Alan at Vacations To Go is always filling me in on all sorts of good travel deals and new and exciting things in the travel industry. As a fan of cruises and interior design, I always like to hear about the exciting, new ships just built. It’s amazing what these floating vessels have on them nowadays. The ice bar sounds burrrr cool. I love the idea of a studio stateroom for individual travelers. And, if you’ve ever seen a Cirque show you know how amazing and talented the performers are, but to see them on a ship is amazing because even though you can’t feel the ship rocking, it most certainly is and these talented performers are basically performing on a slow moving teeter totter.
Cruises are great for honeymoons, couples travel and families. Remember though, that even though you’re self-contained, you’re still on a ship with thousands of people, so don’t let your guard down completely, taking logical precautions with your kids and yourself (i.e., don’t go on a drinking binge, then walk around the top deck at midnight) in order to have a safe, fun and adventurous vacation.
Now for the good stuff shared with us from Alan at Vacations To Go:
In just a few months, Norwegian Cruise Line’s revolutionary new ship, Norwegian Epic, will make its debut. There are exciting innovations throughout the ship, from the stateroom design to the entertainment venues to the entertainment itself.
To start, 100% of outside cabins will offer private balconies, a total of 1,426 balcony staterooms. We’ve seen all-balcony ships before (though always on much smaller vessels), but the accommodations on the Norwegian Epic will also incorporate distinctive design elements such as curved walls, rounded mattresses and living areas arranged to maximize space. The bathrooms of these “New Wave” staterooms will feature separate showers and water closets and modern vanity sinks. Concealed LED lighting and domed ceilings will complete the relaxing, futuristic atmosphere.
The New Wave stateroom will feature upgraded bedding, linens and towels, Euro pillows, Elemis bathroom products, flat-screen TVs, mini-bars and MP3 connectivity upon request. Balcony and deluxe staterooms will offer additional amenities such as plush bathrobes, a customized fruit menu, priority restaurant reservations and reception hotlines, along with fresh-baked cookies at turn down on the last night of each sailing.
Norwegian Epic will also debut a category of staterooms designed with solo travelers in mind — Studio staterooms. These inside staterooms will be a bit smaller than standard, double-occupancy staterooms, but guests staying in these rooms will have private access to the Studio Lounge — a common area where passengers can enjoy a cup of coffee, play games with fellow Studio travelers or just relax. And the best part about Studio staterooms is that there’s no single supplement. They’re designed and priced for solo travelers.
There are plenty of firsts among Norwegian Epic’s entertainment venues as well. For example, the ship will feature the cruise industry’s first Ice Bar, where the bar, walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures are all made from ice. There will be a cover charge to enter, which will include one or more drinks and the use of a fur coat, gloves and a hat while inside the icy room.
Other entertainment venues include the POSH Beach Club — for which passengers will be required to purchase a pass for the day or for the week to gain admittance — and Spice H20, kids-free outdoor areas that will offer exclusive daytime and nighttime activities; Bliss Ultra Lounge and Nightclub, featuring a bowling alley and casino gaming tables; and Halo, the Über Bar, reserved exclusively for guests who book suites in the Garden Villa or Courtyard Villa categories.
Finally, entertainment on the Norwegian Epic will be like nothing seen before at sea. The ship will host the Blue Man Group on every sailing and will offer Cirque Dreams and Dinner, with a waitstaff that includes contortionists, aerialists and circus performers.
Legends in Concert, the world’s longest-running celebrity impersonation show, will offer nine performances on each of the Epic’s 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. And the dueling pianos of Howl at the Moon will perform in the ship’s comedy club, where passengers will have the chance to sing, dance and call out requests as two headlining pianists battle for supremacy.
For more information about the Norwegian Epic, click here. For dates and prices of upcoming sailings, click here. There is still space available on the inaugural sailing, which departs from London on June 24th.
