Onboard Epic now - impressions and Daily

[Ohio boomer]

Day 5 - (Grenada today ).

Hey…. This whole cruising thing is starting to take hold.  I woke to the sounds of waves, beautiful sunrise at sea,  I swear I’ve lost weight (no) and am better looking today than yesterday… (definitely not)…. But I feel I have so I’m doing something right.

 

We saw Burn the Floor and the Beatles at the Cavern Club last night. Burn the floor was very good.  When you hear the words “ballroom dancing” don’t be afraid…. It’s a “fusion -type” of dance that incorporated all sorts of dancing, even some rock music and the crowd ate it up.

 

The “Epic” Beatles (Name of the band, get it?)….  At the “Cavern Club” were very good as well.  All ages, singing along, dancing.  They basically do three shows through the week…. The “early years”,  then “touring” then “Sargent Peppers”…. We saw Touring last night.  
TIP - if you’ve read back through this forum and saw a recommendation to show up 30 minutes early to get a seat… last night you would have been standing the whole show.  This is a VERY small venue…. Maybe 150 people.  I’d recommend to grabbing a few drinks…. Get there 45 minutes early, find your seats and talk amongst yourselves…

 

Dining - yes…. Make your reservations for all of the restaurants is best.  You can do it on the NCL app or many other ways.

TIP - if you show up at a “sold out” restaurant  when it first opens (usually 5:30)  they have always let us in… and we are in / out in 45min - 1hour….  So if you’ve been enjoying the unlimited beverage package a lot…. And have forgotten to make a reservation, you can usually get in. 

Gambling - nothing was busy…. At all.  Table stakes are as low as $10-15 for BJ and $10 craps.  Tables were open everywhere.

Epic the ship possible fact - learned from a random couple that had been on the Epic when it was new.  The builder of this ship built one…. Then went bankrupt. So the Epic is literally a one-of-kind design and unique.  Granted the newer boats since then have ship design figured out better then the Epic so it’s not really a “NCL designs their boats strange thing”….just the nature of shipbuilding. 
 

I also learned that the coffee served onboard is also used to jump start the engines due to its powerful punch.  

[vacation44]

17 hours ago, wcook said:

 I walked to the terminal two weeks ago (that was my plan all along). The part along the water doesn’t have a sidewalk. It didn’t seem dangerous because traffic was at a standstill most of the time. But it was awkward for people pulling suitcases (I had a backpack.) Lots of people were doing it in both directions; most of them looked unhappy. If anyone decides to walk, make sure you have mapped out which way to walk as there are no signs and you can’t just look at the ship and go in that direction.  

What time was this?   

 

16 hours ago, J0Y0US said:

 

The issue is the traffic. People talking about waiting in traffic for over 45 mins to go 1-2 miles to the port for both of the cruises leaving this year so far.

 

We were able to adjust our flight to get in the day before and plan on getting to the port around 8:45am as we have the 9am boarding time. That should hopefully help us avoid the massive backup (maybe).

This is also our plan.   We are staying at Hyatt Place which is a few minutes away by cab.    Please report back and let us know your experience.   

[luvsboozecruises]

I've stayed at that Hyatt and have taken a cab to the Pier. Before you get in the car, ask how much..they charged me a ridiculous amount to go maybe 1 mile, I learned my lesson.

[vacation44]

3 minutes ago, luvsboozecruises said:

I've stayed at that Hyatt and have taken a cab to the Pier. Before you get in the car, ask how much..they charged me a ridiculous amount to go maybe 1 mile, I learned my lesson.

Thank you.    We will using Uber instead of a cab so we will know the amount beforehand.

[wcook]

1 hour ago, vacation44 said:

What time was this

Between 11:00 and 12:00

[vacation44]

1 hour ago, wcook said:

Between 11:00 and 12:00

Thank you.

[vacation44]

On 12/31/2022 at 4:32 PM, Ohio boomer said:

No extra cost…. Just need to show up early to get in line as we hustled over 15 minutes before the show and we did not make it in…. Think 30 minutes before in line to make sure you get a seat. 

Are you finding the entertainment a little lacking?

[roxette]

10 hours ago, Ohio boomer said:

 

Epic the ship possible fact - learned from a random couple that had been on the Epic when it was new.  The builder of this ship built one…. Then went bankrupt. So the Epic is literally a one-of-kind design and unique.  Granted the newer boats since then have ship design figured out better then the Epic so it’s not really a “NCL designs their boats strange thing”….just the nature of shipbuilding. 

 

(The shipyard is very much still alive. They build basically all of the new MSC Ships, and some of the newer Royal/Celebrity ships. Including Wonder of the Seas.

 

If my memory is correct I belive that NCL chosed to cancel to cancel Epic #2 by themself.)

 

Thank you for the updates! I will be on the Epic in April. So looking for all new info I can get. Great review.

 

[Maleficent's Dad]

On 1/1/2023 at 7:22 AM, Ohio boomer said:

 you are allowed to whistle in public… etc.

 

 

 

Never!  The only person allowed to whistle on a ship is the boatswain!  😉

[Ohio boomer]

Vacation44 - as for the entertainment, there does seems to be plenty of options if this is a 7 day cruise.  This is the 2 day longer NYE cruise so some things are repeated. During the nights you will have:

- Priscilla queen of the desert

- Burn the floor

- The Epic Beatles (3 different shows)

- Howl at the Moon

- 70’s 80’s lounge singer that plays in Headliners

- music in the Manhattan Room

- various duo’s that perform in several bars across the ship.

- pool deck bands that play at night and all throughout the day.

- the comedian at Headliners

- Karaoke in Bliss Lounge

- dance parties in the Bliss lounge.

- Casino

- Bingo

- all sorts of games being played in the Atrium. 

- and my favorite is an hour long session on the “history of the wristwatch”….. now who can turn THAT Down!  (No…. I am not making this up…. You will see on the dailies I will post).  I had assumed a person named “Timex” started it all.  
 

So…. IMHO the entertainment is OK for this trip…. And this (unusual for NCL) itinerary (Southern Carib). However if you have been on the Breakaway or such, those even larger boats do tend to have a few more options.   After a long day in the sun, and on a catamaran, having beverages all day ,  having a great meal, and then taking in one of the above, we usually find that’s a fairly full day… but there is always something going on that will take you till midnight if you really want non-stop till you drop things to do.  Once I post all dailies, you can see any and all options that were listed for this cruise .

Again… all just my humble opinions. 

Just finished snorkeling in Grenada looking at the underwater sculptures. If you decide to book this trip, I recommend taking an early morning time as the water will be less murky. 
 

Roxette - your knowledge of current maritime shipbuilders is commendable… thank you for your update.  This is what I get from receiving information from other cruisers who also have unlimited beverage service… 

 

[shelbymac19]

Thank you for taking the time to give us these updates my wife and I have cruised NCL 8 times, Jan. 22nd cruise will be our 3rd time on epic but our first as "haven people". 

 

excited to be back Cruising since January of 2020.

[lastmango212]

2 hours ago, Ohio boomer said:

Vacation44 - as for the entertainment, there does seems to be plenty of options if this is a 7 day cruise.  This is the 2 day longer NYE cruise so some things are repeated. During the nights you will have:

- Priscilla queen of the desert

 

 

Ohio, you had me at "Priscilla". It disappeared from my itinerary offerings weeks ago. I was hoping it was a glitch, until I'd read other posts that mentioned it was going, going, gone, and I was so bummed. Drag queens traipsing through the Australian Outback makes me giddy with anticipation of which zany direction that story line could boomerang into (see what I did there?). So if you could use your influence, or even your beverage package to ply the cast to hang in there one more week for LastMango's sake, I'd appreciate it greatly!  Oh, and LastMango is a homage to the Buffett song which took on a new meaning when I had a adventure in cancer in Feb of 2012 (hence the 212). But, for the record, my fiance had the same thought as you did ("were there 211 OTHER LastMangos"?).

[Motegi]

Thanks for the information!  We will be onboard on the 15th.  We were last on Epic in 2019 in the Med and didn't mind its little quirks.  

[mking8288]

Good info & thanks.

 

A quick question - what's open late night for food onboard the Epic this week, after say 9:30 or 10 p.m. when the MDR are closed and perhaps the buffet switched to the late night until 11:30 ??  Or, do they close down for cleaning ... leaving places like O'Sheehan's/The Local as the only option, plus Room Service for a fee.  

 

Apparently, above is true onboard the Getaway now.  Not going to be popular especially if there's late show in the main theater & folks come out at 9:15 pm and finding out ... oops.  Thanks in advance.  

 

Yeah, we know - eat first before the 8 pm or 9 pm late show.  

[J0Y0US]

32 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Good info & thanks.

 

A quick question - what's open late night for food onboard the Epic this week, after say 9:30 or 10 p.m. when the MDR are closed and perhaps the buffet switched to the late night until 11:30 ??  Or, do they close down for cleaning ... leaving places like O'Sheehan's/The Local as the only option, plus Room Service for a fee.  

 

Apparently, above is true onboard the Getaway now.  Not going to be popular especially if there's late show in the main theater & folks come out at 9:15 pm and finding out ... oops.  Thanks in advance.  

 

Yeah, we know - eat first before the 8 pm or 9 pm late show.  

 

This is what was posted previously for Day 1 at least which I suspect is normal the other nights.

 

[vacation44]

2 hours ago, J0Y0US said:

 

This is what was posted previously for Day 1 at least which I suspect is normal the other nights.

 

Where and when was this posted?   Trying to see if it for the current SC itinerary runs or the Mediterranean runs.   Also would love to see the whole daily for day one.

[Ohio boomer]

Vacation44 - yes… the above dining times are from this trip, Day 2, and are essentially the same most every day. 

 

As I sit in my balcony - having just finished breakfast and having a cup of coffee… I’m watching the Epic pivot 180 degrees in this impossibly small harbor (always an impressive sight) while watching the “harbor pilot” boat up to the side, jump off, disappear inside, and hustle to the bridge. The air is warm, small houses of all colors are sprinkled over the hillsides, and I think this is the day I can finally pull off that look of a man wearing a fancy straw hat. (Wife says no).

 

Lastmango212 - thanks for sharing.  You more than anyone knows to soak up life while we’re here.  Eat a little too rich of food, have that extra drink (no one is driving),  sing along to songs a little too loud and please….. buy that fancy straw hat you are SURE you’ll look great in. 

[vacation44]

1 hour ago, Ohio boomer said:

The air is warm, small houses of all colors are sprinkled over the hillsides, and I think this is the day I can finally pull off that look of a man wearing a fancy straw hat. (Wife says no).

 

Go for it!!!

[J0Y0US]

6 hours ago, vacation44 said:

Where and when was this posted?   Trying to see if it for the current SC itinerary runs or the Mediterranean runs.   Also would love to see the whole daily for day one.

 

In this thread start at page one and its back there. The rest will come with the OP is back on land.

[cycling_fan]

Which cruise port did Epic leave from in San Juan? We are staying in Old Town and were hoping it would be one of the piers across from our hotel. Leaving on the 15th so appreciate the updates.

[Ohio boomer]

Cycling_fan -  The Epic for this cruise left out of “Pan American Pier 1 East”. Google maps can show two NCL piers but this is where the Epic left for the 12/29/22 sailing.   This is the pier located (somewhat) near the Sheraton. 

[JesseB]

27 minutes ago, cycling_fan said:

Which cruise port did Epic leave from in San Juan? We are staying in Old Town and were hoping it would be one of the piers across from our hotel. Leaving on the 15th so appreciate the updates.

You will leave out of the Pan American Pier.  The piers directly by Old San Juan are only used for port stops by NCL, cruises that start/end in San Juan use Pan American Pier across the Bay.  Your eDocs list the departure Pier.

Edited January 4, 2023 by JesseB

[Ohio boomer]

Today had us take the NCL “Beach day” in St. Lucia which was a 3-ish hour trip to Rodney Beach north on the island.
as opposed to our other days of taking a catamaran onto and into the water with then drinks and food….. we decided to mix it up and go to a beach where we walked into the water… then had drinks and food.  I feel we are really stretching ourselves.

 

My expectation of the beach day:  Wife and I all dressed in white running down the beach every now and then leaping into the air laughing while looking at each other then someone takes our picture.

Reality:  Me dressed in my swankiest Costco attire finding something in the sand saying “hey what’s this?”….
 

OK beach but the NCL folks all around us were fun and talkative so that made for a good time….. and plenty of time for the wife to finish a good book she had…. 

 

[Crander]

On 1/2/2023 at 11:35 AM, KSSS2013 said:

 

Could you post back on your check-in/boarding experience? We're on the week after you.

 

 Thank you!

Will do!  At this point, we are just going to show up and roll with the punches!  I figure no matter what, we will get on the ship in time! 

[Crander]

20 hours ago, Motegi said:

Thanks for the information!  We will be onboard on the 15th.  We were last on Epic in 2019 in the Med and didn't mind its little quirks.  

Looking forward to your comments on your experience!  Have a great cruise!