Mar 20 2014
First steel cut for Norwegian Escape
By Norwegian Cruise Line
<p class="p1"><span style="font-size:20px;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>First steel cut for Norwegian Escape</strong></span></span></p><p class="p1"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Kevin Sheehan, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, and Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner of Meyer Werft, press the button to start the first steel cutting for Norwegian Escape</span></span></p><p class="p3"><br></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">Wiesbaden, </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://airmail.calendar/2014-03-20%2012:00:00%20CET" href="http://airmail.calendar/2014-03-20%2012:00:00%20CET"><span style="color:#000000;">March 20, 2014</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> – The first piece of steel was cut at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany today for the construction of Norwegian Escape, the first of two new Breakaway Plus-class ships for Norwegian Cruise Line, set for delivery in the autumn of 2015. Norwegian Cruise Line and Meyer Werft executives watched as the first plate of steel was cut by a plasma torch in the yard’s state of the art facility. This plate will become part of Block 46 that will comprise the new vessel.</span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">“Norwegian Escape will be the largest ship in our fleet and will continue our legacy of innovation”, said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s President and CEO. “Cutting the first piece of steel for Norwegian Escape marks the official start of construction for this remarkable ship. We are eagerly anticipating her delivery in October 2015.”</span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">“Norwegian Escape will be 10th ship that Meyer Werft has built for Norwegian Cruise Line within the last 15 years and this one is very special, because of the dimensions of approximately 163.000 gross tons and the many new innovations on board,” said Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner of Meyer Werft.</span></p><p class="p3"><span class="s2"><span style="color:#000000;">At Cruise Shipping Miami earlier this month, Norwegian announced that Norwegian Escape will homeport year-round in Miami following her delivery in late 2015 and sail a </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://airmail.calendar/2014-03-27%2019:00:00%20CET" href="http://airmail.calendar/2014-03-27%2019:00:00%20CET"><span style="color:#000000;"><span class="s3">7-night</span></span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> Eastern Caribbean itinerary starting </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://airmail.calendar/2015-11-14%2012:00:00%20CET" href="http://airmail.calendar/2015-11-14%2012:00:00%20CET"><span style="color:#000000;"><span class="s3">November 14, 2015</span></span></a><span style="color:#000000;">; visiting Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. Norwegian also announced that famed marine wildlife artist and champion of ocean conservation Guy Harvey has designed the ship’s signature hull artwork which features an underwater scene of marine wildlife.</span></span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">Norwegian’s two Breakaway Plus-class ships, Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss, will be approximately 163.000 gross tons and offer 4.200 passenger berths. The ships were named by Norwegian’s Facebook fans around the globe. Norwegian Escape will boast all of the exciting and innovative features found on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway, plus a number of new spaces and interactive experiences that are yet to be announced.</span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">Additional information about Norwegian Escape can be found at </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.escape.ncl.com/" href="http://www.escape.ncl.com/"><span style="color:#000000;">www.escape.ncl.com</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">. Norwegian Escape’s itineraries are open for Travel Partners to book groups and will go on sale to the general public </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://airmail.calendar/2014-03-26%2012:00:00%20CET" href="http://airmail.calendar/2014-03-26%2012:00:00%20CET"><span style="color:#000000;">on March 26.</span></a></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">About Norwegian Cruise Line</span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">Norwegian Cruise Line is an internationally operating cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida with two offices in Wiesbaden and London overseeing operations in Europe.</span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 47-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 13 purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed cruise holiday on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea. In August 2013, the line was named “Europe’s Leading Cruise Line” for the sixth consecutive year, as well as in September 2013 “Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Line” and, for the second consecutive year, in November 2013 “World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line” by the World Travel Awards.</span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, debuted in June 2010 and, in the United States, has been named “Best Overall Cruise Ship” by the readers of Travel Weekly two years in a row and “Best Ship for Sea Days” by Cruise Critic. The Company recently took delivery of its most innovative ship to date, the 4.000-passenger Norwegian Getaway </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://airmail.calendar/2014-01-10%2012:00:00%20CET" href="http://airmail.calendar/2014-01-10%2012:00:00%20CET"><span style="color:#000000;">on January 10</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">, 2014. The largest ship to homeport year-round in Miami, Norwegian Getaway boasts 28 dining venues, including seafood restaurant Ocean Blue by famed New York Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and a branch of Carlo’s Bake Shop by Buddy Valastro, star of the TLC series “Cake Boss”. The entertainment line-up includes Broadway shows Legally Blonde and Burn the Floor and the unique dining and magic venue, the Illusionarium. Known as New York’s ship, sister ship Norwegian Breakaway is the largest vessel to homeport year-round in the city. The Company has two 4.200-passenger vessels on order at Meyer Werft: Norwegian Escape with delivery scheduled in the autumn of 2015; and Norwegian Bliss with delivery in the spring of 2017.</span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">Norwegian Cruise Line is the official cruise line of the Miami Dolphins/Sun Life Stadium, The New York Knicks, Blue Man Group and Legends in Concert; and the official cruise line partner of The GRAMMY Awards and is an official partner of the Rockettes and Radio City Music Hall.</span></p><p class="p3"><span style="color:#000000;">High resolution, downloadable images are available at </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.ncl.eu/news" href="http://www.ncl.eu/news"><span style="color:#000000;">www.ncl.eu/news</span></a></p><p class="p4"><span style="color:#000000;">Further information and bookings in travel agencies or at:<br>NCL (Bahamas) Ltd., Wiesbaden Office<br>Continental Europe Branch<br><br>Kreuzberger Ring 68, 65205 Wiesbaden, Germany<br>In Europe toll free: </span><a data-cke-saved-href="tel://Tel.:%2000800%2003%2010%2021%2021" href="tel://Tel.:%2000800%2003%2010%2021%2021"><span style="color:#000000;">Tel.: 00800 03 10 21 21</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">; </span><a data-cke-saved-href="tel://Fax:%2000800%2003%2010%2021" href="tel://Fax:%2000800%2003%2010%2021"><span style="color:#000000;">Fax: 00800 03 10 21</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> 22<br>From France: </span><a data-cke-saved-href="tel://Tel:%20+49%201805%2062%2055%2027" href="tel://Tel:%20+49%201805%2062%2055%2027"><span style="color:#000000;">Tel: +49 1805 62 55 27</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"> (€ 0,14/min from landline network)<br>E-mail: </span><a data-cke-saved-href="mailto:reservations@ncl.com" href="mailto:reservations@ncl.com"><span style="color:#000000;">reservations@ncl.com</span></a><br><span style="color:#000000;">Internet: </span><a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.ncl.eu/" href="http://www.ncl.eu/"><span style="color:#000000;">www.ncl.eu</span></a></p><p class="p4"><br></p>