Norwegian Cruise Line’s new and largest ship Norwegian Epic has completed its sea trails ahead of making its debut in the UK.
The 4,200-passenger vessel will be delivered to the company today following the three days of sea trails in the Atlantic.
Norwegian Epic will then head for Southampton for a two night inaugural cruise next week to showcase the ship to more than 2,500 agents and operators.
The sea trails saw technicians and engineers from shipyard STX FRANCE, along with NCL representatives, checking more than 60 different aspects of the ship’s performance by running tests of the vessel’s speed, maneuverability, hydrodynamics and propulsion, amongst others.
Norwegian Epic will depart the French shipyard today and sail to Rotterdam for a two-day inaugural cruise.
The ship will sail a one-night preview cruise to Southampton on Monday, arriving the next day for the two-day showcase sailing.
It will leave Southampton next Thursday on a sold-out seven-day transatlantic crossing to New York.
Norwegian Epic will be the host venue for the 34th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks event before arriving in its homeport of Miami on July 7 where a welcome event will be held and inaugural festivities will conclude with a two-day sailing on July 8.
The vessel enters commercial service on July 10, sailing alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami until April 30, 2011.
Ports of call on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary include Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. The Western Caribbean cruises visit Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.
The 2011 summer cruise season will see the vessel run seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona.
When the ship returns to Miami on November 5, 2011, it will sail a series of seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises until April 7, 2012.