After 6 nights in all inclusive hotel in Ocho Rios, we joined the Pearl for a 7 day round trip. After not being sure of what we would find, we were pleasantly pleased. My wife prefers buffet food and that is where we spent 5 evenings as well as lunch times. The choice of food in the buffet was very extensive and you could not go wrong. It was nice to have 2 sweets if you wanted. Tried the MDR's on 2 nights which was nice to be waited on by very attentive staff.

All the ports were wonderful, the highlight being a NCL tour to the Everglades. Only glad we did not start the cruise in Miami as the queues to board there were VERY long.

A few hours in Great Stirrup Cay was a nice change which is the private island of NCL. Very hot and not too much shade.

All the crew very attentive and friendly and an excellent way to start cruising

Joined the ship in Ocho Rios which was half way round its round trip from Miami. Easy boarding as there was only about 100 English people who had been staying in Jamaica on a Virgin holiday.

Invited to try the buffet which we did, and that is where we spent a lot of our time on board the Pearl, as we felt we could choose exactly what we wanted at virtually any time of day and night.

After lunch, we went to the cabin which was ready and was very pleased with what we saw. Plenty of room for 2 and a nice sized balcony.

Spent most of the afternoon in getting to know our way around the ship until we left Jamaica. The only “problem” in joining a ship half way through its itinerary was that the Freestyle daily showed day 4 when we had just started our cruise.

Our second day was George Town in Grand Cayman and our first experience of tendering. Took a little time to queue up for the tender tickets and there was a bit of a wait to get onto the correctly numbered tender due to everybody crowding the stairwells.

Little disappointed with George Town and after a stroll round the shops and a purchase of Pandora for my wife, we went back to the ship which by then was nice and quiet. Went to the Broadway Showtime in the evening which was good.

Dined in the Summer Palace which we found to be excellent and tried out a lovely bottle of wine.

Next day, we were in Mexico which was a new country for us and docked in Cozumel. Loved this small place and just strolled around the shops, politely saying no to the many shopkeepers who were all trying to get you in to there stores. Found a nice little bar and spent a bit of time just people watching.

Day 3 (or day 7 on the Dailys) was a sea day and we just lazed around on the sun deck and sampled a few drinks, but being wary of the prices did not go overboard (No pun intended)

Into Miami next day and one of the best sights was to see Miami at around 4.00am sailing into the port. Went onto our first shore excursion and met in the theatre at 7.45am to visit the Everglades. This was a wonderful day out and well organised by NCL. Seeing the wild alligators in their own environment was very interesting. Even got to see Miami airport on the way back as some passengers were going home.

Next day was at Great Stirrup Cay, the private island of NCL, which was a tender port. Did not really matter about being first off as there was only one place to go. Pleasant beach day but not a lot of shade as it was quite hot when the sun got up. NCL put on a lovely buffet on the island which was very well organised.

That was the last of the shore excursions as the last day was a sea day. Tried the Indigo main restaurant which to us was nicer than the Summer Palace as we found it more intimate. Finished the cruise with a tribute show to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons which was excellent.

Back into Ocho Rios next day and it was quite sad to watch the Pearl sail away again with us on the beach as we were staying one more night in Jamaica.

All in all, a wonderful cruise on a very nice ship with excellent service from very attentive staff.

Everything went well from the embarkation in Venice right through for the next 7 days. Flew into Venice and took the NCL transfer  bus to the port at only £9.00 pp each way. Boarded at around 12.30pm after only about an hour of getting checked in. Went straight to the buffet which was very nice. Cabin then ready and then had a few drinks awaiting the sailaway which was wonderful looking out at St Marks square. First day was sea day and weather was good albeit a little breezy on the top deck. We had taken advantage of the Inclusive drinks package which was a real bonus. Not available at time of booking but a little persuasion to NCL got them to cancel and re-book to include the drinks package.

We had booked first night in MDR to ensure we were not kept in a queue which allowed us to walk straight in.

Meals all week both in the MDR, buffet and Chinese were excellent We had no need to pay any surcharge for the speciality restaurants.

The steward looked after us and provided the usual towel animals each night. A BA cabin on deck 10 was ideal and very near to the lifts and stairs. Made a point though of never using the lifts all week and took the stairs every time. 

The ports were good and took the NCL tour to Oia as it got us off the ship early without waiting for a tender.

All the crew were very friendly and attentive.

Did not try any of the shows and just went to the cocktail bars in the evening. Disembarkation was easy and back to Venice airport was easy.

Review of NCL Epic 25th September from Barcelona

Early morning flight from Manchester to Barcelona and took the NCL transfer to the ship. Check in was very smooth and efficient and we were on the ship by 12 Noon. Headed straight to the Garden café on deck 15 which was very busy but not too much of a problem. After a leisurely lunch, we then w ent to find our B6 cabin, 11075 which was a large balcony. We were fully aware of the non-bathroom set up which personally was not a problem, but my Wife was less than impressed. She suggested that the designer should be sacked and that is probably why the Epic has no Sister ship.

The balcony had 2 loungers, 2 chairs and 2 small tables which was fine.

Went to explore the ship and remembered that the blue carpets were Starboard and the orange were Port. Same colours also on the lift buttons. With the ship full, it was obviously very busy, but never felt there was any problem.

Dining

Of the 7 nights we went to the Garden café buffet on 4 nights , twice to Taste and the last night to Manhattan. The buffet was good with plenty of choice and obviously if you liked a dish you could then go for seconds. We always looked for a suitable table first and one of us would sit whilst the other went for their food. The menus in the Taste and Manhattan are the same and very nice food with no need to pay for any supplements. There is always the standard steak and chips if nothing else takes your fancy. Excellent service from very attentive staff and well organised restaurants.

We went every day to the Garden café for breakfast which was slightly tricky to find a table. Part of the problem is that 2 people would sit on a table designed for 6 or 8, and a lot of wasted space, as we prefer not to dine with strangers. Be prepare to wait for around 15-20 minutes if you wanted a freshly cooked omelette as this station was very popular, although you could walk round the back and find another station. Also went to outdoor area for lunches close to the Waves bar for a welcome beer.

Ports

Tuesday morning, we alighted and walked into Naples. A very busy city and trying to cross the roads was a real problem as the Italians simply do not stop even on designated crossings. Went for a coffee and trooped up via Toledo but not really much different than walking around your own town and not really much to see. After less than 2 hours, we were back on the ship and relaxed on the balcony.

Wednesday morning docked at 6.00am in Civitavecchia on pier 12 Bis (N) and I was first off the ship and decided to walk all the way to the railway station and was on the train at 6.45am which was in the station. There was no sign of any shuttle at that time in the morning. My Wife decided not to bother with Rome, so I went alone. Off the train at Roma Ostiense and took the subway to Piramade for the 2 stops to the Colosseum. I had pre-booked my ticket and was there when the gates opened at 8.30am and straight inside. Took a few photographs and then headed for the Trevi fountain which were being cleaned and the fountains were not working. Walked then to Spanish steps and then to the Pantheon which was lovely inside. Quick walk to Piazza Navona and then headed across the river to Castel Sant 'Angelo and climbed to the top for a few more pics. Proceeded up the main street to the Vatican which was busy to say the least as it had been the weekly audience with the Pope. Past the security check but never made it into St Peters Square as at 11.15am, everybody was leaving and the police were blocking entry until 1.00pm.

Headed to the station at Roma S. Pietro and back on the train at 12 Noon to Civitavecchia. No shuttle bus around at the station and so walked it all the way back to the ship.

Thursday morning paid 5 Euros on the pier for a shuttle into Livorno to pick up a pre-booked coach by Tuscany Bus to Pisa which left at 10.00am. 2 hours in Pisa was long enough to see the Tower, Cathedral and the Baptistery. Bit of a trek from the car park to Miracle Square, going through a housing estate, over the railway line and trying to avoid all the African sellers of watches, sunglasses, etc.

Friday took the 10.05am tender to Cannes which we had booked on the TV screen in the cabin. Had a lovely coffee in a harbour restaurant and decided to walk to the old town. Followed a sign which took us climbing a steep hill which ended up at a church and never really saw Le Suquet  .

Headed back into the harbour and trooped along La Croisette looking at the very expensive shops before returning to the ship for lunch.

Final day was Marseilles which saw rain for the first time. Found the green line when getting off the ship, went past the Seaman’s club and boarded the port free shuttle bus into Marseilles. NCL will charge you $15 for their shuttle. However, the rain was pretty bad so headed straight back to the ship.

Entertainment

Priscilla Queen of the desert was excellent. Found it interesting that they warned families that it was not suitable for children because of the course language and sexual innuendos, but nobody moved.

Listened to Siglo in The Cavern who were a good rock band. Most evenings, sat around the Shakers cocktail bar and had a few Black Russians and Pina Coladas and listened to various piano players/singers. We had the UBP which was good to try various cocktails and not worry about the cost. Tried the Bliss lounge one evening which was karaoke night which was not our favourite and the atmosphere was flat.

Overall

A very relaxing cruise with good service from Orlando, our cabin steward. One comment about the general waiting staff around the Garden Café was that they did not appear to be enjoying their job, never smiling or trying to make conversation. The staff however in the MDR's were very friendly and helpful.

Having previously sailed on the Pearl and the Jade, I would probably prefer these two Jewel class ships over the Epic.