Norwegian Cruise Line's new 153,000gt Norwegian Epic was delivered by STX's St Nazaire shipyard in June but due to mechanical problems had to have a tug escort during her inaugural visit to Southampton.

She was to undertake a series of inaugural cruises in Europe, but her initial one was cancelled, and she is due to cross the Atlantic in early July to be officially christened in New York.

Norwegian Epic will then head to Miami for a series of regularly-scheduled alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.

Ports of call on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary include Philipsburg, St Maarten; St Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. While the Western Caribbean cruises will visit Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.

In 2011 the 19-deck 1,080ft long (330m) Norwegian Epic will operate a series of seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona, Spain between May and October before returning to the Caribbean.

Several design elements of new 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic have prompted comment both pro and con from ship enthusiasts around the world.

Supplied by Jim Shaw

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