Norwegian Epic Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Ship is big but disarray in their framework and format. The smell of cigarette smoke is everywhere and NCL did not bother checking this out. Unlike the smaller ship, their shows are to be booked in advance which defeats the purpose of a free style. I thought free style is you come if you want to based on time set without the hassle of booking, yet this is not so. Buffet is chaos every day. Didn't I mention, this is a big ship? Yet just wondering what the designer did in which their buffet was so extremely bad, coupled with a Maitre'D who doesn't bother to smile. We've spent 21 days seeing this person, yet didn't even bother to have eye contact with us nor just a nod to acknowledge the passengers that are already annoyed with the chaos around.
Personal Background Information – claogtan in Ontario, Canada. Been a cruiser for over 5 years only.
• Travel To Port of Embarkation – A taxi will cost around 20 Euro from downtown hotel to port. Barcelona Port was an easy access and well designed.
Cabin Review
Inside
Inside Cabin was a disappointment. Not because it was an inside, it's how they were designed. We've checked the balcony which also has similar arrangement as the inside ones. I don't mind compartmentalizing, but when a toilet is separate and the wash basin is outside, after using the toilet, one has to close the door then go out to wash your hands (just like the common public toilet), it is inconvenient and unsanitized. NCL has also used tiny pen LED lights, it did not give women much lighting for putting on make-up. I have to use my cell phone flashlight so I can see if there are smudges on my face while doing so. Dresser (if there was any) was very inconvenient. Closet lights are much brighter than the dresser lights.
Port Reviews
Barcelona
Barcelona is always an inspiring place to be. The 5 star I gave is for Barcelona itself and not Norwegian Epic. We stayed two days before going home. An overnight stay before embarkation. Embarkation with Norwegian Epic was a long wait and not as orderly as some of their ships.
Sardinia
It was our second time in Cagliari. For the first timer, going around the old city is quite the same a other cities in Italy. You see the church, their museum coupled with some history.
Palermo (Sicily)
I gave 4 star for Palermo because of their beautiful structure especially the 4 corner buildings. So much interesting places to go in Palermo. Monreali is also a place of interest for those who purchased an excursion or HOHO bus ride.
Naples
This is our 4th time to Napoli so we've seen quite a lot in Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, Positano and Sorrento. We opted to have a 30 minute train ride to Herculaneum ruins and it was quite worth it especially if you're a history buff. One can see the whole Herculaneum ruins in a day. Campania is also a beautiful place going around, have a bite to eat and do some shopping. If one wants to venture going to Mt. Vesuvius, there is a bus waiting from the train station in Ercolano.
Rome (Civitavecchia)
For history purposes, Rome is a good place to start.
Palma de Mallorca (Majorca)
One has to walk around 45 minutes from the port to reach Royal Palace of La Almudaina, built in 1309 over an earlier castle, and its vicinity including Palma's Silk Exchange, a masterpiece of the Gothic architecture in Majorca. Built between 1420 and 1452. Within that are alone, you have many interesting things to do and see.
Beautiful place!!!
Tenerife
We didn't see much of Tenerife due to the rain. But we had taken beautiful pictures from the ship overlooking the whole place.
Madeira (Funchal)
One has to take the cable ride (Gondola ride) up to the top of Monte to see the whole place of Madeira. Once in Monte, there are two botanical gardens (one of it, you have to ride another cable car to see the other garden). You can also venture in riding the toboggan ride (in a basket) going down Monte. One can also see an old church in Monte called Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte.
Wonderful adventure in Funchal, and amazing view from the top.
Malaga
There are so many things to see in Malaga. The ruins of The Roman theatre, the Cathedral of the Incarnation, old Alcazaba, La Concepción, botanical and historical garden, La Malagueta bullring, Centre Pompidou Málaga, and most of the exciting one we did was to climb up to the top of the Gibralfaro fortress and see the whole view of Malaga. Beautiful and amazing place to be.