Driving towards Southampton docks, cruisers always feel a massive feeling of excitement when turning the corner and there's the ship, in all its glory waiting for new adventures.

Epic, Norwegian Cruise Line's latest vessel launched earlier this year, and, thanks to the glorious weather, my two days onboard felt like a mini break in the Caribbean. It was my first experience of an NCL ship, and my expectation was that she would be garish

Having only ever cruised with more ‘traditional' dining cruise holidays, I hadn't experienced Freestyle Dining. I loved the concept, but personally missed the grandeur of walking into a beautiful dining room. The choice of food options was quite outstanding though, the specialist venues do carry a small cover charge of around $25pp, but there were plenty of free options and the cuisine was mouthwatering in the restaurants I did have chance to try on such a brief trip. Night one was spent in the Manhattan Room, an elegant supper club complete with music, dancing and entertainment. The food and service was pretty good, and the ambience was superb. My second night I dined in Moderno Churrascaria – inspired by Argentina's famous restaurants where tableside passadors served the most delicious selection of meats from large skewers – accompanied by a lavish salad bar. I did sneak in a plate of sushi and was most impressed – as good as London's top Japanese restaurants.

• Other options include:
• O'Sheehan's Neighbourhood Bar & Grill – for all American favourites and comfort food 24 hours a day with 10-pin bowling lanes, sports TV and pool tables adding to the fun atmosphere.
• Spice H2O – just for adults, serving up a contemporary take on Latin and Asian-influenced cuisine.
• Taste – located in the ship's atrium, offering an exciting menu of traditional and contemporary cuisine in a retro-chic setting.
• Shanghai's – for chinese dishes and noodle bar.

In brief, there are options on Epic from all over the world, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, the Orient, Japan and the USA – my advice would be, bring your appetite and make use of the superb fitness centre onboard to keep the pounds off!

During the day, there are endless entertainment and activity options, plenty of classes and a whole host of fun features including a rock climbing and abseiling wall, ten pin bowling and mind-blowing water slide park (you must try The NCL's Epic Plunge, the only bowl slide at sea with a drop through a 200-foot-long tube!). We were onboard for the final England first round World Cup match and were lucky enough to enjoy watching it on the top deck massive screen in the sunshine!

My only criticism would be the lack of sunbeds, and I do think on busy sailings, it could feel a little jampacked out on deck at times.

Mandara Spa, the largest spa at sea is luxury and pampering personified. There's some fabulous shops, new types of classes like tequila tasting or improv comedy, and one of the best kid's and teens's activity programmes at sea.

The staterooms are contemporary, although maybe a little unsual, with ‘open plan' bathrooms (sink in the stateroom and toilet and shower behind sliding frosted glass doors). All were superbly appointed although if you suffer from claustrophobia I wouldn't recommend the single traveller cabins, a great concept but definitely wouldn't suit everyone.

I was seriously impressed by the evening entertainment options. Blue Man Group have been brought onboard with their one-of-a-kind theatrical performance, it was extremely talented and most definitely a must see if you take a cruise onboard Epic. Cirque Dreams & Dinner is held in the Spiegel Tent, just like inside a Big Top where you can dine and watch Broadway, eccentricity and acrobatics come to life. Other highlights include:

• The Second City – comedy and live improvisation show
• Legends in Concert – top celebrity impersonators appealing to music fans of all ages
• Howl at the Moon – high energy rock ‘n' roll duelling piano show
• Fat Cats – live blues and mellow jazz venue
• Murder Mystery – ‘Who Dunnit?' show, where you in the audience become part of the action

There are 20 bars and lounges onboard Epic, including the first genuine Ice Bar at sea – a bit of a novelty, and with a cover charge to enter, worth the experience if you haven't trialled London's version. My personal feeling at times was that some of the bars seemed a little like being in a hotel ‘lobby', and the layout of one leading into the next didn't always make sense. But plenty of choice and some lovely ideas and decor meant that you would never be bored!!!

Norwegian Epic will be sailing Europe in 2011, cruising from Barcelona and taking in Palma, Livorno, Civatavecchia and Naples.