Considerably better than expected

Norwegian Epic Cruise Review to Europe - Western Mediterranean

haggerty256

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 48

Overall rating:

3.8 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Mediterranean (Barcelona Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 15, 2017

Ship: Norwegian Epic

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 11320

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

I read a lot of reviews about this ship, the destination and the various aspects of this itinerary. many of them were negative so I had a guarded set of expectations. In nearly every aspect, the trip was better than I had imagined. This was a first cruise experience for us. That being said, I obviously have nothing to compare to. We had a great time. Boarding and deboarding were fine....Barcelona is a fantastic port, a beautiful city, and a fabulous place to spend time before and after a trip. the food was great....the sit down and upgrade dining experiences are vastly better than the buffet option.... but when you are anxious to get off the boat....instant food is tough to beat. We ate in every city we visited....that is part of the experience. My tips......AFT Balcony Cabins (no wind and better view), do your own day trips (use the shuttles they are available whenever they are needed), Pre-pay your gratuities. Buy a case of water in advance (water is a curious money pit and it is unexpected by most. Relax and take your time...you are on vacation. Stay out of the casino.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Very efficient

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

See Above

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

See Above

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

See Above

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

They clean....then they clean again

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Only one outlet....be forewarned

Ship tip

See Above

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Barcelona, Spain

4 out of 5

Absolutely the best transit system in the world.....10E gets you a 10 trip ticket at an automated kiosk Rail from both terminals at the airport.....use a cab only if you have excessive luggage. Transit is safe..... Catalonia is vibrant and the people are helpful. The food is unbelievable..... the Outdoor markets are a destination in themselves

Thumbs Up 3

Naples, Italy

5 out of 5

Easy on and off the boat.....no transport needed

Thumbs Up 0

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

4 out of 5

We walked off the boat and hired a van/guide for 400E.....very personalized trip....Rome is huge and little vehicles are an asset.

Thumbs Up 1

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy

4 out of 5

Used the shuttle to get to the train station...... Train ticket machines take ATM cards from the US and have English translations.....easy to use......validated your train tickets in Italy before you board. We went to lucca (we have been there before) and went shopping.

Thumbs Up 3

Cannes, France

3 out of 5

Totally walkable city.....central market closes @2....fancy shopping

Thumbs Up 0

Marseille (Provence), France

4 out of 5

Used the shuttle.....worth 15E RT......port is confusing and huge.

Thumbs Up 2