Norwegian Breakaway

The 2013-built Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship is the first of two Breakaway-class NCL liners, together with NCL Getaway, which debuted a year later. NCL Breakaway is the largest passenger ship ever to be homeported in New York City. The next (biggest class) Norwegian vessels are the new Breakaway-Plus ships Norwegian Escape (2015), Norwegian Joy (2017) and Norwegian Bliss (2018).

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE (NYC). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL, Oceania, and RSSC-Regent.

The 4000-passenger ship Norwegian Breakaway includes the best of what the current ships from the line give customers, like the exclusive Haven (Suite- and Villa-passengers only complex), calm spa and a plethora of dining options. People who decide to board this cruise ship will enjoy all that Freestyle Cruising has to offer while being on the vessel to the picturesque island of Bermuda. Remarkable cuisine, family fun, and daily entertainment, as well as wonderful staff and crew, that's what you could get.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Breakaway staterooms (2014 total, in 42 grades) include 1343 outside, 530 Inside, 59 Studios (single cabins). Most staterooms are sized 160-170 ft2 (15-16 m2). Balcony cabins are 998, Oceanviews 156, Inside 449. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 42. The largest accommodations are The Haven Deluxe Owners Suites (740 ft2 / 70 m2, with wraparound terrace sized 190 ft2 / 18 m2).

The boat has 18 decks, of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 10 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

When it comes to dining on Norwegian Breakaway, Freestyle is the norm. It means guests can eat virtually when they want, where they want. This applies to the extra-fee dining, as well as included or free dining. Traditionalists enjoy the three "main dining rooms": The Manhattan and more-intimate Taste and Savor. Thanks to Norwegian's drive to improve all dining options in 2014, quality is generally good. Guests had complained about the declining quality, and NCL invested in improving on standards and new menu options. Healthy and vegetarian options are always available. One of Norwegian's greatest strengths is the vast range of dining venues. Passengers can try a French bistro, Italian trattoria, Asian Teppanyaki, Brazilian churrascaria, steakhouse, seafood restaurant, a raw bar, and a noodle bar. All specialty dining carries an 18% auto-gratuity.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Breakaway restaurants and food bars.

• Savor Restaurant (282-seat forward Dining Room, complimentary)
• Taste Restaurant (282-seat forward Dining Room, complimentary, with Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (114-seat French specialty dinner-only restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• Teppanyaki (96-seat Japanese Hibachi specialty, reservations-only restaurant; US$25; open for Lunch and Dinner; features live cooking demonstrations)
• Manhattan Restaurant (632-seat aft Dining Room; NYC private club design; complimentary; Freestyle dining, Dinner only)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill (285-seat sports bar, with 24-hour American cuisine - burgers, steaks, desserts; complimentary)
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar (53-seat Asian cuisine complimentary restaurant inside O’Sheehan’s Pub area)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood specialties; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu).
• Moderno Churrascaria (124-seat Brazilian steakhouse; reservations-only; US$20 per person cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• La Cucina (168-seat Italian specialty restaurant; reservations-only, US$15 cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• Ocean Blue (seafood specialty restaurant; reservations-only, US$39 per person cover charge. “Ocean Blue on the Waterfront” is the outdoor seating area)
• Raw Bar (10-seat seafood restaurant)
• Wasabi Sushi Bar (a la carte)
• Garden Cafe (complimentary buffet restaurant with various cuisine stations)
• Open-Air Garden Cafe (the outdoor extension of Garden Cafe restaurant; complimentary)
• Uptown Bar & Grill (complimentary casual restaurant by the Aqua Park).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Breakaway Theater hosts ship's most elaborate extravaganzas. It's where guests will find the Broadway-style musical productions "Rock of Ages" and "SIX", as well as the dance revue show "Burn the Floor".

The ship's 3-deck Atrium is Breakaway's activity center throughout the day with morning trivia, Nintendo U Dance 4 competition, cooking demonstrations, towel animal folding, dance classes, games. Elsewhere, other activities include seminars for detoxing, art auctions, wine tastings, bingo, international crew talent show, and solo travelers' meet and greets. The ship has a total of 9 jacuzzis and 3 pools. Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show).

Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hr Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry. NCL Breakaway tipping/gratuities (US$12 pp per day).

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Breakaway lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Breakaway Theatre (800-seat; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand-shows per night). Ship's evening shows include the grand musical productions "Rock of Ages" and "SIX: The Musical" (British pop musical themed on Henry VIII’s 6 wives), as well as the dance revue show "Burn the Floor".
• Spiegel Tent (217-seat theatrical entertainment dining venue “Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy”, with grand-style aerial acrobatics; surcharge $30-40 PP)
• Atrium (3-deck midship hub area - “678 Ocean Place”, with a big-size LED screen, dance area and live entertainment)
• Atrium Cafe & Bar (112-seat specialty tea & coffee bar)
• Headliners Comedy Club & Lounge (features “The Second City” comedy show and “Howl At The Moon” piano show)
• The Library; Card Room; Internet Cafe (24-hour)
• Mixx Bar (live piano music; pre-dinner cocktails); Bar 21; Maltings Beer & Whisky Bar; Prime Meridian Bar; Shaker’s Cocktail Bar; Humidor Cigar Bar & Lounge (smoking venue)
• Carlo’s Bake Shop (cakes, pastries, bakeries; cupcake classes)
• The Collection Art Gallery
• Breakaway Casino
• Bliss Ultra Lounge & Nightclub
• Dolce Gelato (Italian ice cream); Cakestand (cakes, pastries)
• SVEDKA Ice Bar (25-seat; with sculptures, glasses, and seats made of ice; room temperature is -8 degrees C/ 17 F)
• Boutiques (tax-duty free shops); Tradewinds (watches, jewelry, perfumes, handbags, alcohol, tobacco); Tides (gifts); Click (Photo Gallery & Shop)
• Waterfront Promenade (1320 ft/402 m long; open-air dining and entertainment venues)
• Studio Lounge (cruising solo guests-only venue)
• Splash Academy Club area (kids' programme for 6 months to 12 yo kids)
• Mandara Spa & Pulse Fitness complex (with 22 treatment rooms, pool, aerobics studio, and relaxation lounge)
• The Market Place (shopping alley)
• Aqua Park (3-deck, with two pools and 5 multi-level waterslides); Kid’s Aqua Park
• Spa & Fitness (Thermal Suite, Salt Room, Medi Spa, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop, fitness classes)
• Spice H2O (adults only; served by Breezeway Bar & Grill)
• Entourage Teen Centre (jukeboxes, table football, video arcades, teen disco)
• “The Haven” (Suite- and Villa-passengers only complex; consists of The Haven Courtyard, The Haven Restaurant, The Haven Lounge)
• Rock Climbing Wall; Jogging Track; Sports Complex (Spider Web - enclosed 24ft/7m tall kids' climbing wall with a spiral slide, Bungee Trampoline, 9-hole Mini Golf course, the largest at sea Ropes course, Zip Line, The Plank - 8ft/2,5m extending platform)
• Vibe Beach Club (adults only)
• Syd Norman's Pour House (American rock 'n' roll bar & lounge added during 2018 refurb and replacing 160-seat Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club).

Itineraries

Norwegian Breakaway itinerary program is based on year-round roundtrip cruises from homeport NYC New York to Bermuda and Bahamas. In November 2018, the ship was repositioned to the Carribean and homeported in New Orleans (NOLA), making Breakaway NOLA's largest homeported liner ever. Departures are from Julia Street Cruise Terminal. The inaugural cruise departure was on November 11.

The new 7-day Western Caribbean cruise program includes 5-7-10-11-day roundtrips visiting Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya), Belize (Belize City, Harvest Caye Island), Grand Cayman, Jamaica (Ocho Rios).

In 2019-2020, NCL Breakaway cruise program is based on Florida departures from homeports Miami and Port Canaveral.

• Fun fact is that the ship's name was selected through a public contest (submitted by Kimberly Powell). The ship's Inaugural Cruise (Maiden Voyage) was on April 30, 2013. Ship's Godmothers are the "ROCKETTES" (from the NYC’s "Radio City Music Hall"). They were special guests on the ship's first 6 cruises, and since then - on the first sailing of every month.
• The Breakaway cruise ship is the first of two Breakaway-class NCL ships. Her sister in the fleet is the NCL Getaway. The ship's interior design company contractors are Priestmangoode (UK) and Tillberg (Sweden). Hull art designer is Peter Max.
• Breakaway's construction began on Sept 21, 2011. The vessel's name was announced on Sept 14, 2011. First Bermuda cruise was on May 12, 2013. First Transatlantic cruise (from Southampton to NYC New York) was on April 30, 2013.
• Breakaway is the biggest NYC homeported ship - leaving from New York City the whole year-round.

NCL Breakaway refurbishment 2018 review

The list of deckplan changes and works done during ship's drydock 2018 refurbishment (April 28 - May 8) at Damen Shiprepair Brest (France) included:

• fully refreshed public spaces (new flooring/carpeting, updated furniture)
• new carpeting in all staterooms
• added Syd Norman's Pour House (former "Fat Cats Jazz and Blues Club") - changed decor, new carpets, furniture, live performances of classic rock songs, an updated drink menu
• repair of shaft bearings and replacing slewing seals of the vessel's two ABB azipod thrusters (propulsion units). The operation required both propellers to be removed from the hull. Both bow thrusters were also dismantled and maintained. Both Fincantieri-made stabilizers were refitted. The hull was repainted.

Drydock 2018 was part of NCL's "Norwegian Edge" program for fleetwide upgrades (2-year project budgeted USD 400 million). Each drydock costs around USD 35-40 million.