Norwegian Epic Cruise Ship: Norwegian Cruise Line

In 2009 most of the hype in the cruise industry was about Royal Caribbean’s new cutting edge ship Oasis of the Seas. In 2010 the ship that is making waves in the cruise industry is the Norwegian Epic. A recent fire on board the Norwegian Epic, that is believed to be a “malevolent action”, should not hold back the naming ceremony and inaugural cruise of the ship scheduled for July 2-4 out of New York City.

Ship-Technology.com tells us about the new Cruise Liner.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Norwegian Epic will be the cruise line’s biggest and most innovative ship to date. With delivery set for May 2010, the 4,200-passenger ship boasts a wide range of amenities, entertainment venues and dining options.

The construction of the ship reached a major milestone on 4 June 2009 with the fitting of its two huge funnels. This marked the final stages the ship’s construction.

Design: The ship carries NCL’s New Wave design concept, which features staterooms with curved architecture and open living spaces, along with innovative bathrooms and balconies. Entertainment options include the world’s first Ice Bar at sea.

Accommodation: The Epic features the biggest ship-within-a-ship suite complex at sea, comprising 60 suites and villas on two private decks. Guests staying in these suites will have access to the courtyard villa complex, which contains a private pool, two whirlpools, saunas, sun deck, fitness facility, private indoor/outdoor dining, bar and a concierge lounge. Ship-Technology.com

There are a few key trends in 2010:

Carbon Casting from the Cruise Ship Mold. Of the 15 new cruise ships due out in 2010, all but three are at least the second (if not the third, fourth or fifth) in a line of sisters. Costa took a surprising step down in size with Costa Luminosa in 2009, and sister Costa Deliziosa will be the second in its mid-size class. MSC Magnifica is the fourth in the line’s Musica class. Celebrity’s Eclipse carries on traditions begun by siblings Solstice and Equinox. German-based AIDA Cruises is debuting AIDAblu, the fourth (of six!) ships in its Sphinx series. And Allure of the Seas, the second in the Royal Caribbean’s revolutionary Oasis class, will debut at the end of 2010.

But … Sister Ship Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Spitting Image. Take British cruise line P&O Cruises’ Azura, which is physically identical to sister ship Ventura. While Ventura went after the family sector by way of bungee trampolines, circus school and an impressive kids’ club, Azura is taking aim at a more sophisticated set of mainstream cruisers — such as couples that would be comfortable on Celebrity’s Solstice-class vessels.

New Ships Get Unusual Homeport Assignments. While cruise lines have long relied on North American passengers — and so have often debuted ships in the U.S. — there’s been a sea change over the last few years. Celebrity Equinox was christened in the U.K. last summer and Eclipse will actually be based in England for a full season when it debuts this spring. Costa Cruises, which has been offering Dubai-based Arabian Gulf itineraries with its older ships, will seasonally homeport its two newest ships — Luminosa and Deliziosa — there in 2010. cruisecritic.com

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