Leaderboard

Greetings from the Epic! Day 1, and first thing, hit the bar! Follow along on our journey.

I opened up my facebook and instagram to anyone with questions about ship life. I got some great questions, and some silly questions, and of course questions that had nothing to do with ship life. So I made this video to answer those questions including... "do they have a morgue?" The biggest question of all is when people watch this video and they want to work on ships, I am a big fan of anyone wanting to work on ships because this has changed my life in so many amazing ways. So if you are interested or have a family member that might be interested don't hesitate to ask and I would be happy to point you in the right direction. Also if you have any questions yourselves please ask and I will do my best to answer them. enjoy

Hoosier cruisers thinking alike! We have not cruised out of Mobile for a few years. So glad Carnival decided to come back!

Shari - The jogging track wasn’t quite as dark as you see in the photo, but it was pretty gloomy. Don’t know how anyone would want to spend any time there. Today we are in Naples. Most people pass over Naples and go to Positano, Sorrento, Vesuvius, Herculaneum. Since we have done all those, we took a HOHO double decker and toured the coast. It’s not the Amalfie Coast, but it’s really beautiful and well worth the look. After the tour, we couldn’t go back to the ship without a taste of some authentic Napolitano pizza. It was delicious! So for those who think there is nothing to see in Naples should give it a look. Admittedly, the downtown area, which is the first impression a cruiser gets, isn’t all that great, and in fact the streets are downright dirty with cigarette butts everywhere. But if you’re willing to go a little further, you’ll be amazed how beautiful Naples is!? Tomorrow we’ll be in Rome, then followed by Livorno, Palma de Mallorca, and Cannes.

Hi all, First full day on board, and it’s a sea day. I think we’re over the jet lag, but glad we’ve got a relaxing day to look forward to. Since I didn’t get to really see the ship last time around due to being in training all day, I’m taking time to explore new areas. Hit the gym this morning. It was a bit tricky to find, buried in the back of the spa. It’s large with plenty of treadmills, ellipticals, weights and machines. Hanging by the pool this morning, but the air is chilly. Good news for those who want to use the tiny pools, as there is no one in them yet! Food has been great so far, and no problem getting drinks at the bar. The weird cabin bathroom setup does work much better for the hubs and I as opposed to sharing one of these awkward cabins with a roomie. Back to my blog!

There are just a few options with a cover charge. For instance, the Circque Dreams show I recently paid extra for on the Norwegian Epic was well worth the extra cost. With this particular show, there are two different cover charges. The more expensive one serves a very good steak dinner, and seating is on the main floor where all the action takes place. The lower fee is for seating above the action, which in my honest opinion, would provide a better view. I am returning to the Epic in about 10 days, and have booked the show again - this time with the upper level seating. I'll let you know what I think. If you're not interested in entertainment with a cover charge, there are plenty of great shows and activities that are complimentary.

Most Norwegian ships have some form of dinner theatre that does have a charge, but none of the normal theatre entertainment has any charge.

@MissChampagne I believe that is correct, but that is in addition to the main stage shows they have in the main theater. You have plenty of included entertainment options!

Plastic cups are only on the outside decks for safety reasons. Want a straw for your beverage? Bring your own! NCL no longer has plastic straws as an environmental move. One more thing I forgot to mention about the itinerary. Anyone who booked an excursion in Rome through the ship is out of luck. The Rome transport trade union has a strike planned, and NCL canceled all its excursions for this cruise. ? It doesn’t appear taxis are affected, and even though I haven’t heard any grumbling from my fellow guests, I can imagine there must be some very unhappy people.

The feature of the Epic I dislike the most - Deck 7 jogging track. Nothing to look at, no view. They don’t even call it a promenade, and I think it’s used mostly by the crew. I wonder if anyone even uses this to jog.?