Next Norwegian Cruise Line ship will have massive water park, rappelling wall

mercedes · April 8, 2009

They're calling it epic, and now we know why.

Norwegian Cruise Line is taking a page from the Royal Caribbean playbook with its next cruise ship, the Norwegian Epic, by loading it with unusual and at times groundbreaking decktop amusements such as a massive water park, a rappelling wall and a 33-foot-high 'extreme' rock climbing wall.

The industry's perennial underdog, which is announcing the decktop areas today in an online news conference, long has promised the massive vessel would break new ground for the line in both size and features. The line already has announced the 4,200-passenger ship, scheduled to debut in May 2010, will boast such innovations as curve-walled cabins and an ice bar.

At 150,000 tons, the Epic will be 60% larger than the largest NCL ship now at sea, and the Aqua Park the line is announcing is a sprawling affair with three major water slides among other features.

In an unusual twist, one of the Aqua Park's water slides, designed specifically for children, will zip straight through the ship's rock climbing wall. A more adventurous slide will twist and turn down three stories, and the biggest slide, dubbed the Epic Plunge, is billed as the only tube slide at sea of its kind. Passengers on the Epic Plunge will ride inner tubes down a 200-foot long tube into a bowl where centrifugal forces will spin them high on the wall for several turns before they splash down.

The Aqua Park also will include two main pools with arching water effects that illuminate at night; five whirlpools; a wading pool and a children’s Splash and Play Zone that features a kid's pool, whimsical sculptures, water sprays and effects, along with a kiddie slide.

The repelling wall NCL plans for the ship is an industry first, and the rock climbing wall -- a concept pioneered by Royal Caribbean -- will be one of the biggest at sea and accessible from two levels.

NCL also is announcing the Epic will have bowling alleys -- something the line pioneered in the industry several years ago and now offers on two ships. The line is expanding on the idea, offering bowling in two lounge venues on the Epic.

Currently under construction in Europe, the Epic is scheduled to sail in the Caribbean year-round after it debuts in the summer of 2010.

NCL originally ordered two Epic-sized ships for delivery in 2010, but earlier this year the line announced it had canceled one of the two orders with the shipyard, STX Europe. Epic now is the only NCL ship on order.

NCL says the ship will open for sale to the general public on May 20, when further details about its entertainment areas will be revealed.

JoeyandDavid · April 8, 2009

Sounds like they built a better mouse trap...4500 hundred passengers and what did they say 14 different dining options.. it will be an amazing ship to tour.. don't know that i would want to sail it though...