Firstly, I need to point out that the reason for this bad review is not so much the fault of NCL or the management & crew of the Norwegian Epic (although they do need to take responsibility for making and enforcing changes) but more my fellow passengers. All the points and remarks I am about to make I have already made while onboard and since by email to NCL so, at future Cruise Critic Meet & Greets aboard, the Hotel Manager will have no reason to say "We do read what is put on Cruise Critic and sometimes we feel we were on a different cruise."

I was already on the Norwegian Epic when it arrived in Barcelona for the start of this cruise having sailed from Port Canaveral. From the time the new passengers boarded in Barcelona the whole vibe of the ship changed for the worse. I knew that as it was holiday time that there would be a lot more kids and young families aboard for this cruise but what I had not bargained for were so many (not all by any means) irresponsible parents and guardians. Sometimes it resembled scenes from the TV series 'Benidorm'.

The Norwegian Epic in general appears very well maintained and kept clean. However, during this voyage the staff were obviously overstretched in maintaining the usual high standards and quite often toilets in public areas were not as clean as they should have been. On one occasion I was using the toilet outside Bliss when a drunk Brit came in, not only did he urinate on the floor but also over my shoes and then staggered out without washing his hands. Disgusting! As I had other matters in hand, I was in no position to say anything to this disgusting individual but the incident was reported to security and the next time I visited the toilet it had been cleaned up. Also, with so many uncontrolled kids running around with food in their hands quite often the stairways and passageways were dirty with food debris. Read more