In Spring 2024, I scratched off a major bucked list item. Finally going on a Mediterranean cruise through the Greek Islands! It was an *epic* adventure aboard the Norwegian Epic (pardon the pun), and it really was the perfect way to travel through the Med. Here is a full review of my 10 day NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise!
About the Cruise
The exact cruise I was on was called the “10-Day Greek Isles Round-Trip Rome: Santorini, Athens & Florence”. It was, as the title would suggest, a 10-day round-trip cruise. We departed from Civitavecchia (near Rome) and sailed through the Greek Islands, Italy, and Malta. With only one sea day at the beginning of the cruise, it was jam-packed and very port-intensive! You can search for Greek Island cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line by clicking here. I did appreciate the variety of port times. Some days we were docked bright and early, but others we got to sleep in a bit and enjoy a slow morning. I loved the Norwegian Epic and, although it is one of their larger ships, it never really felt too crowded. In hindsight, it was possibly the perfect cruise?!
Read More: How to Spend One Day in Rome (for first timers!)
Day 1: Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
Day 1 onboard actually started bright and early in Rome. We left the Hotel Diana and made our way to Roma Termini to catch the train to Civitavecchia. The ride was about an hour long and brought us right to central Civitavecchia. From there, we jumped on a shuttle bus that took us right to the port for boarding. Boarding was an absolute breeze (the longest part was checking luggage) and we were on the ship less than a half hour after arriving.
Read More: How to Get to the Civitavecchia Cruise Port from Rome
Once onboard, we immediately took care of the “logistics”. These items included visiting our muster station and booking our tender times for later in the cruise. When those items were out of the way, we changed into our swimsuits (pro tip: pack them in the bag you bring on board with you) and enjoyed a sail-away swim followed by a twist ice cream cone (or two). Once our rooms were ready, we took the time to unpack and get settled. Dinner that evening was in one of the two main dining rooms, Taste. The main dining rooms on the NCL Epic were solid, and we never had a bad meal!
Day 2: Cruising the Messina Strait
Day 2 on our NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise was our day at sea. Around 9:00 am, we passed through the Messina Strait, which passes between the island of Sicily and mainland Italy. Since the strait itself is only 2 miles wide, you feel really close to both lands. The ship moves slowly through the water and you can take in the views and wave “see you later” to Sicily, which we docked in later in the cruise!
The rest of the day was spent learning our way around the ship and resting up for being at port every other day of this trip. We were nervous about the weather in late-April, but it was surprisingly warm and we got to soak in a lot of rays at the pool. For dinner, we enjoyed our first of two complementary speciality dining meals: a steak dinner at Cagney’s! Cagney’s is a staple on NCL ships and, if you’re a steak lover, this restaurant is a must! I enjoyed a filet mignon that was cooked to perfection and the most delicious piece of chocolate cake for dessert. After, we enjoyed a juggling show in the main theatre before calling it a night, getting ready for our first port in the morning!
Day 3: Santorini, Greece
Day 3 of the cruise, but day 1 in port was a strong start: Santorini! This island has been high on my bucket list for years, and I was so excited to not only visit, but for it to be our first port! Once we arrived, we got on our tender boat to shore. A pro tip is to book your tender time as early as possible. You will want to be one of the first off the ship! We waited in a bit of a line for the cable car up to Fira, but once we arrived, it was a bee-line to the iconic city of Oia!
Read More: How to Get to Oia from the Santorini Cruise Port
Our afternoon in Oia was spent taking in the breathtaking views and pinching ourselves. I couldn’t believe I was actually here! Visiting in late-April (which is considered shoulder season) couldn’t have been better. While there were certainly crowds and some lines to see the most famous viewpoints, I have heard how bad the crowds get during summer and I was grateful to not have to deal with that! We wandered aimlessly through the town of Oia for a few hours: discovering new viewpoints and bopping into shops.
After a perfect afternoon in Oia, we made our way back to Fira for dinner at a cliff-side restaurant overlooking the Aegean Sea, and enjoying the best baklava I have ever had! Making our way back to the ship was a bit of an adventure. There were three other ships in port and the line for the cable car back down to the tenders was over a 2 hour wait! Since that would have made us miss our ship, we had no choice but to walk down the Karavolades Stairs. Over 580 donkey-poop-covered, steep, slippery stairs. It was certainly an adventure, but worth it for the adventures we had in Santorini!
Read More: 5 Tips for Visiting Santorini on a Cruise
Day 4: Athens (Piraeus), Greece
The next morning started bright and early, docked in Piraeus. This was the only day we booked a formal Shore Excursion through the cruise line. We met our group shortly after docking and boarded the bus into Athens. During my planning, I saw that there was a train from Piraeus to Athens, but it was a hefty walk from the cruise port. I can’t explain why the thought of taking public transportation in Athens made me apprehensive, but we decided to use our Shore Excursion credits to book “Athens On Your Own”. This excursion was basically just a bus ride into the city and back to the ship. In hindsight, aside from the far walk, the trains appeared to be more than fine and I would consider taking them next time.
Our bus took us to the Plaka neighborhood of Athens, right near the Acropolis. This was when I made one of my biggest mistakes: thinking I could buy Acropolis tickets the morning of! Pro tip: book these in advance! By the time we arrived at 9:00 am, the earliest timed ticket we could get for that day was 2:00 pm! We spent the next few hours exploring Plaka and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Shortly before our timed ticket, we made our way back and climbed up to the Acropolis, which was absolutely spectacular and worth the wait.
Read More: 5 Tips for Visiting the Acropolis in Athens
Since we couldn’t get into the Acropolis until later in the afternoon, we missed our bus back to port! This was disappointing as we paid for the round-trip transportation up front, but we figured it was worth it to visit the Acropolis. When in Rome (err, Athens)! Thankfully, taxis are really easy to come by in Athens, and the cruise ship port is only about a 20-minute drive away. When approaching a taxi back to the port, always negotiate a rate up front, and never take their first offer! The ride should cost you no more than €25. If you’re quoted any more than that, they are tying to rip you off. The first few cabs quoted us €40, then €35, then €30. I asked on driver to take us back for €20 and we met in the middle at €25.
Day 5: Mykonos, Greece
Day 5 of our NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise was probably my favorite of them all: Mykonos! We were only at port for about 6 hours total, and I was so worried that wouldn’t be enough time. Thankfully, the town is small and easy to explore on foot. Our ship docked at the port slightly outside of town. Free shuttle busses were available to bring us right into the heart of Mykonos Town. We were able to hit the ground exploring immediately!
Docking early in the morning was such a pleasant experience, as we got to explore the town with very few people! While only a handful of restaurants and shops were open, but it was worth it to feel like we had Mykonos to ourselves for a few hours! We got (literally) lost wandering through the white-washed stone streets. We actually were in town on Greek Orthodox Good Friday, so we heard lots of church bells ringings and locals making their way to mass. It was such a unique experience, and really made it feel like we were experiencing authentic Mykonos!
Read More: 6 Tips for Visiting Mykonos Town on a Cruise
After a morning of wandering, we made our way back down to small beach in town. My feet were begging to be dipped in the crystal-clear waters! The sea in late-April was much too cold to swim, but walking in up to our ankles was a nice refresh! We sat down for an early lunch at one of the many restaurants that hug the water for a spritz and, of course, more baklava. It was then time to head back to the ship, though this time we had to tender. The tender lines were pretty long, but waiting in line along the coast in Mykonos is not a bad place to be. Our ship left Mykonos around 1:00 pm so we spent the rest of the day relaxing onboard. Dinner that evening was in the second main dining room (The Manhattan Room), and catching their signature show Burn the Floor!
Day 6: Corfu, Greece
Day 6 was spent in Corfu- our last day in Greece! Our plan was to dock and explore the town, but if I were to do it all over again, I probably would have booked a shore excursion for this day. While the day ended up being a success, it was probably my least favorite day in port on the entire NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise.
We were in town on Greek Orthodox Greek Saturday, which was definitely bittersweet. The city was absolutely packed with those celebrating the holiday (Corfu is one of the best places in Greece to celebrate Easter!). On one had, it was really fascinating to see the locals celebrating their holiday! On the other, it was insanely crowded. It was difficult to get seated (and then get service) at restaurants, or even walk into shops. One of the most interesting Easter traditions in Corfu is locals smashing clay pots to celebrate. This made the streets covered in smashed clay, which was interesting, but it did feel a little dangerous! We were always on the lookout for flying clay pots!
However, we made the most of it and spent the afternoon at the Old Fortress. This was a nice escape from the crowds, and was the highlight of our day! I loved getting to see the crystal clear waters, the beautiful boats docked, and see views of the city. We then made the walk back to the ship and had a realxing evening on board. We geared up to enter a new country in the morning: Malta!
Day 7: Valletta, Malta
Day 7 on the cruise and country #17 for me: Malta! The ship docked right in the heart of Valletta, which made for an easy disembark. We were able to get to exploring right away! Valletta is the smallest capital city in the European Union, and easy to cover on foot. We were surprised at how hilly it was (lots of “streets” were actually just staircases!), but we loved how unique that made Valletta!
The day started with a quick elevator ride up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The gardens are beautiful and offer spectacular views over the harbor and out to The Three Cities. From there, it’s a quick walk to the City Gate and into town. With no plans for the day, the afternoon was spent wandering – literally. Since Valletta is a peninsula, you are pretty contained and really can never be “lost”. We turned and walked down whatever streets our feet took us down. We explored the city squares, gorgeous cathedrals, views of the water, forts, and more gardens. Making our way back to the ship was easy, and we geared up to make our way back to Italy in the morning!
Valletta is a really easy port day and easy to do with no plans. I’m so glad to have had the day to explore this spectacular city, but am looking forward to my next trip to Malta to see what else the country has to offer! The Blue Lagoon is still high on my bucket list…
Read More: 5 Tips for Visiting Valletta, Malta on a Cruise
Day 8: Messina, Italy (day trip to Taormina)
Back in Italy, and finally touching ground in Sicily (which we sailed past a few days prior)! We docked bright and early in the port town of Messina. Messina is a major transportation hub between Sicily and mainland Italy, separated only by 2 miles of water known as the Messina Strait. Instead of spending time in Messina, we bee-lined it straight to the train station. We were off to explore the cliff-side city of Taormina!
Read More: How to Get to Taormina from the Messina Cruise Port
Taormina was easy to get to from Messina, and in my opinion, the best way to spend a port day! We started with a walk down Taormina’s main street Corso Umberto. This street is the heart of the city and home to tons of shops, cafes, and restaurants. I snagged a spectacular Nutella cookie at Pasticceria Etna and chocolates to take home at Nino and Friends.
Just off the main road is the famous city square Piazza IX Aprile. This is the perfect place to stop, relax, and enjoy. We snapped pics of the famous Chiesa di San Giuseppe church and the Torre dell’Orologio e Porta di mezzo archway that surround the square. And of course, plenty of pics were taken at the Belvedere di Taormina. This is a spectacular (and arguably the most famous) scenic viewpoint in Taormina! The checkered black and white tiled ground contrasting against the bright blue Ionian Sea is one of those pinch me moments that you will never forget!
From there, we continued down into town and enjoyed the views at Terrazza Panoramica su Giardini Naxos. This little garden at the far end of town was a great little escape from the city with stunning views. Before heading back to the train to bring us back to Messina, we stopped at the Odeon. This old amphitheater right in the center of town was so interesting and fun to explore!
Read More: How to Spend a Half Day in Taormina
Once back onboard the ship, we got ready for our second complementary speciality dining. A hibachi dinner at Teppanyaki! It was such a fun way to close out the day. Our chef was a lot of fun: we laughed and sang at the top of our lungs! And the food was dynamite, and everything you’d expect from fresh hibachi. While we smelled like garlic for the rest of the night, I would recommend this speciality restaurant aboard NCL ships!
Day 9: Naples and Capri, Italy
Another day that started bright and early, as we docked in Naples, Italy at 6:00 am! Immediately after docking at the port, we beelined it to the Molo Beverello ferry docks. Today was day-tripping to the island of Capri! We snagged our tickets for the very first ferry at 7:00 am and boarded the 45-minute long scenic ride out to Capri.
Read More: How to Get to Capri from the Naples Cruise Port
After arriving, we made our way up the funicular to Capri Town. Just outside of the upper station is Piazza Umberto, which was the perfect place to take in the views and pinch ourselves that we really were in Capri! We enjoyed the quiet morning before the hoards of tourists arrived to wander through the tight, picturesque streets. We popped into small bookstores, shopped for Capri linens, and did some luxury window shopping on Via Camerelle.
After, we then made our way over to the Giardini di Augusto for some killer sea views. The gardens are about a 10 minute walk from the center of Capri Town, but a really easy walk that in lined with beautifully manicured homes, hotels, and shops. The grounds for the Luna Hotel were also open and we wandered through them a bit. They had stunning gardens and views of the cliffs and sea from their decks!
Read More: 5 Tips for Day Tripping to Capri from Naples
As to not push time, we took a ferry back to Naples in the early afternoon. Since we still had a bit of time before all aboard, we took about a 15 minute walk into the city and did some quick exploring. The Galleria Umberto I is an absolutely stunning indoor shopping center that has a huge glass ceiling and dome. Inside, you will find some restaurants, shops, and coffee shops. It’s worth popping in for a few minutes to take it in! After, we grabbed some authentic Napoli pizza at Pizzeria Vincenzo Capuano on their outdoor patio. In Naples, it’s custom to actually cut pizzas with scissors instead of a pizza cutter, and this restaurant was the first place to do that!
After, we grabbed an “exploding lemonade” next door at Acquafrescaio. The lemonade is mixed with club soda, and then at the very last second, a scoop of baking soda. The lemonade then fizzles up and you’re forced to bend over and spread your legs to chug it before it gets all over you. A super fun way to end the day before making the quick walk back to the cruise ship!
Day 10: Livorno, Italy (day trip to Florence)
Our final day on our NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise was in Livorno, Italy. However, let’s be honest, Livorno is just the gateway to other cities in Italy. Many people choose to head to either Pisa or Florence for the day. Even though Florence is much further away than Pisa, we couldn’t resist spending a day there!
There were a lot of “logistics” to get from the Livorno cruise port to Florence. We had to board a bus, to another bus, to a train to Florence. But once we arrived, we realized how worth it all the hassle was!
Read More: How to Get to Florence from the Livorno Cruise Port
Once off the train, we hit the ground running and beelined it straight to the Piazza del Duomo. The Piazza is home to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto’s Bell Tower, both of which are iconic landmarks in Florence! It was jammed packed with tourists, but absolutely no trip to Florence is complete without visiting, so it was still worth it. We then strolled down the Via dei Calzaiuoli into the Piazza della Repubblica, stopping along the way for gelato at Badiani. The Piazza della Repubblica was a nice place to people-watch and enjoy the stunning buildings that surround it.
Just a short walk from there is the Piazza della Signoria, which is home to dozens of impressive statues. The most famous being an exact replica of David. This replica is the exact same shape and size, made from the same materials, and is even located in the same spot as the original (the real is in the Accademia Gallery). Right next to David is the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio, which we explored before strolling past the Uffizi Gallery and down to the River Arno. We crossed Ponte Vecchio, the iconic bridge that crosses the river before grabbing (more) gelato at La Strega Nocciola and shopping at a store with all things Pinocchio.
Read More: How to Spend a Perfect Port Day in Florence, Italy
We then stopped at Ristorante Beccafico for some killer homemade pasta and immaculate vibes! They were also setting up for a cooking class while we were there, and if we had planned our time better, we would have loved to stay. Just a few minute walk from there was Babae, a bar/restaurant famous for their wine window! We opted for a glass of the classic rosé and stood on the streets sipping our wine while simultaneously pinching ourselves.
On our journey back to the train station to get back to the ship we crossed back over the River Arno over the Ponte alla Carraia and did some shopping for authentic leather at Benheart. We made a quick stop at the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, which is a quaint little square filled with fresh flowers and is home to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. This basilica is really beautiful and has such detail along the sides! We then arrived at the Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station to kick back on the long journey back to Livorno (and our last day on board!). Unfortunately the evening was filled with a lot of packing, but we did manage to squeeze in one last dinner at Shanghai’s, a complementary Asian restaurant on board. Get the twice-fried sweet and sour pork and thank me later!
Back to Rome, Italy
Back in Civitavecchia and our last morning on board our NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise (insert crying emoji here)! We docked around 6:00 am and grabbed one last breakfast at the buffet and made our way off the ship around 8:00 am. The port bus took us back to the Civitavecchia train station where we boarded our train back to Roma Termini. Since our flight back home wasn’t until the next day, we had another full day to explore Rome! Our pre-cruise day in Rome was spent hitting all of the main attractions, therefore our post-cruise day in Rome was a little slower. We dropped our bags at the Bettoja Hotel Massimo d’Azeglio hotel near the train station and then took the subway to Vatican City!
When we arrived by late-morning, Vatican City was pretty packed. The line to get into St. Peter’s Basilica zig-zagged through the queue and then wrapped around the entire plaza. However, line moves surprisingly quickly! All-in-all, it was about 45 minutes from the moment we got in line (snaked all the way around, past the Bernini Fountain) to the moment we got through security. It wasn’t bad at all and was worth the wait! We then visited the “pop up” post office right in the square to send a postcard to my parents back home! Mailing a postcard to the states cost about €3 and took about a month to arrive. I still thought this was such a fun and unique thing to do- especially from the world’s smallest country!
Read More: Top 6 Tips for Visiting Vatican City
By late afternoon, the entire trip started to catch up to us, so we crashed back at the hotel for an afternoon nap. Dinner that evening was at a nearby restaurant that was recommended to us by the hotel front desk, and then was followed by two desserts. The first was at Venchi, a gelato chain that had a location nearby in the nearby Roma Termini station. The second was across the street at McDonald’s (don’t laugh!) for pistachio McFlurries. When in Rome!
Overall Thoughts
I’ve traveled quite a bit, but this will go down as one of my favorite trips! I loved waking up to a new place every morning and enjoying all the amenities the Norwegian Epic had to offer. Cruises also offer such incredible value, all things considered. It includes your accommodations, meals, and transportation between ports. If we were to have done this trip on our own, it would have been exponentially more expensive! And one of the more underrated great things about cruises? Only having to unpack once! If you’ve ever lugged your suitcases between cities in Europe, you’ll understand how much of a luxury this is.
Of course the downside is having such limited time in port to experience these new cities. However, I like to consider cruises a “sampler platter”. I walked away from this trip with a list of places I cannot wait to go back to explore more in depth (Malta, Florence). I also have a couple places that I felt like I got enough out of (Corfu, Santorini).
This NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise was the best way to see Europe, and I cannot wait for my next one!
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