14 July 2009

Norwegian Epic takes to the water

NCL’s latest and biggest ship Norwegian Epic has been floated out of its French shipyard.

The 153,000-ton vessel, under construction since October 2007, has moved into the final building phase with work beginning on its interiors.

The 4,200-passenger ship was accompanied by a fleet of six tugboats and taken a short distance down the Loire Estuary.

Norwegian Epic is due to be delivered in late May 2010, and will take part in inaugural events before beginning Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from its homeport of Miami.

NCL chief executive Kevin Sheehan said: "Watching Norwegian Epic make her first journey on the water was a very moving experience.

"Norwegian Epic epitomises our continued commitment to innovation and represents the next generation of Freestyle Cruising, so we are thrilled to be celebrating her float out and looking forward to her delivery in less than a year."

The first eastern Caribbean sailing is scheduled for July 17, 2010 and the ship’s alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries run until April 2011.

The eastern Caribbean itinerary includes calls in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. The western Caribbean itinerary includes calls in Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatn, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.

by Phil Davies