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Cirque Dreams and Dinner is unlike any other cruise ship dining experience. It could be described as dinner theater but the show and the venue bear no resemblance to a traditional performance.
Developed for Norwegian Epic by Cirque Productions, the show can best be described as a fantasy version of an old European-style circus. It features brightly costumed acrobats, fliers and clowns performing in front of, around and over the dinner tables. What they do is jaw-dropping. When Epic first entered service, the show included a plot and dialogue. However, it was subsequently revised to become faster-paced. Indeed, when I saw the show, there did not seem to be any dialogue and no real plot. It just appeared to be a circus with one act following upon another. But, as above, what a circus. I found it hard to divert my gaze from the show for a minute. The venue is the Spiegel Tent, a room especially created on Epic for this show. Several decks high, the ceiling looks like a circus tent. Below that is a balcony level where guests can gaze down at the performance or, in the case of the fliers, watch the performance at eye level. On the ground level, there are booths along the room's perimeter. Then, under the tent itself, there are long tables that radiate towards the center of the room. The center is where most of the action occurs. The room is spectacularly lit which adds to the feeling of fantasy. The dinner portion of the evening follows a set menu. It begins with an appetizer of prosciutto and melon. For the main course, there is a surf and turf combination of jumbo shrimp and roasted beef tenderloin with potato and vegetables. (There is also a vegetarian option not listed on the menu). Finally, there is a “Trilogy of Sweets” consisting of a flourless chocolate cake, a red velvet cupcake and vanilla bean caramel with berries. I found the meal to be tasty but since most of it is served while the performance is going on, I was unable to pay much attention to the meal. A more ambitious menu would simply be wasted. The cover charge varies depending upon the seating. The premium seats are $35 and those further away are $25. Within each category, seating is done on a first come basis. The doors open 30 minutes before the show but the line usually forms before that. |
Above: The appetizer.
Below: Shrimp and beef tenderloin. 
Above: The Trilogy Of Sweets.
Below: Acrobats pose for guests' photos after the performance. 
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Cruise ship restaurant review - - Norwegian Epic - -Norwegian Cruise Line - Cirque