The "New Wave" F3s of Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line: Freestyle Cruising revolutionized the luxury-cruising industry in 2000. Now Norwegian Cruise Line is once again upping the ante on just how accommodating the accommodations on a cruise ship can be with its New Wave rooms that will be in its new F3 ships. This is a strident step forward by the Miami-based cruising line, and it is only the beginning of what is forthcoming with the much-anticipated launch of two mega-size F3 ships in 2010.

The F3s, the third generation of Freestyle Cruising vessels, are colossal at 155,000 tons each and berths for 4,200 passengers per ship. Each F3 has 1,415 staterooms, and all quarters have a private balcony too. The F3s under construction are 60-percent larger than any NCL ship in the company's "F2" fleet. The cost per F3 is more than $1 billion.

This truly is the full-throttle christening of the Freestyle Cruising Era. These enormous hulls will set new standards in both size and layout. There are no general dining areas or other venues generally associated with cruise liners on the F3s. The onboard amenities will be more akin to a five-star resort.

In a recent press release, Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO, conveyed,"[This] announcement is just the first chapter in a series of innovations we will be revealing about our new F3 ships leading up to their launch in 2010." He further stated, "These ships will further deconstruct the traditional cruise ship experience with innovations in design, accommodations, luxury and entertainment to create a cutting-edge resort vacation experience unlike any other at sea."

Freestyle Cruising enables passengers to customize their trips, as there are no rules, no schedules or pre-planned itineraries to follow. The aesthetics of FC are more akin to being on a floating five-star luxury resort than a typical cruise liner. Along with the spacious villa-like staterooms, the F3s extra space will be used for onboard amenities, such as bowling alleys and two-story high screens for Nintendo Wii video games.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Freestyle Cruising 2.0 fleet is comprised of a dozen elaborate shipshape vessels that feature casinos, various restaurants, full-service spas, and exercising facilities. NCL offers cruises to some of the most exotic and desirable destinations around the world.

For LxM James Rothaar