Its exterior silhouette is striking, and its interior design was conceived to constantly surprise. Its return to operating from Barcelona has generated considerable interest, and understandably so.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 58 – September 2021
The Epic is a cruise ship with great appeal; it was one of the first Las Vegas-style ships, featuring more than a dozen restaurants, first-class shows ranging from Broadway to The Beatles, a large and very visible casino, and outside, water slides, climbing walls, and partying—lots of partying.
To use a common expression, it's endless. Epic passengers are on board to have a blast, and they certainly deliver, though the ship also offers a handful of quiet spots for those seeking a more relaxed vacation.
In addition to families, couples, and groups of friends who make up the majority of passengers on the Norwegian Epic, you'll also find a good number of solo travelers on board, as there are no extra charges for its single cabins/studios, and it has a lounge designed to facilitate meeting other passengers. This ship was designed with the tastes and interests of solo travelers in mind for the first time.
And regarding safety, it must be reiterated that both at home and on a cruise ship are the two places where you can feel safest during the coronavirus pandemic. With all passengers vaccinated, antigen tests before boarding, "bubble" excursions, and mandatory mask use even on exterior decks, NCL maintains very rigorous coronavirus prevention measures, including a 70% capacity limit.
The quality of the onboard service is outstanding. Once again, the crew members make all the difference with their friendliness and their evident joy at being back on board and welcoming their guests.
The Haven is an exclusive area for suite guests that includes its own pool, restaurant, lounge, and gym.
The Norwegian Epic is undoubtedly one of the most successful ships in the Spanish market. Operating Mediterranean cruises departing from Barcelona since 2013, it has consistently earned a strong reputation among travel agents, making it one of the best-selling ships.
It's not uncommon to hear passengers speaking Spanish on board, and although the official language is English, the cruise director repeats all information in Spanish, many crew members speak it sporadically, and of course, there are also menus in Spanish in the restaurants.
Regarding its layout and amenities, the first thing one notices from the outside is that, high at the bow, three glass decks break the traditional silhouette expected of a ship. These were added after construction had already begun to create the private suite area, The Heaven. Undoubtedly a wise decision, as it is a very successful concept that has since been copied by other cruise lines.
This change caused significant friction with the STX Europe (Chantiers de l'Atlantique) shipyard, leading to the cancellation of the other two planned sister ships. Thus, the
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Norwegian Epic is a unique ship, which would set the course for the company's subsequent ship series, Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus.
An innovative concept tested on the Norwegian Epic was the Wave cabin, featuring a wavy wall and bathroom fixtures integrated into the room itself. In other words, the Wave cabins on the Norwegian Epic don't have a separate bathroom door; instead, the shower stall is located to one side of the entrance door and the toilet to the other, both enclosed by frosted glass partitions and, later, curtains to conceal and separate them from the rest of the cabin. The sink is also located within the room. Some passengers found this reduced privacy uncomfortable, so this type of cabin was not featured on subsequent ships.
Exterior Deck:
Deck 15 is the main exterior deck, and it features three impressive water slides. The Epic was a pioneer in installing multiple water slides, especially the donut slide, as until then most cruise ships typically had only one. This was another trend that other cruise lines would later follow.
The suites at The Haven boast privileged views.
On this exterior deck, the Garden Café buffet is located at the bow, the central area features the pools and water slides, and behind the funnels, there's a climbing wall, two elevator entrances, and finally at the stern, the Spice H2O adults-only area. This area has semicircular tiered seating and a giant central screen, with a pool at its base that is enclosed at night to become a stage, and where the ship's best outdoor parties take place.
One of the aforementioned access points to the aft elevators also leads to the Entourage Teen Club, exclusively for teenagers, and above all this we find the ever-present sports court.
Deck 14, while largely dedicated to cabins, also houses several important facilities. Forward is the Italian restaurant La Cucina, with excellent views ahead, accessible via a staircase from the buffet. Next to the forward elevators is the Splash Academy, the children's club, while the aft elevators provide access to both the spa and the gym.
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buffet area are three additional decks dedicated to The Haven, an area accessible only to suite guests. The first deck features several exclusive facilities for these guests, including a restaurant, grill, lounge, and concierge service, as well as a central open-air pool area around which many of the suites are arranged. The next deck houses more suites and a small gym, while the third is an outdoor area with both public and exclusive sunbathing areas for The Haven guests.
Freestyle Cruising:
Before describing the lower decks, it's worth explaining Norwegian Cruise Line's Freestyle Cruising concept. This involves offering passengers a wide range of dining and entertainment options, allowing them to choose freely, with complete freedom of schedule and dress code. This means that the cruise fare includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the buffet and several main restaurants, as well as numerous other restaurants specializing in various cuisines, available for an additional fee. There are no set dinner times; passengers can arrive whenever they like within the restaurant's operating hours, accompanied by friends or other members of their group, and request a table. Similarly, reservations can be made for specialty restaurants, or passengers can simply drop in to check for availability. As for entertainment, several shows are included in the fare in the theater, and there is also an additional show available for an extra fee in a separate lounge.
Lower Decks:
Decks 5, 6, and 7 contain the remaining public facilities. Starting with Deck 5, the theater is located, as usual, at the bow, although its main entrance is on Deck 6. It is a small theater, so it is necessary to reserve a seat for one of the many scheduled performances. Particularly noteworthy are the musical about the drag queen world, "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," and the dance show "Burn the Floor."
The Norwegian Epic features single cabins for solo passengers.
At the center of this deck is the Atrium, a double-height area dominated by a huge high-definition screen that also houses a Starbucks and the customer service and excursion counters. From here aft, you'll find the Taste restaurant, one of the ship's main restaurants included in the fare, and forward, on one side, the charming and elegant French restaurant Bistro, and on the other, the photo gallery, library, card room, and meeting rooms.
On deck 6, we have the main entrance to the theater at the bow, preceded by the ticket desk, and next to it, the Spiegel Tent, a double-height circular room where the Zambooka, a circus-style show, is held for a fee. Dinner is served in the Spiegel Tent before the show begins.
Opposite us we have another of the free nighttime entertainment options, in the Headliners Comedy Club lounge there is usually a "piano duel" reviewing great pop hits, as well as monologues and other performances.
Next, surrounding the main atrium, the pub-style O'Sheehans Bar & Grill offers a 24-hour fast-food restaurant next to the two-lane bowling alley, and a large area with high tables where you can enjoy a beer or a cocktail at any time of day. There are also games such as two pool tables and arcade machines.
Continuing aft, there's a large casino area before reaching Shanghai's Asian restaurant, also included in the price, but it's small, so reservations are recommended. Opposite, The Cavern Club hosts more intimate live performances, but also, true to its name, Beatles sessions, which are truly excellent.
NCL's Freestyle Cruising concept gives freedom of choice of restaurant, entertainment, company, and attire.
Finally, aft of deck six, is The Manhattan Room, the ship's largest main restaurant, with a stage and dance floor in the center designed to complement dinners with live music, and even dancing.
On deck seven we have the Bliss Ultra Lounge nightclub at the bow, also used for karaoke sessions, and a large shopping area extending to the rear half, where the many paid gastronomic options available stand out.
Here we find a second, three-story atrium with a spectacular crystal chandelier, and surrounding it, the Teppanyaki show restaurant, another success in the cruise world introduced by NCL, as well as a sushi bar and a sake bar. On the other side, the Shaker's Martini Bar is always lively with live music and even dancing, while aft, in the elegant Maltings Beer & Whiskey Bar, we find a more tranquil atmosphere.
Finally, at the stern, there are two other very select restaurants: Cagney's Steakhouse to enjoy top-level meat dishes, and Moderno Churrascaria, in the Brazilian rodizio style, where in addition to a buffet of starters, the waiters approach the table with various sliced meats to cut the portion we want in front of our eyes.
“Studios” for solo travelers
Another innovation on the Norwegian Epic, and there are quite a few, is the area of interior studio-style cabins for solo travelers, also offering them a lounge for socializing if they wish. These are located on decks eleven and twelve.
Itinerary:
This is a classic Mediterranean route, notable for its extended stays in port in Civitavecchia and Livorno, which facilitate longer excursions to Rome and Florence. At the time of publication, Italian authorities require all cruise passengers to disembark on excursions organized by the cruise line.
COVID-19 Measures:
Currently, NCL's "Sail Safe" protocol stipulates that only fully vaccinated passengers who pass a free COVID-19 antigen test at the terminal are allowed to board. In addition, the ship is operating at reduced capacity to facilitate social distancing and in compliance with the requirements imposed by several European countries for resuming sailing. The buffet is operating normally, but waiters serve the food we request, and the use of face masks is mandatory both indoors and outdoors, except when eating or drinking, and obviously, when on a sun lounger or even in the pool or on the water slides.
September and October of the EPIC.
It seems unbelievable, but I didn't know about the Norwegian Epic. I wasn't the lucky one at my company to attend its inauguration, and for various reasons, I never got the chance to visit it. Seeing a ship for the first time, a ship with over 10 years of success in the market and one that has always generated so much buzz, is simply a unique experience. Just as its exterior silhouette leaves no one indifferent, its interior design was conceived to constantly surprise.
Its return to operating from Barcelona has sparked considerable interest, and I understand why.
The Norwegian Epic is a unique ship, which would set the standard for the company's subsequent series of ships.
The Epic is a cruise ship with huge appeal. It was one of the first Las Vegas-style ships. It boasts over a dozen restaurants, world-class shows ranging from Broadway to The Beatles, a sprawling and highly visible casino, and outside, water slides, rock climbing walls, and partying—lots of partying.
To use a common expression, it's endless. Epic passengers are on board to have a blast, and they certainly deliver, though the ship also offers a handful of quiet spots for those seeking a more relaxed vacation.
In addition to families, couples, and groups of friends who make up the majority of passengers on the Norwegian Epic, you'll also find a good number of solo travelers on board, as there are no extra charges for its single cabins/studios, and it has a lounge designed to facilitate meeting other passengers. This ship was designed with the tastes and interests of solo travelers in mind for the first time.
I've been saying this all year, but it's at home and on a cruise ship where I feel safest during the coronavirus pandemic. With all passengers vaccinated, antigen tests before boarding, "bubble" excursions, and mandatory mask use even on exterior decks, NCL maintains very strict coronavirus prevention measures, including a 70% capacity limit.
The Wave cabins, with their wave-like shape and en-suite bathroom, are unique to this ship.
I must emphasize that I was impressed by the quality of the service on board. Once again, the crew members make all the difference with their friendliness and their evident joy at being back on board and welcoming their guests.
And I'm left wanting to have sailed a few more days and to have had the perfect Bloody Mary, the Burn de Floor show, and the steak tartare and lobster Thermidor at Le Bistro.
Just a few days and I understand why this ship has been so successful year after year. If you have time available in September and October, the Norwegian Epic will be sailing from Barcelona on 7-day Western Mediterranean itineraries until October 24, 2021.
