This ship has 4400 passengers, 1700 crew, is 19 stories and a theater that seats only 800. That explains a lot. They have crammed every space to put more people on board and the theaters, to bars, to dining rooms can't handle the capacity with the grace and excellence expected on a cruise. It is TOO big and the rooms inconveniently have glass showers and toilet areas with little privacy other than a curtain rather than a bathroom enclosed area. No bank of center elevators cause walking up to 15 to eat or down to 5/6 for dinner shop etc. a bit tough on the legs for stairs with many older passengers who needed the limited elevators. Staff is great but the flaw lies in the design trying to put too many passengers on a big beautiful ship that the venues can't accommodate. Although have taken NCL before and may again, I will NOT ever take a ship with this design.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
1 out of 5
Service was great. Quality of menu is terrible especially on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Have to go to a specialty dining room to get a decent menu - if you can get in- and then it costs more. At dinner one night (table 28 in Taste on Christmas night) we ordered 4 glasses of wine, 2 red and 2 white. We got 4 white and 3 of the 4 were wrong and it never came until after dessert. It was our waiter's fault as bar service never came to the table. Very disappointing.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Wish there would have been a Christmas Eve service or Christmas service for protestants. First ship where none offered. Everything was too crowded. Even Christmas caroling.
Entertainment
1 out of 5
Horrible to wait in line to make reservations, wait in line to get in because venues so small. Headliners was so small couldn't see around the poles. Ship was too crowded and venues terrible. Christmas program was good. Comedian so so. Beatles and Motown lots of fun.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Christian and Bogdan at H20 Spice Bar were excellent. Our cabin steward was great. Ship doctor was excellent also.
Ship Quality
1 out of 5
Will never take this ship again. Too big, too crowded without any true large gathering area inside (including main lobby and theatre. Too many stories and elevators always full with many elderly. Lines for everything - bars, dining theatre, tickets, etc.
Cabin / Stateroom
1 out of 5
Didn't like the design. Couldn't answer the door if someone in shower or in bathroom. Way too small and hard to get to bathroom if someone at sink or sitting on bed.
Ship tip
If you want to see a show or eat in fine dining book early. Best time to eat is early. Choose a smaller ship
Don't go into town early. Was creepy and you felt followed (almost insecure) as there were too few people around. Bring a map of town. It is confusing.
The way I see it, there is something for everyone on a cruise. We aren't drinkers and don't do any of the parties but love the food, the spa area, the shows and the uninterrupted time together. A cruise is what you make of it
I don't understand why you would go on the 5th largest cruise ship in the world if you do not want to be around "too many people". Cruise ships are ALWAYS built to hold as many staterooms as possible, and the restaurants may not have enough capacity but if you are worried about a "crowded" cruise ship, do NOT go on such an enormous ship. It's common sense!
I have just been on Epic for new year. It is a beautiful ship but too many people on it to enjoy its beauty.. There were obvious problems with staff as in not enough to cope with demands particularly on Nyears eve when they ran out of clean glasses and I had to drink champagne from a plastic glass. We thought the cabins were well equipped and the layout ok. We pre booked all meals in complimentary restaurants for 3 nights and dined also in Le Bistro. Teppanyaki and La Cucina. Le Bistro was best . pre booked shows as well so would recommend you do also. overall enoyed but personally wont do another cruise on ship of this capacity.
Sailing on April 17th! With all the negatives, can I ask if you had reservations for the shows and would you recommend dining early or late in the evening? Just curious😊
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