Disappointing Feestyle cruise

Item: Norwegian Epic
Rating: 2
Author: LaraG

Norwegian Epic Cruise Review to Europe - Western Mediterranean

LaraG

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 34

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Sail date: September 01, 2011

Ship: Norwegian Epic

Cabin type: Balcony

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 13 years ago

Review summary

I used to cruise with Norwegian about 10 years ago and sort of liked it. Despite this being a new ship, this experience was very poor. I will repeat someone elses comment there is nothing free about this freestyle cruising. There are hidden changes everywhere and mandatory gratuity (oxymoron!!!) added daily to your account. The regular dining rooms were excellent in the past with only few specialty restaurants. Now there are about 10 special restaurants that charge you cover charge per person, extra charge for chefs special, drinks and gratuity. The regular restaurants are almost discouraged, with very lame meal selection and mediocre service. The staff does not need to work hard these days, because they will get their tips anyway! Therefore they are slow, inefficient and not experienced. Ship looks like unfinished huge building, with very poor cabins design. Entertainment is awful, tasteless and required advanced reservation!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Food was OK with very limited selection in the main dining room. Specialty restaurants should be avoided - too high cover charge, rip off. Brazilian restaurant was the only one decent. It's ridiculous that special restaurants should be reserved in advance - for the money they charge they should be open to all at any times.

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Awful - tasteless, loud, primitive. Blue Man group was OK. There was a decent guitar player in one of the bars. There is no more privacy bars with quiet, relaxing music, like it was in the past

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Nothing special as gratuities is included. No one tries to please or go an extra mile. Overall, staff is inexperienced, lethargic and lacks willingness to serve

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Huge ship with very poor design. It was clean because it's relatively new. Restaurants locations are confusing. There are no private bars anymore - everything is in open space and is very loud. Pool is small for such a big ship with many extra water activities that make it looked very crowded

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Poor stateroom design - could not understand why there was a canopy. Totally useless and a waste of space. Yes, the famous sink is not in the bathroom and it does create many spills and everything around gets wet. I like many storage spaces, very convenient. Also, bed was nice with good sheets and a blanket. Having balcony was great

Ports of call

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy

5 out of 5

Rented a car in advance ans were able to see Pisa and Florence in one day

Thumbs Up 0

Naples, Italy

5 out of 5

Did not really like Naples - extremely dirty but arranged for a driver in advance taking us to Amalphi cost and Pompei. Simply wonderful. Did not like the price of cruise-offered excursions.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: Positano and Sorrento

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

5 out of 5

Have been many times in Rome. Take an express train from Civitavecchia to St. Peter station at 9:30. Does not stop anywhere. Comes back on time around 4:30 pm. very convinient and cost 15EU both ways, kids are free. You can arrange for a decent taxi cab tour while in Civitavecchia, but be aware that some taxi cab drivers could change their mind at the end and ask for more money than agreed upon

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: St. Peter Basilica and Fountain d'Trevi

Palma De Mallorca, Balearic Islands

5 out of 5

Beautifull island, very clean. Great high-end shopping. Central park and a castle must see.

Thumbs Up 0

Pros: Itinerary - European Cruise from Barcelona

Cons: Too many extra charges, gratuities are mandatory, mediocre service