Norwegian Epic Review
Rating by category
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I consider myself a "fair" person and I realize it is not possible to please everyone all the time. And, I truly regret that I cannot say that I was at all impressed with my experience on NCL - EPIC cruise to the Eastern Caribbean during the first week of January 2011. Perhaps my expectations were out of proportion compared to the conversations that I have had with friends and relatives. They showed me wonderful phots of their luxuary cruises, the fabalous food presentation and beautiful ports of call. I don't think I experienced that kind of beauty that you hear about on the EPIC freestyle crusing. It was a "very common" everyday type of experience--filled with the latest technologies and parties, but nothing of more of any beauty. Everything I could find at home, at the malls, shopping, and dining out was right there in my face again. You couldnot excape it. The overbearing music and shipboard interuption announcements reminded me of being at WALLMAT's. My everyday life is so much more sophistocated that this vessel. I eat better at home and I can so much more selective about my entertainment. There is no solitude on the vessel--only in my solo cabin where you cannot see the water. Topside the deck arrangement is very poor indeed. It is like a community park where the children scream and play while the adults lay around and listen to calipso music. Very common indeed. I did hear however, that for a much higher price, you could be excluded from all this in a more first class secured and much more posh forward part of the vessel. The worst part for me was the fact that the manystaff and management mistakes spoiled my overall enjoyment of anytime that I was there. Particularly, the fact that the deck staff failed to remove towels left by passengers overnight to save deckchairs. They neglected to do anything about this for three days and nights. When you got up in the early morning there was no one on the deck and there was no where to sit down. I didn't think the deck staff was cleaning up properly. Freestyle is no really more like no style at all. The class on this vessel is just above the cellar.
When I asked the deck staff to towels so I could sit down, they said they couldn't do that and it was unlikely that the towels would be removed by them.
I paid the full fare for this cruise and had no place to sit on the deck at 9:00 am in the morning. Duh!
Cabin Review
Studio
If you are a smaller than average individual (height & weight)you are going to feel cramped any where you go on this vessel. It is not designed for those even average or above average in these areas. Interior Design is questionable as to the amount of privacy Americans expect for peronal activities. No absolute privacy from view in many cabins. More like a hospital, curtains all over the place Duh! Second class at best. That is not my idea of an innovation. It is more like a reduction in services for a higher price by substituting an exasperating amount of technology to replace class. Technology is "modern" art not "Art;" it is a sub-set of all art. A more well rounded presentation could help me get over being surrounded by plastic flowers. Most of the hotels that I frequent use real flowers. Thanks but no thanks! I am not sure the NCL marketing department fully understands what the word "innovation" means. I think they are just like most corporate marketing geeks. That use words that deceive you and in their ambitions to sell their mothers to the underworld. There are better managed cruise lines out there. Keep searching!