We stayed overnight in a hotel in Las Ramblas, Barcelona and had a ten minute 12 euro taxi ride to Epic on the Sunday morning. Having read a prior review that an early arrival was quite acceptable, we reached the terminal at 10.30 – just as the 40 + check in desks were opening. In 10 minutes we had our boarding cards and were allocated to Boarding Group 1. By 11.30 we were on the ship. Brilliant.

Epic is large – very large - and this was our first cruise on anything of this size. However it is length rather than height that dominated our week. Most activities for us revolved round decks 5, 6 and 7 plus deck 15 for the Garden Café. Our cabin was on deck 8, almost at the rear of the ship whereas we ate most of our meals in the Cafe – a 300 yard treck!

The choice of food was very wide as so many nationalities choose Epic. We liked the Garden Café buffet as you can have what you like, in whatever quantity you fancy and at a time of your choice. We always found a free table without a wait but it can be busy at peak times. A little thought and those times can be avoided. Most evenings there were dishes linked to the country being visited. Freestyle dining really works for us. We did eat once in the Manhattan and had a very good meal but we felt we were being hurried along to make way for the next diners. Read more