By Molly Arost Staub

For nonstop fun and excitement aboard a cruise, the new Norwegian Epic can't be beat. Norwegian Cruise Line, ever the cruise line innovator with features such as Freestyle Dining, now claims an entertainment sensation at sea. She holds more passengers than her sister ships — 4,100 — so the favorite venues have been enlarged and new enticements have been added.

"We stand for freedom and flexibility," said CEO Kevin Sheehan, "and now we have the next generation of freestyle entertainment."

Still want to go ice skating or scale a rock-climbing wall? Can do. But now you can also zip down a cruise ship's first rappelling wall. Besides normal water slides, try the Epic Plunge (a 200-foot-long tube slide). Enjoy bowling at sea? Epic now offers strikes and spares at six lanes in two areas, one away from a nightclub, which is better for youngsters.

"Legends in Concert" beckons in the Epic Theater, but the biggest entertainment coup is the Blue Man Group. This three-man zany comedic act offers a 75-minute music-and-mime routine. It starts with a don't-miss warm-up and finishes with a surprise ending. From catching paint balls in the entertainers' mouths to a Cap'n Crunch act and audience interaction, it's a hoot, and there's no charge.

At the Cirque Dreams and Dinner, where the audience supposedly dines under a big top, the large troupe of performers begins with a sophomoric slapstick routine that evolves into a two-hour show of skilled acrobats and jugglers. Dinner is a lackluster fixed offering with a cover charge. The Second City, a satiric improv group founded 50 years ago in Chicago, offers an onboard group interacting with audience members about Hollywood and politics, often with hilarious results.

Passengers find 11 complimentary restaurants, plus extra-charge eateries (from $10 to $25 per person) for special celebrations, encompassing more than 20 dining options as well as 20 bars and lounges. We tried Cagney's Steakhouse ($25 per person) and found the food and service outstanding. The 17-degree Svedka Ice Bar — billed as the first true ice bar at sea — includes two drinks (one alcohol-free for kids) for its $20 per person cover charge; parkas and gloves are provided.

Open seating and casual dress are still the norm. Restaurant reservations managed by flat screen TVs show wait times at popular eateries and control availability. Unfortunately it's impossible to get to many restaurants on Deck Six without wending through the 13,000-square-foot casino, the line's largest. There are also some gambling tables at the pool.

One restaurant, the Epic Club and Courtyard Grill, is available solely for Suite and Villa guests. NCL wins awards for its villas. Here those spacious villas — 60 including penthouse and two owners' suites — have their own reception area, a pool with two whirlpools and a seat-lowering ADA accessible device. A two-bedroom suite here can accommodate six guests.

The 39 Spa Suites offer direct access to the largest spa facility and fitness center at sea. These make sense for those who rank this activity highly. Butler and concierge services are available for no additional charge.

The Kids Crew facilities are divided into two sections. Recess Kids Club, convenient for family-friendly cabins, consists of two areas for youngsters ages 2 to 9 and 10 to 12 (Nickelodeon at Sea provides entertainment for little ones), while Entourage Teen Lounge appeals to teenagers 13 to 17.

When I attended the ship's 2008 steel-cutting in St. Nazaire, I saw a mockup of the New Wave Staterooms, so I wasn't surprised at the dramatic curvy walls and furnishings. Every outside cabin boasts a verandah. Alas, the smart-looking sinks are so shallow that water frequently splashes onto the wooden floors. But what's special are the studio staterooms for solo passengers that eliminate the penalty for traveling alone.

Although it wasn't completed for the inaugural cruises, the Epic will have a library, Sheehan said.

The Norwegian Epic sails seven-day round-trip eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Miami and next year will sail in Europe.

IF YOU GO

For information, contact a travel agent or Norwegian Cruise Lines, 1-800-327-7030 or www.ncl.com.

Molly Arost Staub is a freelance travel writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.