The standard Federation cruiser since its introduction in the late 23rd Century, the Excelsior Cruiser is the workhorse of the fleet. One of the most widely used starships, the Excelsior can hold its own even against contemporary opponents. Its mix of light and medium firepower coupled with enhanced endurance make it a perfect patrol ship and escort for larger vessels, such as the Galaxy.

Shortly after its introduction into the fleet, a variant of the Excelsior was introduced that featured enhanced command and control abilities and a heavier arsenal. These "command cruisers" were not very common, but those produced usually served in strategic sectors leading other Starfleet vessels in defense of the Federation. The Enterprise-B was one of these vessels. Following the introduction of the Ambassador Heavy Cruiser, the Excelsior Command Cruiser fell out of favor with the admiralty and was eventually relegated to the same position as other Excelsior Cruisers.

The Excelsior is, for the most part, my own vision of what the ship has for weaponry. I armed it adequately for its role as the Federation's mainline cruiser, and it is one of the few Federation ships with a balanced weapons loadout. If there is one ship that could possibly hold its own against published B5 ships, the Excelsior is it. Unlike other Federation ships it can actually protect itself against fighters, the biggest threat to Star Trek vessels.