Norwegian Epic Mediterranean Cruise
What is to follow is my own review not endorsed in any way by the NCL Cruise line. My only reference points at the moment are The Poseidon, The Love Boat and The Titanic, obviously not exactly stellar, but all that I have to go by. You may find this review helpful, though, if you are about to embark on your first cruise, as I will fill it with tips that are not found in the marketing brochures. Overall, we gave The EPIC 4 out of 5 stars. Yes, we were first time cruisers, but we are old hats at staying at hotels and this floating hotel in many respects does compare to hotels on land. We will save the 5 out of 5 for that cruise that is totally amazing.The NCL event coordinator met us at the airport in Barcelona - following baggage claim - and after a brief 10 minute wait, loaded us on their bus. The drive to the port was uneventful and relaxing. First glance of the magnificent hotel on water that is the Norwegian Cruise Line's ship was quite incredible. To say this 4000+ capacity, 19 deck, 1,080 ft / 329.5 m long ship is ' large' is just not good enough. It is absolutely MASSIVE. So massive, there is a 28.5 foot draft to this ship. Should you be a newbie to cruising like I was and want to impress your fellow travelers, 'draft' means, the depth of water (from the waterline to the bottom of the ship) needed to float a ship.
Let's begin with priorities. Here is a checklist of what you will really want to know prior to traveling on the cruise:
When booking, pay close attention to where you will be staying and inquire about this in advance. For example, we would advise you do not stay in a stateroom that is under a restaurant, over a nightclub, near the children's club (Kid's Crew) or under the pool deck - unless you like A LOT OF NOISE. We were on the 8th deck, opted for a Family Balcony room and for the 3 of us, it worked out very well. It was quiet and comfy. Decoration is modern, with curvy lines to help you pass one another on the way to the balcony or the shower (opposite ends of the room). The bed is somewhat of a short bed. If you are 6' tall or more, you will notice this. The toilet (loudest flusher I have ever heard in my life) is separated from the shower which is helpful. The sink is across from the toilet which is somewhat strange and is also at the end of the bed. Surprisingly, a lot of storage in the room (under the bed, behind the pull out couch, over head, etc). There is a mini bar in the room with mini bar prices and for some reason, the mini bar was not replenished during the week. The room was kept very clean each and every day. Balcony was lovely. Seats were adequate, not great.