Norwegian Epic & Rotterdam (V)
Norwegian Cruise Lines' brand new 153,000gt Norwegian Epic sailed from Saint Nazaire to Rotterdam on the 17th June 2010, arriving at 9am on the 19th in the Dutch port.  The design was apparently originally offered to MSC who rejected it.  A hull was partially built for NCL before they were ordered to stop and version two would be produced.  During her building, she suffered three fires which were suspected to be arson.  I had booked the overnight from Rotterdam to Southampton, the first time I had done a trip like this.  My curiosity, having done Gem and Jade, was overwhelming.  I also booked two nights on the former Rotterdam, which opened in February.  I took the train from Schiphol to Rotterdam and thankfully I knew the way after going from Amsterdam to there the precious year.  My friend Ben was working that day so I made my own way to the hotel and got in a taxi.  We drove over the Erasmus bridge and I got my first glimpse of the mega beast.
My driver hadn't been impressed with her either, saying she was a block of flats.  The view from my porthole on Rotterdam was of Epic so I was beginning to get used to her.  The weather was very cold, blustery and with occeasional squalls between sunshine.
Epic was due to sail at 7pm but after waiting, freezing and getting soaked, I decided to give up and go back in to keep an eye on her.  After sorting out a problem with my room keycard, I went in and saw she had started to leave the berth so dashed back onto the Lido deck.  Thankfully it was just one deck up.  There were a few people on the deck taking photos.  It was a good place to stalk.
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			(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 19th & 25th June 2010 Not to be reproduced without permission