For our next trip, we scored a fantastic deal on a short four-day Bahamas cruise. Not only were the timing and price just right, but this sailing also gives us the opportunity to cruise on Norwegian Epic for the first time. As we prepare for our sailing, here are our 7 reasons why we are excited to sail on Norwegian Epic.
The 7 Reasons Why We Are Excited to Sail on Norwegian Epic
Our First Cruise in Six Months
This trip could not come soon enough. It has been over six months since our last cruise, and the “cruise blues” have been in full effect for quite some time. If you have been following us for a while, you know that we normally take a cruise in January. Given our plans for an extended vacation in May and some other trips throughout 2018, this vacation was a “last minute” booking for us. Luckily, Norwegian Cruise Line delivered a deal that we could not pass up, so we were able to squeeze in this quick jaunt to the Bahamas.
Testing Out the Unique Cabin Design
Having separate shower and toilet areas in the room sounds good in theory, but does it work? With a stateroom boasting a sink in the middle of the room, a shower near the entrance to your cabin, and a unique curved design, is this layout really more efficient? We are ready to give our opinions on this one of a kind cabin design. We did opt for a balcony room to give us a bit of extra space just in case.
Balcony Cabin Layout (Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)
Balcony Cabin Layout (Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)Exploring The Ship’s Layout
While Norwegian Epic has been around for a few years, the ship does have a distinct layout and design. As the only ship in this class, Norwegian Epic is worth exploring. Some of the design elements were incorporated into the cruise line’s Breakaway and Breakaway-Plus class, with which we are familiar, but this ship seems to have a reputation for being a bit difficult to navigate. What tips can we discover to help cruisers stay the course while exploring Norwegian Epic? Stay tuned.
Signature Entertainment
As a fan of “classic rock”, I am looking forward to spending some time in the Cavern Club. This venue features a Beatles cover band offering different sets throughout the trip. From all reports, it is one of the best shows at sea. Other entertainment includes the comedy musical, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. While not exactly what you would expect to find on a cruise ship, again, reports tend to be very positive.
Inside the Cavern Club (Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)
Inside the Cavern Club (Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)Cirque Dreams
While it is an up-charge, we already have our tickets for the Cirque Dreams Epicurean show on Norwegian Epic. We have seen several Cirque du Soleil shows on land, and they have been well worth the money. At sea, we have enjoyed other dinner theater performances like the Supper Club on Norwegian Escape, so we have high hopes for this production.
Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line
Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise LineNew Dining and Lounges
Even though we have been sailing more and more with Norwegian Cruise Line, there are still a few locales that we have yet to sample. Among the venues that we will get to experience for the first time on Norwegian Epic is the Shanghai’s Restaurant and Noodle Bar. Onboard Norwegian Epic, there are also a few new watering holes to test out. The Princess is looking forward to the Shakers Martini Bar, while I am excited to try out a few of the “manly” drinks at the Maltings Beer and Whiskey Bar.
Heading Back to Great Stirrup Cay
Last year, we visited Great Stirrup Cay for the first time. On this trip, we get to head back to this beach paradise. NCL is in the midst of updating the amenities at this private getaway. We are interested in the progress of the new private lagoon area and the new zipline. If nothing else, getting to spend a day in the sun with a few drinks and some Abaco Tacos will be the perfect way to recharge our batteries!
Comments
Have you sailed on Norwegian Epic? What are some of your favorite features of the ship? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences sailing on this one-of-a-kind vessel.
My daughter and I sailed on the Epic in November of 2014. This was the very first time we ever sailed in The Haven and we had upgraded to a balcony 3 days before sailing and let NCL choose the room. To our delight, not only were we put in a Penthouse Balcony in The Haven but also in a handicap accessible room which meant the room was huge! We loved it. One of our favorite places was the Ice Bar and we did it twice during the cruise. A little flirting with the bartender (by my daughter) scored us a few extra drinks in there too. Will be interested to read your impressions after your cruise.
Thanks Linda for the feedback on the Haven. We ended up getting to eat at the restaurant in the Haven and had access to the Posh club which were both awesome. We did the Ice Bar too and had a great time. When is your next cruise?
After 7 NCL cruises the Epi , Nov 2017 was the worst. The food and service very bad.
Sorry to hear you did not have a good experience on the NCL Epic. We had a very nice time. Happy sailing.
Don’t miss the rock band Siglo in the Cavern Club. They are the best thing on this cruise. We just got off last week and we were not impressed with the ship. As to your comments, the design of the bathroom facilities is horrible and the food is below average cafeteria. We look forward to reading your reviews.
Thanks Valerie for the suggestion to see Siglo. We did get to see them a few times on the cruise and they were very good. Appreciate the comment.
We are on the inaugural Panama Canal cruise on the Bliss in May (61 days but who’s counting?). Again in The Haven. We’re really looking forward to trying out a brand new ship. And it looks like they have some really interesting new restaurants on it. Glad you liked the Epic. Really our only complaint was that the way the newer ships are designed, the main corridor of that deck kind of runs right through the piano bar so it makes it a little hard to enjoy the music. But I strongly believe that cruises are what you make of them. We don’t eat at the buffets anymore and now we usually book a suite or The Haven. You really do get what you pay for. When’s your next cruise? And aren’t the improvements to Great Stirrup Cay wonderful. We’re doing a cruise on the Sky again for Christmas and we have rented one of the beach cabanas on the Cay. They looked awesome when we were there last December on our Cuba cruise.
Hi Linda, we are actually cruising on NCL Bliss twice this year. We are doing a three-day inaugural and then a full week in Alaska in August. We are very excited to test out this new ship as well. We would love to hear your thoughts on the Panama Canal, that is on our bucket list.