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I was on this ship April 2 years ago and I feel so justified!! Everything they’re complaining about, my family and I complained about!! Huge capacity and small areas and the engine was having problems and spitting out oil when we were there! Never again.
First impression to me is the nicest looking ship colours but I DETEST oatmeal/baby puke colours that are so modern now. to me baby puke(beige) hobopiss(creme) and sanitarium white (aka white) are the most horrible shades, I like rich dark colours like burgendy, dark brown,dark foresty green and midnight blue.
My jaw literally dropped when Ben said “we booked a 10 night cruise” after hearing that the ship gets bad reviews. The dedication is unreal. Y’all really did take one for the team
A bad day on a cruise is still better than a day at work .... and I can find something good about most any ship. I avoid the crowds and love to cruise.
@SherryAnnOfTheWest I agree!! I’d have no problems taking this cruise!!! Having said that…the price point needs to be appropriate. The dated look wouldn’t bother me but the lack of maintenance would.
I am surprised you booked such a long cruise considering all the stuff you were worrying about turned out to be true you found the rust and soot falling from the engine stack. Really crowded pool and huge lines for things
I want to express my appreciation for helping getting me through difficult times with your amazing videos my poor mom was killed in a car accident a few months ago, anytime I can forget my grief even for a short while is so good for me.❤
At least with Temu you know what you're getting for the price! This on the other hand just sucks in the mass public at sky high prices you'd pay for a top notch product elsewhere!! Especially for families/1st time cruises...how many do you think return to a cruise? The industry should name & shame each other, gives everyone a bad rep!! Esp as they were begging during COVID & now have more money than they know what to do with!
This was the first cruise I ever took - the customer service is appalling and the medical centre charged me $5000 for a couple of hours and some saline after I got heatstroke. The nurse botched my IV and made me bleed all over myself and the bed. They didn't tell me they were going to charge this amount, either, and so my credit card declined it. That made NCL cancel all our access and even packages we had pre-paid for - we couldn't even rent a movie in our cabin. I spent two days of a seven day cruise in one of those huge customer service lines just trying to sort this all out, and through it all I was treated like dirt because I 'hadn't paid' for this exorbitant medical bill. I've learned to get travel insurance and to never, ever go near an NCL cruise again.
This ship was close to the same condition back in 2017. I actually made a video for my kids with a ton of the same complaints that you guys were making. Minus the dirt, it was actually clean but the food, the vibrations, and the darkness and the terrible staterooms all the same. Well done gentlemen. Love the videos!
@@bodyloverz30 I'm not a Disney maniac fanboy, but Disney still has the best overall cruise line, from what I've seen. The "Good enough" attitude at the parks doesn't seem to have made it to the cruises yet. Although the newest ships seem to be a step in that direction.
@@robward367 Our cruise on MSC Seashore in September was actually fantastic. I was worried, but liked it better than Wonder of the Seas, much better than Epic.
As someone who hasn't cruised and considering in the future, I greatly appreciate your candor about this travesty. If this was someone's first experience it would turn them off to the entire industry. I cannot believe the cost for that horrible condition. I wouldn't feel safe. Everything looks horrid. Watching you guys, however, is a complete joy! Great video.
I sailed on her twice and loved both cruises but that was pre-pandemic. We never felt claustrophobic and the food was good and they had the best entertainment. I have heard cutbacks have really changed the entertainment which is a shame.
@@jackiegriffiths7958the cutbacks are really about royal carribean which has had huge backlash over their reduced menus and narrow entertainment options. Been on 3 ncl cruises post pandemic 4th one in a few weeks. No consistent problems with any of them. The only one problem I had was almost being left behind on a snorkel outing on my second trip. Wasn’t left behind only because a separate group from a different ship got me back in time (and yes that was an excursion through the ship) but I still am not sure if that was truly ncl fault or just a bad quality vendor post pandemic.
years ago I was in a solo studio cabin and the shower flooded into the cabin (2nd to last night of the cruise). A really nice maintenance man showed up to unclog the drain (full of hair), he was mad because he said it's the cabin stewards job to clean the drains to prevent this. No steward showed up to clean the room that half the cabin/carpet was soaked in water, someone showed up at the door handed me some towels and walked away. Uhhh EXCUSE ME? I'm supposed to clean/dry the cabin??? Things happen (I get it) it's fixable, but THEY need to fix it, not expect the passenger to clean it up!
A ship being that run down, dirty, and neglected would make me worry about safety, and being so short staffed isn’t a good thing if there’s an emergency. Not to mention, if it’s that dirty in the guest areas, how bad are the staff areas? The ship shouldn’t be in use until it’s been refurbished.
As an avid NCL supporter, you make such great points throughout, and it definitely is time for this ship to get a full reno! My favorite point you've made amongst these is your comment about how amazing the Norwegian Spirit is. Hands down one of my favorite ships to date and night and day difference as to what has been presented in this video! Keep doing what you are doing because honesty is truly the best policy. Instead of simply talking about soot and empty drinks everywhere, showing us is quite beneficial as well. All in all, another great video and thank you both so much for starting my day off with some EPIC, top-tier content! (also, she's going into drydock this upcoming spring, so I'm excited to see what they'll do!!) 🥰🥰
I love ncl for their price but wouldnt go again on the epic. Ive done the encore and the epic... Would you rate the rest of their ships closer to the encore or the epic?
@@chrisbernier3889 embarrassed at how dirty and run down it is, when there are older ships that look miles better. They should also be embarrassed about not having enough staff to clear up and instead leaving rubbish out overnight so people wake up to dirty tables and food left on the floor. Also the sun loungers looking like they’re about 50 years old. Missing tiles in the pool area, soot all over the deck, filthy windows and run down facilities. They should be embarrassed at the price they’re charging people to be on that ship too. I mean, I could go on 😂
@@chrisbernier3889if you think the state of this ship is acceptable because it’s nearly 15 years old, you need to get your head a wobble. I’ve been on a cruise ship that is 24 years old and it’s immaculate compared.
@@chrisbernier3889to pay more per night on that ship than on other cruise lines, is unacceptable. If they cut the price, that’s one thing but when Princess is cheaper, why would anyone sail on this one?
Wow that’s honestly shocking! Especially for a ship that isn’t even that old compared to some others. Being old and dated is one thing but being dirty and unsafe is unacceptable and there’s no excuse for that! I can’t understand how it’s still going when there’s so many things that are broken, falling apart, rusted, hanging off! It’s quite worrying to be honest! The lack of staff is definitely a worry too, what would happen in an emergency situation? Who knows! I’m glad you make these videos and share your honest experiences because people need to be aware of what they’re spending their money on!
THIS basically hit on all my fears of cruising. It’s crazy because many of your videos make me want to try cruising, but then you drop this and I’m like, “No blummin’ way!” …but then I got towards the end and started being swayed again (or not).
Apparently, this is where they saved $$ to produce their profits. It was recently announced how NCL paid off the most debt of any of the cruise lines. Cutting entertainment and crew went to paying their debt at the expense of cruisers getting a crappy ship.
This is awful. I wanted to yell, “Go, get out of there now!” Shame on Norwegian for keeping this ship in service. Thank you both for doing this cruise and showing us what the truth is. As always, a great video.
Any company that would take $500 a night from you and put you on a ship like that doesn't deserve your money on any other ship they own. That's literally a bait and switch
Idk if anyone has commented this yet, but I was on it with my parents back in Jan 2023. And one of the higher up staff from the main deck was walking around the Garden Cafe asking everyone what they thought. We were informed after our opinions, that the ship would go to dry dock for 1-3 months (depending) for "much needed renovations". I hope the renovations bring the Epic from Epic fail, to Epic win. Fingers crossed.
Fun fact: NCL is rather notorious for being the first to do the "Let's stack some suites on it!" line, as they pioneered the concept when they brutalized the S/S Norway with several thousand tons of new suites slapped onto the front of that once sleek, glamorous vessel.
Love you guys - to all the ignorant haters out there… get educated these guys are fabulous. You guys are probably the only channel I’m willing to watch an hour no problem full of info Insights funny and so well well edited .. You have the magic touch. I’ve cruised a few times and am finally planning to restart. So your reviews are so relevant
I find them very annoying. Loud, brash, dreadful voices and they don't speak English correctly. Why book yourself onto a cruise when so many reviews of the ship were bad?
The cutbacks are palpable across all NCL lines. Sorry I booked my $400 pppd as the cutbacks since May have been drastic. I see noting but bait and switch. Used car salesman tactics. I will never book with a NCL brand again.
THANK YOU!!! I feel so validated you guys that I could cry! There was a group of us that went on the Epic last year and we experienced the same thing that you did. I worked for a cruise line in the past and was absolutely shocked at the condition of the ship, the pool area, etc. And as you said, we paid good money for our vacation that it was so disappointing. Our group made the best of it, but literally it has left such a bad taste for us that we don’t want to cruise on Norwegian again.
Booked this ship for the October transatlantic, thank God and Ben and David I cancelled within the 24 hour window! What crap of a ship! Usually sail Princess.
Oh no! Youngest and I are spending all of October on the Epic. Looks like we are in for an adventure! I really appreciate your balanced review. You pointed out how dirty and run down the ship is but then you praised the crew and the food. I much prefer that to reviews where people say everything is catastrophically bad or magically wonderful. I now kind of have a morbid curiosity to see all this for myself.
@@Cruisewith As someone who travel on Epic's Maiden Voyage, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. FYI, she was not ready even for the transatlantic and had hundreds of workmen onboard for her first voyage.
We have taken many NCL cruises. Love NCL. But took this ship and was so disappointed that we could not walk about on the outside of the ship with seating a bar, and place to enjoy quiet time. Found out this ship was ordered by another cruise line bought it… was designed in France … and didn’t want it… a shame NCL saw. to try to add it to the fleet of ships we are accustomed to…. A disappointment!
Interesting. I was on the Epic end of June for the same cruise. Yes she was showing wear and tear but it was nowhere as bad as you showed in the video! Guess it’s been a rough 2 months since I got off her. The staff was amazing, you were right about that! And the food was great. I never waited more than 5 months for a drink and usually got served right away. Also didn’t have the long waits for shows or dinners since we had reservations for all of those and got seated right away. Even with the weird cabin layout we loved our cruise! The ports make that cruise for sure, they are the star of the show. Ship was just a spot to sleep and grab a meal. We went on the NCL Bliss in 2019 and that was a beautiful ship!!
We've loved NCL for years, but I definitely feel like things have gone downhill since Covid. Prices continue to in increase but the quality has been decreasing. I hope NCL is able to turn things around because we absolutely love them.
All cruise lines have one main concern - maximize return to shareholders. With bookings at 100% + and reduced staff that’s their goal. Things won’t change as long as revenue continues to grow. Cruise lines will continue to build bigger ships to maximize revenue.
Me, my brother & his husband just cruised on the Epic in February of 2023. We did hear a lot of complaints about the smell of the sewer, the crowds & lines everywhere. We did cruise in the Haven though, and our experience was completely different. . . until we left the confines of our oasis. Everything you saw and more is rampart on that ship! It is very sad, because we love Norwegian! I’ll be looking forward to the tour of your cabin. We absolutely love your videos! Keep up the great work! Keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll run into you two on a future cruise.
I feel so sorry for this ship, she is so neglected, she is the black sheep of the Norwegian fleet. She must feel so sad. I hope, Norwegian will give her that well deserved update very soon. So that she will be EPIC again. Thanks a lot for this honest video. I enjoy all of your videos
Regarding 44:44 : I’m Brazilian and most of our stakehouses have a sushi section with tons of options (many options that you can’t even find in Japan lol) Regarding 45:56 : if they are chewy they are definitely made in a wrong way. They should be crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. This one you were given was probably siting there for a long time just like some old French fries. I’m loving your video you guys!
wow I would be in tears if I'd been on this ship! I love your videos. Never been on a cruise but keep thinking about it. We are mid 60s, haven't had a holiday for over a decade. A cruise would be a one off treat for us. If we'd ended up on this ship, paid all that money. I would have been sobbing with disappointment. I am SO glad I've seen this and seen how very careful you need to be to chose the right ship and search for all reviews. Well done for your honesty and showing both the good and the bad. I love watching your videos. Have had quite a terrible time for quite a while now. Watching your videos are so enjoyable. You cheer me up and make me smile. I enjoy seeing your adventures. Thank you
Cruises can be wonderful adventures, but I agree that you absolutely must do your research to find the right cruise line, and the right ship, for the type of experience you want. If you chose a smaller, higher end, ship and what you really want is a high energy exciting time then you will be disappointed. If you chose a large, entertainment and activity-oriented ship and what you really wanted was quiet areas and interesting enrichment lectures, then you will also be disappointed. CruiseCritic and other resources (such as videos like this one) have lots of information and you can chose the cruise that is right for you and have a great time!
This is the video I’ve been waiting for!! Y’all are the best! I appreciate your honest opinions on this. We have a group going on the Epic in January and I’m semi terrified now 😅 some of us are experienced cruisers but we have a good amount of first timers so hopefully we don’t scare them away from cruising 🙃
We are newish to cruising. Our first was in 2023 with Princess to Hawaii, and it was fantastic in every respect. We sailed on the NCL breakaway in March 2024- NEVER AGAIN. Crowded, no enrichment programme and the feeling of being nickle and dimed from morning to night. David summed it up beautifully - The Temu version.
My wife and I had the unfortunate experience on board this very ship at the start of August 2024, everything Ben and David have said so far is very accurate, except our food was mediocre at best as well. It has put us off cruises for the foreseeable future. We also got the email telling us about the closed parts of the ship after we had paid the final payment. And some of our ports were changed, no doubt because they wanted to do maintenance on the ship while in port. Santorini was an absolute debacle for us, the tender process was slow (2 hours to get off the ship), the gondola had no chance of keeping up, so we walked the donkey path to the top, same on the way back down, but way more people as the gondola line a the top was longer than the bottom. They shouldn't take a ship of that size to ports that cannot handle the quantity of people. All in all a terrible experience we never want to replicate. Look forward to your honest review of the cabins.
least favourite ship we went on. We were on it in inaugural year. We felt confined inside with few outside decks and no ability to walk outside completely around. Issue we had, it was our friends first cruise and they loved it. We had to keep our snobby comments to ourselves because we compared it to our other cruises. The only good thing was, they had The Blue Man Group as the entertainment.
We had a similar experience on the Norwegian Bliss in March. It was basically clean but way over crowded, food was disappointing and we could not get into any shows or get our kids on the speedway because we didn’t get reservations the second we boarded. There were 4700 people on a 4000 capacity cruise ship. It was chaotic and loud. Ship was understaffed. Staff was trying but could only do so much. That was our 1st and last experience with Norwegian. Appreciate your honest input and the fact that you do try to find the positives but that ship was filthy.
@@andyconway5610 I was on the Bliss in September of 2024 as well, around the same time that you were it sounds like, and had the same experience. Very good food, shows (same two that you saw, plus a Beatles tribute band), staff etc.
Very interesting guys . I think it reinforces my impression of NCL that they are going for maximum yield from passengers . The fact that speciality restaurants are better than normal dining and that the Haven suite area has been refurbished but the rest of the ship is rundown says it all about Norwegian
NCL's MDR food is miles above RCCL at least. And with their free at sea which they almost always offer, you get at least some free speciality dining, so it doesn't cost a fortune.
A big "shout-out" and many thanks from the Loveridge Family in Salt Lake City, Utah (7 married children, 32 grandchildren) for you wonderful, thorough, and informative cruise reviews! You guys are our go-to source for the decisions we are making about cruising! Love your humor (humour in UK?) and consider you some of our "best friends" on TH-cam (if that makes any sense!) Please keep up your wonderful contributions!
Epic (FAIL) was the first NCL ship I sailed on in 2018 or 2019 (I cant remember which year), I swore I would never sail with them again but being a travel advisor I couldn't let 1 experience ruin the entire cruise line for me. I booked Encore (January 2020) and that redeemed my trust in NCL. Epic was RUBBISH then and it looks even worse now, O'Shehans was my favorite. It looks like there is no dry dock scheduled in the near future since they have reservations open through the end on October 2026, completely unacceptable. Hope you both enjoy your ports, I look forward to your next episodes.
The reason for sushi in Brazillian restaurants is that Brazil has the largest Japanese expat population in the world. LOTS of people of Japanese descent.
From a Brazilian viewer: the fluffy cheese balls at Moderno were *_pão de queijo_* (pronounced "paon de KAY-joo", with the first word similar to "home" in an Australian accent), which means literally "cheese bread" in Portuguese. This is somewhat of a misnomer because they're not "bread" in the usual sense. The base is not flour, but rather _polvilho_ ("poll-VEE-lyoo"), which is cassava starch (so, celiacs, it's gluten-free). Cassava, also called manioc or yuca (this last name is not used in Brazil, only in Spanish-speaking countries) is a native South American starchy tuber that Portuguese navigators also took to Africa and Asia, where it's now also popular, but it's a staple of Brazilian food in many forms, of which you ate two. But _pão de queijo_ does take cheese (ideally, A LOT of cheese for top results), usually grated cured white cheese from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, famous for its dairy products, but it can be made with grated Parmesan at a pinch, though not with the same results. I hope it was freshly baked. _Pão de queijo_ is MUCH better freshly made and hot, or at least warm. After it cools down, it's still a treat somewhat, but nowhere near the experience, and after a few hours it gets too hard and spongy. The reason for the sushi in Brazilian restaurants is that there was intense immigration of Japanese people to Brazil, especially São Paulo State, from the late 19th to the early 20th century, and Brazil has the world's largest community of ethnic Japanese people outside of Japan, around 2 million people in the São Paulo City area alone. They are now in their sixth or seventh generation in Brazil and totally integrated to Brazilian society, and they intermarry often with other Brazilians (who are themselves a melting pot of several mixed ethnicities). What I can't explain is why ONLY sushi is so common in Brazilian buffets and not, for example, Middle Eastern (Syrian/Lebanese) food, which is even more popular all over Brazil. But here goes an insider Brazilian tip for the next time you go to a _churrascaria_ (your pronunciation of it was excellent, Ben!), especially a _churrascaria a rodízio_ like that one (something like "rotating steakhouse", meaning not that it spins, but rather that they keep bringing you different types of meat on a "rotating" basis). We Brazilians consider a visit to a _churrascaria_ to be a battle, or a war operation between you and the restaurant. Your goal is to eat meat, which is expensive, and the restaurant's goal is to make you eat the least meat possible, since the price is fixed. That's why all _churrascarias_ have that huge and tempting buffet. _Churrascaria_ pro patrons are very frugal at the buffet and NEVER fill the plate, AT MOST 1/4 of it, renewing it later ONLY if necessary. They will pick a bit of usual sides (like rice, a bit of potatoes, and eventually something that the person likes too much not to take) and will leave room both on the plate and in the stomach for the meat. There's also a reason why they always start serving chicken and pork, and only later move on to beef cuts: chicken and pork are the restaurant's second line of defence. They're cheaper, and if the buffet didn't get you full yet, the restaurant will want you to fill your stomach with cheap meat and consume less of the expensive beef, which is the star of the meal. Brazilians will also eat very little chicken and pork to spare room for the prime beef cuts. But they appear to have done a good job at Moderno: I saw a slice of _picanha_ on your plate (try to pronounce it "picagna" as in Italian). It was that arc-shaped slice. That's a very typically Brazilian cut of rumpsteak and the ultimate beef delicacy to Brazilians, who will RIOT if not served it in a _churracaria!_ In Brazil it's more expensive than filet mignon! Shame that they didn't have a single Brazilian dessert on the menu. There are a lot of them that could be offered. And you should try one on-site. When you get tired of the usual Caribbean-Mediterranean fare, consider going south. In the Southern Hemisphere summer season (the reverse from the North, so October-March) there are nice cruises to the Amazon, or down to Argentina, even to Patagonia (Southern Argentina, where you can even see penguins!), Tierra del Fuego (very similar to Norway), and even Antarctica and the Falkland Islands on some itineraries.
My first and only cruise was on the Norwegian Epic in 2013 and really enjoyed it. What a blast from the past, but a shame it looks so run down now. The casino was something I hated. Why so many people just sit tapping a button looking at moving bright lights is something I will never understand.
It is sad really. Around here, the big supermarket chains, gas stations, drug stores and a multitude of other places have those game machines. What is sad is seeing people with their cart full of groceries while the patrons are in the little casino area sitting and taping the buttons and gambling their whole paycheck away. This is the reason why so many people in this town seem angry. Gambling is a pox on society.
First and ‘only’ made me think you were put off for life 😄 I was on it in 2014 and remember it fondly (particularly the speciality French restaurant) but there were lots of Spanish sunbed hoggers (makes a change from Germans and Brits I guess) and entertainment was so so.
@@Cruisewith Actually no, it was a total mess from day one. I got an official tour of Haven: much like MSC, your either Yacht Club/Haven, or your not. Unlike other lines, NCL, had no special parties or commemorative gifts for those on Maiden Voyage, unlike RCCL with Quantum of the Sea's Maiden Voyage from Southampton.
It goes from worse to even worser! Love it. We went on the Sapphire Princess Alaskan cruise in May. We missed some ports because of a propeller problem. We luckily got 75% of the fare back and 75% to the same amount off a future cruise. We're booked on the new Sun Princess around the Mediterranean next year! 😊
Your video just came up in my recommended, I've been following the Villa Vie Odyssey saga so keep getting cruise vids popping up! Really enjoyed watching you both. What a sad, dark, depressing ship. I felt claustrophobic just watching. Definitely needs an overhaul. Look forward to watching more of your content ❤️
This makes me so sad! I was on her pre-inaugural sailing, and I've sailed her a couple of times since then. It has been some time since I've been on board, though, and she's clearly been neglected in that time. Ugh. I'm so sorry. (P.S. I've no idea what your itinerary is, but I'll be on Carnival Magic for an 8-day Southern Caribbean cruise with a group I'm bringing on Sept. 21. I think I would fangirl like mad if I ran into you two on that ship.) Anyway, poor poor Epic. It's not her fault that she was designed that way, nor that she's been so heinously neglected. Thanks for bringing all of this to light. I hope that NCL is ashamed.
Epic journey Ben and David. That ship would not survive the Iceland Cruise I have just been on. The waves were 20 feet high and my partner was so sick.
NCL Epic was built in France as opposed to the shipyard in Germany that NCL normally uses. The entire design is different compared to other Breakaway Plus class of ship. I think it's a bit of an acquired taste for people who are accustomed to other NCL ships of this class.
@@frenchg honestly, it was the first large ship built at that yard immediately after Queen Mary 2. The difference in quality between the two is shocking.
@@xmtryanx my boyfriend worked on this ship at the yard. He said they used to mix pooh into the cement used to glue the tiles in the swimming pools so they could use less cement and save money
The Spiegel Tent is the old Blue Man Group theatre. It was a great show. The Epic is a love-it-or-hate-it ship and I happen to love it, sailed her 4-5 times. She's got the best solo lounge and Spice H2O adult area of all the NCL ships. She also has her quirks. I last sailed her in march 2023 and she wasn't in such bad repair. :'(
sailed her twice and had a great time. She is one of a kind. The only thing I didn't care for was the shower and toilet arrangement but not that big of a deal. She was the prototype for the Breakaway class. I like Epic better than the Encore.
Just subscribed. You two are a hoot, and just about as critical and discerning as I am. I liked to think that after 117 cruises over 30 years, I would've seen it all but that couldn't be further from the truth. I've been on Epic, when she was new (4th sailing) and they've really let the old girl down. The soot from the smokestacks is totally unacceptable. Seems like they're trying to cut costs by refusing to put her in drydock for upgrades. David, you put stools/seats at the bar because every seat in a bar or restaurant represents money. Every single one. Usually, there are order stations where you can line up to get drinks but some bars take things to the extreme and don't even do that, replacing that with another pair of high chairs. It's a passive way of increasing revenue generating capacity.
I really appreciate your comments. There isn’t one ounce of snob on your part. It is clear that you have experience and can give valid comparisons. I trust you!
Wow that red carpet and dated decor really needs to have a full update. Thanks for the review and this may be one ship to skip until it has been updated. Thanks Ben and Dave for the review.
The entire executive committee should be fired for the state of that ship. With the state of those pools I don't think USPH would pass the ship. I checked and there last report was the end of January 24, with a score of 97 and nothing about pools, They have gone downhill since then for sure. It's obvious that management don't care, and they aren't getting support from shoreside ($$$). I've always said, take a few years and don't build any new ships, and put that money into making your older ships look like new. Most cruise lines, once the newness wares off, they don't really care anymore.
Never sailed this cruise line. Probably will avoid it. As always, an excellent review!! We just can’t say enough good things about you both!! You are the best!!!
My gosh. If I were stuck on a disgusting ship like that for 10 days, I can imagine the only thing I would want to do is numb the pain of my ridiculous decision. No wonder everyones drunk! 🎉😂
Ben and David - your videos are the best. Love every one. Rewatched most of them. Look forward to Sundays for new ones. Love you guys. Love how you love each other so much. I'm a 72 yr old straight woman and have the utmost respect for your marriage and love. Well done.
Hello lovelies! As a Swiss, I don't understand everything, but I love listening to you. You are just great and so authentic. Ben, your facial expressions when you taste delicious food - simply priceless! But what's most interesting to me, and almost the most important, are the cabins. Especially in this video. Is yours as bad as the rest of the ship? Why don't you show your cabin right at the beginning of the video? Or at least when it's (finally) ready for occupancy? I've missed this in other videos of yours.
I'm booked on the Epic in December😮 looks like i better get ready to just laugh my may through it and look on the brightside of this. It does come with the drink package so maybe drink my way through it😂😂.
Cant wait for your room review. They are 'unique' to say the least. We have been on Epic twice, once when it was new, and once a couple years ago and our second cruise was very much as you describe. Crowded, poor service, and the soot. Crazy that happens on a modern ship. The first cruise was actually pretty nice aside from the weird rooms.
Went on our first celebrity cruise (silhouette) because it was cheaper than NCL and were blown away. The ship was gorgeous, staff were kind and didn't seem as overworked, plenty of seating. It was the best cruise we've done!
You never feel 2nd class (ie paid basic fare) on Celebrity, and can always get a drink... although the Elite cocktail hour needs changing to the RCI Diamond 4-5 free drinks model I feel ! .
@@seanpruitt6801 I've been sailing NCL since 1997. Tried other lines as well. We are now NCL sapphire and sail only in the Haven. Food is better on NCL than on any other cruise line we have been on, and the new ships are beautiful. The Epic has always been the ugly duckling of the fleet, which is why it was a one and done.
@@johncaceci8656 that’s my problem with NCL, they have set aside so many resources for the haven guests and jacked up prices so much it is simply out of reach for people who want to elevate there experience. I’ve sailed on the Prima. The last 20% of the top decks where for haven 15% was set aside for the up charge area vibe beach club. And those stupid go carts which barely ran takes up another 20% of the top deck space. So most of the outside viewing areas are spaces that either I cannot go or are not running and cost extra. And when you include the spa area almost half the damn ship is inaccessible for the normal guests. That’s my problem with NCL. and it’s a Trend I’m seeing industry wide. I’m only 19 but I’ve been on six cruises and each one as I get older has more and more paid areas/activities. Hell I had to PAY MONEY for put put on the Prima!
Thank you for your honesty. That ship is atrocious, dirty, packed, things broke, windows so dirty you couldn’t see out of them. I would be furious if I had paid for that and especially was stuck on it for 10 days!! Just yuck!
Such a helpful video! We almost went on the Epic in June 2024. My family and I travelled from Canada to the cruise port in Civitavecchia, Italy, when we were told that @aircanadavacations and @norwegiancruiseline had OVERBOOKED and had no room for us on the vessel. They just LEFT US ON THE DOCK! Being stranded on the dock was horrible, and spending the next 10 days in Europe while waiting for our flights was expensive. Heck, we still have not received any compensation! However, I feel blessed not to have gotten on the vessel after watching this. It just would be nice to get our money back! It's been three months, and there has been zero communication; for sure, we will never use any of these companies again.
I was on in 2017 as well. No recollection of it being dark with low ceilings. The lack of upkeep does concern me. I just booked a transatlantic in March 2025. Might reconsoder
Ben & David.I rarely comment on anything on YT, but you nailed it when you used the phrase NCL is a nickel and dime cruise line! We have been cruising since 2001, our first with NCL and we loved it. We've done many more with then since and al have been great. We've cruised with others (a broad range), including Celebrity, Celestial, Fred Olsen and even Ambassador (twice). Our last NCL cruise was on Getaway from New York in January 2024 to the Carribbean.What a disappointment. Not enough crew in bars or restaurants. Too many passengers for the number of crew. Dreadful check-in experience although we are Platinum. Not enough seating areas in bars or lounges. The casino was ridiculously big and not used that much. The buffet was too small for the number of passengers. They still use the 'Freestyle Cruising slogan, but not true at all. We had to book every meal on the App, unless we used the buffet. There were even a couple of shows that we had to book in the same way. We booked Cagney's one night and our steaks were served cold! The top deck, normally an entertainment area etc, now all Haven suites (more $$$$$ and to hell with everyone else). Basically our worst ever cruise. Gave constructive feedback to guest services and they just shrugged their shoulders. I don't blame the crew as they are probably as ticked off as the passengers. NCL asked for feedback/our review on our return which again was constructive, but guess what? No response! We will never cruise with NCL again sadly. Once our favourite cruise line off our list for the future. Thanks for your continued videos. I really enjoy them. Have you tried Ambassador yet? Older ships of course, but service and food are really good. keep up the great work you do.
When I sailed on Epic in early 2015 from Miami to Barcelona it was state of the art, a beautiful and luxurious experience. The specialty restaurants in particular were a delight. It remains my single favorite cruise overall in 25 years of cruising. I have no idea what could have happened to cause this disaster. Someone or some body of executives have much to answer for.
Loved this! You both were making me laugh during dinner at Moderno's--"protected by PETA..." lol!!! And your face when you were sniffing the pineapple--hillarious!!
I absolutely love the two of you. The reviews are incredible, and your honesty is refreshing. I have not yet been on a cruise, but do hope to eventually. A bit of a bucket list item honestly. Keep up the amazing work
Thank you so much for the support! We're so happy you enjoy the reviews, and we hope you get to check that cruise off your bucket list soon. It's an incredible experience-we're sure you'll love it!
I'm glad that you show what the ship is really like ,as more than once we have gone places and there really grubby ! It's so disappointing when you have saved so hard to go ....
Im sorry y'all had this negative experience on this ship. My family just took our first cruise ever on this ship June 2024. We really enjoyed ourselves and had no troubles on the ship. It never felt crowded and we could always find seats in the buffet and the theater. They migjt be scaling down on things as there was always some kind of show in the various theaters. The juggler and the comedian were fun shows. We did spend most of our days off the ship and other than two hours between 12-2pm that there was nothing to do, we never felt bored. My parents lived that there was live music in several area of the ship. It amazes me how much has changed in such a negative direction in such a short amount of time. It wasn't that expensive either. We were on a 10 day Mediterranean cruise for $1300 per person so not as expensive as what y'all had to spend :(
People coming from the US and visiting Europe come for the itineraries people from Europe who have seen the same places lots of times are more ship focused like Ben and David. You just came at it from a bed for the night angle.
A lot of channels like this are from people who have taken lots of cruises. Cruises in general are just a good value and have great service and all this stuff. Experienced cruisers though can tell when quality isn't up to the industry standard for the price your paying. Not to say they are nit picking its just they know that for the same price they could have gotten a better experience on another ship with a similar itinerary. I'm glad you liked the cruise though
Fantastic watch ! We sailed on Epic when she was 5/6 weeks old and really enjoyed it . Add to that we were on the NCL getaway a week ago , and there’s not much difference in age ( few years ? ) BUT WOW she has not aged well ! Whereas the getaway has clearly been well loved & maintained . Such a shame . Great video as always 😊
The Norwegian Epic is set to be refurbished in April 2025. Let’s hope they do a total make over ! I sailed on the Norwegian Epic the year she first came out and I loved the ship! I have many great family memories from that trip!
Ive been following you both for ages and I've been DYING to see you do a video on the Epic!😆 I'm a Guest Entertainer and did a residency on her (actually while Priscilla was still showing) and the experience was.. lets just say.. memorable.. 🥴 Love your videos and i really hope to bump into you both on board a ship sometime soon 🙂
We sail the Epic from Canaveral on 11/2/24. I hope some things improve. Been to Moderno many times, the salad bar is a highlight, and the pineapple rocks. We are not fussy, but some of the things you showed, are not just not acceptable. Since the Free at sea promo, we have sailed NCL exclusively, we will be Sapphire level when we get off the ship. Hoping for the best.
A group of us are scheduled to cruise Epic mid February 2025, right before it goes into drydock and are disgusted after seeing this video. Absolute shame on NCL for stopping even BASIC upkeep on the ship. We are trying to figure out what our options are before we submit final payment. I would greatly appreciate hearing about your experience somehow.
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I hope you and david arent too dissapointed. i love both of you and I watch you all the time! sending you both hugs from Ct usa xoxo
gosh what a NIGHTMARE!!! i am sroprised its certfied to sail>>>Im so sorry guys xoxo
Isn't masterworks a scam? theres tons of information on how its not a good sponsor...
I was on this ship April 2 years ago and I feel so justified!! Everything they’re complaining about, my family and I complained about!! Huge capacity and small areas and the engine was having problems and spitting out oil when we were there! Never again.
First impression to me is the nicest looking ship colours but I DETEST oatmeal/baby puke colours that are so modern now. to me baby puke(beige) hobopiss(creme) and sanitarium white (aka white) are the most horrible shades, I like rich dark colours like burgendy, dark brown,dark foresty green and midnight blue.
My jaw literally dropped when Ben said “we booked a 10 night cruise” after hearing that the ship gets bad reviews. The dedication is unreal. Y’all really did take one for the team
A bad day on a cruise is still better than a day at work .... and I can find something good about most any ship. I avoid the crowds and love to cruise.
@SherryAnnOfTheWest I agree!! I’d have no problems taking this cruise!!!
Having said that…the price point needs to be appropriate. The dated look wouldn’t bother me but the lack of maintenance would.
I am surprised you booked such a long cruise considering all the stuff you were worrying about turned out to be true you found the rust and soot falling from the engine stack. Really crowded pool and huge lines for things
We still had a great time! But obviously shocked by the state of things!
@@mpTraveller87 I agree, itinerary is great but price should be adjusted for the lack of maintenance.
You are not complaining, you are reporting and reviewing. This is important information. Thanks for keeping it real.
it just sounds like two people complaining about first world problems but they're just literally describing what they're experiencing
I want to express my appreciation for helping getting me through difficult times with your amazing videos my poor mom was killed in a car accident a few months ago, anytime I can forget my grief even for a short while is so good for me.❤
I’m sorry for your loss and glad the channel helps a bit.
@@cherylemmanuel744 thank you so much!
I’m so sorry for your loss ❤
@@AnnQlder thank you!
Hugs ❤ too many good people and friends have left us the past few months please do what you need to do to lift up your emotional health ❤
I almost spat my drink when David said a ‘Temu version of a Norwegian ship’ 😂😂😂
At least with Temu you know what you're getting for the price! This on the other hand just sucks in the mass public at sky high prices you'd pay for a top notch product elsewhere!! Especially for families/1st time cruises...how many do you think return to a cruise? The industry should name & shame each other, gives everyone a bad rep!! Esp as they were begging during COVID & now have more money than they know what to do with!
That cracked me up too 😂
This was the first cruise I ever took - the customer service is appalling and the medical centre charged me $5000 for a couple of hours and some saline after I got heatstroke. The nurse botched my IV and made me bleed all over myself and the bed. They didn't tell me they were going to charge this amount, either, and so my credit card declined it. That made NCL cancel all our access and even packages we had pre-paid for - we couldn't even rent a movie in our cabin. I spent two days of a seven day cruise in one of those huge customer service lines just trying to sort this all out, and through it all I was treated like dirt because I 'hadn't paid' for this exorbitant medical bill. I've learned to get travel insurance and to never, ever go near an NCL cruise again.
Not all NCL ships are like that. I have cruised NCL so many times and never had a problem.
This ship was close to the same condition back in 2017. I actually made a video for my kids with a ton of the same complaints that you guys were making. Minus the dirt, it was actually clean but the food, the vibrations, and the darkness and the terrible staterooms all the same. Well done gentlemen. Love the videos!
So they updated the Suite-Only area and didn't bother anywhere else. What a surprise. Thanks for this guys. Now I know what cruise NOT to take.
For Haven money, go on a better Line!
@@bodyloverz30 I'm not a Disney maniac fanboy, but Disney still has the best overall cruise line, from what I've seen. The "Good enough" attitude at the parks doesn't seem to have made it to the cruises yet. Although the newest ships seem to be a step in that direction.
NCL and MSC, best avoided unless paying £££££ for the secure unit / suites ?
@@robward367 Our cruise on MSC Seashore in September was actually fantastic. I was worried, but liked it better than Wonder of the Seas, much better than Epic.
As someone who hasn't cruised and considering in the future, I greatly appreciate your candor about this travesty. If this was someone's first experience it would turn them off to the entire industry. I cannot believe the cost for that horrible condition. I wouldn't feel safe. Everything looks horrid. Watching you guys, however, is a complete joy! Great video.
It's a great ship, and we have cruised on many
Try any other ncl ship,you won't be sorry
Cruise ships aren't safe. Very dodgy holiday choice.
I’m only 6 minutes into the video, and the only word I can come up with is “claustrophobic”.
Boy, do I agree with you! I'm actually claustrophobic, and I honestly don't think I could do this ship!
I sailed on her twice and loved both cruises but that was pre-pandemic. We never felt claustrophobic and the food was good and they had the best entertainment. I have heard cutbacks have really changed the entertainment which is a shame.
I sailed on her in 2012 and the cruise was one of the best ive done, was a non stop party@jackiegriffiths7958
@@jackiegriffiths7958the cutbacks are really about royal carribean which has had huge backlash over their reduced menus and narrow entertainment options.
Been on 3 ncl cruises post pandemic 4th one in a few weeks. No consistent problems with any of them.
The only one problem I had was almost being left behind on a snorkel outing on my second trip. Wasn’t left behind only because a separate group from a different ship got me back in time (and yes that was an excursion through the ship) but I still am not sure if that was truly ncl fault or just a bad quality vendor post pandemic.
I'm actually shocked by the condition. We love NCL - Been through the Canal twice on the Bliss and it was exceptional.
years ago I was in a solo studio cabin and the shower flooded into the cabin (2nd to last night of the cruise). A really nice maintenance man showed up to unclog the drain (full of hair), he was mad because he said it's the cabin stewards job to clean the drains to prevent this. No steward showed up to clean the room that half the cabin/carpet was soaked in water, someone showed up at the door handed me some towels and walked away. Uhhh EXCUSE ME? I'm supposed to clean/dry the cabin??? Things happen (I get it) it's fixable, but THEY need to fix it, not expect the passenger to clean it up!
did you also pilot the boat and serve food?
@anotherone-xp9ox what has this to do with that? the crew members should have fixed the issue
A ship being that run down, dirty, and neglected would make me worry about safety, and being so short staffed isn’t a good thing if there’s an emergency. Not to mention, if it’s that dirty in the guest areas, how bad are the staff areas? The ship shouldn’t be in use until it’s been refurbished.
You are harsh
What was its rating on the last inspection?
@@aspronnie -I’d still prefer it over Disney
They have recently hired captain schitino of Costa fame to save some pennies.
Jeez youre right...imagine the crew areas
As an avid NCL supporter, you make such great points throughout, and it definitely is time for this ship to get a full reno! My favorite point you've made amongst these is your comment about how amazing the Norwegian Spirit is. Hands down one of my favorite ships to date and night and day difference as to what has been presented in this video! Keep doing what you are doing because honesty is truly the best policy. Instead of simply talking about soot and empty drinks everywhere, showing us is quite beneficial as well. All in all, another great video and thank you both so much for starting my day off with some EPIC, top-tier content! (also, she's going into drydock this upcoming spring, so I'm excited to see what they'll do!!) 🥰🥰
I love ncl for their price but wouldnt go again on the epic. Ive done the encore and the epic... Would you rate the rest of their ships closer to the encore or the epic?
Norwegian should be so embarrassed. Thanks for taking one for the team.
About what? It's been scheduled for over a year for a complete overhaul in March 2025. Embarrassed about what? A ship built in 2010????
@@chrisbernier3889 embarrassed at how dirty and run down it is, when there are older ships that look miles better. They should also be embarrassed about not having enough staff to clear up and instead leaving rubbish out overnight so people wake up to dirty tables and food left on the floor. Also the sun loungers looking like they’re about 50 years old. Missing tiles in the pool area, soot all over the deck, filthy windows and run down facilities. They should be embarrassed at the price they’re charging people to be on that ship too. I mean, I could go on 😂
@@chrisbernier3889if you think the state of this ship is acceptable because it’s nearly 15 years old, you need to get your head a wobble. I’ve been on a cruise ship that is 24 years old and it’s immaculate compared.
Not a cheap cruise so at that price - no, not acceptable.
@@chrisbernier3889to pay more per night on that ship than on other cruise lines, is unacceptable. If they cut the price, that’s one thing but when Princess is cheaper, why would anyone sail on this one?
Wow that’s honestly shocking! Especially for a ship that isn’t even that old compared to some others. Being old and dated is one thing but being dirty and unsafe is unacceptable and there’s no excuse for that! I can’t understand how it’s still going when there’s so many things that are broken, falling apart, rusted, hanging off! It’s quite worrying to be honest! The lack of staff is definitely a worry too, what would happen in an emergency situation? Who knows! I’m glad you make these videos and share your honest experiences because people need to be aware of what they’re spending their money on!
"Temu version of a cruise ship" 😂 classic B & D. Gotta love their style.
😂
@@Cruisewith that comment made me spit my coffee out! Well done lads!
The Peta comment was hysterical!
THIS basically hit on all my fears of cruising. It’s crazy because many of your videos make me want to try cruising, but then you drop this and I’m like, “No blummin’ way!” …but then I got towards the end and started being swayed again (or not).
Apparently, this is where they saved $$ to produce their profits. It was recently announced how NCL paid off the most debt of any of the cruise lines. Cutting entertainment and crew went to paying their debt at the expense of cruisers getting a crappy ship.
I’ll stay with RC
@@NarutocoolcatUs too!
This is awful. I wanted to yell, “Go, get out of there now!” Shame on Norwegian for keeping this ship in service. Thank you both for doing this cruise and showing us what the truth is. As always, a great video.
Thank you for braving this so others don't have to!
We stop sailing on NCL after they removed the shows, it was one of the best things about them.
😮😮
Does anyone remember the Jean Ann Ryan dancer shows on Norwegian dawn? Best I have ever seen
Any company that would take $500 a night from you and put you on a ship like that doesn't deserve your money on any other ship they own. That's literally a bait and switch
Idk if anyone has commented this yet, but I was on it with my parents back in Jan 2023. And one of the higher up staff from the main deck was walking around the Garden Cafe asking everyone what they thought. We were informed after our opinions, that the ship would go to dry dock for 1-3 months (depending) for "much needed renovations". I hope the renovations bring the Epic from Epic fail, to Epic win. Fingers crossed.
I feel bad that you're stuck on this old tub for 10 days... still watching and hoping it gets better.
Fun fact: NCL is rather notorious for being the first to do the "Let's stack some suites on it!" line, as they pioneered the concept when they brutalized the S/S Norway with several thousand tons of new suites slapped onto the front of that once sleek, glamorous vessel.
Love you guys
- to all the ignorant haters out there… get educated these guys are fabulous.
You guys are probably the only channel I’m willing to watch an hour no problem full of info Insights funny and so well well edited ..
You have the magic touch.
I’ve cruised a few times and am finally planning to restart. So your reviews are so relevant
❤
@@CruisewithI've never cruised and prob never will but if that changes I've got at least 15 videos watched from you guys to educate my decision!
I find them very annoying. Loud, brash, dreadful voices and they don't speak English correctly. Why book yourself onto a cruise when so many reviews of the ship were bad?
The public needs to wise up and stop putting up with this steady and gradual deterioration of the cruise industry.
The cutbacks are palpable across all NCL lines. Sorry I booked my $400 pppd as the cutbacks since May have been drastic.
I see noting but bait and switch. Used car salesman tactics. I will never book with a NCL brand again.
I was thinking “man those pizzas look really sad” as Ben says “those pizzas look really good”😂
I'm afraid I was thinking the exact same thing! 😂
NCL doesn't have good pizza on any ship.
@@mtnmagic1998so was I!
Are you a New Yorker? We're incredibly picky 😊
Me too!
2 genuine lads giving us all a proper review again. Thank you.
THANK YOU!!! I feel so validated you guys that I could cry!
There was a group of us that went on the Epic last year and we experienced the same thing that you did. I worked for a cruise line in the past and was absolutely shocked at the condition of the ship, the pool area, etc. And as you said, we paid good money for our vacation that it was so disappointing.
Our group made the best of it, but literally it has left such a bad taste for us that we don’t want to cruise on Norwegian again.
Booked this ship for the October transatlantic, thank God and Ben and David I cancelled within the 24 hour window! What crap of a ship! Usually sail Princess.
it is not crap of the ship. What a snob you are !
Oh no! Youngest and I are spending all of October on the Epic. Looks like we are in for an adventure! I really appreciate your balanced review. You pointed out how dirty and run down the ship is but then you praised the crew and the food. I much prefer that to reviews where people say everything is catastrophically bad or magically wonderful. I now kind of have a morbid curiosity to see all this for myself.
Like we said we still had a fabulous time! Just a shame with her being so run down! Have a great trip!
I just went on it and I had a great time!
@@Cruisewith As someone who travel on Epic's Maiden Voyage, if you have any questions, feel free to ask. FYI, she was not ready even for the transatlantic and had hundreds of workmen onboard for her first voyage.
We have taken many NCL cruises. Love NCL. But took this ship and was so disappointed that we could not walk about on the outside of the ship with seating a bar, and place to enjoy quiet time. Found out this ship was ordered by another cruise line bought it… was designed in France … and didn’t want it… a shame NCL saw. to try to add it to the fleet of ships we are accustomed to…. A disappointment!
Interesting. I was on the Epic end of June for the same cruise. Yes she was showing wear and tear but it was nowhere as bad as you showed in the video! Guess it’s been a rough 2 months since I got off her. The staff was amazing, you were right about that! And the food was great. I never waited more than 5 months for a drink and usually got served right away. Also didn’t have the long waits for shows or dinners since we had reservations for all of those and got seated right away. Even with the weird cabin layout we loved our cruise! The ports make that cruise for sure, they are the star of the show. Ship was just a spot to sleep and grab a meal. We went on the NCL Bliss in 2019 and that was a beautiful ship!!
We were very interested in your opinion. We sailed the Epic last December and bloody HATED it! Glad we weren’t alone.
I sailed on the Gem and hated it. Gave stopped cruising ncl. Doing land tours now.
We've loved NCL for years, but I definitely feel like things have gone downhill since Covid. Prices continue to in increase but the quality has been decreasing. I hope NCL is able to turn things around because we absolutely love them.
All cruise lines have one main concern - maximize return to shareholders. With bookings at 100% + and reduced staff that’s their goal. Things won’t change as long as revenue continues to grow. Cruise lines will continue to build bigger ships to maximize revenue.
TITCR
Me, my brother & his husband just cruised on the Epic in February of 2023. We did hear a lot of complaints about the smell of the sewer, the crowds & lines everywhere. We did cruise in the Haven though, and our experience was completely different. . . until we left the confines of our oasis. Everything you saw and more is rampart on that ship! It is very sad, because we love Norwegian! I’ll be looking forward to the tour of your cabin. We absolutely love your videos! Keep up the great work! Keeping my fingers crossed that we’ll run into you two on a future cruise.
I feel so sorry for this ship, she is so neglected, she is the black sheep of the Norwegian fleet. She must feel so sad. I hope, Norwegian will give her that well deserved update very soon. So that she will be EPIC again.
Thanks a lot for this honest video. I enjoy all of your videos
With all the fancy cruises you've been on, it's about time for a palate cleanser 😂
Lol
Regarding 44:44 : I’m Brazilian and most of our stakehouses have a sushi section with tons of options (many options that you can’t even find in Japan lol)
Regarding 45:56 : if they are chewy they are definitely made in a wrong way. They should be crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. This one you were given was probably siting there for a long time just like some old French fries.
I’m loving your video you guys!
wow I would be in tears if I'd been on this ship! I love your videos. Never been on a cruise but keep thinking about it. We are mid 60s, haven't had a holiday for over a decade. A cruise would be a one off treat for us. If we'd ended up on this ship, paid all that money. I would have been sobbing with disappointment. I am SO glad I've seen this and seen how very careful you need to be to chose the right ship and search for all reviews. Well done for your honesty and showing both the good and the bad. I love watching your videos. Have had quite a terrible time for quite a while now. Watching your videos are so enjoyable. You cheer me up and make me smile. I enjoy seeing your adventures. Thank you
Cruises can be wonderful adventures, but I agree that you absolutely must do your research to find the right cruise line, and the right ship, for the type of experience you want. If you chose a smaller, higher end, ship and what you really want is a high energy exciting time then you will be disappointed. If you chose a large, entertainment and activity-oriented ship and what you really wanted was quiet areas and interesting enrichment lectures, then you will also be disappointed.
CruiseCritic and other resources (such as videos like this one) have lots of information and you can chose the cruise that is right for you and have a great time!
This is the video I’ve been waiting for!! Y’all are the best! I appreciate your honest opinions on this. We have a group going on the Epic in January and I’m semi terrified now 😅 some of us are experienced cruisers but we have a good amount of first timers so hopefully we don’t scare them away from cruising 🙃
We are newish to cruising. Our first was in 2023 with Princess to Hawaii, and it was fantastic in every respect. We sailed on the NCL breakaway in March 2024- NEVER AGAIN. Crowded, no enrichment programme and the feeling of being nickle and dimed from morning to night. David summed it up beautifully - The Temu version.
I love princess!
My wife and I had the unfortunate experience on board this very ship at the start of August 2024, everything Ben and David have said so far is very accurate, except our food was mediocre at best as well. It has put us off cruises for the foreseeable future. We also got the email telling us about the closed parts of the ship after we had paid the final payment. And some of our ports were changed, no doubt because they wanted to do maintenance on the ship while in port.
Santorini was an absolute debacle for us, the tender process was slow (2 hours to get off the ship), the gondola had no chance of keeping up, so we walked the donkey path to the top, same on the way back down, but way more people as the gondola line a the top was longer than the bottom. They shouldn't take a ship of that size to ports that cannot handle the quantity of people. All in all a terrible experience we never want to replicate. Look forward to your honest review of the cabins.
least favourite ship we went on. We were on it in inaugural year. We felt confined inside with few outside decks and no ability to walk outside completely around. Issue we had, it was our friends first cruise and they loved it. We had to keep our snobby comments to ourselves because we compared it to our other cruises. The only good thing was, they had The Blue Man Group as the entertainment.
We had a similar experience on the Norwegian Bliss in March. It was basically clean but way over crowded, food was disappointing and we could not get into any shows or get our kids on the speedway because we didn’t get reservations the second we boarded. There were 4700 people on a 4000 capacity cruise ship. It was chaotic and loud. Ship was understaffed. Staff was trying but could only do so much. That was our 1st and last experience with Norwegian. Appreciate your honest input and the fact that you do try to find the positives but that ship was filthy.
Sail the Bliss two weeks ago.
Food was very good, shows (Icons &Jersey Boys) was awesome, and staff was fabulous and not short staffed.
@@andyconway5610 I was on the Bliss in September of 2024 as well, around the same time that you were it sounds like, and had the same experience. Very good food, shows (same two that you saw, plus a Beatles tribute band), staff etc.
Very interesting guys . I think it reinforces my impression of NCL that they are going for maximum yield from passengers . The fact that speciality restaurants are better than normal dining and that the Haven suite area has been refurbished but the rest of the ship is rundown says it all about Norwegian
Agreed, based on the many many cruise videos i have watched - not from actually having sailed Norwegian.
NCL's MDR food is miles above RCCL at least. And with their free at sea which they almost always offer, you get at least some free speciality dining, so it doesn't cost a fortune.
A big "shout-out" and many thanks from the Loveridge Family in Salt Lake City, Utah (7 married children, 32 grandchildren) for you wonderful, thorough, and informative cruise reviews! You guys are our go-to source for the decisions we are making about cruising! Love your humor (humour in UK?) and consider you some of our "best friends" on TH-cam (if that makes any sense!) Please keep up your wonderful contributions!
Thank you for your service Ben and David!
Our pleasure!
Thanks for taking one for the team!, there would be no way I would go in any of the pools... so gross, I would want to fly home the next day lol
Epic (FAIL) was the first NCL ship I sailed on in 2018 or 2019 (I cant remember which year), I swore I would never sail with them again but being a travel advisor I couldn't let 1 experience ruin the entire cruise line for me. I booked Encore (January 2020) and that redeemed my trust in NCL. Epic was RUBBISH then and it looks even worse now, O'Shehans was my favorite. It looks like there is no dry dock scheduled in the near future since they have reservations open through the end on October 2026, completely unacceptable. Hope you both enjoy your ports, I look forward to your next episodes.
Not even half way through and get me outta there! So far, not even one window! What you two do for us is amazing. Thank you; it's rather fascinating.
The reason for sushi in Brazillian restaurants is that Brazil has the largest Japanese expat population in the world. LOTS of people of Japanese descent.
and the bread is called "pao de queijo". Brazil is amazing and I highly recommend traveling there ❤🇧🇷
That's super interesting!
From a Brazilian viewer: the fluffy cheese balls at Moderno were *_pão de queijo_* (pronounced "paon de KAY-joo", with the first word similar to "home" in an Australian accent), which means literally "cheese bread" in Portuguese. This is somewhat of a misnomer because they're not "bread" in the usual sense. The base is not flour, but rather _polvilho_ ("poll-VEE-lyoo"), which is cassava starch (so, celiacs, it's gluten-free). Cassava, also called manioc or yuca (this last name is not used in Brazil, only in Spanish-speaking countries) is a native South American starchy tuber that Portuguese navigators also took to Africa and Asia, where it's now also popular, but it's a staple of Brazilian food in many forms, of which you ate two.
But _pão de queijo_ does take cheese (ideally, A LOT of cheese for top results), usually grated cured white cheese from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, famous for its dairy products, but it can be made with grated Parmesan at a pinch, though not with the same results. I hope it was freshly baked. _Pão de queijo_ is MUCH better freshly made and hot, or at least warm. After it cools down, it's still a treat somewhat, but nowhere near the experience, and after a few hours it gets too hard and spongy.
The reason for the sushi in Brazilian restaurants is that there was intense immigration of Japanese people to Brazil, especially São Paulo State, from the late 19th to the early 20th century, and Brazil has the world's largest community of ethnic Japanese people outside of Japan, around 2 million people in the São Paulo City area alone. They are now in their sixth or seventh generation in Brazil and totally integrated to Brazilian society, and they intermarry often with other Brazilians (who are themselves a melting pot of several mixed ethnicities). What I can't explain is why ONLY sushi is so common in Brazilian buffets and not, for example, Middle Eastern (Syrian/Lebanese) food, which is even more popular all over Brazil.
But here goes an insider Brazilian tip for the next time you go to a _churrascaria_ (your pronunciation of it was excellent, Ben!), especially a _churrascaria a rodízio_ like that one (something like "rotating steakhouse", meaning not that it spins, but rather that they keep bringing you different types of meat on a "rotating" basis). We Brazilians consider a visit to a _churrascaria_ to be a battle, or a war operation between you and the restaurant. Your goal is to eat meat, which is expensive, and the restaurant's goal is to make you eat the least meat possible, since the price is fixed. That's why all _churrascarias_ have that huge and tempting buffet. _Churrascaria_ pro patrons are very frugal at the buffet and NEVER fill the plate, AT MOST 1/4 of it, renewing it later ONLY if necessary. They will pick a bit of usual sides (like rice, a bit of potatoes, and eventually something that the person likes too much not to take) and will leave room both on the plate and in the stomach for the meat.
There's also a reason why they always start serving chicken and pork, and only later move on to beef cuts: chicken and pork are the restaurant's second line of defence. They're cheaper, and if the buffet didn't get you full yet, the restaurant will want you to fill your stomach with cheap meat and consume less of the expensive beef, which is the star of the meal. Brazilians will also eat very little chicken and pork to spare room for the prime beef cuts. But they appear to have done a good job at Moderno: I saw a slice of _picanha_ on your plate (try to pronounce it "picagna" as in Italian). It was that arc-shaped slice. That's a very typically Brazilian cut of rumpsteak and the ultimate beef delicacy to Brazilians, who will RIOT if not served it in a _churracaria!_ In Brazil it's more expensive than filet mignon! Shame that they didn't have a single Brazilian dessert on the menu. There are a lot of them that could be offered.
And you should try one on-site. When you get tired of the usual Caribbean-Mediterranean fare, consider going south. In the Southern Hemisphere summer season (the reverse from the North, so October-March) there are nice cruises to the Amazon, or down to Argentina, even to Patagonia (Southern Argentina, where you can even see penguins!), Tierra del Fuego (very similar to Norway), and even Antarctica and the Falkland Islands on some itineraries.
Thank you, very informative of Brazilian food and culture.
My first and only cruise was on the Norwegian Epic in 2013 and really enjoyed it. What a blast from the past, but a shame it looks so run down now. The casino was something I hated. Why so many people just sit tapping a button looking at moving bright lights is something I will never understand.
We’re sure back then she was lovely! NCL have really let her go!
It is sad really. Around here, the big supermarket chains, gas stations, drug stores and a multitude of other places have those game machines. What is sad is seeing people with their cart full of groceries while the patrons are in the little casino area sitting and taping the buttons and gambling their whole paycheck away. This is the reason why so many people in this town seem angry. Gambling is a pox on society.
@@kennixox262 Gambling is like all other activities, moderation. If you can't abide do not partake.
First and ‘only’ made me think you were put off for life 😄 I was on it in 2014 and remember it fondly (particularly the speciality French restaurant) but there were lots of Spanish sunbed hoggers (makes a change from Germans and Brits I guess) and entertainment was so so.
@@Cruisewith Actually no, it was a total mess from day one. I got an official tour of Haven: much like MSC, your either Yacht Club/Haven, or your not. Unlike other lines, NCL, had no special parties or commemorative gifts for those on Maiden Voyage, unlike RCCL with Quantum of the Sea's Maiden Voyage from Southampton.
It goes from worse to even worser! Love it. We went on the Sapphire Princess Alaskan cruise in May. We missed some ports because of a propeller problem. We luckily got 75% of the fare back and 75% to the same amount off a future cruise. We're booked on the new Sun Princess around the Mediterranean next year! 😊
The Temu version 😂 you're killing me 😂😂😂🎉
😂
It seems like an EPIC failure!
Can’t believe the condition of that ship. Looks like NCL is ready to dump it.
They are going to anchor it in the Thames and use it to house prisoners once the summer season is over.
David and Ben are the best ever. Love from Denver, Colorado, USA.
❤️
Agreed+
Your video just came up in my recommended, I've been following the Villa Vie Odyssey saga so keep getting cruise vids popping up! Really enjoyed watching you both. What a sad, dark, depressing ship. I felt claustrophobic just watching. Definitely needs an overhaul. Look forward to watching more of your content ❤️
I absolutely love that you put in the DS9 “In the pale moonlight” clip.
*chef’s kiss*
-James
❤️
This makes me so sad! I was on her pre-inaugural sailing, and I've sailed her a couple of times since then. It has been some time since I've been on board, though, and she's clearly been neglected in that time. Ugh. I'm so sorry. (P.S. I've no idea what your itinerary is, but I'll be on Carnival Magic for an 8-day Southern Caribbean cruise with a group I'm bringing on Sept. 21. I think I would fangirl like mad if I ran into you two on that ship.) Anyway, poor poor Epic. It's not her fault that she was designed that way, nor that she's been so heinously neglected. Thanks for bringing all of this to light. I hope that NCL is ashamed.
OK, the DS9 clip...just sold me. lol.
Brother Bennie, that's the comment I was looking for !! "It's real!!! "
Epic journey Ben and David. That ship would not survive the Iceland Cruise I have just been on. The waves were 20 feet high and my partner was so sick.
That buffet looks like high school lunchroom that’s why I brought my lunch to school
If your school lunch looked like this then I’m jealous of you! There definitely wasn’t that much choice at my school in the uk🤣
That's why I packed a lunch most of the time!😂
😂
If they have the octagonal Mexican pizzas on a cruise, I'm booking!
Sweet biscuits, I am getting claustrophobic just watching. Ceilings so low! Love you two.
NCL Epic was built in France as opposed to the shipyard in Germany that NCL normally uses. The entire design is different compared to other Breakaway Plus class of ship. I think it's a bit of an acquired taste for people who are accustomed to other NCL ships of this class.
Not surprised to hear where built. It matches the bad quality of the 2024 Olympics; the worse.
@@frenchg honestly, it was the first large ship built at that yard immediately after Queen Mary 2. The difference in quality between the two is shocking.
Yes the only ship built in France they went back to the other shipyards afterwards
@@frenchg symphony of the seas, msc meraviglia were both built there and there beautiful ships. This is on Ncl
@@xmtryanx my boyfriend worked on this ship at the yard. He said they used to mix pooh into the cement used to glue the tiles in the swimming pools so they could use less cement and save money
That circus room is HIDEOUS! 🤣🤣💀
The Spiegel Tent is the old Blue Man Group theatre. It was a great show. The Epic is a love-it-or-hate-it ship and I happen to love it, sailed her 4-5 times. She's got the best solo lounge and Spice H2O adult area of all the NCL ships. She also has her quirks.
I last sailed her in march 2023 and she wasn't in such bad repair. :'(
sailed her twice and had a great time. She is one of a kind. The only thing I didn't care for was the shower and toilet arrangement but not that big of a deal. She was the prototype for the Breakaway class. I like Epic better than the Encore.
It's going for a complete overhaul in MARCH 2025 . We love it and we've been on it 8 times.
Definitely agree with the solo lounge experience..just sailed in August and we had a great time
Just subscribed. You two are a hoot, and just about as critical and discerning as I am. I liked to think that after 117 cruises over 30 years, I would've seen it all but that couldn't be further from the truth. I've been on Epic, when she was new (4th sailing) and they've really let the old girl down. The soot from the smokestacks is totally unacceptable. Seems like they're trying to cut costs by refusing to put her in drydock for upgrades. David, you put stools/seats at the bar because every seat in a bar or restaurant represents money. Every single one. Usually, there are order stations where you can line up to get drinks but some bars take things to the extreme and don't even do that, replacing that with another pair of high chairs. It's a passive way of increasing revenue generating capacity.
I really appreciate your comments. There isn’t one ounce of snob on your part. It is clear that you have experience and can give valid comparisons. I trust you!
Wow that red carpet and dated decor really needs to have a full update. Thanks for the review and this may be one ship to skip until it has been updated. Thanks Ben and Dave for the review.
The entire executive committee should be fired for the state of that ship. With the state of those pools I don't think USPH would pass the ship. I checked and there last report was the end of January 24, with a score of 97 and nothing about pools, They have gone downhill since then for sure. It's obvious that management don't care, and they aren't getting support from shoreside ($$$). I've always said, take a few years and don't build any new ships, and put that money into making your older ships look like new. Most cruise lines, once the newness wares off, they don't really care anymore.
Never sailed this cruise line. Probably will avoid it.
As always, an excellent review!! We just can’t say enough good things about you both!! You are the best!!!
My gosh. If I were stuck on a disgusting ship like that for 10 days, I can imagine the only thing I would want to do is numb the pain of my ridiculous decision. No wonder everyones drunk! 🎉😂
Oh that made me laugh 🍷🍷🍷🍷🤪🤣
Thanks for giving your brutally honest opinion.
Ben and David - your videos are the best. Love every one. Rewatched most of them. Look forward to Sundays for new ones. Love you guys. Love how you love each other so much. I'm a 72 yr old straight woman and have the utmost respect for your marriage and love. Well done.
Hello lovelies!
As a Swiss, I don't understand everything, but I love listening to you. You are just great and so authentic. Ben, your facial expressions when you taste delicious food - simply priceless!
But what's most interesting to me, and almost the most important, are the cabins. Especially in this video. Is yours as bad as the rest of the ship? Why don't you show your cabin right at the beginning of the video? Or at least when it's (finally) ready for occupancy? I've missed this in other videos of yours.
I'm booked on the Epic in December😮 looks like i better get ready to just laugh my may through it and look on the brightside of this. It does come with the drink package so maybe drink my way through it😂😂.
Omg I can’t get past the super dirty top deck. I can’t believe you booked a 10 night cruise on that. Kudos to you for letting us know about this ship.
Gotta love when they used covid as a reason to cut big shows and keep the prices the same 🤷
Cant wait for your room review. They are 'unique' to say the least. We have been on Epic twice, once when it was new, and once a couple years ago and our second cruise was very much as you describe. Crowded, poor service, and the soot. Crazy that happens on a modern ship. The first cruise was actually pretty nice aside from the weird rooms.
No wonder I love CELEBRITY and PRINCESS. Thank you for this review. You have saved many people from making a terrible wrong decision.
Exactly. I’ve done NCL twice. I think I’ve had enough tbh.
Went on our first celebrity cruise (silhouette) because it was cheaper than NCL and were blown away. The ship was gorgeous, staff were kind and didn't seem as overworked, plenty of seating. It was the best cruise we've done!
You never feel 2nd class (ie paid basic fare) on Celebrity, and can always get a drink... although the Elite cocktail hour needs changing to the RCI Diamond 4-5 free drinks model I feel !
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@@seanpruitt6801 I've been sailing NCL since 1997. Tried other lines as well. We are now NCL sapphire and sail only in the Haven. Food is better on NCL than on any other cruise line we have been on, and the new ships are beautiful. The Epic has always been the ugly duckling of the fleet, which is why it was a one and done.
@@johncaceci8656 that’s my problem with NCL, they have set aside so many resources for the haven guests and jacked up prices so much it is simply out of reach for people who want to elevate there experience. I’ve sailed on the Prima. The last 20% of the top decks where for haven 15% was set aside for the up charge area vibe beach club. And those stupid go carts which barely ran takes up another 20% of the top deck space. So most of the outside viewing areas are spaces that either I cannot go or are not running and cost extra. And when you include the spa area almost half the damn ship is inaccessible for the normal guests. That’s my problem with NCL. and it’s a Trend I’m seeing industry wide. I’m only 19 but I’ve been on six cruises and each one as I get older has more and more paid areas/activities. Hell I had to PAY MONEY for put put on the Prima!
Thank you for your honesty. That ship is atrocious, dirty, packed, things broke, windows so dirty you couldn’t see out of them. I would be furious if I had paid for that and especially was stuck on it for 10 days!! Just yuck!
All I kept thinking through this video was that it seemed like Faulty Towers at sea lol
Such a helpful video! We almost went on the Epic in June 2024.
My family and I travelled from Canada to the cruise port in Civitavecchia, Italy, when we were told that @aircanadavacations and @norwegiancruiseline had OVERBOOKED and had no room for us on the vessel. They just LEFT US ON THE DOCK!
Being stranded on the dock was horrible, and spending the next 10 days in Europe while waiting for our flights was expensive. Heck, we still have not received any compensation!
However, I feel blessed not to have gotten on the vessel after watching this. It just would be nice to get our money back! It's been three months, and there has been zero communication; for sure, we will never use any of these companies again.
Dang I went on NCL Epic in 2017 and loved it! It was super clean and not outdated at all
I was on in 2017 as well. No recollection of it being dark with low ceilings. The lack of upkeep does concern me. I just booked a transatlantic in March 2025. Might reconsoder
So many people are saying the same thing! So sad to see a once great ship go downhill!
Ben & David.I rarely comment on anything on YT, but you nailed it when you used the phrase NCL is a nickel and dime cruise line! We have been cruising since 2001, our first with NCL and we loved it. We've done many more with then since and al have been great. We've cruised with others (a broad range), including Celebrity, Celestial, Fred Olsen and even Ambassador (twice). Our last NCL cruise was on Getaway from New York in January 2024 to the Carribbean.What a disappointment. Not enough crew in bars or restaurants. Too many passengers for the number of crew. Dreadful check-in experience although we are Platinum. Not enough seating areas in bars or lounges. The casino was ridiculously big and not used that much. The buffet was too small for the number of passengers. They still use the 'Freestyle Cruising slogan, but not true at all. We had to book every meal on the App, unless we used the buffet. There were even a couple of shows that we had to book in the same way. We booked Cagney's one night and our steaks were served cold! The top deck, normally an entertainment area etc, now all Haven suites (more $$$$$ and to hell with everyone else). Basically our worst ever cruise. Gave constructive feedback to guest services and they just shrugged their shoulders. I don't blame the crew as they are probably as ticked off as the passengers. NCL asked for feedback/our review on our return which again was constructive, but guess what? No response! We will never cruise with NCL again sadly. Once our favourite cruise line off our list for the future. Thanks for your continued videos. I really enjoy them. Have you tried Ambassador yet? Older ships of course, but service and food are really good. keep up the great work you do.
When I sailed on Epic in early 2015 from Miami to Barcelona it was state of the art, a beautiful and luxurious experience. The specialty restaurants in particular were a delight. It remains my single favorite cruise overall in 25 years of cruising. I have no idea what could have happened to cause this disaster. Someone or some body of executives have much to answer for.
Wow. If this ship was the first cruise my wife and I had taken, we may have not ever tried another cruise. Thank you for your helpful reviews.
Loved this! You both were making me laugh during dinner at Moderno's--"protected by PETA..." lol!!! And your face when you were sniffing the pineapple--hillarious!!
I absolutely love the two of you. The reviews are incredible, and your honesty is refreshing. I have not yet been on a cruise, but do hope to eventually. A bit of a bucket list item honestly. Keep up the amazing work
Thank you so much for the support! We're so happy you enjoy the reviews, and we hope you get to check that cruise off your bucket list soon. It's an incredible experience-we're sure you'll love it!
Laughed at when he says that it looks like a Temu version of a Norwegian cruise 😂
I'm glad that you show what the ship is really like ,as more than once we have gone places and there really grubby ! It's so disappointing when you have saved so hard to go ....
Im sorry y'all had this negative experience on this ship. My family just took our first cruise ever on this ship June 2024. We really enjoyed ourselves and had no troubles on the ship. It never felt crowded and we could always find seats in the buffet and the theater. They migjt be scaling down on things as there was always some kind of show in the various theaters. The juggler and the comedian were fun shows. We did spend most of our days off the ship and other than two hours between 12-2pm that there was nothing to do, we never felt bored. My parents lived that there was live music in several area of the ship. It amazes me how much has changed in such a negative direction in such a short amount of time. It wasn't that expensive either. We were on a 10 day Mediterranean cruise for $1300 per person so not as expensive as what y'all had to spend :(
People coming from the US and visiting Europe come for the itineraries people from Europe who have seen the same places lots of times are more ship focused like Ben and David. You just came at it from a bed for the night angle.
If it’s your first cruise you have little basis for comparison, just saying. I’m glad you enjoyed it but other ships might provide a better experience
You are right it is a great cruise ship with plenty to offer.
A lot of channels like this are from people who have taken lots of cruises. Cruises in general are just a good value and have great service and all this stuff. Experienced cruisers though can tell when quality isn't up to the industry standard for the price your paying. Not to say they are nit picking its just they know that for the same price they could have gotten a better experience on another ship with a similar itinerary. I'm glad you liked the cruise though
Trust the online reviews. We did a family cruise. This Cruise was a nightmare
Why do people still book Epic when online reviews are so bad? 😥
I was on the Epic in May 2024 and it was clean, in good repair, great food, and excellent service.
Did you stay in the Haven? Must have as we were on here in March and this is what we experienced.
Fantastic watch ! We sailed on Epic when she was 5/6 weeks old and really enjoyed it . Add to that we were on the NCL getaway a week ago , and there’s not much difference in age ( few years ? ) BUT WOW she has not aged well ! Whereas the getaway has clearly been well loved & maintained . Such a shame . Great video as always 😊
The Norwegian Epic is set to be refurbished in April 2025. Let’s hope they do a total make over ! I sailed on the Norwegian Epic the year she first came out and I loved the ship! I have many great family memories from that trip!
Glad you had fun on the Epic! Unfortunately, our experience in 2018 was not good. Hoping they do a really deep refurbishment or retire/sell the ship.
Ive been following you both for ages and I've been DYING to see you do a video on the Epic!😆 I'm a Guest Entertainer and did a residency on her (actually while Priscilla was still showing) and the experience was.. lets just say.. memorable.. 🥴 Love your videos and i really hope to bump into you both on board a ship sometime soon 🙂
We sail the Epic from Canaveral on 11/2/24. I hope some things improve. Been to Moderno many times, the salad bar is a highlight, and the pineapple rocks.
We are not fussy, but some of the things you showed, are not just not acceptable. Since the Free at sea promo, we have sailed NCL exclusively, we will be Sapphire level when we get off the ship.
Hoping for the best.
A group of us are scheduled to cruise Epic mid February 2025, right before it goes into drydock and are disgusted after seeing this video. Absolute shame on NCL for stopping even BASIC upkeep on the ship. We are trying to figure out what our options are before we submit final payment.
I would greatly appreciate hearing about your experience somehow.