This eye opening video is not for the seasick. Watch European line Fred Olsen’s MS Balmoral bobble in rough seas. The Balmoral suffered a force twelve gale as it hit rough seas and 75 mph winds in the Bay of Biscay off Northern Spain and France.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced Norwegian Epic as the name for its F3 newbuild. The news was disclosed by the line’s vice president, Andy Stuart as he spoke to travel agents at an online “webinair”. The ship will operate year-round seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami.

Definitions of ‘epic’ include ‘amazing, of great magnitude’ and ‘surpassing the usual or ordinary, heroic,’ Stuart told agents in revealing the name of what will be the largest vessel ever built for NCL.

As earlier announced, it will sport ‘New Wave’ cabins with curvy walls, all outside accommodations will offer balconies, and there will be a range of trendy lounges including the first ice bar at sea. Further details are forthcoming.

With today’s news, NCL converted its F3 website to a new site: epic.ncl.com.

Deck plans and further information about Norwegian Epic will be released in March.

Ambassadors International, owners of the historic Delta Queen, have chartered the vessel to Harry Phillips, owner of Chattanooga Water Taxi and Fat Cat Ferry in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to act as caretaker. Ambassadors said the paddlewheeler will operate as a boutique hotel, preserved in its current state and managed by Sydney Slome, owner of Chattanooga’s StoneFort Inn. Slome purchased the historic inn from Phillips two years ago.

Ambassadors said it continues to search for a buyer to operate Delta Queen as an overnight vessel while also pursuing a congressional exemption to enable the 82-year-old wooden vessel to resume service.

Delta Queen is a National Historic Landmark and recently was nominated for inclusion on the National Trust for Preservation’s 2009 list of America’s Most Endangered Historic Places. Ambassadors stated that the agreement with Phillips states that the vessel will not be altered in any way. The company selected Phillips due to his knowledge of restoring and maintaining historical properties and his maritime experience.

“The Delta Queen is a national treasure and she will be cared for accordingly until her return to overnight cruise service,” Phillips said.

The boat offers 87 cabins for overnight stays. Slome plans to book Delta Queen’s entertainment venues and offer Dixieland jazz and shows ranging from cabarets to musical revues. Group tours are envisioned, to teach visitors about steam technology. Delta Queen is scheduled to depart New Orleans for Chattanooga in February. It will moor at Chattanooga’s Coolidge Park Landing.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Norwegian Star rescued a man whose sailboat was taking on water off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Monday night. The ship answered a mayday call from the US Coast Guard, seeking assistance for the waterlogged 45foot sailboat Carpe Diem.

Norwegian Star Captain Lars Bergstrom changed course and dispatched one of the ship’s rescue boats to retrieve Donald Masingale, 65, of Oklahoma. The rescued sailor disembarked Norwegian Star in Mazatlán.