Epic or Escape - First time with Norwegian

[Neonch]

Seeking advice on a cruise selection: I'm torn between the Epic and Escape for a 7-day journey departing from Port Canaveral in January 2024. Content with the ports of call on either itinerary, I welcome any guidance or insider tips that could help inform this decision. Having enjoyed four cruises with Royal and another four with Princess, my wife and I—both in our early 40s and embarking on this adventure without our kids—are keen to explore what Norwegian has to offer.

[Liljo22]

Escape.  Epic's layout is very funky.  

[backsbanny]

Escape is one of the best ships of NCl in my opinion. Newer ship as well with more specialty dining offerings. I have cruised with both of them. I would choose Escape hands down

[JourneyDS]

We like and have sailed both ships.  We are booked on the Epic in February.  But as your first time, I would choose the Escape.  It has the Waterfront deck which we miss when on the Epic.  

[schmoopie17]

If you ask me (and you sort of did)...Escape all the way. It's our second favorite ship (we will be on her a third time next year).

[luv2kroooz]

Escape. It is more representative of the NCL experience.

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

Neither; do one of the Jewel class ships first!!

[TeresaJ]

I loved both ships! Either way, you will have fun.

[hallux]

I really liked the Escape!  For a sun-worshipper it's one of (if not THE) best in the fleet with all the free-to-use sun-deck space.  The entertainment on board was excellent as well!!

[schmoopie17]

For what it's worth, we booked the Epic for next September. Another couple who has never cruised before was going with us. Long story short, we ended up canceling and re-booking the Escape. Since they were first time cruisers, we figured they would have a better experience on the Escape. (There were other reasons for canceling...itinerary, cost, etc.) but this was a big one).

[BenDover]

I am a converted RCI cruiser and now do NCL exclusively. Epic was my first NCL cruise, however Escape is a much better ship. 

[Ellis1138]

I never went on the Epic, but was on the Escape in September. The Escape had tons of outdoor spaces that I loved and I found it easy to get wherever I was going. The crew all treated me so well and I enjoyed the food. I would definitely recommend the Escape. 

 

Prior to that, I was on the smaller ones; The Sun and Jade.

[ColdCruise]

Anything but Epic …it’s an epic disaster 

[kayjay76]

The Escape by far. Just google the Epics bathroom/cabin layout. Says it all.

[backsbanny]

Biggest advantage of the Escape is the waterfront in my opinion. One of the best design things NCL ever made and many lines tried to replicate

[wolft927]

We booked escape over epic for this January, but honestly epic is currently thousands less then the escape and almost had us switch. Be have done breakaway and breakaway+ ships before and came close to switching again only because the 2 bedroom haven was thousands less on the epic 

[ready2cruzagain]

We love the Epic and have 6 cruises booked on her but...and a big but...the bathroom situation is horrible. If your kids are in the same cabin as you I would definitely choose the Escape!!!!

[MCMC100]

Escape, without question.  There is a reason only one Epic-style ship was ever built. 

[ColdCruise]

Will also put a pitch in AGAINST the Epic due bathroom situation in cabin. Husband refuses to sail her again, no matter if the cruise is free. If you do book Epic, look for a room close to public restrooms (eg rear stairwell) so you have a bathroom option,and make sure you’r bed is on the balcony side. You’ll thank me later! 
 

So convenient we were Spa Balcony and one of us could pop over to the spa and shower there while the other one showered in the telephone booth in the room (NOT a Tardis).

[ChiCruzr]

23 minutes ago, ColdCruise said:

Will also put a pitch in AGAINST the Epic due bathroom situation in cabin. Husband refuses to sail her again, no matter if the cruise is free. If you do book Epic, look for a room close to public restrooms (eg rear stairwell) so you have a bathroom option,and make sure you’r bed is on the balcony side. 

 

I've been on the Epic and know the bathroom set-up.  How is using a public bathroom a better option than the one in the cabin with someone you know?

[ColdCruise]

If your cabin mate is sleeping AND your bed is by the door, it is rather a loud awakening. Since the WC  is only separated by a glass sliding door, the flushing noise is loud.

[TQuila]

In addition to the bathroom situation mentioned above (which wasn't that big of a deal for my DH of 20 years and me), I felt very cut off from the water on the Epic. The only lower deck that's open has all of the lifeboats on it, so you can only get small bursts of scenery as you walk along. The Waterfront on Escape was lovely for exactly this purpose!

[vacation44]

We also have been on both ships and prefer the Escape hands down.  It is my husband's favorite.

[TheycallmeDrew]

Been on both and Epic bathroom doesn't bother me much but Escape being a newer and larger ship has more amenities and would be a better experience for a first time visit. Escape is probably my favourite NCL ship and I have been on every class of ship they have.