Norwegian Cruise Line mixes design and leisure aboard flagship vessel
POSTED 21 Dec 2015 . BY Kim Megson
The ship – which is 1,098ft long and weighs 164,600 gross tons – is one of the five largest in the world Credit: Arno Redenius
A Norwegian cruise liner featuring the largest waterpark at sea is on its maiden voyage.
The 4,200-passenger Norwegian Escape – which is 1,098ft long (334m) and weighs 164,600 tons – is one of the five largest in the world and features a distinctive marine-inspired mural across its hull created by Jamaican marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey. It was built in just 17 months by German luxury shipbuilders Meyer Werft for the Norwegian Cruise Line.
Upscale interiors by British firm SMC Design and Swedish studio Tillberg Design utilise contemporary design features and curated artworks to create an upscale feel.
Speaking exclusively to CLAD, SMC Design director Andrew Yuill said: “We were inspired by contemporary worldwide international design. It was important to ensure the overall design is current and offers the guests an exciting variety in the leisure facilities onboard. The challenges were to bring good considered design to the project so it can compete with similar leisure developments around the world.”
Norwegian Escape’s facilities include a large-scale Aqua Park, which contains a tandem slide called Aqua Racer and Free Fall; a side-by-side slide where passengers freefall into a loop as the floor drops away beneath them.
Other leisure facilities include a large rope course and zip track spanning three-storeys, a nine-hole miniature golf course themed on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, two huge LED display screens and two swimming pools and four spa pools.
In addition, a private enclave on the the top of the vessel contains an exclusive ship–within-a-ship suite complex called The Haven, which features a three-storey covered courtyard, a cantilevered whirlpool and a private restaurant.
"One important concept in the design is the variety in dining options,” said Yuill. “We looked carefully at all the different ways one can dine.”
The ship has 11 restaurants onboard, including a food hall developed by Miami-based The Pubbelly Restaurant Group and an outlet of singer Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant chain. Bars include an urban craft beer hall called The District Brew House, wine-tasting venue The Cellars and an outlet of Miami’s oldest drinking establishment Tobacco Road.
The Norwegian Escape is Norwegian Cruise Line’s fourteenth vessel, and its fifth in the Caribbean.
Raison d'Etre launches LivNordic spa concept aboard Viking Ocean Cruise ship POSTED 02 Jun 2015. BY Helen Andrews Raison d’Etre’s spa and wellness brand LivNordic has launched the first of three spas
planned on cruise ships as part of a partnership with Viking Ocean Cruises. Inspired by
Nordic bathing traditions, including alternating hot and cold experiences, this ship’s spa
offers the first snow grotto at sea.
Richard Branson takes to the seas with Virgin Cruises POSTED 08 Dec 2014. BY Jak Phillips Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is planning to ‘shake up’ the cruise line sector
with the high-profile launch of Virgin Cruises.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
In a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest
wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]
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COMPANY PROFILES
The Wellness
Founded in 2007, headquartered in Dubai and based in Hong Kong and Singapore, The Wellness is an int [more...]
Norwegian Cruise Line mixes design and leisure aboard flagship vessel
POSTED 21 Dec 2015 . BY Kim Megson
The ship – which is 1,098ft long and weighs 164,600 gross tons – is one of the five largest in the world Credit: Arno Redenius
A Norwegian cruise liner featuring the largest waterpark at sea is on its maiden voyage.
The 4,200-passenger Norwegian Escape – which is 1,098ft long (334m) and weighs 164,600 tons – is one of the five largest in the world and features a distinctive marine-inspired mural across its hull created by Jamaican marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey. It was built in just 17 months by German luxury shipbuilders Meyer Werft for the Norwegian Cruise Line.
Upscale interiors by British firm SMC Design and Swedish studio Tillberg Design utilise contemporary design features and curated artworks to create an upscale feel.
Speaking exclusively to CLAD, SMC Design director Andrew Yuill said: “We were inspired by contemporary worldwide international design. It was important to ensure the overall design is current and offers the guests an exciting variety in the leisure facilities onboard. The challenges were to bring good considered design to the project so it can compete with similar leisure developments around the world.”
Norwegian Escape’s facilities include a large-scale Aqua Park, which contains a tandem slide called Aqua Racer and Free Fall; a side-by-side slide where passengers freefall into a loop as the floor drops away beneath them.
Other leisure facilities include a large rope course and zip track spanning three-storeys, a nine-hole miniature golf course themed on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, two huge LED display screens and two swimming pools and four spa pools.
In addition, a private enclave on the the top of the vessel contains an exclusive ship–within-a-ship suite complex called The Haven, which features a three-storey covered courtyard, a cantilevered whirlpool and a private restaurant.
"One important concept in the design is the variety in dining options,” said Yuill. “We looked carefully at all the different ways one can dine.”
The ship has 11 restaurants onboard, including a food hall developed by Miami-based The Pubbelly Restaurant Group and an outlet of singer Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant chain. Bars include an urban craft beer hall called The District Brew House, wine-tasting venue The Cellars and an outlet of Miami’s oldest drinking establishment Tobacco Road.
The Norwegian Escape is Norwegian Cruise Line’s fourteenth vessel, and its fifth in the Caribbean.
Raison d'Etre launches LivNordic spa concept aboard Viking Ocean Cruise ship POSTED 02 Jun 2015. BY Helen Andrews Raison d’Etre’s spa and wellness brand LivNordic has launched the first of three spas
planned on cruise ships as part of a partnership with Viking Ocean Cruises. Inspired by
Nordic bathing traditions, including alternating hot and cold experiences, this ship’s spa
offers the first snow grotto at sea.
Richard Branson takes to the seas with Virgin Cruises POSTED 08 Dec 2014. BY Jak Phillips Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is planning to ‘shake up’ the cruise line sector
with the high-profile launch of Virgin Cruises.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
In a world where imbalance often accumulates quietly, Wildsmith unveils its newest
wellbeing innovation: Silent Loads, an approach designed to meet the needs of modern spa
guests with precision and depth. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
The Wellness Founded in 2007, headquartered in Dubai and based in Hong Kong and Singapore, The Wellness is an int [more...]
