Rare NordicExpat Posted September 22, 2021 #1 Share Posted September 22, 2021 (edited) The wife and I had a great cruise through the Western Med on board the Epic. This was my 10th cruise and my wife’s 14th on the Epic. As always the crew is absolutely fantastic. We will definitely cruise on the Epic again although the ship is a bit worn in areas, but also fresh in others. Embarkation A quick 20 minute taxi from BCN and we were at the terminal. There was a short line in the Covid testing tent. 15 minutes after getting in line for the test, we had our negative results and headed for check in. Check in was very slow. We walked up to the counter with no waiting and it took close to 30 mins to complete the process. It seems we always get someone who has to ask coworkers questions or someone that all the coworkers are asking questions. Thinking we are all finished, she gives us orange keycards. We knew they were not the correct cards and the names on them confirmed it. My wife tells them we are supposed to have the teal cards, but is informed the colors are “random”. Anyways, I think they are mistaken on that. Less than an hour after dropping bags off, we are boarding the ship. It felt great to be boarding the Epic again. We’ve done it many times before, but this time was special given the last 18 months. We went to guest services to get Posh passes for the week, $59 each. I left the wife there and headed to Moderno to make dinner reservations. Next we went to the box office to book Zambooka. After that we headed to the Manhattan Room for muster. The crew scanned the keycards and gave a quick refresher on the ship's alarm and life vests. We then made our way up to Spice for our first drink. We really enjoy Spice on the Epic considering it is where we met 8 years ago. Stateroom We stayed in a starboard balcony on deck 11 near the aft elevators. Walking to the cabin we noticed new carpet with the fish swimming towards the bow and you could feel the cushion under your feet. The stateroom also had new carpet and that was pretty much the only improvement in the cabin. The curtains had broken hooks and the sides let in some light since half the velcro was missing. The curtain by the facilities was broken. It was on the opposite side of where it is supposed to tuck out of the way by the sink and shower. The button for the toilet was loose and felt like it would fall off the wall, though it never did. Various drawers and cabinet doors were crooked and harder than normal to open and close. The TV network stuttered some making it annoying to watch the navigation or event channels. Most disappointing with the cabin was the AC. It didn't cool the cabin very well. I do prefer the warmer weather and keep the thermostat around the middle. This time, with the thermostat all the way down it just wasn't that comfortable, but was far from uncomfortable. We did manage to sleep decently at night though. The bed was very comfortable though my feet were hanging off. The mini fridge was excellent and kept everything very cold. The steward was amazing as is almost always what we get.. He was very quick to bring an ice bucket and kept it full. He made the cabin every day and turned it down every night. Even though we didn't ask, he left the daily every night. Entertainment The musicians at Maltings and Shakers were pretty good and easy to listen to as well as the guys at Howl at the Moon. All are very talented and put on a good show, just not my type of music. The pool deck band was good but loud while at Waves bar. They were a lot easier to listen to while up in Posh. Zambooka was the only show we booked. The show might be good, we didn't stay to find out. After being seated for 45 minutes, we still had not received our drink orders. Our friend went to talk with the maitre d who opened the curtain for him to go to O’Seehans to get a drink. We were a little surprised at this, so when he returned we all left. We did receive a refund for the show back to our account. Restaurants La Cucina Almost always a great meal here for us, and time was one of the best. The food was the way it is supposed to be.The servers were very friendly, quick and attentive. Le Bistro Most of the time Le Bistro is a hit with some misses. This time was a definite hit. Awesome service and excellent food. Teppanyaki The food is always good here and cooked perfectly, just too much of it. The chefs toned down the performance some, it was nice. Cagney’s For me this is the most inconsistent specialty on the Epic. Most of the time I am not impressed or happy with it. The service was great as was the food. My ribeye was a bit past medium rare I wanted, but I didn't send it back. It was tender, seared well and tasted great. Garden Buffet We ate lunch here everyday, as well as a couple dinners. The Indian food was great everyday. The hamburgers were nice, juicy and pink. The Greek food on the Mediterranean night made us happy after walking out of Zambooka. Taste We had breakfast here every morning so my wife could have champagne. Our waitress was amazing, one of the best we’ve had. Food was standard, nothing amazing, but good. Premium Beverage Plus Somewhat overpriced, but it is nice to have. For my wife it is a must for champagne. She enjoyed the Veuve Clicquot yellow label in all specialty restaurants, Taste and Shakers. The Veuve Clicquot Rose was available in Le Bistro. I was able to have Don Julio Reposado and Blanco in Posh, Spice, Waves, Maltings, and Headliners. Glenfiddich Reserve and Macallan Quest were available at Maltings, Shakers and Headliners. It is also nice having Pellegrino with your meals and the Just Water in between booze and to have in your cabin. We did have a $102 charge for a bottle of Moet that we had to have removed. This only happened once on the Epic, as opposed to the Jade a few weeks where it happened nightly. The Ship The Epic is a great ship, but is worn in areas. Just a couple things I noticed. Pros -The ship is exceptionally clean -New carpet in staterooms and stateroom hallways -Tile on the elevator floor. I think it used to be carpeted. I’m sure it makes “fluid” clean up easier. Cons -Some broken light fixtures in Posh -The appearance of the lifeboats. Covered in what looks like a rusty looking overspray. Visible grease by the winch points. Severely faded and cracked paint on the top. -Big screen in Spice. Quite a few busted pixels ... still, after many years. -Stateroom condition Ports We only went ashore in Mallorca. We've been here a few times, it is a beautiful island. Being that we booked 6 days before sailing, we knew about the restrictions in Italy. Then again we know nothing is certain given the global state of things. The Crew Last, but definitely not least, the crew. One of the main reasons for us returning. We are always acknowledged and greeted by them. Now, with the facemasks, their smiles are missed and it can be hard to recognize them. They on the other hand have no problem remembering us and our drink order. They are amazing! Edited September 22, 2021 by sicness4x4 7 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnac767 Posted September 22, 2021 #2 Share Posted September 22, 2021 Stop the presses! Epic's carpet is finally fishy. That's great news for the directionally challenged, which includes my wife. Thanks for the review. There are certain things about Epic that annoy us but we've always enjoyed our cruises on her. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swigso Posted September 22, 2021 #3 Share Posted September 22, 2021 Hello really good and helpful information what is the smoking policy on the Epic, is smoking allowed in the casino or in the bars thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnac767 Posted September 22, 2021 #4 Share Posted September 22, 2021 7 minutes ago, swigso said: Hello really good and helpful information what is the smoking policy on the Epic, is smoking allowed in the casino or in the bars thanks The only inside bar where you may smoke is the Cigar Bar. Smoking is permitted in the casino during gaming hours by those who are gambling. Outdoors, there is a limited space for smokers on Deck 15, mid-ships, on the port side. Spice H2O has a smoking area on the starboard side. Smoking is prohibited inside your stateroom or on your balcony. This is the latest info from the NCL FAQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portofrome Posted September 22, 2021 #5 Share Posted September 22, 2021 Thank you for the review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare eileeshb Posted September 22, 2021 #6 Share Posted September 22, 2021 thanks for the review, I’ll be on Epic for the first time next month. It is disappointing that such cabin maintenance wasn’t addressed during the long shutdown. Which pier did the ship dock at in Palma? Beside the marina or on the far side of town ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GizmoCat Posted September 22, 2021 #7 Share Posted September 22, 2021 Thank you for the review. Can you explain what a posh pass is please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NordicExpat Posted September 23, 2021 Author #8 Share Posted September 23, 2021 12 hours ago, eileeshb said: thanks for the review, I’ll be on Epic for the first time next month. It is disappointing that such cabin maintenance wasn’t addressed during the long shutdown. Which pier did the ship dock at in Palma? Beside the marina or on the far side of town ? We docked at Estación Marítima Número 1. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NordicExpat Posted September 23, 2021 Author #9 Share Posted September 23, 2021 11 hours ago, GizmoCat said: Thank you for the review. Can you explain what a posh pass is please? Posh is the private sun deck on deck 18 forward. Picture looking aft from Posh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GizmoCat Posted September 23, 2021 #10 Share Posted September 23, 2021 11 hours ago, sicness4x4 said: Posh is the private sun deck on deck 18 forward. Picture looking aft from Posh. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GizmoCat Posted September 23, 2021 #11 Share Posted September 23, 2021 12 hours ago, sicness4x4 said: We docked at Estación Marítima Número 1. Do NCL provide a shuttle bus from the port to the centre? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logan25 Posted September 23, 2021 #12 Share Posted September 23, 2021 How was antigen testing handled for disembarking guests? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahalpin Posted September 23, 2021 #13 Share Posted September 23, 2021 2 hours ago, logan25 said: How was antigen testing handled for disembarking guests? I was also on this cruise, the antigen tests for guests disembarking in Barcelona were very efficient The Manhattan and Cavern Club were turned into testing centres on the Saturday morning (day before disembarkation), there were plenty of testing cubicles and the whole process only took a few minutes. The testing app that was used when embarking in Barcelona was also used here and the results were sent to the app within around 60 mins of the test, a paper copy of the test cert was also left in the cabin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jahalpin Posted September 23, 2021 #14 Share Posted September 23, 2021 On 9/22/2021 at 6:24 PM, Carnac767 said: The only inside bar where you may smoke is the Cigar Bar. Smoking is permitted in the casino during gaming hours by those who are gambling. Outdoors, there is a limited space for smokers on Deck 15, mid-ships, on the port side. Spice H2O has a smoking area on the starboard side. Smoking is prohibited inside your stateroom or on your balcony. This is the latest info from the NCL FAQ. You can only smoke cigars in the Cigar Bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NordicExpat Posted September 24, 2021 Author #15 Share Posted September 24, 2021 7 hours ago, GizmoCat said: Do NCL provide a shuttle bus from the port to the centre? Yes. Cost was $15 per passenger round trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NordicExpat Posted September 24, 2021 Author #16 Share Posted September 24, 2021 (edited) 6 hours ago, logan25 said: How was antigen testing handled for disembarking guests? 4 hours ago, jahalpin said: I was also on this cruise, the antigen tests for guests disembarking in Barcelona were very efficient The Manhattan and Cavern Club were turned into testing centres on the Saturday morning (day before disembarkation), there were plenty of testing cubicles and the whole process only took a few minutes. The testing app that was used when embarking in Barcelona was also used here and the results were sent to the app within around 60 mins of the test, a paper copy of the test cert was also left in the cabin Testing was quick and easy. The original QR code is used to check in, you get tested and your key card is scanned to complete the process that took less than 5 minutes. Edited September 24, 2021 by sicness4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms02 Posted September 24, 2021 #17 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Did you have to fill out the Spain entry form to return to Barcelona? I can't remember what I read about that earlier. @sicness4x4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NordicExpat Posted September 24, 2021 Author #18 Share Posted September 24, 2021 3 hours ago, Ms02 said: Did you have to fill out the Spain entry form to return to Barcelona? I can't remember what I read about that earlier. @sicness4x4 We were told on board the we needed to complete the Spain Travel Health maritime/ferry arrival form before disembarking in Barcelona. We completed it and received the QR code email. We were never asked to show it disembarking or at the airport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drews_Cruise Posted September 24, 2021 #19 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Thanks for taking the time to write this review. From someone who has never travelled with NCL it’s all very good information so that we know what to expect. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elo Moreno Posted September 24, 2021 #20 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Were anyone ( to your knowledge ) taken by surprise by the new Italian restrictions of no private walk off ? We just cancelled our cruise; supposedly going out this Sunday 26. Sept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdcatc12 Posted September 24, 2021 #21 Share Posted September 24, 2021 34 minutes ago, Elo Moreno said: Were anyone ( to your knowledge ) taken by surprise by the new Italian restrictions of no private walk off ? We just cancelled our cruise; supposedly going out this Sunday 26. Sept. They aren't really "new" as they have been in effect since March. However for our Sept 8 cruise on the Epic, NCL did not notify us until late August. Also, I really would not have had an issue with it, if the NCL excursions had not been so expensive. A $50 credit doesn't put much of a dent in a $450 excursion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare NordicExpat Posted September 25, 2021 Author #22 Share Posted September 25, 2021 17 hours ago, Elo Moreno said: Were anyone ( to your knowledge ) taken by surprise by the new Italian restrictions of no private walk off ? We just cancelled our cruise; supposedly going out this Sunday 26. Sept. We did not hear of anyone being surprised by the restrictions in place for Italy. We were aware of the restrictions some time ago and knew what to expect when we booked 6 days before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yinster Posted September 25, 2021 #23 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Mask wearing question? What was acceptable as I wear a face covering like a snood in the UK when required, not a mask.And where on the ship is it mandatory? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdcatc12 Posted September 25, 2021 #24 Share Posted September 25, 2021 25 minutes ago, Yinster said: Mask wearing question? What was acceptable as I wear a face covering like a snood in the UK when required, not a mask.And where on the ship is it mandatory? Any mask was acceptable and mandatory everywhere inside except for your cabin and when eating and drinking and outside when social distancing could not be kept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notamegagirl Posted September 26, 2021 #25 Share Posted September 26, 2021 Hello, Did they offer self service buffets? Any change in buffet food selections post covid? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now