Norwegian Epic Enters Drydock Ahead of Mediterranean Season

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic entered drydock in Europe earlier this month for scheduled maintenance and updates.

After repositioning from Port Canaveral, the 2010-built cruise ship arrived at Chantier Naval de Marseille in France on April 16, 2025. In a previous announcement, Norwegian Cruise Line emphasized that the drydock forms part of its ongoing commitment to delivering a consistent, world-class experience across its fleet.

While Norwegian did not provide detailed specifics about the upgrades, it referred to the work as a "revitalization." The Epic is expected to undergo routine maintenance, class certification tasks, and various technical improvements during its time in drydock.

The Norwegian Epic is the third vessel in the fleet to enter drydock this year, following the Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Breakaway, both of which recently completed upgrades that included enhancements to public spaces and guest accommodations.

Following the refit, the Epic will resume operations in early May, launching a summer season of Mediterranean cruises. Departing from Civitavecchia (near Rome), the ship will offer six- to ten-night itineraries visiting a range of destinations across Italy, France, Spain, Malta, and Greece.

Highlights of the sailings include stops at the Greek Islands of Santorini, Heraklion, Katakolon, and Argostoli, as well as visits to Syracuse and Messina in Sicily, Valletta in Malta, and Ibiza in Spain.

In late November, the 4,200-guest vessel will reposition to the Caribbean, operating out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the winter 2025-26 season. During this deployment, the Epic will offer seven-night cruises to destinations throughout the Southern Caribbean and the Antilles, including Philipsburg (St. Maarten), St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands), and Bridgetown (Barbados).

The ship is scheduled to return to the Mediterranean in May 2026 for a new series of weeklong cruises departing from Barcelona and Civitavecchia. For the winter 2026-27 season, the Norwegian Epic will once again reposition to Florida, offering sailings from Port Canaveral to destinations across Florida and the Caribbean.