Probably would not sail on the Epic again. Overall we enjoyed our vacation, but there were things that could be improved upon. Nothing to truly spoil our time aboard, but will look for other ships.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
Arriving at the port by 11 am aboard a shuttle, it was extremely crowded, long lines, and virtual chaos. Thank goodness it was not raining or sun shining, as we were not under shelter. Port Canaveral cannot handle the number of passengers boarding a ship like the Epic.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Complimentary dining room, Manhattan, and The Taste, were both very nice; food was tasty and nicely presented. Specialty dining rooms such as Cagney's Steakhouse, Moderno Brazillian Steakhouse, La Cuchina , etc. were also all very good. Shanghai Asian was just so-so. Teppanyaki was entertaining as should be expected, and food was ok. The Garden Buffet was always quite crowded, but offered a wide assortment of food, with specialty theme nights for dinner.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The ship has squeezed in too many passengers! On at sea days, the pools were crowded, bars were crowded, card/game room full, atrium full, little seating available. We stayed on ship during a few in-port days, and it was much nicer when half the passengers were gone!
Entertainment
2 out of 5
Rated as poor not for the quality of the entertainment, but the ability to see the entertainers.
With the number of passengers seeking to avail themselves of the entertainment, you had to go wait in line an hour ahead of the free shows in order to get a seat.
Children's Programs
no children with us
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Room steward was delightful, and greeted us by name every time he saw us (how do they remember?). Bartenders also made an effort to remember and greet you by name. Everyone was always polite, smiling, entertaining and helpful.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
While everything was clean, and hand sanitizer was aggressively offered at most dining rooms, the ship itself is poorly designed in some regards. We had an aft-facing balcony room, which we paid a premium for, and it was no larger than a side facing balcony. Rooms are small, beds are not long enough for a 5'10" person to sleep without feet hanging over. The design of the shower/toilet/sink facility is awkward, with all three being separate. We heard these same comments from many, many other guests.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Again, toilet/shower/basin facilities awkward. Room is small, but clean. Carpeting is unusual, and apparently tried to mimic waves in the ocean but now looks as though it is dirty. Architectural design features curves in walls, which takes up space in the interior of the room. Again, uncomfortable sleeping in short bed.
Ship tip
Be prepared to walk a lot as it is a large ship, and crowded. In order to get to Deck 5, from some elevators you must go to deck 6 and take an escalator down to deck 5..
Excursion was Salsa Making and Salsa Dancing. A little unsettling at first as our tour bus did not start. After that little hiccup, was an entertaining and fun adventure. Port is clean, general good feeling of safety.
Port is nice and clean. Excursion was Tequila Tasting, which was actually more than just that. Our tour guide, Beu, was very informative, providing history of Mexico as well as the origination of tequila, how the blue agave plants are propagated and grown, how tequila is made, how to properly drink each kind of tequila. Three variations were offered, with side plate of crackers, chocolate, lime peel, etc. Many "wow" moments from crowd as we all realized what he was saying was true. Then we were served a delightful Mexican lunch of authentic tacos and side dishes. This was a most enjoyable tour.
We left our cabin by 7:15 a.m., and there was already a very, very long line of "self-assist" travelers with their luggage waiting to disembark. Once we got started, the line moved relatively quickly, but it was A LOT of walking. Whew.
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