It’s Monday!
Cruise Ship Monday
Today brings us Norwegian Cruise Line’s two outlier classes of ships–Pride of America and Epic Class. Each has one and only one ship–Pride of America (2005) and Norwegian Epic (2010), respectively.
Pride of America
Pride of America has a distinctive patriotic American theme and is specifically designed to sail year-round in Hawaii–the only ship of any line to do so. It flies a US flag and since it only calls on US ports has a mostly American crew in accordance with cruise regulations. Additionally, the ship has no casino due to US maritime laws.
Eateries onboard include the Cadillac Diner, the Aloha Café, the Key West Bar & Grill, the Skyline Restaurant and the Liberty Restaurant. There are various specialty restaurants including La Cucina, Cagney’s Steakhouse, and Jefferson’s Bistro. There are 10 bars and lounges including the Aloha Lanai Bar, the Gold Rush Saloon and John Adams Bar.
In keeping with the Hawaiian theme, the entertainment celebrates the spirit of Aloha in Aloha Polynesia where guests are completely immersed into the Polynesian culture through music, dance, costumes and a high-energy performance. The Hollywood Theater offers two events each evening and magic shows, comedy shows and movie screening during the day. Guests can also learn to make leis, enjoy Ping-Pong tournaments, culinary demonstrations and more.
Pride of America offers three pools (one is a kids pool), and five hot tubs. There is a jogging/walking track, a sports court, deck games and shuffleboard. The ship also has a Mandara Spa offering a thermal suite, massages, and more.
Norwegian Epic
With Norwegian Epic being the only ship in its class, its design is notably different. It was the first at sea to be described as Las Vegas-esque based on its flashy interior design. One of the most notable features is its balcony cabins have curved walls, rounded bed corners, and a sink and vanity in the main living area.
Norwegian Epic is the only ship at sea with the Epic Plunge, a “toilet bowl” waterslide and is home to a rappelling wall and a three-lane bowling alley. It also has the Skyy Vodka Ice Bar, an ice bar where guests sip drinks in their parkas.
Norwegian Epic has one of the fleet’s largest Haven Suite Complex with 75 cabins and two outdoor private spaces. It also has the most studio cabins, 128, and debuted with the cruise line’s first Solo Lounge, a venue only accessible to guests of the studio cabins.
The ship’s complimentary and specialty dining venues are not really different from the rest of the fleet. There are two main dining rooms, a Garden Cafe, a poolside Garden Cafe, the popular O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill as well as Shanghai’s Noodle Bar. Specialty dining includes Le Bistro, Cagney’s Steakhouse, Moderno Churrascaria, Teppanyaki, Wasabi, La Cucina, or Shanghai’s Chinese Restaurant. There are also just under 20 bars and lounges onboard.
The Epic Theater hosts two popular Broadway-style shows–”Burn the Floor” and “Red, White and British.” Guests can play trivia or join a dance class, play arcade games or bowl, play shuffleboard, ping-pong, basketball or pool.
Pride of America only sails from Honolulu, Hawaii. She offers 7-day roundtrip Hawaii Inter-island itineraries that visit four islands with no sea days.
Norwegian Epic is currently sailing 7-day round trip Caribbean itineraries from San Juan, Puerto Rico. In April, she will reposition to Barcelona to offer one-way itineraries between Barcelona and Civitavecchia-Rome.