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Norwegian Epic Review - Countdown to Launch
Norwegian Cruise Line's 153,000-ton 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic, the lone ship to emerge from the rife-ridden F3 project, will debut in summer 2010 as the largest, trendiest and most innovative new design ever built by NCL. Moreover, the ship will usher in some of the most revolutionary new concepts in all of cruise travel.
The line has noted that design-wise, Norwegian Epic will be "a natural, logical progression of freestyle cruising with more flexibility and more deconstruction [of traditional cruise features]." Specifically, the ship will be almost as notable for what's not onboard as for what is. A large main dining venue capable of accommodating everyone onboard has been replaced with a few mid-sized venues and an array of smaller alternative eateries from a French bistro to a Chinese noodle house. In lieu of a main production theater, the ship features a more modest-sized theater alongside multiple entertainment venues (a "big-top"-style venue will host a dinner show with acrobatics; the Second City improv comedy troupe has their own designated club). Space-wasting features such as multi-deck atriums (never really NCL's thing) and promenades are abolished.
While the line is transferring much of what already works on its ships -- freestyle dining (Epic will have a whopping 14 restaurants), a nightclub-cum-bowling alley (NCL's added another three-lane alley in the dedicated sports bar), lots of balconies (all outsides will have 'em) and the courtyard villas -- there are plenty of new concepts as well. The company's been steadily trickling out details relating to the ship's itineraries, cabin design, sports activities, impressive water park, kids' facilities and other public spaces.
NCL's First Aqua Park and Other Onboard Amusements
 Aqua Park Photo
 Following in Carnival and Royal Caribbean's footsteps, a sprawling Aqua Park will boast three waterslides, including one that utilizes an inner tube; a twisty slide (a la Carnival Dream's corkscrew slide); and one just for kids that actually goes right through the rock-climbing wall. The most unusual is "Epic Plunge," the slide that uses inner tubes. Passengers will zip down a 200-ft. channel into a bowl where centrifugal forces will spin them for a bit before they splash down.
There will also be two pools with lighting effects produced at night, five whirlpools and a kids' splash pool with water spouting sculptures (reminiscent of Royal Caribbean's H20 Zone).
While other NCL ships feature rock-climbing walls, Epic's will be quite a bit larger: 33 feet high, 64 feet wide. There will also be a rappelling wall, the first at sea (this is almost the opposite of rock-climbing -- you work your way down a cliff by rappelling off of it).
A multi-use sports deck will include a full-size basketball court, batting cage, bungee trampoline, rope adventure course and a 24-foot tall enclosed climbing cage called the Spider Web. Norwegian Epic will also feature a squash court, located in the fitness center.
Bowling. Norwegian Epic will feature six bowling lanes (split between two venues), upping the number of lanes found on previous NCL new-builds Norwegian Pearl and Gem.
Kids' Stuff. Recess features two separate spaces for kids ages two through nine and tweens, ages 10 through 12. The kids' area includes a space-themed play area, air hockey table, dance floor, Wii's, etc. The Tween Zone features multiple Wii and PlayStation areas, along with a private karaoke performance stage/cinema.
Entourage is Norwegian Epic's top-ship teen area (ages 13 through 17). This space includes air hockey; pinball; foosball; a video jukebox; and nine flat-screen TV's, five of which are located around a central video game console featuring PS3. In the evening, Entourage turns into a nightclub. There's also an arcade a floor below.
Dining Details
Check out dining photos!
Taste. NCL says "traditional and contemporary cuisine" will be served in this atrium eatery decorated with velvet curtains, white walls and brick accents.
The Manhattan Room. This will be an two-story Art Deco supper club with a dance floor (and live evening music). We're not clear on the menu just yet: NCL says "the cuisine reflects the elegant and romantic nature of the room."
Cafe Jardin & The Great Outdoors. As on other recent launches, Cafe Jardin (the Garden Cafe) is NCL's answer to the traditional cruise ship buffet -- an action-station-only Lido eatery.
Cagney's Steakhouse & Churrascaria. Cagney's, NCL's signature steakhouse, is back. But this time, an Argentinean churrasco will be added. Expect to sup on skewered meats presented by tableside passadors. A per-person charge, to be determined, will apply.
La Cucina. An olive tree and hanging lanterns will adorn this NCL favorite, a Tuscan-style Italian eatery. A per-person charge will apply.
Le Bistro. Another returning restaurant, NCL's French bistro, Le Bistro, will on Epic feature contemporary and traditional paintings and sculptures. A per-person charge will apply.
Shanghai's. New for Epic, Shanghai's will serve a mix of Chinese dishes in a noodle bar setting -- noodles, wok fried dishes and dim sum will be prepared in an open kitchen. Reminiscent of the noodle houses located in Vegas and Atlantic City, Shanghai's will be situated in the casino area. Expect to pay extra.
Wasabi. Located outside the Teppanyaki restaurant, Wasabi is an expansive sushi and sake bar. Expect to pay extra.
Teppanyaki. This will be NCL's largest Teppanyaki yet, and the largest at sea, seating 115 guests. Up to 24 chefs will cook nightly. A per-person charge will apply.
O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill. Hungry around the clock? This 24-hour joint will be fashioned after a hometown-y sports bar, serving comfort food. Here you'll find three bowling lanes, dart boards, pool tables, foosball and arcade games.
The Epic Club and Courtyard Grill. Reserved exclusively for Norwegian Epic's suite and villa guests, the Epic Club will feature a large wine display, glass sculptures and pearl drapes. The Courtyard Grill is a casual, outdoor area of the restaurant serving suite and villa guests breakfast and lunch.
At this point we don't know what the extra fees will be; stay tuned.
Evening Entertainment
The Blue Man Group is headed to sea on Norwegian Epic. The ship will welcome the group as part of its entertainment offerings, featuring eight performances -- two each day for four days -- on its seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings. Epic Theater, the show's (mid-size) onboard venue will seat roughly 600 passengers, nearly twice as many as Blue Man Group's home theater in New York City. The show will be free; spokeswoman AnneMarie Mathews tells us the line's still working on a system for tickets and priority seating.
Cirque Dreams and Dinner, a combination alternative restaurant and show. The eatery, which will carry an extra cost of $15 per person, is set to feature a one-ring, red-and-white-striped big top -- and a very active waitstaff.
Other Epic offerings include the Epic Casino, NCL's largest at 13,000 square feet; the Ice Bar, kept at a constant 17 degrees; the Manhattan Room, featuring big-band music, Salsa dancing and romantic dinners; the POSH Beach Club, a private area with pool, waterfall, Balinese-style beds for lounging and private cabanas; Spice H2O, an sun deck, outdoor movie theater and nightclub; Fat Cats blues and jazz club; and Headliners Comedy Club, housing improv troupe The Second City.
Accommodations
Check out New Wave cabin photos!
Check out Courtyard and Studio cabin photos!
Norwegian Epic will feature "New Wave" staterooms, a new take on cabin design featuring contemporary curved architecture and more open living space.
The two major innovations here are in actual cabin structure. The first -- and most noticeable in the renderings -- is sleek, curved walls and lines, which will create a "modern and chic experience," according to NCL. Second, the ship will also feature a unique bathroom concept: The shower stall, toilet area and vanity have been split up into three different entities.
Though a similar three-part setup has already been implemented on earlier NCL ships, the difference here is that instead of all three of the above components being squeezed into a tiny box (the typical cruise ship restroom), the sink and vanity will be out in the open in the actual stateroom. Meanwhile, behind closed doors you'll find two segregated areas, with the shower on one side of the cabin, and the toilet on the other. This might be useful for couples or families who might otherwise fight over the use of the lavatory. Now if your spouse is hogging the shower, you can brush your teeth or wash your hands with ease.
What else can you expect?
All categories (New Wave Standard, New Wave Balcony, New Wave Deluxe) will include flat-screen TV's, a mini-bar, and MP3 connectivity upon request. The Balcony category adds a verandah, naturally, and the Deluxe includes more living space. Softer, concealed LED lighting is featured throughout the New Wave staterooms. There is a backlit dome above the bed in almost every cabin (some insides are excluded). Sophisticated earth tone palettes prevail -- darker woods with just a splash of color. Freestyle 2.0 components, such as upgraded bedding and linens, and Elemis bath products, will feature prominently. Balcony and Deluxe staterooms get extra perks including robes, a customized fruit menu, priority restaurant reservations and a turn-down cookie on the last night of the cruise.
Norwegian Epic will feature 60 suites across a two-deck-high private Courtyard, the industry's largest "ship within a ship." All offer access to a private pool, two whirlpools, saunas, a sun deck, a fitness facility, private indoor/outdoor dining, a bar and a concierge lounge. Forty-six Courtyard Villas, measuring 506 square ft., each feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Six Courtyard Penthouses, measuring 322 square ft., include a bedroom with a separate living and dining area. Finally, eight Deluxe Owner's Suites, at 852 square ft., feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and separate living, dining and bedroom areas.
With Norwegian Epic, NCL is introducing a new style of stateroom. There are 128 modern studios, 100 square ft. apiece, on Decks 11 and 12. The studios are all insides that sleep two guests, each with a corridor facing window. Special color changing lighting effects add to the chic feel -- a control panel allows guests to change the lighting in their cabin depending on their mood (there's a "love setting" for romantic evenings, for example).
Similar to the Courtyard concept, Studio passengers get an exclusive, shared social space called the Living Room. We got a taste of Living Room "living" at the press conference; the space was set up with the same white couches and modern "pod" chairs that will be found onboard. The two-floor lounge will feature a bar, two large TV screens, a concierge for booking dinner reservations and shore excursions, and comfy seating for hanging out, ordering room service or sipping pre-dinner drinks.
NCL will offer its first spa cabins onboard Epic, located on Deck 14. Thirty-nine spa suites, at 322 square feet (same as "regular" New Wave suites), will be clustered by the spa in a private enclave accessible only by keycard. Eight of these suites will feature an in-room whirlpool. At this point, it's undecided what amenities will be offered (in terms of free treatments, etc.). We do know, however, that NCL's generally bright color scheme has been toned down slightly in these spa cabins.
You'll find 225 Family Deluxe Balcony and 146 Family Balcony cabins located on Decks 13 and 14, clustered around the expanded Kids Crew. Like the spa suites, these family staterooms are actually the same, in size and layout, as "regular" New Wave cabins -- but with an additional pull down or sofa bed. The bonus here is the convenient location near the children's facility. Also, many will connect for families and multigenerational groups traveling together.
Itineraries
Norwegian Epic will debut in the U.K. in May 2010 with a series of pre-inaugural cruises, open only to specially invited passengers (details on these early cruises, as well as the inaugural events, will be revealed at a later date). The first "official" sailing will be a seven-night transatlantic voyage, Southampton to New York, departing on June 24, 2010. The ship will arrive Stateside on July 1. Then, Norwegian Epic will begin its Caribbean cruise season out of Miami on July 10, 2010, with alternating weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises offered through April 2011. The Western Caribbean cruise includes stops in Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel. Norwegian Epic's Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes calls in St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Nassau. There are a still a number of unanswered questions. For instance, NCL has yet to reveal what the ship will be doing from July 1, when it arrives in New York, and July 10, when it embarks on its first Caribbean cruise. Stay tuned.
--by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief, and Melissa Baldwin, Managing Editor
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