First timers and enjoyed it
Norwegian Epic Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 48
5 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)
Sail date: March 02, 2019
Ship: Norwegian Epic
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 8019
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
Good ship and great cruise for these first timers.Embarkation
The embarkation took an extremely long time. It was not a very enjoyable experience and one i'd rather not repeat any time soon. We arrived at noon to begin boarding and did not make it to our room until close to 3:30.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
We had the specialty dining package and we certainly took advantage of it. Prior to boarding, we planned out our dinners and made reservations online. I think this really saved us a lot of time. The food was excellent at each restaurant. The main dining upstairs (buffet style) was a bit hectic but manageable. Finding a table inside was laughable on the days we were at sea. Twice we circled trying to find a table but everything was full. We ended up grabbing our food and just taking it back to our room. The ability to dine whenever you wanted was nice. I found the program we received each day outlining what food was available and when pretty helpful.
Onboard Activities
We enjoyed the comedy shows and I was happy that the comedians switched up there acts a little so you didn't hear the same thing twice. We also took advantage of the Cirque de Soleil show one night, Burn the Floor on the last night and avoided the pools at all costs. We were impressed with the shows. I would certainly recommend Burn the Floor on the last night since it's the farewell show and the crew puts together something a little extra. The pools were lukewarm and crowded with children (although we could have gone all the way up to the adult only Vegas style pool but it was so windy we decided to skip that. So i can't really say how that pool compares).
Entertainment
The Cirque de Soleil show was entertaining and I was surprised by the ability to conduct a show like that on a ship. The Burn the Floor performers were excellent. I would recommend both shows.
Service and Staff
All of the ship staff were helpful and friendly. Our housekeeper Rene was especially kind. Instead of the usual monkey or elephant towel on the bed the last night on the ship, he said he saw our picture on the TV from dinner the night before and said we look like honeymooners (despite 12 years together) so he made a special towel arrangement with our photo. He was happy we liked it and explained why he chose the swans and flower petals and we laughed and told him we loved it but we were far from honeymooners but it was sweet anyway. Every day he seemed to go above and beyond and we couldn't have been more pleased.
Ship Quality
I think the design and general cleanliness were far better than I anticipated. The only complaint I have is that the second to the last day of the cruise, someone literally urinated on the carpet in the hallway about 12 doors down from us (I really hope it was small child and not a drunk adult). The smell was absolutely horrible and instead of cleaning the carpet area, an industrial fan was put in the hall to blow dry the carpet, which only made the smell worse and made it travel even further down the hall. All of the guests in that part of the ship had to hold their breath for two straight days and run through that part of the hall to avoid the smell. It was disgusting and I was just happy it was closer to the end of the trip. Once in the room, we didn't smell anything so clearly the doors sealed a lot out (thank goodness).
Cabin / Stateroom
We were not expecting a grand room considering this was a shorter cruise but I felt the size was comfortable for the two of us. The size of the balcony was a surprise. It was much larger than i anticipated and at first, i was a bit disappointed with the Priva-Sea walls which resembled a bulkhead with a cutout, instead of a glassed in balcony but on those days at sea those walls actually helped cut down on the significant wind. We were able to still sit out there and enjoy it without all the wind that the other balconies had on those days.
Ports of call
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruise Line Private Island), Bahamas
The only thing that would have made this port better would be if we didn't have to ferry into the island. I liked that it was private and we didn't have to think about bringing anything more than our card used for everything else on the ship. There was plenty of beach chairs and bars. The food was evenly spread out and it was all quite convenient.
Thumbs Up
5
We opted to do the Jose Cuervo Tequila tour. We walked around the port for an hour or so and then met at the end of the pier to load up for the tour. The tour was well worth the price (we paid $90 per person). It was 3 1/2 hours, including roundtrip transportation. Our guide Martin was very knowledgeable and had quite a sense of humor. This was probably one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. We learned a lot about tequila, tasted a few different kinds, then walked through the small museum on site, ended with margaritas and food (all included in the price). The groups were kept to 12-15 people so it was small enough to enjoy the experience. This is more of an adult only excursion. However, children are allowed but i don't think they would find it quite as enjoyable. There were a handful of kids hanging around towards the end of the tour (mainly from those vacationing in Cozumel so they did walk-ins). None of the kids looked too pleased so if you're thinking of bringing kids along, you'd probably enjoy a different excursion that includes kinds activities (and the rest of the group would thank you for leaving the kids behind as well).
Disembarkation
Disembarkation as far easier than embarkation. We were up and off the ship quickly, which worked well for us since we planned to drive to Orlando and visit Universal the same day. We were off the ship, in our rental and to the park by 11:30.
Traveler Photos
