Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Epic

Lounge & Cafés

The Epic has quite a few lounges and other places to relax and grab a drink. Among them is O’Sheehan’s, billed as the first Irish pub at sea (it takes its name from the line’s most recent CEO, Kevin Sheehan). Other than that, there’s the Humidor Cigar Lounge for smokers, and the Svedka Ice Bar, which is actually made of ice and serves cool vodka drinks (virgin for kids).

Humidor Cigar Lounge / Internet Cafe (8.0)

This is one of the few smoking areas within the ship. It’s designed like an old Cuban bar with dark leather seats and sofas, surrounded by pictures of big Hollywood stars from the ‘30s to the ’60s, and its often in use. On our cruise, the population of 5,000-plus passengers turned out to contain quite a few smokers, and a lot of them came to this lounge for a nicotine fix. Norwegian installed two very loud air purifiers to accommodate the air quality. Drinks are available from the nearby Shaker’s or Maltings bars.

The Internet Cafe is located by Clicks Photo gallery on deck five. The area is broken up into several cubicles with individual desktops. It is not a very comfortable environment, so nobody stays here too long. WiFi is available throughout the ship.

Maltings Beer and Whiskey Bar (7.0)

Maltings offers a long list of draft (14 and 22 oz) and bottled beers, along with whiskeys from Scotland, Ireland, USA, and Canada. Prices range from $4.25 for a Coors Light, to $17 for a Johnny Walker Blue Label. Additionally, the menu has martinis, spirits, wines, and soft drinks.

Fat Cats Jazz Club / Headliners (7.0)

At night, Fat Cats features live jazz and blues music. The decor is simple and the space is filled with chairs and small tables to fit as many people as possible. All the drinks come from the nearby Cascade Bar.

Headliners is home to the comedy shows, as well as Howl At the Moon, where dueling piano players take requests from the audience. It has its own bar in one corner, and offers the same drink menu as the rest of the ship. During the day, you can frequently catch a game of bingo here.

Atrium Cafe / Svedka Ice Bar (5.5)

The Atrium Cafe is a Starbucks-like venue where you can get espresso, cappuccino, hot chocolate, and various cakes. The whole area has reddish seats like you might find in a European café – if not for the gigantic, two story high screen.

The Svedka Ice Bar is touted as the first bar actually made of ice that’s cruising the seas. There’s a $20 cover charge for it, but two drinks are included in the charge. Before entering, you’re presented with a fake fur hooded poncho so you don’t freeze (although even with this, it’s still chilly). Once inside, most everything is constructed of ice: the bar, the walls, even the glasses. Ice statues of a bear and a viking watch over you while you drink and shiver. If you want a seat, the Svenda Ice Bar was kind enough to supply fake fur drapings for the ice furniture.

Concierge Floor / Club Floor

The Studio Lounge is reserved for passengers who booked a studio on the Epic. Its design is similar to the Studio cabins: all whites and bright blues, as well as the recessed, multicolored lights. It features a bar, a coffee machine, and a vending machine. You can get a little breakfast here, too. One crew member is responsible for all the singles staying in the area, and there’s a “single mingle” get-together every night at 6 pm.

Another club floor is the Epic Club area, where suite and villa passengers find a lounge, two restaurants, a Hydrotherapy Courtyard & Thermal area, and a fitness center.

Children's Areas (5.00)

There are two children-only areas on the Epic: Recess and Entourage. Recess is for smaller kids, while Entourage is for teenagers 13 to 17 years old. Both areas feature the newest gaming consoles, TVs, and board games. Some days, the big, two-story TV in the Atrium serves as a Wii screen. Other activities include the water slide, rock climbing wall, and sports courts. The Norwegian Epic also offers Nickelodeon at Sea, where the little ones can meet their favorite cartoon characters, like Sponge Bob or the Avatar.

Recess is overseen by crew members, and open long hours, so mom and dad have time to enjoy themselves too. Older kids can explore on their own.

Conference Rooms (2.00)

The conference rooms were used as a storage room, and not accessible.

Libraries (5.00)

On the way to the Humidor, just behind Maltings, is the library. Because of the leather seats and dark wood tables, it actually looks like it is part of Maltings. There are two shelves full with books and different board games.