The Epic, not the best cruise

Item: Norwegian Epic
Rating: 3.3
Author: kathnjim

Norwegian Epic Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

kathnjim

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 22

Overall rating:

3.3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Caribbean: Great Stirrup Cay & Harvest Caye (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 21, 2024

Ship: Norwegian Epic

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 12082

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 9 months ago

Review summary

This was a most disappointing cruise. Long lineups and waits to be served. Even the waiters circulating the casino, atrium, pool deck, too few, several times we just didn't hang around long enough to receive a drink. Customer service, we waiting in line, only to be told we had to wait in a different line, and once finished were told to go back to the original line. Internet service was rotten. Lost my 150 minutes first day because the app wouldn't let me log off, I went to internet cafe for assistance, but there was always long lineups - I didn't go on a cruise to spend my day in lineups. My wife purchased the unlimited, so we used her data, and I never bothered to try to get my 150 minutes back. She couldn't log off either, but it was unlimited so it was only an irritation that we couldn't switch phones. Took two days to get the bath robes that were supposed to come with cabin, despite customer services telling us they would provide them right away. They threatened folk with a 25$ charge if they didn't return towels to the main towel station, even though they had bins where you could drop off used towels. NCL had different rules for this ship. No drinks pool side or hot tub side. We were on the Escape a week before, and they served you at pool side etc.,. On Escape, you could have a meal at the bar that surrounded/looking down to the atrium, on Epic they refused to serve food at that location. Its not a ship I would recommend to anyone.

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Getting on board the ship was very smooth/easy. Gave us wrong key cards, started out standing in line.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

The food was good; buffets especially breakfast was not so great. Long line ups for fresh made eggs. Toaster was dismal, had to re feed the bread to get it toasted, lone line ups for toast machine.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

We didn't participate in the bingo/deal or no deal, though the latter was fun to watch. Trivia games and other participant activities were fun. The Cruise director and staff were really good.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

We only took in the main stage show, it was extremely good, very professional.

Children's Programs

no kids

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

First off, room steward was fantastic. Customer services was terrible. Waiters were good, as were bar staff. The rating reflects the long lineups. Most fellow travellers felt the same, understaffed. We waited in long line ups for drinks, food, internet service help, customer service. If one could best describe our voyage, waiting in line.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Ship was clean. It is due for a refurbishing. The ship looked old and worn. The layout is terrible. In particular, the toilets. Bars and restaurants in the middle, bathrooms at the end. Most people found the cabin layout confusing.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Good size, clean, comfortable, well tended, but it looked old and worn, like the ship. We had to remove the drain cover and tub would fill with water when showering and the popup control didn't work. The temperature control didn't function properly, first day we were unable to turn down the water temperature and couldn't use the shower. Mirror was discoloured, needed replacing.

Ship tip

Turn on your tv to station 22 if you want to hear ship announcements when in your cabin. The printed fish on the carpet runninig outside of the cabins face (siwm) from aft to forward.

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