First Impressions Taut with expectancy, we boarded Norwegian Epic. The boarding process was quick and efficient even with 4,500 guests. We walked up the gangway, eagerly anticipating the magnificence of an Epic atrium. As we boarded, we were immediately herded up the stairs to the buffet. But where was the "Wow"? Every ship I have been on has had a "Wow" factor, especially Voyager of the Seas which gained a "Wow" each and every time we boarded. Even little old Sovereign of the Seas had a "Wow." We were sorely disappointed. Even when exploring after lunch, we were not overly impressed with the ship. The decor was tasteful but not as glamorous as I had expected. Overall, it's a very nice ship and there was not much I would specifically comment on (unlike the atrocity that is Carnival Splendor!) but I just wasn't wowed.

There was an atrium of sorts, where decks 5 and 6 were open to 7. Almost the whole of deck 6 was a casino but I liked how spaced out it was instead of being cramped into a smokey area, together with the Epic Theater and Spiegel Tent. Make sure to visit the Box Office as they were able to accommodate us to shows that we couldn't book online. I think they must keep some seats open for people who didn't get their entertainment organized ahead of time. Shops were on 7, the typical cruise fare including some reasonable souvenirs and clothing. Deck 5 had a giant tv screen used for Wii, Spa presentations, Meet & Greets and even the Undercover Boss episode featuring CEO Kevin Sheehan. A nearby coffee shop had specialty coffees and hot chocolate, as well as complimentary tea and coffee. There is also the photo area with computer terminals holding photos of the cabin members, plus ring binders for each cabin. They must have excellent facial recognition software because even our Spongebob Meet and Greet photos showed up in there without us admitting who we were.

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