Sydney Harbor gets spectacular new dinner cruise vessel

JULY 1, 2014 — Now operating in Sydney Harbor, Australia, the Incat Crowther designed 450 passenger dinner cruise vessel M/V Epicure has been delivered to Spotless Group’s Epicure subsidiary by Aluminium Boats of Queensland after a speedy design and delivery time of just seven months.

Incat Crowther was approached to create a stand-out vessel catering to the high-end market. Its response to the brief was to developed a heavily glazed vessel focused on a large forward atrium. This arrangement allows guests to board via the foredeck while crew operations can take place on the aft end of the vessel, keeping “back-of-house” operations out of sight from “front-of-house” guests.

Upon boarding the vessel’s main deck and entering the atrium, guests are greeted by a set of open stairs to the saloon deck, which features an indoor/outdoor cocktail lounge. This area can be opened up to the side decks by sliding partitions.

Above this is the Sky Deck, featuring outdoor lounge seats and bar, with a small wheelhouse forward.

The two upper deck spaces allow the operator to gather guests for refreshments, whilst the main deck dining area is prepared for dining service. The separation between decks also lends itself to corporate events such as product launches. The main deck features floor-to-ceiling glazing, combining with the forward atrium and pillarless design to afford views of Sydney Harbor unparalleled by any previous dinner cruise vessel.

Below decks is a full commercial galley with dedicated areas for food preparation, cooking and storage, including a large cool room. At the forward end of the hull are ladies’ and gents’ toilet spaces.

Bridal and green rooms are also provided below decks, as well as a crew locker room and bathroom.

All interior spaces are finished to a very high standard, befitting the quality of food and wine served on the vessel.

MV Epicure is powered by a pair of Scania DI13 main engines, each producing a modest 294 kW, enough to propel the vessel to cruise speeds up to 10 knots. A pair of Scania DI13 357 kVa generators provide electrical power.

To meet the required delivery time, the shipyard implemented new build techniques and worked a round-the-clock schedule

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS
Length Overall 119′ 10″ / 36.50 m
Length Measured 114′ 10″ / 34.99 m
Length Waterline 112′ 11″ / 34.40 m
Beam Overall 41′ 1″ / 12.50 m
Draft (hull) 6′ 7″ / 2.00 m
Draft (max) 9′ 11″ / 3.00 m
Depth 12′ 4″ / 3.75 m
Construction Marine grade aluminium