This spring, I embarked on one of the most unique cruise sailings I have ever been on: a 12-night Transatlantic voyage abroad Norwegian Epic from the United States to Europe.
The cruise consisted of 11 days at sea and only one port stop, making it the longest stretch I've ever spent at sea! Prior to the journey, I was curious to see what 11 days in the middle of the Atlantic sea onboard a cruise ship would be like. Would I find it relaxing or boring?
Come along with me as I detail every aspect of what it’s like to go on a Transatlantic cruise and whether I found it to be too many days at sea or not.
The embarkation process and itinerary
For this voyage, I embarked on the Norwegian Epic at Port Canaveral. Throughout the 12 days, the ship would traverse the rocky waves of the Atlantic Ocean and make its way to Rome, Italy where it would end its voyage.
Originally, this itinerary was scheduled to make stops at Gibraltar, United Kingdom and Alicante, Spain; however, due to unforeseen circumstances, one of these port visits had to be canceled.
Arriving at Port Canaveral on embarkation morning, I was shocked to discover the longest lines I had experienced so far in my cruise travels.
Because of the length of the sailing, coupled with the fact that the majority of days would be spent at sea and that it was in the middle of April, I figured the ship would not be at full capacity. Plus, I assumed most people onboard would be retired, as a 12-day cruise can be a lot of time for most people to take off time from work. Much to my surprised, the cruise was near capacity!
Boarding the Norwegian Epic at Port Canaveral took about 2 hours. Once I was onboard, I was able to make my way to my stateroom and acquaint myself with my new home at sea for the next 12 nights!
My stateroom
For this sailing, I was traveling by myself and stayed in one of Norwegian Epic’s exclusive Studio Staterooms.
This cruise was the longest amount of time I’ve spent onboard one ship, as well as the longest solo trips I had ever taken by land or by sea. Because of this, I brought some essential items with me to make my stay more comfortable.
In addition to my laptop for work, I also packed my Kindle for afternoons hanging out onboard reading, as well as a blanket from home to make my stateroom comfortable and cozy.
This cruise was my second time staying in one of Norwegian’s Studio Staterooms. Their innovative Studio Staterooms are designed for individuals traveling alone or who wish to have a smaller stateroom all to themselves, making them one of the leading names in the cruise industry for solo cruising
Along with exclusive amenities and special access to the Studio Lounge, staying in the Studio Staterooms allows guests the opportunity to meet new friends should they wish to.
Additionally, guests staying in Studio Staterooms can earn multiple points per night towards the next Latitudes Reward tier, Norwegian Cruise Line’s loyalty and reward program.
Read: I stayed in Norwegian Epic’s Studio Stateroom designed for one person for 12-nights
First days onboard
The first days on the ship were a novelty. It is always exciting getting to explore a new cruise ship for the first time. Figuring out where everything is onboard and discovering all of the amenities is one of the fun parts of any cruise experience.
Norwegian Epic has an interesting reputation for being one of the worst-rated ships in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. It is, after all, the only ship in the cruise line's Epic Class.
Because of this, I was intrigued to discover exactly how this ship is different from the other Norwegian ships that I have sailed on. I quickly discovered that this ship is quite different in terms of its layout and design. Something much different, for instance, was the lack of outdoor space onboard.
Aside from the pool and Spice H2O areas, there is no Waterfront or Ocean Boulevard. These spaces are familiar to many Norwegian travelers who have been on ships such as Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Viva, and Norwegian Encore.
I did discover that Norwegian Epic has my favorite version of Spice H2O, though! With great views of the back of the ship, plenty of lounge chairs to enjoy a beautiful sunset, a large outdoor bar, two hot tubs, and a small pool, Spice H2O onboard Norwegian Epic is one of the best in the fleet!
Moreover, Norwegian Epic seemed to feel more crowded than other Norwegian ships. There was, for example, a wait nearly each evening for the main dining restaurants.
One of the reasons for the ship feeling busier could be due to the Transatlantic itinerary. More days at sea meant that guests were in the common areas of the ship more.
After exploring the ship and getting myself acquainted with Norwegian Epic, I settled into a routine onboard and enjoyed the peace that can be found. Additionally, I was able to discover some of my favorite places onboard, such as the Ice Bar, one of the most unique venues on Norwegian Epic!
Read: This might be the coolest bar onboard with Norwegian Cruise Line, literally
By the second week, I had developed a routine
By the time days 8 and 9 rolled around, I had seen and explored every corner and amenity abroad Norwegian Epic and had developed a routine.
Norwegian Epic has a great gym onboard complete with every machine passengers could need and want to upkeep their fitness.
From cardio to weight training and stretching, the gym and fitness center is a great amenity for guests looking to squeeze in a little workout during their cruise. I found that the mid-afternoons seemed to be the busiest onboard.
The freedom of many sea days during a cruise is that guests have the ability and opportunity to relax and do as they please during their vacation. All without the pressure of many port days, a Transatlantic cruise can be one of the most relaxing itineraries.
I was able to find some relaxing spots onboard the ship, a good reading spot, as well as a peaceful place to get some work down and watch the waves. The La Cucina Restaurant onboard allowed guests to hang out and enjoy the ocean views during breakfast and lunch while eating complimentary options from the ship’s buffet, the Garden Cafe.
The disappointment of a canceled port
After 9 sea days, Norwegian Epic was scheduled to make its first port stop in Gibraltar, United Kingdom. However, early in the morning on the day of the scheduled visit, the Cruise Director and ship’s Captain made an announcement over the ship’s intercom system saying that we wouldn't be docking.
Unfortunately, during the Atlantic Ocean crossing, Norwegian Epic experienced some issues with one of its engines and had been operating at a slower speed than normal. Because of this, Norwegian Epic could not make it into port at Gibraltar on time.
Cruise port visits are strictly scheduled and, oftentimes, cruise Captains must plan their schedules down to the minute. Because of this, it unfortunately meant we had to skip one of our two scheduled ports for this itinerary. While we did get to sail through the Strait of Gibraltar, which was an incredible experience, many guests onboard were quite disappointed.
Things do happen, and while port cancellations are possible, Norwegian Cruise Line does usually do their best to make things right. Cruise ports are usually only canceled because of safety reasons or for reasons that the ship’s Captain deems absolutely necessary.
Plenty of time to explore
With 10 days at sea turning into 11, I can now say that I have spent nearly two weeks at sea on a cruise. I had more than enough time onboard to explore the ship itself, including the various entertainment options.
The entertainment onboard Norwegian Epic was great and consisted of many different kinds of shows for guests to see. My favorite was the "Burn The Floor" dance theater show. Additionally, guests could catch comedian acts, live game shows, a hypnotist, and live music performed nightly all over the ship.
I was able to see all of these entertainment types for myself onboard and was pleasantly surprised that Norwegian Epic had plenty planned onboard for guests when it came to activities and shows to keep them entertained.
Things I did not expect
Something I did not expect was just how much freedom I would feel on a Transatlantic cruise. I was able to sleep in on mornings that I wanted to, work out at the gym, and spend an hour reading in a comfortable chair by a window with ocean views, all without feeling guilty that I was missing out on something onboard or an exciting port of call.
A Transatlantic cruise allows passengers to truly slow down and enjoy the ship itself, whereas with other cruise itineraries, there may not be a lot of time to simply take in the views.
As someone who enjoys history, I was also excited about the prospect of making an Atlantic crossing as many others throughout history have done. This was something that I really enjoyed and reflected on and am excited to have checked it off my bucket list!
Read: I packed for a 12-night Transatlantic cruise in only a carryon, here’s how
The thrill of taking a ship across the Atlantic Ocean vs. a plane
Along the lines of appreciating that ship travel is how mankind has traveled for a millennium, there is a special thrill that comes with crossing the Atlantic Ocean by ship rather than airplane.
The day that Norwegian Epic began its sailing and we sailed away from the shores of Port Canaveral, we headed out towards the open ocean with land only in sight in 10 days. This was a bit thrilling and was definitely one of the most adventurous cruise sailings I have been on.
Being able to sail from the United States to Europe onboard a cruise ship means that you can enjoy an exciting and relaxing vacation on the way to exciting destinations.
Read: 12 reasons I liked this poorly rated ship, the Norwegian Epic
Was 10 days at sea too many?
So is 10 days spent at sea too many? My overall answer is it depends on the traveler.
As with any cruise ship and cruise itinerary, it all comes down to personal preferences and desires. If you are someone who enjoys a more active vacation filled with activities and sightseeing, 10 days at sea would probably be too many.
However, if you are someone who is looking for a true opportunity to relax on a cruise, then 10 days at sea may sound like the perfect vacation.
I highly recommend browsing all of the potential cruise itineraries you may be interested in and then making a decision based on exactly what you envision your cruise vacation to be.
Personally, I really enjoyed my Transatlantic sailing, but going forward, I think that when booking a family cruise or cruise with my husband, we would pick an itinerary with more port visits.
While 10 days at sea allows passengers to thoroughly explore the ship, it can also become rather boring if you are someone who enjoys an active vacation.
Would I do a Transatlantic cruise again?
Overall, would I do a Transatlantic cruise again? My answer is yes!
Transatlantic cruising is a unique experience, and I would be interested in trying it out a second time. Ideally, I would like to do a future Transatlantic cruise with my husband, family, or friends, and not alone the next time. While cruising solo can be a fun experience, I personally prefer sharing the memories of cruise travel with loved ones!
The next time I go on a Transatlantic cruise, I also would rather pick an itinerary with either more port stops along the way or fewer days at sea. While I enjoyed the ability to do exactly as I please and have the freedom to relax, I think a week-long Transatlantic cruise would be the perfect length and balance of sightseeing and relaxation!
I am very grateful for the opportunity and ability to try out the unique experience of sailing on a Transatlantic cruise itinerary, and I would do it again given the chance!
Hayley Phillips
Hayley Phillips is a military spouse currently living in Florida and loves all things travel and travel planning.
