Norwegian Epic is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line built under that line's F3 Project by STX Europe Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. When built she was the third largest cruise ship in the world. Two ships in this Epic class were ordered by NCL in November 2006, with an option for a third vessel that was not exercised. A dispute between NCL and STX initially resulted in the construction of both ships being placed on hold until a new agreement was reached. The agreement called for completion of the first ship; the second ship was cancelled in 2008. The sole remaining ship, Norwegian Epic, was delivered to NCL on 17 June 2010. After completion and acceptance, Norwegian Epic sailed on Thursday 24 June 2010 from Southampton to New York. Overview Norwegian Epic surpasses the Breakaway-class as NCL's second largest ship class. The Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship|Breakaway Plus-class is the largest in the NCL fleet so the . Norwegian Epic represents the "third generation" of Freestyle cruising vessels and its size allows NCL to have ships in the "mega-class" of their competitors at Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Lines, though still 32% smaller by gross tonnage than Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, the world's largest passenger vessels. Norwegian Epic has 4,100 passenger berths and the only tube and bowl water slide at sea. The ship also has a rappelling wall and a three-lane bowling alley together with a 17 °F (−8 °C) Ice Bar where customers have to wear parkas. On 13 April 2010, NCL CEO Kevin Sheehan along with Macy's, Inc CEO Terry J. Lundgren and NBC CEO Jeff Zucker announced that the Macy's 34th Annual 4 July Fireworks would take place on Norwegian Epic (The fireworks were off on another Ship) The NBC One-Hour Telecast of the Event was broadcast from the Norwegian Epic. On July 2, 2010, the ship was christened at a ceremony in New York by its godmother, American country music artist Reba McEntire. Concept and construction Norwegian Epic is powered by a diesel-electric plant, with the six long-stroke MaK engines providing a total of 79.8 MW for ship propulsion and on-board electricity supply. Electrical power then drives high-torque density induction motors which turn two conventional (non-azimuthing) propellers. The F3-class ship was built by STX Europe at the Chantiers de