Norwegian Epic Review
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Never having had the opportunity to cruise in winter, I jumped at the opportunity to cruise out of Port Canaveral on the Norwegian Epic with a group of 80. This was my 6th Norwegian cruise, but first time on Epic. I flew Southwest non-stop from Providence to Orlando and stayed one night at the Courtyard Marriott in Cocoa Beach before boarding the Norwegian Epic in Port Canaveral to begin my 7-night cruise to the Western Caribbean.
I was fortunate to have transfers included in my hotel stay, and as a solo traveler, it proved to be very convenient. Courtyard Marriott Cocoa Beach is a clean, modern hotel convenient to the beach, restaurants and retail stores nearby in case of last minute items needed for a cruise. There is a small pub and bar just off the lobby that serves light fare and refreshments. I was tired and hungry by the time I reached the hotel, so I satisfied my appetite with a sandwich and a glass of wine. Being the first day of December, the lobby and public areas on the main floor were decked out in beautiful holiday decor. There is a pretty pool and a welcoming fire pit, neither of which I had time to try in my brief stay. The room was large and clean, featuring a small balcony, and the bed comfy.
Embarkation
Cabin Review
Balcony
Location was convenient to the rear elevators and the Manhattan room for dinner and our group meetings, but not so much for the buffet area, the theatre, or anything else in the front of the ship. The famous odd bath arrangement that people love or hate turned out to be okay. The shower and toilet “pods” are roomy enough, the separate sink area handy and convenient, and a curtain provides privacy, if needed. However, this unique design does eat up precious cabin space, making it smaller and more cramped than most. The sofa was by the balcony door, and with only a couple of inches between the two beds, with no room to separate them into twins, this could prove awkward for two people wanting their own space for sleeping. Storage was plentiful, but counter space was lacking. There are two outlets located inside a cabinet, which is not very convenient. On the other hand, there is room to store all your electronic gadgets in the cupboard while they charge. One nice feature was the balcony size - it was larger than those on the newer NCL ships. I just can’t understand why they provide only one tiny little square table that turns out to be pretty useless.
Port Reviews
Great Stirrup Cay
Despite some rain and clouds mixed in with some sun, it was a wonderful, relaxing beach day. The water was a bit chilly, but it was a warm day without the oppressive heat that you’d expect mid summer. I took the second tender over and was able to get my choice of palm trees to lounge under. The BBQ was good, and servers were quick with my drinks. There is construction going on with the island expansion, so expect the hum of machinery when the island band isn’t playing. As a bonus, a pouring rain shower ended in a beautiful rainbow.