April 28, 2008 - The keel has now been laid for the first of NCL's F3 ships, marking the third generation and the next evolution of the company's innovative Freestyle Cruising ships.

During a ceremony at Aker Yards in St Nazaire, France, the first block of the keel, number 5006, a double bottom block weighing 322 tons, was put into place marking the start of the overall construction of the ship.

The ceremony was attended by executives from NCL, Star Cruises, Apollo Management, and Aker Yards. Upholding maritime tradition, each attendee was invited to put a specially designed coin into a tube which was then welded shut and placed in the keel for good luck.

Said NCL president Colin Veitch: "The F3 ships are our most innovative project in the company's 41-year history and will provide a totally unique vacation experience. Laying the keel for this groundbreaking new ship, beings us one step closer to revolutionising cruising as we know it."

The two 150,000-ton ships will each be avle to carry 4,200 passenger, and will be the largest ships in the NCL fleet.

The new ship design will offer 60 percent more guest space than NCL's largest ships to date, which will be used to provide guests with an even wider range of on-board activities, amenities and stateroom options. The cabin mix will be the richest of any NCL ship with all outside staterooms featuring private balconies. In total, each ship will have 1,415 balcony staterooms.

More details about the F3 ships including other innovative accommodations, public spaces, dining, entertainment, nightlife, cutting-edge technology and casino will be announced leading up to the launch of the first F3 ship in 2010.