Recommend September 2010 - (Page 19)

Opposite page: The Norwegian Epic first set sail this past July. Below: The adults-only SpiceH20 pool complex. plete with dedicated amenities, including a private pool surrounded by plush daybeds and private cabanas, chaise lounges, two hot tubs, indoor and outdoor dining, sundeck, bar, private gym and dedicated concierge desk. Villas here sleep up to five guests, and include a separate children’s bedroom, two bathrooms, dining area and living room, sitting area, espresso/cappuccino maker, flat-screen TV with CD/DVD player and library, private balcony (some Villas feature solariums), as well as butler and concierge service. The Courtyard Villa complex also houses 31 Spa staterooms, eight Spa Suites, seven Penthouses, six Courtyard Penthouses, and eight Deluxe Owner’s Suites. Then there’s Entourage, an exclusive teen zone for ages 13-17, located at the top of the ship. This funky space might even make mom and dad jealous, with air hockey and foosball tables, a video jukebox, flat-screen TVs and a central gaming area featuring PlayStation 3. In the evenings, Entourage transforms into a nightclub for this same age group with a dance floor and plenty of comfy couches to lounge on. Right below Entourage is an expansive video arcade with everything from Guitar Hero to car racing games and vending machines stocked with goodies. freestyle entertainment Gone are the days when cruises featured one or two nightly shows in one dedicated theater. The Epic offers a number of entertainment options—some even offered for the first time at sea—designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences. Our favorite, by a long shot, was the Blue Man Group, which truly pushes the envelope in terms of innovative theatrical performances. We recommend you tell your clients to set aside an evening for this zany performance (suitable for kids ages 5 and up), because it’s a completely unexpected and a delight. The group performs 75-minute shows eight times per week in the ship’s Epic Theatre; reservations are encouraged. There’s also “Cirque Dreams and Dinner,” a 2-hour interactive theatrical dining experience that takes place nightly in the Spiegel Tent, which we think is a great option for families with younger kids. Though there are a couple of acts with some impressive acrobats, this show is full of mayhem, with jugglers, mischievous characters, music, and tons of silliness. “Cirque Dreams and Dinner” performs 12 shows during a 7-day cruise. Cover charge is $15 pp for general seating in the banquets and upper deck and $20 pp for premium seating on the ground floor. just for kids, sorta! From tots to teens, the Norwegian Epic offers a ton of amenities, with the Aqua Park being one of our very favorites. This expansive water park with three water slides of varying thrill factors is enough to make anyone giddy with excitement. There’s a tube slide designed for children that zips straight through the rock climbing wall, a more adventurous slide that twists and turns down three stories, and “The Epic Plunge,” where riders on inner tubes are blasted into the core of a bowl slide then dropped into a 200-ft.-long tunnel before ending in a splashdown lane. The Aqua Park also features two main pools with arching water effects that illuminate at night, five jacuzzis, a wading pool and children’s Splash and Play Zone, complete with a pint-size pool, water sprays and a kiddie slide. And then there are the Nickelodeon-themed activities, including live Nickelodeon shows like ”Slime Time Live,” and a chance to get autographs from popular characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. Families with little ones can even enjoy Nickelodeon Character Breakfasts, complete with singing, dancing and photo opportunities, as well as the chance to participate in games. When passengers have had enough of Nick’s infamous green slime, they can check out decks 15, 16 and 17, offering all sorts of sportsdriven fun, including basketball, volleyball, soccer and dodge ball, as well as a batting cage, ice skating rink, bungee trampoline, climbing cage (called the spider web), table tennis, and the 33-ft.-high rock climbing and rappelling wall, complete with varying degrees of difficulty and rated according to official U.S. climbing grades. Or, the whole family can enjoy a game of bowling at one of six lanes located in two separate venues. If the kids have any energy left—we’re sure this won’t be an issue—they can head to the Epic’s Kid’s Crew club. Separated into two areas—kids (ages 2-9) and tweens (ages 10-12)—the kids’ area includes a space-themed play area, air hockey, Wii gaming area, arts and crafts area, interactive light-up dance floor and a surround-sound cinema. The tween area, meanwhile, boasts multiple PlayStation 3 and Wii gaming areas, as well as a cinema and a karaoke stage. And, of course, there’s also a variety of Nickelodeon-themed activities. ÍÍ fast facts: Passengers: 4,100 Tonnage: 155,873 Length: 1,081 ft. Width: 133 ft. Crew: 1,708 Max speed: 22 knots september 2010 19

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2010

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Norwegian Epic
Holland America's Nieuw Amsterdam
Ocean Club Resorts, Turks & Caicos
10 Great Family Resort Stays
Saint Lucia Travel Agent Specialist Program
Stay Awhile: Great Family Escapes
Touring Latin America: Calling All Explorers!
Montreal—"Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
Hawaii: Mahalo to Condo-Hotels
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Unforgettable Safaris
The Wonders of China
Christmas Tours

Recommend September 2010