Average Food •Terrible Excursion Staff •Fantastic Shows •Super Cabin Steward •Clean ship •Good ports

Item: Norwegian Epic
Rating: 2.9
Author: jlinnote

Norwegian Epic Cruise Review to Europe - Western Mediterranean

jlinnote

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 43

Overall rating:

2.9 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Mediterranean (Rome Roundtrip)

Sail date: May 30, 2018

Ship: Norwegian Epic

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 14131

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

It was a lovely cruise, but only because we were motivated to not let anything get in our way of celebrating our 35th anniversary. Being left on top of Mount Serrat (we were literally 2 min. late) was the last straw. I wouldn't cruise again on Norwegian again due to the rude and insulting NCL excursion staff. They would literally yell at us every day during the poorly explained excursion process. People didn't understand the process because the process is seriously FLAWED. The food in the NON specialty restaurants was better than the specialty ones so don't waste your $. We ate at Tepanyaki, Le Bistro and La Cucina and were disappointed. Shows were great and the ship was clean but we will never trust NCL again. We have cruised on Celebrity, Royal and Carnival and will stick with them - more reliable, professional, good food and kinder more attentive staff.

Embarkation

1 out of 5

It was quick, but there was no sense of "welcoming" - just ho hum get on the ship.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

The food in the upstairs garden cafe was good, but the specialty restaurants were very UNDERwhelming. Tepanyaki was awful (NO FLAVOR!) - La Cucina was fake Italian at best - Le Bistro was good but not great. Our fave on the boat was the Manhattan which wasn't a specialty restaurant.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Lots to do! I enjoyed the painting class although the instructor was disorganized and didn't really teach us any technique. I kept asking what brush to use.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

The excursion staff on the boat was consistently rude. We had an excursion almost every day and I dreaded being yelled at and corralled like cattle. Simply AWFUL staff. We were left on top of Mount Serrat in Barcelona - bus left us 2 minutes after the assigned departure time and excursion was NOT as described and we didn't get to see the very thing we wanted to see and spent over $500

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

The ship was very clean but the design left us feeling closed in. We were thankful for our balcony or we wouldn't have been able to see the beautiful Mediterranean Sea!

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Ship tip

Don't book your excursions through the ship. The whole point of doing that was to ensure a safe return to the ship but at the moment we needed them they were not there. Our Viator excursions that we booked in Rome on our own (before the cruise) were all perfect. Exactly as described and the highest quality.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

1 out of 5

The last day of the cruise when we had to disembark, the tour buses went on strike. Norwegian only offered a shuttle to the "bus station" and then we would have had to drag our large bags on a 30 minute walk to get to the train station! WHAT?! In the end, there were independent cabs waiting for people, but Norwegian didn't disclose this whatsoever despite asking for advice. We worried all night for nothing.

Thumbs Up 0

Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy

5 out of 5

not to be missed! we will visit again!

Thumbs Up 3

Cannes, France

3 out of 5

having to tender was worth it to get to visit Nice.

Thumbs Up 1

Palma De Mallorca, Balearic Islands

5 out of 5

Beautiful and easy day!

Thumbs Up 0

Barcelona, Spain

2 out of 5

Naples, Italy

4 out of 5

Disembarkation

1 out of 5

4 Comments

Stmirli 6 years ago

The churrascaria on Epic is outstanding, too bad you did not try it. Your comments on rude staff is why I never book ship-based excursions.

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beachgal360 6 years ago

Most cruise are sticklers for time. They are like well oiled machines and run accordingly. 3 ocolock means 3 not a minute later.

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Charlou 6 years ago

Sorry about your bad experience. But did you call NCL to make an official complaint about the excursion staff? I know I would. Hope your next cruise is better.

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elvis18 6 years ago

Such a shame you had a bad experience with Ncl

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