I've got to be honest and upfront. My wife and I are not cruisers, nor do we plan on taking one again for a while. With that said, NOTHING the staff on board the NCL Epic did, nor the accommodations had anything to do with why we will probably not cruise again for a while. The simple fact is I would rather have the freedom to go where I will, when I want compared to being told that I need to be back on the boat at a certain time, etc.
As to the boat itself... The Epic lived up to its gigantic name as anytime we docked near in port, ours dwarfed all others nearby. The ship is beautiful and clean, the staff are kind, and seemingly went out of their way to please us every step of the way.
We stayed in a Spa Suite in The Haven, and it was worth every penny. Everything was first class the entire way. Marvin, our butler, and Muhammad, our cabin steward saw to our every need and knew us by name from day 1.
Our cabin was wonderful. The bed and pillows were super comfortable, we had a ton of space and very large balcony, which I sat on every morning as we pulled into port.
Other than the amazing staff who took great care of us, the best thing about this room was the rain shower. This thing was fantastic, but one word of caution, if the ship is tilted to your side, it will overflow quickly as the drain is at the back of the shower and not near the door.
My wife and I spent 4 days in Barcelona before and after (3 before, 1 after) our cruise. What an amazing city it was.
Pro Tip: Avoid the touristy spots like Las Rambals (unless you need a selfie stick) and venture out into the city itself. Great food and amazing people!
for 310 Euro, my wife and I had an incredible drive guide for the day, who made you feel like you were spending the day with an old friend. The views were fantastic, and was by far our favorite stop of the trip.
We took a cab from Livorno to the train station, then took an hour train into Florence where we spent the day touring the city. The Duomo, David, and countless works of art in between. So much to see in 6 or so hours, before having to take the train back.
I loved this city, but as with Rome, there wasn't enough time to really see and appreciate everything you would like to.
We did take a tender into port, but after walking around for an hour, we headed back. This seems like a stop you will certainly want to research and get out into the neighboring locals.
Marseille is a gritty city, that is also quite beautiful. I took the shuttle into the old port and then did a self tour of the city. A Saturday market had setup, so I enjoy macaroons before boarding the little tram up to the Notre Dame Cathedral where you are treated to a spectacular view!