Tips for a first time Norwegian cruiser?

[WarEagleLady]

Hello!

 

We are so excited to give Norwegian a try. We are avid cruisers, and we cannot wait to try something new! That being said, going from RCCL and Carnival over to Norwegian, it is a different animal. We are sailing on the Epic in a large balcony. Do you have any insider tips for us?

 

Thanks so much!

[Valen9]

Off the top of my head:

 

- Freestyle dining means you dine like you do on land; go to any venue you want at any time that they're open. If they can't seat you right away, they'll give you a pager and you can wander anywhere while you wait. Well, unlike on land you can check the TV in your cabin or the ones in public areas and see if you're likely to have to wait.

 

- Download the iConcierge app to your smartphone before you leave home. You can use it to do many of the things you can do from the TV in your cabin without charge.

 

- In the hallways, look down at the carpets. The fish are swimming towards the bow -- that way you always know which way is forward and which is aft!

 

- On embarkation day, avoid the crowds at the buffet for lunch. One of the MDRs will be open, and is usually calm and quiet.

 

- The chocolate croissants are wonderful! You'll only find them at breakfast, though.

 

Hopefully someone else can give you more Epic-specific advice.

[casofilia]

Don't believe all you read on CC about NCL!! Think positive. Enjoy yourself.

 

We love NCL even if not everything is perfect.

 

Mike

[nessylee]

Book your entertainment early. You can always change it later but at lest you will have something planned. Also try the main dining rooms for breakfast and lunch. It's better than trying to beat the masses at the buffet and the food is wonderful. And like someone else said don't believe all the negative stuff you read. We came from Dinsey and I was worried about what to expect. Needless to say we had a wonderful time and booked another cruise minus our child to celebrity our anniversary.

[jeffregpuck]

Off the top of my head:

 

- In the hallways, look down at the carpets. The fish are swimming towards the bow -- that way you always know which way is forward and which is aft!

 

 

I'm not sure this is true on the EPIC....we sailed her a couple of years ago and I don't remember seeing the fish.

 

All of the Jewel class ships have the fish, and I think the Sky does too (probably the sun). But the Spirit didn't have them I don't think, and I just don't remember the EPIC having them. If so....then they will swim forward!!

[helenatraveler]

What are the MDR's that you mention?

[fshagan]

What are the MDR's that you mention?

 

The Main Dining Rooms (MDR).

 

On Epic, we like the one that is aft. I forget the name of it. The one mid-ship is below the casino, and while NCL uses some excellent air cleaners, we still had the smell of smoke during dinner (which we don't like). But the aft dining room was wonderful.

 

I think people are over stating the need to make reservations; it all depends on if you are flexible or not. We like to wing it, crazy cruisers that we are, and will walk up right before a show starts and get in. We'll look at the dining board, with "spots open" at the extra pay restaurants, and choose one that morning or maybe not. We never worry about getting into one of the Main Dining Rooms as you can walk up at almost any time and be seated within a few minutes, at a table for two. We sometimes ask for a table by a porthole, or in a quiet area, and wait maybe five minutes.

 

If you have a dining plan, and want to make reservations, the two restaurants that fill up are, in order of filling-upness, Teppanaki (a Japanese style grill) and Cagney's, the steak house. Third would be Le Bristro, the French restaurant. If you're a planner, go ahead and log into MyNCL when you can reserve and map out your dining. Or play with fire and live dangerously and wing it.

 

Leave the dressy clothes at home (unless you like dressing up). No formal nights, but there are one or two nights that are announced as "Norwegian's Night Out" or "Dress Up or Not" or something similar. These nights are designed so your mom can get pictures of the whole family dressed up with exasperated expressions on their faces. We go cruise casual all the time, and leave the jackets and dresses at home.

[WarEagleLady]

Thank you so much for the advice! I am excited to try something that is not as traditional, and the epic seems to be it! :)

[kirsty_r]

The Main Dining Rooms (MDR).

 

On Epic, we like the one that is aft. I forget the name of it. The one mid-ship is below the casino, and while NCL uses some excellent air cleaners, we still had the smell of smoke during dinner (which we don't like). But the aft dining room was wonderful.

 

I think people are over stating the need to make reservations; it all depends on if you are flexible or not. We like to wing it, crazy cruisers that we are, and will walk up right before a show starts and get in. We'll look at the dining board, with "spots open" at the extra pay restaurants, and choose one that morning or maybe not. We never worry about getting into one of the Main Dining Rooms as you can walk up at almost any time and be seated within a few minutes, at a table for two. We sometimes ask for a table by a porthole, or in a quiet area, and wait maybe five minutes.

 

If you have a dining plan, and want to make reservations, the two restaurants that fill up are, in order of filling-upness, Teppanaki (a Japanese style grill) and Cagney's, the steak house. Third would be Le Bristro, the French restaurant. If you're a planner, go ahead and log into MyNCL when you can reserve and map out your dining. Or play with fire and live dangerously and wing it.

 

Leave the dressy clothes at home (unless you like dressing up). No formal nights, but there are one or two nights that are announced as "Norwegian's Night Out" or "Dress Up or Not" or something similar. These nights are designed so your mom can get pictures of the whole family dressed up with exasperated expressions on their faces. We go cruise casual all the time, and leave the jackets and dresses at home.

 

Manhattan is the aft one - marketed as the slightly more formal one. Taste is the midship one. On the refurb the air filters were changed in casino, so I believe it is much less smoky now - I will find out next week!

 

Both are fine with smart casual attire, some people dress down more in taste.

[vanchelle]

The epic has a wonderful spa thermal suite if that's you're thing;) I bought the spa pass upon boarding last year and really enjoyed relaxing there in the thalassotherapy pool, heated loungers and saunas.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ainz32]

After spending a week on the Epic last year my one main tip would be to avoid the Garden Restaurant for breakfast as it gets extremely busy. One morning we had to sit with strangers as there were no tables available. I would recommend going go Taste and enjoying breakfast there. They have a lovely menu and it was lovely and quiet.

Have a great time!

[khrivnak]

Can someone explain the Iconceierge app in a little more detail? Can you use that while you are out at sea?