Here's a case where bigger is better, because the stylish Norwegian Epic, one of the world's largest cruise ships, knows how to deliver heaping portions of family fun.
With the launch of its new flagship, the Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) has created a single ship designed to satisfy the urges and expectations of all vacationers — families, singles, couples, groups, you name it. No one goes wanting on the Norwegian Epic.
With Freestyle Cruising, you’ll discover the freedom of having fun. Experience cruising with no rules to follow, schedules to keep, or dress codes to adhere to. Whether it is lazy days and romantic nights or an action-packed week of adventure, the Norwegian Epic will take you there.
• In between meal burgers, pizza, and empanadas? Check.
• A teen-only gaming and multimedia lounge? Sweet.
• How about a Recess center where you can park the toddlers while Mom and Dad get busy? Check, and double check.
• Want to see Blue Man Group and jam afterwards at a blues club? You’re not alone.
Meals, activities, spa treatments, entertainment, gaming, partying, sports – it’s all here and it’s all first-rate.
On the Epic, Big is Better
The Norwegian Epic is grand in every sense: size (at 153,000 tons it dwarfs the Intrepid aircraft carrier), accommodations (4,100 rooms), activities (6 bowling lanes, 5 whirlpools, 4 pools, 3 water slides, ice skating rink, rock climbing and a rappelling wall), services (30+ spa therapists in a 31,000 sq-ft. spa, fitness center), dining and drinking options (20+ dining venues, 20+ bars and lounges), sports (full-size basketball court, batting cage, squash court, bungee trampoline) and world-class entertainment options (Blue Man Group; Cirque Dreams & Dinner; Legends in Concert; Second City Comedy Troupe; Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos Show; and Nickelodeon at Sea. All perform multiple shows on every sailing.)
There is so much to do on Norwegian Epic, you’ll need a vacation when you get home. Let’s take a closer look at what’s available to families.
Epic Offers Many Family Options
Norwegian Epic features 61 Family Mini-Suites and 263 Family Balcony staterooms, with triple and quad occupancies, and these suites are located within close proximity to the Kids Crew and Teen Crew centers. These staterooms feature wave-shaped rooms with curved architecture and open living space. Many of the family staterooms can connect, perfect for families and multigenerational groups.
The biggest crowd pleaser on my cruise was the Aqua Park, which has three water slides: one specifically designed for kids; a second, more adventurous slide twisting and turning down three stories; and The Epic Plunge, with a drop through a 200-foot long tube. The Aqua Park also includes two main pools which are lit at night; five whirlpools; a wading pool and a kid’s pool in the children’s Splash and Play Zone.
During the day, on the main pool deck, chefs whip-up freshly on-demand omelets, crêpes, pasta, seafood, tapas, empanadas, burgers, desserts and more in between meals. There is even a Kid’s Café with pint-sized tables and chairs.
Recess is Norwegian Epic’s Kid’s Crew facility that is centrally located, adjacent and easily accessible to the family-friendly staterooms. Two separate areas are specifically designed for kids ages 2 through 9 and tweens, ages 10 through 12. The Kid’s area includes a space-themed play area, air hockey table, an interactive light up dance floor, Wii gaming areas, an arts and crafts area and a state-of-the-art surround sound cinema.
The Tween Zone has a futuristic feel that includes multiple Wii and PlayStation 3 consoles, along with a private karaoke performance stage which doubles as a cinema.
Entourage is the exclusive teen zone for ages 13 through 17. This funky space includes air hockey, pinball, foosball, a video jukebox, and multiple large flat screen televisions, a few of which are located around a central video game console featuring PlayStation 3. In the evening, Entourage transitions into a hip nightclub with a space for dancing or just hanging.
Days & Nights of Fun in Epic Proportions
You can also start your day at 8am with Nickelodeon at Sea, a live event with favorite Nickelodeon characters (Sponge Bob Square Pants, Jimmy Neutron, Dora, Diego et al) who perform while breakfast is being served. The majority of the hour-long show is devoted to inviting families up to get autographs and have their photos taken with and by the characters. This breakfast cost for 2010 sailings is $20 a head.
I caught the Cirque Dreams & Dinner in the Spiegel Tent. In this intimate 217-seat theater-in-the-round, I was part of a one-ring circus play performed in the air while dinner is served amidst music, mayhem and dueling strongmen. The entire two-hour experience, shown twice nightly on six nights of each sailing, was just fantastic. The show costs $20 a head.
For Mom and Dad, in addition to the entertainment options listed earlier, there are Broadway and Las Vegas-style shows and Big Band dancing with dinner. The Legends in Concert show, featuring celebrity impersonators, presented Elvis, Madonna and Tina Turner on my cruise.
Is getting down with your own bad self more your thing?
There are Ibiza-style nightclubs, outdoor party scenes and beach clubs where you can get your groove on. The casino has multiple tables and 350 slot machines. There are Jazz and Blues clubs (where you can sit in and jam with the musicians, using loaner instruments!), an Espresso bar and Cigar bar, and Martini, champagne, wine and cocktail lounges.
Epic Dining: Freestyle or Elegant, Buffet or Not
If you want to make a night of it there are many premium dining options for which you pay no more than $25 a head; meals that would set you back two or three times that much anywhere else. I’m talking a five-course traditional French bistro meal with all the trimmings. There’s a real Chicago Steakhouse and a genuine Scandinavian trattoria. Japanphiles will enjoy the sushi bar and teppanyaki grill (think Benihana’s). To watch the game, there’s a Tex-Mex Sports bar & grill.
Oh, I almost forgot — 24-hour room service! And just when you think it can’t get any better, it does.
The Norwegian Epic features a Restaurant Reservation and Table Management system. Flat-screen TVs placed in key areas around the ship show each restaurant’s availability status — full, short wait, filling up or empty – and an estimated wait time for each restaurant. If a restaurant is full and you would like to wait for an opening, the hostess will quote a wait time and give you a pager that works all over the ship, thus enabling you to sit down in a bar, enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail, and listen to one of the ship’s many entertainers until your table is ready.
Details, Details
The Norwegian Epic has two itineraries set for the 2010 / 2011 cruise season. From July 2010 through April 2011, she will be making a 7-day alternating route, through the Eastern or Western Caribbean from Miami, Florida. Eastern Caribbean ports of call include: Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. Western Caribbean ports of call include: Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.
From May through October 2011, Norwegian Epic will be sailing on a 7-day Western Mediterranean itinerary from Barcelona, Spain. Her Europe ports of call include: Florence/Pisa (Livorno); Rome (Civitavecchia); Naples, Italy; and Palma, Majorca, Spain.
As with many cruises, rates range from bargain to sky-high depending on when you book and with whom. This just in as we go to press in August 2010: American Vacation Center is offering 7-night Caribbean cruises on the Norwegian Epic leaving from Miami, beginning at $599 per person to a high of $2,649 per person (Christmas sailing), plus giving early bookers a $150 shipboard credit per person.
Check with your travel agent or visit the Norwegian Cruise Line website, which is also featuring balcony upgrades for all early cruise bookers, no matter which room category you select.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
People who choose to book trips for summer or further out should do so with caution; the coronavirus pandemic is unpredictable. And many reservations may claim flexibility. Amid so much unknown, there will be one certainty: the headaches of rescheduling and canceling.
With a rugged interior featuring 286 peaks topping 3,000 meters Taiwan’s railway system is shoehorned onto the coastal margins where most of Taiwan’s cultural life is concentrated. Whether you ride the high-speed service from Taipei City to the second city of Kaohsiung or spend a week slowly circumnavigating the island by local train, all journeys are within eyeshot of either the cobalt-blue Pacific Ocean, flatlands of verdant rice-paddies, or towering mountainsides
When I originally commented I appear to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every time a comment is added I receive 4 emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you are able to remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!
Amazing Post! about Amsterdam
There’s one street in Baltimore that’s more festive than the rest. Every holiday season, the neighborhood of Maryland’s miracle on h Street is decked out in Christmas lights and festive displays. From a tree made of hubcaps to classic candy cane fixtures, each house is uniquely decorated.
Considering Northeast Ohio has plenty of breweries, as well, Thomann was asked if it’s more likely we’ll find the members of Dorfrocker touring different venues tasting beers or visiting the Rock Roll Hall of Fame?
Covid-19 certainly affects travels plan…Not long ago my friends were among passengers of the British cruise ship Braemar. And how could the US refuse to help the ship and close the borders?? Unlike the US, Cuba showed its humanity and friendship! Thank you Cuba
Would you like to stay in the gorgeous area around Keukenhof? You can! We have a broad range of great hotels and bed and breakfasts for you. Accommodations in Haarlem, Leiden or Amsterdam are also good options.
I will reach Amsterdam only on 19 May morning, the last day of the flower exhibit. Is it still worthwhile to go Keukenhof Gardens? Will there still be many flowers to be seen?
Tulips and other flowers mainly bloom during spring. March through May is therefore the best time to visit the Netherlands if you want to watch them in bloom. The world’s most beautiful spring park, the Keukenhof, is open during this time.
If a court order states that one parent can travel abroad with the child without the consent of the other parent, what documentation is required? We recommend carrying a copy of the court order stating that the other parent’s consent is not needed to travel abroad with the child. Any questions about the wording of the court order should be directed to a family lawyer.
If transporting your pet by air is the only option, find out whether they can travel in the cabin with you. Most airlines will allow you to take a cat or small dog in the cabin for an additional fee. But you must call the airline well in advance; there are limits to the number of animals allowed in the cabin. If you are transporting your dog, make sure they meet the size requirements. If you get overwhelmed by all the regulations, there are companies that can help you navigate through the process of flying with a pet.
Is a consent letter mandatory? There is no Canadian legal requirement for children to carry a consent letter. However, a consent letter may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country, airline agents or Canadian officials when re-entering Canada. Failure to produce a letter upon request may result in delays or refusal to enter or exit a country.
Helpful, unique and bif it works, Great.
2 adults available to drive your car from New Orleans to north suburb of Chicago mid October. Need 3 or four nights. Split the gas,
Dogs and cats should always be kept safely inside the car. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs. Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck.
Ever dreamed of driving along the cliffs that overlook the Pacific with the windows down? Or wanted to travel the historic Oregon Trail in a car instead of on a computer? Explore these eleven incredible cross-country road trip routes across the U.S.
Rhonda, from a railman who started his train travel when he was 16, I would strongly suggest a Canadian Train Ride! Via Rail Canada offers four significant rides through wilderness and coastal areas with deluxe, overnight trains from Toronto to Vancouver ( 4 nights), and Montreal to Halifax, Nova Scotia (one night). Both offer a chance to have decent meals enroute, and sleeping car accommodations. Train crews tend to be a bit friendlier than south of the border, Canada, largely uninhabited, offers many scenic vistas with little hamlets few and far between, certainly a wonderful way for both of you to enjoy these new experiences.
Via Rail Canada also offers Railpasses, which enable you to travel on other routes as well for a bit of a price reduction. It’s all up to you!
Their website is http://www.viarail.ca for further information.
My son is a rail fan and we have traveled only in the US but I would love to surprise him with an excursion where he could talk to the train staff and railroad personnel. I would also like to include beautiful scenery as well for Both of us. My son is 16 and I am 59. We love to explore and don’t mind walking and roughing it!! any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Get your pet geared up for a long trip by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. And please be sure to always secure the crate so it won??™t slide or shift in the event of a quick stop.
I really like your post!
This driving route of the Appalachian Trail parallels the epic hike. From the top of New England to the heart of Dixie, it takes you through continuous natural beauty—without the sweat, bugs, or blisters.
7 memorable Tips for Traveling to Mexico
Don stress if you don Mexico is agreeable to English speaking travelers, And there a ton of tips to get to know the country landscapes, terms, And younger culture.
yet still, If you new to traveling or have never been out of the us, A trip to Mexico may be somewhat frightening.
If you interested in learning some tips for traveling to Mexico, Take a look at our 7 easy to remember tips for your journey. We outlined some of the basics that you’d like to learn for your own aventura!
1. Choose the Right Transportation If you traveling to Mexico, You need to decide you might arrive by car, aeroplane, Or liner. It important to know how you want to arrive because it will searching,an extravagance,good to have city you arrive in, How much luggage you results, and so forth.
an individual can find international flights if you prefer to travel by air. instead, There are plenty of cruises to Mexico that you can enjoy if you like the amenities and beautiful views that are included in ship travel!
If you live nearby the border, Or just need to take a bit of a road trip, going down the road by car is always an option as well.
2. Use Pesos When You Can It best if you use the local currency pesos when you can. while touristy areas accept USD, They choose the rate at that they accept it, So it is possible to get a better deal if you just use pesos.
Consider exchanging USD for pesos somewhere in the usa before your trip and dividing up your cash between USD and pesos during your trip.
3. Know bathing room Etiquette In Mexico, The sewage pipes just aren built to handle a lot. this means that people rarely flush their toilet paper. rather than, There will often be a trash bin near the toilet for you to put your used toilet paper in.
further, Men may make of entering a bathroom labeled with an M, let’s assume that it stands for However, The M actually can stand for mujeres, Which is the word for in Spanish. Men needs to look for doors labeled H, Which stands for the Spanish word for men, Hombres.
4. Practice Some Spanish One of the most basic tips for traveling to Mexico is to learn a few Spanish phrases before your trip.
once you know basic things, Like how to ask where the bathroom is or how to order food, Will make your trip to Mexico a lot smoother. sometimes, The locals will appreciate the effort, Even if they undoubtedly speak English as well!
5. Adjust to the Time Whether you are changing time zones while having trip or staying in the same one, You find that Mexico runs on a lot more fluid schedule. Punctuality is less of a concern, So you take pleasure in it a lot more if you can relax and don push a strict schedule.
furthermore, Meals are spaced out a bit distinct in Mexico. You will usually have a large breakfast, associated with the main meal of the day between 2:00 together with 4:00 pm hours. then finally, You will enjoy a smaller meal at dusk.
6. Drink Bottled Water Bottled water can be found on just about any street corner for purchase. Why exactly do you wish to buy bottled water?
let me tell you, Most of Mexico plain faucet water is unpurified. Some hotels may have filtered water, But be sure to go shopping for a sign above your sinks before you test it out!
If you be residing in Mexico for a lengthier trip, Consider buying or bring a water filter with you to purify the tap water and avoid buying so much bottled water. You be decreasing costs and plastic consumption!
7. Stray off the Beaten Path While sightseeing attractions and famous beaches are always fun to see, Traveling to lesser known places will offer you a more authentic taste of Mexico.
of which this isn an excuse to be reckless or oblivious to your surroundings. Be mindful of the areas you visiting and research where you will make sure it a safe area.
Now You Armed with all very reputable Tips for Traveling to Mexico Mexico is a diverse country with so much to see and offer.
What a timely bit now! Thank you so much for this good
post. I saw your publications previously, however this one I believe
the very best. How did you find numerous facts?
I enjoy the way that you organize everything, as it is actually simple to read.
In general, I can recommend this guide to everybody who’s
interested in that topic.
As North America’s fastest multi-launch coaster, it’s expected to draw in adrenaline enthusiasts, including those from the group Busch Gardens Williamsburg Fans, which has been updating their Twitter and website with information on the ride.
Good day! I simply want to give you a huge thumbs
up for the great info you have right here on this post.
I’ll be coming back to your blog for more
soon.
Pretty! This was an extremely wonderful article. Thank you for providing these details.
Can you tell us more about this? I’d care to find out more
details.
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m inspired!
Very helpful info particularly the last phase
🙂 I deal with such info much. I used to be looking for this certain information for a long time.
Thank you and best of luck.
The blog shared is interesting to read. Got some useful information of Chicago which will be really helpful before planning a trip to this place. Thanks for sharing this!
Many parents of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder dread traveling or often avoid it altogether. Most people with ASD do better with routine and structure and a break from that (vacation) can often lead to stress and even meltdowns. Additionally, traveling by air can include having to navigate a multitude of unpleasant experiences from airport security procedures, moving sidewalks, and boarding tunnels to cramped seats, unfamiliar noises, and lots of strangers. Experts indicate that preparation and practice is the key to a successful flight and travel. Before your trip, talk with your child about what to expect. Go over the details of the travel: how you’ll get to the airport, wait in line, go through security, find your departure gate, get on the plane, buckle seatbelts, and spend time onboard. Flying to See Janet: A Fun Guide to the Airport Experience is a book you can use to prepare children for the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the airport experience. You can also write your own social story.
Amazing post! We are currently linking to this article on our site.
Keep up the terrific writing.
Best regards,
Boswell Dencker
Emily, my coming of age years were the late 1970s, early 1980s at the YMCA. I agree with you about the open showers versus the individual shower stalls. From a guys perspective, I spent many nights and weekends swimming or playing basketball at my local YMCA. Showering with not only my friends, but over the years, dads, neighbors and guys from church. It really makes one comfortable, not in a sexual way, with one self and others. Never had the nude swimming, I think that ended in the 1960s as women/girls joined the YMCA, forcing may YWCAs to close their doors.
Amelie, here in the US a number of Korean Spas have opened. As with Japanese, Korean families bath together (grandmother, daughter, grand-daughter), (dad, son) separated by gender. They are starting to attract a diverse clientele (age, race, etc). So who knows, maybe the nude swimming will return to the Y someday.
The Ski and Snow Vacations for Families article is one of the best I have ever read!
You are doing a great job with https://myfamilytravels.com site.
🙂 Congrat!
Awesome post!
Thanks for sharing..
I really like your post!
this is a really good stuff
Note that Global Affairs Canada cannot provide you with advice about the Consent Letter for Children Travelling Abroad beyond what is offered on this website.
Thanks for such a beautiful post, very informative and useful article
Thank you for publishing this awesome article. I’m a long time reader but I’ve
never been compelled to leave a comment. I subscribed
to your blog and shared this on my Twitter. Thanks again for a great
article!
Chicago is a famous place that has many impressive landscapes.
Most visitors like traveling there.
I am always looking online for tips that can facilitate me. Thx!
helo, do you happent allow drive passengers to another state?
Thank you so much for your beautiful article!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed your experience at the Onsen!
I’ve never been to an Onsen, but I would love to get to visit one some day.
Back in the 1980s and 1990s my mom was the head supervisor at a YWCA in Ohio. I practically lived in the YWCA (not literally, of course) for the 19 years that my mom worked there. I had a part time job at the YWCA for a few years in the 1990s.
One of the great things about spending so much time at the YWCA was that I grew up using the locker room all of the way from a young child to a young woman and being 100% comfortable with both my own nudity and the nudity of all other females.
I feel that it was so much better back then when the Y had one big room full of shower heads on the walls than it is with stalls these days. The group shower setting was great from a bonding experience. I feel that it’s much healthier psychologically speaking that females are exposed to other women’s and girl’s bodies, as opposed to feeling that we need to hide from each other and change clothes in toilet stalls or under towels.
One of the benefits of having a mom who was a supervisor of the Y was that after hours my mom and my sisters and myself could just skinny dip in the pool, and my sisters and I were allowed to have our female friends with us for a skinny dipping session on Friday and Saturday nights.
Also, my aunt and a few of my female cousins would skinny dip with my mom, my sisters and I every once in a while.
My mom said that she had heard that the YWCA used to have one night a week that was for nude swimming back in the 1960s and most of the 1970s. Obviously it was a female only facility at the time.
Dubbed the Great Northern in memory of the pioneer railroad that parallels the western half of the route, US-2 is truly the most stunning and unforgettable, not to mention longest, of all the great transcontinental road trips.
Awesome Post!
Thanks for sharing..
Thanks for sharing a great post!
Oh man. I’m so sorry this happened to you. I certainly appreciate your take on this though, a little humor goes a long way. I’m headed to Barcelona in a few days, so I’ll be sure to keep my valuables close. Thanks for sharing.