Cruise Dates: December 14-21,2024
NCL Epic (FAILURE)
Destinations: Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola & Great Stirrup Cay

After being treated like utter garbage and getting food poisoned by the NCL Epic Thanksgiving of 2017 I reluctantly decided to give them another chance. HUGE MISTAKE! We stayed in cabin ***** (balcony) a tight fit, no real walk-way, the toilet space is beyond tiny as is the shower (separate) and the sitting sofa is awkward making it useless to sit on.

We did online check-in through NCL and picked our boarding time (12-12:30p), however when we arrived at the port, the line was past the security check. This line was merely for check-in to get a number to board in that group. The process to get a group number took more than 1 ½ hour. The process to actually have your group number called to board took another hour. So what was the point in pre-registering and selecting a boarding time if we still had to wait in all these lines?
Upon boarding we were unable to enter the room areas, even to locate your stateroom. The only thing we were able to do was check in at our Mustard station and get something to eat. Because we weren't able to go to our rooms until after 4p (3p is when we were supposed to gain access) and our luggage wasn't delivered until after 8p (7p was when it was supposed to be delivered) we were stuck trying to find somewhere to sit while we waited and because we didn't have access to our luggage, we were still in our travel clothing. Where we left was 32 degrees, FL was in the 70's so it was extremely uncomfortable.
We were supposed to leave port at 4p, however we didn't leave until after 5:30p putting us behind schedule. To try and make up for this late departure, the Captain thought it to be a good idea to go full throttle into a storm. This caused the ship to rock heavily to each side making the majority of the passengers sick. At any given moment you would see vomit on the floor, people walking with bags, and some even had trash cans. The onboard store ran out of motion sickness medication. It was so bad!
Despite the Captain's attempt to recoup the time lost, he was unable to make it to our first destination, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, however we weren't notified until the evening before we were to be there that they wouldn't make it and we would just have another glorious day at sea 🙁! Thus the sickness continued so that the Captain could get us to St. Thomas on schedule.
The onboard activities were less than. Typically there are multiple things to do at any given time and for someone of every walk of life. Here all there was was Trivia games, drinking, laying poolside, the spa or walking the ship. Beyond boring! Our cruise director was less than welcoming and catered to certain people and ignored or rolled his eyes at others.
If you wanted to partake in one of their shows, you had to make reservations in advance (in the Epic Theater) or show up to the comedy/dueling piano show a minimum of 1 ½ hour before the show was to take place to stand in line to get a seat.
The majority of our time was standing in line, from the port, to boarding, for dining, to get drinks, to get on the elevator, to get off the boat, to get on the boat, for shows, for guest services, etc.
Upon our arrival to Tortola it was raining, however NCL did not cancel our beach excursions, instead we were made to proceed or lose our money. Upon arrival at the beach, we then had to pay extra money to get a chair and umbrella to keep from getting soaked. This was a complete and total waste of money and time and NCL should have cancelled the beach excursions and allowed us to do something different. THEY DIDN'T!
When the rained out excursion was complete and we were taken back to the port to board, the line was outside the port. Had we wanted to wander around downtown, we wouldn't have been able to because we would have missed the boat. This line took over an hour to get through port security, then walk the pier to the boat and wait in the line to physically board the boat. Almost 2 hours of our day just trying to get back on the boat, SMH!
We were unable to take a tender at Great Stirrup Cay (private island) because they failed to PROPERLY inform ALL the passengers they were required to register with Guest Services if they wanted to get off the ship and go to the private island. Guest Services would then give you a group # and you would then go to the Manhattan Dining Room when it was called, wait, then board a tender. There were over 19 groups then "Free" boarding would happen, for those that were unaware of this requirement to register. Please note, announcements are not heard in the staterooms, you would be required to be in a hallway or public location to hear anything. Additionally, there was nothing mentioned or printed on the daily itineraries that are handed out the evening before. I kept every one of them in case NCL tried to lie. They didn't begin boarding tenders until after 10a despite arriving at 7a. We then had to be back on the boat at 4p. At 2p they were just calling group 16.
The Taste dining hall is only open from 7a-9a every morning. I am on vacation and therefore will not be able to get breakfast. This forced us to use the buffet or O'Sheehan's. The 1 morning we tried O'Sheehan's, my french toast was burnt on the outside and raw on the inside, DISGUSTING! We also tried lunch there and my burger was bright pink (medium rare).
With our package we received 2 specialty dining experiences. Cagney's was terrific, however La Cucina was worse than Olive Garden. Complete waste of money!
When we kept checking our account via the television and then reconciled it with all the holds they were putting on our card I went to Guest Services to find out what was happening. Jacqueline Gonzalez was less than helpful! When I kept repeating and showing her what our statement showed and what NCL showed she didn't have a response. I then wrote her name down to which she said she "didn't feel comfortable" with me writing her name down. My response was "you're wearing a name tag". She said her name tag was required to which I responded with why does it matter if I write your name down then, I still have it? Again, her response was muttered and unclear.

I immediately let my NCL cruise planner know what happened. She advised me to write it up and send it to NCL Customer Service. I also let her know that we would be cancelling our 9-day Alaska cruise if this wasn't made right. I wasn't spending that kind of money for trash. Today, I received a notice from NCL with nothing but excuses, followed by we will give you and your husband $50 on board credit for another cruise. LMAO! If that doesn't show you the type of company Norwegian is I don't know what will. Beyond unacceptable, unprofessional, and a full on slap in my face! NEVER AGAIN NORWEGIAN, 1st time shame on you, 2nd time shame on me - there will NOT be a 3rd time.