In this post, we will look at all cabin grades available onboard the Norwegian Epic.

I cruised in the Norwegian Epic in an inside cabin and had family members staying in a balcony cabin.

The Norwegian Epic’s cabins are some of the most controversial.

The bathroom design is unlike any other I have ever seen. Personally, I quite liked it – lots of people don’t, though, so make sure you’re happy with the below before booking.

In this post, we explore:

• Inside Cabins
• Balcony Cabins
• Suites
• Solo Cabins

We will also look at cabins to avoid.

The Norwegian Epic was built in 2009, and the cabins remained largely unchanged.

How Many Cabins Are on The Norwegian Epic?

The Norwegian Epic has 1912 cabins, Including 128 studio cabins designed for solo cruisers. 75 of the cabins are located in the Haven.

For a cruise ship to have over a hundred solo cabins is incredibly unusual. On many cruise ships, you’ll find as little as ten to twenty solo cabins.

The Bathrooms on The Norwegian Epic Have a Unique Design

If you are considering a cruise on the Norwegian Epic, it’s important that you are happy with the bathroom situation.

Norwegian have created a unique bathroom that isn’t replicated on their other ships, so I can only assume that the design wasn’t very popular.

In a usual cruise ship cabin, you’ll find the bathroom in the corner of the room. In the bathroom, you’ll usually find the toilet, sink, and shower.

On the Norwegian Epic, you’ll find the shower in one room in the corner of the cabin and a toilet in a little room on the other. The sink is within the main cabin, and there is a privacy curtain.

The below diagram shows the design on the Norwegian Epic.

Note: The edges of the rooms are curved, but you get the idea…

I was cruising with my brother, and I didn’t mind the unique bathroom design.

That said, lots of people don’t like it, and I can understand why. If you were cruising with a friend, it would be a little strange to step out into the cabin after a shower with only a curtain between you both.

It was a little weird to have the main sink in the cabin because if somebody wanted to brush their teeth or have a shave, they would just be stood in the main cabin, which was a little odd but not a major problem.

There were supposed to be three Epic class ships initially. Two ships in this class were ordered by Norwegian in November 2006, with an option for a third vessel that was never exercised.

A dispute between Norwegian and the shipyard allegedly resulted in the construction of both ships being placed on hold until an agreement was reached.

The second ship on order was cancelled in 2008. Whether that had to do with the unpopularity of the design amongst cruisers is anybody’s guess.

Norwegian’s next ships were Getaway and Breakaway, which seem far more popular with guests. They have a completely different design.

Norwegian Epic Inside Cabins:

Inside cabins sleep up to four guests (depending on the deck)

We stayed in an inside cabin on deck 10. The inside cabins on decks 8,9,10,11, and 12 only sleep two people, but the inside cabins on 13,14 can sleep up to 4 people.

If the cabin sleeps four, these will be pull-down beds from the ceiling.

	Size	Decks
Family Inside	11 m2	13, 14
Inside	11-17 m2	8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

It can be quite a squeeze to share a cabin with 2 or 3 other people, but it is doable, and I have done it in the past.

The drop-down beds, called “Pullman” beds, are most commonly used for children, although they do accommodate adults too.

If you’re particularly tall, your feet may hang off the end – and there are weight limits! I have shared a cabin with 3 other adults before. It isn’t ideal, but for a short cruise, it isn’t a problem.

The Inside Cabins Are Quite Small – Coming in at 11m²

The inside cabins start at 11m^2, and the average within the cruise industry is 15m².

In many inside cabins, you’ll find a separate chair or possibly even a small sofa. In the Norwegian Epic cabins, the beds take up most of the room with no extra seating area.

I never felt that the cabin was too small and didn’t feel claustrophobic inside.

The clever design of the cabin means that even though it is small, there’s plenty of floor space and storage space.

What I Loved About My Inside Cabin on The Norwegian Epic:

• The cabin had a lot of storage
• The floor space felt large
• I love the overall design and curved lines
• The bed was very comfortable

In almost all cabins the beds can either be arranged as a twin or as a double bed.

If you arrive and the beds aren’t set up how you’d like, just let your cabin steward know, and they’ll change these for you.

A couple of friends of mine didn’t realize that the beds separated and they ended up sharing a bed for an entire week, without wanting to.

The Cabin Has Lots of Storage

On one side, there is a large closet that has hanging space and drawers, too. On the inside door of the closet, there are a few baskets for small pieces like accessories.

My suitcase fit well at the bottom of the wardrobe, but it would also have fit under the bed in the cabin.

Our life jackets were inside the wardrobe as was safe. The safe is free to use, and you can set your own code when you use the safe for the first time.

Do The Cabins on The Norwegian Epic have TVs?

All cabins on the Norwegian Epic have TVs installed. In the majority of cabins, these are mounted up high.

Do The Cabins on The Norwegian Epic have Kettles?

The cabins on the Norwegian Epic do not have kettles. Tea and Coffee are available in the buffet free of charge and are available in many other bars and lounges at a cost.

Norwegian Epic Balcony Cabins

Sleeps Up To 4 (Most Balcony Cabins Have a Maximum Capacity of 3)

During my cruise on the Norwegian Epic, I had family members staying in a standard balcony cabin, and I spent a lot of my time there.

If you are cruising as a group, it can sometimes be worth just booking one balcony to save money. You’ll probably spend the majority of your time in one cabin anyway.

The Norwegian Epic had four types of balcony cabins available.

• The standard balcony cabin
• A family balcony cabin – which can accommodate an extra person
• A large balcony – which is slightly larger as the name suggests
• A spa balcony cabin – that provides extra spa benefits.

	Size	Accommodates	Decks
Standard Balcony	17-33 m2	3	8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Family Balcony	17-23 m2	4	11, 12, 13, 14
Large Balcony	18-24 m2	3	9, 10, 11, 12
Spa Balcony	18-21 m2	3	14

The Balcony Cabins are Average Size – Coming in at 17m²

The average size of a balcony cabin is 18m^{2. The} balcony cabins on the Norwegian Epic come in just under this at 17m².

The shape of the balcony cabins are quite different from other cabins, the walls are curved. Some other cruise ship cabins have slightly curved walls, but the curves on Epic are quite prominent.

This works because the cabins are a mirror image of each other. Sometimes the bed is closer to the window and sometimes closer to the bathroom.

What Is In The Balcony Cabins Onboard The Norwegian Epic?

• Twin/Queen beds
• A desk with mirror + chair
• Sofa/couch
• Bedside tables
• Minibar
• Hairdryer
• Safe
• TV

The balcony cabins onboard are very similar in style to the inside cabins. The sofa in the middle is just an extra addition the inside cabins don’t have.

Large Balcony Cabins

Sleeps Up To 3 guests

The large balcony is exactly the same as the regular balcony, but it is slightly larger. Despite being larger, the cabin still can only accommodate 3 passengers.

Family Balcony Cabin

The family balcony cabins on the Norwegian Epic are almost identical to the standard balcony cabins.

The only real difference is the space to accommodate a 4th person.

The sofa changes into a bed and a Pullman bed comes down from the ceiling, this creates bunk beds of sorts for guests three and four.

Norwegian Epic Balcony Cabin Review

I stayed in an inside cabin during my Norwegian Epic cruise, but my Mum stayed in a balcony cabin and had the following to say:

“I’ve read many bad reviews about balcony cabins on the Norwegian Epic but for me, it was one of the most memorable balcony cabins I have stayed in.  So much more interesting than your standard, oblong, cruise ship cabin . I loved the curved walls, and the interesting ceilings!”

Gaynor

Norwegian Epic Solo Cabins

The Norwegian Epic has 128 solo cabins, and the solo cabins also have access to a solo lounge.

All the solo cabins are located together in an area of the ship reserved for solo cruisers, which I like.

The design of the solo cabins is very similar to that of the regular cabins.

All of the solo cabins are inside cabins, but they do have windows to the corridor outside. These are one-way mirrors, so other guests can’t see into your room, but you can see out.

A friend of mine, Pete, cruised solo on the Norwegian Epic. In his video review he explores the room in detail:

If you are considering cruising Solo, start by reading this post. It details my personal favourite cruise lines for solo cruising. Norwegian are on the list – along with many others:

Best Cruise Lines For Solo Cruisers (Tried and Tested Pros and Cons).

Do The Cabins On The Norwegian Epic Have Hairdryers?

All cabins on the Norwegian Epic have hairdryers. There is no need to bring your own.

I found the hairdryer to be good and powerful.

If the hairdryer isn’t powerful enough to dry your hair, a trip to the top deck is usually enough to dry it if it’s windy! It might not be a look you want to go for – but it works!

What Plug Sockets Are On The Norwegian Epic?

All cabins on the Norwegian Epic have at least 2 US plug sockets, 1 European socket, and 2 USB sockets.

If you are ever in doubt about which plug sockets a cruise ship has, check out this post.

I scoured through hundreds of photos and videos to put together a searchable table:

Complete Cruise Ship Plug Socket Guide: Search by Ship

Do The Cabins on The Norwegian Epic have Irons?

None of the cabins on the Norwegian Epic have irons.

There isn’t a self-service laundry, so if you do need something ironed, you would have to pay for this. An alternative is to buy a spray that drops the creases from clothes.

To find out more about Norwegian’s laundry prices and options, read this post:

Norwegian Cruise Line Laundry – Price List, Services, and Packages

Norwegian Epic – Suites

The Norwegian Epic has a range of suites available. These are located in an area called “The Haven”.

Below is a summary:

	Benefits	Accommodates
The Haven Deluxe Owner’s Suite with Large Balcony	The Haven 2-bedroom Family Villa with Balcony	4
The Haven 2-Bedroom Family Villa with Balcony	Separate living area, bedroom, and dining room. Two bathrooms	6
The Haven Aft-Facing Penthouse with Balcony	Aft views. Separate living area.	2
The Haven Courtyard Penthouse with Balcony	Large balcony.	3
The Haven Spa Suite with Balcony	Entrance to the spa and thermal passes. Queen-sized bed.	3

Cabins booked in the Haven have access to the following perks:

• A private pool deck and swimming pool.
• A private restaurant.
• A private lounge.
• Unlimited beverage package as standard.
• 24/7 Butler.

Norwegian Epic – Cabins to Avoid

The following cabins to avoid were provided by guests who cruised in these cabins. I haven’t personally stayed in any of these cabins.

Many cruise ships will have cabins near the theatre or main lounges. The cabins are all on the higher decks on the Norwegian Epic, so there are fewer cabins to avoid than you may find on other ships.

If you are worried about noise, booking a cabin between two other decks of cabins is often the best option.

Norwegian Epic, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 14

The following cabins towards the aft of deck 14 onboard Norwegian Epic are directly below the buffet.

Some cruisers staying in these cabins have reported noises of things like chairs being moved.

This shouldn’t be a big problem as the buffet isn’t open late into the night but it may be worth bearing in mind.

If you are somebody who makes frequent trips to the buffet like me, these cabins could be good for you!

All cabins on deck 14 are under the main sun deck of the ship. It isn’t abnormal to hear noises of sunloungers being moved or music from the pool deck. This noise usually doesn’t go on late, but the cabins on lower decks will be quieter.

Norwegian Epic, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 9

The cabins below are a little bit strange.

They are great if you struggle with mobility and need to be near an elevator. Still, due to their proximity to the stairs and elevators, several past cruisers have suggested that these cabins should be cabins to avoid.

(The crosses in boxes are elevators, and the stripey rectangles are the stairs).

There are also a couple of cabins like this on deck 8.

Norwegian Epic, Cabins to Avoid – Deck 8

The below cabins on deck 8 are directly under the Bliss Ultra Lounge.

The Bliss Ultra Lounge is used as a nightclub at night, so there will likely be some noise carrying up to the cabins on deck 8.

The Bliss Ultra Lounge is open until late in the evening. It usually becomes adult-only at 11 pm.

My favourite balcony cabin ever was onboard one of Norway’s newer ships, Norwegian Prima. Have a look at that in the video below:

Before You Go

Find out about the seven things you should know before cruising with Norwegian here:

7 Things You Should Know Before Your First Cruise With Norwegian Cruise Line

Find out more about the interesting history of Norwegian Cruise Line in the article below:

Norwegian Cruise Line History (Including Interesting Brochures from the 1960s)