Norwegian Epic Cruise Reviews - Reviews

The restaurant service was consistantly poor to deplorable. Food took too long and it was inconsistant in quality. the servers appear to be overworked and stressed out, and frankly the could not careless in the end. I can't say I blame them at all. In my opinion there was a total lack of leadership and organization at managing level.  I was really dissapointed.

I would have prefer to have assigned seatting and get the same waiter, maybe you get more of accountability this way.

What I loved was The Blue Man Show and the Cirque. Great choices, thank you very much.

This was our second cruise on the Epic. I have to say that it was very different from our first. We sailed on her during her first year of service and loved everything about it. This cruise was a different experience. The service of the crew was pretty aweful this time in the dining rooms and there just didn't seem to be anything going on during the cruise. The only real entertainment were the main shows. These shows are great and we really enjoyed them but aside from them there was nothing going on. The spa on the Epic is worth the extra cost. We have taken advantage of it on both cruises on the Epic. We bought a week pass and spent most of our time there durning days at sea. We talked our friends into buying the pass and they said that the cruise would have been a big let down with out the spa pass. 

Although the ship is a big one, it seems there was a lot of congestion in the halls and certain areas of the ship.  Our room steward was just great. Some of the shows had a lot to be desired.  The excersions we took were a waste of money. You sit in a crowded tour bus and ride around--which you could have done in a cheaper taxi.  The jewlery on the ship was a good value for what they charged. In the dining area upstairs on the 15th floor, was also way too crowded and the limited staff had a hard time keeping the tables cleaned--therefore your food got cold before you could sit down and eat.

The best part of the trip was to Atlantis and the tour of the fish aquariums.  That was very interesting and beautiful.

This all sounds very negative, but all in all we did enjoy our trip and have already booked another cruise on NCl --a much smaller ship with 2,000 folks, verses 4,000 on the Epic!!

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT THE EPIC IS BEAUTIFUL AND THE ROOMS ARE TINY..I HAD A MINI SUITE AND IT WAS SO NARROW YOU COULD NOT WALK NEXT TO EACH OTHER...HAVING A SINK IN YOUR BEDROOMAND A BATHROOM AND SHOWER WITH NO ENCLOSED ROOM IS HORRIBLE. THE FOOD IS NOT OF GREAT QUALITY AND THE MENU VERY BORING AS IT WAS THE SAME MENU NIGHT AFTER NIGHT. THE MENU IN THE MAIN DINING ROOM NEVER CHANGED FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK!!!

WOULD NOT RECOMMEND NORWEGAN TO OTHER PEOPLE..ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE CRUISED BEFORE

Sailed from Miami on 11/30/2013.  For a large ship, the check-in process was quite smooth and quick.  I had a mini-suite.  Suitable for 2 people.  The toilet is separate from the shower.  The shower was more than sufficient, however, the toilet area was beyond small.  Ports were okay.  The ship was very clean and crew very friendly.  Plenty of activities both day and evening.

This was a fantastic cruise!  NCL Staff are the greatest and provided exceptional customer service.  The front desk George and Anne helped with a situation with my mom's disability and provided her with an accessible room with shower.  The room we had only had a tub/shower combo and my mom could not get into the tub due to the height of it.  Her cabin steward, Volteir (sp), was also very helpful in anything that she needed.  I am very happy with NCL and booked another trip with them.

For starters, the 24 hour buffet was a joke. The only portion opened 24 hours was a very small buffet outdoors with not a good variety at all, nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza every night, I can get this at home. If.you didn't like what was on the buffet then you could order room service, if you were okay waiting an hour and a half if they even answered the  phone at all. The.morning we docked back into Miami I took my children up to eat breakfast at 8am and everything was shut down, so we had to wait on our shuttle to take us to bayside and it was almost noon before I was able to feed my kids. On night 4 of our cruise we were on the pool deck at the white hot party and our ship did a 45 degree tilt each way 6 times. This terrified my children who have never cruised before. We never heard anything from the captain that night, we were left completely confused and scared. The next morning he apologized and called it a technical error, sorry but that doesn't help the fact none of my children could sleep that night in fear of the boat tipping. We then had to find out from another staff member that in fact.the.stabilizer on the boat went out. This boat is only 3 years old!! The only thing that made our trip worth it was the.staff in splash academy and.our house keeper who were all fantastic. And the main dining rooms were awful!! I was told.by norweign if I booked a show at 7 and made dinner reservations for.5:30 I.would have plenty of time. Yeah right!! It took 2 hours every night to eat (even when the dinning rooms were almost empty) and the food.was always cold. I will NEVER cruise with Norweigan again!!!! It's back to royal Caribbean for me.

The state room was the worst I have ever seen.  Due to no lift in the center of the ship you send lots of time just getting around. I have gone out with many differant cruise lines and have taken 34 cruises.

I was not happy. Our room was not ready when they said it was, and when they said it was we entered our room and the bathroom was dirty, and we had no beach towel's, we had to ask for beach towel's everyday, they never turned the beds down, the never vaccaumed the room the hole week we was on the cruise, We was almose late for a show even though we told them a head of time we had resevation's at dinner one night and  we had a large group there was 19 in our group my daughter and I made plans 60 days ahead of time so we could all sit together they said no promblem, Then we get there and they spit us up in to 2 tables said they couldn't put us together, But then I look over and there where 20 people over at another table I was hot, my sister and I had planned this for 15 months to take our family on this cruise to be prefect, and it wasn't how disappointing, All we heard how Norwegian was the best, we It wasn't, the food was cold, people was not friendly, I WILL NEVER CRUISE WITH NORWEIAN  AGAIN AND I HAVE BEEN ON 10 CRUISE'S. I was very disppinted, And the ROOM'S WHERE SO SMALL!

Terrible!

Thank You!

Jeanne Cook

Brian Gardner jeannie9613@gmail.com

ian Gardner

Brian Gardner

After several NCL cruises, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Hawaii etc, we were expecting the Epic to be Awesome. Big disappointment!  If it had been our first NCL Cruise there never would be a second.

One walks through the toilet to the stateroom and an area so narrow someone has to get on the bed so the other can pass. Maybe turn the bed sideways. Trying to get an elevator to go anywhere was a joke. They either were permanently parked on one floor or were crammed when they arrived. The food was only so-so (blah actually) and the same every day, unlike other cruises where there were different menus each day. The best stop on Thanksgiving Day at Moderno’s. Great idea! On previous cruises there was a top notch, entertainer each night rather than the Blue Men half the week. Two kiddie pools and tiny tots in the Jacuzzis, probably to pee, how sanitary is that. Wasted space around the pools could have provided the adults with a large pool. We got a postage stamp sized one at the bow under the football screen.  Provide for the kids but take care of adults who pay to bring their kids and don’t forget us seniors that are the mainstay for the cruise industry?  Housekeeping, was great.  We took care of them with words of thanks and extra gratuity.

No one was there to greet us as we came on board. This was disappointing because last year on NCL's Star we were greeted with smiles,welcome aboard,music,and sanitized hand towels. We decided to have lunch at Taste. The service was slowwww! The food was terrible. It took about an hour to get our food after waiting for the waiter to take the order. The total time was about 21/2 hours.Now lets skip to dinner. After walking through the smoke filled casino which is outside the Manhattan Room. We had to wait an hour and fifteen minutes to be seated. The restaurant was under staffed so the service was very slow. The food was good it just took a long time to get it. There was only on server trying to wait on several tables. He had to do it all. It took us from 5:30 pm to 9:45 pm to finish dinner. 

Our cabin 14th deck forward was another disaster. The balcony door was hard to open. You had to pull it open at the top and then push from the bottom to get it open. It got harder and harder to open as the week progressed. It was to the point we were afraid to close the door when we were on the balcony for fear we would not be able to get back in. The door was finally fixed on the last day of the cruise.

Day 2 got up that morning to discover the toilet would not flush. It took till about 2 pm to get it fixed. We had to use public restrooms. They were always dirty and smelled of old urine. They were always out of soap and paper towels. The next morning the toilet was not flushing again. So we were back to trying find a clean public restroom to use. I complained to customer service who apologized and explained that people are always throwing things in the toilet and stopping them up. They sent a bottel of wine and chocolate covered strawberries to my room that night. Woo Who!!! Guess what? The day we disembarked our toilet was not flushing again. There was only two of us in this cabin and we are in our mid sixties and early seventies so we know not to flush foreign objects in the toilets.

The crew members were not very friendly. They were not taught to smile. We actually had to ask several of them to smile. Every passenger I talked to made negative comments about the ship and its crew.

There was a few exceptions. Our room steward tried to help us with some issues,but never learned our name. The waiter Freddie in Taste did a great job the second time we ate at Taste. The two morning Washy Washy employees at the Garden Cafe were always cheerful. The young lady that waited on us the last night did a great job. Her last contract was on NCL's Star so she was well trained and friendly.

Our  experience at Moderno was terrible. I regret spending the money there. The service was so bad and slow that we left before dessert. We sat there for 20 minutes before we were even served water. 

Seasoned Seniors should not cruise on this ship. The Epic is for Gamblers and for people with lots and lots and lots of patience. If you dont mind over crowded elevators with long lines, slow service for meals, and unfriendly staff then this is the ship for you.

We are experienced cruisers having been on almost every line from Cunard to MSC. We have been on at least six NCL cruises. This was our first on The Epic--and our last. The balcony cabin was tiny and we had the joy of the toilet enclosure (Opaque) visible from every part of the room and balcony! (There is no distinct bathroom; the facilities are integrated into the cabin. One can sit on the bed and brush one's teeth! What a thrill!)

The Garden Cafe Buffet on the first afternoon was FILTHY. Staff insisted that they spray our hands to fight germs, but no one thought to spray the tables to clean them! Tables sat for at least 30 minutes before any staff would clear them. We never saw a staff member "wash / wipe" the table with anything other than one of the napkins left there. The Board of Health would have a field day with this place!

The service was non-existent in the "complimentary" restaurants. Orders were rarely correct the first time and that added to the slowness of the service. It took two hours for two people to be served a four course meal--appetizer to dessert. No wonder the lines are hours long to get into the "complimentary" restaurants.  Excuse me? "Complimentary"? What did I pay for? I paid for EVERYTHING at EVERY TURN. The surcharges were absurd and annoying: A $20 cover charge for the "Ice Bar"? (One drink included).

The food in the Pay Restaurants was average. We went to two (French and Brazilian) and had average food flavors (Escargot and Lamb that were flavourless)  and average service.  I guess the reason to pay the extra money is to avoid the lines in the other restaurants. Save your money. Stay home and eat out in local restaurants!

NCL has always been a reliable cruise line: The service had been good; the food great; the facilities clean and spacious:  Not on The Epic. I recommend any other cruise line--including MSC and Carnival--rather than NCL's The Epic--for service and quality!

This was my first cruise experience with a cruise line. I am a 100% disabled  Navy veteran and due to my disabilities I was a mobility scooter to get around when I have a walk any distance or for any length of time. Although  NCL says they are wheelchair accessable they are not user friendly or are they consistant with their practices. On two seperate days when I returned from excursions I had to wait 45 minutes and 30 minutes for the crew to retrive my scooter, this after being told that I have to give then the keys so they can move return it yjr security officer didn't know that the key has to be in the scooter for it to work and NCL staff had to have the key to move it .

My experience started lout bad and went downhill from there. When I got to the Terminal C entrance an attendant told me that I would have to pay for parking eventhough I have a state issued disability tag. The reson I ws told I would have to pay for parking was because I didn't  hace a rack on my SUV to transport my scooter. I explaind to the attandant my scooter breaksdown into two pieces so it can be lifed in to the car. THe attendant did not want to get further envolved and told me to park the car and we'll figure it out when you get back . All week long it was on my mind. Something must have changed with thepolicy because when I returned I nentioned my scooter was in the  back of the car and I was exempted from parking fees

When I got to the embarking station there were several lines. I got into a line  that I thought could handle my cart I was wrong it couldn't but after some manuvering I got to the counter and presented my paper work and pass port then girl took my picture ,gave me my card and motioned for me to pass thru a narrow passage area but my scooter was too big for the space.  After turning around I got into open space again Iasked one of the terminal staff where I was to go  I had to asked threedifferent people  wherde I was to go before I actuall got help form one of the staff. 

Getting on the ship was not a problem  getting to the studio stateroom  not so much . After waiting for close to an hour to get to the 12 deck where my room was  I was told to go where the carpet turns blueand I would fing my room. After 20 minutes or so and not getting close to where the carpet "turned "blue  I found a room steward to show me where to go He took me to where the rug turned blue buthe gfot flustered when I asked him where I should put my scooter because it would not fit i  the room and evev the servise desk @ 00 said theyt have place on the ship to store the scooter he did not know of any . I'm still notsure if he understood all the I was telling he was nodding yes but there was a look of total confussion on this face.Finly he noticed an electric outlet on the bulkhead an the vestible where the rug turned blue and trold me I could put my scooter there. All of this took place the 1st 2 hours on the ship.I thought tomyself this might be a long weel and I wasa right.

I nverf got to any of the "fine " didning area I used the garden cafe most of the time . tehproblems withthe garden cafe is it is on the 15th deck more wwiting time for a free elevator, when you get there the line are long with people cutting in line where ever they choose I began to thin k of FREESTYLE CRUISING as aFREE FOR ALL , and if your not somewhat pushy you are not going go get any of the cold,(food is supposed to be pfesented at 145 *F it wasn't enen close) been on the line too long food. I never had a wrm meal when I ate at the Garden Cafe. I started to go to Seehanns taven on the 6th deck  the food was warm but also mass produced and it tasted like it.

I went to Cirque of dreams great show but the food although presented well on the plate tasted like it had been on tyhe plate for some time. 

THe BLUEMAN GROUP was also a great show as was Second  City Murder at sea .

THere were many things that where not rihjt like waiting for 4hours that right four hours for a pizzabut I did  gety it for gratus. The room service staff didnot kno w the they have a house merlow even though tthey had delivered one to the room the  night before.

By Thursday I started to think aboiut the Beach Boy songSloop John B.

ON there different mornings the room steward tried to rush me out of the room so he could clean it.but due to my disabilities IO have things meds and what ever that I have to contend with. On one morning he knocked on the door about 830 and told me he had tto vacuum the rug I had to be somewhat curt  with him  and told him after some of his insistance he would have to come back.  Finaly Staurtday come the steward knows on the door @715am and tells me I got to go so he can clean the room I was scheduled to leave the ship at 945am I looked at my watch at 930 and I was off ther ship and in downtowm Maimi headed for I 95.

Some of  the good things about NCL, they appear to be able to move large groups pf people quickly . YHey don't do a good job of one to one  nless mybe if you are paying for a more expensive stateroom or the Haven.

I never got to experience any oyher ding areas mostly do to crowd sizes  so I can't say anything about them but I in agine they are aboutg the some quality.

I don't think I use NCL again but I'm going to do another cruise in a couple of months it will be intersting to compare.

the service was poor and the food left much to be desired was told 50% of crew was new if they are having trqaining not on my dime-the ship was not clean in dining areas near the pool and the staff did not seem to care tables were not cleared and when cleared they were not wiped down

My first NCL cruise was nice. The Epic is huge but a very nice ship!!! Could have been more late night entertainment for the younger crowd and cheaper games( BINGO WAS $39 & DEAL OR NO DEAL WAS $19 A GAME). Food was good but by the last day I did not want any of the food on the ship. Getting off the ship was unorganized!!! One exit with 4,000 people...Come on!!!

Imagine our anticipation to see our first balcony stateroom.  We had been upgraded to one  from an inside guarantee because the price had dropped dramatically.  We get on board, put the key in the lock and open the door and no water view...open the drapes and the door and there is a half wall of white steel with the top half having a large oval cutout.  That was our balcony!!  We ran down to customer service and the ship was full, no moving to another cabin.  Not being people to look a gift horse in the mouth, we adjusted and carried on and enjoyed every minute of the cruise.  Loved everything and this was our second cruise on the NCL Epic.  We would go again if the price is right.  We had a great cabin steward named Dominic, he removed the contents of the fridge so we could stow our meds and sodas. at our request.  He was very helpful.  We loved the meals, the dining rooms, Blue Man, Circ, etc, everything was good except one thing...bacon, it was bad, tried it the first day and then again the last and tasted the same, bad.

We drove to Miami with friends  and parked for free in the parking garage.  Free in Miami because of Hubby's handicap license plate.  Boarded the NCL Epic  with no delays and was able to go directly to our balcony stateroon.  Beautiful!!   We met our room steward, Dominic.  He was adorable!  Very pleasant and helpful.  After lunch at the buffet we checked out the ship.  Lovely!!  Very impressive and lots to see and do. 

Later for dinner in the Manhatten Dining Room we had surf and turf, steak and lobster, very nice!  Enjoyed that meal and all the rest, only problem we had with food was the bacon, always had an off taste, so left it alone.  We enjoyed the casino, and the shows, Circe, Blue Man Group, Legends, except for the Katy gal,   Enjoyed  all the restaurants, the ports and the ship.  Would go again if the price was right. 

The Epic ship was huge and beautiful . My husband got ourselves lost alot, finding our dining restuarants. I had cruise on Carnival many of times and always had a great time, til last year.  The food was so disappointing, and the menu had very small selections.  My husband and I had thought we would give Norwegien a try to impress us.  The service on the ship out weighs the beauty of the Epic ship.  The service was terrible, we traveled Nov. 2 - 9 on the Eastern Carribean Cruise. The service in the specality restuarants was nothing even of coffee shop dinner!  The food was great in the specailay dining. The French was excellent, Italian was great, Brazilian was very good, Chinese was good and the steak house was good but not worth the $30 a person. The buffet for dinner was terrible, would not recommend, breakfast was good.  Breakfast buffet have to eat the omlet or eggs benedict to order. The bar service on the ship was terrible!! One of the busiest bars on the ship located on the same floor as the huge casino and should always be fun and staffed, was stationed with one of the worst and unattenitive bartenders I have ever seen on a cruise.  At one time I arrived to find 12 people all waiting for service, I waited patiently for 20 minutes.  The bartender arrived and gave one drink out and left the bar unttended again.  As for the ports and excursions we enjoyed Saint Maarten, we did the 12 meter sail boat race.  A great experience and the staff was fun and exciting.  Saint Thomas we golfed at Mohoganny Run, it was a beautiful course on the ocean with the waves crashing in and gorgeous views.  The Bahamas was the usuall over priced and over rated stop.  We enjoyed a afternoon at the local Conch Bar/ Rest. 

Cruise entertainment was overall good . Blue Man Group and Howl At the Moon were great, but the 2nd City Comedy, the Entertainers, and the Magician Act were fair.  I had higher expectations for the entertainment, as the cruise was touted as a Las Vegas at sea.  Biggest complaint was the room. Sink was in one section of the room, shower (with translucent door) was in another part of the room, and the toilet (with translucent door) was in a third part of the room.  Really uncomfortable seeing the image of someone sitting on the toilet.  Room Stewards appeared over-worked and stressed. Was definitely not pampered as on prior cruises.  Meals were very good (for cruise ship food). Would not recommend the Epic ship.

Ship was very crowded (4100 passengers) and the crew did a could job handling the demands.  However, there was no enforcing of rules in the SPA area and around the pool.  The SPA, people just did what they wanted, put their towel in a chair and left in their all day.  The cermanic lounge chairs were occupied by the same person for hours on end, even through the sign said no longer than 30 minutes.  Same with the pool area chairs.  Any complaints went on deaf ears.  Managers seemed not to care.  Food was execellent and quality was great.  Even through there were many negative comments on the room, we liked the layout on the EPIC. Disembarkation was a disaster in Miami,  no flow control or order!  Another plus, was the enterainment.  Excellent shows, especially the legends and Howl at the Moon.