Epic out of Port Canaveral - Nov 12 short review

[riclop]

Thanks for the mini.

[david_sobe]

Thanks for the review. This is the second review this week that reported major service issues dining on Epic. Mix ups happen but it should not be a theme or the norm to not get the things that you order. NCL cranked up the gratuities and is service sinking? I sure hope NCL reads these reviews how lousy the service appears to have gotten. On Kim's review she mentioned a server in O'Sheehans would not even bring her soda and how many times food items that were ordered were never delivered.

I sure hope you brought the service issues to the attention of someone.

[ugagal07]

I had an associate on that first cruise. While he didn't want bad things to happen, he was prepared for it. Booking a cruise that's the first cruise after a TA, in a new port for that ship, when trying to open a new terminal, and a fair amount of crew turnover, is risky at best. If you booked that cruise and expected everything to be normal, you're setting unreasonable expectations. Ports and cruise ships work really well with routine activities. The odds that with all those changes nothing's going to go wrong were slim. That's why we stay away from new ships for a short while. It takes few repetitions before all those activities become routine. You could luck out, but why take the risk? Next time, wait a few weeks. Let all the kinks get ironed out. Then judge.

 

 

We went wearing our "patience pants" as someone else posted. I don't expect perfection, but I do expect proper training and communication. When NCL doesn't communicate a terminal change or inform the port staff, who they contract with, what should be priority and what shouldn't, that is not ok. That would be common sense. NCL dropped the ball in several situations throughout the week.

[ugagal07]

What stories are there about kids in the Epic balcony room? Is it related to the weird bathrooms? (Would love to try NCL, and Epic's location in Port Canaveral is great, but the bathrooms are a turn-off!

 

Yep, it's the bathrooms! Having two small kids, they go to bed early and need it to be semi-dark and quiet, having a sink in the room doesn't let that happen. The split bathroom area also worried us with getting kids in and out of the shower and dressed while not flooding the cabin. Not being able to freely move about the cabin, due to the size and wave layout, was a big concern as well.

 

I know people do it and will continue to do it. But we didn't feel it would be the best option for us and a great deal to move to the Haven came up.

[ugagal07]

Thanks for the review. This is the second review this week that reported major service issues dining on Epic. Mix ups happen but it should not be a theme or the norm to not get the things that you order. NCL cranked up the gratuities and is service sinking? I sure hope NCL reads these reviews how lousy the service appears to have gotten. On Kim's review she mentioned a server in O'Sheehans would not even bring her soda and how many times food items that were ordered were never delivered.

I sure hope you brought the service issues to the attention of someone.

 

 

Things were reported, repeatedly in some instances. When in O'Sheehan's we gave up on drink and walked to the bar ourselves, just like in Cagney's. The Haven staff was more concerned that guest services was though. I spoke with the Hotel Manager and left a letter documenting everything, but unfortunately it didn't all fall under his department. Guest Services got me the US Customer Service number in Miami and said to call them while on board so changes could be made. I asked about the $4.99/minute charge and was told I would be charged. Ha! The Guest Services mantra was we're sorry but the person you need to speak to isn't here right now...

[newmexicoNita]

We had the 3 meal package. Here is what we thought of each venue:

 

Manhattan Room:

-We went here on embarkation day. We had a 5:30 reservation for 9. Showed up at 5:25, but the doors were shut. Finally opened the doors at 5:35, the line was wrapped around the casino bar on both sides by this point. It was a DISASTER. No one knew if the line was for reservations or walk ups. Finally got seated by 6:15...

-Went down to Taste to see if that was any faster. There was no line, but were told it would be a 15-20 minute wait for a group our size. Not helpful and slightly rude.

-Service was EXTREMELY slow.

-Not everything that was ordered was delivered. This was a VERY common theme...

-Food was ok, not amazing by any means

-Did not return after that disaster.

 

Taste:

-Went here for lunch on a sea day. Seated right away with a party of 9.

-Service was SLOW.

-Again, all items ordered did not arrive

-Food was good, but not everything was served at the correct temperature. I assume because we had a large group and somethings were plated before others.

 

O'Sheehans:

-Went for lunch and after dinner dessert

-Very loud

-Hostess stand is across from the bar in the main walkway, so hard to tell who is in line and who is just hanging out

-Fills up FAST

-Food was good, but again not everything ordered came out

-Super slow service again

-Brownie cheesecake was very good though. :)

 

La Cucina:

-No problems seating 9 on time with our reservation

-Food was very good

-Seemed that they overbooked as they were bringing tables down from the buffet to put people in. VERY crowded

-The entry to La Cucina is at the back of the buffet, hard to find if you don't know it

 

Cagneys:

-SLOW service. I gave up waiting for a drink order to be taken and walked to the bar instead.

-Again, not everything ordered was delivered.

-Food was excellent

-Beet and goat cheese napoleon was outstanding as was the tuna

 

 

Tepanyaki:

-The grills each seat 8, but they made 9 work with a highchair. Though it took a while to get one.

-Food was good. Show was ok, it depends on the chef you get I think, other tables seemed to be a little more entertaining.

 

Epic Grill:

-Limited menu for lunch

-Delicious food

-Great views

 

Epic Club:

-Best food we had on the cruise, hands down

-Short ribs, scallops, filet, beet salad were tops here but nothing disappointed

 

Buffet:

-LARGE

-Good seating lay out, good mix of large and small tables

-Love the silverware on the table, so you don't carry it around

-Lots of options, you just had to explore to find them. The sides of the buffet are not symmetrical, they do not have the same things. Be sure you walk all the way around...

-Enjoyed the crepe station, create your own pasta station, featured salad station, and the 'kids area'

-Disappointed in salad bar toppings and lay out. Who puts 3 kinds of lettuce spread out on the bar, one was at the beginning, one in the middle, and one at the end

 

Others traveling with us ate at Le Bistro. That was a 3 hour dining experience, but they said it was amazing.

 

sorry you had such a problem with slow service in the Dining rooms, we had the opposite except for the last sea day in Taste; that was the crappy weather day and everyone seeme d to be eating in the MDR.