You may or may not know this, but some people think Norwegian Epic is the ugliest cruise ship ever. And if cruise ships win beauty awards, well… Norwegian Epic isn’t going to come first… or second… or even third. In a sea of sleek ships with sweeping curves and elegant symmetry, Epic stands out… and not always for the right reasons.
“The Pontiac Aztec of cruise ships!” One reddit user says.
But is that really fair? Let’s take a closer look.
The exterior
At first glance, Norwegian Epic doesn’t look too bad. Sure, it looks like someone stacked a block of flats on top of a container ship. The hull is massive and top-heavy, with an oddly abrupt superstructure that gives the ship a boxy, almost unfinished look. But I mean, some people think the latest Icon-class of ships are hideous.
However, I feel the lack of beauty is more on the inside for this one…
One Reddit user bluntly wrote, “That ship is horrendous and filthy and absolutely disgusting!” It might sound harsh, but scroll through any Norwegian Epic thread on any cruise forum, and you’ll find that this isn’t a one-off.
Another user saying “the entire ship is dark, with low ceilings everywhere, and generally seems designed to make passengers feel like they never left the United States. There is nothing elegant or memorable about the Epic.”
Dang.
The infamous bathroom layout
In most balcony cabins, the shower and toilet are separated and placed on opposite sides of the room, right by the entrance, each behind a frosted glass door. There’s no proper bathroom – just… zones. Safe to say, it was controversial enough that Norwegian never repeated it again on future ships.
If you’ve sailed on Costa Smerlada, they have a similar situation… Where some showers have a super frosted glass door that peaks into the main cabin. However, theirs isn’t as drastic.
A mishmash of styles
Inside the ship, design choices feel inconsistent. Some spaces, like the Spiegel Tent and the Cavern Club, are immersive and interesting. Others, particularly in public corridors and some lounges, feel oddly mismatched or outdated.
To be fair, Epic was originally meant to be the first in a whole new class of ships. But due to mixed reviews and some behind-the-scenes design drama (plus cost overruns), the project was scrapped. Epic remains a one-off, which adds to her strange, standalone character – and may explain some of the clashing choices.
But is she really that bad?
Well, I mean… You’re still on holiday, right? And if you’ve ever done a 3-star hotel in Benidorm, Salou, or any of those style holidays in general. It’s what you make of it. But equally, if you’re paying the price of a luxury holiday – things should be clean.
Does she reflect the standard of NCL?
Absolutely not. Many cruises, myself included, love NCL, the Norwegian Epic is truly the exception. And I can almost 100% guarantee that if you book on any other NCL ship, you will love it.
Have NCL just given up with her?
Well, not quite. Back in May 2025, she went through a drydock and had a bit of a refurbishment, so fingers crossed things are looking up for her. Although, I’m looking at some CruiseCritic reviews from June-onwards, and it’s not looking good.
- The balcony was all rusty and the had a towel wedged in-between us and the next balcony because the door was broken” – CruiseCritic Reviewer (June 2025)
- “A lot of people I have spoken to have had food poisoning from the restaurants.” – CruiseCritic Reviewer (May 2025)
How about some positives?
Well, a positive is that the ship is actually award winning…
- 2018 Best for Entertainment
- 2018 Best for Families
- 2017 Best for Entertainment
- 2017 Best for First Timers
- 2016 Best for Entertainment
- 2016 Best for Families
- 2015 Best for Entertainment
- 2015 Best for Value
- 2014 Best Overall
- 2014 Best for Dining
- 2014 Best for Entertainment
- 2014 Best for Public Rooms
- 2014 Best for Service
- 2014 Best for Families
- 2013 Best Overall
- 2013 Best for Cabins
- 2013 Best for Dining
- 2013 Best for Entertainment
- 2013 Best for Public Rooms
- 2013 Best for Service
Now, most of these are 10+ years old, so they may not be that valid anymore. But, hey – a cruise is a cruise, right?
Let’s be real: Norwegian Epic won’t be gracing the cover of Architectural Digest anytime soon
Her design is divisive, her layout is quirky, and her silhouette is… well, unfortunate. But is there also something charming about a ship that dares to be different? Maybe… Even if it misses the mark.
So yes, maybe Norwegian Epic is the ugliest cruise ship in the world. But maybe, just maybe, that’s part of her weird, wonderful appeal.
