Norwegian Epic Review

What has happened to NCL?

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

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Sail Date: Sep 2015
Cabin: Spa Mini-Suite with Balcony

We are gold latitudes members for NCL and are still in shock over the difference between this cruise and ones we have been on previously. It's almost as if a whole new management philosophy has taken over, and it isn't for the benefit of the passengers.

The first thing we noticed was the extremely poor service in the bar areas. There was often nowhere to sit (unlike previous cruises where we had plenty of room) and once we found a chair it was nearly impossible to get served. We resorted to going to the bar to order our own drinks, where we found bar staff just standing around as if they had nothing to do. This surprised us as the bar is the one place we leave tips based on service! Although we had the drinks package (well worth it) it seemed the prices of the cocktails has risen to the level of fine dining restaurants.

We also noticed that the quality of the food has really declined. About the only thing that has been maintained is pleasant presentations. Many of the dishes lacked flavor and the something special that used to make cruise dining an adventure. We mostly dined in Taste, where we found the service friendly, and the Manhattan Room, where there used to be entertainment but the stage sat bare the entire cruise. We were extremely disappointed that the Jazz Brunch was not offered and lobster night has become seafood night but only in the buffet. For some reason, it was almost impossible to get a reservation at the Bistro so we were only able to dine there once and it was very good, but was about at the level the dining room used to be. We also ate at La Cucina one night and although the food was good, the premium we paid for lobster, which was actually only a half, was not a good value. We ate at the buffet for breakfast twice, both times finding it impossible to find a clean table to eat from and ending up in La Cucina (which actually turns out pretty nice if you have no desire to go back for seconds). As others have noted, it was very difficult to get something to drink. (It's almost as if staff was told before the cruise, "we don't have a lot on board to serve. So we don't run out, be slow and inattentive.") The food in O-Sheehan's is disgusting...watery soup and fried foods only.

Cabin Review

Spa Mini-Suite with Balcony

Cabin M9

This cabin is slightly larger than the standard balcony and also includes an actual bathtub. The tub is set a little high and may not be appropriate for the elderly. There is tons of storage. Situated right next to the salon (but not in the same hall), this cabin was very quiet. It is also extremely convenient to the spa and includes use of the spa, making the upgrade worth the price.

Port Reviews

Cartagena (Spain)

We chose not to book a tour as everything is within easy walking distance of the port. We started at the Roman amphitheater, where we were free to explore, and then spent some time wandering the streets where we found the barrio del fororomano molinete. This was a wonderful exhibit, hardly any people at all, where you can walk through the ruins on raised platforms, really getting the sense of what the baths and meeting rooms might have been like. For only 5 euros each, this was a real bargain. Finally, we found a sidewalk cafe where we enjoyed paella.

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