SHIP TOUR

Now it's time for the ship pictures. I have to say that this ship, by far, has been the hardest ship to get pictures of out of ALL the ships I have ever sailed. When we sailed her back in 2010, I really didn't have a lot of pictures (and everyone knows what a picture freak I am) and I just couldn't understand why. Now I wonder if it's the same reason I had this time....or I was just too busy having fun with my hubby's first cruise.

Several things hindered my picture taken abilities this cruise. 

*The amount of people were just INSANE! This made it hard to get good pictures because people were just everywhere blocking the view and although I thought it in my head to scream "MOVE OUT OF MY WAY, DON'T YOU KNOW I'M TRYING TO GET THE MOST AWESOME PICTURES FOR PEOPLE ON CC?", I decided it would probably not be a wise choice.

*They have A LOT of the venues closed when they are not open. :eek: I mean CLOSED! As in if they aren't open, the doors are LOCKED! The dining rooms were locked, the theater was locked, some of the bars/venues were locked. So, when they unlocked them is when the hoards of people were flocking in and that's not the type of picture I wanted obviously.

*Trouble learning my new camera and this new fish-eye lens kinda disappointed me in a lot of the pictures. So, I was forced to take many pictures of the same thing and of course someone would get in the way on the good pictures. I found that using a fish-eye created a much darker picture than what I'm used to.

*This ship is so HUGE that I didn't even realize there were places that I didn't get until I got home and started looking at the blue prints last night to put everything into the right folders. Oops

*I missed a few things in areas that I really didn't visit often or at all. 

Please forgive me if I missed anything you really wanted to see (like Spice H20...oops) or if I somehow might have the wrong picture under a certain name. Feel free to correct me if you'd like...or just deal with my insanity of knowledge, or lack there of, on the names or where the pictures might belong. I don't have the young-whipper-snapper brain I use to.

So here come the ship pictures I do have. We will start with the lower floor and work our way up (and everyone knows that walking up the stairs for me is not good these days, so feel privileged that I got them at all). :D Honestly, I took off early one morning to get a majority of them, before anyone else was out and about, and that's how some of them have no one in them. I did my duty even though I should have still been sleeping. Just for you guys....

DECK 5: 

TASTE MAIN DINING ROOM: 

So how do you get down here? It took us a few days to figure this out. I remember seeing the escalator in the casino and always wondered where it went. We decided to head down there and found that there was one of the dining rooms. TASTE!

You can look down into the dining room from the 6th floor:

Everyone knows the main centerpiece of these mega ships is the hanging chandelier. It's probably one of the most photographed things on the Epic, Getaway, and Breakaway. I would be no exception and took a lot of pictures as well.

If you walk down the hall in the opposite direction, you will come to the Atrium Cafe and Bar. I will admit that I didn't even make it down to deck 5 until days later (I believe). I was so oblivious to that deck before that...which is weird.

ATRIUM CAFE AND BAR

Attached to this bar and around the corner you would find pastries.

Also a coffee bar

Tucked away in the corner is the Photo Studio. I poked my head in and was looking at all the props and such (since I'm also a "prop geek" with my own pictures at home) and I got a "Can I help you?", which startled me and I snapped a picture and ran.

ATRIUM 

You have the atrium, which consist of the big 2 story screen tv, guest services, onboard credit, CruiseNext desk, and shore excursions.

This is my last picture of the Atrium. Below it, I want to show you a picture of the Atrium that I took in 2010. Wow, what a different. I have to say I like it better now with the new carpet and different chairs.

2010

Heading on down the hall, there was a penny coin ship maker thingy. I learned my lesson with one of these before to look and see if there are any coins in it to drop down. If there isn't, it would not work but you would still get charged. I did see a couple trying it out once during the cruise, but they looked as if it wasn't working. So, when I looked in it and didn't see any coins, I decided not to give it a try.

To the right is THE PHOTO GALLERY: 

They had remodeled this place too and the difference I had noticed was they now had walls with "bookshelves" with your pictures located in folders. Before I believe they were round carousels that you had to find your folder in. I think it looked a lot cleaner and nicer the way it is now. I remember them having a lot of computers to look things up, but there is an abundance amount now in several areas in there, so I'm not sure if they added more or I just don't remember that many.

CARD ROOM/LIBRARY 

So, I did not even discover this area until maybe the second to last day. We always go in and play games with Sakari on a sea day, but I didn't know they had this area. It felt kind tucked away to me. When I looked in, there were people playing games and the shelves had plenty of games on it. I didn't want to be rude and go in and start snapping pictures. But it says it's a library too. I did not see one book in there, so I was confused. I'm thinking there was a door off to the side of the game room to enter a library on the side of it.

Across the hall you have Le Bistro, which is a French Restaurant.

ART GALLERY

Moving on up to the 6th floor and at the same end I was already at. 

EPIC THEATER

Outside the Epic Theater, you will find the Kiosk Desk. This is where you can book shows....you know, because this is supposed to be "freestyle" to do what you want when you want. :rolleyes:

 SPIEGEL TENT. This is where they have the cirque dreams show. It's a rounded area and you sit either on the first floor or the second. We went to the show when we were on the Epic in 2010. I enjoyed the show, had seats upstairs (at the time they were the "cheap seats"), but thought that a lot of the "story" they were trying to tell was really drawn out. The kids weren't sure they wanted to pay so much money for the show and a crappy dinner (there have been a lot of complaints about the dinner shows food on Epic, Getaway and Breakaway). When we went before, in 2010, it was affordable at around $10 for general seats and $15 for premium seats. Now I believe that price had jumped up to $29 for regular seats and $39 for premium seats. WOW! So, we didn't end up going. With 3 in the family for us and Kendra and 2 in the family for Kolin, that could be $232 to $312 for us all to go. That's just rediculous.

So, you get pictures of the outside instead. LOL

Across the hall you have Headliners. Once again, freestyle cruising meant that you had to book this place to even get in and if you couldn't....because they were constantly ALL booked up, you could stand outside in a "Stand-by" line in hopes that people that booked would not show up and you might snag a seat. :rolleyes:

I was only able to get pictures of the inside because they were having bingo at the time. Otherwise, they kept the doors locked! :rolleyes:

This is also the place they have the Created by You...or whatever it's called that you paint with the instructor.

Up next is O'Sheehans. A great place to get food 24/7, including breakfast in the mornings, with a bar, over looking the atrium down below and big screen tv, plus several games to play.

O'Sheehans also has the only bowling alley left on the Epic. There use to be bowling alleys in Bliss as well, but during the renovation, they removed them.

There are 3 lanes to the bowling alley.

CASINO 

I didn't really take pictures of all the games like I usually do. The casino is really huge and goes down the middle, to the right, to the left, down the middle again and just seems like it goes on forever.

SHANGHAI'S RESTAURANT: 

This is your Asian style restaurant that used to cost money the last time we were here. They have now made it free (fleet wide) to dine here. It's located in a "weird" place along the sides of the Casino, which made for one heck of a traffic jam in that area.

It looked exactly the same (to me, but I could be missing something) as it did the last time we were here. The decor and even the pictures on the walls were the same. The only difference I noticed was....

They had removed all the cute little green bonsai something or other trees from the table. I liked those things and thought it added to the "feel" and decor.

THE CAVERN CLUB: 

I wasn't sure what this place was, other than other gathering place or bar. I would later (after the cruise) learn that it was a "Legendary Music Club".

I guess this place used to be Fat Cats and it was completely remodeled.

For those of you that don't know it...they originally installed a "lamp" that was a dog pooping. I guess it was on the floor at the entrance of this club. I can tell you that it was a "talked about" item during/after the refurbishment and I just knew I had to get a picture of it for my review. I spent the entire cruise trying to locate said dog with no luck. I was devastated! Well, not really but thought it would make for a good conversation piece. I went on a hunt (on these boards) to try to figure out where it was and how I could have missed it. I found that someone reported that the "poop" was stolen a few months ago and maybe now they had removed the dog entirely. I guess that's why I didn't see it.

For those of you that just have to know about this dog (like me)...here's a picture (NOT MY PICTURE)

But I kid you not...I really did look the entire cruise for this dog. 😂

CASCADES BAR 

This is a great place to go when you are at the casino and want a drink. I never did find much of a line there and people just sitting around and playing electronic cards. Just be aware that they do not have a blender for fru-fru drinks...no matter how many times I went there to ask for one of these drinks, the answer never changed and they hadn't acquired a blender each time. Oops

THE MANHATTAN MAIN DINING ROOM. 

Once again, I could never get in this place for pictures because the doors were always shut. I managed to slip in a picture from upstairs over looking it.

My picture from 2010...the only difference I could see was they went from round tables to square and maybe a change of fabric on the chairs.

Up we go to deck 7..................wee 

At the aft of the ship, you have 2 restaurants that enter in the same place, then split off to each side.

MODERNO CHURRASCARIA (or whatever that word is)

and CAGNEYS STEAKHOUSE. 

Hopefully I didn't get these two mixed up. I believe this is Moderno:

This is where you can look down into Manhattan

CAGNEYS STEAKHOUSE

Heading down the hall, you will find an actual barber shop.

MALTINGS BAR AND WHISKEY BAR

Then off to the side of that is the HUMIDOR CIGAR LOUNGE

On the other side of the cigar bar, you come out to SHAKER'S MARTINI BAR

You see the curtains coming out of the ceiling and behind the couches? (Next 2 pictures) I found them very odd. They were like plastic sheets hanging. Like the kind of clear plastic you would use to cover up something when you paint. It was odd.

WASABI, SUSHI & SAKE BAR

TEPPANYAKI is tucked away back in this restaurant and you can see it from across the "bridge" hall.

Next is THE ICE BAR. We did not go in it this time. I can't imagine paying more money (I believe it used to be around $20 for about 45 minutes inside the bar and included 2 drinks. I'm not sure if the price has went up or not) to drink 2 drinks and freeze my bazooka off, when I already live in a cold state, and especially when I have the free drink package.

We did go in it the last time in 2010 and I absolutely loved the sour apple drinks they had.

2010 and the last time I was in the ICE BAR (notice I was carrying around my DSLR back then...way before I discovered my beloved Olympus Tough)

TRADEWINDS SHOPPING AREA 

This shopping area is huge. They have a lot of stores here from a booze store, perfume store, make-up, clothes, jewelry, and so on. There's quite a few stores and it's like shopping at a small mall.

In case you get lost....

BLISS ULTRA LOUNGE 

This place got a total remodel and boy could I tell. I did spend a lot of time in here on our last Epic cruise and I just couldn't believe the changes. It was a total make-over. I didn't even recognize it.

Everything is lined with chains

Here is the same area 2010

No more bowling alleys

This used to be there instead:

The dance floor now:

The old 2010 dance floor (on the sides of the dance floor used to be cages that you could dance in...they were a lot of fun):

The floor

More of 2010 pictures. They use to have some very strange chairs and "beds" to sit on in the Bliss. They are all gone now.

Time to huff and puff up to the 13th floor. The entire floor is cabins, BUT you will also find the BRIDGE VIEWING AREA here as well. Want to check up on the Captain? Want to see the history and plaques for the Epic? This is where you'll find them all.

This was pretty neat. It showed our position, along with the ships that had been cruising along with us: Carnival Fantasy and Disney Magic

SPLASH KIDS CLUB is located on deck 14. This is a parent-free zone, so if you ever want to see in them because you are sending your child there, you will need to see it the first day. After that, no entry!

They have strict age groups and this service is free. They close from 12-2pm and 5-7pm for you to get your child and feed them. They use to be open from morning until closing, but thanks to some "special" parents that would drop their children off in the morning and never pick them up until they closed, they had to enforce a closing time to make sure the kids were getting fed. So sad.

They close at 10:30pm and you can sign your child up for "sitting" services and they charge $6.00 per hour up until 1:30am.

Also included on Deck 14 is La Cucina. However, you get to it mainly by going into the buffet area and head to the back. There you will find steps that lead down to the restaurant. This is a pay restaurant and is Italian.

Another thing that some don't realize is that during lunch/breakfast hours, if the buffet area is full and you can't find any place to sit, you can go down here to La Cucina and eat. It's much quieter down there, less traffic and even the servers down there will offer to get you drinks. Of course the only down side is that if you want more, you'll have to head back up stairs.

What the steps area use to look like in 2010

The old Italian "look" from 2010

The tree has been removed as well.

GARDEN CAFE 

This area has been redone as well.

One of the things I immediately noticed different from 2010 is the reconstructed walls (or lack there of) and being able to see from the buffet area into the dining area. The first thing I actually noticed was that the "pink roses" were gone.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 

This is a buffet type area with 2 sides and right outside the buffet area, but located outside. If you ever go to the buffet and missed the food, more than likely you will find this area open.

WAVES POOL BAR. This place is always popping and busy. The waiters there are awesome though and after the first day, they seem to remember what you order and ask if you want another (especially to Kolin and his Angry Orchard).

Right in front of the bar is the dance floor. They seem to have something going on there all the time, music playing, and a live band there A LOT.

On the opposite side is the towel hut.

Overall shot and the band was playing

Since we were talking about the pool bar, when better time than to discuss the pool bar area restroom. The women's is located right behind the bar and the men's on the opposite side behind the towel hut.

But what's so special about it? Well, have a look.

I did notice a few of the windows had been replaced on one side. I'm not sure the reason for this.

POOL, SLIDES, AND SURROUNDING AREA:

There are several water fountains and sprays within the pool area. However, at least during our cruise, I only seen them turn it on twice. I'm not sure what was going on.

KIDS WATER PARK/GOLF 

NCL and Nickelodeon decided to cut ties and NCL had to redo this kids area and the new theme is an "under water/ocean" with a Nemo fish and so on. I absolutely LOVE what they have done to the area.

However, when they made the announcement that this area was going to be turned into a water golf park, I just couldn't comprehend how this was going to work. This is a water area. Kids love water. This is the area for the kids/toddlers. This was originally a water play park. Then you are going to change it to a "golf" place? How do you keep the kids from just playing in the area while you are trying to play golf? Well, according to how our cruise went...you simply just don't turn on the water jets in the golf area. It was NEVER once on during our cruise, and I think this kinda defeated the purpose of it being a water park or water golf. 

ROCK CLIMBING WALL

VIDEO ARCADE

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH LOOKY HERE!!!! 

SPICE H2O entrance area and MARKET PLACE

These are newly installed and wasn't there before. They change to various different colors.

This is what it looked like in 2010

ENTOURAGE TEEN CLUB:

SPORTS DECK. 

Here you have the basketball court:

They also have the trampoline air jump and the spider web climbing thingy.

EXTRAS AROUND THE SHIP: 

293 people for each...

These are touch screens. You can use it for many functions including booking events or reservations.

The wave rooms hallways

This concludes the ship tour. There may be a few "extras" of areas within the review, but this is all I could find at the moment.