NCL Epic and Pride of America Head to Dry Dock for Long-Awaited Upgrades

Two of Norwegian Cruise Line’s most talked-about ships—Norwegian Epic and Pride of America—are finally getting some overdue updates. After years of guest feedback (and plenty of online chatter), both ships are receiving some much-needed attention. The work is underway this spring, just ahead of their busy summer sailings. Norwegian Epic is undergoing its refresh at the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Marseille, while Pride of America is getting its upgrades in Portland, Oregon.

Norwegian Epic, which launched in 2010, is receiving a wider range of updates than many expected. The last refurbishment in 2020 focused on The Haven, but this time, NCL is extending improvements to more public areas. Vibe Beach Club is expanding with new private cabanas and its own bar. The Waves Pool deck is getting new loungers and sunbeds, and the Kids Aqua Park is being fully redesigned with updated water features.

The ship is also adding eight new staterooms on Deck 9, including a mix of balcony and oceanview cabins. The Haven Lounge and Restaurant are being refreshed again, and crew areas are getting some upgrades as well.

That said, the dry dock still stops short of the full overhaul many longtime guests have been hoping for. Epic has long drawn criticism for its dated staterooms, awkward layouts, and worn public areas. These upgrades are a step forward, but there’s still work to be done.

Meanwhile, Pride of America, the only U.S.-flagged cruise ship sailing year-round in Hawaii, is getting updates to suites, standard staterooms, and public areas. Crew spaces are also being refreshed, a needed move after years of continuous sailings and no major refurbishment since before the pandemic.

Pride of America is set to resume its weekly Hawaii cruises from Honolulu on June 22. Norwegian Epic returns to the Mediterranean on June 29.

NCL says these refurbishments are part of a larger investment in modernizing the fleet. For guests who’ve sailed these ships recently, the updates may feel long overdue, but at least they’re finally happening.

We cruised on Norwegian Epic several years ago, and we’ll be watching closely to see how these changes improve the onboard experience.