In truth I don't think Norwegian Cruise Line is having suite dreams on Norwegian Epic just yet, because workmen are still beavering away to finish the very best accommodation on the ship, up in the villa complex.
Which of course now explains why I was not allocated a room there!
Seriously, thanks to Andy Stuart, NCL's executive vice-president sales, I managed to get a look-see at the areas in the complex that are ready.
It houses 60 suites, some Penthouse suites, but mostly Courtyard Suites like this one I was able to see. They sell it for up to six people but I would find it cramped with more than two, maybe three at a push.
Strangely, the master bedroom pictured here, has a view not out to sea, as you would expect, but straight into the bathroom (what is this bathroom fixation with NCL?). But what a bathroom. Another bathtub with a fabulous view out to sea and you also get a shower cubicle with a view.
I guess you'd just have to watch out the ship never moors next to a tall block of flats!
Behind the master bedroom there's a window-less bedroom where the kids can sleep (Andy tells me these suites on NCL's Jewel-class ships are very popular with families). They have their own bathroom and there is also this separate living area, pictured here.
The villa complex, which is accessed by key card so only villa people can get in, also houses the Epic Club Lounge, leading to a restaurant, below. The menu is not very inspiring with burgers, steaks and the like, but the décor is lovely and it's wonderfully peaceful away from the hoi-polloi!.
The complex also has a private pool and sundeck - no pictures as it's still being worked on but I can tell you it has big double loungers, which are great for snuggling up to the one you love - and an exclusive nightclub, Posh, which again is still being finished so I didn't get to see it.
All this is housed in that much-talked of "lump" on the top of Epic, which really doesn't do anything for the ship's looks. But I'll tell you what. If you had a suite up here, you wouldn't give a damn what it looks like from the outside.
Jane Archer
