Norwegian Epic Review
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We were extremely excited about our two-week trans-Atlantic cruise on the NCL Epic. Although this was not our first cruise on NCL, it was our first trans-Atlantic crossing, and our first experience on the Epic.
Beginning at the beginning….embarkation at the port in Barcelona, Spain, was excellent! Very smooth, and relatively fast. Perhaps the best embarkation experience I can remember! I do not know if this is due to NCL’s efficiency, the port itself, or a combination of both, but I cannot deny that it was excellent!
We first went to our stateroom – it was nice that we did not have to wait until later in the day, hauling around our carry-ons. When we walked into the stateroom, the best that I can say is: it was an interesting experience. I had read about the glass-enclosed shower on one side and glass-enclosed toilet on the other, but there is nothing like seeing it in person. I was glad that I was traveling with my husband of almost 45 years, rather than a friend, because of the bathroom privacy issue. I prefer an actual bathROOM, where you can shut the door, but there was room enough in each space for what it was designed for. I had read a review somewhere that you could fit two people into the shower. I kept trying to envision it, and it just never seemed possible to me. And I am not a huge person. I have also read reviews that say there is plenty of storage. We did not feel that way at all. We did manage to get everything stored, but only “just.” We could have used more space to hang clothes up. The lighting in the stateroom was, in a word, horrible. Forget putting on make-up, unless you packed a lighted magnifying make-up mirror. Although there is a small counter area and a seat, there is not space enough for an area where you can sit with your legs under the counter. Also, since there is no actual bathroom, they have put a small vessel-type sink on the counter, so now there is even LESS counter space, AND increased probability of anything you have set on the counter getting wet. I know that space is at a premium on cruise ships, but this stateroom felt dark and cramped. Thank goodness we do not spend a lot of time in our room! There was a small TV on one of the upper shelves above the counter. Because of the angle of one’s view from the bed, none of the programs looked right. We tried to tilt the angle of the TV a bit, but couldn’t. Oh, well.