Norwegian Cruise Line's New Norwegian Epic Maiden Transatlantic Voyage  - From Southampton to New York

September 14, 2009 – Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that Norwegian Epic, the company’s largest and most innovative ship to date currently under construction in France, will make her inaugural transatlantic seven-day cruise on June 24, 2010, departing from London (Southampton).  The 4,200 passenger Freestyle Cruising ship will arrive in New York , her first port of call in the United States , on July 1, 2010.  In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line also announced that a new seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise has been added to Norwegian Epic’s inaugural season, departing Miami on July 10, 2010, one week earlier than previously scheduled.

“In true maritime fashion, Norwegian Epic will make the non-stop crossing from the U.K. to New York in just one week,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer.  “This seven-day voyage gives our guests the opportunity to be the first to immerse themselves in all of the innovative and varied activities, world-class dining and spectacular entertainment that will be offered on Norwegian Epic.”

After an unprecedented response to a waitlist for Norwegian Epic’s transatlantic last month, Norwegian Cruise Line will give those guests on the waitlist first priority to confirm their booking on the transatlantic today and tomorrow.  A special guest services team will be contacting those guests so that they can choose from Norwegian Epic’s wide range of accommodations from the innovative new Studios to the largest suite and villa complex at sea.  On Wednesday, September 16, 2009, members of Norwegian’s past guest program, Latitudes, will have a special preview sale day to book the cruise. The much-anticipated transatlantic sailing will officially open to the public for booking on Thursday, September 17, 2009. 

Norwegian Epic’s new seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas , U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau , Bahamas , will go on sale to the public on September 28, 2009.  Guests currently booked on Norwegian Epic’s July 17, 2010 Eastern Caribbean cruise will have priority to switch to the new sailing date if they so choose by calling Norwegian Cruise Line by September 25, 2009.

            In addition, Norwegian Epic’s 2010/11 inaugural season sailings from Miami to the Eastern and Western Caribbean are currently open for sale.  The ship’s alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, available as seven-day individual sailings or 14-day combined sailings, are available through April 2011. 

Norwegian Epic’s Innovations & Features

Norwegian Epic is changing the face of cruise line entertainment.  In an industry first, Blue Man Group will perform in the ship’s 685-seat Epic Theater.  Blue Man Group is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. The blissful party atmosphere created at their live events has become the trademark of a Blue Man Group experience and beginning next summer will be seen for the first time ever at sea only on Norwegian Epic during a 90-minute show customized specifically for Norwegian Epic.

Norwegian Epic will have multiple, specially-designed entertainment venues throughout the ship so that guests can choose from a wide variety of entertainment each evening of their cruise.  No longer will entertainment be focused on two nightly shows in one large main theater. Norwegian Epic will offer a number of entertainment options in specially-designed venues, some offered for the first time ever at sea, with choices to appeal to a broad audience.

On this ship, guests will find the only “big top” at sea. In this intimate 265-seat theater-in-the-round, famed producer/director Neil Goldberg will present Cirque Dreams^® and Dinner.  This one of a kind interactive theatrical dining experience will be performed in the air, while juggling dinner courses, with music, mayhem and acrobatic imagination.  During this two-hour show, guests will marvel in amazement and become part of a celebration of spectacle and fantasy.  The entire experience will be unlike anything else at sea.

Norwegian Epic will offer the next generation of Freestyle Dining with 20 dining choices and 20 bars and lounges.  The ship also boasts unique nightlife options with the first Ice Bar at sea, Spice H₂0 and Posh, exclusive open-air hotspots; an expansive Aqua Park with the only tube slide and largest bowl slide at sea -- The Epic Plunge; seven decks of Freestyle Family Fun with highlights including a 33-foot high, 64-foot wide extreme rock climbing wall and the first ever rappelling wall at sea; the most bowling lanes at sea with six in two venues; a mixed-use sports deck with the ability for guests to engage in eight different athletic activities; as well as three separate kids’ and teen activity areas and the first squash court at sea. 

Norwegian Epic also incorporates several new types of accommodations – the modern, curved New Wave staterooms where all outside staterooms have balconies; the largest Villas complex at sea, comprising 60 suites and villas on two private decks at the top of the ship; a new category of inside staterooms, The Studios with exclusive access to the Living Room; and spa and family-friendly accommodations.