Norwegian Cruise Lines Norwegian EPIC - Sailing Even Further Away from the Traditional Cruise

An "Epic" is a word used to describe something very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale). It's a perfect name to describe the Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL's) latest ship to ply the seas, the "Norwegian Epic." NCL already boasts of the youngest fleet of ships afloat, including it's wonderful, Jewel class beauties. Now they are taking freestyle cruising a step further with the Norwegian Epic, the first of NCL's next generation of ships designed to really focus on the "Freestyle Cruising" concept.

NCL pioneered the freestyle cruising concept, and they still do it best, although other cruise lines (especially the budget friendly ones) have tried to copy it. I attended the launch of the Norwegian Pearl back in 2007. On that occasion, it was made crystal clear to press and travel agents onboard that the NCL freestyle cruising concept was unique and here to stay. NCL truly believes that it's your vacation, not theirs, and that it's important to offer cruisers, especially younger and hipper ones, flexible options. I love their television commercials that make the clear point that NCL passengers don´t have to deal with dress codes, dining times, or table assignments. If a picture is worth a thousand words, NCL has also created a fantastic graphic: a school of blue fish, with one white fish swimming the other way. Each NCL passenger is a "white fish!" You´ll see the "fish" on everything from print advertising, to the glass doors leading to the pool deck!

The Epic has the same freestyle concept of "do whatever, whenever," as the previous NCL ships, but this one has 19 decks. The 150,000-ton 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic looks like a traditional cruise ship, but it's radically different than what's been sailing for the past couple of decades. Most noteable is the elimination of the traditional, large, cruise ship dining room and big theater complex with a focus on varied entertainment. The big dining rooms have been replaced by 14 smaller dining venues, some including dinner theater and dancing entertainment. The "Cirque Dreams and Dinner" features an interactive "Cirque de Soleil-type" show while you eat. The "Manhattan Room" is a 1950's inspired, dinner dance club that becomes "younger" in music choices as the night gets older. "Spice H20" is an outdoor, multi-purpose area that becomes a "hot" club when the stars come out. For the more sophisticated, "Fat Cats" will feature blues and jazz in an intimate setting and "Headliners" is a 280-seat comedy club featuring a Second City comedy troupe. The Blue Man Group will be performing their entire NYC show in an onboard theater twice the size of their flagship one on Astor Place. The Epic will also have the the Bliss Ultra Lounge (nightclub/bowling alley) already featured on some of the gem class ships, a huge water slide, a large casino with 340 slot machines and lots of gaming tables, and an ice bar at sea.

Accommodations will be handled differently, too. The traditional, dreary, inside cabin has been transformed into modern "studios" with a "window" that looks out onto a courtyard, and there are shared Living Room/Lounge spaces just for these inner cabins. In addition, the Epic will feature family cabins well placed near the children's recreation areas and 39 Spa suites with access to the spa complex. Along with the usual assortment of balcony cabins and suites, there are more options for those with a little more cash who wish a more exclusive "top of the ship" experience, in the form of more than 60 Courtyard Villas and Suites across a two-deck-high private courtyard. Forty-six Courtyard Villas each feature two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Six Courtyard Penthouses, measuring 322 square feet, include a bedroom with a separate living and dining area. The eight Deluxe Owner's Suites, at 852 square feet, feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and separate living, dining and bedroom areas. All offer access to a small, private pool, two whirlpools, saunas, a sun deck, a fitness facility, private indoor/outdoor dining, a bar and a concierge lounge. I recently sailed on the Norwegian Gem in one of the Courtyard Villas. The experience made me feel like a rock star -- if only for the week.

The largest number of cabins on the Norwegian Epic will feature chic, modern, "New Wave" staterooms with curved architecture and more open living space. In these cabins, the all in one cabin bathroom concept has been blown away. Instead, these cabins feature a shower stall, toilet area and vanity split up into three different parts, with the the sink and vanity out in the actual stateroom. This design is, is some ways, a throwback to the really old steamships. In this new incarnation, the shower is now on one side of the cabin, and the toilet is on the other. In this way, a couple or family can use the bathroom without having to fight over who gets in, first.

I love NCL's freestyle concept. I believe that there is something for everyone on NCL, and you can pick and choose what pleases you. But the Epic will clearly depart even more from the traditional cruise concept than ever before. If you really look at the idea, the Epic is bringing back the "class" concept of cruising with a "ship within a ship" experience. It makes sense for today's marketplace. The Epic is more Vegas Hotel than old style cruise ship, where you pay for what you want, but you don't pay for the add-ons that don't interest you. In the golden days of ocean liners, those with more money got a different experience than did those in tourist class. The "ship within a ship" concept brings this idea back, but with enough bells and whistles for every class of cruiser to make them all happy. Older cruisers who remember the golden days of cruising, (when only the "newly-wed and nearly-dead" took cruises), NCL's casual and not all inclusive concept of cruising may not be to their liking. Gone are traditional touches such as big bands and formal dinners, and the idea of an all-inclusive, pay one price vacation. But younger cruisers and families, who want more flexible options and less structure, won't mind paying extra for the experience of seeing the Blue Man Group, or perhaps, rock climbing or bowling at sea, or, perhaps, eating in an intimate restaurant (but this time) in jeans and a polo shirt.

The Epic will be homeported in Miami. The first "official" sailings will take place out of Miami sometime in the summer of 2010 featuring alternating, 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. The Western Caribbean cruise includes stops in Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel. The Easter Caribbean itinerary includes calls in St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Nassau. Sales for the cruises start May 21st. I can't wait to see what NCL comes up with next, and hope to review the ship once it is ready to sail.

NCL ships sail just about everyone you´d ever want to visit. For more information on NCL cruises visit their web site: http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/home.html