We are back - semi-live blogging from Norwegian Epic - 17. oktober

[Georgeven]

Hi there… J&S here and we are back and we’ll try to live blog this week from the Norwegian Epic in the mediterranean.

 

We are a married gay couple from Norway in our mid 40’s, we flew from Oslo this morning with Norwegian Airlines, everything went very smooth. Still required to wear mask on board the flight. 
 

 

This is our 27th cruise overall and fifth time with Norwegian cruise line, third time in the haven. Originally we booked a heaven penthouse but when the prices dropped we upgraded with minimum Bid and got the 2-rooms family penthouse -17020. Price wise it made sense to us and it was still cheaper than the original prices when we booked. 

 

We were in the Epic some years ago when it was new, in the same itinerary (almost) since Sardinia is new. 

 

Don’t think we will go out in the main Italian ports given that we have been there a lot and is required to go out with a excursion. We are thinking mostly to go out in our own in Palma and a excursion in Sardinia. 

 

We have stayed in the haven in the Getaway and Breakaway before and loved it even with the hit and misses like the butler and small things… And we are so looking forward to the new updated haven in the Epic. 

 

Do you have a question, just ask… we’ll try to answer as good as we can and as long the fun (and Champaign) allows it.

 

When we booked we got following perks: 600 USD on board credit, included drinking package, 50 USD shore excursion credit in each port and 2 specialty dinners… we will for sure upgrade the drinking package because When cruising I need my Champaign… 

 

Soon off from the plain and we’ll be in our way to the port…
 

[Yinster]

We just come off the Epic. We did the same cruise couple of years back. Cannes instead of Sardinia. Did an excursion in Sardinia. Waste of money. 2 hours on a bus. We went to the supermarket in Palma. Stayed on board rest of time.

 

Say hi to Omar and Ana Marie. You will know who they are.

 

 

[erikb923]

Have fun, will be in a 2 bedroom on Epic in April, cant wait to see/hear how it is! 

[Georgeven]

Boarding - first impressions for a second time in the Epic

 

After landing in El Prat, all the process wen very fast if you have your QR code after registration for Spain. Took no more than  10 minutes until we were out with our luggage.. extremely well organized.

 

We booked our transfer with Norwegian… and boy we regret it… “few minutes” were almost one hour until we got out of the airport to the buss… but OK… 

 

Arrived at the terminal to go to the testing area and got the results in less than 20 minutes. Very well organized. 

 

Let’s get on board… Easy breezy for haven guests… and looked also very organized for everybody.  We were escorted to the Haven and got a little tour of the main areas. Cabins were ready so we went to our and WAO… beautiful… 

 

 

 

 

 

Luggage arrived very fast so unpacked and ready to cruise very fast. 

 

Lunch and dinner in the Haven were a hit… Menues are revamped and with some

More options… everything was delicious and beautifully presented, definitely NCL has improved their game in the haven restaurant… service by the Staff was great.

 

We met out buttler Rodney… and room steward, very energetic guys. 

 

Out entertainment night was easy breezy since we were awake and traveling since 05:00 am, we took a small stop in the martini/Champaign bar and then to the Cavern for some Latin rock vibes in the cavern

 

And then good night it was

[The Traveling Man]

8 hours ago, Georgeven said:

Boarding - first impressions for a second time in the Epic

 

After landing in El Prat, all the process wen very fast if you have your QR code after registration for Spain. Took no more than  10 minutes until we were out with our luggage.. extremely well organized.

 

We booked our transfer with Norwegian… and boy we regret it… “few minutes” were almost one hour until we got out of the airport to the buss… but OK… 

 

Arrived at the terminal to go to the testing area and got the results in less than 20 minutes. Very well organized. 

 

Let’s get on board… Easy breezy for haven guests… and looked also very organized for everybody.  We were escorted to the Haven and got a little tour of the main areas. Cabins were ready so we went to our and WAO… beautiful… 

 

 

 

 

 

Luggage arrived very fast so unpacked and ready to cruise very fast. 

 

Lunch and dinner in the Haven were a hit… Menues are revamped and with some

More options… everything was delicious and beautifully presented, definitely NCL has improved their game in the haven restaurant… service by the Staff was great.

 

We met out buttler Rodney… and room steward, very energetic guys. 

 

Out entertainment night was easy breezy since we were awake and traveling since 05:00 am, we took a small stop in the martini/Champaign bar and then to the Cavern for some Latin rock vibes in the cavern

 

And then good night it was

Sounds like fun!  We’ll be joining your cruise when the ship gets to Civitavecchia in a couple of days.  Any word from the officers about the possibility of an official Meet & Greet?  The rep in the Miami office said “no way” because of COVID protocols, but I’m still holding out a slim hope of pulling it off.

[Epic dreams]

Hi Guys , looks like your enjoying I have your cabin booked for 24th Oct can you tell me who are the band in the Cavern club and is Posh still allowing smoking 

 

Thanks Tony

[erikb923]

Does the Haven restaurant still have the buffet/grab and go section for breakfast? I'm not sure because of COVID if that still exists. I enjoy just getting a yogurt + granola in the morning rather then a full sit-down breakfast. Also recall smoked salmon and stuff like that. 

[Carnac767]

Thanks for the report and looking forward to more.  We've cruised twice on Epic in the 2-br Haven suite on deck 16 and loved it both times.  Epic's Haven is pretty damn epic.  It's our favorite.  The rest of the ship, well, it's an acquired taste, I suppose.  Do you get any noise from the sundeck above your cabin?  We're doing another 2-br on our next Epic crossing and have a fwd-facing cabin on deck 17 this time.  Have a great cruise.

[Yinster]

37 minutes ago, erikb923 said:

Does the Haven restaurant still have the buffet/grab and go section for breakfast? I'm not sure because of COVID if that still exists. I enjoy just getting a yogurt + granola in the morning rather then a full sit-down breakfast. Also recall smoked salmon and stuff like that. 

There is a continental section. However there are two members of staff there so one will served you with whatever is there.

 

This is the same for the buffet/garden cafe. Buffet but served to you

[Yinster]

1 hour ago, The Traveling Man said:

Sounds like fun!  We’ll be joining your cruise when the ship gets to Civitavecchia in a couple of days.  Any word from the officers about the possibility of an official Meet & Greet?  The rep in the Miami office said “no way” because of COVID protocols, but I’m still holding out a slim hope of pulling it off.

Definitely no meet and greet with officers until Italy has changed their restrictions. The only social gathering they did do which was surprisingly was a haven sail away in the posh club.

 

You will receive a letter about latitudes saying to head down to the desk. They will explain why no gatherings are happening

[milolii]

Very nice indeed.  Enjoy.  Thanks for taking us along. 

[Georgeven]

Hola Palma de Mallorca!!!!

 

 

Breakfast in the Haven… delicious and service perfection… as planned we went out in Palma and decided to walk from the ship to the senter and back in a shopping mission… long walk: Yes… totally doable if you have the energy and time… around 45 min. each way.

 

 

 

Back in the ship we had a small lunch in O’ Shehans… comfort food good as usual 🙂

Rest of the afternoon was spent in the courtyard enjoying the jacuzzi/pool and some quiet time. Back to our cabin for sail away from the balcony with some music and some snacks and sparkling wine…  and a nap before the night started 😴

 

Dinner in Le Bistró… as we know this could be a hit or miss and this time it was more a miss than a hit… the highlight was the sommelier and her waive pairings were on point… food was OK.. nothing to brag about: husbands beef had no flavor and the meat was not as expected and my Dover Sole was over cooked. 

 

So we went to the Howl at the Moon that started 40 minutes later than announced… after some minutes we moved to the Cavern… good atmosphere and good Beatles music… and the to the Latin Party in H2O… where people was having fun and dancing.. 

 

 

 

 

 

And the we called a night… 

[WarfRatWA]

On 10/17/2021 at 10:24 AM, Georgeven said:

Hi there… J&S here and we are back and we’ll try to live blog this week from the Norwegian Epic in the mediterranean.

 

We are a married gay couple from Norway in our mid 40’s, we flew from Oslo this morning with Norwegian Airlines, everything went very smooth. Still required to wear mask on board the flight. 
 

 

This is our 27th cruise overall and fifth time with Norwegian cruise line, third time in the haven. Originally we booked a heaven penthouse but when the prices dropped we upgraded with minimum Bid and got the 2-rooms family penthouse -17020. Price wise it made sense to us and it was still cheaper than the original prices when we booked. 

 

We were in the Epic some years ago when it was new, in the same itinerary (almost) since Sardinia is new. 

 

Don’t think we will go out in the main Italian ports given that we have been there a lot and is required to go out with a excursion. We are thinking mostly to go out in our own in Palma and a excursion in Sardinia. 

 

We have stayed in the haven in the Getaway and Breakaway before and loved it even with the hit and misses like the butler and small things… And we are so looking forward to the new updated haven in the Epic. 

 

Do you have a question, just ask… we’ll try to answer as good as we can and as long the fun (and Champaign) allows it.

 

When we booked we got following perks: 600 USD on board credit, included drinking package, 50 USD shore excursion credit in each port and 2 specialty dinners… we will for sure upgrade the drinking package because When cruising I need my Champaign… 

 

Soon off from the plain and we’ll be in our way to the port…
 

Hey J&S...thank you for doing this.  The reporting and pictures are fantastic. I appreciate your narrative.  We are scheduled on the Epic next summer and I have been waiting to see the rooms in the Haven after the refurbishment.  The rooms turned out exactly like the rendering (which are remarkably similar to the renderings in the PRIMA).  Thank you for posting.  Sounds like you guys are having a grand time.  Enjoy the rest of your cruise.  If per chance you have a moment, could you snap a picture of the 2nd bedroom?  Thanks!

[erikb923]

Another quick question, what toiletries are offered in the Haven (last time I was on was Bvlgari)? 

[Yesimapirate]

I'm so excited reading this.  We're in a Haven 2 br in the Epic's first US departure in a couple of months. 

[Carnac767]

One of the changes I've noticed in the 2-BR after the reno is they turned the bed in the MBR 90 degrees and stole some room from the master bath to make the bedroom bigger.  It also looks as if they took away the 2nd closet in the MBR that was to the left of the door into the bathroom.   How was the crowd for Beatlemania in the Cavern Club?  On both of our TAs people were lining up fours ahead of time for that show.  On the 2019 TA they finally moved the show to the main theatre, so people were only waiting two hours to get in.

[Georgeven]

19 hours ago, erikb923 said:

Another quick question, what toiletries are offered in the Haven (last time I was on was Bvlgari)? 

Loccitanne now 🙂 

[Georgeven]

16 hours ago, Carnac767 said:

One of the changes I've noticed in the 2-BR after the reno is they turned the bed in the MBR 90 degrees and stole some room from the master bath to make the bedroom bigger.  It also looks as if they took away the 2nd closet in the MBR that was to the left of the door into the bathroom.   How was the crowd for Beatlemania in the Cavern Club?  On both of our TAs people were lining up fours ahead of time for that show.  On the 2019 TA they finally moved the show to the main theatre, so people were only waiting two hours to get in.

 It has been crowded but controlled given that that cannot be at 100% full capacity in the cavern and there have been some Beatles shows in the theatre 

[Georgeven]

19 hours ago, WarfRatWA said:

Hey J&S...thank you for doing this.  The reporting and pictures are fantastic. I appreciate your narrative.  We are scheduled on the Epic next summer and I have been waiting to see the rooms in the Haven after the refurbishment.  The rooms turned out exactly like the rendering (which are remarkably similar to the renderings in the PRIMA).  Thank you for posting.  Sounds like you guys are having a grand time.  Enjoy the rest of your cruise.  If per chance you have a moment, could you snap a picture of the 2nd bedroom?  Thanks!

here it goes 

 

 

 

[WarfRatWA]

14 minutes ago, Georgeven said:

here it goes 

 

 

 

Perfect!!!  Thank you.  Have a great cruise.  Looking forward to hearing more about your trip when you are able.  Cheers!

[Georgeven]

On 10/18/2021 at 6:24 PM, Carnac767 said:

Thanks for the report and looking forward to more.  We've cruised twice on Epic in the 2-br Haven suite on deck 16 and loved it both times.  Epic's Haven is pretty damn epic.  It's our favorite.  The rest of the ship, well, it's an acquired taste, I suppose.  Do you get any noise from the sundeck above your cabin?  We're doing another 2-br on our next Epic crossing and have a fwd-facing cabin on deck 17 this time.  Have a great cruise.

No noise from the sundeck over the cabin maybe because it looked very close today (and loos like it has been close the last days )when we went there to check it…  and yes the Epic layout is an acquire taste 🤫

[Georgeven]

Bon giorno Cagliari…

 

Morning there… sunny and no clouds… perfect weather for getting out in the sun. We decided not to go out with excursions in Italy… so sleep until late, late breakfast at the Haven restaurant and some more relax before spending some out in the sun in the Posh with of course some frozen daiquiris and piñas coladas… 

 

 

View from Posh

Then lunch in the haven restaurant and have to say we didn’t like the salmon… it was kind of overcooked and taste very fishy… but we ate and with the wine was OK… service was perfect… then let’s relax in the courtyard so we could use the jacuzzi and refresh by the pool…  with some more wine 🍷… 

 

 

 

 

We just grabbed two more glasses of Champaign and some mineral water to go to our cabin before taking a nap 💤 

 

Wake up, shower, sunset from balcony… 

 

 

dinner at the Haven that by the way was out of this world, the Delmonico steak and the Tomahawk pork are huge and have to be the best pieces of meat in this ship with perfect wine pairings.

 

Then cocktails in the lounge and go to the show Priscilla Queen of the desert… AMAZING… 

[erikb923]

3 hours ago, Georgeven said:

Loccitanne now 🙂 

Nice, thanks, do they have the little bottles you can take home for future travels or only the bigger hand pump type? 

[Georgeven]

20 minutes ago, erikb923 said:

Nice, thanks, do they have the little bottles you can take home for future travels or only the bigger hand pump type? 

 
only big hand pump type… and they sell loccitane in the “duty-free” stores in the ship 

[Georgeven]

A black and white picture appreciation for the Norwegian epic