Norwegian Cruise Lines Launches The Epic

During the first few days of July, I was in New York City as a passenger aboard the maiden voyage of Norwegian Cruise Line's massive new cruise ship, called the Epic. It's truly an incredible ship that's an ideal way for singles, couples and families alike to enjoy a memorable high seas adventure.

Throughout the next year or so, the Epic will be sailing throughout the Caribbean and departing from Miami. Not only is this one of the largest cruise ships in existence, it also offers one of the largest selections of activities for people of all ages. Starting with the offerings for kids, Epic features supervised, camp-like activities, plus a variety of shows, dining options and activities featuring popular Nickelodeon characters.

Oh, and the ship features several massive water slides as part of a water park aboard the ship, which includes multiple swimming pools. For teens, Epic has a unique and nicely equipped teen club, in addition to family-friendly cabins and dining options.

For adults, Epic is the ultimate playground on the ocean. Just some of the activities include a casino, bowling allies, an incredibly large workout/gym facility, a world-class spa (the largest on any ship), an ice skating rink, 33-foot-tall rock climbing wall, multiple shops, more than 20 restaurants, plus 20 bars and nightclubs. On the ship you'll also find Ice Bar, which is actually made of solid ice and kept at a chilly 17-degrees Fahrenheit.

Aboard the 4,100-passenger vessel, you'll also plenty of nightly entertainment, including live music, comedy featuring the Second City comedy troupe, plus performances by Blue Man Group and Cirque Dreams. Having seen Blue Man Group in New York City, Orlando, Boston and Las Vegas already, I was a bit disappointed that the Blue Man Group performance offered aboard the ship is identical to what’s offered in these other cities. It would have been nice to see the cast alter the show just a bit when presenting it aboard it’s newest home on the Epic.

The accommodations aboard the ship are ultra-contemporary, very comfortable, spacious and nicely equipped. There are many different categories of cabins, including several designed specifically for families with kids and teens. The ship is also the first to offer specially priced cabins for single travelers, as well as an entire section of suites for those seeking the ultimate in high seas luxury. Of the 2,114 cabins, staterooms and massive suites, 1,427 of them feature private balconies.

Overall, Epic is an extremely impressive ship that is staffed by an extremely attentive and experienced 1,700+ person crew. Like most cruise ships, however, Epic offers passengers many up-sells and extras once aboard. Plan on spending at least several hundred dollars per person extra during a seven day cruise if you want to experience any of the more than 10 premium dining experiences, some of the onboard entertainment, treatments at the spa, or gamble at the casino, for example. Alcoholic beverages and some other drinks are also extra, as are the land excursions available at the various ports-of-call. You'll also be charged extra to access the Internet, to shop aboard the ship, and to purchase professional photos taken of all passengers during each cruise.

If you budget for these extras, however, the cruise experience that awaits you aboard the Epic is superior to anything else that NCL and many of the other cruise lines currently have to offer. As soon as you book your cruise, take advantage of NCL's website to pre-book your premium dining, entertainment, spa treatments and shore excursions well in advance to insure you're not shut out of the activities you're interested in experiencing during your cruise.

Having experienced the ship myself firsthand, I was very impressed. One thing families in particular should be aware of, however, is that within the majority of the cabins, the toilet and shower are separated from the main living space using smoked glass partitions and a curtain, which does not allow for total privacy.

As soon as your cruise begins, spend your first few hours after boarding exploring the 1,080 foot long, 19 deck, 153,000 ton ship, so you can see firsthand all that's offered, and so you don't miss out on anything.

To learn more about the Epic and its upcoming 7-day cruise itineraries, which includes the Eastern Caribbean (Miami, Nassau, St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and Western Caribbean (Miami, Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatan), visit www.NCL.com or call (888) 625-2784. Any travel agent that specializes in cruises can also help you plan your vacation aboard the Epic.

Try Something New, Adventurous and Fun in St. Thomas

It's one thing to visit a tropical vacation destination, such as St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and simply sit at the beach or pool in order to get an awesome tan. That's certainly a lazy, but relaxing way to enjoy a trip.

Others might prefer to party, drink and dance the night away (and then sleep most of the day), while some people might opt to take full advantage of their vacation by trying new, exotic, and/or a bit adventurous activities that they couldn't or wouldn't experience at home. If this is what you're looking to do, at least for a few hours during your vacation, keep reading!

Whether you're visiting St. Thomas and staying at a resort, or its one of the ports-of-call you'll be visiting during a Caribbean cruise, one way to really enjoy a few hours and experience something unique (that very few other vacation destinations offer) is to take a Breathable Observation Submersible Scooter (BOSS) tour. (It's like riding a Segway, but underwater. And, it's a great alternative to scuba diving or snorkeling, especially if you don't consider yourself to be an adventurous person or risk taker.)

In St. Thomas, to participate in a BOSS tour, call Aqua Adventures, LLC at (340) 777-3549), visit www.bossusvi.com, or check with your cruise line's shore excursion desk. The company works directly with several major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess and Carnival.

Riding a BOSS may seem a bit scary, and you might think it requires a lot of physical strength and skill, but this is not the case at all!

No experience is needed, and you don't even need to know how to swim. If you can breath on land, sit still, and press a button with your thumb while holding onto handle bars, you'll be able to ride a BOSS with no problem whatsoever. During my tour today, a 10-year-old girl and several older people did it with no trouble. (That's me in the photo to the left, by the way.)

As I just mentioned, I had the chance to try this today, and it was a lot of fun! It was truly a memorable experience. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to try something new and who wants to see the Caribbean's marine life up-close, but who is not a certified scuba diver. (Riding a BOSS is easier than snorkeling and less physically taxing.)

The Aqua Adventures tour itself lasts about 3.5 hours, although participants only spend about 30 minutes riding a scooter underwater. The rest of the time is spent aboard a comfortable 60-foot, custom-built dive yacht. Free snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are served throughout the voyage. When not riding a BOSS scooter, participants can relax on the yacht or go snorkeling (all of the equipment is provided).

The cost of the tour is about $115.00 for adults and children alike, but I assure you, the experience is well worth it. You'll want to bring along an underwater camera or purchase a disposable underwater camera aboard the boat for an additional $20.00. Although, this is not an experience you will forget anytime soon. It's a totally awesome experience and well worth the time and money!

Throughout the tour, you'll be instructed and guided by a crew of skilled, experienced, friendly, funny and highly-professional certified divers and boat captains whose collective goal is to keep everyone safe, while also insuring an amazing time is had by all.

Currently, Aqua Adventures only operates in St. Thomas (not elsewhere in the Caribbean). Due to the popularity of this tour, it often books up well in advance, so make your reservations early - especially during peak travel seasons.

When you show up at the dock ready to experience your tour, along with an underwater camera, be wearing a bathing suit, and bring a towel, hat, sunglasses and sun block. Everything else you need will be provided. On the boat and scooter you'll be barefoot. If you wear prescription eyeglasses, you'll be able to wear them throughout your tour (even while riding the scooter).

So, the choice is yours. If you're visiting St. Thomas, you can do what every other tourist does and have a run-of-the-mill vacation experience, or you can participate in a BOSS tour with Aqua Adventures, and try something unique that you'll be able to tell all of your friends and family about when you return home.