Embarkation was fair, self debarkation worked well. I get it, that the first day of your cruise it's chaotic as nobody knows where to go or where they're going to. But this Epic 7 night western Caribbean cruise never really gelled or flowed. From having to reserve seats for a few of the shows or specialty restaurants, this "freestyle cruise" was anything but that!! And the need for a third bank of elevators was a constant reminder of one reason why the Epic is the only ship in its class. A poor flow to this ship never got any better as the days went on. Probably, one of the bottom two of the 12 or 13 ships I've sailed!!! In fact, decided against the NCL " cruise next" promo while onboard. With our two "free" perks included, this cruise wasn't really enjoyable OR a bargain. We'll Look elsewhere for our next cruise. NCL is more of a "bottom-feeder" in the world of mainstream cruise lines.