We just wrapped up our visit to Europe including 10 days aboard the Norwegian Epic. We were cruising with 2 16 year old girls, and there was plenty of storage for our clothes and shoes and luggage. We each had a carry-on and backpack for our trip.
While there was plenty of storage, the room to move around the cabin and get ready all at once...including showering and using the restroom required a little planning! Haha. We knew that the toilet area and shower area was a little see-through, so we planned ahead with 2 black shower curtains and command strip hooks to add a little more privacy.
The best part of our cruise was the ease of getting a place to eat--our favorite breakfast place--the pub! They had an amazing fruit plate and breakfast sandwich! We also enjoyed Moderno's "salad bar" and Cagney's steaks! We never waited more than 3 minutes to be seated in the dining room, and we needed a table for 6! We were not a fan of the coffee served in the dining room or at the buffet. The only coffee we enjoyed was the Starbuck's coffee.
The ship had plenty of options for activities and places to relax once back from exploring the ports, but shade wasn't always easy to find. Tip-deck 15 had an area that frequently had space to enjoy the view under cover, but sometimes the deck chairs were stacked up and stored when it was rocky or too windy.
While we definitely enjoyed our cruise and the ports we visited, our room definitely was in need of a refresh. The restroom always had a urine smell, the balcony (including the table and chairs and railing) and the drawers definitely needed to be wiped down when we arrived, and there was a need for a deep clean of the carpets and better cleaning in between sailings...our room had a leftover "snackle box" above the closet area, and some notes found in between the pullout bed and the balcony door. We the bedside reading lamps didn't work, and one of the lights above the couch area was burnt out. We also had several days that our room was not cleaned until well into the afternoon--even when we had been in port all day!
Time to do some deep cleaning and better housekeeping checks, Norwegian.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Once we figured out where we were headed from the train station, the embarkation process was a breeze! BUT they need better signage and/or explanation on where you are going and what to expect!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We really enjoyed the food and drinks on the ship! We loved the availability of seating at the main dining room--we didn't have to wait anymore than 3 minutes for our group of 6 any time we came down to eat. We also enjoyed Cagney's steaks (additional fee) and the Brazilian steakhouse (Moderno's and additional fees apply). Specifically, the "salad bar" at Moderno's is pretty much an appetizer bar...and sooo good, but don't fill up there as the meats they bring around are really good!
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
The waterslides were not always open and a couple were closed due to maintenance, but the lines were pretty long, so our girls didn't really use them.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We enjoyed the dueling pianos (Howling at the Moon) and Burning the Dance Floor (entertainment)!
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
Our teen daughters didn't love the people who were in charge of the teen program--they felt they catered to the boys more than the girls...or had a double standard, but they DID enjoy the air hockey and video games they could play for FREE. :)
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
I'm not sure if they were short on room stewards, but we would frequently get back from our day in port, and our room was still not cleaned and re-stocked. We hardly ever saw the room steward we initially had when we got onboard--like we maybe saw him 3 times.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
There were lots of places to hangout and get away, but shade is needed! With the exception of deck 15 and under the covered area around the pool, which is always "reserved" by those who leave their towels for hours from morning until evening, there isn't any place that is cool to relax and read and enjoy the sunshine without being IN the sunshine.
Also, having the stage for the DJ in the middle of the bar area and right next to the pool, towel check in/out, and exit from the elevators to the buffet area creates a HUGE sticking point. I'm not sure that was well-thought out.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
First of all, there is A LOT of storage space in this cabin, and it definitely fit 4 of us, but with all of us in there, movement could get difficult.
Also, it was obvious that our room had not been deeply cleaned. there was still food/drink remnants on the balcony table, the drawers were not clean...I had to wipe them down, and the cloth was really gross. We found post it notes left from some guests before us behind the bed area, and a SNACKLE BOX was left from some kids before we got there--not sure how long it had been there, but it was tucked above the closet area.
In addition, the bathroom smelled like urine the whole time we were there.
Finally, the carpet was worn, and the balcony was not super clean...the ship rooms need a refresh.
With all that being said, our beds were comfortable and clean! We had brought a couple of black shower curtains to give a little more privacy in the shower and toilet areas. It would also be convenient to have a hook in the sink area for hand towel and in the restroom area for changing.
Ship tip
Keep in mind that this ship is 10 years old. There's plenty to do, and the port we visited were well worth the trip!
There were a lot of people in this port the same day we were there...and it takes forever to take the cable car back down! The walk down the donkey trail wasn't as bad as we anticipated, but it can be slippery if you have flip flops!
We self-embarked and it was a breeze--but BEWARE of the Italian taxis--they quoted us 2 euros/person to take us to the train station and then demanded 6 euros/person and said we were crazy!
We always take clorox wipes to wipe down. They have so many rooms, not enough people, and everyone can use help every now and then. If you had thousands of people running through you daily, you'd look a little worn, too.
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