

[debsjc]

Thank- you for your wonderful review. We also sail HAL and are looking at alternatives due to the disappointing dining options. We have found that HAL's MDR offers a sub-par experience. There is a lot of noise, service is perfunctory at best and the quality of the food lacking.

 

We tried Celebrity earlier this year and enjoyed dining in Blu, a significant improvement over HAL's dining options. We just didn't feel though that X was the right fit for us.

 

We have been looking at NCL and may need to look again.

 

We were thinking of trying Celebrity as an alternative to HAL, then someone I work with recommended NCL to me, so I decided to try it. Plus it was a great deal, especially with the dining or beverage package included.

 

I would still like to try Celebrity sometime, just to see how we like it.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

My main problem with HAL was the evening meals. The main dining room was a disaster on our last 2 cruises. The food was not hot, and the service was very slow. As they only offer The Pinnacle Grill as a speciality restaurant, which was also slow, there are limited options. Having said that we didn't try the NCL main dining room, so maybe it was no better, but at least there are many other options on NCL.

 

We didn't use the casino, so I can't really comment on that, but it seemed very busy.

 

Were you fixed or anytime on HAL? What size table did you have? Did slow mean over 2 hours for dinner? Thanks

[debsjc]

Were you fixed or anytime on HAL? What size table did you have? Did slow mean over 2 hours for dinner? Thanks

 

We were anytime on Hal, on a table for 2 just having 3 courses and it was about 2 hours to 2 1/2 hours. Plus the food wasn't very good, or hot and the servers were very over-worked.

Our HAL cruise before last wasn't very good, even though we were in a deluxe suite, but our last one was even worse and that's why we switched.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We were anytime on Hal, on a table for 2 just having 3 courses and it was about 2 hours to 2 1/2 hours. Plus the food wasn't very good, or hot and the servers were very over-worked.

 

Our HAL cruise before last wasn't very good, even though we were in a deluxe suite, but our last one was even worse and that's why we switched.

 

 

Not good. Anything over 90 minutes for any size table is too long. I always get fixed. Not sure if fixed is generally faster or slower

 

 

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