An “Aha” Moment on Epic

Having been blessed with the privilege of taking more than 300 cruises for both business and pleasure over the past 30 years, I must candidly state that it is a little hard to get me excited about another new ship.  But, the Norwegian Epic became a game changer for me last week.  I had the opportunity to spend two nights on the ship on short preview cruise.  Two things were immediately apparent:  First this is not just a bigger NCL Freestyle ship and second, there was no way I was going to experience everything in 2 days.

The Epic will be one of those ships that is sure to attract a legion of loyal followers.  And yes, some people may not find the ship to their liking.  I am not sure why this is such an issue on the various “cruise enthusiasts” boards.  Come on folks, there are enough ships and diversity in the marketplace to suit almost everyone.  So, in my humble opinion, just who should cruise on the Epic?  Anyone who desires an  entertainment centered experience combined with exceptional freedom of choice and non-traditional onboard programming options.  Families will also find the Epic a good choice due to the range of family-friendly staterooms and extensive children’s program options.  Solo travelers also have new option on Epic with more than 100 Studio staterooms that accommodate one person without a single occupancy surcharge (Finally! How cool!)

Entertainment on the Epic is the game changer for NCL.  They have done away with the traditional “Las Vegas Style” floorshows and in fact they did away with the huge main show lounge.  Instead, there are a multitude of venues featuring an incredible variety of shows.  Instead of creating new shows, NCL invested heavily in bringing aboard popular and well known acts from shore including Blue Man Group, Legends in Concert, Howl at the Moon and Cirque Dreams.  Close your eyes while relaxing at the Fat Cats  Jazz club and you might think you are on Bourbon Street.  During dinner at the Manhattan Club (one of the included restaurants onboard) there is live entertainment including vignettes from the longer Legends in Concert show.

Staterooms on the Epic are chic and curved (see image below) and have a brand new bathroom concept that takes a little getting used to.  Every ocean view staterooms has a balcony.  Thinking of super sizing your cruise?  Then consider one of the 60 suites in the private Courtyard Complex which is really a ship with a ship.  This private area (key card access) boasts a separate pool and sun area, dining room, spa and fitness center, and bar and lounge.

Dining on the ship is also of Epic proportions.  There is a choice of 20 restaurant venues.  Some are included in your fare and some require a cover charge of up to $25 per person.  My favorite was Moderno, a Brazilian style Churrascaria serving a delicious variety of meats delivered tableside.  The very popular Cagney’s Steakhouse and Le Bistro have been brought over from the other NCL ships and the always sold out Teppanaki has been tripled in size to accommodate demand.   There are 19 actual dining locations plus room service and 24/7 Pizza delivery  ($5 charge).  I found O’Sheehans,  a pub style bar and grill,  became the central focal point of the ship and good place to meet.  The pub serves complimentary comfort food 24/7.

Some posters on the various cruise forum boards tend to whine a little about “charging for food on a cruise”.   Here is my take on NCL Freestyle.  There are still several “free” restaurants (like other cruise companies) and there are also optional, extra cost alternative dining choices (like other cruise companies).  NCL just has a lot more choices when it comes to alternatives.  So, they have not taken anything away but instead have added more dining options.

In my next posting, I will discuss the children’s programs and more details about some other trendy features on the Epic.  If you are ready to experience this ship for yourself, there is good news.  iCruise has many Epic departures on sale now including upgrades to deluxe balconies.  We are also featuring the Epic in one of our Cruise Combo packages that includes the choice of a free hotel and parking in Miami or free bus transportation from major Florida cities.  Call 800-iCruise (800) 427-8473 now before word gets out about this revolutionary ship and it becomes fully booked.

New Wave Staterooms are Groovy!!!