Her ducktail stern is one of the most integrated I've seen.

The gym/spa/kids center is also interesting because it's essentially on a passenger cabin deck and there are balcony cabins between the public spaces. Very odd design. When you look at the deck from the outside you have balconies, then windows, then balconies, then windows. Very different.

I think the gym/spa promises to be something special. The gym looks massive, and if you notice on these pictures the spa has large, aft facing balconies. How cool to have a massage out on the balcony while watching the wake of the ship. To my knowledge, only Disney has the outdoor treatment rooms and they face the side of the ship. They are pretty cool though and even include their own jacuzzi.

I am also interested to see the lifeboats uncovered. On the renderings they have unique paint scheme. They are painted half red, giving them a rather racy appearance. I also think they will add color to the side of the ship if indeed they can be painted as rendered. Interesting they are all covered up right now, even as they are attached to the ship. I don't think I've seen that before even during the new build process.

All in all I'm very intrigued by EPIC. She has spiked a lot of conversation (both good and bad) and for that reason alone I think she is a winner. Sure beats talking about yet another Destiny or Vista derivative.

Ernie

[ 05-16-2010: Message edited by: eroller ]

This latest image below gives you a pretty good idea of her final look (sans the lifeboat reveal):

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=1112482

In the end I think she looks strong, massive and purposeful. While I'm not a big fan of hull art, the more abstract design on Epic looks modern and not overly kitschy. The paint color is bright but not over the top.

The non-uniform curves of the balconies are interesting. I'm also eager to see the function of the glass (or open) walls along the pool deck. They have three horizontal bands which may be open or glassed in... it's not clear.

The cabins are more urban & stylish than all but the Solstice class. Love the "teak" floors near the entry. And Epic certainly offers more options than most ships - single studios, family cabins, spa suites, villas, suites.

If you look at the top deck arrangement, you have to give NCL credit in that they utilized almost every bit of sun/sports deck space. There's no wasted "roof" atop a funnel housing, mast structure, Viking Crown or observation lounge. The only non-usable top deck space is the relatively small footprint of the funnels... everything else is open to the sun above. I think people will be surprised how much open deck space there is when you combine the main pool deck, sports court, Spice H2O pool area, villa pool and top sun decks forward.

You can also now see the smoked glass enclosures over the twin exterior glass elevators.

IMO, she's actually as attractive on the exterior as the Vista Class, Grand Class, AidaVita & Musica Class.

My biggest remaining questions:
- Passenger flow since public areas are widely dispersed throughout the ship
- Are there enough indoor evening entertainment venues (beyond the wide dining options) in the event of bad weather.

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Originally posted by Atlantic:

In my opinion, the Carnival Dream solution of lifeboat placement is the best one: balcony cabins do not look over those unpleasant orange covers, instead they overlook the much nicer suspended promenade.

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The CARNIVAL DREAM promenade is not without it's issues. As you probably know, it was added because this class of ship (Destiny derivative) was in serious need of additional deck space. Years of adding 1/2 decks and full decks of cabins to the design took it's toll on the already limited deck space up top.

The promenade on DREAM is used for sunbathing, an outdoor cafe, and of course the jacuzzi's. The nightclub is also supposed to have doors leading out to it. The problem is that this leaves little privacy for the balcony staterooms above. If you are laying out or sitting in the jacuzzi on the promenade, basically you are looking straight up at all the balcony cabins. So these cabins lose privacy and they also lose the completely tranquil ocean view setting that most side facing balconies have. Now while sitting on your balcony, you have to listen to music, people talking, getting drunk, etc. on the Promenade below you. Personally I would rather look over the top of a lifeboat so long as I had a clear, unobstructed view of the ocean beyond. Of course the higher up your balcony, the less intrusive the lifeboats will be to your view.

One other issue with the DREAM promenade is that it's surrounded by a very high glass wall. So much for the connection to the ocean. You can't stand at the rail and take it all in. Well you can, but it will be through a glass wall.

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Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
If you remove the stern and above the bow she is a beautiful ship....

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quote:

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Originally posted by DEIx15x8:
If you remove the stern and above the bow she is a beautiful ship [...]

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Originally posted by Ernst:

Isn't that true for most contemporary cruise ships? Aren't most of the distinguishing features at the bow and the stern these days?

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quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:

I am also interested to see the lifeboats uncovered. On the renderings they have unique paint scheme. They are painted half red, giving them a rather racy appearance. I also think they will add color to the side of the ship if indeed they can be painted as rendered. Interesting they are all covered up right now, even as they are attached to the ship. I don't think I've seen that before even during the new build process.

[ 05-16-2010: Message edited by: eroller ]

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dutch:
Two shots taken with her out of dry dock. I think she looks great from this angle.

Her ducktail stern is one of the most integrated I've seen.

http://media.shipspotting.com/upload...EGIAN+EPIC.jpg
http://media.shipspotting.com/upload...EGIAN+EPIC.jpg

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Hi Dutch, I actually said the exact same thing on another board lol.

I find her to be quite attractive from the rear 3/4 view even with the chunky stern profile, and I truly think the ducktail to be one of the best looking on any ship that has one.

[ 05-17-2010: Message edited by: Atlantic ]

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Originally posted by Atlantic:
By the way, the Norwegian Epic's lifeboats look alot more aerodynamic than the ship itself.

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It what is on the inside that counts!

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Originally posted by GregD:
How were those lifeboats ever IMO approved. There is barely any international orange on them.
Are they made by Scat Harding and just a modified Oasis one?

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Originally posted by PamM:
The ship is its own best lifeboat.
I suspect they are flourescent and stand out more in the dark and murk than an all over orange lifeboat. But this is where the new damage stability rules come in, along with "the principle of safe return to port" and increased "survivability after damage" in large capacity vessels. Evacuating to lifeboats is last resort and I hope never ever needed as I doubt any of the mega ships could evacuate their passenger loads into lifeboats. I expect years into the future no lifeboats will be carried at all. Just a couple of fast craft for picking up jumpees perhaps.

Pam

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quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:

The promenade on DREAM is used for sunbathing, an outdoor cafe, and of course the jacuzzi's. The nightclub is also supposed to have doors leading out to it. The problem is that this leaves little privacy for the balcony staterooms above. If you are laying out or sitting in the jacuzzi on the promenade, basically you are looking straight up at all the balcony cabins.

Ernie

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Here is a view from one of the DREAM's balconies overlooking a jacuzzi. Since the jacuzzis are elevated, if someone stands up in one, they could look right into your balcony and cabin:

quote:

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Originally posted by PamM:
The ship is its own best lifeboat.
I suspect they are flourescent and stand out more in the dark and murk than an all over orange lifeboat. But this is where the new damage stability rules come in, along with "the principle of safe return to port" and increased "survivability after damage" in large capacity vessels. Evacuating to lifeboats is last resort and I hope never ever needed as I doubt any of the mega ships could evacuate their passenger loads into lifeboats. I expect years into the future no lifeboats will be carried at all. Just a couple of fast craft for picking up jumpees perhaps.

Pam

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That kinda sounds like the same attitude that had with the Titanic.