We've just returned from the 8/21 - 8/28 Western Caribbean sailing on the Epic. We are a family of four, parents early 40s, kids 12 and 8. This was our 7th cruise in the last four years: Two HAL, two QM2, and most recently, two on the Celebrity Solstice. Much has been written about the Epic, so I'll keep to the aspects of our trip, and the ship, that stood out the most, rather than give a blow-by-blow account.

We were in an aft penthouse, connecting to an aft balcony. Both rooms were nicely appointed. Both were small. The aft balcony was fine for the kids. They had the beds by the balcony door. And the bathroom set up was not an issue at all for them.

The aft penthouse bathroom was a significant issue for us, though. In these suites, the bed is smack dab in the center of the room. And that puts the head of the bed no more than four feet from the toilet. The door to the toilet offers no sound insulation whatsoever. You really are right there next to the bed doing your business, and the flushes are so loud you can't help but wake up anyone sleeping in the room. This is a major design flaw, and would keep us from sailing again in, or recommending, an aft penthouse. We kept wondering how a designer could have thought this up. It really is a head scratcher. Read more