Onboard Epic now - impressions and Daily

[JustAPilot]

Have they fixed the smoke stacks so they are not raining sludge when you’re in Spice H2O? Any visible rust in the outdoor public areas? 

[Ohio boomer]

As a matter of fact yes…. I did detect some rust between Spice H2O and the pool area yesterday morning that had appeared from somewhere?….and wondered what it was?…. Must be what you are referring to.  As always on the Epic, it was cleaned up within an hour. 

[Ohio boomer]

Just finished Saint Martin and Sint Maartin. 
Lovely island with much shopping.  The wife was on a journey to find a certain piece of clothing.  Looking for an “authentic” island creation she found an authentic Saint Martin piece, designed in Mexico, made in China, and sold to her by a man from India.  (Sigh)….

For liquor appreciators, there are many liquor stores that have quite decent stocks of certain brands that can be a challenge to find in the US at any price.  I found a bottle of “Blantons” (Gulmohar’s whiskey Paradise)  I had been looking for and the bar right across the street from this Liquor store will sell you a shot of Pappy to drink if you’ve never tasted…. No… they absolutely will not sell you a bottle at any price or even the empty bottle … but you can taste it….. and if you have ask me the price…. You shouldn’t be drinking Pappy.

 

Bringing your liquor back onboard involves checking it (after security on the boat) with the liquor confiscation person (my name), that will store your bottle of liquor until the last night of your cruise, then you can go and pick it up and get it packed for when you leave the following morning. 

 

Fun fact about Saint Martin and Sint Maartin.  Seems the French and the Netherlands had some disputes over the island and decided to split it with the French getting the larger piece.  The Netherlanders we none too pleased with this and decided to put an extra “a” in their name for their side of the island just to irritate the French.  Totally made up fact,  but I’m running with it. 

 

[Crander]

Any one else on the St. Kitts Scenic Railway tour?  If so, did you notice the ship now departs before we get back!  Now just trying to figure out if NCL is cancelling the tour as they said the might in the schedule change letter or if they are just going to adjust the times.  Nothing heard  yet.

 

[Ohio boomer]

All purchase liquor that was “collected” can be retrieved on the last day of your cruise, between 6-9:00pm, on the pool deck (deck 15) at the towel station. 

[JesseB]

Was precila still playing this cruise Ohio boomer? 

[Ohio boomer]

JesseB….. yes…. And getting ready to watch it right now 😉

[Ohio boomer]

Of all of the over-the-top drag Queens dancing in the Australian Outback musicals I have seen, this was the best.

[mickeyhereicome]

If you have time Ohio can you see if Caymus Cabernet is on board anywhere. I've seen a menu with it by the bottle. Contemplating upgrading to the premium version.

[G-DawgMN]

2 hours ago, Ohio boomer said:

Of all of the over-the-top drag Queens dancing in the Australian Outback musicals I have seen, this was the best.

I really enjoy watching the people walk out because they didn’t look at the description or listen to the multiple announcements about the content of the show. 

[Ohio boomer]

Ksss2013 - Yes…. There was a certain part of the audience that whispered the entire time and a few folks got up and left.  It is out there,  but very well done and quite a show production.

 

Some final thoughts before my flight home.

 

Turns out, the ship was almost completely full.  (Confirmed by a cruise staff member) Remember though that this was the 9 day NYE cruise which typically sells out early, sails full,  and is more expensive than the 7 day cruises during the months of January /February.  
 

CPT - with a full boat, if you decide to disembark at say, 8:00am - 10:00am and just can’t get enough of those Garden Cafe breakfasts and want one more “free one”  before you leave, prepare to have long lines exiting the ship.  DO NOT expect to have your breakfast brought to your cabin the last day at the time you have slated it for….. LOTS of activity is going on right outside your cabin when you leave with cleaning crews, etc.  Our room service breakfast did not come this morning during the slated time.  The earlier you leave before 8:00am,  you generally will walk right off and into a taxi as we did.  There was a long line of taxis outside waiting to take passengers away, it’s just snaking your way off the boat with packed elevators and passengers with their steamer trunks attempting leave that’s the challenge.

 

Again, for all, I’ve saved all of the dailies and will post them once I get back home and have full access to 5 hamster-strength internet.

 

Thanks for cruising along with me  - Ohio Boomer

[Ohio boomer]

All dailies as promised.  A few shots of some menus….. they always change during the trip but are about 90% the same each day.  Plus….. a pic of a nice selection of men’s fancy straw hats…. 😉

 

I posed the back page of each daily as well so the moms on this forum can see when the kids programs are available.

 

Plus the pic with the current ships staff. 
 

Happy Cruising. 

[minka34]

Ohio boomer - love your humor.  I appreciate you taking the time to entertain us while on your vacation!  We are on the Epic for the Feb 26th sailing out of SJ.  I'm considering the Taxi Excursion. 😉 

[mickeyhereicome]

On 1/8/2023 at 7:17 AM, Ohio boomer said:

Ksss2013 - Yes…. There was a certain part of the audience that whispered the entire time and a few folks got up and left.  It is out there,  but very well done and quite a show production.

 

Some final thoughts before my flight home.

 

Turns out, the ship was almost completely full.  (Confirmed by a cruise staff member) Remember though that this was the 9 day NYE cruise which typically sells out early, sails full,  and is more expensive than the 7 day cruises during the months of January /February.  
 

CPT - with a full boat, if you decide to disembark at say, 8:00am - 10:00am and just can’t get enough of those Garden Cafe breakfasts and want one more “free one”  before you leave, prepare to have long lines exiting the ship.  DO NOT expect to have your breakfast brought to your cabin the last day at the time you have slated it for….. LOTS of activity is going on right outside your cabin when you leave with cleaning crews, etc.  Our room service breakfast did not come this morning during the slated time.  The earlier you leave before 8:00am,  you generally will walk right off and into a taxi as we did.  There was a long line of taxis outside waiting to take passengers away, it’s just snaking your way off the boat with packed elevators and passengers with their steamer trunks attempting leave that’s the challenge.

 

Again, for all, I’ve saved all of the dailies and will post them once I get back home and have full access to 5 hamster-strength internet.

 

Thanks for cruising along with me  - Ohio Boomer

Thanks for all the info. Can you tell me what deck you disembark from? Is it the same deck for port stops and the final day in San Juan? Thanks

[JesseB]

21 hours ago, mickeyhereicome said:

Thanks for all the info. Can you tell me what deck you disembark from? Is it the same deck for port stops and the final day in San Juan? Thanks

It varies by port. It’s was either 4 or 5 last week. 

[mickeyhereicome]

9 hours ago, JesseB said:

It varies by port. It’s was either 4 or 5 last week. 

Thanks. What about the last day in San Juan? Still 4 or 5? Trying to see how far I have to carry luggage down the stairs for early walk off if elevators are all full/busy!

Edited January 17, 2023 by mickeyhereicome
more info

[mavants73]

On 12/31/2022 at 10:33 AM, laudergayle said:

Thanks we’re on Feb 5 sailing and really want to enjoy the pool area. 

We are on the same sailing! 1st cruise for me, and first NCL for my fiancé.

 

[JesseB]

14 hours ago, mickeyhereicome said:

Thanks. What about the last day in San Juan? Still 4 or 5? Trying to see how far I have to carry luggage down the stairs for early walk off if elevators are all full/busy!

Yep I believe it was 4 in San juan

[70TravelBug]

Ohio Boomer....THANK YOU!  I have enjoyed reading through all of your funny and super informative posts. Appreciate the time it must have taken you!

 

We are sailing out of San Juan on Sunday, February 12th. Staying at an Airbnb the night before...have to check out at 11:00 Sunday morning. We chose a later check-in time at the ship of 3:30-4:00, based on many other opinions and reviews of just how crazy it is in the morning.  We would much rather spend a few hours and visit Old San Juan and let the craziness calm down.  

 

Question....looking for options of what to do with our luggage.  Leaving it at our Airbnb is not an option.  We debated going to pier, dropping luggage and leaving.  But based on what everyone is saying...we could be waiting in an uber for an extended period of time just to do this.

 

Others have mentioned the restaurant "Barrachina" that stores luggage pre/post cruise for a small fee.  Anyone done this before? Or know if it's still a possibility? Any other suggestions?

[4tiderz]

Ohio Boomer… Thank you for the fantastic information about the NYE cruise last year on the Epic. My husband & I will be sailing her THIS NYE & we’re particularly interested in your posted info about the college playoff games broadcasted on the ship. I was actually doing some pretty deep diving/researching about whether we’d be able to watch the games when I came across your post. Everything I had found previously said no college games could be found on a tv screen anywhere on the ship. So, you’ve made our day! Were the playoff games on the big screen in the atrium that O’Sheehan’s overlooks or on smaller screens inside the actual restaurant? Do you remember if they were shown anywhere else? Thanks in advance! 

[Ohio boomer]

Future EPIC passenger -  there was one game on in the late afternoon in the Atrium….but don’t count on them having any type of game on as it being NYE, there will be more going on in the Atrium and few folks interested in the game.  O’ Sheehan’s is your best bet…and I scoured the ship attempting to find a game or coerce a bartender to show it.  There will be lots of fans for both teams in the bar so it was fun.  Seemed odd with my college colors on yelling at the screen with fine tailored men and women dressed to the nines walking past for NYE.  Have a good cruise.  We have been on several NCL cruises and we really enjoyed this one.  I hope your team wins.  

[4tiderz]

Thank you SO MUCH, Ohio boomer, for all of the helpful information! I appreciate you! …and Roll Tide! 😉