Summary
Following the success of theStar Trekmovies of the 1980s, the franchise returned to the small screen withThe Next Generation, a sequel series set a century after the exploits of Captain Kirk. Under the command ofthe stoic Captain Jean-Luc Picard, theEnterprise-D continued Starfleet’s mission to explore the galaxy, discovering a wide range of civilizations, scientific mysteries, and deadly new threats along the way.
WhileThe Next Generationfavored philosophy and moral dilemmas over melodrama and technobabble, the series still delivered when it came to fascinating technology and innovative vessels. From theEnterprise-D itself to the rarely seenD’kora-class Ferengi Maurader, the show’s seven seasons featured a bounty of notable starships.
8Galor-class Cruiser
First Appearance: “The Wounded” (Season 4, Episode 12)
As well as being a showcase fortortured everyman Miles O’Brien, “The Wounded” introduces both the Cardassians and their iconicGalor-class cruisers. The fish-like shaping of theGalor-class (a design choice replicated in later Cardassian vessels) sets the starships of the Cardassian Union apart from other alien civilizations. However, despite its naturalistic appearance, the cruiser is a capable warship that serves as the backbone of the Cardassian military.
Indeed, while theGalor-class is less well known in popular culture than many ships fromThe Next Generation, it came to symbolize the brutal might of the Cardassian Union within both the series itself and inDeep Space Nine. The Cardassian cruiser may be something of a hidden gem, but it nonetheless deserves to be remembered as one ofStar Trek’s coolest starships.
7USS Pasteur
First Appearance: “All Good Things…” (Season 7, Episodes 25 & 26)
Starfleet is no stranger to specialized starships: the USSDefiantseen inDeep Space Nineis a dedicated warship, while the USSVoyager, despite its heavy armament, is ostensibly a science vessel. Yet few Starfleet vessels are as practically focused as the USSPasteur, anOlympic-class hospital ship under the command of Captain Beverly Crusher. In the alternate timeline glimpsed by Picard in “All Good Things”, thePasteuris assigned to help those suffering from Terrelian plague on Romulus.
ThePasteurrepresents a radical departure fromconventional Starfleet design doctrine, as the vessel’s primary hull is spherical rather than saucer-shaped. This additional internal space no doubt provides additional room for laboratories, wards, and surgical theaters. Unfortunately, thePastuer’s fate shows that no good deed goes unpunished, as it destroyed in a Klingon attack.
6Ferengi Marauder
First Appearance: “The Last Outpost” (Season 1, Episode 5)
“The Last Outpost” sees theEnterprise-D come face to face with aD’kora-class Ferengi Marauder. This multi-function vessel is capable of operating not only as a cargo ship (as perthe Ferengi’s mercantile ideology) but also as a fearsome warship. Indeed, during theEnterprise-D’s first encounter with a Ferengi Marauder, the alien vessel was able to greatly weaken theGalaxy-class starship’s deflector shields using a powerful electromagnetic pulse.
The imposingD’kora-class would make several more appearances inThe Next Generationand even cameoed inVoyager, albeit as a CGI recreation of the original model. Despite the prominence of the Ferengi inDeep Space Nine, this cruiser is absent from the groundbreaking series, perhaps suggesting that the Ferengi Alliance could only afford to field a few of these versatile vessels.
5USS Jenolan
First Appearance: “Relics” (Season 6, Episode 4)
While attempting to respond to a distress signal from the USSJenolanin “Relics”, theEnterprise-D discovers theSydney-class starship crash-landed on the surface of a massive Dyson sphere. Picard and his crew are 75 years late to the scene of the accident, but they are able to recover a survivor: Montgomery Scott of Captain Kirk’sEnterprise, who has preserved himself in the starship’s transporter pattern buffer.
However, there is more to theJenolanthan its celebrity captain. In terms of appearance, it is a deviation from the norm when it comes to Starfleet vessels, as it lacks a saucer section. That theJenolanbears a passing resemblance to theDanube-class runabouts seen inDeep Space Nineshould come as no surprise, asthese auxiliary vesselswere heavily influenced by the design of theSydney-class transport.
4Romulan Warbird
First Appearance: “The Neutral Zone” (Season 1, Episode 26)
TheD’deridex-class Romulan warbird makes its debut in the closing minutes ofThe Next Generation’s “The Neutral Zone”. The Romulans aboard the mighty starship tell Picard and his crew that they mean business, and the sleek yet powerful design of their vessel only underlines their message. TheD’deridex-class would go on to make many more appearances across the franchise, making it one ofStar Trek’s most iconic villain ships.
One advantage of the Romulan warbird over its rivals is the fact that it is equipped with a cloaking device. This stealth technology, coupled with theD’deridex’s considerable firepower, makes it a dangerous threat in any military confrontation. As such, it makes sense that the starship is often deployed in intense military situations, such as during standoffs against theEnteprise-D andthroughoutDeep Space Nine’s Dominion War.
3USS Enterprise-C
First Appearance: “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (Season 3, Episode 15)
Although various iterations of theStarship Enterpriseplay key roles throughout theStar Trekfranchise, not every starship to bear the name is as prolific asThe Next Generation’sEnterprise-D. Indeed, theExcelsior-classEnterprise-B makes only a brief cameo in 1994’sStar Trek: Generations, while its successor, theEnterprise-C, only appears in the episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise”. However, despite its lack of screen-time, theEnterprise-C is involved in one of the most pivotal events in Federation history: the Battle of Narenda III.
TheAmbassador-class vessel is destroyed protecting a Klingon colony from a Romulan sneak attack, impressing the Klingons and laying the groundwork forthe Treaty of Alliancebetween the Federation and the Klingon Empire. While theEnterprise-C may resemble an awkward merging ofOriginal SeriesandNext Generationaesthetics, its contribution to Federation history cannot be understated.
2Borg Cube
First Appearance: “Q Who” (Season 2, Episode 16)
The Borg are one of science fiction’s most memorable villains, due in part to their relentless and single-minded push to assimilate other species. Yet much of the Borg’s enduring appeal can be attributed to the excellent visual design of the Borg cube. Envisaged by writer Maurice Hurley and realized by designer Richard James, the iconic vessel is based on an architectural language that is entirely distinct from otherStar Trekships.
However, the Borg cube is more than just an unusual design: it is also a terrifying opponent. The initial Borg cube seen in “Q Who” easily bests theEnterprise-D, while another cube annihilates a large flotilla of Starfleet vessels atthe cataclysmic Battle of Wolf 359in “The Best of Both Worlds”. The Borg cube may look simple, but it has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.
1USS Enterprise-D
First Appearance: “Encounter at Farpoint” (Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2)
No discussion ofThe Next Generationcan be complete without referring to the USSEnteprise-D, the starship that is as integral to the series as any of the show’s characters. While earlier iterations ofStar Trektoyed with the concept of theEnterpriseas a living space as well as an exploratory vessel,The Next Generationfully embraces the idea with theGalaxy-class starship. Boasting schools, families, and a sizable civilian contingent, the ship is perhaps the best example of Gene Roddenberry’s utopian future in practice—even if taking children on frequent military missionsdoesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
As the hero ship ofThe Next Generation, theEnterprise-D plays a central role in shaping the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, whether through its amazing discoveries of a shared link between many of the galaxy’s civilizations or its repeated battles against the Borg Collective. When it comes toNext Generationstarships, theEnterprise-D is second to none.
