Norwegian Epic is one of those cruise ships that seems to have a reputation all its own, for the better or worse.
Before my 12-night Transatlantic cruise from Florida to Italy, I had heard plenty of opinions about this ship prior to sailing. Some cruisers absolutely love Norwegian Epic, while others consider it one of the weaker ships in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet.
After spending nearly two weeks onboard, I can understand both perspectives.
Norwegian Epic is different than many other large scale cruise ships. The design is unlike the newer Norwegian ships, the layout takes some getting used to, and the ship can feel quite busy at times, or at least it did for my sailing.
But there are also plenty of things that I genuinely loved about my time onboard, from the variety of complimentary dining to the unique Ice Bar that cannot be found on all NCL ships, entertaining shows, and surprisingly great spaces for families and solo travelers.
Because I had so many days at sea during my Transatlantic sailing, I had plenty of time to explore the ship and get to know what worked well and what didn’t onboard.
After spending 12 nights onboard, I’ve come to think that Norwegian Epic isn’t necessarily a ship that you should either love or hate. Instead, it’s a ship that you need to understand before booking.
Here’s what I think you should know about Norwegian Epic before your next cruise.
Norwegian Epic is unlike any other ship in the NCL fleet
The first thing I noticed about Norwegian Epic was just how different the ship felt compared to other Norwegian Cruise Line ships I had sailed on.
Norwegian Epic entered service in 2010 and is the only ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s ‘Epic’ Class. When I first began researching the ship, I had heard that it was sometimes considered one of the least popular ships in Norwegian’s fleet.
I honestly didn’t understand why.
After all, Norwegian Epic still has many of the classic features that make Norwegian Cruise Line popular, including Freestyle dining, plenty of entertainment, bars and lounges, kids’ activities, and lots of things to do throughout the day. Once I boarded, however, I started to understand where some of the criticism came from.
The ship has a much darker aesthetic than some of Norwegian’s newer vessels. There are darker colors throughout the interior, and some of the public spaces can feel more enclosed and cramped than what you’ll find on the newer ships.
That doesn’t necessarily make Norwegian Epic a bad ship. In fact, I think it’s more important to understand that this ship simply has a different personality.
If you’ve sailed on Norwegian Prima or Viva and are expecting that same bright, modern atmosphere, Norwegian Epic may come as a surprise.
But if you go onboard knowing that it is an older ship with a very different design, I think it’s much easier to appreciate what it does well.
There is a lot to do on Norwegian Epic if you look
One of my favorite things about Norwegian Epic was how much there was to do, especially during sea days.
This was particularly important on my Transatlantic sailing because I had nine days at sea. That’s a lot of time to spend onboard a cruise ship!
Fortunately, I never felt like there was nothing to do.
There are multiple pools and hot tubs, water slides, a rock climbing wall, a giant chess board, kids’ activities, entertainment, bars, lounges, and plenty of other spaces to explore.
One of my favorite outdoor areas was Spice H2O.
Spice H2O is an adults-only area with lounge chairs, a bar, hot tubs, and a small pool. It’s also larger than some of the Spice H2O areas I’ve seen on other Norwegian ships, which I really appreciated. There’s even a small food area where guests can grab snacks and lunch during the day.
One of my favorite memories from the entire cruise actually happened at Spice H2O. On the evening we left Florida, there was a rocket launch, and we were able to watch it from the ship as we sailed away from the coast. Truly a unique experience!
Watching a rocket launch at sunset while standing on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean is one of those travel moments that you don’t soon forget!
Norwegian Cruise Line always does a great job of publishing daily activities for guests to peruse during their sailing. But if you are someone that also enjoys relaxing during your vacation, I found this an easy goal to accomplish onboard Norwegian Epic as well.
The complimentary dining options are a major plus
One of the biggest advantages of Norwegian Epic is the number of complimentary dining options available onboard.
There are seven complimentary dining locations, not including room service. These include O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, Garden Cafe, Shanghai’s Chinese Restaurant and Noodle Bar, Spice H2O, Taste, The Great Outdoors, and The Manhattan Room.
Since I was onboard for 12 nights, I had plenty of opportunities to try them all multiple times.
Having so many complimentary restaurants made a big difference for me. Even though I was onboard for almost two weeks, I never felt like I was eating at the exact same place every night.
Of all the complimentary restaurants, Shanghai was probably my favorite. I particularly enjoyed the Asian-inspired dishes and found myself returning there more than once during the cruise.
I also think having so many included options is especially helpful for families or anyone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of extra money on specialty dining throughout their cruise.
Of course, Norwegian Epic also has specialty restaurants for those who want something a little different, but I was impressed with how many choices were available without paying an additional fee.
You’ll want to plan ahead for entertainment
Norwegian Epic has some fantastic entertainment onboard, but there’s one thing I quickly learned: you may need to plan ahead.
One of my favorite shows was Howl at the Moon, the lively dueling piano show where guests can request songs and sing along with the performers.
The show is interactive, energetic, and a lot of fun. On select nights, it runs from around 9 p.m. until 1 a.m., so there’s plenty of time to stop by and enjoy the music.
I also highly recommend checking out the Headliners Comedy Club.
Another favorite of mine was Burn the Floor. This energetic theater performance features talented ballroom dancers and vocalists, with performances ranging from the Waltz to the Tango and Rumba. During my 12-night cruise, the show was performed several times, giving guests multiple opportunities to see it.
If you enjoy live entertainment, I would definitely make an effort to see Burn the Floor during your cruise when it is offered.
The one downside is that the entertainment onboard Norwegian Epic can get very crowded.
On my sailing, I found that arriving 15 or 20 minutes before a show was often necessary just to find a seat. If you want to choose where you sit, I’d recommend arriving even earlier.
It’s a small inconvenience, but knowing about it ahead of time makes it much easier to plan your evenings.
Norwegian Epic can feel crowded
This was probably my biggest surprise about the ship.
I was sailing on a 12-night Transatlantic cruise with only a couple of scheduled port stops, so I assumed the ship would be relatively quiet. I was wrong.
Norwegian Epic was nearly at full capacity during my sailing, and the ship felt noticeably busier than I expected.
I’ve sailed on other Norwegian ships that were also very full, but they didn’t necessarily feel as crowded as Norwegian Epic did. The biggest issue was finding seats during entertainment. Main theater shows, comedy performances, and Howl at the Moon could all fill up quickly.
There were also lines during peak dining times. This is something I would keep in mind when planning a cruise on Norwegian Epic. If you know you want to eat at a particular restaurant at a particular time, make a reservation when possible.
Even complimentary restaurants can have waits during the busiest times.
The good news is that the crowds aren’t necessarily a bad thing for everyone.
The ship had a fun, social atmosphere, and I noticed that passengers seemed very willing to meet and talk with one another. If you enjoy being around lots of other people and having a lively atmosphere onboard, you may actually enjoy this aspect of Epic. It all depends on what exactly you want out of your cruise vacation.
Norwegian Epic has one of NCL’s most interesting cabin concepts
Another thing I really enjoyed about Norwegian Epic was the Studio Staterooms. I stayed in one of Norwegian’s Studio Staterooms, which are specifically designed for solo travelers.
This was my second experience staying in a Studio on Norwegian, and I continue to appreciate the concept.
Cruising is one of my favorite ways to travel solo because you can see multiple destinations without having to worry about arranging transportation, hotels, and meals in every city.
The Studio concept makes solo cruising even more appealing because these cabins were designed specifically with one traveler in mind.
The cabins are small, but they make good use of the available space. There is also a dedicated Studio Lounge where solo travelers can meet other guests and enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages.
Norwegian has since expanded its solo cabin offerings beyond the traditional Studio Stateroom, adding options such as Solo Inside, Solo Oceanview, and Solo Balcony cabins on various ships, depending on the vessel.
For anyone considering a solo cruise, I think Norwegian is one of the cruise lines worth looking at.
The ship’s age is something to keep in mind
Norwegian Epic was built in 2010, and while that doesn’t necessarily make it an old cruise ship by cruising standards, you can tell that it isn’t one of Norwegian’s newest vessels.
During my Transatlantic cruise, this became particularly noticeable in my stateroom.
The Atlantic Ocean was much more turbulent than the Caribbean or Mediterranean waters where I had previously cruised, and I could hear quite a bit of creaking in my Studio Stateroom as the ship moved through the waves.
At first, it was something I noticed every night. Eventually, though, I got used to it. In fact, by the end of the cruise, I had grown to really enjoy the long days at sea.
There’s something very peaceful about being in the middle of the ocean with nowhere you need to be. What initially sounded like nine very long sea days ended up being one of my favorite parts of the cruise.
So while the movement of the ship and the creaking cabin were noticeable, they didn’t ultimately ruin my experience.
Norwegian Epic could be a great choice for a multi-generational vacation
Something else I noticed during my cruise was how well Norwegian Epic seemed to work for families traveling together.
There are activities for children, teens, adults, and older passengers, which makes the ship a good option for a multi-generational vacation.
Kids can spend time at the kids’ clubs or enjoy the water slides and other activities, while adults can relax at Spice H2O, enjoy a show, visit one of the bars, or simply spend time by the pool.
There’s also plenty of variety when it comes to dining and entertainment.
I noticed quite a few children onboard my Transatlantic sailing. There were probably fewer than you would typically see on a Caribbean cruise, but there were still plenty of families traveling together.
I think that’s one of the strengths of Norwegian Epic. You don’t necessarily have to enjoy the same activities as everyone else in your family for everyone to have a good vacation.
A five-year-old and a 95-year-old can have completely different experiences onboard and still enjoy the same cruise.
The crew made the experience even better
One thing that shouldn’t be overlooked when talking about a cruise ship is the crew.
Throughout my 12-night sailing, I found the Norwegian Epic crew members to be incredibly friendly and helpful.
My cabin steward greeted me each morning, and the servers I interacted with in the dining rooms were always friendly and happy to chat.
Cruise ship crew members work incredibly hard to make sure guests have a great vacation, and I always appreciate the opportunity to thank them for what they do.
A friendly attitude goes a long way when you’re traveling, and I found that the crew onboard Norwegian Epic consistently provided great service.
There are a few things I would keep in mind before booking
While I had a great time onboard Norwegian Epic, there are a few things I think future cruisers should know before booking.
First, the ship’s layout and darker design aren’t going to appeal to everyone. If you love the bright, open design of Norwegian’s newer ships, Epic may feel dated or cramped in comparison.
Second, the ship can feel crowded. I would plan ahead for entertainment and dining, especially during peak times. Arriving early for shows and making reservations when possible can make a big difference.
Finally, keep in mind that cruise itineraries can change.
During my sailing, our scheduled stop in Gibraltar was canceled because the ship had experienced electrical issues that affected its speed. Since we only had two scheduled port stops on the entire Transatlantic itinerary, missing one of them was certainly disappointing. However, itinerary changes are simply part of cruising.
Weather, mechanical issues, safety concerns, and other unexpected circumstances can all result in a port being canceled or an itinerary being changed. While it’s disappointing when it happens, the safety of the passengers and crew always has to come first.
So, who is Norwegian Epic best for?
After spending 12 nights onboard, I think Norwegian Epic could be a great choice for several different types of cruisers.
I’d especially consider it if you enjoy having options of things to do onboard. Between the entertainment, dining, pools, water slides, rock climbing wall, bars, and other activities, you’re unlikely to run out of things to explore.
I also think it’s a good option for families and multi-generational groups because there’s such a wide variety of activities. Of course some of the newer NCL ships may have more activities and amenities.
Solo travelers should also take a close look at Epic because of the Studio Staterooms and the overall solo-friendly experience.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a bright, modern ship with an open layout and the newest amenities, I’d probably steer you toward one of Norwegian’s newer ships instead.
And if you don’t like crowds or waiting in line, Norwegian Epic may require a little more patience and planning than some of the other ships in the fleet.
Ultimately, I think it comes down to knowing what kind of cruise experience you’re looking for.
Would I sail Norwegian Epic again?
Yes, I would.
That might sound surprising after reading about some of the things that didn’t work perfectly for me, but overall, I had a great experience onboard Norwegian Epic.
There were definitely things I didn’t love. The darker design wasn’t my favorite, the ship felt crowded at times, and the lines could be frustrating. My stateroom was also noticeably creaky during our days crossing the Atlantic.
But there were also plenty of things I loved.
The complimentary dining options were excellent, the entertainment was fun, Spice H2O was a great place to relax, the Ice Bar was a unique experience, and I loved having so many activities available during our long days at sea.
Most importantly, I think Norwegian Epic is a ship that is easy to judge before you’ve actually experienced it.
Before my cruise, I couldn’t understand why the ship had such mixed reviews. After spending nearly two weeks onboard, I can understand both sides a little better.
Norwegian Epic isn’t perfect, and it isn’t the newest ship in Norwegian’s fleet. But I also don’t think it deserves to be written off.
With the right expectations, I think Norwegian Epic can be a really fun ship to cruise on, especially given a really neat itinerary that can’t be found onboard another ship.
If you’re considering booking a cruise on Norwegian Epic, my biggest piece of advice is simple: go onboard with an open mind, plan ahead, and make the most of everything the ship has to offer! You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it.
