Karl WP Beyer Norwegian Epic is currently the fifth largest of 17 cruise lines in the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). The F3 class ship was delivered from the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire in June 2010. The godmother of the Nowegian Epic was US country singer Reba McEntire.
Norwegian Epic off Sint Maarten
Over a long period of time, until the Norwegian Escape, the Norwegian Epic was the largest NCL ship. The original plan was to build two F3-class ships. After differences between the shipping company and the shipyard, a second new building was not realized. The cruise ship, which looks strange in the front, upper part of the ship, offers its passengers a wide range of dining and bar options. The sports and wellness offers are varied, and the entertainment is varied and varied. Active vacationers like the aquapark, which consists of several slides. Nobody would need to leave the ship during a cruise, because there is always amusement. The Norwegian Epic was the first cruise ship to offer special single cabins for single travelers.
Norwegian Epic - Aquapark's tube slides
We tested the ship and the service concept on the occasion of a Mediterranean cruise in 2014. The following year, Norwegian Epic underwent an initial renovation. After the stay in the shipyard, some of the equipment features described may look different today.
Offers Norwegian Epic
Major cabin options on Norwegian Epic
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designation |
Living space in m² |
Balcony area in m² |
Maximum occupancy |
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Studios |
9 |
1 person |
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Inside cabin |
12 – 18 |
4 people |
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Balcony cabins |
17 – 34 |
4 – 13 |
4 people |
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Spa cabins |
19 – 35 |
5 – 13 |
3 people |
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Club Balcony Suites |
22 – 23 |
5 |
4 people |
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The Haven |
29 – 79 |
5 – 13 |
6 people |
The new wave design of the balcony cabins and the studio single cabins deserve attention. Classic ocean view cabins are missing on Norwegian Epic.
Description of our balcony cabin 8105 on the 8th deck to starboard:
Just like the exterior of the ship, the cabin design takes getting used to. The shipping company emphasizes the "unique bathroom design" that makes each area usable separately. In practice this means: The spacious shower area and the toilet are opposite each other on both sides of the cabin door. A curtain separates the sanitary cells from the rest of the cabin. The washbasin is placed outside the sanitary area. This arrangement reveals to fellow travelers what has (perhaps) remained hidden from them until now.
Norwegian Epic - Balcony Cabin 8105 - Laundry facility
The "New Wave Design" is nice to look at; it is of no use. There is a lack of storage space and the counter space is on the small side. The cabin is narrow. In order to gain space and to prevent travelers from bumping into each other, the beds are rounded. They are not made for people with a wardrobe, the height of the beds and the quality of the mattresses deserve praise.
The balcony is a bright spot. On the eighth deck level, the balconies are definitely lower than on the decks above. They resemble a porch.
Norwegian Epic - Balcony Cabin 8105 - Porch
The Haven suite area
The Haven suite area on decks 16 and 17 is noteworthy. It turns out to be a comfortable living complex. The Haven Courtyard separates the suite guests from the "foot folk". The Haven offers butler service, a separate pool and an upscale beach club atmosphere as well as a dignified lounge and its own dining options.
Norwegian Epic - Epic Club Lounge for suite guests
Eating and drinking aboard Norwegian Epic
Norwegian Cruise Line has been practicing the "Freestyle Cruising" concept since 2000. Nothing constricts the passengers; The focus is on the flexibility of the guests. Fixed meal times and fixed seating arrangements are waived in the restaurants. The program is coped with convincingly by the ship's gastronomy. Several restaurants included in the tour price and a few specialty restaurants vie for the guests' favor. According to various sources, Norwegian Epic offers up to 21 dining options. We didn't count them. In the following we report on the restaurants that we find remarkable.
Gastronomic experiences
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Restaurant |
included |
subject to a surcharge |
Service at the seat |
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Main restaurant button |
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Manhattan Room main restaurant |
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O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill |
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Shanghai's Chinese restaurant |
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Garden Café self-service restaurant |
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Great Outdoors Bar & Grill |
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The Haven Restaurant (reserved for suite guests) |
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Shake/Snack Bar |
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Atrium Café |
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Cagney's Steakhouse |
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Modern Churrascaria |
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Teppanyaki |
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Wasabi |
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The Kitchen |
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Dinner: Our impressions
Both main restaurants do not differ significantly from each other in terms of the menu. The menus, available in German, offer a considerable selection of “classics” that are always available, as well as dishes that change daily. Vegetarian options are available regularly.
The well-equipped and well-kept restaurants work with professionalism. The guests are placed quickly. Usually there are no waiting times. If there are bottlenecks, beepers are used. If you are not ready to wait, you can reserve in advance or count among the VIPs. A well-located space is always reserved for them.
Norwegian Epic - Main Restaurant Taste
The dishes are tasty; the individual courses are served in quick succession. This practice is based on the habits of US guests. The beverage service also works smoothly.
Epic Club restaurant
Guests who appreciate self-service are available in the morning, at noon and in the evening Garden Café and the Great Outdoors Bar & Grill to disposal. There is nothing wrong with the quality of the food either. in the The Kitchen (Deck 14) early risers receive a small buffet.
Garden Café self-service restaurant
We confess that the dining options included in the tour price meet our needs. We don't need any Specialty restaurants, especially since these require surcharges. But they do exist and people like to use them. We like the dignified decor of the restaurants.
Shake/Snack Bar
In addition, the ship's guests are entitled to 24-hour cabin service to disposal. That costs an additional payment of US $ 9,95 (plus a 20 percent tip). Suite guests are exempt from this surcharge rule.
Cafes, bars and lounges
Norwegian Epic's deck plan names more than a dozen bars and lounges. Every passenger will find their favorite place. We have fond memories of:
O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill
The pub, designed like a pub, provides guests with rustic dishes and well-tapped beer specialties. A bowling alley is attached to the bar.
O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill
Bliss Ultra Lounge
A beautiful place for well-groomed idleness and entertainment. There is a second bowling alley next door.
Humidor Cigar Lounge
Non-smokers like us do not need a cigar lounge. Still, we like to look at them. It reminds us of old movies with men and women in elegant evening wear, whiskey and Havana cigars. There is a lack of evening wear; There is whiskey and cigars.
Humidor Cigar Lounge
Skyy vodka ice bar
One can argue about the sense and use of the supercooled ice bar, which requires the wearing of fleece capes. The establishment has no shortage of guests. The counter, tables, chairs and walls are made of ice. We are deterred by the high price of admission; two included vodkas soften this experience.
Guests on their way to the Ice Bar
Spice H2O
The relaxation area specially designed for adults is at the stern. To the Spice H2O include the Alternate Pool Bar & Grill. The Spice H2O is a good place to end the day with a drink in hand.
Eating and drinking viewed critically
There is still room for improvement in terms of the quality and decoration of the dishes in the restaurants included in the tour price. We did not test the specialty restaurants. We consider the service to be good.
As wine drinkers, we get along well with the wine offers (wine by glasses) included in the tour price. The "Premium All Inclusive Offer" includes several tasty wines. Premium All Inclusive covers most cocktails; and beer drinkers there are various well-known beers on tap and in bottles available.
Sport, relaxation & wellness
On 15 guest decks, guests of the Norwegian Epic are offered a variety of sporting and well-being experiences. Our focus is on that Aqua Park. It consists of several fascinating slides, including the Epic Plunge, a 61 meter long, unique funnel slide.
What else is there? Two of the outlets of the water slides are located on the 15th deck Swimming and five Whirl pools on. Two professional looking ones Climbing Walls and a closed one Climbing cage waiting for climbers. The two Bowling alleys we already mentioned. On deck 7 lie next to the lifeboats Jogging track and the Walking route. The Pulse Fitness Center with treadmills, cross trainers, weights and a boxing ring (!) lies on the 14th deck. Not to mention that Basketball court: a field of official size.
This closes at the stern of the Pulse Fitness Center Mandara Spa on. The Mandara Spa, part of Steiner Leisure Limited, offers over 50 different spa treatments. Last but not least, the Thermal Suite in the Haven Courtyard offers thalasso therapies, saunas and heated massage beds for relaxation.
A pleasant place to stay on board the Norwegian Epic is Beach Club H2O with live entertainment.
Don't miss: the open-air nightclub Posh Beach Club high up on the 18th and 19th decks is a comfortable place to stay during the day; at night it mutates into a night club.
Posh Beach Club
The suite guests stay in the well-equipped Haven Courtyard Pool & Spa among themselves.
Haven Courtyard Pool & Spa
Entertainment
The entertainment program on a ship like the Norwegian Epic is extremely varied. We assume that no one is bored on board the ship on sea days. When it comes to entertainment, we first think of the on-board theater. In the two-story Epic theater Broadway shows are held on front decks 5 and 6.
Epic theater
Im Mirror tent acrobats and trapeze artists show their skills while the audience savor their dinner. The circus pleasure currently costs 40 US dollars.
The show in the Headliners Comedy Club is entirely to our liking Howl at the moon. In this rock'n roll piano bar, two piano players heat the guests up with songs from the seventies, rock and hip-hop classics. The performances change depending on the sailing area.
Howl at the Moon at the Headliners Comedy Club
The Beatles made their first appearance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool. in the Cavern Club Norwegian Epic pays homage to a Beatles cover band for the Fab Four.
What would cruise ships be without casinos? The cruise lines make good money from the casinos, and the mostly American passengers love and frequent them. In the sprawling EpicCasino Roulette, blackjack, poker and dice tables await players on deck 6; and there are tons of slot machines. All of this is associated with the background noise of a “typical” gambling den. An offshoot of the casino that Poolside Casino, is located next to the pool area.
Out and about at the Epic Casino
Various shops offer on deck 7 Shopping experiences.
The regular art auctions in the are also fun Collection Art Gallery. Card players meet to play in Card Room; Bookworms frequent the well-stocked Library.
Internet cafes have become an indispensable part of ships. The i-Connect Internet Cafe Norwegian Epic has a sufficient number of jobs.
We see them on the 15th deck Video arcade. Car races are driven or fighter jets are flown in the video arcade ...
The junior travelers are in the Splash Academy or the Entourage Teen Center supervised. We outsiders were denied closer insight for understandable reasons.
About the Norwegian Epic
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Commissioning |
2010 |
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approx. dimensions |
Length 329 m; Width 40 m; Draft 8,70 m |
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measurement |
155.873 GT |
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Decks |
15 passenger decks |
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Machine |
Drive: diesel-electric |
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Speed |
maximum 24 knots |
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Shipyards |
STX shipyard, St. Nazaire |
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modernized |
2015 |
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Godmother |
Country singer Reba McEntire |
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passengers |
4.100 with double occupancy; Maximum occupancy 5.100 |
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Manning |
1.724. |
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Flagge |
Bahamas |
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home port |
Nassau |
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Board language |
English; German speaking office hours |
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Currency on board |
U.S. dollar |
Current position Norwegian Epic
Conclusion Norwegian Epic
The route: Barcelona, Naples, Civitavecchia, LivornO Cannes! Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona
Norwegian Epic and its diverse offers are aimed at an international, predominantly US-American audience. The gastronomic offer is varied and consistently of high quality. The deck plan shows around 20 cafés, bars & lounges. Way too much for a week. That much is certain, every guest will find their favorite place on board without any problems.
The ship presented itself in first class condition.
We don't see the Norwegian Epic on a par with the premium ships of Celebrity or Princess Cruises, but it is an interesting experience. Lovers of German kiss-mouth or feel-good ships should try the Norwegian Epic for a change.
April 2020
Booking options Norwegian Epic
