Back to News Menu         Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional            November 2015

Cruisers can now sail to the Caribbean on Norwegian Cruise Line's newest and largest ship: Norwegian Escape.  The 4,200-passenger cruise ship arrived Sunday at PortMiami after 17 months of construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. (click to enlarge image)

This is Norwegian's ship first in its Breakaway Plus class.  Norwegian christened the ship  on Monday afternoon at the Miami port in a party like ceremony with Armando Christian Perez, aka Pitbull, the ship's ceremonial "godfather" performing for the crowd in attendance.

Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, told people during the ceremony that there truly is no better place in the world to celebrate the introduction of a magnificent new ship than right here — the cruise capital of the world — the beautiful PortMiami.  Del Rio had recently announced that bookings on Norwegian Escape have surpassed the levels of Norwegian's three most recent ships: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway

Before arriving in Miami the Norwegian Escape performed sea trials in the North Sea prior to its handover to Norwegian Cruise Line.

On Monday evening after the ceremony the ship departed on a two-night inaugural cruise for hundreds of travel agents and other invited passengers.

As an industry, we are all look to the cruise lines to continue to bring ships that are unique and generate interest from both seasoned and first-time cruisers such as the enhancements to the Haven, a luxury area of its newer ships that offers upgraded accommodations and concierge-level services.  Artwork on the ship's hull, designed by marine artist and ocean conservationist Guy Harvey is also a unique feature of the ship and some of his favorite marine life — sailfish, sting rays, sea turtles and whale sharks — are depicted in Harvey's largest canvass to date.

Norwegian Escape's Miami influences include Food Republic, an upscale restaurant with menus developed by The Pubbelly Restaurant Group of Miami, and the District Brew House craft beer hall, which will offer more than 24 draft beers through a partnership with Miami's Wynwood Brewing Company also popular is the ship's Jimmy Buffett-inspired "5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar" and the Tobacco Road, the floating reincarnation of Miami's oldest and most legendary bar, which closed on land several months ago.

Every ship has a sun deck, but Norwegian Escape's is a sundeck on steroids — you can lay by the pool and relax, spend time in the adult-only beach club or propel through the ship's three-story ropes course. The cruise ship also includes the largest ropes course at sea, an expanded water park, a new Aqua Racer slide and the line's first nursery for children 2 and younger.

One of the things that makes it such a fantastic ship for the Caribbean — and one uniquely suited for the region — is that there's so much more outside space than you'll find on most other cruise ships.

Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc.

150 S. University Dr.  Ste E, Plantation, FL 33324 - USA

Tel: +1 954 452 8800  Fax: +1 954 252 3945

EMail: sales@cruiseco.com

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