norway epic cruise ship

Norwegian Epic Review & everything you need to know

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 Norwegian Epic cruise ship by NCL is a unique vessel known for being one of a kind. It was built in 2009 and set sail in 2010, offering a mix of positive and negative experiences for passengers. Despite being the least favorite for some, it is frequently chosen due to its availability and affordability for last-minute vacations. The ship underwent changes in 2024, including the removal of the “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” theater show.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

About The Norwegian Epic

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.

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, is a bar serving traditional dumplings and dim sum. We love the concept and wish it was on more ships. Here’s the noodle bar menu:

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!

In Conclusion Our opinion of the Norwegian Epic:

We think the Norwegian Epic is a great option for first time cruisers . The sheer size of the cruise ship makes it feel like a large hotel and a bit less of a typical cruise ship. So for people who want to try a cruise, it might be one of the best options.

Additionally, with the cost usually lower than similar itineraries, it’s a great way to try cruising on a budget!

If you can get over the layout of the cabins and bathrooms, the rest of the ship is great.

Cruise Gear Editor

I'm a global nomad at heart, and the dedicated editor behind CruiseGear. For the past two decades, I've experienced exciting voyages across the world, discovering countless ports from the decks of dozens of ships, visiting 40+ countries (and living in some of them for years). It's been an exhilarating journey to say the least! I want to share everything I've learned and hope to make your next cruise vacation as enjoyable as possible.

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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 Epic

Cruise line Norwegian Cruise Line

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

Norwegian Epic current position

Norwegian Epic current location is at West Mediterranean (coordinates 43.48969 N / 8.00477 E) cruising at speed of 18.9 kn (35 km/h | 22 mph) en route to FR VSS>IT CVV. The AIS position was reported 1 minute ago.

Current itinerary of Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Epic current cruise is 10 days, round-trip Greek Isles Italy Santorini, Athens Florence . The itinerary starts on 17 Aug, 2024 and ends on 27 Aug, 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.

Photos of Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Epic ship related cruise news

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line launches 2024 Europe Season with Greek Isles and Italy voyage

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line inaugurated its 2024 Europe travel season on April 19, 2024, with Norwegian Epic docking in Civitavecchia/Rome, before...

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line announces cancellation of multiple 2025 sailings (7 ships)

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line announced the cancellation of several voyages scheduled for 2025 across its fleet, citing necessary drydock maintenance...

NCL unveils new Caribbean cruises from New Orleans & Port Canaveral

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled fresh Eastern and Western Caribbean routes for Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic departing from New Orleans...

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line to introduce 1,000 dedicated solo staterooms across its 19-ship fleet

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line announced plans to introduce nearly 1,000 dedicated solo staterooms across its extensive 19-ship fleet. Starting this week...

NCL-Norwegian Epic becomes floating hotel at Port Marseille (France)

The NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line's ship Norwegian Epic recently arrived at Port Marseille-Fos (France), marking the commencement of a warm reception for...

NCL-Norwegian Epic cruise ship causes oil spill in Split, Croatia

The Norwegian Epic cruise ship caused an oil spill while offloading bilge water/oil residues at Port Split, Croatia. This unfortunate occurrence led...

Strikes in Italy cause cruise delays

Italy's tourism sector faced a severe blow on Thursday as rail strikes swept across the country, causing widespread disruptions on all rail lines...

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line cancels 3 sailings aboard its Epic ship due to 2025 refurb

The NCL Norwegian Epic ship will enter a drydock in spring 2025 for revitalization, a move that necessitates the cancellation of 3 cruises...

NCL's ship Norwegian Epic to homeport at Port Canaveral/Orlando (Florida USA) starting December 2023

In response to the increasing demand for Caribbean cruises, NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line has recently announced that they will be relocating the...

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line cancels Alaskan voyages (Spirit) and European voyages (Epic) in 2024

Following NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line's cancellation of the 2024 Alaska schedule for Norwegian Spirit, the company has now announced the cancellation...

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Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

• Norwegian Aqua
• Norwegian Bliss
• Norwegian Breakaway
• Norwegian Dawn
• Norwegian Encore
• Norwegian Escape
• Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Getaway
• Norwegian Jade
• Norwegian Jewel
• Norwegian Joy
• Norwegian Pearl
• Norwegian Prima
• Norwegian Sky
• Norwegian Spirit
• Norwegian Star
• Norwegian Sun
• Norwegian Viva
• Pride of America

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.

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Norwegian Epic Overview

Norwegian Epic is just that, an epic experience for a cruiser to encounter. The 4,100-passenger ship is truly a floating city with restaurants featuring cuisines from all around the world, like Wasabi Sushi Bar and Moderno Churrascaria. At night you can enjoy something a little different like a live performance. Looking to hear some great music? Check out Fat Cat’s Jazz & Blues Club where the rhythm is contagious. No matter if you are cruising with a big group, or sailing solo in the revolutionary and award winning Studio Staterooms, you’ll have a blast onboard Epic .

• Passenger Capacity: 4,100 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2010
• Last Refurbished: 2020

Restaurants & Bars on Norwegian Epic

Cagney’s Steakhouse

A classic American Steakhouse atmosphere, Cagney’s Steakhouse is a favorite onboard Epic and every other Norwegian Cruise Line ship!

La Cucina on Norwegian Epic

Italian food is a family favorite in most households and a cruiser favorite onboard ! La Cucina serves up fresh fare, made with classic Tuscan recipes and the guidance of expert NCL chefs.

Norwegian Epic ’s Le Bistro

Mom and Dad will definitely sneak away from their family cruise on Epic for a romantic date night at Le Bistro, an upscale French eatery, hailed as the most elegant restaurant on the ship.

Freestyle Dining on Norwegian Epic

If you’re not dining at a specialty restaurant, your options are endless! The main buffet onboard Epic offers freestyle dining – meaning there are not assigned dining times – you eat when you’re ready and until you’re full! A great option for the family with picky eaters sailing on Epic .

Bliss Ultra Lounge

Don’t forget to pack your dancing shoes for your cruise on Epic ! Perfect for those who like to have music and good times pumped into their veins, Bliss Ultra Lounge on Epic is the hottest nightclub on the high seas. “Sea” for yourself!

Norwegian Epic Ice Bar

Inspired by Scandinavian ice hotels, this unique bar is literally made of ice! The walls, seats, bar and even every glass is made from ice in this chilly 17 degree bar onboard Norwegian Epic !

Waves Pool Bar

Sun, fun and Norwegian Epic . Some things just go together, but these three thrive nearby the Waves Pool Bar, where a frozen drink or ice cold beer cools you down on a sweltering sea day onboard Norwegian Epic !

Norwegian Epic Onboard Activities

Aquapark & The Epic Plunge

While the parents enjoy the pool, kids onboard Norwegian Epic rave about the AquaPark and the aptly named Epic Plunge, the only bowl slide at sea!

For those cruising without kiddos, Spice H20 onboard Norwegian Epic is an adults-only beach-club style pool, overlooking the aft of the ship and serving up some of the best cocktails onboard.

Mandara Sea Spa

It’s vacation – you deserve to treat yourself! On Norwegian Epic , the Mandara Spa is a full-service spa, offering relaxing facials, hot stone massages and a full range of services for you to look and feel your best while on your cruise.

Brilliant Broadway Shows

Norwegian is known for their incredible lineup of onboard Broadway-style shows and Norwegian Epic does not disappoint! Each show is put on by a talented host of entertainers from around the world, coming together to help make your family cruise memorable!

Norwegian Epic Family Cruising

Cruising with the whole family is a memorable experience for everyone onboard Epic ! Each cruise onboard this epic cruise ship is designed so each member of your family, from great grandpa all the way down to the littlest member is happy the whole time! For children, there are incredible youth programs onboard Epic , ranging from the Guppies program at just 6 months old to a group for all those “too cool for school” teens sailing at Entourage, a teens-only lounge with supervision by Norwegian Epic crewmembers.

Even the accommodations and staterooms onboard Epic are designed for families! Whether your family is large or small, our expert cruise consultants are ready to help you plan a family cruise onboard Epic ! There is a perfect fit for every family, and more importantly, every budget, from spacious inside staterooms to 2-bedroom family-centric suites located in the luxurious Haven portion of the ship. Call our Epic experts at 1-800-377-9383 for more information and to start planning your next Epic adventure!

Norwegian Epic Cruise Destinations

Travel the world on Norwegian cruises! This fantastic cruise line boasts over 120 different ports of call, located in countries all over the world. Norwegian Cruise Line is always breaking new ground in their itinerary offerings. You can choose from over 145 different itineraries, each of which has been carefully chosen to present the destination in a unique and exciting way. Kick back on the beautiful beaches of the Bahamas. Become a culinary expert in the Mediterranean. Golf on professional links in Bermuda. Explore the wonders of South America. Enjoy the colors of New England in the fall. Or even sail the Panama Canal!

Tropical treats lie ahead: snorkeling, sunbathing, soothing breezes and more on a Bahamas cruise.

Water sports and intriguing tropical ports highlight the Caribbean region.

Eastern Caribbean

Magnificent days at the beach, tasty fare, and sun-soaked excursions lie awaiting you in the Eastern Caribbean.

Diverse cultures, outstanding historical attractions, and intriguing peoples are a few of the features of a cruise to Europe.

Europe Cruisetours

Explore Europe in a deeper way with a Norwegian Cruise Line Europe Cruisetours, featuring the chance to spend more time in Europe’s most interesting cities.

Mediterranean

Comb the Greek Isles for culinary delights and immerse yourself in the religious history of Italy on a cruise to the Mediterranean and Greek Isles.

Transatlantic

Coast to coast, port to port, the Grand Atlantic will astound you with its beauty and intriguing stops along the way during a Transatlantic cruise.

Transpacific

From exotic Japanese cuisine to picturesque Alaskan glaciers, you’ll definitely enjoy a Transpacific cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Western Caribbean

Mayan ruins will astound you and Jamaican fare will delight you on a cruise to the Western Caribbean.

Norwegian Epic Departure Ports

Looking for a getaway without the need to fly far, then Norwegian has options for you. The cruise line has ships leaving from New York, Boston, Miami, New Orleans and Seattle. If you do want to travel abroad they have ships in Europe leaving from ports like Venice, Barcelona and Copenhagen. Isn’t it time for you to cruise with Norwegian. Check out all of their itineraries on our site and then call us to discuss the best vacation option for you with our expert cruise consultants. 

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has deep cultural roots that are exposed through ruins and museum artifacts. Cruise to Lisbon and discover the culture and history of Portugal in its capital city.

A cruise to Civitavecchia is a chance for you to hop a quick train to Rome and explore the enormous history through ruins, galleries and The Vatican museums.

Discover imaginative architecture, impressive Spanish dishes and beautiful excursions into nature when you cruise to Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia.

Take in the incredible art scene of New York City, expand your cultural horizons in the city’s diverse neighborhoods and marvel at the architectural wonders.

The seafood is fresh, the sun is shining and there’s a whole lot to do, so get out there and explore the city before, during and after your cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan is a gateway to the Caribbean with activities for everyone. Enjoy an old-world feel as you wander around Old San Juan, relax on the many beaches or explore the rainforests.

Norwegian Epic Deck Plans

Norwegian epic staterooms.

Balcony (B6)

Balcony (bc), balcony (bf), balcony (bt), balcony (bx).

A Sail Away Balcony stateroom guarantees a Balcony stateroom or better! Please note that the view from your balcony may be fully obstructed or partially obstructed. Your stateroom may be on any deck and assigned up to one day prior to embarkation.

Balcony (B1)

Norwegian Epic Aft-Facing Balcony Staterooms feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a private balcony. With room for up to three they include two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, a sitting area and additional bedding to accommodate one more. These staterooms feature curved walls, a unique bathroom treatment where every area is separate, including the shower and a modern vanity sink, plus a private aft-facing balcony where you can take in the beautiful views.

Balcony (BD)

Norwegian Epic Balcony Staterooms have room for up to three guests and feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a private balcony with an incredible view. They include a two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, a sitting area and additional bedding to accommodate one more. These staterooms feature curved walls, a unique bathroom treatment where every area is separate, including the shower and a modern vanity sink.

Balcony (BE)

Balcony (B9)

The Spa Balcony Staterooms can accommodate up to three guests. They include two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, a sitting area, a separate shower and additional bedding to accommodate one more guest. You'll also receive entry to the Mandara Spa experience, including complimentary access to the Thermal Spa Suites plus your own private balcony to enjoy the view. Note: Guests under 18 are not allowed in the thermal suites.

These Large Balcony Staterooms can accommodate up to three guests. They include two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and additional bedding to accommodate two more. These staterooms feature curved walls, a unique bathroom treatment where every area is separate, including the shower and a modern vanity sink, plus a large private balcony that offers you an incredible view.

Balcony (BA)

These Mid-Ship Balcony Staterooms feature floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open to a private balcony. With room for up to three they include two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, a sitting area and additional bedding to accommodate one more. These staterooms also feature curved walls, a unique bathroom treatment where every area is separate, including the shower and a modern vanity sink. These Balcony Staterooms are mid-ship, so you'll have easy access to all the delicious dining.

Balcony (BB)

Balcony (b4).

vWith room for up to four guests, these Family Balcony Staterooms are great if you want to bring the kids. They feature two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and additional bedding to accommodate two more. These staterooms also feature curved walls, a unique bathroom treatment where every area is separate, including the shower and a modern vanity sink, plus a private balcony where the whole family can take in the beautiful views.

Balcony (B2)

With room for up to four guests, these Family Balcony Staterooms are great if you want to bring the kids. They feature two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and additional bedding to accommodate two more. These staterooms also feature curved walls, a unique bathroom treatment where every area is separate, including the shower and a modern vanity sink, plus a private balcony where the whole family can take in the beautiful views.

Balcony (B3)

Balcony (b5).

Inside (I4)

Inside (ia), inside (ib), inside (ic), inside (if), inside (it), inside (ix).

Inside (T1)

A Sail Away Inside stateroom guarantees an Inside stateroom or better! Your stateroom may be on any deck and assigned between time of booking up to one day prior to embarkation.

Cool and hip, right down to the funky lighting and flat screen TV, this exclusive key card access-only category is unlike anything you have ever experienced before. These staterooms have a full size bed for one guest and a window view to the corridor. Studio guests have private key card access to The Living Room, which is a shared private lounge that boasts a bar, two large TV screens and comfy seating for hanging out, reading a book or just enjoying a drink before dinner.

Inside (I1)

Located near our kids area and with room for up to four, these Family Inside Staterooms are great if you want to bring the kids. They feature a separate bathroom, two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and two pull down beds to accommodate two more. Of course you'll have access to all kinds of great amenities, like 24-hour room service and much more.

Inside (ID)

Norwegian Epic Inside Staterooms are a great and affordable accommodation for up to two guests. They feature a separate bathroom with shower and two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed.

Inside (IE)

Inside (iz).

With two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, these Mid-Ship Inside Staterooms can accommodate up to two guests. They also feature a separate bathroom with shower and access to some really great amenities. And because they are mid-ship staterooms, you'll have easy access to everything on board.

Oceanview (OT)

A Sail Away Mini-Suite stateroom guarantees a Mini-Suite stateroom or better! Please note that the view from your balcony may be fully obstructed or partially obstructed. Your stateroom may be on any deck and assigned up to one day prior to embarkation.

Norwegian Epic Spa Mini-Suites with a Balcony can accommodate up to three guests. They feature two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, a sitting area, shower or luxury bath with shower, additional bedding to accommodate one more guest and soothing spa decor. This is where stress and muscle aches instantly disappear and you'll be pampered beyond your wildest dreams.

Norwegian Epic suites with room for up to four, boast all around floor-to-ceiling windows. They include a separate bedroom with king-size bed, a living room, separate dining area and a private balcony with an amazing view. You'll also have a luxurious bathroom with separate shower and whirlpool tub, additional bedding to accommodate two more guests and access to the Courtyard area, Concierge Lounge and private restaurant and bar. Includes butler and concierge service.

The Mini-Suites with a Balcony have room for up to three and feature curved walls, a sitting area, two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and a luxury bath with shower or tub. They also include a private balcony with an amazing view.

The Spa Suites, built for two, are a great way to experience a total spa vacation. These suites feature a queen-size circular bed, in suite hot tub, spa decor and entry to the Mandara Spa experience, including complimentary access to the thermal suites. In addition to the private balcony with incredible views and luxury bathroom, you will also have exclusive access to the Courtyard area, Concierge Lounge and private restaurant and bar. Includes butler and concierge service.

These Family Mini-Suites with a Balcony are perfect if you want to bring the kids. With room for up to four they feature two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed, an upper bed and a sofa bed. In addition to the sitting area, luxury bath with shower or tub and your own private balcony, where the whole family can hang out and enjoy the view.

These Penthouses with a Balcony have so much to offer. With room for up to two, you'll have a queen-size circular bed and a living area, plus these Aft-Facing Penthouses offer an unforgettable view from the private balcony and include exclusive access to the Courtyard area, Concierge Lounge and private restaurant and bar. Includes butler and concierge service.

With a living room, dining area, separate bedroom with queen-size bed and private balcony, Norwegian Epic Villas have a maximum capacity of six and are perfect for the whole family. They feature two bathrooms, additional bedding to accommodate four more guests and exclusive access to the Courtyard area, Concierge Lounge and private restaurant and bar. Includes butler and concierge service.

With a maximum capacity of two, these Penthouses include a queen-size bed and luxury bath with separate shower. In addition to the private balcony with a fantastic view, you will also have exclusive access to the Courtyard area, Concierge Lounge and private restaurant and bar. Includes butler and concierge service.

Photo Gallery for Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship

Before you experience “Freestyle Cruising” with Norwegian check out this photo gallery which features many of their ships, specialty dining options and innovative staterooms. 

Climbing wall

Norwegian Epic

Mandara Spa

Bowling at O'Sheehans

Top 10 Norwegian Epic Cruises

• Norwegian Epic 11 Night Greek Isles & Italy (CIV/CIV) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (Oct 2024 - Oct 2025)
• Norwegian Epic 13 Night Repo - Transatlantic (CIV/PCV) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (Oct 2024)
• Norwegian Epic 3 Night BAHAMAS - SHORT (PCV/PCV) Departing From Port Canaveral, Florida (Oct 2024)
• Norwegian Epic 7 Night Eastern Caribbean - Port Canaveral (PCV/PCV) Departing From Port Canaveral, Florida (Nov 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Norwegian Epic 7 Night Western Caribbean - Port Canaveral (PCV/PCV) Departing From Port Canaveral, Florida (Nov 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Norwegian Epic 15 Night Repo - Transatlantic (NYC/CIV) Departing From New York, New York (Mar 2025)
• Norwegian Epic 6 Night Europe - Western Mediterranean - Rome (CIV/CIV) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (May 2025)
• Norwegian Epic 9 Night Greek Isles & Italy (CIV/CIV) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (Jul 2025 - Sep 2025)
• Norwegian Epic 15 Day Rome & Etruria Pre Cruisetour Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (Oct 2025)
• Norwegian Epic 12 Night Europe - Western Mediterranean - Rome (CIV/LIS) Departing From Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy (Nov 2025)

Learn More About Norwegian Cruise Line

Accessibility

Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's handicap accessible cruises and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities, including service animals, Braille and special rooms.

Savor Freestyle dining aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, including the specialty restaurants like Ocean Blue, Cagney's, Le Bistro, Moderno Churrascaria, The Haven Restaurant, the main dining rooms and several pubs, bars, grills and cafes.

Entertainment

Enjoy Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard entertainment, including Broadway productions, comedy clubs, dueling pianos and much more.

Onboard Activities

Engage in Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard activities, including water parks, casinos, dance clubs, arcades, ropes courses, sports courts, duty-free shops and more.

Service & Awards

Learn how Norwegian Cruise Line takes care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Plus, view Norwegian Cruise Line's awards.

Spa & Fitness

Participate in Norwegian Cruise Line's fitness centers, training programs and relax at spa treatments, including massages, body wraps, acupuncture, facials and more to relax and soothe.

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Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's special themed cruises, including popular rock music themed cruises through a partnership with Sixthman.

Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's staterooms, including suites, mini-suites, balconies, oceanviews, interiors and solo-traveler Studio rooms.

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Learn about Norwegian's Splash Academy youth programs and cruising with children of all ages.

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Norwegian Epic

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Norwegian Epic

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Last updated in 2020 (after originally launching in 2010), the 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic carries 1,724 crew members and boasts nonstop activities for cruisers to choose from.

Passengers can enjoy a water park, a bowling alley, a sports complex and a spa by day and take advantage of an ice bar, a piano bar and live theatrical performances in the evenings. Younger cruisers can also play in kids and teens clubs.

Cruisers can wind down at one of 15 eateries found on board, including six specialty restaurants that serve everything from French fare to sushi (specialty eateries require an extra fee).

The ship also offers a variety of lodging options. While solo cruisers can opt for a Studio cabin with exclusive access to the Living Room lounge, groups can choose between Inside, Balcony, Spa and Club Balcony Suite category cabins. For even more luxury, a suite in The Haven offers additional space and access to a courtyard, concierge lounge and private restaurant and bar.

Norwegian Epic departs from Barcelona ,  Rome  and Tel Aviv for sailings in Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as  Puerto Rico and Orlando , Florida for sailings in the Caribbean and New York for transatlantic sailings.

Pros & Cons

Recently refurbished in 2020

Some cruisers found the common areas crowded

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 3.7
• Health Rating » 3.0

Norwegian Epic ranks # 19 out of 19 Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 19 in Best Norwegian Cruise Line
• # 22 in Best Cruises for Singles
• # 52 in Best Cruises for Families
• # 61 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 75 in Best Cruises to Europe
• # 86 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 113 in Best Affordable Cruises

Norwegian Epic offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Norwegian Epic contains 15 decks. Find out which features are available on each Norwegian Epic deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 3022 guests have reviewed Norwegian Epic , giving it a rating of 3.7 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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All about the Norwegian Epic

The Norwegian Epic was built in 2010. It was renovated in 2015. It's considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,081 ft long and 171 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 3 football fields, as wide as 3.2 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 14-story building.

Norwegian Epic Overview

• Ship and Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities

Cruise Costs

• Onboard Costs

Norwegian Epic Size and Passengers

The Epic can hold 4,100 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Epic has a space ratio of 38. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average.

The Epic is one of one Epic-class ships currently sailing with Norwegian.

Norwegian Epic Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Norwegian Epic. You have 16 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 3 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 13 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 19% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.

Norwegian Epic Bars and Drinks

Norwegian Epic has 15 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail. It also has 1 other bars that are available for select guests.

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Norwegian also serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Norwegian Epic

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Norwegian Epic has a total of 5 pools and 11 hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only. 2 of the pools and 4 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Norwegian Epic Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Epic. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Norwegian is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Norwegian Epic Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Norwegian ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a Free at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive free open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at their specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the Free at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.

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About Cruise Spotlight Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation. Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.

Press Releases

Norwegian cruise line® offers more options for port-immersive europe itineraries for its 2026 spring/summer season.

- The Brand   Offers Guests a Wide Variety of Seven-Day Europe Cruises with No Sea Days Along with Longer Voyages Visiting Ports Nearly Every Day -   

- Norwegian Sun ®   Will Offer a Full Baltic Season with Seven- and Nine-Day Open-Jaw Sailings from Copenhagen, Denmark, and for the First-Time Helsinki, as a New Homeport for NCL - 

- Among the 225 New Voyages, Featuring 150 Unique Ports of Call, NCL ®   Will Make its Debut in Portree, Scotland; Leirvik (Stord), Norway; and Palamós, Spain - 

MIAMI , Aug. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --  Norwegian Cruise Line ® (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, has open for sale additional cruises for its 2026 spring/summer season with more port-immersive Europe sailings across Northern Europe , the Mediterranean , and Greek Isles  across eight ships providing cruisers a variety of sailing lengths and embarkation ports to plan their dream European vacation; in addition to bucket-list itineraries through the South Pacific, warm weather summer voyages through the Western Caribbean, journeys to Canada and New England for the fall season, among other fascinating destinations. 

As part of NCL's guest-centric itinerary planning, the Brand is offering more seven-day itineraries throughout Europe with many voyages that include limited or no sea days, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves into each destination. Select seven-to-14-day sailings also offer overnight stays in Reykjavik, Iceland; Copenhagen, Denmark; Istanbul, Turkey and more. There are a total of 22 overnights in Europe this season, where cruisers can choose to enjoy late night dinners and nightlife on shore. With 11 unique embarkation ports offering voyages across 10 different European countries, including Helsinki -  a brand-new homeport for NCL – the company is providing travelers the opportunity to begin and end their vacation in the destination that best fulfils their European travel desires. Among the newly open for sale Europe cruises, NCL will call to Portree, Scotland; Leirvik (Stord), Norway; and Palamós, Spain for the very first time.  

"At NCL, we take pride in offering our guests various options to plan where they want to vacation," said David J. Herrera, President of Norwegian Cruise Line. "Whether they choose our seven-day sailings, longer immersive voyages, or cruises that begin and end in a new destination, we make it so our guests can vacation with ease with us from start to finish. From transportation, air programming and so much more, we strive to offer the best service all around."

Additional highlights from the 225 new and available sailings include:

NORTHERN EUROPE

From June through October 2026, Norwegian Sun will offer a full Baltic season with seven- to 10-day sailings where guests can embark in Copenhagen, Denmark or Helsinki, and visit a port nearly every day including towns in Norway, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden and more. On select nine-day voyages from Helsinki, Norwegian Sun's itinerary includes an overnight stay in Copenhagen, Denmark where guests can explore the history of the city, visit the famous entertainment district of Nyhavn; or stroll down Stroget, one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe.

Norwegian Sky ® will commence her second full Europe season on April 19, 2026 with four unique seven-day open-jaw sailings to the Northern Capitals  embarking in Le Havre, France and Copenhagen, Denmark, offering an overnight stay in Hamburg, Germany and visiting Zeebruge, Belgium; Tilbury, United Kingdom; and Ijmuiden, Netherlands. The vessel will then cruise a series of 10- and 11-day British Isles  voyages from May through Sept. 2026 where NCL will make its debut in Portree, Scotland on its May 17, 2026 sailing.

Travelers looking to take advantage of the long hours of summer daylight in Iceland can embark on one of Norwegian Star's ® 10- or 11-day Extraordinary Journeys  between May and September 2026 embarking in Reykjavik, Iceland or Southampton, UK. With these open-jaw sailings, guests can choose to extend their vacation on land pre- or post-cruise. During the May 21, 2026 voyage, NCL will cruise to Leirvik (Stord), Norway for the very first time, and revisit the port on select 10-day cruises. Known for its attractive harbor, travelers can explore Leirvik's Sunnhordlandstunet, an open-air museum featuring several historical courtyards, and much more. Norwegian Star's 11-day Iceland sailings also offer a unique opportunity – an overnight stay in Reykjavik, Iceland – providing more time in destination to explore nature's wonders.

MEDITERRANEAN AND GREEK ISLES

Beginning April 2026 and through October 2026, NCL's newest ship, Norwegian Viva ® , will cruise nine and 10-day Western Mediterranean  and Greek Isles  voyages. To further provide guests with more port time, a selection of the Greek Isles voyages will also include an overnight stay in Istanbul, Turkey for guests to discover the city late into the night. Perfect for those searching for a warm European escape, the itineraries visit popular towns in Turkey, Malta, Italy, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia. These unique open-jaw cruises provide travelers more embarkation and disembarkation port options to choose from including Barcelona, Spain; Venice (Ravenna), Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, allowing them the opportunity to continue their vacation with loved ones on land.

Amongst the new seven-day Western Mediterranean  sailings are:

• Norwegian Epic ® : Sailing a variety of open-jaw voyages to and from Barcelona, Spain and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy between May 2026 and October 2026, with calls to Nice/Monaco (Villefranche) and Marseille, France; as well as Messina, Salerno and late-night departures from Livorno, Italy, offering between 10 to 17 hours in port to enjoy a longer shore excursion day trip into a nearby town such as Florence or Pisa, Italy.
• Norwegian Dawn ® : These port-intensive open-jaw cruises between April 2026 and October 2026 offer no sea days and embark and disembark in Barcelona, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal. Ports of call include late departures from Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, Spain allowing more time for guests to enjoy popular beach clubs on these Mediterranean islands; as well as visits to Portimao, Portugal; Gibraltar; and more.
• Norwegian Gem ® : On May 10, 2026, the ship will start her Europe season with a sailing from Barcelona, Spain where NCL will make its debut in Palamós, Spain, known for scenic hiking paths and beautiful beaches, during the ship's voyage. Norwegian Gem will also call for the first time in Salerno, Italy and Nice/Monaco (Villefranche), France. Following this sailing, the ship will then embark on a series of cruises to and from Venice (Ravenna) and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy with no sea days calling to Greece; Montenegro; and Croatia, where guests can fully enjoy Dubrovnik, Croatia as select itineraries offer a departure late into the evening.

Norwegian Pearl's ® seven-day Greek Isles  voyages from May 2026 through October 2026 is the ideal cruise for guests looking to island hop through picturesque Greece. Cruisers have the option to choose from varied itineraries with late departures in Santorini and Mykonos, Greece; as well as Dubrovnik, Croatia; to fully immerse themselves in the destination to enjoy a beautiful sunset, indulge in a lively evening dinner, and more. Embarkation and disembarking ports for these voyages alternate between Venice (Ravenna), Italy and Athens (Piraeus), Greece providing guests greater vacation choices.

WESTERN CARIBBEAN, AND CANADA & NEW ENGLAND

Norwegian Escape ® will offer guests seven-day roundtrip sailings to the Western Caribbean  from New Orleans between April 12, 2026 through May 10, 2026, followed by seven-day roundtrip sailings from Miami between May 24, 2026 and Aug. 9, 2026. Both itineraries will visit Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán (Bay Islands), Honduras; and Harvest Caye, NCL's 75-acre resort-style destination in Southern Belize.

To kick off her fall season, Norwegian Escape will offer a selection of seven-day roundtrip Canada & New England  voyages from New York City between August 2026 and October 2026. During her Aug. 28, 2026 sailing, the ship will call to Boston for the very first time, making it the first Breakaway Plus class ship to visit the city. The itinerary takes guests through a journey to Portland, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick and Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada; to enjoy the fall foliage and bask in the cool fall weather.

IMMERSIVE VOYAGES WITH NORWEGIAN SPIRIT ®

From April 22, 2026 through July 3, 2026 and Sept. 17, 2026 through Nov. 17, 2026, Norwegian Spirit ® will offer a variety of open-jaw South Pacific  sailings between 11- and 13-day voyages calling to New Caledonia; Fiji; Samoa Islands; French Polynesia and the Hawaii islands. Guests have a variety of embarkation ports to choose from including Sydney; Papeete, French Polynesia; Honolulu; and Lautoka, Fiji – a brand new embarkation port for Norwegian Spirit.

For travelers looking for a once-in-a-lifetime cruising experience to explore Alaska and Hawaii , affectionately named NCL's "Fire and Ice" voyages, Norwegian Spirit will offer four unique 16-day sailings starting July 15, 2026 through Sept. 1, 2026. The voyages offer embarkation in Honolulu or Vancouver, Canada and visit bucket-list destinations such as the dreamlike and warm-weather islands of Kahului (Maui), Hilo and Nawiliwili (Kauai), Hawaii; as well as the majestic and cool-weather towns of Ketchikan, Skagway and Juneau, Alaska.

For B-roll of Norwegian Cruise Line ships, please click here .

For full details about the Company's spring and summer 2026 worldwide itineraries and its award-winning 19-ship fleet, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com .

About Norwegian Cruise Line

As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line ®  has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 57 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionized the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 19 contemporary ships sail to 450 of the world's most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company's private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveler staterooms, club balcony suites, and The Haven by Norwegian ® , the company's ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, call 888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com . For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian.

Norwegian Cruise Line is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH). To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com .

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/norwegian-cruise-line-offers-more-options-for-port-immersive-europe-itineraries-for-its-2026-springsummer-season-302228856.html

SOURCE Norwegian Cruise Line

Released August 22, 2024

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* Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings.

Norwegian Cruise Line® stellt neue hafenintensive Europa-Routen im Frühling/Sommer 2026 vor

Die Reederei bietet ihren Gästen eine große Auswahl an siebentägigen Europa-Kreuzfahrten ohne Seetage sowie längere Reisen mit fast täglichen Hafenanläufen 

Die Norwegian Sun ® wird eine komplette Ostsee-Saison mit sieben- und neuntägigen Open-Jaw-Kreuzfahrten ab Kopenhagen sowie erstmals Helsinki als neuem Heimathafen fahren 

NCL ® wird als Teil der 225 neuen Reisen insgesamt 150 Destinationen anlaufen und erstmalig die Häfen von Portree, Schottland, Leirvik (Stord), Norwegen, und Palamós, Spanien, besuchen 

• N. Dawn_News Tile - 1500x9953
• N. Viva in Santorini_Carousel- Specs- 1500x9952

Norwegian Cruise Line ® (NCL), Innovationsführer der weltweiten Kreuzfahrtindustrie, stellt für den Frühling und Sommer 2026 zusätzliche Kreuzfahrten vor. Acht Schiffe der Reederei bieten hafenintensive Europa-Routen in Nordeuropa , dem Mittelmeer und zu den griechischen Inseln an, so dass Kreuzfahrer eine Vielzahl von Abfahrten und Einschiffungshäfen für ihren Traumurlaub wählen können.  Zusätzlich zu den Europa-Routen, gibt es in der Frühlings- und Sommersaison 2026 auch Kreuzfahrten durch den Südpazifik, die westliche Karibik sowie ausgewählte Routen nach Kanada und Neuengland in der Herbstsaison.

Durch seine gäste-zentrierte Routenplanung bietet NCL ® nunmehr siebentägige Routen in ganz Europa an, wobei viele Reisen nur wenige oder gar keine Seetage beinhalten, so dass die Gäste komplett in die jeweilige Destination eintauchen können. Ausgewählte sieben- bis 14-tägige Reisen bieten zudem auch Übernachtungen in europäischen Metropolen, darunter Reykjavik, Island, Kopenhagen, Dänemark, sowie Istanbul, Türkei. In dieser Saison gibt es insgesamt 22 Übernachtungen in Europa, bei denen die Kreuzfahrtgäste die Möglichkeit haben, ein spätes Abendessen und das Nachtleben an Land zu genießen. Mit elf individuellen Einschiffungshäfen, die Reisen in zehn verschiedene europäische Länder anbieten, darunter Helsinki - ein brandneuer Heimathafen für NCL ® -, bietet das Unternehmen den Reisenden die Möglichkeit, ihren Urlaub an dem Ort zu beginnen und zu beenden, der ihre Europa-Reisewünsche am besten erfüllt. In der Europa-Saison 2026 wird NCL ® einige Häfen zum allerersten Mal anlaufen. Dazu gehören unter anderem Portree in Schottland, Leirvik (Stord) in Norwegen und Palamós in Spanien. 

„Wir bei NCL sind stolz darauf, unseren Gästen verschiedene Möglichkeiten zu bieten, ihren Urlaub zu planen", sagt David J. Herrera, President von Norwegian Cruise Line. „Ganz gleich, ob sie sich für unsere siebentägigen Routen, längere Erlebnisreisen oder Kreuzfahrten, die an unterschiedlichen Orten beginnen und enden, entscheiden, wir sorgen dafür, dass unsere Gäste ihren Urlaub von Anfang bis Ende mit Leichtigkeit bei uns verbringen können. Von der Kabine über das Flugprogramm bis hin zu vielen weiteren Annehmlichkeiten bemühen wir uns, rundum den besten Service zu bieten."

Wir bei NCL sind stolz darauf, unseren Gästen verschiedene Möglichkeiten zu bieten, ihren Urlaub zu planen. Ganz gleich, ob sie sich für unsere siebentägigen Routen, längere Erlebnisreisen oder Kreuzfahrten, die an unterschiedlichen Orten beginnen und enden, entscheiden, wir sorgen dafür, dass unsere Gäste ihren Urlaub von Anfang bis Ende mit Leichtigkeit bei uns verbringen können. Von der Kabine über das Flugprogramm bis hin zu vielen weiteren Annehmlichkeiten bemühen wir uns, rundum den besten Service zu bieten.

Zu den weiteren Highlights der 225 neu verfügbaren Abfahrten gehören:

Von Juni bis Oktober 2026 wird die Norwegian Sun ® eine komplette Ostsee-Saison mit sieben- bis zehntägigen Abfahrten anbieten, bei denen die Gäste in Kopenhagen, Dänemark, oder Helsinki, Finnland, einsteigen und fast jeden Tag einen anderen Hafen besuchen. So werden Städte in Norwegen, Deutschland, Polen, Litauen sowie Schweden angefahren. Auf ausgewählten neuntägigen Reisen ab Helsinki wird die Norwegian Sun ® über Nacht in Kopenhagen verweilen, so dass die Gäste die Geschichte der Stadt erkunden, das berühmte Vergnügungsviertel Nyhavn besuchen oder über die Strøget, eine der längsten Fußgänger-Einkaufsstraßen Europas, schlendern können.

Die Norwegian Sky ® beginnt ihre zweite Europa-Saison am 19. April 2026 mit vier einzigartigen siebentägigen Kreuzfahrten zu den nördlichen Hauptstädten mit Einschiffung in Le Havre, Frankreich, und Kopenhagen, Dänemark. Ein verlängerter Aufenthalt über Nacht in Hamburg und Anläufe in Zeebrugge, Belgien, Tilbury, Großbritannien, und Ijmuiden, Niederlande, bieten Gästen die Möglichkeiten, einen Tag in Brüssel, London oder Amsterdam zu verbringen. Das Schiff wird dann von Mai bis September 2026 eine Reihe von zehn- und elftägigen Reisen zu den Britischen Inseln unternehmen, wo NCL ® am 17. Mai 2026 sein Debüt in Portree, Schottland, feiern wird.

Reisende, die die weißen Nächte in Island nutzen möchten, können zwischen Mai und September 2026 auf eine der zehn- oder elftägigen Extraordinary Journeys an Bord der Norwegian Star ® gehen. Sie beginnen in Reykjavik, Island, oder Southampton, Großbritannien. Bei diesen Reisen mit unterschiedlichem Start- und Zielhafen können die Gäste wählen, ob sie ihren Urlaub an Land vor oder nach der Kreuzfahrt verlängern möchten. Während der Reise am 21. Mai 2026 wird NCL ® zum ersten Mal Leirvik (Stord) in Norwegen anlaufen und den attraktiven Hafen auf ausgewählten zehntägigen Kreuzfahrten erneut besuchen. In Leirvik können Reisende das Sunnhordlandstunet, ein Freilichtmuseum mit mehreren historischen Höfen, und vieles mehr erkunden. Die elftägigen Island-Kreuzfahrten der Norwegian Star ® bieten außerdem eine Übernachtung in Reykjavik und damit mehr Zeit am Zielort, um die Wunder der Natur zu erkunden.

MITTELMEER UND GRIECHISCHE INSELN

Von April bis Oktober 2026 wird NCLs neuestes Schiff, die Norwegian Viva ® , neun- und zehntägige Reisen im westlichen Mittelmeer und zu den griechischen Inseln unternehmen. Um den Gästen noch mehr Zeit in den Häfen zu bieten, wird eine Auswahl der Reisen zu den griechischen Inseln auch einen verlängerten Aufenthalt in Istanbul (Türkei) beinhalten, um den Gästen die Möglichkeit zu geben, die Stadt bis spät in die Nacht zu erkunden. Die Routen führen zu beliebten Städten in der Türkei, auf Malta, in Italien, Griechenland, Montenegro und Kroatien und eignen sich perfekt für alle, die das Maximum aus ihrem Urlaub herausholen und viel entdecken möchten. Auf diesen einzigartigen Open-Jaw-Kreuzfahrten haben die Reisenden die Wahl zwischen verschiedenen Ein- und Ausschiffungshäfen, darunter Barcelona, Spanien, Venedig (Ravenna), Italien, Istanbul, Türkei, und Rom (Civitavecchia), Italien.

Zu den neuen siebentägigen Fahrten im westlichen Mittelmeer gehören:

• Norwegian Epic ® : Zwischen Mai und Oktober 2026 werden verschiedene Reisen zwischen Barcelona, Spanien, und Rom (Civitavecchia), Italien, mit Anläufen in Nizza/Monaco (Villefranche) und Marseille, beide in Frankreich, sowie Messina, Salerno und spätabendlichen Abfahrten von Livorno in Italien angeboten. Die Anläufe in Livorno dauern zwischen zehn und 17 Stunden, so dass Gäste einen längeren Landausflug nach Florenz oder Pisa genießen können. 
• Norwegian Dawn ® : Diese hafenintensiven Routen zwischen April und Oktober 2026 beinhalten keine Seetage. Die Reisenden können in Barcelona, Spanien, bzw. Lissabon, Portugal, ein- oder ausschiffen. Zu den Vorteilen gehören späte Abfahrten von Palma de Mallorca und Ibiza auf den Balearen, so dass die Gäste mehr Zeit haben, die beliebten Strandclubs auf diesen Mittelmeerinseln zu genießen, sowie Anläufe in Portimão, Portugal, Gibraltar, Großbritannien, und weiteren Häfen in Südwesteuropa.
• Norwegian Gem ® : Am 10. Mai 2026 wird das Schiff seine Europa-Saison mit einer Kreuzfahrt ab Barcelona, Spanien, beginnen. Während der Reise wird NCL ® erstmals den malerischen Ort Palamós im Nordosten Spaniens anlaufen, welcher für seine vielen Wanderwege und schönen Strände bekannt ist. Die Norwegian Gem ® wird auch zum ersten Mal Salerno in Italien und Nizza/Monaco (Villefranche) in Frankreich anlaufen. Im Anschluss an diese Reise wird das Schiff eine Reihe von Kreuzfahrten von Venedig (Ravenna) nach Rom (Civitavecchia) in Italien bzw. umgekehrt unternehmen und dabei Häfen in Griechenland, Montenegro und Kroatien anlaufen, wo die Gäste unter anderem Dubrovnik in vollen Zügen genießen können, da das Schiff den Hafen erst am späten Abend verlassen wird. 

Die siebentägigen Reisen der Norwegian Pearl ® zu den griechischen Inseln von Mai bis Oktober 2026 sind die ideale Kreuzfahrt für Gäste, bei denen Insel-Hopping durch die Ägäis ganz oben auf der Bucket-List steht. Kreuzfahrer haben die Möglichkeit, aus verschiedenen Routen mit späten Abfahrten in Santorin und Mykonos sowie Dubrovnik zu wählen, um vollkommen in das Reiseziel einzutauchen, einen wunderschönen Sonnenuntergang und vieles mehr zu genießen. Die Ein- und Ausschiffungshäfen für diese Reisen liegen abwechselnd in Venedig (Ravenna), Italien, und Athen (Piräus), Griechenland.

WESTLICHE KARIBIK, KANADA & NEUENGLAND

Die Norwegian Escape ® bietet ihren Gästen zwischen dem 12. April und dem 10. Mai 2026 siebentägige Rundreisen ab New Orleans in die westliche Karibik an. Danach wird es siebentägige Kreuzfahrten ab/bis Miami zwischen dem 24. Mai und dem 9. August 2026 geben. Auf beiden Routen werden Cozumel und Costa Maya in Mexiko, Roatán (Bay Islands) in Honduras und Harvest Caye, NCLs 75 Hektar großes Resort im Süden von Belize, besucht.

Zum Auftakt ihrer Herbstsaison bietet die Norwegian Escape ® zwischen August und Oktober 2026 eine Auswahl an siebentägigen Kanada- und Neuengland-Rundreisen ab New York City an. Am 28. August 2026 läuft das Schiff zum ersten Mal Boston an und ist damit das erste Schiff der Breakaway Plus-Klasse, das diese Stadt besucht. Die Reiseroute führt die Gäste nach Portland (Maine), Saint John (New Brunswick) und Halifax (Nova Scotia) in Kanada und bietet so die Möglichkeit, in den Genuss des Indian Summers zu kommen.

ERLEBNISREICHE REISEN MIT NORWEGIAN SPIRIT®

Vom 22. April bis zum 3. Juli 2026 und vom 17. September bis zum 17. November 2026 bietet die Norwegian Spirit ® eine Reihe von elf- bis 13-tägigen Kreuzfahrten im Südpazifik an, die Neukaledonien, Fidschi, die Samoa-Inseln, Französisch-Polynesien und Hawaii anlaufen. Die Gäste können aus einer Vielzahl von Einschiffungshäfen wählen, darunter Sydney, Australien, Papeete, Französisch-Polynesien, Honolulu, USA, und Lautoka, Fidschi - ein brandneuer Einschiffungshafen für die Norwegian Spirit ® .

Reisende, die auf der Suche nach einem einmaligen Kreuzfahrterlebnis sind, können an Bord der Norwegian Spirit ® vom 15. Juli bis zum 1. September 2026 16-tägige „Feuer und Eis“-Reisen unternehmen, um sowohl Alaska als auch Hawaii in einer einzigen Reise zu erkunden. Die Kreuzfahrten beginnen in Honolulu oder Vancouver, Kanada, und führen zu Traumzielen wie Kahului (Maui), Hilo und Nawiliwili (Kauai) auf Hawaii sowie zu den majestätischen Destinationen Ketchikan, Skagway und Juneau in Alaska, die auch bei kühlem Wetter einen Besuch wert sind.

Für B-Roll-Material zu Schiffen von Norwegian Cruise Line ® klicken Sie bitte hier .

Für weitere Informationen über die weltweiten Routen des Unternehmens im Frühjahr und Sommer 2026 und die preisgekrönte Flotte mit 19 Schiffen oder für die Möglichkeit, eine Kreuzfahrt zu buchen, wenden Sie sich bitte an Ihr Reisebüro oder besuchen www.ncl.com .