Thinking about taking a cruise? Our Travel Agent Mallory Peisley shares her experience cruising aboard the Norwegian Epic.
I recently returned from an amazing vacation on the Norwegian Epic’s Mediterranean cruise. This ship is huge, yet it is kept in great condition due to the large number of staff onboard. I was able to visit five different ports in merely one day at Sea, which is amazing considering I only had to unpack once!
The staterooms are comfortable and very modern. We stayed in a room with a balcony and I would highly recommend this. Being able to sit outside your own room, and watch the open Sea go by was so relaxing. Also at night, you could see the waves against the ship which was really neat to watch.
The rooms are small but they are organized so well that you don’t feel crammed. The bathroom is open concept so there is a door to the toilet, a door to the shower, and the sink is in the main living area. This is nice so when one person is having a shower, another person can still get ready and use the sink/mirror without invading privacy. The beds were very comfortable and there was a couch to relax on. There is lots of storage for hanging and folding clothing. The in room safe is included. The rooms are cleaned daily and turndown service is also done daily which is when they leave the newsletter for what is happening the following day.
There are plenty of restaurants and bars on board to choose from with tons of varieties. The main buffet, H20 pool bar/buffet, as well as two a la carte restaurants (The Manhattan Room and Taste) are complimentary. The specialty restaurants (Thai, Steakhouse, Sushi, etc.) are all an extra charge per person but include a full meal. There is no lack of food at any time of the day; the outdoor buffet is open for the whole day and into most of the night. You can order room service at any time of the day and the only time they will charge is after midnight. Everything is kept very clean and they have you sanitize your hands each and every time you enter any restaurant. There are many bars on-board to choose from and each has a specialty drink. Most beverages are not not included in the cruise fare but there are drink packages you can purchase to save some money. There is also an icebar on-board which was a really neat experience.
Being a Canadian, I was a little skeptical to go and spend time in a freezing cold bar wearing a giant jacket when I were finally escaping the cold, but I thought it was really neat as the entire bar is made out of ice and your drinks are also served in ice. It was $20 per person and included two cocktails per person. I am really glad we decided to go since it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was freezing but a fun way to spend time in a bar and gave everyone there something to talk about!
The ship is very interactive so you can always find where you want to go with a click of a button. The in-room TV’s allow you to book and view your shore excursions, view availability at restaurants and view their menus, find out which shows are playing, and more. There are also touchscreen displays on the main floors where you can also view restaurant availability and find what is happening on board at the time you are looking. This was very useful and helped with the Freestyle environment to help feel like you never had to pre-plan your day and could just plan as you go.
The nightly entertainment is fantastic and plentiful. From Blue Man Group, to Cirque De Soleil, to a classic piano bar, there is something for everyone! The main shows need to be pre-booked but the majority you can just show up at and come and go as you please. During the day, you are mostly out exploring the different ports, or you can stay on-board and enjoy the peaceful surroundings to yourself. The food and beverage service is the same whether you are in port or a day at Sea.
I would recommend cruising on the Norwegian Epic to families, couples, singles, and groups of friends. There are activities and areas onboard geared towards just about anyone!
Looking for more information on cruising with Norwegian Cruise line? Mallory Peisley is a Travel Consultant at our Kanata Centrum location and can be reached online or calling 1-855-636-1423