Norwegian Getaway

The 2014-built Norwegian Getaway cruise ship is the second of two Breakaway-class NCL liners, preceded by Breakaway (2013). The next-generation and largest NCL vessels are the Breakaway-Plus class ships Norwegian Escape (2015), Norwegian Joy (2017), and Norwegian Bliss (2018).

The vessel (IMO number 9606924) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311050900) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). Founded in 1966, the company is headquartered in Miami, Florida and is publicly traded on NASDAQ and listed on the NYSE (New York). NCLH’s major shareholders include Apollo Global Management (USA), Genting Group (Malaysia), and TPG Capital (USA). In 2017, the NCL brand held a worldwide cruise market share of 8.7% (passengers) and 8.4% (revenue). NCLH (the shipowner) also owns the brands Oceania and RSSC-Regent.

The 4000-passenger Norwegian Getaway was completed and delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line on January 10, 2014. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg (Germany), she is primarily deployed in Miami, where her naming ceremony was held on February 7, 2014. The ship’s name was selected through a public competition. On March 5, 2013, during construction, a fire broke out; fortunately, no injuries occurred and the incident did not delay progress.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Getaway has a total of 2014 cabins (1343 outside, 530 inside, 127 single cabins) across 42 categories. Most staterooms are 170-sq-ft Balcony cabins. The ship also has 42 wheelchair-accessible accommodations. The largest suites onboard are The Haven Deluxe Owner’s Suites (740 ft²).

Norwegian Getaway staterooms (2008 total, in 42 grades) include 1343 outside cabins, 530 Inside cabins, and 59 Studios (for solo travelers). Most staterooms measure 160–170 ft² (15–16 m²). There are 998 Balcony cabins, 156 Oceanview cabins, and 449 Inside cabins. Wheelchair-accessible cabins total 42. The largest accommodations are The Haven Deluxe Owner’s Suites (740 ft² / 70 m²), which feature a wraparound terrace (190 ft² / 18 m²).

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

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Dining on Norwegian Getaway follows the Freestyle concept, allowing guests to dine when and where they wish. This applies to both complimentary and specialty venues. Traditional dining is available in the three main dining rooms: The Tropicana Room and the more intimate Taste and Savor. In 2014, NCL invested in upgrading dining quality fleetwide in response to guest feedback, introducing improved standards and new menu options. Healthy and vegetarian selections are always available.

Norwegian is known for offering a wide range of dining venues. Guests can choose from a French bistro, Italian trattoria, Asian Teppanyaki, Brazilian churrascaria, steakhouse, seafood restaurant, raw bar, and noodle bar. All specialty restaurants include an 18% automatic gratuity.

Below is the complete list of Norwegian Getaway restaurants and food bars:

• Savor Restaurant (282-seat forward dining room; complimentary)
• Taste Restaurant (282-seat forward dining room; complimentary; Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (114-seat French specialty dinner restaurant; reservations required; US$20 cover charge)
• Teppanyaki (96-seat Japanese Hibachi specialty venue; reservations required; US$25; open for lunch and dinner; live cooking demonstrations)
• The Tropicana Room (632-seat aft dining room; NYC private-club décor; complimentary; dinner only)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill (285-seat sports bar; 24-hour American comfort food; complimentary)
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar (53-seat complimentary Asian venue within O’Sheehan’s Pub)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty steak and seafood restaurant; reservations required; US$30 cover charge per person; complimentary kids’ menu)
• Moderno Churrascaria (124-seat Brazilian steakhouse; reservations required; US$20 cover charge; outdoor seating available)
• La Cucina (168-seat Italian specialty restaurant; reservations required; US$15 cover charge; outdoor seating available)
• Ocean Blue (seafood specialty restaurant; reservations required; US$39 cover charge; outdoor seating area “Ocean Blue on the Waterfront”)
• Raw Bar (10-seat seafood counter)
• Wasabi Sushi Bar (à la carte)
• Garden Café (complimentary buffet restaurant with multiple stations)
• Open-Air Garden Café (outdoor buffet extension; complimentary)
• Flamingo Bar & Grill (casual complimentary restaurant by the Aqua Park)
• Full-service licensed Starbucks store

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Passengers can enjoy The Waterfront, an open-air promenade designed to connect guests with the sea—an innovative feature unique to NCL. Each cruise concludes with a fireworks show. The Getaway Theater hosts the ship’s premier productions, including the Broadway-style musicals “Legally Blonde” and “SIX,” along with the dance revue “Burn the Floor.”

The 3-deck Atrium serves as the ship’s central activity hub, offering morning trivia, Nintendo U Dance 4 contests, cooking demonstrations, towel-animal lessons, dance classes, and games. Other activities include detox seminars, art auctions, wine tastings, bingo, crew talent shows, and solo-traveler meet-and-greets.

Additional entertainment offerings include NCL’s fireworks show, “Rock of Ages,” “Cirque Dreams,” and “Illusionarium” (a magic and acrobatics dinner show).

Additional onboard amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, supervised kids programs (“NCL Kids”), Internet/WiFi access, and laundry services. NCL Getaway’s standard gratuity is US$12 per person per day.

The following is a complete list of Norwegian Getaway lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Getaway Theatre (800-seat venue for Broadway-style productions; two nightly shows featuring “Legally Blonde” and “SIX: The Musical”)
• Illusionarium (217-seat Cirque-style dinner show “Cirque Dreams & Dinner Jungle Fantasy”; surcharge US$30–40 per person)
• Atrium (3-deck midship hub “678 Ocean Place” with large LED screen, dance area, and live entertainment)
• Atrium Café & Bar (112-seat specialty coffee and tea venue)
• Headliners Comedy Club & Lounge (features “The Second City” comedy and the “Howl at the Moon” dueling-piano show)
• The Library; Card Room; Internet Café (24-hour)
• Mixx Bar (piano music; pre-dinner cocktails); Bar 21; Prime Meridian Bar; Humidor Cigar Lounge; Sugarcane Mojito Bar; Sunset Bar; Maltings; Shaker’s
• Syd Norman’s Pour House (rock-themed venue with live tribute bands, films, and themed events)
• Carlo’s Bake Shop (cakes, pastries; cupcake classes)
• The Collection Art Gallery
• Getaway Casino
• Bliss Ultra Lounge & Nightclub
• Dolce Gelato (Italian ice cream); Cakestand (pastries and cakes)
• Fat Cats Lounge & Club (160-seat Jazz & Blues venue)
• SVEDKA Ice Bar (25-seat ice lounge kept at −8°C / 17°F, with ice sculptures and frozen seating)
• Boutiques (duty-free shopping); Tradewinds (watches, jewelry, perfumes, handbags, alcohol, tobacco); Tides (gifts); Click (photo gallery and shop)
• Waterfront Promenade (402-m / 1320-ft open-air promenade with dining and entertainment)
• Studio Lounge (exclusive venue for solo travelers)
• Splash Academy (kids program for ages 6 months to 12 years)
• Spa & Fitness complex (22 treatment rooms, pool, aerobics studio, relaxation lounge)
• The Market Place (shopping arcade)
• Aqua Park (3-deck facility with two pools and five multi-level waterslides); Kid’s Aqua Park; nine Jacuzzis
• Spa & Fitness (Thermal Suite, Salt Room, Medi Spa, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop, fitness classes)
• Spice H2O (adults-only sun deck served by Breezeway Bar & Grill)
• Entourage Teen Center (jukeboxes, foosball, video arcade, teen disco)
• “The Haven” (exclusive suite complex with private Courtyard, Restaurant, and Lounge)
• Rock Climbing Wall; Jogging Track; Sports Complex (Spider Web climbing structure with spiral slide, Bungee Trampoline, 9-hole mini golf, ropes course, zip line, The Plank extending 8 ft / 2.5 m over the side)
• Vibe Beach Club (adults-only)

Itineraries

Norwegian Getaway’s itinerary program is primarily based on 7- to 14-day voyages to the Caribbean and Bermuda, sailing roundtrip from homeport New York (NYC). All Eastern Caribbean itineraries call at NCL’s private island in The Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. All Bermuda itineraries include a 2-night/3-day stay in Kings Wharf / Royal Naval Dockyard.

The name “Norwegian Getaway” was selected through an online naming contest and submitted by Dennis Hultman from Vienna, VA (USA).

Getaway is NCL’s second Breakaway-class liner, with sistership Breakaway. The vessel’s hull artwork was created by David “LEBO” Le Batard, a celebrity artist from Miami, FL. The interior design was developed by Priestmangoode (UK) and Tillberg (Sweden). The ship’s Inaugural Cruise (Maiden Voyage) departed on January 16, 2014, on an 11-day Transatlantic repositioning voyage from Rotterdam to Miami.

The ship’s godmothers are the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders—the entire cheerleading squad of the Miami Dolphins football team.

During the 2016 Summer Olympics (August 5–21), the vessel temporarily suspended its regular schedule and operated as a hotel ship for corporate sponsors and members of the National Organizing Committees, the International Olympic Federation, and the Rio Host Committee. She was anchored at Pier Maua in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 4, one day before the opening ceremony, and remained there until the conclusion of the Games on August 21.