quote:

---

Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
So is she going back to dry dock after her sea trial or just wet dock?

---

http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=112400

And yes, unless a blatant (so rather improbable, even if some cases exist in shipping history)design mistake has been made, she'll be able to turn sharply, no less than any other recent big cruise ship. Appearence is one thing, balance of weight is a whole different matter of course. As any newly built large cruise ship, the main big problem created by her high supertructures is maneuvring during strong winds and eccessive sensibility to these winds, not the balance of weight and her resulting stability, be it static or dynamic.

[ 02-12-2010: Message edited by: Vaccaro ]

[ 02-13-2010: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

I've been on 25 cruises and few ships have excited me more about the prospect of something truly new than Epic. After 40 years of the same, the cabins are fresh and exciting. The dining options are unmatched. The shows are a nice break from tired, Broadway cleavage and plumage numbers. The pool deck looks like a blast. The villas are the most complete enclave of any ship (private dining, bars, gym, pool and lounges).

I'll take the fresh thinking of Epic (even with her hat profile) over the same rehashed ideas of most ships any day.

Just planned a cruise for 20 family members next year. After looking at Oasis, Solstice class, and Princess latest... everyone picked Epic as their first choice.

Here's an AIS grab from Feb 14, 2010 approx 6:15am GMT. The semicircle loop (far left) was taken at the speeds beginning from 14.7kts accelerating to 22.3 knots by the end of the turn...

quote:

---

Originally posted by dmwnc1:
[QB]Unfortunately we will be hearing the arm-chair critics as well as the aficionados describe the Norwegian Epic with every synonym of 'ugly' from now until the cows come home. And it will be the same ones saying it over, and over, and over.

---

And why not?

Although subjective, I would suggest that it is a 'fact' that Epic is considered by many to be one of the ugliest purpose-built cruise ships ever built. ('Pride of America' comes second in my opinion). Epic's exterior design has almost zero regard for aesthetics.

Even NCL think she is 'ugly'. NCL’s then CEO Colin Veitch said a while back "…they (two F3’s at the time) may not end up as the most beautiful ships on the outside. Our goal is to build the best, most innovative ship, not the prettiest to watch sail by.” He was obviously feeling a bit guilty about the design.

dmwnc1, do you disaprove how 'arm-chair' critics as well as the 'afficienados' cannot ever mention 'Normandie' without using every synonym of 'beutiful' - or is it OK to mention beauty, but not ugliness, in your virtual world?

I think we all realise that 'Epic' is an exciting newbuild and her exterior 'ugliness' (oops, I said it again) is not necessarily related to her interior design or onboard experience. However only time will tell.

[ 02-14-2010: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Those who have no other comment than to say 'It's ugly' and just keep repeating the same comment, and we get it already. Sure opinions are subjective, but to keep repeating the same single comment like a broken record for the last year is stale at best. I have also poked fun at those who mention every newbuild in the same breath as the classics of days gone by...

I posted this three years ago and it still holds true of how most members react to any newbuild:

To save time here are just a few typical post-floatout responces:

-Wow that's UGLY!

-I hope they finish painting her!

-How come she doesnt have lifeboats?

-Their other ships look better. Not another clone!

-The stove-pipes out of the funnel are too big.

-I bet the food is going to be horrible...

-The stern is flat, she's built too high over the bridge.

-Weak bow. Too long, short, white, looks like NCL.

-I could have designed her better than that.

-She doesnt have a soul, no character.

-Her social standing/class is not to my liking.

-The QM2 (Normandie, all old ocean liners) look better.

-Their marketing campaign is too 'Italian', European, etc.

-Wow, she's BEAUTIFUL!

P.S. Here is an AIS grab from approx 1330GMT on 14 February 2010. Note the speed of 24.1 knots indicated on the bottom left position indicator.

I think with just slightly more effort they could have made the ship much more attractive on the exterior, without having to change a whole lot.

Do you think the density of Epic will be that different from Oasis? On your recent sailing, I believe you said there were 5,900 guests on Oasis. My calculation puts the space ratio at 38.1.

quote:

---

Originally posted by GregD:
What AIS are you guys using. is it the marinetraffic one?

---