Norwegian Epic’s Ice Bar Will Serve SVEDKA Vodka IN Ice

What’s an ice bar? Forgive me for saying this, but it’s probably one of the coolest places I’ve ever enjoyed a drink. The one I’ve visited is in the Nordic Sea Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, but in a couple weeks I’ll be sipping my vodka in the rocks aboard Norwegian Epic. Here’s just a peek.

Yes, it’s another first at sea and Norwegian Cruise Line has finally unveiled its vodka of choice for the ice bar. In an exclusive partnership, SVEDKA Vodka and Inniskillin ice wine are to be introduced on board Norwegian Epic, its largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship ever. As part of the partnership, the unique frozen bar will be called the SVEDKA Ice Bar and will feature specialty SVEDKA and Inniskillin ice wine drinks.

Inspired by the original ice bars and ice hotels in Scandinavia, the cruise industry’s first true ice bar is the ultimate chill. This frozen chamber is set in changing hues of blue, green and purple LED lighting that simulates the Northern Lights and creates a distinctive arctic atmosphere. The SVEDKA Ice Bar features a bar, walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures all made from ice. Guests are given hooded coats and gloves to keep them warm, since the room’s temperature does not rise above 17 degrees Fahrenheit.

The SVEDKA Ice Bar accommodates 25 people and can be reserved from 5:30 pm-10:30 pm nightly. The cost is $20 per person and includes two signature cocktails. (Incidentally, that’s less expensive than the Nordic Sea Hotel’s ice bar where you only get one drink.) There are six specialty drinks made from SVEDKA vodka and Inniskillin ice wine including:

· Polaris: SVEDKA Citron, Inniskillin ice wine, & lemon/lime soda
· Cobalt Blue: Inniskillin ice wine, SVEDKA vodka & Blue Curacao
· Nordic Apple Juice: SVEDKA vodka, Sour Apple Schnapps, Midori & a splash of fresh sour
· Caribbean Dreams: SVEDKA Citron, Triple Sec & lemon juice
· Sunburst Yellow: SVEDKA vodka, peach liquor & orange juice
· Northern Lights: SVEDKA Citron, Cointreau & Blue Curacao

Two non-alcoholic drinks area also featured: the Strawberry Eskimo Kiss made of strawberry puree, pineapple juice and lemon juice and the Creamsickle, with orange juice, vanilla ice cream and milk - in case children want to partake in the chilling fun. All drinks are served in specially-created glasses made entirely of ice.

Imported from Sweden, SVEDKA Vodka is premium vodka that is distilled five times. Inniskillin ice wine is made from grapes that are produced in the Niagara Peninsula. Pearl ice wine, which is used in the SVEDKA Ice Bar cocktails, is an intensely concentrated sweet wine made from grapes naturally frozen on the vine. Grapes for this ice wine are harvested at a temperature of 14ºF.

In addition to the SVEDKA Ice Bar, SVEDKA vodkas and Inniskillin ice wines are served throughout Norwegian Epic, in all bars and restaurants. Also starting in July, SVEDKA Vodka products will be served on other Norwegian ships in the fleet.

Norwegian Epic's inaugural festivities will take place from 2:00-3:00 pm on July 2 in New York, with legendary entertainer Reba McEntire christening the ship. Norwegian Epic will be the host venue for the 34th Annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks event taking place on Sunday, July 4. The event includes a national, one-hour, live entertainment broadcast on NBC-TV beginning at 9 pm ET. Norwegian Epic arrives in Miami on Wednesday, July 7 where a welcome event will be held at Bicentennial Park from 2:00-4:00 pm. Cruise Diva will be in Miami, sailing and blogging from Norwegian Epic on July 8-10.

Following her inaugural activities, Norwegian Epic will sail alternating 7-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami from July 10 through April 30, 2011. Ports of call on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary include Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. The Western Caribbean cruises visit Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. The 2011 cruise season from May-October will have Norwegian Epic sailing a series of 7-day Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona. When she returns to Miami on Nov 5, 2011, she will sail a series of 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruises through April 7, 2012.