Type of Federation starship. The first of these, launched in 2285, had an experimental transwarp drive, which presumably had to be removed. The Excelsior was referred to as "The Great Experiment."

Notable ships of this class have included the U.S.S. Enterprise-B (a refit of the Excelsior-class), the U.S.S. Hood, the U.S.S. Repulse, the U.S.S. Gorkon and the U.S.S. Intrepid.