Epic - Western Mediterranean - May 5th

[MISStheboat]

Since I read many a review here, and learned lots of valuable things - I thought I would do a short review about our trip. Me (44) and Mom (77) just returned from the May 5th sailing of the Epic to the Western Med.

 

**Disclaimer** - these are merely our opinions.

 

Overall, the cruise was great. Embarkation in Barcelona was a breeze - I agree with others that Barcelona and NCL have their acts together regarding embarkation. Also - the Barcelona airport is very nice and very clean. The whole embarkation process was about 20 minutes until we were in our cabin. Luggage arrived just a few minutes after we did.

 

This was my 15th cruise, and Mom's 2nd. The ship is definitely MEGA. She is a big one. Relatively easy to navigate, and we were in a balcony on deck 12. We did find there to be long waits for elevators at most times of the day. There are only two banks of elevators - one set forward and one aft, so be prepared to do lots of walking. I read many reviews on here that said the ship never felt crowded, and I have to disagree. We both thought it felt crowded a lot. Food lines, public areas, the Guest Services desk on deck 5 always had a big line, casino, pool areas, main dining rooms - lines, lines, lines.

 

On a positive, the ship was well maintained and very clean. Our cabin steward was great and our room was spotless - all the time. As far as the bathroom set-up, it didn't really bother us, but I can see how it would be awkward if you weren't with spouse/partner/family. No sound barriers, and with it at the front of the stateroom by the door, it limits who can use it if the other is coming/going from the room, etc. Also - the vessel sink can produce quite a mess if you aren't careful, but we just wiped up the splashes, etc. We were lucky and our bed was near the balcony so that gives a little extra room to maneuver, but compared to other cruise lines, the rooms are a bit small. There is tons of storage though and the beds were comfy.

 

The food in general was good. We ate in Taste, one of the MDRs and one night in Teppanyaki. Our chef was good and the meal was delicious with lots of entertainment. We also ate in O'Sheehan's, which was a fun experience with good bar style food. The Garden Café has plenty to choose from, and we liked breakfast there a lot. We also ordered room service breakfast, which was always delivered on time by a pleasant staff.

[MISStheboat]

I will keep going now, as the last time I typed this my session timed out and wiped it all. :confused:

 

The service on the ship is great. I only encountered one 'grump', a guy at the Guest Services desk that should be in the kitchen washing dishes. He was most unhelpful and we had to get his supervisor involved. SHE went above and beyond the call of duty for our request and made us feel like we were Hollywood celebrities! I would said NCL again all because of her - her name is Carolyn, and she was the supervisor of Guest Services - great lady if you need something!

 

We selected this trip basically because of the Itinerary, and it did not disappoint! Rest up on that first sea day though, because the rest is exhausting!! Particularly Naples and Rome, depending on your plans. In Naples, we used an outside company (Sorrento Top Car) and they were fantastic. We traveled to Positano, Sorrento and drove the Amalfi Coast with Rosario, our driver, in a Mercedes van. It is a family owned business and they are very knowledgeable. Then we took the hydrofoil (ferry) to the Isle of Capri and then another hydrofoil back to the port of Naples. Although, a girl I met got propositioned on the ferry by one of the Italian guys working on it.:eek: We felt very safe and the hydrofoil was not very expensive. For Sorrento Top Car - depends on how many people you have. We had four and paid about 65 euro per person and extra for tip.

[MISStheboat]

In Rome - there were 11 cruise ships in port - 176 tour buses, the Pope was speaking and St. Peter's square was closed off by security (didn't stop us...LOL) It was CROWDED!! We did this day on our own (not sure I would do that again) and I think we walked 20 miles!! I really think you need more time in Rome, but we saw as much as we could: Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Vatican, shops, lunch, etc. Also - we took the Trena Italia from Civitavecchia into Rome, which is about an hour or so ride each way. It was 26 or 28 euro round trip for both of us, I think. Not hard to navigate, but again lots of walking. Also - be prepared for gypsies to try to help you around then they kind of latch on and ask you for money. Just say no to anyone that comes up to you and ask for help from station employees on your own if you do this. I was a little disappointed that Rome was SO touristy, SO crowded and such a city type atmosphere. We preferred the charm of the smaller towns much more.

 

Florence/Pisa on your own with NCL was our choice for the next day. This was $99 US dollars each because I pre-booked a few weeks before the cruise. Again, it is about an hour from Livorno to Florence - so this was worth it to us. Pisa was a nice stop and Florence is one of our favorite places in the world now. (Neither Mom, nor I had ever been to Europe before) We had a fabulous lunch in Florence and easily walked around to see lots of architecture, shops, etc. It is simple to get around. Also - I think the Pisa part was a great stop and had read on here that it wasn't worth it - but we love it and the Cathedral and Basilica were both gorgeous!

[MISStheboat]

Took a shuttle from the ship to town for 12 euro each, then got on the train for another 12 euro that takes you through town and up to Notre Dame de la Garde. We thought this was great and you can spend as much time as you want there as the trains come by every ten minutes or so. Be prepared to go up about 100 steps if you want to go up into the church (I did and SO worth it) The views from the parking lot looking over Marseille are gorgeous. Then we found a little café and had some lunch and then took the shuttle back to the ship. A few little shops by where the cruise ship docks for some souvenirs.

 

Last day was Palma - an adorable little island with tons of shops, cafes and a beautiful cathedral. Again, took the shuttle from the ship for 12 euro and on the way back, we grabbed a taxi from town to the ship for about 14 euro.

 

Disembarkation was a piece of cake as well. We managed to do the walk-off, but got some assistance due to my mother's age and the housekeeping guys walked us right down to the taxi (ALL THANKS TO CAROLYN mentioned earlier!) Long story short, I had purchased a transfer because we had a very early flight, but someone at NCL cancelled it by accident and the first guy expected my 77 yr old mother to carry off all her luggage with no assistance.....) If it were just me and my husband, no problem- but too much for her and again, lots of walking. Taxi was 39 euro to the airport and Barcelona was easy check-in. We were at the airport with one hour to spare for a 9:55 am flight through Paris to US.

 

I will add more later, but feel free to ask any questions. Again, all in all a terrific cruise and amazing itinerary. Something for everyone to do, and because it was so port intensive - we couldn't even do it all on the ship! We did not do any shows, but we did visit the casino a few times. You can smell the smoke, but there are some non-smoking areas and they have Oreck air cleaners throughout. It wasn't too bad. Weather was pretty nice the whole time and the seas were calm. We did not go to the spa at all either, which normally I would buy a pass on other cruises.

 

Happy Sailing!

[betterthanvegas?]

We are going on that cruise in 3 days! Me husband and I (both 32), my parents (both 60 but my dad has issues walking due to a knee injury) and my MIL and SIL (57 and 35). I'm a little nervous due to your "crowded" comments. We only have interior cabins so will be relying on the ship to socialize. I think there are pros and cons to every ship though so hopefully the pros outweigh the cons.

Great review. Sounds like you and your mom had a lovely time. She must be a pretty spritely lady by the sounds of some of your trips. How much walk was involved to get to Capri? And would you suggest a taxi into the town for marseille and Palma rather than the shuttles?

Happy to hear good reports on the food. Really looking forward to it, just a little concerned as its a present from me so want it to be as good as possible!

[Cloudyrain]

We too go in 3 days so thank you very much for your review - it made me even more excited than I already was! :D

[betterthanvegas?]

See you there cloudyrain! Better get packing!

[MISStheboat]

Pros outweighed cons to us. Manhattan band was very enjoyable. For Capri, you walk to the hydrofoil, but it wasn't too far, and on the island itself buses and taxis are all around. It is gorgeous-definitely get a gelato!!! Shuttles in marseille and Palma were fine, but since you have a group I am sure a taxi would be inexpensive! Have a great time, what a fantastic gift!!

[betterthanvegas?]

Thanks for your quick reply. I expect some cons from a mass market ship such as this. You can't please everyone all the time! So as long as the pros outweigh the cons, that's fine! We intend to stay on the ship for the Florence and Rome ports so that should ensure we have a nice quiet ship for those days at least! Everyone is really looking forward to it so I'd better stop worrying!

Thanks again. Delighted you had such a nice trip.

[betterthanvegas?]

Oh! One more question - was walking off easy enough? Were there queues? We plan to walk off, just in case of delays with our bags. Hoping it'll be straight forward enough. Did it last year on the liberty of the seas in Barcelona and it was fairly easy.

[jinxyoz]

Did you use the Internet on board? Of yes how was the speed?

[mj]

Florence/Pisa on your own with NCL was our choice for the next day. This was $99 US dollars each because I pre-booked a few weeks before the cruise. Again, it is about an hour from Livorno to Florence - so this was worth it to us. Pisa was a nice stop and Florence is one of our favorite places in the world now. (Neither Mom, nor I had ever been to Europe before) We had a fabulous lunch in Florence and easily walked around to see lots of architecture, shops, etc. It is simple to get around. Also - I think the Pisa part was a great stop and had read on here that it wasn't worth it - but we love it and the Cathedral and Basilica were both gorgeous!

 

Thanks for sharing your wonderful review. I was planning to do this exact same tour. How much free time did you have in Florence to explore and what did you do?

[MISStheboat]

Yes, used the Internet on iPad and iPhone. Bought two pkgs at $55 each for 100 minutes. Relatively fast for a ship overseas!

 

In Florence, we had about 4 hrs, but will depend on traffic. Buses drop you about a 15 minute walk from town. We walked around, shopped, ate lunch at Finnestiere ( good pizza!).

[MISStheboat]

Walking off was the easiest I have done on any ship.

[mj]

Yes, used the Internet on iPad and iPhone. Bought two pkgs at $55 each for 100 minutes. Relatively fast for a ship overseas!

 

In Florence, we had about 4 hrs, but will depend on traffic. Buses drop you about a 15 minute walk from town. We walked around, shopped, ate lunch at Finnestiere ( good pizza!).

 

Thanks for answering so quickly.

[jinxyoz]

Ty!

[Keith1010]

Thanks for sharing your review.

 

Keith

[FiggyWig]

Hi

 

Thanks for your review MISStheboat, sounds like you had a good time. We will be enjoying our 1st NCL cruise on Epic is August, and have one question about Palma. We have stayed in Majorca many times and know Palma quite well although not necessarily the port area. My question is about where the ship docks. My plan is to take a bus from the port to Cala Major (just a few miles away) for a bit of beach time. Assuming the ship docks at a similar spot each time, is it possible to walk from ship through the port to the Av. Gabriel Roca (i.e. the main parimeter road around the port) whereby we can then pick up our bus ? I don't want to have to pay for the shuttle into town if we have no intention of going to town. Failing this I presume there are taxis waiting at the ship, but figure with just 3 of us then the bus would be cheaper ?

 

What are your views ?

 

Fig

[karoo]

I was really interested to read this review. It sounds like you had a great time. I admire your mum and hope I'm still as spritely as your mum when I'm 77. Thanks for the wonderful review.

 

I'm on the Epic first week in July, however I embark/disembark in Rome.

We're due to board at about 12pm on at Civitavecchia.

 

There is also an embarkation in Marseille.

 

How does this work regarding safety drill etc? Is the Barcelona embarkation deemed the first night, (Lobster in the MDR night.)?

 

Did you book the shuttles in Marseille and Palma once you were on board or can you just turn up on the day, present your cruise card etc? :)

[Xpto]

Hi

 

Thanks for your review MISStheboat, sounds like you had a good time. We will be enjoying our 1st NCL cruise on Epic is August, and have one question about Palma. We have stayed in Majorca many times and know Palma quite well although not necessarily the port area. My question is about where the ship docks. My plan is to take a bus from the port to Cala Major (just a few miles away) for a bit of beach time. Assuming the ship docks at a similar spot each time, is it possible to walk from ship through the port to the Av. Gabriel Roca (i.e. the main parimeter road around the port) whereby we can then pick up our bus ? I don't want to have to pay for the shuttle into town if we have no intention of going to town. Failing this I presume there are taxis waiting at the ship, but figure with just 3 of us then the bus would be cheaper ?

 

What are your views ?

 

Fig

 

Hi,

 

Can you give me details of how to have a beach day in Palma, because I'll be there in August and I plan to do the same, but nobody give me information about a good beach and how go there!

 

thanks

[MISStheboat]

I was really interested to read this review. It sounds like you had a great time. I admire your mum and hope I'm still as spritely as your mum when I'm 77. Thanks for the wonderful review.

 

I'm on the Epic first week in July, however I embark/disembark in Rome.

We're due to board at about 12pm on at Civitavecchia.

 

There is also an embarkation in Marseille.

 

How does this work regarding safety drill etc? Is the Barcelona embarkation deemed the first night, (Lobster in the MDR night.)?

 

Did you book the shuttles in Marseille and Palma once you were on board or can you just turn up on the day, present your cruise card etc? :)

 

 

The safety drill is now just a video/crew demonstration and ours was in the Epic Theatre. You don't have to take life jackets, and it only took about 15 minutes. They do check off your name though, and come find you if you do not attend at your scheduled time.

 

Lobster is on the first night in the MDR - so I think it is always on a Monday (sea day)

 

Also - thanks for the comments about my Mom. I am proud to say she is a nine year stroke survivor, and it was a relatively bad one. She had lost her speech, hearing and vision on right side and some of the use of her right arm and leg - we are SO, SO fortunate as she got it all back with lots of therapy. To look at her, you would never know! She did great and when she needed to rest, we rested! She is 77, but looks like she is maybe 60 at most!

[MISStheboat]

Hi

 

Thanks for your review MISStheboat, sounds like you had a good time. We will be enjoying our 1st NCL cruise on Epic is August, and have one question about Palma. We have stayed in Majorca many times and know Palma quite well although not necessarily the port area. My question is about where the ship docks. My plan is to take a bus from the port to Cala Major (just a few miles away) for a bit of beach time. Assuming the ship docks at a similar spot each time, is it possible to walk from ship through the port to the Av. Gabriel Roca (i.e. the main parimeter road around the port) whereby we can then pick up our bus ? I don't want to have to pay for the shuttle into town if we have no intention of going to town. Failing this I presume there are taxis waiting at the ship, but figure with just 3 of us then the bus would be cheaper ?

 

What are your views ?

 

Fig

 

The ship docks on the other side of the marina from town if that helps. I cannot say much about the area itself - as we went straight from the ship to the shuttle. I am sure there are taxis available though!

[jdvmd]

Wonderful information! Thanks!

[Twinks17]

The ship docks on the other side of the marina from town if that helps. I cannot say much about the area itself - as we went straight from the ship to the shuttle. I am sure there are taxis available though!

 

Can I ask how long you got in Palma and what time the ship is due in port and leaves..I know times vary, just an idea. Where meeting my daughter whilst she is on holiday there. :)

[Florissouri]

In Rome - we took the Trena Italia from Civitavecchia into Rome, which is about an hour or so ride each way. It was 26 or 28 euro round trip for both of us, I think.

 

I did the Epic transatlantic from Miami on April 20 arriving in Barcelona on May 1st. I then flew to Rome and got on the Navigator of the Seas for a 7 day Eastern Med cruise. On May 12 I got off the Navigator and took the Trenaitalia nonstop from Civitavecchia to Rome Termini and it was only 5 Euros each way.