Mediterranean Cruise on the Norwegian Epic

In 2018, I started a new job that had a week long break over the Fourth of July. I wasted no time after being hired booking my first solo Mediterranean cruise on the Norwegian Epic. I decided on a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line, due to their Studio cabins and reputation for being good for solo travelers. The Epic cruises had the option of leaving out of Barcelona or Rome (Civitavecchia). Due to the Barcelona embarkment being on a Sunday, it better aligned with my time off work.

I flew into Barcelona the day before, which is always highly recommended for a cruise, especially when flying internationally. It also gave me more time to explore and enjoy Barcelona. I had signed up for a bike tour of Barcelona which was a great way to stretch my legs after a long flight and fight the jet lag.

Both before and after the cruise, I stayed a the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel. I have loyalty status with both Marriott and Hilton, so I usually try to stay at one of their brands anytime I travel for extra points and amenities. The Renaissance was a great home base in Barcelona. I especially liked the rooftop bar.

On Sunday, I took a taxi to the cruise port and boarded the Epic. My stateroom wouldn’t be ready until after 1pm, so I got myself a drink and found a quiet place to sit and wait. I don’t check luggage on planes or cruise ships, so I had my carry on and backpack with me, kind of limiting what I could do while I waited.

The wait wasn’t long though, and I was soon on my way to check out my Studio cabin. At right around 100 square feet, they are the smallest cabins on the ship, and made just for solo travelers. They are all interior cabins, but the layout is very efficient and can be a great deal for solo travelers.

Once settled, I took off to explore more of the ship and grab some lunch. At 6pm, there was a Solo Travelers’ Gathering in the Studio Lounge, an area reserved just for solo travelers. There are coffee machines available 24 hours a day as well as snacks. In the evening, a bartender is available to serve drinks. These gatherings are a great time to meet other cruisers and the designated Host from NCL took those interested to the dining room and secured a table that would fit all of us.

I highly recommend attending this meeting on the first night. Not only did I meet some of my fellow travelers that I could share a friendly hello with throughout the week, but I got some great tips about the ship as well.

For those leaving out of Barcelona, our first full day was a Sea Day. In retrospect, I kind of wish I had embarked in Rome as it would have given more time to explore Rome and a Sea Day more in the middle/end of the cruise to rest and recover from all of the long days of sightseeing.

Based on a tip from the solo travelers’ dinner the night before, I headed up to the sun deck on 18 that without the tip, I may have never found on my own. It was so peaceful and quiet with a great view on the front of the ship. Later in the day, servers came around for drink orders. It was a great way to spend the day.

I had also bought a pass to the Thermal Spa on the Epic. This was a great place to relax in the evening, especially after those long sightseeing days. I spent many evenings on the padded loungers on the aft balcony. I also took full advantage of the larger showers and hair dryers in the locker room, as the shower in my studio cabin was quite small.

On this cruise, a lot of the attractions were some distance from the port, so I stuck with Norwegian sponsored excursions. I didn’t want to worry about transportation and getting back to the ship on time. With excursions through the cruise line, I knew that they would guarantee my return to the ship.

Our first port day was Naples. My excursion was titled Pompeii & Enchanting Sorrento which took us for a drive along the Amalfi Coast. I fell in love with the beauty of the Amalfi Coast that day. I was able to take some amazing pictures that I enjoy looking at all the time. Pompeii was also awe inspiring, but in a much different way. I love to learn about history, and Pompeii did not disappoint.

The next port was Rome/Civitavecchia. There is so much to see in Rome, and I wanted to explore it all. I booked an excursion aptly named “Ultimate Rome”. We spent the day seeing Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, and the Vatican. It was both wonderful and exhausting. I headed straight to the Thermal Spa afterwards to watch the sail away and soak my sore legs.

Our final stop in Italy was Livorno where I went on an excursion called Wonders of Lucca and Pisa. I really enjoyed our time in Lucca, a city where the annual Summer Festival includes appearances by some of the top musical acts. After touring the city, we traveled to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa before heading back to the ship. That night I again skipped the main dining room in favor of a quick meal at the buffet and a soak in the Thermal Spa.

On day five of the cruise, we stopped outside of Cannes, France. This was a tender port, and my excursion was called simply Monaco & Monte Carlo. This excursion felt very high class as we viewed the marinas filled with yachts and of course the famous Monte Carlo Casino. With so many visitors, there is a cost to enter the casino. I didn’t feel the need to wait in line and pay, so I just enjoyed the view of the exterior.

Our final full day was in Palma. I was extremely grateful that we didn’t arrive until early afternoon, as I needed the morning to rest. My excursion for the day wasn’t exactly conducive for rest, as it was another bike tour, but it was a pretty easy ride, and a great way to explore the city.

After arriving back to Barcelona, I disembarked and headed back to the Renaissance. My flight home wasn’t until the next day, so I had more time for exploring the city. I purchased a ticket for the Hop On, Hop Off bus, which I used to get around the city. I had also pre-booked tickets for La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Both were filled with amazing architecture and art. I also had a chance to stop at the beach and one more trip to the wonderful rooftop bar at the hotel.

Overall, this was an amazing trip. I got to take a small taste of a number of new European cities, many of which I hope to visit again soon. Little did I know I would be seeing the Norwegian Epic again soon as well.