Norwegian Epic Review

4.5 / 5.0
4,409 reviews

The NCL Epic is Completely Underwhelming

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Norwegian Epic
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BenAnders
10+ Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Feb 2013
Cabin: Large Balcony
Traveled with children

Since my first cruise aboard the Dolphin in June of 1981, I can unequivocally state that this trip aboard the Epic is the only time I have been completely UNDERWHELMED by a ship and its maintenance. From the presence of rust and grime, my first guess would be that this ship is only months away from major refit, but the ship has only been in service for less than 3 years. Poor maintenance must then be only way I can explain why this ship has more rust and broken fittings than any other I have seen. On my balcony, for example, very bolt is covered with rust. Crud covers the balcony deck and bulkheads. The telephone by the 9th deck starboard forward elevator bank has been broken since the cruise started. 7 am walks around the pool area reveal not only rust at nearly every junction of stainless steel on steel but also napkins, cigarettes, food and general garbage that wasn't policed the night before. How often does the pool staff clean that area?

Do the maintenance problems result from budget cuts and a lack of staff? I am a ships Captain and former military officer. With that background, my first tendency is to place the fault for these problems with the senior officer staff. Where are they? On most cruises, senior officers are more visible than a cabin steward.

Moving beyond the general maintenance and cleaning issues, it is difficult to believe that the Epic has been in service for less than 3 years. The public area layouts are cramped and dreary. My family sailed up on the Freedom of the Seas and Solstice in the past year. The public areas on those ships are spacious, bright and inviting. The Epic is dark and tawdry. The only place where the Epic is bright is the Atrium where a two story television screen blasts out light that blinds anyone passing by without sunglasses.

Cabin Review

Large Balcony

Cabin B6

The cabin only has two AC outlets that are hidden away under a "desk." After a week, we still couldn't find the location of all the cabin lights. There was some sort of tapping noise that recurred every time we were underway. That was especially annoying when trying to sleep at night.

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