Nancy Norris
Itinerary: Eastern
Caribbean
Sailing Date: February 10th, 2011
Occupation: Travel Professional and Writer
Number of Cruises: Lots
Epic in Port
Introduction:
I had the
privilege of escorting a group of 20+ friends on a 7 night
Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Epic this February. Most of
the group planned to fly from their hometown of Cleveland,
OH the day before the cruise. Anyone who has experienced
winter in Cleveland knows that this is necessary if you
don't want to risk missing the ship. Well, this trip was no
exception! We were hit with a major winter storm in the
early morning on the day of our scheduled departure and all
flights were canceled. I have elite status with Continental
and was given priority for re-routing and booking (BTW, a
very good reason to establish this status on your preferred
airline). Unfortunately, the rest of the Ohio contingency
was not as fortunate, and they were being re-booked on
flights the next day that would have them arriving too late
to make the ships departure. Now, this is a perfect example
of where my value as a travel agent comes into play. I was
able to use my resources and contacts to secure seats on
flights that had them arriving in plenty of time to board
the ship. As a side note, this is also a great example of
the importance of purchasing trip insurance.
As we
approached the port, the 153,000 ton Epic was easy to spot.
Looming large on the horizon, the ship appears boxy and top
heavy.
Big, boxy Epic
Embarkation:
NCL has
done an excellent job of making this process totally
seamless and efficient. Due to the size of this ship, NCL
utilizes two terminals for embarkation. One terminal
services odd decks and the other is the check-in for even
deck staterooms. We arrived at the port just before noon and
were onboard in less than a half-hour. The only area that
incurred any delay was the line for embarkation pictures. We
bypassed this line and made our way onboard with ease.
First
Impression:
With so
much already written about this ship, I was eager to step
aboard and formulate my own impressions. Entering on Deck 6,
mid-level of the mini-atrium, into a corridor within the
casino certainly did not emit a “Wow factor”. In fact, my
initial reaction was lukewarm.
View upon boarding
Just as
there are two terminals to check-in, two separate gangplanks
are used for embarkation (Deck 5 and Deck 6). Based on the
opinion of others, entering on Deck 5 appears to be a bit
more impressive. However, even though I was unimpressed at
first blush, after touring the ship, I did warm to the
design and décor and found the ship had many appealing
attributes.
Atrium Chandelier
NCL took
a chance and stepped out of the box to create a different
kind of cruise experience, and as with many “experiments”,
there were both successes and failures. This review will
reflect my personal opinion about what I believe to be the
“hits” and the “misses”.
Staterooms:
Probably
the most talked about and much maligned aspect of this ship
is the new “wave balcony staterooms” with separate showers
and vanity. All in my group were assigned standard balcony
staterooms on Deck 10. My roommate and I occupied stateroom
#10079, forward on the starboard side of the ship. I had
selected this cabin based on the brochure schematic as it
appeared to have a larger than average balcony. In fact, it
was significantly larger than the standard balcony for this
category.
Stateroom Balcony
As
unimpressed as I was with my initial entry onto the ship, I
had the opposite reaction as I entered my cabin. With its
free-form, curved walls, recessed ceiling, LED dome
lighting, dark wood furnishings and earth-tone décor with
accents of color the stateroom is sleek and attractive.
Designed to be energy efficient, lights are activated by
placing your key in the slot in the entryway and the
air-conditioning only works when the balcony door is closed.
There is plenty of storage space, much of which is hidden.
(Life-preservers are in a cubby behind a cushion in the
sofa, two deep drawers are under the sofa, wood paneling
above the bed actually opens to provide more storage.) Beds
are high enough to allow for storage of suitcases under the
bed. Although I liked the appearance of the rounded beds and
curved headboard, they are surprisingly short. While it was
not a problem for me, many members of my group found that
their feet dangled off the end of the bed by several inches.
Of course, this may simply have been a necessity as the
standard balcony stateroom is a bit small (216 sq. ft) and
space between the bed and built-in vanity was very tight.
My Stateroom
Speaking
about the size of the stateroom, I have a suggestion. I
found the cream colored sofa to be aesthetically pleasing,
but not very comfortable. I would remove the sofa, which
takes up valuable space, and put a small chair in its place.
The stateroom came equipped with a flat-screen TV (with very
limited programming), a stocked refrigerator , an nice size
safe and a coffee maker. The in-room coffee maker (coffee
and tea were replenished as needed) was a pleasant
addition. I hope that other cruise lines follow suit. There
are ample electrical outlets, although they are difficult to
reach underneath and behind the shelving unit.
Stateroom Vanity/Storage
Now, for
the much discussed bathroom facilities. As you enter the
stateroom, a separate shower is on one side, and the toilet
is in a separate compartment on the other – both are housed
in frosted glass enclosures. A curtain can be drawn to
separate the shower and toilet from the rest of the
stateroom for privacy. The sink and medicine cabinet are
actually in the cabin proper, just beyond the shower. The
original foot high goose-neck faucets that emptied into a
tiny bowl have been replaced with a shorter, more adequate
faucet. While this has alleviated the problem of having
water splash all over the stateroom, the sinks are still
much too small to be very effective and there is limited
counter space.
Personally, I liked the separate shower and toilet concept.
I found this configuration provided a larger shower unit and
allowed for two persons to get ready at the same time.
However, the sink area in the cabin left something to be
desired.
Sink
Interestingly, the configuration in my stateroom was more
desirable than that of my neighbors. My stateroom was
configured so that as you enter the cabin the sofa is across
from the sink and the bed is close to the balcony door.. The
stateroom next door was designed so that the bed was across
from the sink and the sofa was next to balcony door. While I
had some space around the sink, there was almost no space
between the foot of their bed and the sink. However, there
is a trade-off. While we had a bit more space around the
sink, the built in drawers and one closet in the
shelving/closet/vanity unit closest to the balcony (across
from the bed) were extremely narrow and somewhat useless
(about 6-8 inches deep). The same drawers and closet in my
neighbors room were full size and significantly deeper. This
is another example of how the size of the cabin necessitated
down-sizing the furnishings. BTW, the vanity light is hidden
under the medicine cabinet.
I had the
opportunity to inspect a deluxe balcony and at 245 sq. ft.
was amazed at how much larger this cabin appeared compared
to the standard balcony. It offered more storage and closet
space, a larger shower (or bathtub) and room to move. If at
all possible, I would definitely recommend upgrading to this
category.
Studio Complex
I also
had a chance to visit the two-deck studio complex. These 128
inside staterooms are designed for solo travelers. At 100
sq. ft. they are compact, but sufficient for those traveling
alone. Although they are inside staterooms, they do have a
circular window that looks out to the hallway (eliminating
that claustrophobic feeling of a typical inside stateroom).
A studio guest key card is needed to access this private
complex. Studio guests have exclusive use of their own
private lounge, known as the Living Room, which includes a
bar, cappuccino machine, large screen TV and conversation
areas.
Studio Lounge
Speaking
to a number of guests who were staying in these studio
rooms, this was definitely a major Epic success. Again, I
hope that other cruise lines consider such accommodations in
their future builds.
Studio Living Room
Dining:
With 21
various dining venues on the Epic, there is no question that
NCL has taken freestyle dining to a whole new level. While
there is an additional fee for many of the dining options,
about ½ of them are included in the price of the cruise.
This is one area that I believe NCL made huge improvements
over my past experiences. While I have always recommended
clients spend the money to dine in the specialty restaurants
on NCL if they want a really good meal, it is so not
necessary on the Epic. I found the quality of the food and
service in the main complimentary dining venues far
surpassed my expectations. On a 7 night cruise it was
virtually impossible to experience every dining option
available to me, but with help from my fellow traveling
companions we did sample almost all.
Manhattan Room Entrance
First,
let's take a look at those that are included in the cruise
fare:
Manhattan Room (Deck 6, Aft):
This is
one of the two main dining rooms onboard and my favorite of
the two. Sophisticated and stylish, the Manhattan Room is
aptly named. Reminiscent of a 1940's style supper club, the
art deco décor, impressive two story aft panoramic window
and polished dance floor provide a perfect backdrop for an
enjoyable dining experience.
Manhattan Room Panorama
While
reviews are mixed on the quality of food, I was pleased with
my choices and those dining with me were equally impressed.
Guests can dine to the big band sound of the Manhattan Band
and enjoy occasional appearances by Legends Unplugged (more
about this in the Entertainment section of my review). The
Manhattan Room is open for dinner from 5:30-9:30.
Manhattan Room Seating
Taste
(Deck 5, Aft):
Located
at the base of the atrium, with the glitzy LED chandelier as
its focal point, Taste is the other main dining room.
View of Taste from Above
Off-white
colors, free form walls interspersed with flowing curtains
and stained glass windows make for an eclectic modernistic
décor. Food and service were both quite good the two times I
dined here.
Taste Seating
Tip: I
really enjoyed my dining experience when we were seated in
one of the corner enclaves.
However,
when seated in the open atrium area below the chandelier, I
found the noise from the casino filtered down and was quite
annoying. Taste is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar and Grill (Deck 6, Mid):
O'Sheehan's Entrance
This was
my favorite of the “free” dining options. Spanning both
sides of the deck, port side is the restaurant and bowling
lanes and the bar occupies the starboard side. This Irish
Pub is open 24/7 serving breakfast from 5:30 AM – 11:00 AM
and then offers typical pub fare such as fish and chips and
wings, as well as yummy comfort food like shepherd's pie
the rest of the day. I loved the dark wood, stained glass,
comfortable booths and casual atmosphere, not to mention the
fish and chips. Service was very friendly and efficient.
O'Sheehan's Dining
Tip:
Although it is not listed as a lunch venue on embarkation
day, it IS open and a great alternative to the
typical chaos that can ensue in the buffet area when
staterooms are not yet ready.
Garden
Café (Deck 15, Fwd):
The
Garden Café is the standard cruise line buffet-style dining
venue. Garden trellises adorned with flowers and windows on
all sides make for an attractive, light and airy décor.
Garden Cafe Seating
Multiple
serving stations, lined along both the port and starboard
sides, feature a different epicurean offering. In the
morning there are a number of made to order omelet/egg
stations and pre-made eggs benedict are available everyday.
Garden Cafe Stations
A daily
themed lunch, along with a carving station, made-to-order
pasta, Asian, Mexican and Indian cuisine, sandwiches, pizza,
salad bar and dessert and beverage stations offer a plethora
of choices. A separate ice cream station offers hard and
soft serve from lunch through dinner. Kudos to NCL, I
thought the food was sufficiently varied to suit all tastes
and the pre-cooked scrambled eggs and eggs-benedict were
both served hot (my personal test for quality of the
buffet).
Great
Outdoors (Deck 15, Fwd):
The Great
Outdoors is an extension of the buffet offering breakfast,
lunch and dinner and also serves as the outdoor poolside
grill.
Great Outdoors Buffet
In the
evening, the Great Outdoors offers late night snacks until
midnight. Guests dining here are protected from the sun by
tent-like canopies.
Great Outdoors Seating
Spice
H20 (Deck 15, Aft):
This
multi-purpose, multi-level space serves as the Adult's Only
Pool area during the day.
Spice H2O Grill Seating
Port side
of the upper tier is a small buffet area that serves a
continental breakfast from 8-11, luncheon treats like
burgers and wings from 12-3 and late night snacks from 6
until the evening parties end.
Epic
Club (Deck 16 Fwd):
Serving
an intimate breakfast, lunch and dinner, this private
restaurant is reserved for guests staying in the Courtyard
Villas and Suites.
Epic Club Restaurant
Courtyard Grill (Deck 16 Fwd):
The
Courtyard Grill is the private alfresco dining option for
those guests staying in the Courtyard Villas and Suites.
Atrium
Café (Deck 5, Mid):
Part wine
bar, part coffee bar, the Atrium Café is the place to go for
a specialty coffee (extra charge) or to grab a tempting
dessert or snack on the run.
Atrium Cafe
Room
Service:
Room
service is available 24/7, albeit a somewhat limited menu.
Guests can order continental breakfast fare, standard soup
and sandwiches or a three-egg omelet at no charge. However,
selections such as a jumbo shrimp platter or a cheese
selection that serves 4 can be ordered for an additional
fee.
As you
can see, there are certainly enough complimentary choices
that one could have great meals without paying the extra
fare for specialty dining. However, some of these
“alternative” dining venues proved to be a highlight of my
cruise and well worth the price!
Moderno and Cagney's
Entrance
Cagney's Steakhouse (Deck 7, Aft)
$25 pp:
NCL's
signature steakhouse restaurant had a different feel than
the Cagney's on other ships in the NCL fleet. While the menu
remains the same, this restaurant shares the aft portion of
deck 7 with Moderno. An entryway leads to a shared hostess
station and guests dining at Cagney's are ushered to the
port side.
Shared Hostess Station
The space
between the two restaurants houses a gourmet salad bar that
is shared by both venues. This is the most expensive dining
option on the ship, but for those that love steak – well
worth the price. For an extra $10 diners can order a whole
lobster or 32 oz. Porterhouse steak.
Cagney's
While I
did not get a chance to have dinner there, a few of us chose
to sample the Captain's Favorite Jazz Brunch on a sea day.
While the food and service were outstanding and ambiance
quite lovely, I am not sure it was worth the $20 service
fee. (Now, if it had been a free-flowing champagne brunch
that would be a whole different story.)
Moderno (Deck 7, Aft) $20 pp:
Occupying
the starboard side of the rear of deck 7, this Brazilian
churrascaria was a very popular venue. Servers continuously
bring a variety of broiled/slow roasted meats on skewers to
be sliced table side at this all-you-can-eat restaurant.
Moderno
The meal
starts with a trip to the salad bar, and vegetables, bread
and other side dishes are served family style. Each guest is
given a card (one side green, the other red). As long as the
card is turned to green, limitless chorizo, lamb chops,
chicken (my favorite) and steak are brought to diners until
the guest turns the card over to red (indicating that they
are finished). Dessert is also included. Make sure to
arrive very hungry and don't fill up on the bread and salad
bar.
La Cuccina (Deck 14, Fwd) $10 pp:
This
Italian eatery is a hidden gem tucked under the Garden Cafe
in the bow of the ship. Access is via a staircase found in
the forward section of the Garden Cafe.
La Cuccina Entrance
Bookcases, arched brick walls and windows looking out to sea
make for a quaint and homey atmosphere. La Cuccina serves
standard, but good, Italian fare.
La Cuccina
Le Bistro (Deck 5, Mid) $20 pp:
Another
NCL signature restaurant, this French restaurant was the
favorite alternative dining choice for many in my group,
including myself. In fact, some in my group returned for a
second time just for the escargot and butter roasted lobster
tail.
Le Bistro Entrance
(Note:
There is an extra charge for the lobster.) The elegant décor
adds an “upscale” appeal to the restaurant and compliments
the rich cuisine perfectly.
Le Bistro
Shanghai's (Deck 6, Aft) $15 pp:
Serving
dim sum, noodles, wok fried dishes, Shanghai's is a small
venue that is open for dinner only. I did not find the red
and green décor with wooden chairs and bright lights very
appealing. I did not dine here, but a few in my group did
and gave it an OK rating. It never seemed to be very busy
any evening and walk-ins were seated immediately.
Shanghai's
Noodle Bar (Deck 6, Aft) A la
carte:
While
Shanghai's did not appear to be very popular, the Noodle Bar
adjacent to Shanghai's was a huge hit. Think of it as
Chinese fast food at ala carte pricing starting at $2.50.
Open for lunch and dinner serving a variety of rice and
noodle dishes, the bar was always full.
Noodle Bar
Teppanyaki (Deck 7, Mid) $12.50
lunch/$25 dinner pp:
On the
Epic, NCL has enlarged this popular Japanese dining venue
making it the largest teppanyaki restaurant at sea. Guests
sit around the table side hibachi and are entertained by the
combination of presentation and knife skills as their meals
are prepared by talented chefs. This is another alternative
restaurant that is totally worth the price.
Teppanyaki
Wasabi (Deck 7, Mid) A la carte:
Sushi
anyone? This is not my cup of tea, but for those who enjoy
fresh sushi, sashimi and sake this is the place to dine.
Guests dine at a counter with comfortable high-back chairs
and can select from a variety of ala carte items. Most
popular choice appeared to be a combination plate with three
different rolls and an appetizer for $10.
Wasabi
Spiegel Tent (Deck 6, Fwd) Dinner
Theatre $20/$30:
This is
the venue for the Cirque Dreams show (which I will review in
the entertainment section). A relatively uninspiring fixed
menu is the fare, but no one chooses this option for the
meal anyway. Cost is dependent on your seating for the show:
$30 premium seating is on the main floor and balcony seating
is $20.
Spiegel Tent Entrance
Pizza Delivery 24/7 ($5 delivery
fee):
If you
are in the mood for pizza, a quick call and pizza is
delivered to you, anywhere on the ship.
Entertainment/Lounges:
Wow!
Although the Epic did not provide that “Wow Factor” as I
embarked on the ship, NCL hit a home run with the
entertainment options onboard. Gone are the traditional
production shows and the typical evening entertainment
schedule that revolves around the one day only early and
late performances in the main theater. From Blue Man Group
and Howl at the Moon to NCL Parties and so much more, guests
had a plethora of choices.
Spice H2O Party
Beginning
on Deck 5 and moving upwards, let's take a closer look at
the various entertainment venues around the ship:
Atrium
(Deck 5, Mid):
In
addition to the Atrium Bar where guests can order a
specialty coffee, glass of wine or cocktail and grab a
snack, the three story atrium with its giant video screen is
a hub of activity.
Atrium Video Screen
On any
given day, guests can play Nintendo Wii games on the big
screen, view a movie, watch a cooking demo, participate in
group games or sit and relax in one of the comfy chairs
while listening to one of the many onboard musicians.
Atrium
Epic
Theater (Deck 5 & 6, Fwd):
The
two-level main theater is home to Blue Man Group and Legends
in Concert.
Epic Theater Entrance
Blue Man
Group's 70 minute show is performed 8 times during the
cruise (2 performances on 4 nights). Performance art,
audience participation and visual and audio props combine to
offer a lighthearted and fun-filled show. While it was very
entertaining for most, it held no surprises for me as it was
the same show I had seen at the Cleveland Playhouse as part
of my Broadway Series.
Legends
at Sea is performed by one of the rotating casts of the Las
Vegas Legends in Concert group on the remaining 3 nights of
a 7 night cruise with 2 shows nightly. Neil Diamond, Janet
Jackson and Aretha Franklin were the tribute performers
featured on our cruise. This 40 minute show was a high
energy hit and, in my opinion, not to be missed. Both of
these shows are free and a huge bargain based on the high
cost to see either in Las Vegas.
Epic Theater
Tip: I
mentioned in the Dining Section of this review that I would
speak to the Legends Unplugged performances in the Manhattan
Room. Lackluster and mediocre at best, having been subjected
to these weak performances our entire group had all but
written off attending the real show in the theater. At the
last minute, a few of us decided to forego our trepidation
and attended the show anyway. Boy, am I glad we did! Pass on
Legends Unplugged, but don't miss Legends at Sea in the Epic
Theater.
Cirque
Dreams Dinner Show (Deck 6, Fwd):
Spiegel Tent Entrance
Hmmm,
this is one show I was so looking forward to, but ended up
being disappointed. The 217 seat Spiegel Tent is a two level
theater in the round. Main floor seating is $30 and a single
row of circular seating around the balcony is $20. While the
acrobatics were impressive, the antics revolve around a very
weak story line full of slapstick comedy that misses its
mark, frenetic antics and shrill singing. Due to the nature
of the constant movement of the performers, guests are
informed that they will be required to stay in their seats
during the entire 2 hour performance (no bathroom breaks
permitted).
Spiegel Tent
Tip: If
you do decide to attend, save some money and reserve seating
in the upper deck as those seats actually provide a better
view.
Headliners Comedy Club (Deck 6, Fwd):
Headliners is the venue shared by a cast of the legendary
Second City comedic improv troupe and the dueling pianos of
Howl at the Moon.
Headliners Wall of Fame
Second
City performs a number of shows at 7, 9 and 11 PM, with the
late night show at 11 PM geared for an all adult audience.
When Second City is not scheduled to perform, the Howl at
the Moon dueling pianos get the audience singing and dancing
to rock music, hip hop and everything in between. On stage
from 9 PM – 1 AM, be forewarned that after 11 PM things can
get pretty raunchy and rowdy.
Headliners Seating
While
there is no charge for either entertainment option, you will
need to make reservations for Second City.
O'Sheehans Bar & Grill (Deck 6, Mid):
O'Sheehan's Bar
This was
one of my favorite venues on the ship. The bar is located on
the starboard side of O'Sheehans and has the feel and
ambiance of a neighborhood sports bar.
O’Sheehan’s Starboard
Belly up
to the bar and watch the TV tuned to a sports event, shoot a
game of pool or play a round of darts. There are even a
couple of bowling lanes on the port side.
Bowling Lanes
Fat
Cats Jazz & Blues Club (Deck 6, Aft):
The Slam
Allen Blues Band performs here 6 nights a week and is a
great crowd-pleaser.
Fat Cats Entrance
Get there
early if you want to score one of the 160 seats, and prepare
to be wowed by the delta inspired sounds and jam late into
the night to some serious blues.
Fat Cats
Cascades Bar (Deck 6, Aft):
This
small casino bar outside the Manhattan Room is great for a
quick drink or to play one of the video gambling machines at
the bar, but not much else.
Cascades Bar
Cagneys Bar (Deck 7, Aft):
Cagney's
Bar is a comfortable, albeit small, bar on the Moderno side
of the aft portion of deck 7. Open in the evenings only, a
2-for-1 martini special was offered most days between 5:30
and 6 or 7 PM.
Cagneys Bar
Maltings Beer & Whiskey Bar (Deck 7, Aft):
Maltings,
an NCL signature bar, is one of the many bars along the deck
7 corridor known as Bar Central. This bar was inspired by
the lobby bar at the Mandarin Oriental in London.
Maltings
Svedka
Ice Bar (Deck 7, Mid):
The first
of its kind at sea, Svedka Ice Bar is a unique experience.
Kept at a constant temperature of 17ºF, the entire bar,
including the glasses are made of ice. Guests are provided
parkas, and the $20 cover charge includes 2 drinks featuring
Svedka Vodka.
Svedka Ice Bar
Although
reservations are required, during my cruise there was no
difficulty making a reservation at the last minute.
Shakers Martini Bar (Deck 7, Mid):
Shakers Piano Bar
Another
of the Signature Bars along the Bar Central corridor,
Shakers is an attractive modernistic venue with a number of
great conversational areas with comfy sofas and chairs.
Piano music entertains the patrons in the evening.
Shakers Martini Bar
Humidor Cigar Lounge (Deck 7, Mid):
The cigar
lounge is tucked into a corner at the rear of Shakers. An
enclosed area with a private door is well appreciated by
those of us that find cigar smoke offensive.
Humidor Entrance
Bliss
Ultra Lounge (Deck 7, Fwd):
This
all-day entertainment and nightclub complex is similar to
the same venue on the Gem and Pearl.
Bliss Entrance
Greeted
by statues of horses at the entrance, decorated in deep
blue, orange and gold sateen with chaise lounge beds
scattered about, decadent is the one word that comes to
mind.
Bliss Decor
Bowling
alleys, pool tables and a pulsating dance floor make this
party central. After 11 PM, Bliss is an adults-only venue.
Bliss Venue
Waves
Pool Bar (Deck 15, Fwd):
This
requisite pool bar is a popular spot and makes for a great
location for those who enjoy being a part of the poolside
action.
Waves Bar
Spice
H2O (Deck 16, Aft):
There is
another outdoor bar at Spice H2O catering to those who took
refuge at this all-adult venue during the day.
Spice H2O
The space
also includes a small pool, 2 jacuzzis, a multi-tiered
lounging area and snack bar. At night, the pool is covered
by a retractable dance floor and Spice H2O is transformed
into an outdoor nightclub.
Spice - Adult Only Venue
Epic
Club Lounge (Deck 16, Fwd):
This is a
private lounge reserved for those that are staying in the
Epic Villas.
Epic Club Lounge
Posh
Beach Club (Deck 18, Fwd):
This is
another private venue for the Epic Villa guests. During the
day, these privileged guests can lounge on white-cushioned
day beds and private cabanas. At night it becomes their
private nightclub. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera
with me on my one visit, but suffice it to say, it was
pretty “posh”.
Other
Public Space:
In
addition to dining and lounges, there are many other areas
of the ship that offer their own form of entertainment.
Sports Complex
Sports
Complex (Deck 17):
This two
level complex offers a variety of challenging and
entertaining activities for guests of all ages to test their
physical talents.
Sports Court
There is
a full size basketball/volleyball court, a 33 ft high
climbing wall, the first rappelling wall at sea, a full size
batting cage and a 24 ft high climbing cage known as “The
Spider Web”.
Spider Web
Other
than the water slides at the Aqua Park, Euro Bungy was one
of the most popular venues.
Euro Bungy
Entourage (Deck 16, Aft):
Entourage
is the Teens Club (ages 13-17). Stairs on Deck 15 lead up to
this special teens-only space.
Entourage Private Entrance
Designed
like an adult lounge, teens enjoy air hockey, pinball,
foosball, a video jukebox, large screen TVs and Playstation
3. At night it is transformed into a teen nightclub.
Corridor Separating Spice
H2O From Rest of Ship
Video
Arcade (Deck 15 Aft):
In the
corridor between Spice H2O and The Marketplace there is a
well equipped video arcade that is open 24/7.
Video Arcade
The
Marketplace (Deck 15, Aft):
This
open-air market is another shopping venue offering logo
merchandise and special sale items (weather permitting).
Marketplace
Kid's
Aqua Park (Deck 15, Mid):
A Kid's
Splash Park is just one part of the expansive Water Park on
the Epic.
Kids' Splash Park
Aqua
Park (Deck 15, Mid):
The Epic
sports an expansive water park that features three twisting
water slides, including the Epic Plunge. The Epic Plunge is
the only tube slide and largest bowl slide at sea.
Water Slides
In
addition, there are two pools, five hot tubs and the above
mentioned separate kids' splash park. As is the case with
most ships of this size, although there are a plethora of
lounge chairs, they are tightly packed together and fill up
quickly.
Aqua Park Overview
Particularly since this is the main hub of daytime activity
including poolside games and contests, not to mention the
island music performed on the poolside bandstand.
Aqua Park Bandstand
Tip: In
addition to the optional adults-only Spice H2O lounge area,
if you wish to escape the frenzy and crowds at the Aqua
Park, there is a circular elevator located just outside the
Garden Cafe which allows access to a “Quiet Zone” Sundeck on
Deck 16.
Mandara Spa & Salon (Deck 14 Aft):
Mandara Spa Entrance
This
31,000 sq ft. space, operated by Steiner, has 24 treatment
rooms and amenities include a dry float suite, relaxation
lounge, heated beds, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room,
thermal spa suites, acupuncture, botox and hair and beauty
salon . All of these treatments and facilities incur a
charge.
Heated Thermal Loungers
On our
cruise they were offering an unlimited “Chill Out”
facilities package for $199 per couple which included a
complimentary 15 minute massage.
Pulse
Fitness Center (Deck 14, Mid):
Treadmills
With 30+
treadmill machines, 18 cross trainers, a cardiovascular,
resistance and stretching area, a boxercise ring, squash
court, kinesis room, aerobics room and classes in yoga,
Pilates and an intense body sculpting boot camp, there was
no shortage of ways to work off those extra calories. As an
added bonus, Pulse was open 24/7.
More Equipment
Recess
Kid's Crew (Deck 14, Mid):
The
largest kids space in the NCL fleet, the kids area is
divided into separate space-themed play sections for kids
ages 2-5, 6-9 and 10-12.
Separate Age Based Play
Section 1
The
facility includes an air hockey table, interactive light-up
dance floor, Wii gaming area, arts and crafts station and
surround sound cinema.
Age Based Play Section 2
Group
babysitting is available from 10:30 PM to 1:30 AM for $6 per
hour for the first child and $4 per hour for the second and
third child in a family.
Tradewinds Shopping (Deck 7, Mid):
Tax and duty free shops
Jewelry,
clothing, perfume, make-up, logo items, souvenirs and all
sorts of baubles and trinkets can be found at this tax and
duty free shopping area. Free-standing circular kiosks amid
this shopping corridor can create a bit of congestion
(particularly during a sale).
Shopping kiosks
Sandbar Spirits and Tobacco (Deck 7, Aft):
Another
shopping opportunity to purchase items tax and duty free.
Sandbar
The
Barber Shop (Deck 7, Aft):
In
addition to the Mandara Spa and Salon, the Epic even has a
stand-alone barber shop.
Barber Shop
The Library (Deck 7, Aft):
What
appears as an afterthought, next to the Barber Shop is a
very small library.
Library
Box
Office (Deck 6, Fwd):
Even
though NCL is known for its “freestyle cruising”, guests who
like to plan ahead can make reservations online for
specialty dining and various shows before they leave home
(45 days before sailing). As there were some venues that we
definitely did not want to miss, many of my group made
advance reservations. However, once onboard guests can make
reservations via the interactive TV in their stateroom or
visit the Entertainment Box Office.
Entertainment Box Office
There are
boards at the box office that show the real time
availability of all shows each day. Reservations for all
shows that have no cover are held until 10 minutes prior to
show time. After that, available space is open for walk-ins.
Epic
Casino (Deck 6, Mid):
Epic Casino
Depending
on your point view, the casino is either a “hit” or a
“miss”. Spread over 31,000 sq ft, there is no shortage of
standard games of chance and multiple slot machines. The
casino is not an enclosed space, but rather it occupies the
majority of the deck 6 corridor.
Casino Alley
Smoking
is permitted in the casino, and since there is absolutely no
way to get from one end of deck 6 to the other without
walking the casino gamut, this can be an issue for those
adverse to smoke.
Art
Gallery (Deck 5, Fwd):
Park West Art Desk
Another
Park West Gallery at sea, The Collection Art Gallery on Epic
is an attractive space with a number of original works for
sale.
Collection Art Gallery
Click Photo Shop (Deck 5, Fwd):
Thanks to the innovation of facial
recognition technology, guests no longer have to search
through walls of photos to find their pictures. Photos are
stored digitally and guests can access their pictures by
swiping their sea card at one of the photo shop kiosks.
Cameras and other photo equipment can also be purchased.
Photo Shop
Internet Café (Deck 5, Fwd):
Although
the entire ship is Wi-fi enabled, an Internet Cafe tucked
behind the Photo Shop offers a number of terminals. Guests
can purchase a 25 minute package for $100, 100 minutes for
$55 or pay per minute. An initial application fee applies on
first login.
i-Connect Internet Cafe
Lobby
(Deck 5, Mid):
Much like the hub of a hotel lobby, the exterior of this
circular space is the location of
Guest Services,
Guest Services
The
Shore Excursion Desk,
Shore Excursion Desk
A Port
and Shopping information kiosk
Port and Shopping Station
and
a Future Cruise Consultant Desk.
Future Cruise Consultant
Miscellaneous Comments and Observations:
●I found
the Epic to be fairly easy to navigate, other than winding
ones way through the casino maze on deck 6. Signage posted
on the stairwells of public decks and at the banks of
elevators made locating venues relatively easy. There were
even signposts located throughout the ship to keep one
moving in the right direction. The carpeting was even color
coded to keep your port and starboard bearings (red
signified port side and blue was starboard).
Signposts Throughout Ship
●NCL has
partnered with Nickelodeon and there was no shortage of
opportunities for children (and adults) to interact with
Sponge Bob Square Pants and other Nick favorites. Slime Time
Live! Was performed in the Epic Theater, and guests could
join the characters for breakfast, play games poolside or
take advantage of one of the many meet and greet sessions
(of course, the latter was simply an autograph/photo op).
●To
the dismay of some in my group, the Epic does not have a
complete walk-around deck. However, the starboard side of
deck 7 does have a jogging track – 3.8 times around equals 1
mile. The port side of deck 7 had a shuffleboard court.
●There is an ATM machine in
the casino.
●The Epic does offer a wine
package of sorts, but a bit different than those I have
purchased on other cruise lines. You must purchase a minimum
of 6 bottles from the wine list and you receive a 20%
discount on the total price. You can select all of the same
kind or a mix of white, red and sparkling wines. While I
received vouchers to be redeemed anywhere on the ship,
others in my group had their entire stash delivered to their
stateroom at the beginning of the cruise.
●I liked the overall design of
the ship, but there are some major areas of the design that
were quite bothersome. The area between the Aqua Park and
the Marketplace was a virtual wind tunnel. Even when the
ship was in port it was difficult to traverse that area
without bracing oneself against the wind.
●In general, I found the staff
and service to be both friendly and efficient. No matter
where I was on the ship, I was treated to smiles and
pleasantries. Special kudos to my cabin steward! No matter
what the request, he was able to accommodate us and it was a
joy to be greeted by him each day.
●With 21 dining options and 18
lounges, clubs and bars there is no question that the Epic
is freestyle cruising on steroids. While there were a few in
my group that preferred the traditional cruise entertainment
schedule, I loved the concept and freedom to return to my
favorite entertainment venues on any given night.
●For a ship with a passenger
load of 4200 passengers, other than at the Aqua Park, I
never felt overwhelmed by crowds.
●Disembarkation was as
organized and painless as was embarkation.
Norwegian Epic
