NCL's special F3 webpage
James Byrd's Blog From The F3 Keel Laying Ceremony
Ocean Liner Fittings, Furniture and Art For Sale at MidShipCentury.com
Peter Knego Videos Link: ON THE ROAD TO ALANG and THE WORLD's PASSENGER FLEET, Volume Nine
Outside Escal'Atlantique. This and all photos herewith, unless otherwise noted, are by and copyright Peter Knego 2008. Note: please click on photos to view larger versions.
Thursday, April 25, 2008
Having just completed a very pleasant cruise segment on board NCL’s NORWEGIAN JADE between Alexandria, Egypt and Piraeus, our media group was in for a very special treat. We survived a day of delayed planes and the infuriatingly unaccommodating Charles De Gaulle Airport, arriving in the wee hours of this morning for a quick nap at the Hotel du Golf in Nantes, France.
St. Nazaire.
Escal'Atlantique entrance.
After breakfast, a coach whisked us off to nearby St. Nazaire for a private visit to Escal’Atlantique, a remarkable museum dedicated to French ocean liners of the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Simulated passageways from French Line’s FRANCE of 1912 and ILE DE FRANCE, a promenade deck with a passing diorama of French liners, a reproduced cabin from LIBERTE, a steerage mess hall from a Mediterranean liner, a reproduction of the ILE DE FRANCE’s first class dining room, and an “official” drill in a boat that is lowered a full deck into the water are just part of the attractions. Escal’Atlantique was built in 2000 from the remains of a submarine bunker built by the Germans in World War Two.
Cider and chatter.
Submarine bunker walls in peacetime.
Following our tour, we went to a nearby creperie for some authentic crepes and cider, then walked back via one of the austere bunkers to the hotel for a quick rest before our visit to the Aker Yard (formerly the celebrated Chantiers de l’Atlantique, builder of NORMANDIE, FRANCE and a huge roster of famous liners and cruise ships).
Standard stateroom, facing doorway. Image courtesy of NCL.
We were given a glass of fine, dry champagne and seated in a conference room for a presentation by NCL CEO, Colin Veitch, revealing the first glimpses of the company’s newly contracted 150,000 gt F3 ships “New Wave” cabins. Although approximately the same square footage as current standard industry cabins, more efficient use of space is achieved by splitting the w/c and shower unit to either side of the entryway and curving the bulkheads and furniture to give the staterooms a much more open feel. Wash basins en suite lend an old fashioned ambiance in a manner not unlike a riverboat or old European hotel. Contoured LED lighting and redesigned a/c and plumbing have allowed extra ceiling height, realized via curved backlit domes, making the cabins seem all the more spacious.
Balcony Stateroom, viewed from the doorway. Image courtesy of NCL.
A limited palette of sophisticated soft fitting colors in each room melds beautifully with walnut toned rosewood veneers and stark white surfaces. Molded and stained glass original artwork, tailor-made for each room, was a particularly nice touch. Tillberg Design is responsible for the look and layout of the cabins as well as many of the ship’s public rooms, sharing the latter creations with London-based SMC Design.
Deluxe Balcony Stateroom, viewed from the doorway. Image courtesy of NCL.
We were given a chance to walk through and “tap the merchandise” in three mock up cabins (Standard = Inside, Balcony, and Deluxe Balcony) but no photos were allowed since there were some slight last minute changes made after the mock ups were built. Charismatic NCL Executive VP and F3 Project Chief, Andy Stuart and Trevor Young, NCL VP of Newbuilds, were on hand to further explain concepts and details.
All outside staterooms will feature balconies, for a total of 1,415. Each of the stateroom types will included a flat screen television and a mini bar and all the pertinent F2 Freestyle enhancements (upgraded bedding, linens and towels, Euro pillows, Elemis bathroom products and MP3 connectivity upon request. Balcony and deluxe staterooms have bathrobes, a customized fruit menu, a fresh-baked cookie at turn down on the last night of cruise, an escort to the stateroom on embarkation day, priority restaurant reservation and reception hotlines and special color keycard for ship-wide recognition.) currently being retrofitted into the NCL fleet.
NCL CEO, Colin Veitch.
Further details of the two 150,000-ton, 4,200 berth F3 ships will be rolled out on a regular basis. Early "unofficial" renderings indicate twin funnels (in the manner of NCL’s first "wedge" ships such as SOUTHWARD, or, perhaps, Fred. Olsen's BOLERO) with a towering superstructure and lines evolved from the current Jewel class, although there has been no official confirmation from NCL that these renderings are final. NCL CEO Colin Veitch refreshingly and candidly admitted they 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.”
The smashing Anne Kalosh!
Blogger wields sledgehammer.
Coin details.
A glass or two of bubbly did not prevent each of us from safely wielding a sledgehammer to stamp out two copies of a specially-designed coin commemorating the keel laying. One was ours to keep and the other was destined to remain with the new ship for the rest of her life.
Ship seeking funnel...MSC SPLENDIDA.
Funnel seeking ship...MSC SPLENDIDA.
MSC SPLENDIDA bow section at St. Nazaire.
MSC SPLENDIDA section awaits installation.
In brilliant afternoon sunlight, we were driven down into the massive drydock, past primed sections of the new building MSC SPLENDIDA (while the nearly structurally complete MSC FANTASIA loomed in the distance).
Under the NCL flag.
Donning hard hats and safety glasses, we gathered under wind-whipped NCL banners as a range of pulsating trance, ambient world beat and techno music was interlaced with Queen’s “We Will Rock You”.
A portal in the side of the drydock was opened, allowing the entrance of NCL’s senior brass and shareholders, including Apollo Managements Steve Martinez, Star Cruises’ CEO Tan Sri KT Lim, Lim’s lovely wife Puan Sri Lim, and NCL CEO Colin Veitch.
The keel is hauled into position.
Lowering the keel...
Lowering the keel, ctd.
Using a walkie talkie, Veitch ordered 322 ton block number 5006 of the keel to be brought into place. A huge blue crane lifted the block and maneuvered it overhead, gradually lowering it into the drydock.
Coins ready to be sealed.
Welding coins into the F3 keel.
A number of speeches were made commemorating the event, and then our gathering was led to the keel, where we were able to place our coins in a metal cylinder, which was then welded shut.
NCL team at Aker.
From left to right: Puan Sri Lim, Tan Sri KT Lim (CEO Star Cruises), Steve Martinez (Apollo Management), Colin Veitch (CEO NCL), Jacques Hardelay (Aker France CEO), outfitting manager, Christelle le Calvez (right).
Closing remarks were made, and then we cleared the way, shedding hard hats and goggles as we embarked our various coaches. Dinner was enjoyed at the chic beachfront Le Sunset restaurant. I was lucky enough to be seated at a table with Anne Kalosh, Tan Sri KT Lim, Puan Sri Lim, Colin Veitch, Steve Martinez, Aker CEO Jacques Hardelay and Star Cruises’ President, David Chua.
Restaurant Le Sunset, St. Nazaire.
I particularly enjoyed visiting with Andrew, the Lim’s architect, who is designing the new Genting Casino in Singapore and both Mr. and Mrs. Lim, who were very cordial. I did manage to ask Mr. Lim if there are any plans for new Star Cruises ships but with the fleet shuffling between Star and NCL, he stated he will let things settle before announcing any future newbuilds.
For the latest updates on F3 with downloadable high-resolution images of the New Wave staterooms and more artists’ renderings, visit www.F3.ncl.com.
Very special thanks: Martin Cox, Johanna Jainchill, AnneMarie Matthews, Courtney Recht
