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Item: Norwegian Epic
Rating: 4.6
Author: martinassociate

Norwegian Epic Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

martinassociate

Contributor Level: Second Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 4

Helpful Votes: 147

Overall rating:

4.6 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 02, 2017

Ship: Norwegian Epic

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 12524

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

This is my first time on NCL and I was impressed with the staff and overall service. I have heard some negative comments about some peoples interactions with Casino Staff and Customer service, but Not me.. Two notable interactions were the Cruise Critic meet & Greet. They had 7 staff members there, Snacks all held in a private area. Well done NCL! Our group did a Casino Slot Pull but the Casino staff wasn't much help. The other Area That was great was the Future cruise Desk. They give you back immediately $250 OBC if you buy 2@$250 deposits and you DON'T have to book a specific cruise immediately!

Embarkation

5 out of 5

I got there VERY early. My embarkation time was listed as 9:30 so I got there at 9:00 I had parked my car at 528 Port parking a division of Parkway Parking. As they were offloading arriving cruisers my can was empty going back to the port. Asked a guard where the new outgoing luggage loaded and he pointed me to the end, I found where the porters were and it was no problem. Walked over to the escalators and waited at the upstairs door and there were about a dozen waiting for the doors to open. At 9:30 I got right in and just had to wait for NCL to open the waiting room. No lines so I got my picture taken and my Sign & Sail Card right away. My seat was right next to the Haven guest lounge and when they started boarding I was one of the first 20 on the ship. Just had my laptop & backpack so I snuck into the Studio Lounge floor and put my carry-ons into my cabin which was already made up. Then I was free to tour the ship,

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

The Manhattan Dining room was great ( I only ate there once when they had a floor show for the Haven Guests and the Studio Cabin Guests ) Ate at Taste as well which was just as good. I had the Specialty Dining Package ( recommended as it saves you $$$$ 4 meals for $99.12 one meal alone would have cost me $55.00)

Cagney's Steakhouse

5 out of 5

Again this is a great steakhouse and the meat was so tender you could cut it with a fork!, Truffle fries OH MY! Being on the Specialty dining Package you could order as many side dishes as you wish ( only 1 entree) Great service. Get there early and get a seat near the Aft windows for a great sunset!

La Cucina Italian Restaurant

3 out of 5

I guess I'm spoiled having live in an Italian-American neighborhood at one time in my life. The fried calamari was great but the calamari in the seafood pasta was chewy. The red sauce was too spicy as well.

Waves Bar

4 out of 5

This was the place to be both at Sail away and on sea days as most of the party people were there and they don't allow children under 18 there. The hot tubs needed to have their temperature regulated better, but most people were just sunning and drinking! A few smokers but not too bad.

Teppanyaki

5 out of 5

If you've never gone to a Hibachi style restaurant. Teppanyaki is a must. even though I was single i sat at a table for 8 and was thoroughly entertained by the chef. More than enough food and if you ordered the seafood and there was some meat left over he gave that away too.

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Casino was fun I love Craps

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Definitely do the Cirque dreams in the Speigel tent. If you have the Specialty dining package you only pay $18 pp for the show itself. A fun time! As always the Comedians kept me in stitches. If you're open minded and look at it as theatre then Priscilla "Queen" of the Desert is a great show with professionally done props and costume changes as well

Children's Programs

I'm single

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Clarissa from the Entertainment staff hosted our Studio lounge group every night and arranged our evenings every night. This was what sold me on NCL

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Very Clean but difficult to navigate especially when I had to find my Studio cabin after being at the opposite end of the ship.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Very clean and comfortable. The shower is small and would not work for an obese person.

Ship tip

Reserve your dining preferences as soon as they come available online. Some dining venues you could just walk up and be on a waitlist but I don't recommend it. I did just walk up to the Comedy Club on Standby and got right in. Same way with The broadway show.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Port Canaveral, Florida

4 out of 5

It's a busy port but they are improving. You have to take the time to visit the Kennedy Space Center if driving. It costs $10 for parking and $50pp for entry but well worth it.

Thumbs Up 7

Nassau, Bahamas

4 out of 5

Been here before and just got off the ship to visit the shops and go to catholic mass at St Francis Xavier ( take a cab but not one right at the port as they wanted $15 I walked a ways and found one for $3/pp it's up a hill!) Sunday mass at 8:30 is one with their Choir and they're great!

Thumbs Up 9

Falmouth, Jamaica

5 out of 5

Long 1 1/4 hour drive to Dunns River Falls and the Jamaican Bobsled run but it was fun

Thumbs Up 2

George Town, Grand Cayman Did not visit port

Been there

Thumbs Up 0

Great Stirrup Cay (Cruise Line Private Island), Bahamas Did not visit port

too tired

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

5 out of 5

Fast and easy

5 Comments

CoachD 6 years ago

Did you tender for Nassau as well? Did you schedule your tender?

Thumbs Up 0

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CoachD 6 years ago

Outside company..

Thumbs Up 0

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lennydebbie 6 years ago

Oops DOCKS!

Thumbs Up 0

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lennydebbie 6 years ago

It only socks in Falmouth. Grand Cayman was about a 10 -15 minute tender I think and GSC is only about 5 -10. Not too bad in my opinion. Are you doing your excursions through NCL or an outside company?

Thumbs Up 1

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CoachD 6 years ago

Third cruise for me. Second with wife. First on Epic.. I hope we enjoy.ourselves as much as you did. We actually plan on doing an excursion in every port. Did the ship dock at every port or did you have to ride a smaller boat ashore?

Thumbs Up 0

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Other reviews of this sailing

1st Cruise

Loved the big boat!!

Enjoyable cruise