MEYER WERFT starts building Norwegian's second Breakaway class ship
Norwegian Cruise Line executives and officials from MEYER WERFT took part in the Keel Laying Ceremony of Norwegian Getaway at the ship yard in Papenburg, Germany on Tuesday, October 30, 2012. During the official ceremony, block number 34, the first of 73 blocks that will comprise the 146,600 gross ton vessel was lifted into the covered building dock, marking the start of the block assembly, the German shipbuilder's press release said.
In the dock, Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer, laid the traditional "lucky coin," before the first block, weighing 530 tons, was placed by a massive crane. A special commemorative coin featuring the ship was created to celebrate the day’s activities. A virtual version of the coin will be available today at noon EST on the line’s Facebook page for fans to see and share with their friends.
“We are beyond excited to start construction of Norwegian Getaway, sister ship to Norwegian Breakaway,” said Sheehan. “The start of the block assembly is an extremely significant milestone and we eagerly anticipate the delivery of Norwegian Getaway in mid-January 2014.”
Norwegian Getaway is the second ship being built by MEYER WERFT utilizing a more efficient construction process which will deliver a ship of more than 146,000 gross tons in just over 12 months.
“Today we placed the first of the 73 blocks that form the structure of the ship,” said Bernard Meyer, managing director of MEYER WERFT. “We are proud to begin the construction of Norwegian Cruise Line’s second Breakaway class ship and to continuing our partnership with one of the most innovative cruise lines in the world.”
Norwegian Getaway will begin weekly seven-day cruises from her year-round homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on Sunday, February 1, 2014. The ship will be the largest ship to home port year-round in Miami, carrying 4,000 guests to tropical Caribbean destinations including Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas.
Norwegian Getaway will feature a rich mix of stateroom options including The Haven by Norwegian, comprised of 42 Suites at the top of the ship and 18 additional Suites located throughout the ship; the innovative Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers; the re-introduction of Oceanview staterooms, Balcony and Mini-Suites; along with Spa Balcony, Mini-Suites and Suites in close proximity to the spa.
About Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 46-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising which revolutionized the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility. Today, Norwegian invites guests to “Cruise Like a Norwegian” on one of 11 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise vacation on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea.
About MEYER WERFT GmbH
Founded in 1795, Papenburg-based MEYER WERFT has been owned by the sixth generation of the Meyer family. This well-established company has approximately 2,500 employees. MEYER WERFT’s extensive production program covers a wide range of ship types, from cruise ships, gas tankers, livestock carriers to car and passenger ferries. In order to stay successful in worldwide competition, production technology has been continuously improved and extended. Today, MEYER WERFT has the most modern production premises in the shipbuilding industry.