It’s time to see how two of the biggest cruise ships out there compare. In one corner we have the Oasis of the Seas, currently clocking in as the third largest cruise ship in the world. In the other corner we have the Norwegian Epic, a one of a kind vessel weighing in at over 150 thousand tons. Both ships bring revolutionary concepts to cruising, but which one will come out on top? The Oasis is the bigger of the two, but does the Epic even the odds with it’s boldness and innovative design? These two larger-than-life ships become direct competitors sailing from Port Canaveral in November. Find out which cruise is number one!
Round 1: Pool Deck
There are so many things a cruise ship has to offer, but for many guests it’s all about spending time on the pool deck. The Oasis is equipped with multiple pools and a different audience for each. Aside from the main pool, there is an adult-only Solarium, Sports Zone, Beach Pool, a kid’s H2O Zone, and multiple whirlpools. Adults looking to relax can retreat to the Solarium. The Sports Zone, featuring two FlowRider surf simulators and a pool fit for swimming laps or playing water sports, is the ideal spot for any competitive cruisers. The sloped entry Beach Pool features colorful chairs and umbrellas allowing cruisers to relax while dipping their feet in the water. The H2O Zone is an interactive waterpark for kids filled with spray cannons, geysers, umbrella jets, sculpted fountains, waterfalls and two splash pools. As you can see, the Oasis is definitely not lacking when it comes to pools.
The Norwegian Epic has two main pools equipped with special nighttime lighting effects, five hot tubs, an adult-only beach club, a wading pool and a splash pool with fountains for the kids. Although the Epic doesn’t come close to the Oasis in the pool department, the Aqua Park more than makes up for it. There are three exhilarating water slides that range from tame to highly adventurous including the extreme Epic Plunge located four stories above the pool deck. On the Epic Plunge, you’ll drop into a huge funnel on your inner tube and slide down a 200ft chute landing a pool below. You’re in for some serious water play on the Epic; Norwegian definitely comes out on top for this round.
Winner: Norwegian Epic
Round 2: Recreation
| Oasis of the Seas | Vs. | Norwegian Epic |
| ✓ | Ziplining | |
| ✓ | Rock Climbing | ✓ |
| Rappelling Wall | ✓ | |
| Bungee Trampoline | ✓ | |
| Climbing Cage | ✓ | |
| ✓ | Ice Skating | ✓ |
| ✓ | Mini-Golf | ✓ |
| Bowling | ✓ | |
| ✓ | Carousel | |
| ✓ | Ping-Pong | ✓ |
| ✓ | Sports Court | ✓ |
| Batting Cage | ✓ |
The Oasis and Epic each have a vast section of recreational activities available to it’s guests. Although the Epic has a slightly larger variety, the Oasis excels in terms of quality over quantity. Being able to zip-line nine decks above ground across 82 feet on the Oasis seems a bit more exciting than bowling, jumping on a trampoline, or rappelling on the Epic. The Epic may have more recreational features, but the Oasis creeps into first with it’s unique zip-lining experience over the Boardwalk.
Winner: Oasis of the Seas
Round 3: Bars
Apart from the typical pool bars and lounges, the Oasis of the Seas features a Jazz Club, British Style Pub, Live Latin Music Club, Champagne Bar, Piano Bar, Tequila Bar and Elevator Bar — just to name a few. One bar that definitely stands out among the rest is The Rising Tide Bar. This traveling elevator bar carries 35 passengers and staff up through the Atrium on the ship. Guests can board a hydraulic platform in the Royal Promenade or Central Park and drink as they slowly glide between three decks. The Rising Tide Bar’s intimate atmosphere makes it a great choice for any single cruisers looking to socialize.
The Norwegian Epic also has a few unique cocktail venues including a Cigar Lounge, Whiskey Bar, Sake Bar, Martini Bar and Ice Bar. The Svedka Ice Bar on the Epic is literally the coolest spot on the ship. Everything inside including the bar, walls, sculptures, glasses, tables, and stools are all made entirely of ice. Guests will receive two vodka-based cocktails with their $20 entry fee and be outfitted with cold-weather capes and gloves to keep warm in the 17 degree temperature. The Svedka Ice Bar’s one-of-kind experience raved about by cruisers catapults the Epic into the lead for this round.
Winner: Norwegian Epic
Round 4: Entertainment
The bulk of live entertainment on the Oasis occurs in the Opal Theater, Studio B, Aqua Theater and Comedy Club. The Broadway musical “Cats” is performed in the Opal Theater along with a Headliner Act. Studio B transforms into a skating rink where “Frozen in Time” featuring interpretations of fairytales such as “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and “The Ugly Duckling” is all performed on ice. The AquaTheater features dancers, divers and acrobats pulling off stunts against a backdrop of lit fountains and screens. While cruisers complained that “Cats” was too long and many left during intermission, “Frozen in Time” seemed to be a hit with the kids. The Aqua Show was also a popular production and continues to be one of the signature performances aboard the Oasis. The comedy sets are quite favored as well. While the Oasis has several great shows and plenty of venues to choose from, you’ll need to make reservations in advance as the ship simply cannot accommodate everyone.
The Norwegian Epic also requires tickets for most of their shows. There is only one theater, although they do hosts two performances nightly to fit around passenger’s preferred dining times. The Epic Theater has two main productions: “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” and “Burn the Floor”. The Broadway show “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” is a dazzling production with fabulous costumes and toe-tapping tunes including “It’s Raining Men”, “I Will Survive” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”. “Burn the Floor” features an international championship cast showcasing their best ballroom dance moves with a bit of European flair. Cruisers were less than impressed with “Burn the Floor” and enjoyed “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” far more. Headliners, a more intimate onboard experience, hosts Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos and a handful of comedians. These shows are popular among Epic cruisers, but the smaller venue makes it almost impossible to find a seat. Overall, the Norwegian Epic’s entertainment options are sub-par compared to the on-ice performances and water shows aboard the Oasis.
Winner: Oasis of the Seas
Round 5: Dining
Oasis of the Seas Dining
Free:
- American Icon Grill– One of the three main dining rooms
- Grande– One of the three main dining rooms
- Silk– One of the three main dining rooms
- Costal Kitchen– Dedicated restaurant for suite and Pinnacle-level passengers
- Windjammer Marketplace– Buffet
- Park Cafe– Casual breakfast, lunch and dinner spot
- Wipe Out Cafe– Casual kid-friendly food (hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, pizza, soft-serve, etc.)
- Sorrento’s Cafe– Pizza
- Boardwalk Dog House– Sausages (chicken, beef, bratwurst)
- Johnny Rockets– Burgers, fries and shakes (free for breakfast only)
- Solarium Bistro– Healthy cuisine (free for breakfast and lunch only)
Specialty:
- Cafe Promenade– Specialty coffee drinks
- Starbucks– Coffee
- Cups & Scoops– Ice cream and cupcakes
- Vitality Spa Cafe– Juice & smoothie bar
- Sabor– Mexican restaurant
- Vintages– Wine bar and tapas
- Chops Grille– Steakhouse
- Izumi– Hibachi grill and sushi joint
- Giovanni’s Table– Italian trattoria
- 150 Central Park– Six-course dinner menu with wine pairings
- Chef’s Table– Special six-course dinner menu with wine pairings
With dozens of places to eat onboard, the Oasis definitely doesn’t lack in dining choices. Cruisers do advise on allocating money for specialty dining though as the quality of food in the complimentary restaurants, particularly the main dining room and buffet, is not very good. Foodies will definitely want to look elsewhere on the ship.
Norwegian Epic Dining
Free:
- Taste– One of the two main dining rooms
- Manhattan Room– One of the two main dining rooms
- O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill– Open- all-hours pub
- Shanghai– Chinese restaurant and noodle bar
- Spice H2O– Adult lunchtime buffet
- Garden Cafe– Buffet
- Great Outdoors– Buffet (extension of the Garden Cafe)
Specialty:
- Le Bistro– French formal dining room
- Cagney’s– Steakhouse
- Moderno Churrascaria– A latin themed all-you-can-eat meat fest
- Teppanyaki– Japanese eatery
- Yakitori & Sushi– A la carte sushi and sashimi bar
- La Cucina– Italian restaurant
- Spiegel Tent– Hosts the Cirque Dreams and Dinner Show
From formal dining to endless buffets, you’ll still find it all on the Epic. There just won’t be as many choices as the Oasis. Although lacking in the number of dining venues overall, the quality of free food is an area that the Epic seems to have an obvious edge over the Oasis.
Winner: Oasis of the Seas
Round 6: Staterooms
The Oasis of the Seas features a vast array of stateroom possibilities including everything from interior cabins and ocean-views to balconies overlooking popular areas on the ship. The standard interior cabins are measure 172 square feet and contain plenty of shelves and hanger space. In terms of upgrades, ocean-view and ocean-facing balcony rooms are a common choice among guests. Especially with the limited natural light aboard, these cabins are a hot commodity, but there are a couple other upgrade options available on the Oasis. The ship’s layout enables cruisers to keep up with all the hustle and bustle by booking a room overlooking the Boardwalk or Promenade or even reserve a Central Park balcony featuring a lush leafy view. The Oasis definitely does a great job of offering a variety of unique room options to fit cruiser’s preferences.
Staterooms are divided into six categories on the Epic: The Haven, Mini-Suites, Spa Suites, Ocean-View Balconies, Studios and Inside Cabins. Most of these rooms feature a “new wave” design complete with curvy walls, recessed ceilings, rounded queen-size beds, arched sofas, LEDs and backlights. Standard staterooms measure about 128 square feet which is a bit smaller than the Oasis, but there is still ample wardrobe and storage space. One complaint often brought up about the Epic’s cabins are the translucent bathroom doors. While guests can pull across a drape to shut off the area from the rest of the cabin, it still leaves little to the imagination. Although the Epic’s decor and studio set up may appeal to the single young-adult crowd, the larger cabins and private bathrooms make Oasis the clear winner in this round.
Winner: Oasis of the Seas
Round 7: Size
The Oasis of the Seas holds more passengers than the Norwegian Epic. Although the Oasis does draw larger crowds, it still manages to be the more relaxed ship of the two. The neighborhood design divides the ship up; Which means that while you’re cruising with 4,000 other passengers, you don’t see all 4,000 all the time. For such a large ship, it does a great job of making sure that there are plenty of intimate places for cruisers to relax in privacy. The Oasis of the Seas is also a very wide ship. This extra width definitely goes a long way in making you feel like you’re inside of a building as opposed to sailing on the open seas. Other ship’s narrow corridors and congested public areas make it pretty clear that you’re on a boat.
Unfortunately, the Norwegian Epic doesn’t do quite as good a job managing passenger flow. The Epic is about a hundred feet shorter than the Oasis and lacks width in comparison. The most common complaint leveled against the ship is that it is just too crowded. Cruisers claim they had trouble finding a seat during a show or for a meal. Others experienced nothing of the sort during their stay and find this repeated complaint baffling. The common thread amongst complaining cruisers was that they were sailing during shoulder seasons, or at times when the weather kept most people inside. Several of the Epic’s biggest draws are on the exterior of the ship. It seems that the interior crowding is a result of Norwegian not having enough indoor space for when rain closes the outer decks of the ship. The Epic forfeits this round with their crowd control design flaw, making the Oasis the clear winner.
Winner: Oasis of the Seas
Round 8: Cost
Which ship is going to hit you hardest where it hurts the most— your wallet? When comparing cruise rates, it’s definitely apparent that the Oasis of the Seas is consistently more expensive than the Norwegian Epic. Although the base rate may be lower on the Epic, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a better value than the Oasis. Remember, all ships charge extra fees for everything from drinks to shore excursions which can all significantly impact your bill. Cruise rates can also fluctuate based on seasonality and availability. Just be sure to do your research and take into consideration all potential extra expenses before assuming that the Epic is more economical. With that said, we’ll award the Epic a win this round for it’s consistently lower base rates.
Winner: Norwegian Epic
Relaxing Oasis or Epic Adventure?
Overall, the Oasis does seem to be more family-friendly while the Norwegian Epic may appeal more to 20 or 30 somethings. The Epic definitely packs a mean punch with it’s exhilarating water slides and adrenaline-pumping rock climbing walls, but don’t let the name fool you, the Oasis isn’t just a ship for the sit-back-and-relax cruiser type. It’s notable neighborhood design and vast array of recreational activities including everything from zip lining to surfing make it a destination for explorers and adventurers alike. Both ships pull out all the stops with their dining and entertainment options as well, but ultimately they belong to different cruise lines with different cruising philosophies. A Royal Caribbean fan may prefer the spectacular theater productions of the Oasis over Norwegian’s Freestyle Dining concept on the Epic. After stacking these cruise ships up against each other, it’s really a toss up between these two giants. So who’s the ultimate winner? You decide!
The Oasis and Epic will debut in Port Canaveral this November. Book your cruise and let Go Port take care of the rest! We’ll make sure your hotel accommodations and transportation are taken care of so you can make the most of your vacation.
Photography by: Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Cruise Radio, Cruise Critic, Cruise Web, Cruise Direct
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