Norwegian Epic Review

4.5 / 5.0
4,409 reviews

NCL Epic August 2014

Review for the Mediterranean Cruise on Norwegian Epic
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Mikeybel
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Aug 2014
Traveled with children

A very large ship, full to capacity given the holiday season.  We travelled with our two grandchildren 8 and 11, the third time we have taken them on a cruise but our first time with NCL.

Overall we enjoyed our holiday as with all cruises there are good and not so good. We did not do any excursions, but did leave the ship to sample the local sights, but much of our time was on the ship which was very quiet during the day in contrast to the heaving mass in the evenings. This allowed our grandchildren to enjoy the slides and pool with little queuing for the most of the day. Other attractions such as the rock climbing were only open for limited periods which was disappointing. The 9 year old went to the kids club and loved it, the older one did his own thing and had a wonderful time. We read mixed reviews about the food and it is true that the staff are not very good at keeping the food hot, but generally we were pleased with both variety and quality. Staff were generally excellent. The drinks package for children is unbelievably good value which contrasted against the adults package which we felt was overpriced as were the drinks on the ship. The 15% gratuity seemed to follow us every where and guests must be mindful that the prices of most goods and services had a charge or tax (sometimes over 20%) that was not readily advertised and can add considerably to your bill. For this reason I declined to pay the $12.00 a day per person which is a sizeable chunk to the cost of the holiday. This simply entails filling out a form at reception no questions asked.

The state rooms seem to generate varied reviews. The positives for us that it was located in a quiet part of the ship and we had little noise to contend with. Whilst the design of the cabin is different with the curved wall it was not for us. The curved settee which was supposed to ‘convert’ to a bed simply had a sheet and a duvet placed on it and was barely two feet wide in the middle. The bunk bed was better but severely restricted access to the balcony. The unusual bathroom setup of separate shower, toilet and basin was for us a disaster area and whilst some reviews have been positive, the almost total lack of privacy means that we will not travel on this ship again and I think that NCL will find that future repeat bookings will be hugely influenced by this unsatisfactory layout. Over all an enjoyable cruise pity about the room layout.

Cabin Review

The cabin is located to the rear of the ship in a very quiet location. It is an unusual design with curved walls, two large single beds that can convert to a double. A curved settee which serves no useful purpose as it is directly opposite the wardrobes and a bunk bed stored in the ceiling. The bathroom layout is the much talked about separate shower, toilet and basin which for us is a disaster area. The glass sliding doors to both toilet and shower are opaque so that you can see the outline of the person using the facility, not good when room service arrives which happened to my wife whilst showering.There is a curtain that pulls across but this excludes the basin (which is tiny). Loads of storage every where including under the beds, very good lighting. Flat screen TV with watchable channels. There is a safe for valuables and a nice balcony. This cabin is fine for two people and although advertised as a ‘family cabin’ it is not. The bunk bed severely restricts access to the wardrobes and balcony and although I am of small stature I had to turn side ways to access the balcony. You also need to be aware that the settee does not ‘convert’ to a bed. A sheet is simply placed over the seat and a duvet and pillows added. Our grandson said it was very comfortable but it is barely two feet wide so older children may have problems. To summarise. Visually a stunning looking cabin and a great peaceful location. Practically, ok for two but a family will struggle for space. The bathroom design a disaster area if you want your privacy this room (and ship) is not for you.

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