All things Epic 2022

[havanadaydreaming]

Headed down to puerto rico...for the date of birth weekend cruise.  I got my hushpuppies on....(ok, merrells)

 

Epic is quite possibly my favorite NCL ship and we are making our 2nd voyage with her. Yeah, the cabin restroom is weird but i found there to be much more storage than any other ship we have sailed.  And i looooooove the AFT tv/movie screen.   

 

Any questions you'd like answered?  

 

We have 5 ports of call next week, should get a chance to update thread in short bursts. 

 

Things im looking to learn first couple days:

*excursion options seem very limited?

*current occupancy

*is casino still nonsmoking

*is a large balcony "worth" it

*whats the first buffet entree i try that ive never had before

*whats the best top shelf bourbon available

*are the beatles playing the Cavern

 

[angelsdeb]

What are the Entertainment options?

[Starflyr3]

We’re sailing 3/13 on her.

 

yes, entertainment options, and shorex (I had everything set up, and have had multiple cancellations), PLEASE.

 

also, is the ice bar open?

 

I talked to ncl about our cruise, and was told we’re sailing at 55% occupancy.

 

oh, also, splash academy? It has been closed (except for Encore) so far, but I’m hoping they re-open it soon.

 

 

 

 

[brookie848]

We were supposed to be on this cruise tomorrow, but cancelled for the third year in a row. Yes...we've tried to do this same cruise three years. We're hoping next year will happen.

 

We kicked around trying to go this year, but in the end decided to wait. My husband had a kidney transplant in January of 2020 (reason for cancelled cruise #1) and with the drugs to suppress his immune system and COVID, we're not quite ready yet to get on a plane and travel.

 

I hope you have a great cruise and I'd love to hear about it.

 

We were on the Epic for our first and second cruises and are really looking to getting on her again.

[havanadaydreaming]

Had a great time in old san juan last night but it seems Epic is not at pier across from hotel its quite a bit east of it.  Since it rained overnight we'll be cabbing it in a couple hours.  

 

(Cab here from airport was $28 for 2 people w 4 bags)  

 

 

[ktpc2005]

here are the answers to questions I could do.
 

This past week had 1600 guests onboard.  Ships still feels like a ghost town which was great.  They kept saying this is the most they have had in a while.  It was the most kids they have had in 2+ years thanks to school vacation week.

 

we took all private shore excursions and had a great week.

 

Priscilla and Zambooka are still offline with “returning soon” stickers on their signs.

Entertainment in Epic Theatre included Epic Beatles, Magician, hypnotist, Burn the Floor, Barricade Boys (British broadway group, and Levity comedy comedians.

 

with 5 ports we were not in our cabin a lot so extra balcony space was not worth it.

 

Ice Bar is open

Splash Academy will have some open times but parents have to stay.  They have family events daily throughout the ship.

 

[havanadaydreaming]

Ktpc covered most of it! 

 

So far, best bourbon ive found is Woodford or Bakers.  

 

Smoking allowed in parts of casino.  

 

Heard occupancy was 40%, unconfirmed.  No lines anywhere.  

 

Beatles playing cavern and main theatre.  

 

Movies playing on lobby screen, not outdoor H20 screen.  F9 TONIGHT. 

 

more details as i get wifi in ports! 

[havanadaydreaming]

Embarkation was weird, to me.  

 

Expected rapid covid test at port.  We were at pier by the tiny port aeropuerto.   Took cab from old san juan.  Dropped bags.  Instructed to get on bus to ride to convention center for covid test.   Bah humbug.  Took 25-30 mins to get results, about an hour from start to finish.  Dx

 

After that embarkation was extremely fast.  

[dshefter]

On 2/26/2022 at 5:35 AM, havanadaydreaming said:

Headed down to puerto rico...for the date of birth weekend cruise.  I got my hushpuppies on....(ok, merrells)

 

Epic is quite possibly my favorite NCL ship and we are making our 2nd voyage with her. Yeah, the cabin restroom is weird but i found there to be much more storage than any other ship we have sailed.  And i looooooove the AFT tv/movie screen.   

 

Any questions you'd like answered?  

 

We have 5 ports of call next week, should get a chance to update thread in short bursts. 

 

Things im looking to learn first couple days:

*excursion options seem very limited?

*current occupancy

*is casino still nonsmoking

*is a large balcony "worth" it

*whats the first buffet entree i try that ive never had before

*whats the best top shelf bourbon available

*are the beatles playing the Cavern

 

Sailing the Epic for the first time in October (Barcelona to Rome with 4 stops in Greece). We have sailed on the Gem, Pearl, Encore and Escape. How does the Epic compare to those vessels?

[havanadaydreaming]

2 minutes ago, dshefter said:

Sailing the Epic for the first time in October (Barcelona to Rome with 4 stops in Greece). We have sailed on the Gem, Pearl, Encore and Escape. How does the Epic compare to those vessels?

Only done Epic and Escape on your list.  

 

Escape had more pay dining options.  And that brewpub thing.  

 

Epic has muuuuuuuuuch more cabin storage, but weird restrooms.  And i love the aft tv screen when it shows sporting events or movies.  

 

 

[SpainAlien]

Have they fixed the pixels on the large screen in H20? It was a bit distracting in Sept last year

[blueslily]

I love the Epic. Bathroom setup is no problem. Cant wait to enjoy sailing on her again!

[ErLee]

Can someone explain the odd bathroom set up? I booked the Epic out of San Juan Jan 2023, but didn’t really understand the bathroom situation…

[ktpc2005]

1 hour ago, ErLee said:

Can someone explain the odd bathroom set up? I booked the Epic out of San Juan Jan 2023, but didn’t really understand the bathroom situation…

Back when the Epic was being built NCL was trying out some design ideas in the cabins with the wave design and the bathrooms.  If I remember correctly the bathroom was broken up so multiple people could utilize different parts if they were all separate.

[SpainAlien]

2 hours ago, ktpc2005 said:

Back when the Epic was being built NCL was trying out some design ideas in the cabins with the wave design and the bathrooms.  If I remember correctly the bathroom was broken up so multiple people could utilize different parts if they were all separate.

Which would be more practical if the panels weren't see through

[dexddd]

20 hours ago, havanadaydreaming said:

Embarkation was weird, to me.  

 

Expected rapid covid test at port.  We were at pier by the tiny port aeropuerto.   Took cab from old san juan.  Dropped bags.  Instructed to get on bus to ride to convention center for covid test.   Bah humbug.  Took 25-30 mins to get results, about an hour from start to finish.  Dx

 

After that embarkation was extremely fast.  

I believe Epic is sailing out of the Pan American Pier like most NCL ships leaving San Juan use.

 

Most NCL ships doing a port stop are usually at piers in OSJ.

 

Have a great rest of your trip.

[havanadaydreaming]

On 3/1/2022 at 4:30 PM, SpainAlien said:

Have they fixed the pixels on the large screen in H20? It was a bit distracting in Sept last year

They were working 2 nights ago, but saw some pixel issues first day.  Stay tuned.  

[havanadaydreaming]

Also, someone else quoted staff saying 1000 folks on this weeks cruise.  

[cruiser123!]

can you post any dailies?

or MDR menus?

 

fingers crossed we'll be sailing on her in 11 days!

[Starflyr3]

6 hours ago, cruiser123! said:

can you post any dailies?

or MDR menus?

 

fingers crossed we'll be sailing on her in 11 days!

Ooh!  Us too!  Leaving for PR in a week 😁😁😁😁

[cruiser123!]

16 hours ago, Starflyr3 said:

Ooh!  Us too!  Leaving for PR in a week 😁😁😁😁

see ya there!

[quercus alba]

On 3/2/2022 at 6:29 AM, dexddd said:

I believe Epic is sailing out of the Pan American Pier like most NCL ships leaving San Juan use.

 

Most NCL ships doing a port stop are usually at piers in OSJ.

 

Have a great rest of your trip.

Saw on another thread that they use the Pan American Pier for the cruises which "home port" in San Juan for the sake of fully fueling and provisioning at that area of the harbor vs the more touristy OSJ.

 

Had a great trip on Epic in December here.
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2820051-epic-review-southern-caribbean-rt-san-juan/\

 

 

Edited March 5, 2022 by quercus alba

[havanadaydreaming]

I think i have most of the dailies in suitcase in belly of the plane home.  

[coffeebean]

On 3/2/2022 at 1:58 AM, SpainAlien said:

Which would be more practical if the panels weren't see through

The door is opaque so you can not see through it easily. The only way anything is visible is if someone pressed up against the door. Then you could see something. Other than that, all you can make out is shadows of an individual inside the shower room or the toilet room. Don't forget, there is a privacy curtain which can be employed to separate the toilet room and the shower room from the main cabin.

 

I enjoyed the natural light that streamed into those two rooms during the day and the ambient light from the cabin after dark.

Edited March 7, 2022 by coffeebean

[havanadaydreaming]

Quick recap of ports: 

 

San Juan- arrived night before cruise, mainly walked OSJ and ate.  Cafe Caribe was fantastic.  

 

Aruba - few ncl excursions available so we walked the main drag.  Stopped at 5 O Clock Somewhere bar and grabbed some cuban cigars nearby.  Also hit the Renaissance casino and promptly lost $50.  

 

Curacao- walked to renaissance for the two infinity pools overlooking port.  Stayed for a few hours then wife grabbed ice cream in freshly made waffle cone, i grabbed Sbux.  Walked up near the pontoon bridge and saw it swing open to allow a Holland cruise liner to dock up river. Up bay? Never saw a big ship do that before, guess its a normal thing but i was flabbergasted watching it live.  

 

Bonaire - again,no ncl excursions interested us and we got off ship around 11am with a 1pm sailaway.  Just walked the port area, stopping at a couple coffee shops which each had fresh oj- one of my favorite things.  Used wifi to download some podcasts for rest of trip.  

 

St Lucia -strictly regulated, no outside tours. No visiting any areas outside port shopping.  We took the Between The Pitons catamaran excursion.  Loved it.  No snorkeling, just sailing with dranks and music.  Fantastic crew, highly recommended.  

 

St Kitts - another stop without an excursion, wanted the Nevis sailing but it was canceled before we departed home city. Went looking for some bourbon.  Found a place offering Col EH Taylor for $199 and Blantons for $1k.  Good gracious.  Had a ny style pizza on 2nd floor overlooking pier.  Grabbed some havana club cuban rum, to go with my cigars, for $16 from the booze/duty free shop near main promenade.