” What really had us gaga was the Courtyard Villa complex, with an array of top-of-the-line accommodations, including 46 Villas that are a must for families with very deep pockets.”
If Las Vegas could float, it would probably look a lot like the new Norwegian Epic. This is a ship that truly lives up to its name, with razzle-dazzle eye candy luring passengers around every corner. With a 4,100-passenger capacity, boundless activities – from a water park to a Blue Man Group performance – and more dining options than even true gourmands would know what to do? with, Norwegian Cruise Lines Epic is sure to be a big hit with parents and children alike – even those hard-to-please teenagers will crack a smile or two.
Accommodations
The dizzying array of accommodation options in and of itself is enough to make one swoon, with 2,114 staterooms that range from the 100-sq.-ft. Studio staterooms, to the 852-sq.-ft. Owner’s Suites. For families, we recommend the appropriately named Family Deluxe Balcony staterooms. Conveniently located in close proximity to the Norwegian’s Kid’s Crew club, these staterooms sleep up to four guests and feature two lower beds that can be combined into a queen bed, one upper berth and a sofa bed. Room amenities include a sitting area with flat-screen TV, mini-bar, bathroom with tub and shower, and floor-to-ceiling windows that open to a private balcony.
But what really had us gaga was the Courtyard Villa complex, with an array of top-of-the-line accommodations, including 46 Villas that are a must for families with very deep pockets. This “ship within a ship” concept is part of the line’s VIP cruising experience and comes complete with dedicated amenities, including a private pool surrounded by plush daybeds and private cabanas, chaise lounges, two hot tubs, indoor and outdoor dining, sundeck, bar, private gym and dedicated concierge desk.
Villas here sleep up to five guests, and include a separate children’s bedroom, two bathrooms, dining area and living room, sitting area, espresso/cappuccino maker, flat-screen TV with CD/DVD player and library, private balcony (some Villas feature solariums), as well as butler and concierge service.
The Courtyard Villa complex also houses 31 Spa staterooms, eight Spa Suites, seven Penthouses, six Courtyard Penthouses, and eight Deluxe Owner’s Suites.
Just for Kids, Sorta!
From tots to teens, the Norwegian Epic offers a ton of amenities, with the Aqua Park being one of our very favorites. This expansive water park with three water slides of varying thrill factors is enough to make anyone giddy with excitement. There’s a tube slide designed for children that zips straight through the rock climbing wall, a more adventurous slide that twists and turns down three stories, and “The Epic Plunge,” where riders on inner tubes are blasted into the core of a bowl slide then dropped into a 200-ft.-long tunnel before ending in a splashdown lane.
The Aqua Park also features two main pools with arching water effects that illuminate at night, five jacuzzis, a wading pool and children’s Splash and Play Zone, complete with a pint-size pool, water sprays and a kiddie slide.
And then there are the Nickelodeon-themed activities, including live Nickelodeon shows like “Slime Time Live,” and a chance to get autographs from popular characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. Families with little ones can even enjoy Nickelodeon Character Breakfasts, complete with singing, dancing and photo opportunities, as well as the chance to participate in games.
When passengers have had enough of Nick’s infamous green slime, they can check out decks 15, 16 and 17, offering all sorts of sports-driven fun, including basketball, volleyball, soccer and dodge ball, as well as a batting cage, ice skating rink, bungee trampoline, climbing cage (called the spider web), table tennis, and the 33-ft.-high rock climbing and rappelling wall, complete with varying degrees of difficulty and rated according to official U.S. climbing grades. Or, the whole family can enjoy a game of bowling at one of six lanes located in two separate venues.
If the kids have any energy left-we’re sure this won’t be an issue-they can head to the Epic’s Kid’s Crew club. Separated into two areas-kids (ages 2-9) and tweens (ages 10-12)’the kids’ area includes a space-themed play area, air hockey, Wii gaming area, arts and crafts area, interactive light-up dance floor and a surround-sound cinema. The tween area, meanwhile, boasts multiple PlayStation 3 and Wii gaming areas, as well as a cinema and a karaoke stage. And, of course, there’s also a variety of Nickelodeon-themed activities.
Then there’s Entourage, an exclusive teen zone for ages 13-17, located at the top of the ship. This funky space might even make mom and dad jealous, with air hockey and foosball tables, a video jukebox, flat-screen TVs and a central gaming area featuring PlayStation 3. In the evenings, Entourage transforms into a nightclub for this same age group with a dance floor and plenty of comfy couches to lounge on. Right below Entourage is an expansive video arcade with everything from Guitar Hero to car racing games and vending machines stocked with goodies.
Freestyle Entertainment
Gone are the days when cruises featured one or two nightly shows in one dedicated theater. The Epic offers a number of entertainment options-some even offered for the first time at sea-designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
Our favorite, by a long shot, was the Blue Man Group, which truly pushes the envelope in terms of innovative theatrical performances. We recommend you tell your clients to set aside an evening for this zany performance (suitable for kids ages 5 and up), because it’s a completely unexpected and a delight. The group performs 75-minute shows eight times per week in the ship’s Epic Theatre; reservations are encouraged.
There’s also “Cirque Dreams and Dinner,” a 2-hour interactive theatrical dining experience that takes place nightly in the Spiegel Tent, which we think is a great option for families with younger kids. Though there are a couple of acts with some impressive acrobats, this show is full of mayhem, with jugglers, mischievous characters, music, and tons of silliness. “Cirque Dreams and Dinner” performs 12 shows during a 7-day cruise. Cover charge is $15 pp for general seating in the banquets and upper deck and $20 pp for premium seating on the ground floor.
Playtime for Grownups
Clowns, jugglers and blue-faced performers are all well and good, but mom and dad might want some more, shall we say, ‘mature’ activities-and we’re not talking shuffleboard here. Enter the SVEDKA Ice Bar. Inspired by the original ice bars and ice hotels in Scandinavia, SVEDKA is the first ice bar at sea and a must-visit while on the Norwegian Epic. This frozen chamber of ice features an ice-carved bar, walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures. LED lighting with changing hues of blue, green and purple are reminiscent of the Northern Lights, creating an authentic Arctic atmosphere. Guests are given coats, gloves and hats to keep warm, since the room is kept at a chilling 17 degrees Fahrenheit.
SVEDKA is open nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. There is a $20 pp cover charge that includes two signature cocktails and 45 minutes in the Ice Bar. Reservations are encouraged.
Guests who would rather stay warm can check out any of the other 20 bars and lounges on board. POSH Beach Club, for instance, is an outdoor space perfect for poolside lounging during the day, lined with white-cushioned daybeds and private cabanas. At night, POSH turns into an open-air nightclub, complete with a dance floor, DJ and VIP bottle service.
There’s also Bliss Ultralounge-a bowling alley and casual lounge by day and nightclub with dance floor and private VIP areas by night-and SpiceH20, an adults-only complex with a pool and plenty of lounging space, as well as an oversized LED screen that displays vibrant video images and music. Then at night, a dance floor rises from the pool and Spice H20 becomes a beach club with live entertainment.
Gamers will also love to know that much of deck 6 is dedicated to the Epic Casino, spanning over 13,000 sq. ft. This Monte Carlo-inspired casino features 340 slot machines, along with gaming tables featuring blackjack, roulette, poker and craps. Cascades Bar, with a grand central crystal chandelier serves as the casino’s centerpiece.
Freestyle Dining
With 20 freestyle restaurants on board, there are dining options to please every palate. During Recommend’s visit, we particularly enjoyed Teppanyaki (cover charge $20 pp), which features chefs cooking exhibition-style Japanese cuisine on top flat grills. Cagney’s Steakhouse is also a must (cover charge $25 pp). Here, guests can enjoy mouth-watering steaks ranging from filet mignon to a 16-oz. T-bone, as well as salmon and double cut pork chops, and an array of cocktails.
Other restaurants include Le Bistro (cover charge $20 pp), serving authentic cuisine and French wine; Moderno Churrascaria (cover charge $18 pp), where guests can sample skewered meats presented by tableside passadors; Taste, serving a selection of traditional and contemporary cuisine for lunch and dinner; The Manhattan Room, open for breakfast and dinner; the Garden Cafe, a casual restaurant with varied selection of pizzas, pastas and burgers and other specialty dishes; the Great Outdoors poolside grill; Shanghai’s & Shanghai’s Noodle Bar; Wasabi sushi restaurant; La Cucina, a Tuscan-style eatery; O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill; The Epic Club and Courtyard Grill (exclusively for Villa guests) and 24-hour pizza delivery to almost anywhere on the ship ($5 for a 16-inch pizza).
Itineraries
The Norwegian Epic will sail 7-day alternating Eastern & Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami, FL, through April 2011. Eastern Caribbean ports of call include Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. Western Caribbean ports of call include Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. Rates start at $679 pp.
From May through October 2011, the Epic will sail a 7-day Western Mediterranean itinerary from Barcelona, Spain. Ports of call include Florence/Pisa (Livorno); Rome (Civitavecchia); Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain. Rates start at $799 pp.
Onboard Review: Norwegian Epic
Adria Valdes
