drink package on norwegian epic?

[funguy2015]

How are the drinks on the norwegian epic? what was your favorite? which bars are a must go to? going to be on the epic on jan 14th-21st cant wait to see this beauty of a ship!!!

[Eleteace]

Are you talking about the beverage package? I loved it!! I am so so envious.

 

I'm not sure if the mojito bar was on the epic or if I have got confused (they're all very similar) but if they do the raspberry mojito was to die for!! Amazing.

 

Got lots of pictures of the drinks and stuff that's included in the package here if you fancy a read http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/09/10/ncls-unlimited-beverage-package/

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

Hang out in Bliss. It is nicer since the dry dock.

[Bollinge]

If you are on a cruise where most people have a beverage package, you may find it difficult to get a drink at all in some bars!

 

We used to got to the bar in the steak house - you don't have to eat there - and the Irish pub was not too much of a wait. Also the bar opposite the front desk was quick service.

 

 

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[Moby0215]

If you are on a cruise where most people have a beverage package, you may find it difficult to get a drink at all in some bars!

 

We used to got to the bar in the steak house - you don't have to eat there - and the Irish pub was not too much of a wait. Also the bar opposite the front desk was quick service.

 

 

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I have never experienced a long wait for a drink.

[joshuae]

Is it customary to tip for each drink you get? Last year we did an AI and would usually give a dollar every time we got drinks, but I'm not sure if that is thought of as included with the automatic gratuities. If you do tip, is it best in USD?

[Askmelanie]

Is it customary to tip for each drink you get? Last year we did an AI and would usually give a dollar every time we got drinks, but I'm not sure if that is thought of as included with the automatic gratuities. If you do tip, is it best in USD?

 

You don't have to as tip is included, but we got excellent service I always left an extra $1, and this was almost always.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Is it customary to tip for each drink you get? Last year we did an AI and would usually give a dollar every time we got drinks, but I'm not sure if that is thought of as included with the automatic gratuities. If you do tip, is it best in USD?

 

 

Some people tip extra when they find a bartender or waiter they go to frequently. I don't think it's customary to tip on every drink when you have the package, and no extra tipping necessary. I tipped an extra dollar now and then.

 

You should typically tip in USD, but when I sail in Europe, I tip in Euros. It just depends on where you're sailing. If it's a Caribbean cruise, I would definitely tip in USD.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

How are the drinks on the norwegian epic? what was your favorite? which bars are a must go to? going to be on the epic on jan 14th-21st cant wait to see this beauty of a ship!!!

 

I think the bar is called Maltings that I went to a few times. It was nice and quiet. I haven't experienced having to wait like the PP indicated.

[BreeYark]

Spice H2O is a very nice place to hang out during the day, but the bar staff there don't know their drinks. They use pre-made mix for the most popular drinks, and have to search for the recipe if you ask for anything else. I must admit they make the best frozen drinks though :)

 

Maltings and that adjacent Martini bar have the best service and always make perfect drinks. O'Sheehans was the place to stop to get your favorite drink on the go while going around the ship.

 

If you're not sure about what drinks you like, start with the "Drink of the day", you can't go wrong with those :)

[BreeYark]

Is it customary to tip for each drink you get? Last year we did an AI and would usually give a dollar every time we got drinks, but I'm not sure if that is thought of as included with the automatic gratuities. If you do tip, is it best in USD?

 

Tipping a dollar bill for every drink is mostly an American thing. I've not seen any european do it in my last european cruise. But my american friends did it all the time!

 

I can guarantee most Canadians don't walk around the ship with pockets full of dollar pieces to hand over as tips :)

[Moby0215]

Tipping a dollar bill for every drink is mostly an American thing. I've not seen any european do it in my last european cruise. But my american friends did it all the time!

 

I can guarantee most Canadians don't walk around the ship with pockets full of dollar pieces to hand over as tips :)

 

 

 

It is true that it is an American thing because tips are how service industry workers make their money in the USA. That being said, if you tip, I can guarantee that you will have amazing service. By the second day the bartenders will be pouring me a drink by the time I walk up to the bar. Or sitting out at the pool deck I will have a server coming to ask me if I need anything.

 

 

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[cbowls30]

We were on epic in the med over New Year's Eve last year, we found the bar service quite poor to be honest, some venues (popular ones) had one bar person ?! You might get two if you were lucky! We witnessed quite a lot of complaints!! Having visited the USA a few times we took lots of 1 dollar bills with us and that made a HUGE difference to service, especially in howl at the moon when there was only ever one waiter working - once he realised we tipped he was practically pouring drinks before we sat down and we didn't wait once all week.... as it was a med cruise there were few Americans and we didn't really see anyone else tipping.....

 

 

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[DMH15]

We were on epic in the med over New Year's Eve last year, we found the bar service quite poor to be honest, some venues (popular ones) had one bar person ?! You might get two if you were lucky! We witnessed quite a lot of complaints!! Having visited the USA a few times we took lots of 1 dollar bills with us and that made a HUGE difference to service, especially in howl at the moon when there was only ever one waiter working - once he realised we tipped he was practically pouring drinks before we sat down and we didn't wait once all week.... as it was a med cruise there were few Americans and we didn't really see anyone else tipping.....

 

 

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I am right there with ya. Tip = special service.

 

 

 

 

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[HeyYouKidsGetOffMyLawn]

How are the drinks on the norwegian epic? what was your favorite? which bars are a must go to? going to be on the epic on jan 14th-21st cant wait to see this beauty of a ship!!!

 

Most recent Epic trip: Nov 19-26, 2016

 

Drinks are generally on the weaker side. Some of them are non-traditional mixes. A Mai-Tai should not taste heavily of almonds. The fruity drinks by the pool areas lean heavily towards pineapple juice.

 

Service was on the slow side, in general. Every bar seems a little understaffed. The bartenders were not exactly rude, but certainly indifferent to customers.

 

Top Down Memories:

 

16 - Spice H2O Pool Bar -- Great views off the back of the ship. There's a smoking area off to one side, but it's an open-air bar and ventilation was great. Drinks on one side, frequently fast food on the other side (Burgers, Hot Dogs, etc.). Drinks are boring and weak here.

 

15 - Waves Pool Bar -- Same menu as Spice H2O, same slow service. Get something in a bottle/can and get out of line. "Rebellious Fish" was pretty good here, but not great.

 

11 - Studio Lounge -- There was guy here during our room crawl. I didn't order anything.

 

7 - Bliss Ultra Lounge -- *** Real Bartenders *** The Margarita really stands out as exceptional, I went back for one later despite the dreadful karaoke in-progress. This is actually a pretty nice area of the ship. Couches and low tables in groups/clusters on two levels. Service gets slow during events -- both bartenders work hard but they simply get outnumbered by the crowd.

 

7 - Ice Bar -- ($20 extra, 2 drinks) I didn't go, but people I talked to seemed happy with the experience. "Fun Time."

 

7 - Shaker's Martini Bar -- *** Real Bartenders *** Uneven service here, even when it was empty. I enjoyed 3 out of the 4 things I tried. There is a neat seating area to the left side of the bar with tall couches and a view of the lifeboats out the window.

 

7 - Maltings Beer & Whiskey Bar -- *** Real Bartenders *** -- I spent a lot of time here, because 'we' used it as a meeting place. Two (three?) high-top tables next to the main walkway, seating 8 people each, and a variety of nice low chairs in clusters. Generally quiet for a bar. I recall getting the 'Matador' (Bulleit bourbon, elderflower, fresh ginger) several times.

 

6 - Headliners Comedy Club (Howl at The Moon dueling pianos late-night) -- ** Real Bartender ** Wait times should have been longer as the single bt desperately tries to keep a mob of singing drunks happy, but he was excellent.

 

6 - O'Sheehans -- Generally long waits for drinks because of the 100:1 ratio of customers to bartenders. I never challenged them to make a mixed drink -- I just grabbed a quick beer/cider/etc. here. It's a popular/crowded area of the ship, but I think it worked pretty well. I even kind of liked the pub grub on the other side -- far from fancy food, but warm and edible.

 

6 - Cavern Club -- No experience ordering here. Always full of people who seemed to be smiling.

 

6 - Cascades Casino Bar -- No. Don't even bother. Rude, slow, and unskilled. Doesn't matter who was working, they all hated their jobs and were openly hostile to everyone. Wow, this was bad.

 

5 - Epic Theater -- Meh. It was okay. Lines were long but moved reasonably.

 

5 - Atrium Cafe and Bar -- Popular and a little slow. Voted best place to tip early in the cruise and upgrade your personal service level. I stuck to beer/cider and wasn't unhappy ordering here.