The 146,600-ton, 4,028-passenger Norwegian Getaway, the second vessel in NCL's Breakaway-class ships, will debut in January 2014. The ship, which will be based in Miami, is under construction at Meyer Werft's yard in Papenburg, Germany. Getaway will share much of its DNA with older sister, Norwegian Breakaway, which launches in April.
Like Breakaway, Getaway will offer a slew of alternative dining options, including a seafood venue created by celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian; an array of cabin options including The Haven by Norwegian, a top-ship, 42-suite enclave; Studio cabins, the single occupancy accommodations that debuted on Norwegian Epic; and special cabins and suites positioned around the spa.
Other overlapping offerings include a fireworks display staged on every cruise; an Aqua Park with five water slides; an adults-only deck space that transforms into an al fresco club at night; a three-story sports complex with ropes course; and a pair of symbiotic spaces, The Waterfront, a quarter-mile-long outdoor "boardwalk" with eight al fresco dining venues and lounges, which connects to 678 Ocean Place, a stretched-out (instead of up), three-deck atrium running the length of the ship. 678 will house restaurants, bars, the casino and shops. For more info on these shared options, check out Cruise Critic's countdown to
Norwegian Breakaway page.
Both ships will also have hulls designed by artists. Breakaway's hull was designed by pop art icon Peter Max; for Getaway's hull art, NCL commissioned Miami artist David "LEBO" Le Batard. LEBO's vision (see above) features a mermaid, pelicans and colors inspired by the sun and ocean in Miami, where Getaway will be based.
Several distinctions have, however, been revealed. The Illusionarium is a special effects-laden magic show said by the line to be "inspired by the science fiction of Jules Verne, the artistry of magicians such as Houdini and the popularity of recent blockbusters featuring supernatural characters." Passengers at the show will find antique spell books, "interactive" artifacts and relics in a steampunk-inspired environment. Visual effects from a 30-foot-wide video dome overhead will anchor the performances. The Illusionarium will host 12 performances per cruise, two shows per night. Price hasn't been set yet, but we're told it will be similar to the dinner & show experience found on Norwegian Epic ($25 or $35, depending on seat location).
The GRAMMY Experience will feature artifacts chosen and curated by the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. In the evenings, the venue will feature live performances by past GRAMMY winners and nominees, among others." (Performers have not yet been confirmed yet.) The shows will be included in the cruise fare.
After a series of inaugural events in Europe, Getaway will sail for Miami, where it will be stationed year-round starting February 1, 2014. The ship will offer week-long Eastern Caribbean cruises visiting St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Nassau.
The initial transatlantic sailing will depart from Rotterdam on January 16, 2014, and include a stop in Southampton, where passengers can also embark, followed by nine days at sea. Getaway is scheduled to arrive in Miami on January 27; there's no word yet on the ship's status between January 27 and February 1.
