Escape or Epic... Has anyone been on both? Lots of Questions

[CatsinShow]

I sort of caught the cruise bug even though my experience recently on the Sun I would rank as a C from an A to F grade scale LOL.

 

Anyway I looked into itineraries, the dates, and prices. Both had good itineraries and were about the same price and around the times I would be interested in cruising.

 

I guess the deal breaker for me on this would be mainly the pool area, food, entertainment, and fitness classes.

Pool Area-

I know both have an adults' only area with a pool and hot tubs. Is this actually enforced because if not, there's no point in even going on a cruise specifically due to a kid free pool area. I don't really mind older kids but I have had enough of kids coming up to whenever I am, snorkeling around me, splashing me, and entering my conversations all while the parents are at the bar drinking or smoking in the smoking area...This happened regularly to me on my recent NCL cruise. I just don't want to be that "one" who regularly gets out of the pool or hot tub to say to a worker to throw them out. I'm happy to say though that the older kids who were clearly there unsupervised though (maybe kids around 10-14) were fairly well behaved.

 

Food-

I have never paid the extra $$$ to go to the paid for restaurants on any cruise. I just stick to the included food and have it usually down to a system- breakfast buffet, lunch whatever, dinner dining room. Are there any special things that these ships have to offer in the buffets or included restaurants that taste really good (yes I know taste is subjective)? I have a sweet tooth and noticed on any cruise that I have ever been on that the desserts overall look great, but are gross. I don't know how to describe it...Institutionalized desserts that are bland? I usually just end up getting ice cream. What I would often do is get soft chocolate chip cookies when offered and add vanilla ice cream between them. I would frequently get comments from passengers about where I got it LOL. I found it a bit strange on the Sun that at the ice cream bar, they never had cherries, hot fudge, or peanuts but they would have grinded up cereal. Every other night or so, they would have someone make crepes which actually were pretty good but your choice of toppings were strawberry pie or apple pie filling and never actually fresh fruit or Nutella. I know though that Celebrity I believe does the pie filling thing too. I just would get them plain and spread some jam that I grabbed from earlier in the day.

 

Entertainment-

Overall on my last NCL cruise, there was a wide variety of entertainment on most nights, however the only one I really cared for was when they had a comedian do an 18 and + show. Only happened one night though. The other comedy shows were geared towards all age groups which just wasn't my cup of tea. I want more Comedy Central comedy and not Nickelodeon funny. For music I like when they do live tribute bands like covering 80's songs or Beatles or Rolling Stones cover bands. I know you won't know the exact entertainers before the cruise, but I just want to get an idea. The typical music on my last NCL was just workers singing solo songs from Broadway while wearing cocktail dresses, or Village People style shows with half naked men wearing leather vests with girls dancing around them.

 

Fitness-

Are MOST fitness classes included on either or do they have a class fee? The only ones that seem to be free on the usually less expensive cruiselines seem to be just stretching and strength training. I'm looking more for yoga, spinning, and step.

 

I found some posts on something similar to this but in 2015 about the pools and rules. Just wanted more current info. Thanks guys

[Cyclops32]

I sort of caught the cruise bug even though my experience recently on the Sun I would rank as a C from an A to F grade scale LOL.

 

Anyway I looked into itineraries, the dates, and prices. Both had good itineraries and were about the same price and around the times I would be interested in cruising.

 

I guess the deal breaker for me on this would be mainly the pool area, food, entertainment, and fitness classes.

Pool Area-

I know both have an adults' only area with a pool and hot tubs. Is this actually enforced because if not, there's no point in even going on a cruise specifically due to a kid free pool area. I don't really mind older kids but I have had enough of kids coming up to whenever I am, snorkeling around me, splashing me, and entering my conversations all while the parents are at the bar drinking or smoking in the smoking area...This happened regularly to me on my recent NCL cruise. I just don't want to be that "one" who regularly gets out of the pool or hot tub to say to a worker to throw them out. I'm happy to say though that the older kids who were clearly there unsupervised though (maybe kids around 10-14) were fairly well behaved.

 

Food-

I have never paid the extra $$$ to go to the paid for restaurants on any cruise. I just stick to the included food and have it usually down to a system- breakfast buffet, lunch whatever, dinner dining room. Are there any special things that these ships have to offer in the buffets or included restaurants that taste really good (yes I know taste is subjective)? I have a sweet tooth and noticed on any cruise that I have ever been on that the desserts overall look great, but are gross. I don't know how to describe it...Institutionalized desserts that are bland? I usually just end up getting ice cream. What I would often do is get soft chocolate chip cookies when offered and add vanilla ice cream between them. I would frequently get comments from passengers about where I got it LOL. I found it a bit strange on the Sun that at the ice cream bar, they never had cherries, hot fudge, or peanuts but they would have grinded up cereal. Every other night or so, they would have someone make crepes which actually were pretty good but your choice of toppings were strawberry pie or apple pie filling and never actually fresh fruit or Nutella. I know though that Celebrity I believe does the pie filling thing too. I just would get them plain and spread some jam that I grabbed from earlier in the day.

 

Entertainment-

Overall on my last NCL cruise, there was a wide variety of entertainment on most nights, however the only one I really cared for was when they had a comedian do an 18 and + show. Only happened one night though. The other comedy shows were geared towards all age groups which just wasn't my cup of tea. I want more Comedy Central comedy and not Nickelodeon funny. For music I like when they do live tribute bands like covering 80's songs or Beatles or Rolling Stones cover bands. I know you won't know the exact entertainers before the cruise, but I just want to get an idea. The typical music on my last NCL was just workers singing solo songs from Broadway while wearing cocktail dresses, or Village People style shows with half naked men wearing leather vests with girls dancing around them.

 

Fitness-

Are MOST fitness classes included on either or do they have a class fee? The only ones that seem to be free on the usually less expensive cruiselines seem to be just stretching and strength training. I'm looking more for yoga, spinning, and step.

 

I found some posts on something similar to this but in 2015 about the pools and rules. Just wanted more current info. Thanks guys

I can not answer all of your questions but I was on the Escape about a month that ago. I did not see kids in the adult pool area during the day however it was also packed and those in it just kind of stayed in one spot.

 

DW liked both shows very much and liked the quality of the performers. I like the brat pack show that covered the the John Huge films. Just the right mix of everything for me for a Broadway type show. I want more then just singing and dance and this show added in dialog, comedy and a few surprises

 

Home this helps

 

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[Tag617]

I was on the Epic a few years ago and the Escape last year. I honestly don’t remember specifics about the Epic so I’ll just tell you what I remember about the Escape.

 

Pool Area – As far as kids, this really depends on the timeof year, however I feel like there were a few more hot tubs on the Escape. Usually they are always packed and I don’t remember it being that way at all. Spice H2O on the Epic has a small pool if I remember correctly which Escapedoes not. Escape does have an awesome grotto though. No kids were in this area either.

 

Food – I’m not a big foodie but one night on the Escape there was fried calamari. Being Italian from Brooklyn I was VERYYYY skeptical, however it was AMAZING. Honestly, better than most restaurants I’ve been to. As for desert, at the buffet there was a hot strawberry/rhubarb crumble. We gotthat and put some vanilla ice cream on top and it was great.

 

Entertainment – There were a couple 18+ shows at night andthe regular second city shows were good as well. No raunchy stuff but still funny. I assume they are still performing.

 

Fitness – Sorry, can’t help there. I went to the gym a few times but I did my own thing.

[CruisinHarvey]

Been on both multiple times. Can't speak to the classes you mentioned, although most all of them cost on both. Both have multiple main dining rooms, and both will serve breakfast in least one of them. Much nicer atmosphere in the morning, although you need to check the dailies, since they do close fairly early, like 9 or 9:30. Escape is newer so they've worked out of lot kinks from the Epic. If you're traveling solo on the Epic , the bathroom, or lack of bathroom, configuration in the cabins, won't effect you. If you're traveling with others, then it's worth a look at the configuration to see if it fits your party. People either love it or hate it. The Escape was traditional bathroom set up. Entertainment on both ships will be better than the Sun. They have Broadway shows on both. They both also have Headliners comedy club, where they'll have either comics, or Howl at the Moon dueling piano's every night. The Escape has the waterfront on deck 8, which is very popular. There are bars the dinner venues outside to be close to the water.

[NCLfamily]

I love both. Sailed Epic 3, soon to be 4 times and Escape once. Escape would be my first choice although it does have a couple of flaws, the pool area is congested and GArden Cafe is laid out a bit weirdly.

 

 

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[fabnfortysomething]

the exercise classes will cost extra

 

as for entertainment that tends to depend on itinerary

 

for instance comedy acts are rarer on European routes-mainly because of several nationalities on board therefore difficult to find common comedic ground

and of course a lot of comedy is based on political/celebrities which may not be familiar to people on either side of the Atlantic

[CatsinShow]

Keep your posts coming guys! You are great! This would be a Caribbean cruise just for me again 1 solo traveler. The cabin is irreverent to me.

[dd likes to cruise]

On Epic this past April and "Epic Beatles" played every other night at least. Standing room only too. The other band was Siglo and they are awesome. Play lots of 60's, 70's and 80's music. Again standing room only.

[sid_9169]

I've been on both, and would choose the Escape hands down over the Epic... There's just something about that ship that just feels like a giant indoor mall. There's a reason that they only built one ship in that Class...

[CatsinShow]

So Escape has an adult's only pool and grotto to chill out in vs Epic just has the adult's only pool yes? I saw pictures, but do seem small but good enough for me.

[Sauer-kraut]

So Escape has an adult's only pool and grotto to chill out in vs Epic just has the adult's only pool yes? I saw pictures, but do seem small but good enough for me.

 

On EPIC's Spice H20 has a pool which is adult only and the Escape's just has a grotto water feature.

[dd likes to cruise]

I've been on both, and would choose the Escape hands down over the Epic... There's just something about that ship that just feels like a giant indoor mall. There's a reason that they only built one ship in that Class...

 

I haven't been on Escape to compare, but I felt the Epic was the least "mall like" ship compared to the other 4 cruiselines I've used. Yes there are a group of stores, BUT all together at one end of one deck. You could easily never walk by them if you wish. Whereas other cruise lines put them out in the way of dining rooms or the atriums, etc. where you have to dodge the sales, passengers, and sales people trying to grab your attention.

[martikus]

If pool or adult pool is most important I honestly wouldn't cruise NCL. While we enjoyed our cruise, their pool area is nothing like Royal Carribean.

 

RCL's pool area is amazing. Adult

Only areas truly adult

Only. Their huge ships like allure even have a comedy club.

 

Don't be afraid to branch out to other lines. Half the fun of cruising for us is to try new ships and lines.

[CatsinShow]

If pool or adult pool is most important I honestly wouldn't cruise NCL. While we enjoyed our cruise, their pool area is nothing like Royal Carribean.

 

RCL's pool area is amazing. Adult

Only areas truly adult

Only. Their huge ships like allure even have a comedy club.

 

Don't be afraid to branch out to other lines. Half the fun of cruising for us is to try new ships and lines.

I would like RC or Celebrity but NCL is more my price range a a solo traveler. I think also the adult pools on RCL while really relaxing are all indoors.

[NCLfamily]

The Escape has the Mojito bar and the 5 o'clock somewhere bar. Both superb.

 

 

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[buchman67]

Been on both as a solo traveler. Like others have said each are unique.

 

Epic's H2O area is "theater style" with the pool under the big screen and hot tubs on both sides and is designated quite time until 6pm. It also has a bar on one side and a grill on the other side.

 

Escape is more of a flat seating area with the grotto on on side and the bar on the other side, no pool.

 

Both offer Howling at the moon which is amazing and offers the music and comedy all in 1. Becomes adult only after 11 pm. The comedy show is honestly pretty much repeats each night.

 

Epic had amazing singers throughout the ship in March and as mentioned the Beatles.

 

The Escape has the waterfront area which was a nice area, I missed the outside areas on the Epic on the lower decks.

 

Not into food so nothing to offer there.

 

Lastly, the studios rooms were exactly the same except the lounge areas. I liked the Escape set up because the studios were close to the lounge. On the Epic the studios felt too spread out and a long walk to get there depending on your room location. I like aft and I like being near the lounge to go and grab a latte or snack in the morning. Easier to do on the Escape.

 

Oh...and if lucky the Escape has the Vibe. Epic has Posh but almost impossible to get too.

 

Throw a dart and pick one. Then next time go with the other. Thats pretty much what I did. Getaway, Escape, Epic and Epic this fall. In that order :)

 

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[CatsinShow]

Been on both as a solo traveler.

 

Throw a dart and pick one. Then next time go with the other. Thats pretty much what I did. Getaway, Escape, Epic and Epic this fall. In that order :)

 

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Thanks for the info. You have a good outlook on life LOL. I've also wondered this too if you get the studio... Let's say you are a solo traveler in a standard cabin. Do they still have general meet ups for those in the studio with them? On some dates, it's less than $100 more to just get an inside cabin versus the studio.

[NCLfamily]

I think the studios look superb. If I were single I'd be going there.

 

 

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[ClevelandCruisin]

Both! Going on escape in october of this year and epic next march.

 

Really prefer the bigger ships, plus they offer so much more to do!

 

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[buchman67]

Thanks for the info. You have a good outlook on life LOL. I've also wondered this too if you get the studio... Let's say you are a solo traveler in a standard cabin. Do they still have general meet ups for those in the studio with them? On some dates, it's less than $100 more to just get an inside cabin versus the studio.

Yes, every evening they open the lounge for happy hour/gathering time. I believe its for an hour or two.

 

During that time they have a bartender and the solo host will be there. You mix and mingle make dinner and show plans.

 

The first two nights tend to draw the biggest gatherings and after that people have formed groups. The nice part is the solo host will get a table for the group and has special seating for the big shows. Think of the host as your own concierge.

 

I am going on a TA this fall solo and am not staying in the studios for the first time, however, I plan on going to the get togethers.

 

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[tiger-91]

I haven't seen this mentioned.

The Escape has a better traffic pattern than the Epic.

The Epic has an issue where Taste restaurant blocks the entire floor 5. You must go up to the Casino to get to the aft elevators (or turn around to the forward elevators).

On the Epic on the floor (16) above the pool, you cannot walk all around. It's like U shape that dead-ends at sundecks. There's no bridge. At least the Escape goes all the way to the fwd elevator lobby or stairs up to Forward.

[tiger-91]

Thanks for the info. You have a good outlook on life LOL. I've also wondered this too if you get the studio... Let's say you are a solo traveler in a standard cabin. Do they still have general meet ups for those in the studio with them? On some dates, it's less than $100 more to just get an inside cabin versus the studio.

 

You don't have to stay in a studio to go to the solo travelers meetups.

Do the inside cabin for more storage and space (and fridge!).