• On July 2, 2010, I had the pleasure to sail on Norwegian Cruise Line's Newest and largest ship, the Norwegian Epic.

• The 153,000 ton, Norwegian Epic is approximately 1.5 times as large as the Norwegian Dawn and carries 4,100 guests, double occupancy and a Crew of 1,730

• The Norwegian Epic boasts, 21 eating establishments, 20 Bars and 22 different areas dedicated to activities and fun.

• The Norwegian Epic boasts a number of environmental improvements that make the ship "Green".
  • All the windows are tinted to conserver the exchange of heat.
  • Water used for cooling the engines is reused for other heating purposes within the ship.
  • Halogen lighting is used throughout the ship which  is more efficient than traditional lighting
  • Sensors in the cabin balcony doors, automatically adjusts the air-conditioning temperature so not to run continuously in an attempt to cool the outside.
  • Your access key is needed to enable the lighting and air-conditioning within your cabin. When your keycard is not in the special slot the lighting and air-conditioning will automatically turned off after 1 minute.

• Online Pre-booking of entertainment and dining options is available 45days in advance of sailing and a great way to assure you get into the specialty restaurant or show you want. (Note: Norwegian Cruise Line does not place the entire inventory of seats on the internet and some seats are reserved to be booked once on board).

• The Norwegian Epic was christened in New York on July 2, 2010 by Reba McIntyre.

• The Norwegian Epic is much different than any other ship I have reviewed previously. Onboard one has the feeling that they have stepped into a high-end resort rather than a cruise ship. Where other cruise lines have opted to have many small intimate rooms, the Norwegian Epic takes advantage of the the size of the ship to create large public areas with limited walls and obstructions. This feature eliminates the claustrophobic experience and winding halls-ways found  upon many ships. For a large ship, she was easy to navigate and find your desired public room.

• The color tones onboard the Norwegian Epic are warm and inviting. The ship uses a rich darker color (simulated) wood wall paneling. In addition, brightly colored furnishings, rugs and accents make the ship much brighter and livelier tan most other ships. Also there is a vast amount of glass artwork found on the ship adding to the modern feel.

• The main showroom on board the Norwegian Epic is the 2-storey Epic Theater. The theater seats approximately 1,400 passenger and most shows are played numerous times on each cruise. The room's green crushed velvet green seats are very comfortable and offer unobstructed views of the stage.

• The jazz bar - Fat Cats is an absolute favorite. I was advised before the sailing, not the miss Fat Cats and they were 100% correct. The Slam Allen Blues Band was incredible. People were singing, dancing and jiggling in their seats to their amazing Jazz sounds. Even audience members, with musical talent, participated in the activities on stage.

• The Norwegian Epic's main Atrium is two decks high and feature an oversized TV Screen. During our cruise, there was a live viewing of the World Cup Soccer matches that was being simulcast live. Adjacent to the Atrium is the Guest Services Desk and  Shore Excursion desk, 

• The Coffee Bar offers Fresh Espresso, Cappuccino, specialty coffees and cakes at an additional charge. My wife highly recommends the Cappuccino.

• O Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar and Grill provides 7 X24 drinks and food service. They offer a great alternative to the buffet breakfast and also serve all types of snacks, sandwiches and more. This venue provides excellent views of the large, oversized TV and is also ideal for people watching in the lower Atrium level.

• The Epic Casino can also be found adjacent to the Atrium. The Casino offers all types of games of chance including slot machines, black jack, craps and much more. There are additional gaming tables located in walkways and other areas of the ship including a few gaming tables up on deck pool side.  You will never be far from a game of chance on the Norwegian Epic.

• The Tradewinds gifts shops offer items of interest to shoppers at a reasonable price. Items available include tee shirts, jewelry, liquor, tobacco, souvenirs and much more. In addition there were some items which were real bargains - like the large selection of stylish watches and women's shawls and handbags  for $10.

• On Deck 5 of the Norwegian Epic, one can find the Photo Gallery. No longer do you need to search all of the pictures on the wall - looking for yourself. The Photo Gallery uses facial recognition to locate pictures of you ( and people who may look like you) and displays those photos to you for quick and easy viewing. This approach also is "Green" since the photo staff no longer needs to print all of the photos and reduces the need for photo-processing chemicals and paper.

• On deck 7 forward is "The Bliss" which is the ship's disco. As you enter this room, there are two large horses  which adorn the entrance. The main entrance to the room is curtained with a screen of smoke on which is projected live video of what is going on deeper in the room. In order to enter the room you need to pass through the vapor. Once inside the room, there is a large Bar directly in front then a sizeable dance floor and stage. The flashing lights and pulsating sounds make this a great place to dance and work off some of those rich meals.

• Located on the upper deck aft is an outside public room called "the Spice / H20. By day it is a pool area with a large TV screen for viewing videos, music and more. At night, it is an adults only location with dancing music and much more. H20 Spice is located aft on Deck 15.

              Photo: H20 / Spice Area

• For the men, the Norwegian Epic features a barber shop. During our visit men were getting hot shaves, head messages and haircuts.

• Headliners is the comedy club on board the Norwegian Epic featuring the talents of Second City comedians. There are shows available daily. This is a medium size venue and resembles a comedy club found in any large city. The dark toned room features stand-alone seats and tables to forms stadium like seating. The chairs and tables in the back of the room have longer legs than those in the front. In addition there are numerous television screens found in this location, so if your view of the stage is obstructed, you can still see all the action.

• Another first for the Norwegian Epic is the Ice Bar. For an added fee of $20 per person, you get to spend 45 minutes in the 17 degree bar. The room features a bar made of blocks of ice, walls made from ice, 2 ice sculptures and benches  covered with animal pelts to protect your bottom from the cold icy bench.
  • Visitors are entitled to 2 Vodka shots, a parka and gloves to help keep warm.
  • 25 guests at a time are permitted into the ice bar.
  • Reservations are required.
  • Although I expected more ice present in the room, I was pleased with the experience and enjoyed it very much.
  • Fellow passengers also seem very pleased with their visit to the Ice Bar although most of us only lasted 20-30 minutes in the chilly temperature.

• Located in a conference room, on deck 14, is the Bridge viewing room. This glass walled room allows you to almost stand behind the captain and observe what is going on the bridge. There is also a video screen showing the radar and the ship's navigational statistics. - This is a must see. This area is not normally open at night since the lights in the room can interfere with seeing the instruments on the bridge.

• Shakers Martini Bar and Maltings are two of the many bars on Board the Norwegian Epic where one can enjoy a cocktail before or after dinner.

• In General the cabins onboard the Norwegian Epic are sleek and modern.
  • Cabins feature significant storage and a new concept bathroom.
  • The bathroom is not one room but 3 rooms. The shower is separate from the toilet area. The sink is located inside the main stateroom.
  • We were in a family Wave Cabin located on deck 12. The shower was sizeable and was more than sufficient.
  • The Toilet area is  was very small and compact.
  • The sink has a small bowl sink with a high pressure, long-necked faucet.

• Overall the cabins are adequate in size and functional. The cabins are bright and neutral in color using beiges and purple accents with rich wood tones. A very nice combination.

• All of the outside staterooms on the Norwegian Epic are Balcony Cabins.

• The Norwegian Epic features balcony, family, Wave Cabins. Wave cabins have curved walls and are visually pleasing. These cabins feature  substantial storage. wide curved beds, sitting area, adequate balcony space (with 2 chairs and table), floor to ceiling windows, TV, Hair Dryer (hidden under the desk area), Phone, Refrigeration (stocked with beverages and snacks available at an added cost), safe and private facilities.

• The Norwegian Epic's inside cabin are not curved and resemble the traditional cabin. The inside cabins have the same bathroom configuration as the Outside Balcony cabins except the showers are smaller. In addition these cabin have less storage space.

• Unique to the Norwegian Epic are cabins for passengers sailing alone. Called the Studio, these cabins are smaller in square footage when compared to other cabins but are quite functional and nice. They feature a full size bed, TV, adequate storage, a shower, small toilet area and sink in the room. These rooms feature a circular large porthole window  overlooking the hallway. The cabins were designed by architects responsible for designing aircraft and yachts, who specialize in optimizing small spaces.
  • Passengers staying in the Studio staterooms are allowed access to a private lounge and bar dedicated for Studio stateroom residents.
  • There are 128 studio staterooms.
  • These cabins are approximately $300 above the standard rates for an inside cabin for 7 days per person.

  Photo Norwegian Epic Studio Stateroom

• The Norwegian Epic features courtyard suites called "The Suites Complex at Sea" . These cabins feature multiple bedrooms, living room, extended balconies, bathtubs, shower, TVs, private dining area, walk in closets, refrigerators and larges overall living spaces. Exact configuration and presence of items listed above depend on suite chosen.
  • People staying in the Penthouse Suites are entitled to their own private sunning area, pool, 2 Jacuzzi's, private lounge area, private concierge service, large gym facilities, Private Nightclub with entertainment and a private dining venue  for lunch and dinner. Basically a ship within a ship.
  • The Epic Club offers exclusive private dining for guests staying in Suites and The Villas. The haute design is highlighted with pearl drapes, glass sculptures, silk chandeliers and leather seating for 127 guests. It’s the perfect place for privacy with ultra-modern meals and wine selections from our impressive collection.
  • Card Access is required to Villas and Suites. This area and it is not open to other cruise passengers - only those staying in the Suite complex.

• The Norwegian Epic has elevators located forward and aft. I highly recommend choosing a cabin close to an elevator bank to make access to the entire ship quicker and easier. The elevators run very efficiently and wait time is minimal.
• Mid-ship between decks 5and 6 is located an escalator so the two decks can be easily transversed.

• Norwegian Epic cabins provide soap, body wash and shampoo for your needs via dispensers located by the sink and/or shower.

• Since the cabins are a new design - there are a number of items that I think will be changed over time.
  • The area with the toilet is very small and may pose some challenges for larger people with its curved walls..
  • I am 6 feet 3 inches tall, with the rounded beds my feet hang off the end of the bed 3"-5" inches.
  • The sinks located in the cabins tend to be small and the faucets are too tall and high powered, splashing water all over the counter top. There are already plans in place to replace the faucets with less powerful ones to reduce the splash.
  • These are minor items, but need to be called out.

• The Norwegian Epic has  the largest Spa Complexes at sea measuring 31,000 square feet. The Spa features all types of treatments including a hot stone massage, a rejuvenating facial or a simple manicure / pedicure. Acupuncture, BOTOX and teeth whitening are also yours to be had. Then soak up some serenity in the multi-treatment pool or just relax. Spa treatments are available at an additional cost.

• The Norwegian Epic has a Beauty Salon so you look your best for that special evening.

• The Norwegian Epic has a large gym and exercise facilities including 37 treadmills, 18 cross trainers, and areas for training, yoga and pilates classes, group cycling, Gravity reformer and a body sculpting boot camp.

• The Norwegian Epic offer potentially the most dining options ever at sea - offering some 21 different dining venues. Eleven of the dining establishment do not  have an added cover-charge, while the remaining 10 have coverage charges ranging from $20 to $25 per person.

• Below are just some of the dining options onboard the Norwegian Epic. Restaurants with an (*) next to their names require an additional cover charge.

Cuisine Type:

• The Manhattan Room                Aft Main Dining
• Taste                                          Atrium Main Dining
• La Cucina                                    Italian / Tuscan
• Cagney's Steakhouse*               Steakhouse
• Moderno Churrascaria*             Argentinean Steakhouse
• Teppanyaki*                               Japanese Hibachi
• Wasabi*                                     Japanese Sushi / Sake Bar
• The Epic Club                              Private Indoor Dining for Courtyard Guests Only
• Shanghai's*                                Chinese American
• Spiegel Tent*                              Entertainment Dining
• Le Bistro*                                    French Bistro
• O'Sheehan's                                Neighborhood Bar / Fast Food
• The Courtyard Grill                      Private Outdoor Dining for Courtyard Guests
• Garden Café                                Indoor Buffet
• The Great Outdoors                    Outdoor Buffet
• Spice H20                                    Pool Grill

Manhattan Room - Copyright NYCruiseInfo.com

• While on board  I enjoyed lunch at the Garden Cafe. This open and airy dining area provides buffet selection including:
  • Carving stations
  • Asian Entrees
  • Indian Selections
  • Pasta made to order including various sauces.
  • Salad Bar
  • Soups
  • Deli Sandwiches
  • Pizza station
  • Burgers, Grilled Chicken, Hot Dogs Fries and all the fixin's.
  • Fresh Fruit
  • Ice Cream Station
  • Desert Area

  The Garden Cafe offers buffet breakfast, including omelets made to order, Lunch and Casual Dinner for those wanting a good meal in a less formal setting.

  We found the food to be very good and elegantly presented.

• We also had dinner at the upscale Teppanyaki offering fine Japanese cuisine.  The dinner is freshly prepared right at your table by one of the chefs. The preparation is flamboyant with flying utensils, acrobatics and some jokes cracked along the way.

• The meal consisted of :

• Appetizers: Miso Soup & Seaweed salad with Ginger Dressing
• Main Course:  where you can choose either a Teppanyaki Classic or Combination Main course. Regardless of the main course choice each is served with Garlic Fried Rice and Japanese Teppanyaki Vegetables.
  • Main course choices include one of the items below or other pre-selected combinations.
    • Chicken
    • Filet Mignon
    • Salmon
    • Scallops
    • Lobster
    • Shrimp
    • Vegetable - Teriyaki Tofu and Seasonal Vegetables.
• Desert Choices include:
  • Green Tea Cake with Green Tea Ice Cream
  • Fresh Fruit Sashimi

• We were very satisfied with the meal and the presentation and preparation added significantly to the dining experience. I enjoyed the shrimp and filet Mignon combination dinner. We really enjoyed this dining experience. The cover charge for the Teppanyaki is $25 per person.

• We had the pleasure of dining at the Norwegian Epic's Spiegel Tent. This combination dinner,  theater  venue offers  great entertainment! Spiegal's Tent  offers a dining spectacle filled with live music and acrobatic entertainers. Cirque Dreams® and Dinner presents a combination of acrobatics, singing, comedy and specialty acts. It’s the Big Top meets the Moulin Rouge and performers may climb to the ceiling only to suspend upside down in order to ring a dinner bell, announce the next course or even pour a cocktail. The show is very entertaining and action packed.
• Some items to note about this show:
  • The show is very good. You should arrive a little earlier to get a good seat.
  • A reservation is required and the show is available at an addition cost of $20-$25 per person (balcony seating available at the more expensive rate).
  • The show is long. You are required to stay in your seat  and you are not permitted to leave or go to the bathroom. The show is 2 hours long.
  • The seating is a little cramped with the tables close together.
  • There is no choice of entrees. Every attendee receives both a serving of chicken and Filet Mignon as well as potatoes and vegetables. (Salad and Desert are also included as well).
  • I did enjoy the show and would recommend it for adults looking for a somewhat interactive, close up dinner theatre experience.

• For a late night snack, breakfast or anytime - O'Sheehan's offers a great selection of fun food (such as chicken wings, chicken fingers, sandwiches and more. This venue is a great alternative to the Garden Cafe for breakfast and offers many options for those wanting a more formal breakfast.
• O'Sheehan's is open 7 X 24 and the food ordered at the location is included in your cruise fare.
• Drinks (as always) are additional.

• The Norwegian Epic has a larges kids program and a number of rooms and areas strictly dedicated to children activities. Younger children are checked in and under supervision, while teens may have the ability to roam the ship and partake in activities like a scavenger hunt.

• Children are grouped by ages with age appropriate activities. The children are divided into 4 age groups.

• Juniors (Cruisers age 2-5)
  • Developmental activities, storytelling, arts and crafts, games, a treasure hunt and family activities.
• First Mates (Cruisers age 6-9)
  • Pizza-making party, Wii, classes, crafts, parties, games and family activities.
• Navigators (Cruisers age 10-12)
  • Wii, sports activities, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, team-building challenges and family activities.
• Teens (Cruisers ages 13-17)
  • Teen dance club, Wii, movies, parties, a special teen dinner and team-building challenges.

• Recess is Norwegian Epic’s Kid’s Crew facility that is centrally located on Deck 14 adjacent and easily accessible to the family-friendly staterooms.  Two separate areas are specifically designed for kids ages two through nine and tweens, ages 10 through 12.  The Kid’s area includes a space-themed play area, air hockey table, an interactive light up dance floor; WiiTM gaming areas; an arts and crafts area; along with a state-of-the-art surround sound cinema.  The Tween Zone has a futuristic feel that includes multiple WiiTM and PlayStation® areas; along with a private karaoke performance stage which doubles as a cinema.
  
  Entourage is Norwegian Epic’s high energy, exclusive teen zone for ages 13 through 17, located at the top of the ship on Deck 16. This funky space includes air hockey; pinball; foosball; a video jukebox; and nine large flat screen televisions, five of which are located around a central video game console featuring PlayStation® 3.  In the evening, Entourage transitions into a hip nightclub with a space for dancing or just hanging out on comfy couches.  Directly below is the video arcade which features number of the most challenging and interactive video games.

• Norwegian Cruise Line has exclusive rights to Nickelodeon Characters at sea. Kids can cruise with Sponge Bob, Patrick Star, Dora the Explorer and others.
• A number of times during the cruise a character breakfast is a available (at an additional cost). The character breakfast is $15 per adult and $10 pre child. Children under 2 - free.
• In addition, the Nickelodeon character do make cameo appearances at various kid functions during the cruise.

• The Norwegian Epic offers an large video arcade (games are played at an additional cost)

• The Norwegian Epic offers an incredible amount of activities for children of all ages. Please see the outdoor areas section below for additional places kids can have fun.

• The Norwegian Epic offers an incredible amount of activities for the young and the youthful at heart.
• On deck one can find the:
  • Aqua Park with water jets, Pools and Hot tubs
  • 3 Water slides (the most at sea)
    • The Epic Slide allows those young at heart to ride an inner tube down a sloping and winding  pipe into a bowl shaped basin where tubers are twirled around a few times before existing the bowl.
  • Quoits
  • Shuffle board.
  • Tennis Court
  • Basketball Court
  • Bungee trampoline
  • Ice skating on deck (not real ice)
  • Rock climbing wall
  • 1St Repel Wall at Sea.
  • Movies on deck.
  • 6 Bowling Alleys (indoors)
  • Pool Tables (Indoor - O'Sheehan's)
  • and much more.

• The Norwegian Epic offers ample deck space for passengers to enjoy either the sun or the shade.
• The  pool deck (Deck 15) offer deck space to stretch out and take in some rays in addition to the pool balcony level on Deck 16.
• Also at the base of the ship's mast is additional sunbathing spots. (take the round glass elevators visible from the pool deck up to this area.
• The outside promenade located on deck 7 offer a quiet space for alone time and enjoying the sea. The view is obstructed by the lifeboats, but if you walk down along the deck far enough there is a large opening with expansive views of the sea.

• The Norwegian Epic offers limited views of the sea. There are only a few places onboard where one can connect to the sea. The best places for viewing the ocean are:
  • On the sun decks - although the wind screens are up very high on can look between the glass panels
  • On the top most deck surrounding the pool offers the best unobstructed views.
  • H20/Spice club.
  • On the side promenade between the lifeboats
  • The Manhattan Room for views of the ship's wake.
  • The Garden Cafe for viewing forward over the bow.

• The Norwegian Epic offers an incredible  entertaining options including:
  • The Blue Man Group and their own unique comedy.
  • The Crique Dreams and Dinner (See above under Dining Options - Spiegel Tent).
  • The Bliss for your disco dancing pleasure.
  • The exceptional soulful sounds of the Slam Allen Blues Band. - They are incredible and should not be missed.
  • Legends Unplugged - Musical Show with singers - who look like and sound like  famous stars including Elvis, Tina Turner and Madonna to name a few.
  • Second City's Improve All Stars - Comedy Show.
  • Howl at the Moon Dueling Piano performances
  • Manhattan Band in the Manhattan Dining Room providing elegant dinner music.
  • The Wildfire Duo play nightly in the ship's atrium. I really enjoyed their musical selection and their light sounding music. You should stop in and listen.
  • Enjoyable piano music outside the Shakers Martini Bar performed by Bernie Martini
  • and much more

• While on board, I attended the Blue Man Group show. The show which is interactive with the audience uses rudimentary comedy, to appeal to viewers of all ages. The show also uses the musical talent of the performers to entertain the audience using instruments made of various materials. If you  enjoy physical comedy, this is the show for you.
• There is no additional cover charge for the Blue Man Group and I would recommend going to the show once if you have not experienced the Blue Man Group before.
• The audience really enjoyed the show.

• The Norwegian Epic is definitely a winner. The ship:
  • Flows very well and is easy to find any public room.
  • The ship has an incredible amount of amenities and something for everyone.
  • Cabins are clean spacious and functional.
  • The ship has a high-end resort feel.
  • Excellent deck space and many activities to keep children of all ages busy.
  • Unlimited dining choices, fine food and service.
  • Impeccable service and attentive wait staff.
  • Meticulous maintained cabins by dedicated stewards and stewardesses.
  • I would definitely sail on this ship again.
• Unfortunately I do think the Norwegian Epic will be able a frequent visitor to the port of New York because of the positioning of her life boats. The lifeboats need to be removed in order to clear the gangway for passenger to embark and disembark at the New York Pier facilities.
  • Guests will need to embark/disembark in with Miami or Barcelona Spain depending on the sailing.
  • Overall I was very impressed with the Norwegian Epic.

• The Norwegian Epic,  will begin sailing alternating 7-Day Western and Eastern Caribbean Cruises  starting on July 24, 2010.

• The Western Caribbean Cruises sail from Miami, Florida to Costa Maya Mexico,  Roatan Honduras,  Cozumel Mexico, returning to Miami.

• The Eastern  Caribbean Cruises sail from  Miami Florida to St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Nassau Bahamas  returning to Miami.

• In the Summer of 2011, the Norwegian Epic will sails on 7-day Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona Spain, Livorno, Italy (Florence and Pisa), Civeitavecchia. Italy (Rome), Naples, Palma (Majorca), returning to Barcelona.

• Winter 2011/12, the Norwegian Epic will sail 7-day cruises the Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami visiting St. Maarten, St Thomas and Nassau Bahamas before returning to Miami.