where is the norwegian epic cruise ship right now

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Norwegian Epic

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

• Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)
• Civitavecchia-Rome (Italy)
• San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Norwegian Epic current position

Norwegian Epic current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 36.14862 N / -51.31606 W) cruising at speed of 19.9 kn (37 km/h | 23 mph) en route to US PCV>GI GIB. The AIS position was reported 1 hour ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Epic current cruise is 12 days, one-way from Port Canaveral to Civitavecchia-Rome . The itinerary starts on 07 Apr, 2024 and ends on 19 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Norwegian Epic

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Norwegian Epic Itineraries

Norwegian epic review, review of norwegian epic.

The 2010-built Norwegian Epic cruise ship belongs to a unique vessel class and has no sisters by design. NCL Epic was the fleet's largest vessel until the arrival of the new Breakaway-Plus class ships.

The vessel (IMO number 9410569) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311018500) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE ( NYC ). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL , Oceania and RSSC-Regent .

The 4200-passenger ship Norwegian Epic is the latest cruise ship owned by Norwegian Cruise Line before the launch of Norwegian Breakaway (2013). Epic became operational in June 2010. The vessel pioneered the ice bar at sea. She sails the most in the Caribbean and Europe offering new experience and entertainment proposed by the Blue Man Group at sea. Norwegian Epic offers new things like the Studios, planned for people traveling solo, and the private Haven. There are also a lot of options for dining such as traditional fine dining, endless buffets plus gourmet French, Japanese Teppanyaki, a traditional steakhouse and more.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Epic staterooms (2114 total, in 38 grades) include 348x Suites, 1086x Balcony, no Oceanviews, 560x Inside and 128x Studios (single cabins). NCL Epic ship featuress 75x “The Haven” staterooms and the biggest number of single-occupancy cabins (for solo travelers) - a total of 128. The ship is also unique for lacking Oceanviews. Most staterooms are sized 125-155 ft2 (12-15 m2). The largest accommodations are The Haven Deluxe Owners Suites (730 ft2 / 68 m2, with wraparound terrace sized 120 ft2 / 11 m2).

The boat has 19 decks , of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

NCL Norwegian pioneered the freestyle dining concept (eat whenever, with whomever and wherever you want). The concept is taken to a new level on the Epic. Expect to pay extra for the speciality restaurants, though there are plenty of spots included in the cruise fare. Most mega-ships feature a massive dining hall with big tables, but Epic goes another route. Closest to the standard here is the 592-seat Manhattan Room, with its two-story windows and a polished dance floor.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Epic restaurants and food bars.

• Taste Restaurant (forward Dining Room, complimentary, with Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (French speciality dinner-only restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• Teppanyaki (Japanese Hibachi speciality, reservations-only restaurant; US$25; open for Lunch and Dinner; features live cooking demonstrations)
• The Manhattan Restaurant (aft-location Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining, Dinner only)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill (sports bar, with 24-hour American cuisine - burgers, steaks, desserts; complimentary)
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar (Asian cuisine complimentary restaurant inside O’Sheehan’s Pub area)
• Wasabi Sushi Bar (25-seat, a la carte charge)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (speciality dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood specialities; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu)
• Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse; reservations-only; US$20 per person cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• La Cucina (Italian speciality restaurant; reservations-only, US$15 cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• Garden Cafe (complimentary buffet restaurant with various cuisine stations)
• The Great Outdoors (outdoor buffet restaurant, complimentary)
• The Haven Restaurant (Haven guests only, complimentary)
• Courtyard Grill & Bar (more casual area of The Haven, exclusive to Villa-Suite guests, complimentary for The Haven passengers)
• Spice H2O (pool grill & bar).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Most Norwegian Epic shows, even the free ones, need tickets though these can be booked at the box office on Deck 6 or online. The later the show, the smaller the audience, so better go later if you are in a big group and prefer to sit together. For karaoke, billiards and late-night dancing, there is adults-only Bliss Ultra Lounge, featuring three bowling lanes, non-stop music and plasma screens. The Cirque Dreams & Dinner show is set in the 2-floor Spiegel Tent. The show is a mix of shrill singing, acrobatics and food, with tickets starting at $29.99. This space also hosts the Second City's 3-times-a-cruise and murder-mystery lunch for $20. The ship has a total of 9 jacuzzis and 7 pools. Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hour Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. NCL Epic tipping/gratuities are US$12 pp per day. The Epic cruise ship does not allow onboard weddings.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Epic lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Epic Theatre (680-seat; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand-shows per night)
• Spiegel Tent (theatrical entertainment dining venue, with grand-style aerial acrobatics; surcharge $30-40 PP)
• Entertainment Kiosk (special venues, games bookings - Spiegel Tent, Blue Man Group, Murder Mystery, Second City Comedy)
• Atrium (3-deck midship hub area with a big-size LED screen, dance area and live entertainment)
• Atrium Cafe & Bar (speciality tea & coffee bar)
• I-Connect Internet Cafe (24-hour); Art Gallery; Click Photo Gallery & Shop
• Headliners Comedy Club & Lounge
• Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club
• Sake Bar; Maltings Whisky Bar; Shaker’s Martini Bar; The Humidor (cigar lounge); SVEDKA Ice Bar; Waves Pool Bar; Studio Lounge
• Epic Casino (served by Cascades Bar)
• Tradewinds Shops (tax and duty-free boutiques); The Marketplace (shopping alley)
• Bliss Ultra Lounge & Nightclub; Concierge Lounge
• Cavern Club (Beatles-themed nightclub) added during refurbishment 2015
• Kids venues, club lounges (Kid’s Aqua Park, Splash Academy for kids 3-12 yo, Guppies Nursery for kids 6 months to 2 yo); Recess Kid’s Area (club venue for arts&crafts, movies, karaoke, PlayStations, PCs, kids play area, a special area for teens); Entourage Lounge & Club (teen-only area)
• Mandara Spa & Fitness (Thermal Suite, Snow Room, Salt Room, Medi Spa, Smile Spa, Treatment Rooms, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop, fitness classes)
• Courtyard Fitness & Spa complex (Villas-guests only, Steam Room, Gym)
• Spice H2O (adults-only area)
• “The Haven” (Suite- and Villa-passengers only complex; consists of The Haven Courtyard, The Haven Restaurant, The Haven Lounge)
• Posh Beach Club (private sundeck, adults-only area for Suite-Villa guests)
• Rock Climbing Wall; Jogging Track; Sports Complex (Spider Web - enclosed 24ft/7m tall kids' climbing wall with a spiral slide, Bungee Trampoline, 9-hole Mini Golf course).

The ship's Aqua Park has 2 swimming pools, 5 whirlpools/hot tubs, a kids' pool, 3 waterslides (including the Epic Plunge bowl slide). The SplashGolf is a retrofit to the ship's existing splash pad (part of the Aqua Park area). It is located under the waterslides on pool deck 15 and combines 2 water fun attractions (splash pad and miniature golf) into one interactive water play facility for toddlers and small kids.

NCL Epic's SplashGolf was designed by Adventure Golf Services (a company specializing in the design and construction of mini-golf courses). The facility was installed in October 2015, during the ship's drydock refurbishment  in  Brest France . Instead of traditional solid mini-golf balls, SplalshGolf's balls are larger-sized and floating. The hole cups are also larger.

Itineraries

Norwegian Epic itinerary program is generally based on Mediterranean voyages (leaving roundtrip from homeports Civitavecchia-Rome and Barcelona ) and 7-day Caribbean itineraries out of homeport San Juan Puerto Rico . Transatlantic crossings (RepositionCruises.com) between Europe and the Caribbean are offered seasonally, in spring and fall.

In winter 2023-2024 (December-April) NCL homeported the ship in Port Canaveral/Orlando (Florida USA) . The winter schedule included 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, all of which visiting NCL's Bahamian island Great Stirrup Cay, in addition to popular island destinations like St Thomas USVI, Puerto Rico, Dominicana (Puerto Plata), BVI (Tortola), Mexico (Cozumel), Jamaica (Ocho Rios), Grand Cayman.

Norwegian Epic - user reviews and comments

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Norwegian Epic Wiki

Epic is NCL's unique "F3 Project" liner and has no sisterships. The vessel is exactly 32% smaller by GT in comparison to Royal Caribbean 's (and world's) largest Oasis-Class ships.

Ship's Inaugural Cruise (Maiden Voyage) was a  Cruise to Nowhere  from  NYC New York  (itinerary July 2-4, 2010). This so special event also featured Macy's (luxury department stores chain) 34th Annual "Fourth of July" NYC fireworks show - on the ship! Note: Macy's Stores sponsor NYC's 4th of July fireworks since 1976.

Ship's first Transatlantic crossing ( Southampton  to NYC) started on June 24, 2010. Epic was at that time the largest passenger vessel to visit NYC's Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

All outside staterooms have balconies. Epic is the first cruise ship ever to have (and so many of them) "studios". All solo cruise cabins are bookable with single occupancy rates.

NCL Epic refurbishment 2015 review

Follows the list of deckplan changes after ship's drydock 2015 refurbishment (September 27 to October 17) done at Damen Shipyard Brest (France) .

A new club lounge was opened under the name “The Cavern Club”. The venue is via a partnership with the original British club’s owners. It offers music inspired by "The Beatles" (live performances by international musicians).

New evening entertainment options are also introduced at the ship’s theatre (deck 5). Among those are the musical “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and the Broadway-style dance show “Burn the Floor”.

“Burn The Floor” show is also offered on the NCL newest ships Breakaway and Getaway. It is a ballroom dancing type of theatrical entertainment, with 14 professional dancers and 2 singers performing together with a live band.

“Priscilla Queen Of The Desert” show is a musical type of comedy entertainment. The spectacle features numerous costumes, head-dresses and dancing classics, such as “It’s Raining Men”, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, etc.

Extensive restaurant renovations were done to the Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse), Cagney’s (steakhouse), La Cucina (Italian), Le Bistro (French), Taste (dining room), Manhattan (dining room), Garden Cafe (buffet). Dining venues enhancements include new carpeting and decors, and their furniture was reupholstered.

Major renovations were done to the Mandara Spa (deck 14), Bliss Ultra Lounge (promenade deck 7), Marketplace (lido deck 15), Epic Theater (deck 5), Casino (deck 6). The Haven Suite exclusive complex (decks 16-17) was updated with new furniture, lighting, wall covering, artworks.

The list of new (redesigned) facilities includes a photo gallery (deck 5), library (deck 7), card room (deck 7) and the new SplashGolf (kids mini-golf course). The SplashGolf is a retrofit to the ship's existing splash pad (part of the Aqua Park area). It is located under the waterslides on pool deck 15 and combines 2 water fun attractions (splash pad and miniature golf) into one interactive water play facility for toddlers and small kids. Epic's SplashGolf was designed by Adventure Golf Services (a company specializing in the design and construction of mini-golf courses). Instead of traditional solid mini golf balls, SplalshGolf's balls are larger and floating. Hole cups are also larger.

Among the technical entertainments and upgrades are the 2 new rudders (by Becker), new propeller caps, hull repainting (robot UHP blasting technology, new type silicone paint improving fuel efficiency). General maintenance works affected the release systems of all service boats (lifeboats, tenders), thrusters, stabilizers, diesel generator exchange, cooling water connections, the cabin air-conditioning system.

• NORWEGIAN EPIC

Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9410569

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The current position of NORWEGIAN EPIC is at US East Coast reported 3 days ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Gibraltar, Gibraltar , sailing at a speed of 1.4 knots and expected to arrive there on Apr 16, 13:00 . The vessel NORWEGIAN EPIC (IMO 9410569, MMSI 311018500) is a Passenger (Cruise) Ship built in 2010 (14 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Bahamas .

Position & Voyage Data

Map position & weather, recent port calls, vessel utilization, vessel particulars, similar vessels, related news.

NORWEGIAN EPIC current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of NORWEGIAN EPIC data.

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• Position Norwegian Epic

Current position Norwegian Epic

4100 Passengers

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• Current position

Data according to itinerary:

Current position of Norwegian Epic : Under way from Port Canaveral (Orlando, FL) to Gibraltar

• Departure was 3 d 12 hrs 28 min ago. (at 16:00 h local time)
• Arrival will be in 4 d 23 hrs 32 min. (at 10:00 h local time)
• Traveled distance since Port Canaveral (Orlando, FL): 1,565.84 nm (2,899.93 km)
• Remaining distance to Gibraltar: 2,218.18 nm (4,108.07 km)
• Course: 63°

Current voyage:

Webcam image of the norwegian epic:.

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NORWEGIAN EPIC Passenger (Cruise) Ship, IMO 9410569

Where is the current position of norwegian epic presently vessel norwegian epic is a passenger (cruise) ship sailing under the flag of bahamas . her imo number is 9410569 and mmsi number is 311018500. main ship particulars are length of 329 m and beam of 40 m. maps show the following voyage data - present location, next port, estimated (eta) and predicted time of arrival (pta), speed, course, draught, photos, videos, local time, utc time. book a cruise, schedules, vacation, deckplans, reviews..

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NORWEGIAN EPIC current position is received by AIS. Ship info reports, fleet analysis, company analyses, address analyses, technical specifications, tonnages, management details, addresses, classification society data and all other relevant statistics are derived from Marine Vessel Traffic database. The data is for informational purposes only and Marine Vessel Traffic is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of data reported above herein.

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Norwegian Epic

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Norwegian Epic Review & everything you need to know

The Norwegian Epic cruise ship by NCL is a unique vessel across the entire cruise world, not just Norwegian Cruise Line. It’s literally one of a kind.

The NCL Epic was built in 2009 and set sail for the Caribbean in the summer of 2010.

About The Norwegian Epic

When you ask someone who’s been on the Epic, they are vocal about whether they love it or hate it, for several reasons. That’s why we’re doing this  Norwegian Epic review  – based on our five (!) voyages.

The NCL Epic is special to me personally because it represents a bunch of “firsts”. For example, it was my first Norwegian cruise, it was my first experience with a “mega ship”, it was my first time getting invited to meet the captain and first officer along with a private tour of the bridge and it was my first time taking an inaugural cruise and experiencing the excitement and vibe of what a new cruise ship launch has to offer. It was also the ship where I had my first PRIVATE behind-the-scenes tour of the entire ship. Quite fascinating!

That said, the EPIC is probably my least favorite cruise ship. Ironically, it’s also the ship I’ve cruised on the most. Why so many times? Primarily because the ship has been in locations around the world at the same time I have and always seems to be going somewhere I want or need to be. So when I’ve wanted a quick getaway, the EPIC always seems to be available and it’s usually quite affordable for a last-minute vacation. (I’ve also used the Epic for Transatlantic crossings to get back to America when traveling overseas).

Changes for the Epic in 2024

The biggest change for the NCL Epic in 2024 is the cancellation of the Pricilla Queen of The Desert theater show. Norwegian has decided to remove all broadway style shows in favor of their own in-house production shows. On a recent backstage tour, speaking with the director of entertainment, they said that the shows cost millions to license and it just doesn’t make financial sense anymore for Norwegian to pay those fees.

An Overview of the Norwegian Epic

The Epic, despite being a bit odd (more on that later), is a great cruise experience for first-time cruisers as well as experienced cruisers. 

The Epic is a one-off ship that was built with sister ships planned but they never materialized because of shipyard disputes, lukewarm customer interest, and notably different design concepts that didn’t resonate with passengers. 

The vibe of the Epic is more like that of a nice Las Vegas hotel than it is a cruise ship. When entering the ship for the first time, it doesn’t feel like you’ve boarded a gigantic cruise ship, but the lobby of something along the lines of a popular Vegas strip hotel surrounded by restaurants, entertainment venues, a large casino, and certainly no shortage of bars. With the ship being more of an inward design, wandering around, you don’t experience views out to the ocean as frequently as you would on a smaller vessel, again making it feel more like a hotel than a ship. 

As one of the largest cruise ships in the world by size and capacity, it still feels intimate and not overrun (normally). However some venues can get quite full and a bit too busy when the ship is at or near capacity.

Even though the Epic cruise ship was launched in 2010, you wouldn’t know it based on the incredible maintenance of the common areas. The cabins are well-used but very well-maintained.

Cabin Overview

The cabins on the Norwegian Epic are where most passengers have a strong opinion. The layout is unusual by cruise ship standards with a split bathroom (the toilet is separate from the shower) and where the sink is in the room. With only a curtain divider, people often feel that privacy is lacking. The design is very “European” by nature, which is why it’s not well received by the customer base in America. While the design of the bathroom is polarizing when it comes to opinions, the overall room design is quite good, albeit funky with rounded elements throughout. The rooms are still in style, even 10+ years after the launch of NCL Epic.

For anyone who’s cruised in the past, the vast amount of storage in the cabins on the Epic will be a welcomed surprise. Storage is literally EVERYWHERE. Behind the seatbacks, under the bed, in the large closets as well as plenty of other cubbies for storing used laundry and small luggage items. 

Balcony Cabins

A quick tip on balcony cabin selection on the Epic. Look at the configuration and select a cabin with the bed closer to the balcony door. Having the bed immediately upon entering the room makes it feel smaller, so the configuration with the bed closer to the balcony window just feels more spacious, even though they’re the same size.

Is the Norwegian Epic large balcony room worth the extra cost?

In short, no. See our 360-degree photos of the large balcony cabins on the Epic . Because of the ship layout and strange angles of the exterior, you will end up (usually) with a balcony that may be 50% larger but not as enjoyable. For one, you end up looking into the neighbor’s balcony/cabin when stepping out to the railing. So the reality is there is no benefit to the larger balcony staterooms on the Epic. 

Interior Cabins

Interior staterooms are cozy yet well-appointed. If you’re a cruiser that is usually not inclined to book an interior stateroom, the Epic might change your mind about that in the future, as they are equally comfortable, unlike some other cruise lines where the interior cabins almost seem like an afterthought and downgrade. 

Solo passengers/cruisers have never been a priority on most cruise ships. Expensive solo and single supplements are often normal on cruises, however, Norweigian changed that with their solo insider cabins of which more than 100 were introduced on the Epic. The choice to cater to passengers who traveled alone or with friends not wanting to share a cabin was a huge hit for NCL. They’ve become so popular that all future ships built for Norwegian Cruise Line have included solo cabins.

The cabins to support solo cruisers will not disappoint! Not only are the cabins well thought out for only 100 square feet, but they’re also well-designed and comfortable for single passengers with no corners cut on the design. 

In addition to the solo cabins, NCL has gone through extra effort to support passengers traveling alone with designated areas for solo cruisers to meet and mingle. 

The Haven Staterooms on The Epic

The Haven is more than just a room, it’s an experience on board Norwegian ships. The Haven never disappoints with its beautiful modern-designed suites. In 2020, the NCL Epic had some refurbishment and refit work done mainly to accommodate an upgraded Haven area. But, not all Haven suites are the same. On a recent Epic voyage with friends who bid, and won an upgrade to the Haven. Their stateroom, while beautiful, was an aft cabin and not connected to the main Haven area on the ship. Beyond the unique design elements and slightly more spacious cabin (with a proper bathroom layout), the Haven offered a Butler and Concierge that they rarely used. The consensus regarding the Haven on Norwegian is the value exists primarily in the private dining, lounge, and bar areas as well as other exclusive-use outdoor spaces. Most people who I know that have booked in the Haven suites tell me that they’d probably not pay full price for the experience but rather bid for an upgrade when possible.

Norwegian Haven Gallery – NCL Epic

Other available cabins

The Epic has a huge variety of cabins to choose from including Spa suites, Club Balcony Suites, family Balconies, etc. 

The Spa Staterooms on the Epic come in three varieties including the Haven Spa Suite, Spa Balcony Suite, and Spa Balcony. The Spa Balcony and Club Balcony have nearly identical floor plans as the regular balcony cabins but have a more “serene” decor and upgraded bathroom accessories. Most importantly, any stateroom marketed as a “Spa” room has unlimited access to the Thermal Spa Suites (Mandara Spa) included in the cruise fare. (Available on Norwegian Escape, Breakaway Class ships, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Epic) You can see more about the Spa Staterooms on NCLs website .

A Club Balcony (Formerly Mini-Suite) is essentially just the balcony stateroom with a few extra perks. Some of the perks of a Club Balcony Room include a free bottle of sparkling wine, early access to booking reservations, treats in-room such as chocolate-covered strawberries, upgraded linens, coffee and tea setup, priority seating in restaurants and some include a full-size bathtub rather than the typical shower. Most passengers I’ve met who have upgraded to a Club Balcony don’t really see the value, especially if booked at the full rate.

The Family staterooms are simply rooms that are closer to activities for children and many are connected rooms.

Dining Options & Restaurants On the Epic

The Epic has no shortage of restaurants and places to eat!

• See our Guide to the Norwegian Restaurants and Menus

O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill

Casual pub-style restaurant/bar open late serving everything from fish and chips, burgers, and chicken wings to healthier options like salads and soups.

Garden Café

The ship buffet is open for all meals. Self-service with theme nights and rotating lunch. menus.

Shanghai’s Chinese Restaurant

A very good Chinese restaurant with classic Chinese dishes and soups.

Shanghai’s Noodle Bar

Attached to the Chinese restaurant, this is a bar serving traditional dumplings and dim sum.

Taste & Manhattan Room

The main dining restaurants on the Epic with a menu that changes regularly as well as a daily / nightly fixed menu for those who don’t appreciate change.

The Haven Restaurant

For exclusive use by the Haven Guests. Basically, a restaurant where anything is possible.

Moderno Churrascaria

A bottomless meat event with a full buffet and salad bar full of appetizers, bread, and salad options. See the Moderno Menu

Modern Italian food. Not just your spaghetti and meatballs! Amazing rustic & high-end Italian. See the La Cucina Menu

Cagney’s Steakhouse

As the name states, it’s a full steakhouse at sea. Every cut of meat is available along with a plethora of appetizers and salads. See the Cagney’s Menu

The loved NCL French restaurant with classics like steak tartar and French onion soup. See the Le Bistro Menu

Amazing show cooking in small groups that rivals any land-based Teppanyaki. Watch the chef prepare everything on a large hot plate in front of you. See the Teppanyaki Menu

Traditional (and affordable) sushi bar. Quick tip : Don’t use a dining credit from your Free at Sea on Wasabi. It’s inexpensive and you’re better off dining a la carte.

Bars & Lounges on the NCL Epic

There’s no shortage of watering holes on the Epic. In fact, the huge presence of bars and lounges is so prominent that it again makes the ship feel more like a Las Vegas hotel than a massive cruise ship. Here’s what you can expect to find on the ship:

• See : All of the NCL Bar Menus

Maltings Whisky Bar

While Maltings is supposed to be a “whisky” bar, it is actually a full bar with just about every spirit, beer, and wine served that is available on the Epic. The only thing the guys and girls don’t really like to do at Maltings is make Martinis. For this, they’ll point you over to the Martini bar just a few steps away.

Martini Bar

The Martini Bar has a great vibe with lounge chairs placed well for the random live music that plays in the space. It also has a decent-sized bar to sit at where the bartenders will make you a martini of choice. I find that the skill level of the bartenders is lacking with good martinis, unfortunately.

Just like a typical Las Vegas bar, there are video gambling machines embedded in the bar and you can get just about anything you want. This bar tends to get busy with walk-up traffic from the restaurants in the evening as it’s faster for diners to get a drink sometimes.

This used to be our favorite bar on the ship. Dead center of the atrium and great for people watching. Unfortunately, NCL made the choice to chop off a significant portion of the bar and make it a Starbucks. A HUGE mistake in my opinion. Where the Atrium Bar used to be a gathering point for social activity and pre-dinner meetups, it’s now just an afterthought and feels like it should be in the lobby of a cheap hotel. I can’t say that I’ve stopped even once for a drink there since this change happened.

The bar at O’Sheehan’s

A huge bar made to replicate an Irish Pub. It’s great for just about everything you could want. The bartenders that work at O’Sheehan’s hustle and will make you just about anything you can imagine. When it’s slower during the day, and you’re up for experimenting, they’ll usually make you something off the menu for you to try.

A great spot on the Epic is the adults-only Spice H2O at the rear of the ship. With a small pool and stadium seating, it’s a nice place to get away from everyone and relax. At night the bar changes to more of a venue for music and sometimes movies on a big screen. Just like Bliss, the staff sometimes doesn’t enforce the age restriction, a disappointment. The bar is a great place to sit outside and enjoy the good weather and have any number of daily frozen specials.

Not much to say about the pool bar, other than it’s convenient when you’re at the pool or in the Garden Cafe for a quick bite. I don’t find the staff here to be terribly engaging or the drinks to be anything special.

Bliss Lounge

Bliss is the “Ultra Lounge” or nightclub brand on Norwegian Ships. The Bliss Lounge on the Epic is quite impressive given it’s essentially a well-done night club at sea. When you’re there, you wouldn’t know that you’re on a cruise ship. The lounge is what you’d expect in the evenings and is adult-only starting around 9 pm. Other than serving the purpose of a bar, club, or lounge, Bliss is also used during the day for private events and gatherings.

My only complaint with Bliss on the Epic is that the age restriction hasn’t been enforced in the past 2 voyages I’ve had. While other ships seem to do a better job at keeping the 18+ rule, staff on the Epic didn’t.

Most people don’t realize that there are only a handful of Ice Bars in the entire world. It’s said that there are less than 20 ice bars in existence, and one of them is on the Epic!

Admittedly, this is a strange concept and I can’t quite figure out the reason behind it but it’s fun to try it once, just to say you did. The cost is about $20 per person which includes two branded drinks (Now it’s Skyy, it was Svedka). The entry is time limited to 45 minutes and you’re provided with a parka to wear in the sub-freezing room. It’s fun and makes for a great photo opportunity with the funky lighting and ice sculptures.

Spa by Mandara

One of my favorite spaces on the Epic is the Mandara Spa and Thermal Suite. When it was introduced, the spa was the largest at sea! While it’s no longer the biggest or the most fabulous, it’s still an incredible retreat. Modeled after traditional Turkish Baths, it features hot tubs and a relatively large therapy pool with various jets for aqua therapy. The Thermal Suites also feature everything you’d expect to see in a high-end spa including a steam room, sauna, heated chaise loungers, and rain showers. The changing rooms have lockers and are gender specific with gender-specific steam rooms and saunas, but the rest of the spa is mixed-gender.

The cost of using the spa varies. It used to be when you had a service / massage, a day pass was included. On a recent trip, when I inquired about this, I was told that is no longer the case. (Confirmed again on a December 2022 Transatlantic). It also used to be typical if the ship was not busy, that a day pass could be purchased. Again, it doesn’t seem to be the case now, or may depend on who you speak with at the spa (Updated, the day pass was recently sold for $79)

The current pricing to use the Mandara Thermal Suite is about $300 for a week (On a 9-day transatlantic crossing, it was $319 including all fees). However, the price can vary a bit if you purchase after you’re on board. If the “spa pass” really is of interest, check online regularly after you book, as they sometimes run promotions. On a recent 7 days NCL Dawn cruise, I was able to get the full week for only $139. That promotion only lasted a few days and there was no notice of the discount. It was just visible when selecting the spa package as an add-on.

Don’t forget, if you’re really a spa person and expect to make heavy use of the spa, sometimes the Spa Staterooms are less expensive than a balcony cabin plus buying a pass, so definitely compare when booking.

There is a downside to the Thermal Suite on the Epic, however. On Transatlantic cruises, they tend to oversell the pass. It’s stated that the pass is only sold to a limited number of passengers, but I’ve experienced otherwise, unfortunately.

On a Transatlantic cruise in 2017 on the NCL Epic, the Thermal Suites were almost unusable due to capacity. It certainly wasn’t relaxing. To add to the oversold spa pass, a group of passengers had discovered how to “sneak in” to the spa since it was not well monitored. Mid-cruise, I finally decided it was a real problem and did what I rarely do, complain. It took the entire second part of the cruise to connect with the elusive spa manager and eventually get a full refund, even though they were extremely unwilling (initially) to a refund for the pass. This probably won’t prevent me from buying the pass again for another Epic Transatlantic, but I’ll definitely be watching for a discount online. Note: In 2022 for the same cruise, it seemed to have been managed better and was more enjoyable to use.

Things To Do on the Epic

The Epic cruise ship has more than enough to keep passengers from getting restless during their vacation. 

Pools, a waterslide, an aqua park, a rock climbing wall, and huge sun decks are among the many things to do on the Epic.

The ship was the first “Mega” ship for Norwegian Cruise Line and features the first generation of wild and crazy activities that have now become the norm on large ships. This includes the aqua park with huge water slides (three of them!) and a 200-foot-long tube ride into a funnel/bowl.

In addition to the outdoor activities, there’s an indoor bowling alley, Ice bar, video games, library, casino, theater, nightclub, shopping, and more.

Entertainment on board

The ship has a large theater that currently presents Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Musical) and Burn The Floor.

UPDATE ABOUT NCL ENTERTAINMENT

Norwegian Cruise Line recently announced big changes in the large-scale shows on their ships. The entertainment listed may no longer be available (mainly Priscilla). We are unsure if this is permanent or not, so please verify with the cruise line if these entertainment options are still available (As of Jan 31, 2023)

Burn the Floor – A sort of variety show full of dancing featuring accomplished dancers from around the world.

Howl at the Moon – A dueling piano show.

The Cavern Club – Music, entertainment, and sometimes comedy

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The Epic Casino

The casino on the Norwegian Epic is huge, absolutely huge compared to other cruise ships and lines. It’s NCL’s largest casino at sea and adds to the feeling of being in a Las Vegas hotel. While the size of the casino and how prominent it is maybe a turn-off for non-gamblers, it manages to co-exist with other spaces without feeling like it’s the sole purpose of the ship. It’s large and present but doesn’t ruin adjoining spaces with its size. 

Itinerary for the Epic

The Epic spends the summers in the Mediterranean departing from Barcelona and visiting some beautiful locations such as Corsica, Cannes, Palma, Naples, etc.

During the winter Epic spends time in the Caribbean and will be making San Juan its primary departure port.

Posh Beach Club

The 18+ space on deck 18 is a limited space sundeck (no pool) area that is available by purchasing access. It’s comfy, has a private bar, and is away from the crowds. It’s a good alternative for people who want private outdoor space that doesn’t have access to the Haven areas. Access is generally been sold as day passes or a week-long pass (for around $59) and needs to be purchased quickly when on board as they sell out. (It’s free for Haven guests)

What about Kids?

While we don’t have children or travel with other couples who do, we’ve met plenty of families that love the activities on board the Epic. The Entourage Club is a great gathering space for teens / tweens with video games, consoles, etc. There are also plenty of kid-friendly activities outside of the Entourage like the water slides and water park.

A few thoughts on the overall experience – Our Norwegian Epic Review

Generally, the service is quite good. There are a few areas of the ship where service could improve and is inconsistent with what you’d expect with NCL. Mainly this was found among some of the bartenders throughout the ship who looked like they were just overworked and tired. Based on a pandemic cruise early in 2022, the employee morale just wasn’t what I’ve experienced on other cruises, but with staff shortages and a challenging work environment, it’s not at all surprising.

The food quality is usually very good, a notable feature of NCL. Again, however, on a recent cruise, there were more misses than normal, especially in specialty dining. I believe this is temporary due to all of the supply chain issues. After a planned Transatlantic in December 2022 on the Epic, I’ll confirm if the dining has improved.

The value that the Epic provides on most itineraries is quite good. Considering that there is nothing “cheap” about this cruise ship, the prices are incredibly affordable. With cruises in a balcony cabin regularly being less than $800 per person for 7 days, the cost of a vacation with Norwegian on the Epic is unbeatable, especially when considering the “Free at Sea” promotion is usually included!

Tips – a few fun things to know

In passenger hallways, the carpet is made of swimming fish! Since the ship is so large, it’s easy to get lost or turned backward, so use the fish to guide you. They swim forward toward the front of the ship.

Additionally, each side of the ship and stairwells are color-coded. So take note of what color your side of the ship is and you’ll never end up wandering too far in the wrong direction.

Did you know? There was an entire FaceBook group dedicated to the Norwegian Epic ? Check it out!

Do you have anything to add about the Epic?

Did we miss something? Do you want to add an idea? Just submit a comment below!

Some Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question about the Epic, just comment below, and we’ll add it to this list!

When was the Norwegian Epic Built?

How big is the epic cruise ship.

The Epic is nearly 1100 feet long and 200 feet high with 19 decks and can hold over 4000 passengers (officially 4228 at double capacity). Crew capacity is 1724±. When it was launched, it was the 3rd largest cruise ship in the world. It’s still in the top 30 largest cruise ships.

When was the Epic refurbished?

The Epic was the first of Norwegians “Edge” refurbishment program and had some changes made in 2015. It was again drydocked in 2020 for enhancements to the Haven suites.

Are there laundry facilities on the NCL Epic?

There are no self-service laundry facilities, but Norwegian does offer a very reasonably priced laundry service.

Is there a 24 Hour restaurant on the Epic?

While not officially 24 Hours, O’Sheehan’s is open very late and usually stays open until the last customer is served.

What happened to the Norwegian Epic? Did the Epic Crash?

The Epic cruise ship had an unfortunate incident in San Juan, Puerto Rico where it collided with docks causing damage to the hull of the ship. The event happened in 2019 and there were no injuries but the damages were in the millions of dollars.

Is there a coffee maker in the Epic cabins?

In the Club Balcony staterooms, there are coffee and tea setups and in the Haven you can request to have a machine.

What is a Club Balcony Stateroom

Nearly identical to the standard balcony cabin with amenities that include the option to pre-book onboard entertainment and dining as early as 125 days prior to sail date, complimentary treats delivered to your stateroom (chocolates, etc), a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, and a choice of one valet laundry or pressing service.

Our overall opinion of the Norwegian Epic:

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10 Comments

Thanks for all the info! Are the water slides an additional cost? Is the rock climbing wall an additional cost?

Thanks for the question! The water slide is free, but I’m not 100% sure about the rock wall! I’ve only seen it used a couple of times as it’s usually not open (from my experience). But I do not think they charge for the wall either to the best of my recollection.

I asked Google the following question as I was curious to know how many life boats were on board the Epic, and how many passengers does each one contain ?

Unfortunately, it did not answer the question Posed ?

Good question 🙂 – I’ve never counted them. So I’ll rename the article “Almost” everything you need to know!

They do provide shower and hair shampoo?

Hello! They do provide a sort of all in 1 shampoo, and a shower gel, but they’re not great. There is not conditioner provided.

Very disappointed in the size of the pools. Plus it looked cloudy and dirty. The water was too warm to be refreshing. We hate the bathrooms. The food at the steak house (filet) was like pot roast! The waiter said it was from the light in the window. No more NCL for me. One and done.

It’s unfortunate you had such a bad experience. I try to tell people not to judge NCL based on a single Epic experience. (well, Epic, the ship not the epic experience! :). – Their other ships do seem to be quite a bit better, or at least more consistent. The NCL Epic is pretty hit or miss.

We just finished a cruise on the Epic in Spain, France, and Italy. It was the worst cruise we have ever been on, constantly things breaking, not working, not clean or maintained like other cruise ships are. Slowest elevators ever. Activity director needs to go on other cruise lines just to see how it’s done properly, we sat by the pool for one day and they had no music playing, it was just quiet unless you were talking to someone next to you and I asked several time to please turn on some music but they just joked about it, they had one short contest then nothing at all till after diner and the activity’s are short and end as soon as everyone gets started. The food was Ok at the start of the cruise but got worse every day after like they reheated everything each day even serving warm beer at the Irish bar. We felt like they nickel and dime everything and were charged over $900.00 at end of cruise. We have talked to over 100 people on our cruise and they all seemed to feel the same way, NCL does not get it!!

I’m really sorry to hear that you had a bad experience on the Epic. In general, it’s a polarizing ship – but regardless, service and food should be consistent across the brand. I’ve been on a lot of NCL cruises and always find the Epic “acceptable” but not amazing, so what you’re saying doesn’t surprise me at all, unfortunately. I think what I’ve noticed most, and this is across all the NCL ships, is that there is no music by the pool, and it’s quite boring. I recall them having good music nearly all day at one or more pools, and now it’s very sterile, so I agree that’s a disappointment. It doesn’t take much to pipe in some chill music as background noise. In the end, I (and fellow travelers we cruise with)… feel like accountants have gotten ahold of NCL and started squeezing everything out of the brand that they can, especially after the pandemic shutdown. Norwegian has been my “go-to” for 15+ years, but this past year, I’ve started trying other lines more frequently, and glad I have!

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Anyone on Epic right now?

By TheGinBoy , April 1, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Hello folks,

I was wondering if anyone's on Norwegian Epic at the moment, and is able to answer a couple of questions for me!

We're sailing on 17th April 2022, the week long round-trip from Barcelona, for our onboard wedding with 27 guests (pray for my sanity).

• Is 'Priscilla Queen of The Desert' back on in the theatre? I know it was put on hold for a while, and NCL promised it would be back "soon".
• Is the whole of the Thermal Spa now open? When cruises first started up I know that some things like steam rooms were off-limits, but having recently sailed on Princess they had all theirs open again. 
• Is the Epic currently sailing at 100% capacity? I asked NCL but they wouldn't say what capacity they were selling their April cruises at.
• Are there social distancing measures onboard (marked off seating, floor markers, full service buffet etc) or are we back to hoping people to behave responsibly?
• Anything else I should know? (we've previously sailed Epic in 2018).

Thanks in advance for any insights. I really appreciate it. 

A stressed groom.

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Can't help you but Congratulations! Hope you have a great time

Don’t think the Epic is in Europe yet? 

I don't think she is yet, no.  But I'd have thought a lot of my questions would apply regardless of where she was 🙂  

2 hours ago, TheGinBoy said: Is 'Priscilla Queen of The Desert' back on in the theatre? I know it was put on hold for a while, and NCL promised it would be back "soon". Is the whole of the Thermal Spa now open? When cruises first started up I know that some things like steam rooms were off-limits, but having recently sailed on Princess they had all theirs open again.  Is the Epic currently sailing at 100% capacity? I asked NCL but they wouldn't say what capacity they were selling their April cruises at. Are there social distancing measures onboard (marked off seating, floor markers, full service buffet etc) or are we back to hoping people to behave responsibly? Anything else I should know? (we've previously sailed Epic in 2018).

Hi there -- I was on the Epic March 13-20.  Priscilla Queen of the Desert debuted on that sailing and yes, the Thermal Spa was open.  On our sailing the Epic was somewhere between 45-55% capacity -- estimates varied but there was definitely a LOT of room.  Seats weren't marked off per se, but there were clearly fewer seats -- loungers in H20 were two by two, lots of space, and in the main dining rooms similarly there was a lot of space.

Thanks @Hquilter - that's really helpful. You're a star. 

Also, if you don't mind me asking @Hquilter  - how're they managing social distancing & contact tracing?

On Princess they have MedallionNet which you wear anyway, and over on MSC, Royal Caribbean and Virgin they give you plastic wrist straps/bracelets that track you. 

KeithJenner

1 hour ago, TheGinBoy said: I don't think she is yet, no.  But I'd have thought a lot of my questions would apply regardless of where she was 🙂  

Just be aware that things are more restricted in Europe at the moment. For example, there is still a mask requirement onboard, which there wouldn't have been on any US cruises. There may be other areas that are affected.

Absolutely fine with mask restrictions etc, just as long as we know what they are and I can pre-warn all our guests 🙂

My friend is on board now and says there are only 1200 - 1300 on board and feels empty.

matterdog919

4 hours ago, Hquilter said: Hi there -- I was on the Epic March 13-20.  Priscilla Queen of the Desert debuted on that sailing and yes, the Thermal Spa was open.  On our sailing the Epic was somewhere between 45-55% capacity -- estimates varied but there was definitely a LOT of room.  Seats weren't marked off per se, but there were clearly fewer seats -- loungers in H20 were two by two, lots of space, and in the main dining rooms similarly there was a lot of space.

Hope you had a great cruise! Glad the show is back also. If I could add a follow up question do you know if Zambooka is also back. Booked for July and both are still mysteriously MIA. I love NCLs shows, would be a shame if they were really gone.

On 4/1/2022 at 11:05 PM, ljrfrm said: My friend is on board now and says there are only 1200 - 1300 on board and feels empty.

Hopefully it's not at 100% capacity on the 17th April - got a lot of COVID cautious relatives joining us for our wedding. 

That said, it would be nice to feel some onboard atmosphere heh.

My father-in-law to be has asked whether you're able to walk up to bars, or sit at bars, now? Or whether it's still table service only? 

Does anyone know? 

On 4/1/2022 at 11:58 AM, TheGinBoy said: Hello folks,   I was wondering if anyone's on Norwegian Epic at the moment, and is able to answer a couple of questions for me!   We're sailing on 17th April 2022, the week long round-trip from Barcelona, for our onboard wedding with 27 guests (pray for my sanity).   Is 'Priscilla Queen of The Desert' back on in the theatre? I know it was put on hold for a while, and NCL promised it would be back "soon". Is the whole of the Thermal Spa now open? When cruises first started up I know that some things like steam rooms were off-limits, but having recently sailed on Princess they had all theirs open again.  Is the Epic currently sailing at 100% capacity? I asked NCL but they wouldn't say what capacity they were selling their April cruises at. Are there social distancing measures onboard (marked off seating, floor markers, full service buffet etc) or are we back to hoping people to behave responsibly? Anything else I should know? (we've previously sailed Epic in 2018).   Thanks in advance for any insights. I really appreciate it.  A stressed groom.

On 17th April Epic will be sailing under EU regulations therefore masks will be required inside and social distancing will be required

Priscilla is on

The thermal spa is fully open but there are limits on the number of people allowed in the pool at once

There are only 1350 passengers onboard for this transatlantic so Taste is closed.

Oh wow, must feel really quiet at about 1/3 capacity. 

We're in a Spa Suite so hopefully shouldn't have too much trouble sneaking in and out of the spa haha.

Thanks for the update @SpainAlien , really appreciate it. 

Mommapadraig

Good morning! I’m currently on the Epic. We attended  Pricilla Queen of the Desert last night. It was fantastic. The ship seems to be quite empty. We’ve been told around 1400 passengers. The only place we found to be crowded was the Cavern after the show last night. Standing room only. We didn’t stay.   

The gin boy..your FIL will be able to belly up to the bar. I understand his question. It’s also one of my favorite seats!   

we don’t have spa passes so I don’t know anything about that. Tonight we are headed to The Bliss Lounge to see a friend sing Karaoke. I’ll be surprised if it’s crowded. I am fine not wearing my mask but close crowds still make me nervous. We attended the dueling pianos’ a couple nights ago. Good times. Very talented and fun.

Hey @Mommapadraig !

Thanks for the update, that's really kind of you. Glad to hear things are going well onboard.

Just got to survive the next 10 days without getting COVID and we'll be onboard! 

I know! That was our biggest fear. We stayed home for 10 days before our test. We also have to get one onboard in Barcelona because we are staying on another 3 days to get off in Rome. I forgot to mention there is no official social distancing. It’s all on our best behavior. Pretty easy to do with so few passengers. We went to O’Sheehans at 8 am this morning and there was only one other person in the restaurant. If you have any other questions please ask. I purchased unlimited Wi-Fi so I’ll check in daily. 

That's very kind of you @Mommapadraig . Does that mean you'll be on our 17th April sailing from Barcelona?

All all the specialty venues open given the low passenger count? 

Anything else you think we should know? 🙂

Yes all specialty restaurants are open. The only thing I’ve heard is one of the main dining rooms is closed because of low passenger count. We are in the haven and are still working our way through their menu so haven’t tried other restaurants for dinner other than Cagneys. Tonight is LaCucina. We are going to the main dining room tomorrow for Paella.   

we had talked about trying the drink of the day each day. We only remembered it yesterday for the first time. Day 4. Something you may want to try. We are old so stick to our traditional favorites.  

We are going to try to see the Beatles show this evening in the Epic Theater rather than the cavern because of my continued aversion to packed locations! You also need to go see the dueling pianos . One of the most hysterical fun nights. Plus they are great singers.   

yes we are staying onboard for an additional 3 days and getting off in Rome. 

The service has been Impeccable and our fellow passengers are very friendly. I hope you have the same type of cruise. 

Sounds awesome, thank you!

Maybe we'll see you onboard 🙂

thedarklord

On 4/6/2022 at 11:11 AM, TheGinBoy said: Hey @Mommapadraig !   Thanks for the update, that's really kind of you. Glad to hear things are going well onboard.   Just got to survive the next 10 days without getting COVID and we'll be onboard! 

We're on the same sailing from Barcelona to Rome - the trying to avoid covid thing is nerve-racking! I still need to figure out how/where/when to get a test done - we leave London early Friday by train, with an overnight in the South of France, joining friends in Barcelona on the Saturday at some point. Hope to see you on board!

We're getting tested by a company called DAM Health - they've centres all over UK.

The centre we're getting tested at is actually in Kings Cross, just by the train station so might work for you?

JandC_Cruising

On 4/1/2022 at 10:58 AM, TheGinBoy said: Hello folks,   I was wondering if anyone's on Norwegian Epic at the moment, and is able to answer a couple of questions for me!   We're sailing on 17th April 2022, the week long round-trip from Barcelona, for our onboard wedding with 27 guests (pray for my sanity).   Is 'Priscilla Queen of The Desert' back on in the theatre? I know it was put on hold for a while, and NCL promised it would be back "soon". Is the whole of the Thermal Spa now open? When cruises first started up I know that some things like steam rooms were off-limits, but having recently sailed on Princess they had all theirs open again.  Is the Epic currently sailing at 100% capacity? I asked NCL but they wouldn't say what capacity they were selling their April cruises at. Are there social distancing measures onboard (marked off seating, floor markers, full service buffet etc) or are we back to hoping people to behave responsibly? Anything else I should know? (we've previously sailed Epic in 2018).   Thanks in advance for any insights. I really appreciate it.  A stressed groom.

We just got off the Epic (San Juan to NYC) on Saturday before it started it's journey across the pond, as you say.

We were in a Haven Spa Suite and the Thermal Spa was fully open.  It was AWESOME.  We were in there every day twice a day on the sea days.

Our cruise had 1,300 passengers and you could tell.  No issues getting into any venue at all.

Pricilla was dark until our last evening when they fixed some technical issues.  IT WAS GREAT! Amazing cast and all around fun show. Unless they again have a technical hiccup, I would expect it will be running more than one evening during your cruise.

There weren't any significant "distancing measures" on board.  We rode on a couple of packed elevators, but never felt unsafe.  There were no visible seating restrictions I saw in any venue.  I'm not sure what, if any alternate measures need to be put into place in European waters however.

The Beatles shows (both in the main theatre on our first night and Cavern Club later in the week) were also terrific.  The foursome are super talented and put on fun shows.

The Barricade Boys played the main theatre one night.  Another amazing show with four crazy talented singers who have all been in multiple Broadway and West End productions.

We ate at Cagney, Le Bistro, and Shanghai for dinners (then haven the other nights) and all the food was wonderful.

I'm sure you will have a fantastic cruise. 

Congratulations on your wedding!

Thank you for sharing @JandC_Cruising . Really appreciate it.

Sounds like you had an amazing time.

I can't wait to hide from my family in the thermal suite 😉  

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The 6 best cruise ship waterslides and watery fun zones

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Call it the Battle of the Waterslides.

In the last few years, the big boys of the cruise industry — Royal Caribbean , MSC Cruises , Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line — have been locked in a game of one-upmanship when it comes to waterslides and watery fun zones on vessels.

In addition to such over-the-top, new attractions as go-kart tracks and roller coasters , the brands behind the biggest megaresorts at sea have been packing the top decks of their vessels with even more over-the-top watery allures.

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Royal Caribbean, for instance, added an 800-foot-long “water coaster” to the back of its 3,386-passenger Navigator of the Seas just a few years ago. It’s one of more than two dozen giant waterslides the line has added to more than half a dozen ships in the last seven years.

Royal Caribbean also plans a record six waterslides on its next new ship, Icon of the Seas, which is scheduled to debut in January 2024.

But as recently as early 2016, Royal Caribbean didn’t have a single waterslide on any of its vessels.

MSC Cruises also has gone big with giant water parks in the past seven years, with as many as four waterslides on more than half a dozen of its newest vessels. Norwegian has loaded up its most recent ships with giant water parks, too — some have as many as five waterslides!

Not to be outdone, Carnival, an early adopter of waterslides on ships, has added sprawling water park areas with multiple waterslides to almost every vessel in its fleet.

A brief history of water attractions at sea

In the beginning, there was the pool. As watery cruise ship attractions go, it has long been the staple — something found on nearly every cruise vessel going back to the 1970s.

But as early as 1978, at least one line was spicing up its Lido decks with a little waterslide fun — little being the operative word. That’s the year Carnival added a single slide into the pool on its 728-passenger Festivale — a slide so small it’s now hilarious to think it was touted as an attraction.

Often cited as the first waterslide ever on a cruise vessel, the Festivale slide was of a sort that was found at backyard pools at the time. The cruise industry was still in its infancy, of course, and ships were orders of magnitude smaller than they are today. Festivale measured just 32,697 tons, about one-seventh the size of today’s biggest cruise vessels.

Carnival, the so-called Fun Ship line, would go on to become the early leader in waterslides at sea. The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy, which debuted in 1990, was the first cruise ship with a significant waterslide. It measured 115 feet in length.

Related: A beginner’s guide to picking a cruise line

Just six years later, in 1996, Carnival would make news with the unveiling of a 214-foot-long corkscrew waterslide on what then was called Destiny. (The ship currently sails as the Carnival Sunshine after being rebuilt in 2013.) At the time, Destiny was the biggest cruise ship in the world.

In more recent years, Carnival has gone into waterslide-building overdrive. The line has added full-blown water park areas with waterslides, watery play zones and other features to all but four of its 25 ships. All but one of Carnival’s ships (Carnival Luminosa) now have at least one waterslide.

One of the Carnival water parks, on the line’s 5-year-old Carnival Horizon, even has Disney-style theming revolving around Dr. Seuss characters.

Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean only began going big with waterslides on ships in the past decade or so. Many of the newest vessels from the brands have massive water park areas. Some of the brands are retrofitting big waterslides onto older ships, too.

Additionally, family-focused Disney Cruise Line now has major water attractions on all its vessels.

Where you’ll find the biggest waterslides at sea

If your idea of the perfect cruise ship is one loaded to the gills with waterslides and watery fun zones (plus all sorts of other over-the-top attractions), you’ll want to stick to the biggest floating megaresorts operated by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Carnival.

At Royal Caribbean, that means the giant Oasis-class vessels , which include Wonder of the Seas — the world’s largest cruise ship. At Norwegian, you’ll find the biggest waterslides and water parks on the line’s relatively recently built Breakaway Plus-, Breakaway- and Epic-class ships. At MSC Cruises, the new Seaside-, Meraviglia-, Meraviglia Plus- and World-class vessels have the line’s big water parks.

Big lines that have steered clear of the water-park-at-sea trend include Princess Cruises, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises. Geared more toward couples than families and typically drawing an older demographic, all three of these lines have stuck to a more subdued feel for the outdoor areas of their ships. The top decks of vessels operated by Princess, Holland America and Celebrity still mostly revolve around traditional swimming areas with pools, hot tubs and lounge chairs.

Ready for a splashy, top-deck thrill? These are the most spectacular watery attractions at sea.

The Perfect Storm

Where you’ll find it: Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

This isn’t just one giant waterslide; it’s a whole complex of waterslides, each one among the most exciting you’ll find anywhere on the world’s oceans.

The Perfect Storm is found on four of Royal Caribbean’s massive Oasis-class vessels — Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas — as well as the smaller Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas. The complex includes two four-deck-high racer slides called Cyclone and Typhoon, where you can do side-by-side speed tests with your travel partner.

On the four Oasis-class ships, there’s also a third, Champagne bowl-style slide called Supercell. It’ll swirl you around a big basin before plummeting you “down the drain” into a plunge pool. On Liberty of the Seas, a third slide called The Tidal Wave sends you screaming down a steep hill on an inner tube to a nearly vertical incline. Zooming upward, topping out and dropping back, you’ll get a blissful moment of complete weightlessness.

Note that Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas also has a waterslide area called Perfect Storm — but it’s completely different. More on that in a moment.

The Blaster

Where you’ll find it: Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.

The Blaster is the Big Daddy of waterslides at sea. At 800 feet, it’s the longest ever built on a cruise ship. Added to Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas in 2019, it’s a seemingly endless stretch of yellow and orange tubing that winds around the back deck of the vessel like a snake.

A true sight to behold, The Blaster is so long because it’s what’s known as a water coaster. It features water jets that propel you up, down and forward — extending the ride — as you careen around the ship’s basketball court and surfing simulator in an inner tube. At times, you go flying over the side of the ship, over open water (not that you have much time to take in the view).

Royal Caribbean has named the area on Navigator of the Seas where The Blaster is located the Perfect Storm — the same name used for waterslide areas on six other ships — but the area is completely different than what you’ll find on the other vessels. In addition to The Blaster, the Perfect Storm area on Navigator of the Seas includes a headfirst mat racer slide called Riptide — the first of its kind at sea.

Where you’ll find it: Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.

Leave it to family-focused Disney Cruise Line to come up with the coolest watery family attraction at sea. AquaDuck is a water coaster, like The Blaster on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, and is found on Disney’s two Dream-class ships. But don’t expect anything too white-knuckle. The ride is relatively gentle by water park standards, mainly because it’s designed for kids of all ages (and their parents, who can ride along on inner tubes for two).

While AquaDuck is slightly shorter than The Blaster at 765 feet in length, it has a bigger presence, thanks to its prime location encircling the main pool area. If you’re lounging up top, it’s hard to miss the massive, clear acrylic tubing of the ride, which is held up by 46 giant white stilts.

In addition to AquaDuck, the two Disney ships with the attraction (Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream ) have a relatively small, kid-friendly waterslide next to the centrally located Mickey’s Pool. Dubbed Mickey’s Slide, it’s held up by a giant Mickey hand, which is delightful. Both ships also have a watery play zone for toddlers called Nemo’s Reef. Plus, Disney Fantasy has a watery fun zone with water jets, geysers and bubblers called AquaLab.

Note that Disney’s newest ship — Disney Wish — has a water coaster attraction similar to the AquaDuck called the AquaMouse. The big difference: Riders will see animated shorts while riding up the ramp at the start of the ride.

Carnival WaterWorks

Where you’ll find it: Nearly all Carnival ships.

When it comes to waterslides on ships, cruise giant Carnival is still the undisputed king. The Fun Ship line began adding them to vessels way back in 1978, and there’s now at least one waterslide on every ship in the Carnival fleet — something no other line can say.

Indeed, on all Carnival ships, there’s now not just a single waterslide but a whole water park area. Called WaterWorks, these areas vary in size and features from vessel to vessel, but they typically have one or two big waterslides, a watery play zone with interactive water features and a large continuously filling dump bucket that periodically soaks everybody within range.

You’ll typically find the biggest Carnival water park complexes on the newest Carnival ships, such as Mardi Gras , Celebration and Carnival Venezia . All three have three waterslides — one more than most Carnival ships.

Aqua Park (Norwegian Cruise Line)

Where you’ll find it: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore.

Norwegian Cruise Line began going big with waterslides in 2010 when it debuted Norwegian Epic. And boy, did it go big! Norwegian Epic offers three monster waterslides, including the thrilling Epic Plunge — a 200-foot-long tube ride that ends in a swirling bowl. Epic Plunge is part of Norwegian Epic’s Aqua Park, the first water park on a Norwegian ship. Norwegian has since added Aqua Parks to six more new vessels, including its biggest ship, the 4-year-old Norwegian Encore .

Norwegian’s Aqua Parks vary in size and attractions from ship to ship, but some of them, such as the one on Norwegian Breakaway, have as many as five separate multistory waterslides. Yes, you read that right: Five waterslides on a single cruise ship!

On Norwegian Breakaway, the lineup includes twin free-fall slides that drop passengers nearly straight down several stories; two side-by-side twisting racer slides; and a family-friendly slide with a more modest drop. For sheer variety, the complex is hard to beat.

Aqua Park (MSC Cruises)

Where you’ll find it: MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia, MSC World Europa.

Fast-growing MSC Cruises has joined the waterslide wars in the last few years — and in a massive way. Each of the 10 ships the line has unveiled since 2017 offers a full-blown water park on its top deck that’s packed with waterslides and other watery fun.

On North America-based MSC Seaside, the Aqua Park has four waterslides and a children’s play area with interactive water features. The waterslides include two massive, 525-foot-long dueling slides that extend over the sides of the ship. The top of the Aqua Park on MSC Seaside is also home to the liftoff point for a zip line that soars 344 feet across the top of the vessel.

Other MSC Cruises water parks at sea include the winter-themed Polar Aqua Park on MSC Meraviglia, which offers a suspended-in-the-sky ropes course in addition to four waterslides. There’s also the Aquaplay area for the little ones.

A handful of ships even have virtual reality waterslides that involve riders wearing virtual reality headsets as part of the experience.

In all, 14 of MSC Cruises’ 22 vessels now have at least one waterslide on their top decks.

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Charting New Waters: Norwegian Cruise Line Unveils Ambitious Plans For Eight Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd  (NYSE:NCLH) has unveiled a total of eight vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths to be built across three brands.

The company also launched the construction of a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island destination in the Bahamas and its Caribbean port of call. 

The strategy is expected to boost Norwegian Cruise’s product offering, guest experiences, and operational infrastructure.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over a ten-year period, between 2026 and 2036.

After the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, the cruise operator is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034, and 2036.

Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029. 

Finally, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” said President and CEO Harry Sommer.

The company has obtained export credit financing with favorable terms to fund 80% of the contract price of each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships.

The new pier development in the Bahamas is set to begin in summer 2024 and be completed by late 2025 with an investment of about $150 million.

Stifel  analyst Steven Wieczynski reiterated a Buy rating on the shares with a price target of $25.

NCLH now has 13 ships on order over the next 12 years for a combined 41,000 berths, representing about 65% capacity growth, noted the analyst.

With a historically smaller fleet, the company has been building new ships more aggressively versus peers in order to enter/serve certain markets.

Over the next decade this will not only give NCLH the biggest growth story within the cruise industry but will also allow them to continue entering new markets with minimal cannibalization to their fleet, the analyst noted.

Owning cruise stocks when supply growth has been low for an extended period of time, as per the analyst. While the headline of eight ships might make investors panic, the analyst urged them to look at the fine print.

Overall, according to the analyst, the positives surely outweigh the negatives.

Price Action : NCLH shares are trading lower by 2.35% at $18.93 on the last check Tuesday.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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Subscriber only, travel | 8 new ships coming to norwegian cruise line, sister brands plus dock at great stirrup cay.

The parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line announced Monday a major order for eight new ships among its three brands as well as the construction of a pier to allow its cruise ships to dock instead of tender to its private Bahamas island for the first time.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings said it was planning to bring on four new ships for NCL, two new ships for upper premium brand Oceania Cruises and two ships for luxury brand Regent Seven Seas, all to be built at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and debut during a 10-year run from 2026-2036.

The NCL ships would be the largest ever built for the line at around 200,000 gross tons and capacity of about 5,000 guests. They won’t arrive until after the final delivery of its Prima-Plus class ships expected between 2025-2028, the larger sister ships to the Norwegian Prima and Viva that debuted in the last couple of years. The four ships from the unnamed class of vessel would arrive in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036.

The new class for Oceania Cruises, which in 2023 debuted its first new ship in more than a decade — the Oceania Allura — will also be the largest ever built for the line at 86,000 gross tons and a capacity of 1,450 guests. They’re expected in 2027 and 2029.

And the Regent Seven Seas fleet’s new vessels will also be larger coming in at 77,000 gross tons with a capacity of 850 guests. They’re expected in 2026 and 2029. Regent just debuted the third of its Explorer class ships in December 2023.

“This strategic new-ship order across all three of our award-winning brands provides for the steady introduction of cutting-edge vessels into our fleet and solidifies our long-term growth,” said NCLH president and CEO Harry Sommer in a press release. “It also allows us to significantly leverage our operating scale, strengthen our commitment to innovation and enhance our ability to offer our guests new products and experiences, all while providing opportunities to enhance the efficiency of our fleet.”

No other details about the ships were released. Financing is already in place to fund 80% of the cost for the four ships among the Oceania and Regent orders, but financing for the four NCL ships is not finalized.

The eight ships expects to add 25,000 more to the three cruise lines’ passenger capacity.

In addition, the line is set to construct a multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay, the popular Bahamas private destination visited by all three brands. The move follows the introduction of a dock that can support two Oasis-class vessels at neighboring Perfect Day at Coco Cay for Royal Caribbean while other private Bahamas destinations including Disney’s Castaway Cay and its new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point feature tenderless docks for easy access.

“We are likewise excited with the addition of a new pier at Great Stirrup Cay to support our increased capacity in the Caribbean and multiple ships to call on the island, enhancing our guest experience and bringing seamless and reliable access to our private island year-round,” Sommer said.

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• Travel Updates

Stranded Norwegian Cruise Line passengers make crucial decision

The passengers who were abandoned by Norwegian Cruise Lines when they were late have reboarded the ship - but all is still not well.

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The passengers left behind by a cruise ship on an African island, who then spent seven days trying to catch the vessel up, have made a crucial decision about their onward journey.

The eight abandoned tourists, which included Australians Doug and Violeta Sanders, had expressed some doubts as to whether they now wanted to return to the Norwegian Dawn after their epic African ordeal.

“We are considering whether or not we are going to board the ship,” US passenger Jill Campbell told NBC’s the Today Show on Tuesday.

“(NCL) really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and that the safety is and the wellbeing of their customers should be the first priority.

“It was a basic duty of care that they have forgotten about … It does concern us,” she said.

Re-boarded - but still frustrated

But it’s emerged the group did indeed re-join the Norwegian Cruise Lines ship in Dakar, Senegal, some 3100km from where the liner refused to wait for them after they returned late from a private tour.

“The eight guests have now rejoined Norwegian Dawn in Dakar, Senegal,” a spokesman for the cruise line told news.com.au on Wednesday.

A relative of a women who also left the ship, but for a separate medical issue, said Ms Campbell had texted him to say they were now back on the boat.

But it’s been reported Ms Campbell was frustrated at senior staff because they had not acknowledged them.

“The only thing we have received so far is a small note from the food and beverage director with six little treats left in our state room,” Kurt Gies said Ms Campbell had messaged him saying, reported the New York Post .

The group were left in São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation, on March 27.

NCL said they were significantly late for the 3pm boarding time due to the eight passengers going on a private tour unconnected to the ship.

The group, including the Campbell family who have fronted much of the media, have accepted they were late but have stressed they pushed the tour guides to get them back by 3pm.

While NCL delivered the passengers’ passports to the dock, the group claimed that all their other personal belongings, including many bank cards and medication, were kept on the ship.

They then spent seven days travelling through seven countries to reach the Norwegian Dawn .

They made it to the small nation of The Gambia, in west Africa, where the ship was due to dock. But the ship couldn’t reach port and set sail for Senegal instead.

The diversion added another day to the abandoned passengers’ journey through the continent.

‘Worst experience of our lives’

The two Australians said being left behind was traumatic.

“It’s been the worst experience of our lives to be abandoned like that in a strange country,” Ms Sanders told Channel 7’s Sunrise .

“Can’t speak the language — it’s Portuguese and African; we have no money, our credit cards aren’t accepted,” she added.

Norwegian blames passengers

NCL has pointed the finger at its errant passengers, however, saying it was their responsibility to be back on time.

In a statement to news.com.au , NCL said the group were not just a little late – but over an hour behind schedule.

“Guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time,” a spokesman said, adding the timeslot is “communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom, in the daily print communication and posted just before exiting the vessel”.

“When the guests did not return to the vessel at the all aboard time, their passports were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port, as per the regular protocol.

As the guests had booked a private tour rather than going through Norwegian Cruise Line’s organised activities they would now be “responsible” for the cost of their travel to the next available port.

“While the eight guests made arrangements to re-join the ship in Banjul, Gambia, on April 1, 2024, unfortunately the ship was unable to safely dock in the destination due to adverse weather conditions, as well as tidal restrictions that require specific timing for safe passage,” the spokesman said.

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“While we share in our guests’ disappointment, this modification was made with great consideration for their safety and that of our crew, which is our top priority.

“We contacted these eight guests regarding this itinerary adjustment and provided them with authorisation to re-join the ship at Dakar, Senegal on April 2, 2024.

“Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjul, Gambia, to Dakar, Senegal.”

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