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Your Questions Answered About NCL’s new EPIC

// July 12th, 2010 // Joe's Blog

Video provided by Matt Roseboom courtesy of Cruise News Weekly

Alexandra and I just got off the 153,000 ton Norwegian Epic and noted a lot of personal points of interests for Blue Man Group fans and show goers. If you have never cruised before, and like many Blue Man Group followers, this could be true, the ship could be a little intimidating in it’s sheer size and bedazzlement, but truth be knowing, it’s worth the time, money and once in a lifetime experience to sail on this mighty behemoth. We realize some Blue Man Group fans may have some general questions before getting on the ship, so we’re here to help you answer the majority of those.

What is the best way to navigate the ship and know where I’m going?
When arriving on board, you are given a mini pocket guide that you can easily slip into your pocket or carry item while browsing the ship. The guide is broke into categories based on where you want go. Example if you’re looking into dining options, just look under dining and it will list all restaurants, their location and deck number. The same is true for entertainment, whether you’re seeing Second City, Cirque Dreams, Blue Man Group, Legends in Concert or other shows, those categories are listed as well under Entertainment. Getting from point A to B is easy, and elevators located on multiple locations throughout the ship make deck hopping and maneuvering simple and fun.

Does it cost extra to see Blue Man Group on The Epic?
That’s the beauty of this ship, nothing costs extra! But if you’re looking to see a particular show, IE: Blue Man Group, than I would recommend making reservations on the ship 45 days in advance. The ship allows a certain amount of people to book their shows in advance and then they cut it off. So say you’re 15 days from your cruise date, and you attempt to make Blue Man Group seat reservations, chances are you won’t get them, and you’ll be placed into the stand-by category, which isn’t bad either. Once you arrive on the ship, it’s best to go straight to the box office, located on Deck 6 and make your reservations as stand-by. Chances are, you’ll have no issues getting in to see the show, and shouldn’t encounter any issues with reserving your stand-by seat(s). The same can be done for other entertainment shows, dining options and other areas that require a reserve list in advance. The quicker you reserve, the better off you are, and it costs nothing extra.

What can I expect when I get to the theater the night of my show? Is there show similarities to existing venues nationwide?
Upon arrival at The Epic Theater, you’ll notice a very 40-50′s style, that pays homage to the old school days of theater and vintage productions. Laced with lights, dancing girls and retro images and decor, the theater is about the size of the Briar Street Theater in Chicago, seating just over 600 guests, with balcony and lounge style viewing available as well. You will also notice some distinct familiarities if you’ve seen Blue Man Group prior to getting on the ship. For example the entrance music “Dulcimer” plays like all venue shows, and the LED boards light up about 10 minutes to show time with the usual wording like from USA theatrical productions. Once the show starts, one will notice core elements adapted from the Rewired/Orlando productions have made their transition onto The Epic’s stage. The showtime runs about 80 minutes or less, and there is a brief and short meet and greet to your right balcony as you exit the theater. An announcement will be made after the show is over about where to meet and have your picture taken with the Blue Man Group. Also, merchandise exclusive only to NCL The Epic is available just outside the theater at the box office area, so check out the new gear.

How is the Internet availability on the ship?
Pretty much like every other cruise, hit and miss. As you sit down to open your laptop, you go to your browser, create a username/password and enter your date of birth and stateroom #. You then select from a variety of data plans with the highest/longest plans per minute resulting in the better values overall. Keep in mind, this is a satellite connection and not broadband, so signal and speed is not the best, and the ship is always moving which makes from some connection lag and downtime. If you’re wanting to simply check your email, then I highly suggest late night or early mornings when traffic is minimal and signal is best. Also, to avoid those data-roaming charges on International waters, I recommend turning on the Airplane Mode on all handheld PDA’s and cells, or turning off the 3G-Cellular functions. Otherwise, if left on, you could charged a hefty penalty by your cell phone carrier for International rates and texts, especially iPhone users. On a personal note, if you’re on a 5-7 day cruise, the last thing you would want is Internet, but that’s my personal opinion. Enjoy the islands, nightlife, dining and entertainment, and worry about your emails, Internet and Facebook when you get back on land.

I’m traveling single, and am going to enjoy the nightlife, entertainment and cruising experience. Are there options for me since I’m traveling solo?
There are! THE NCL Epic offers a new room called the studios. It’s a small room, kind of the size of college dorm, but targeted to the young, single crowd. So, unless you’re wanting to pay more for a bigger room with a bigger bed for two or family of 3 or more, the single option is the way to go.

The NCL Epic is a ship among ships. It’s premiere nightlife, dining options, on deck water slides, pools and buffets make this a ship of dreams a reality to the modern day cruise enthusiast. No stone has been been unturned in this plan for the ultimate cruise vessel, and with options a bounty, there’s not reason anyone can’t enjoy the luxuries of life at a great affordable price. The Epic has raised the bar in the cruising world, and has not only proved to life up to it’s name, but you’ll leave the ship saying to yourself, “That was an EPIC cruise!”

Joe Burke was hosted by Norwegian Cruise Lines on board Norwegian Epic for a short two-night preview cruise. Follow @rotcav on Twitter for live reports, photos and videos and check here on Blue Man Group Insiders official Facebook for more details and answers to your questions for all things blue. For more photos from the NCL Epic, visit my flickr page.