We chose this cruise for the rest we truly needed. Embarkation in Miami was a bit chaotic as you can imagine 3500 people getting on. The TA itself was very calm and the weather was perfect. We had the Ultimate Dining Package, and made good use of it. We truly enjoyed dining at Cagney's (try the Wagyu Beef Sliders mmm) and Le Bistro (for escargots), Moderno was great and so was Teppanyaki (good show). Shanghai which is now free was the least of our favorite, not up to par. The Garden Café (buffet) was great for breakfast, lots of choice and great view at the front of the ship, lunch was had at the Taste dining room which was relaxed and excellent. Our Cabin Steward Dandee was amazing, always greeting us with a smile and keeping our cabin tiptop clean. Most crew members greeted us with a smile, especially Marybeth at the Garden Café, always with a greeting and disinfectant for our hands... Entertainment was excellent, especially Burn the Floor, the Sephoras (2 girl violinists) amazing not to be missed, loved Legends in Concert and Cirque Dreams. We were kept really busy during the TA, never a dull moment. Our excursions to Madeira organized by a Roll Call member was great, Barcelona always beautifull, we used the Port Shuttle (3E round trip) and visited La Pedrera and walked down Passeig de Gracia all the way to the port area, truly a great day. Palma de Malloraca was also organised by a Roll Call member was our favorite, especially the stop in Valldemossa (breathtaking so is the country side). At the end of our cruise, disembarkation was very smooth, color coded for the time you needed to get off. We decided on a late color coded disembarkation at 8h30 which was great, not too many passengers. A prearranged shuttle took us to the airport in 30 minutes. Great shopping in Barcelona Airport. We truly enjoyed this TA, the cabin was great, the food outstanding, entertainment excellent and meeting new cruising friends memorable. We were truly rested after the cruise and would love to repeat in the near future. Read Less

I was first on the Epic in February of 2014. We loved the "new" NCL so much we went on the Getaway in October of 2014 and we are booked on the Escape in 2015. Needless to say I am saying goodbye to my old friend Princess Cruises (17 cruises) and moving to NCL. Freestyle is my idea of how cruising should be. If you want to dress up, do it but don't expect others to do so. From everything to the Garden Cafe (buffet) to Cagney's (high end steak house) the food is really good and continues to improve every time we sail on NCL. My favorite is the Bistro. I have tried all the restaurants except the Cirque Dreams and Dinner. The main dining rooms are very good and so is the buffet. You could easily travel on a budget not go to a specialty restaurant and be happy. I love the Epic's controversial cabin design but I guess I am in the minority. I did not have the best cabin attendant this time. Last time Winnie was WONDERFUL! My cabin was not dusted and there were items left by the previous passenger in the drawers. My room was never made up until very late in the day. I had to ask several times for a room service menu. I don't let this stuff detract from my cruises and I got it resolved. There were very few children on board and I don't have any so I don't know about the youth programs. I LOVE the water slides and rode them every day. Alas the Epic is now stationed in the Med so she won't be as easy for this S. Florida boy to jump on at the last minute with a smokin deal. Happy Landings! Read Less

Left Miami April 19th. This was my second cruise and my second time on the Epic having taken it from Barcelona to Miami Oct 2014. I had booked early in 2014 but changed my reservation in Jan 2015 for a balcony cabin when they were having a promotion. I didn't really care about the balcony cabin but it turned out less exp"nsive due to the onboard credit included in the promotion - and the extra space was nice. For me this cruise was an improvement over the previous TA. The cabins were sold out but the ship seemed less crowded and the people better behavd in terms of not putting a towel on a chaise longue and never showing up to use it or in ignoring the slight dress requirements for the Manhatton. They added personnel to run bridge games (in theory ACBL sanctioned) and there were more than 50 participants every day. There were also lectures for Learning bridge in the morning. All of the shows I saw in the Epic theatre were of good quality as well as the Divas in Headliners. I did not care for the Hypnotist show and was totally disappointed by Second City. The Bar/Lounge entertainers were all good. I avoid the buffet if possible as it is not my sstyle and my past experience was that nothing was ever warm. Somehow the wait at Manhatton and Taste was greatly reduced compared to the prvious T/A. The service was always good. They seem to be asking more frequently if you are willing to share a table and I always say yes as I was solo. For every meal but one I was seated with other guests and met some very interesting people and had quite a bit of fun. All the staff, as usual were top notch. My cabin steward got a standing ovation for his paarticipaation in the crew talent show. So all in all a pleasant journey. I will return to the US on the Star from Dover in October and am looking forward to seeing how it is with half the passenger capacity. Read Less

Wow . . . I just returned from my Christmas Cruise Marathon! I managed to do 12 laps around the Epic --- which after the starters whistle blew upon getting on board, included slaloming thru the Garden Cafe mass of humanity on a daily basis ---- the UFC battle for a hot tub (compounded because half of them were broken) ---- the sprint for deck chairs ---- dash for the open table in the free restaurant (NOTE: EAR PLUGS ARE NOT INCLUDED TO REDUCE THE LEVEL 9 NOISE VOLUME) and final all out "cram em in" elbow swinging into the elevator free for alls after the mandatory 8 minute wait. Then there were the bath rooms in your cabin (I had a Mini-Suite). Talk about getting close to your family. I mean, I want to monitor what my kids are doing -- but that should not include mandatory viewing them in the privacy of sitting on the toilet. Just plain uncomfortable! The foggy glass that "serves" as privacy glass is anything but (maybe I should spell that butt!) Hey Norwegian . . . . you can see thru them!!!!!! Talk about a WOW moment on the ship! To help reference all of this -- I have been on close to two - dozen cruises so this isn't a matter of "not being accustomed to life on a ship". This was just a blatant case of minimizing everything that would make a cruise special. Oh --- we did get that special meal and moment, etc., AFTER dropping an additional $1,800 on "Specialty Dining" / "Tour Excusions" (to escape the absolute sardine impact of being squeeeeezzzed onto this moving "Blue Light Special" / and "Tips" for mediocre non-enthused service I have to wonder just what does the initial fees pay for. The Epic was poorly designed, with too many people crammed into too little space. The ship lacks sizzle and creates a real sense of "cabin fever". It felt like "corners were being cut" at every angle. It was great to include the "Blue Man Group" and "Legends in Concert" -- but what about a Welcome Show? What about additional entertainment? The Cruise Director was, unfortunately "missing in action" and honestly when we say "bi-lingual" shouldn't one of those languages include speaking understandable English. (The staff could use lessons in English as well --- they simply didn't speak it! To conclude: Too Much Money for Too Few Memories (Save for the image of my son sitting on the toilet) for me to recommend Epic, or Norwegian, again for that matter. We have always found ourselves saying "can't wait for our next cruise" -- but certainly not this time. I was glad to finally cross the finish line - when debarkation arrived . . . . and finally get a chance to relax (without having to reach back into my wallet!). I'm still recovering!   Read Less