Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) was awarded the cruise industry's first Travel + Leisure Design Award for Norwegian Epic's Studio staterooms. The winners of the seventh annual award were recognized as the best new examples of design in categories ranging from hotels and transportation to luggage and travel fashion.
NCL's ship won "Best Transportation" for its Studio staterooms, located in a private key-card access complex on two decks, including 128 staterooms and the Studio Lounge. Developed by Norwegian and designed and priced especially for solo travelers, the rooms merge feature the comfort and convenience of a single room without the industry's single supplement price.
Designed by U.K. firm Priestmangoode, the rooms each have 100 square feet of living space, a contemporary design with a full-size bed and separate areas for the bathroom, sink and shower. Groups of friends could consider deciding upon Studio state rooms that connect to each other, while all Studio state room occupants can enjoy exclusive access to the Studio Lounge, where Studio guests can have coffee in the morning, join up with other Studio guests and enjoy a drink in the evening.
Norwegian Epic will be featured in Travel + Leisure's March issue. Judges of the 2011 awards included Henry Urbach, curator of architecture and design for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Norma Kamali, fashion designer; and Danny Meyer, restaurateur, alongside Paulette Cole, CEO and creative director of ABC Carpet & Home; and David Childs, Chairman of Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill.
Visit www.ncl.com or call 1-888-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784).