The Making of an Epic
Ready for an epic voyage? Well, if you plan on cruising NCL’s newest ship arriving in summer 2010 that is what will happen. The cruise line just announced that the name for its newest and most innovative ship will be Norwegian Epic. The ship is being built at STX Europe shipyard in France and when delivered in mid 2010 will represent the next generation of Freestyle Cruise ships at Norwegian.
At 150,000 tons and 4,200 passengers the Epic will be large by anyone’s standards but not an over-the-top mega ship like Royal Caribbean’s Oasis. However, interior innovations will include the world’s first “new wave” staterooms with gentle curves replacing the industry standard box- like cabin design on most other ships. And all outside staterooms will have balconies. Another cool feature? An Ice Bar where guests actually will be issued parkas to keep them warm. Gives another meaning to having a tall, cool drink doesn’t it. The Bliss bar, bowling alleys and recreation area made popular on NCL’s Jewel class ships will be expanded and an “uber bar” is planned at the aft end incorporated al fresco relaxation with variety musical entertainment.
The ship will sail year round from Miami on alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean one week Itineraries. If you want to be the very first in your neighborhood to experience NCL’s Epic, ask you cruise specialist to put you on the list and advise you when individual reservations open for sale.
II for Tea and Tea for 2!
There is only one passenger ship that can rightly claim to be “iconic”. Named after a reigning monarch, the Queen Elizabeth 2 recently retired after 41 years of service with Cunard to start a new life as a floating hotel and conference center in Dubai. Since launch, she has traveled over 6 million nautical miles while sailing to fascinating ports around the world and hosting 2.5 million guests on 1,428 voyages.
Classic ship historians can spend hours recounting stories about this most famous Cunarder. One particularly interesting tidbit is how the ship’s name was decided upon. Without a doubt, the British have a strong sense of tradition and protocol and the naming of the ship in 1967 represented an interesting challenge. The ship was designed by the Cunard team in Liverpool but built at John Brown’s shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland. She was to be named at the launching ceremony by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and also carry her name. But after the launch things became more complicated. Cunard’s chairman, Sir Basil Smallpiece determined after consulting with Royal aides that the ship should be named Queen Elizabeth 2 with the Arabic letter and not the Roman numerals “II”. Why? Because until that time only Royal Navy vessels had carried a reigning monarch’s Roman numeral suffix. And, Her Majesty was also Queen Elizabeth I of Scotland, where the ship was built. Therefore, she was named QE-2 instead of QE-II and went on not only to be the most famous ship in history but the one whose name was misprinted most often.
First Look at 2009
This year will be exciting with the introduction of 9 new cruise ships. The biggest and most discussed new vessel is Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. Slated for her first voyage this spring, this floating city will rank as the largest cruise ship in history. Weighing in at 220,000-tons, the 5,400-passenger ship has created a buzz ever since Royal Caribbean announced the project. The Oasis will feature neighborhoods that replicate land based sites like Central Park and the Boardwalk. Other innovations include an onboard “zip-line”, Aqua Theater and a bar that raises five stories like an elevator. These are in addition to the many distinctive features that are already present on Royal’s Freedom class ships.
While the Oasis may have been making the biggest splash, several other lines are showcasing new ships this year. Carnival will be debuting the Carnival Dream. The Dream is the first brand new design for the company’s Fun Ship line since 2002. Some of the new features include the indoor-outdoor Ocean Plaza, with coffee shops, bars and ocean views, Cloud 9 Spa (Carnival’s Largest), two twister waterslides, (the longest at sea), and a two-deck mini-golf course. There will also be a new range of cabin types such as “cove balcony” cabins—closer to the water line than any other ship’s verandah staterooms and family-friendly accommodations with two bathrooms and sleeping arrangements for up to five people.
Many prefer somewhat smaller ships and the different ambiance they provide. Costa has taken a different approach by building a ship that can transit the Panama Canal. (many of the new builds can’t). The Costa Luminosa boasts a 3D cinema and a rollerblading track as well as a more extensive choice of itineraries. In a unique dual naming ceremony, Costa will be introducing Costa Pacifica, a sibling to the Costa Serena style of big-ship design, as well as the Luminosa.
Other new stars on the horizon include the Seabourn Odyssey, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Spirit, and Viking Legend that will all lay claim to new designs and be the largest of all their fleet mates. The Odyssey will feature the largest spa on any luxury vessel. The 11,400-square-foot spa will span two decks and include indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, as well as a Kinesis wall in the fitness center and spa villas available for rent.
Many sister ships will also make their debut this year with the introduction of Costa Pacifica, MSC Splendida, Celebrity Equinox, and AIDA Luna. These ladies take their design from their trend-setting older sisters and will share the title of biggest in fleet. The amenities on most of these ships will be fairly similar, with the exception of some changes in specialty restaurants and minor design modifications.
One thing is for certain, no matter your size choice, 2009 will be a great year to take a cruise!
