Norwegian Breakaway

Norwegian Breakaway is a large cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. It was the first of two vessels, together with Norwegian Getaway, ordered under Norwegian Cruise Line's Project Breakaway program. The ship was designed to combine the company's resort-style cruise proposition with a broad selection of restaurants, entertainment venues, family facilities, outdoor attractions, and accommodation categories. The vessel's name was selected through a public naming contest. Kimberly Powell submitted the winning name, which Norwegian Cruise Line announced on 14 September 2011. Construction began at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, with the first steel cut on 21 September 2011. Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery on 25 April 2013. After post-delivery movements and inaugural events in Europe, the ship crossed the Atlantic from Southampton to New York City, where its naming ceremony was held. The Rockettes, the New York dance troupe, served as the ship's godmothers. Breakaway began its regular seven-night Bermuda service from New York on 12 May 2013. At introduction, Norwegian Breakaway measured approximately 146,600 gross tons and was configured for 3,963 passengers at double occupancy. It contained 1,604 staterooms and 350 suites. Its onboard offer included Ocean Blue, a seafood restaurant associated with chef Geoffrey Zakarian, a comedy venue featuring performers from The Second City, and a hull design by the artist Peter Max. These elements supported Norwegian Cruise Line's effort to position the ship as a destination in itself rather than simply transportation between ports. The ship initially operated from the New York Passenger Ship Terminal, offering seasonal seven-night itineraries to Bermuda from approximately May through September and to the Bahamas and Florida during the colder months. Norwegian Cruise Line later announced changes to its deployment, including planned moves to New Orleans, Miami, and Port Canaveral. Its itineraries and home ports have reflected the company's broader strategy of placing large ships in major North American cruise gateways. Norwegian Breakaway has also been associated with several operational and safety incidents. These included passenger medical evacuations, a fatal pool drowning involving a child in 2014, and a 2016 rescue-boat-drill accident that killed one crewmember and injured three others. In January 2018, the ship encountered severe weather during a voyage toward New York amid a major North American blizzard. Reports described heavy seas, flooding in some passenger cabins, passenger seasickness, and a delayed arrival. Norwegian Cruise Line apologized, while some passengers sought compensation and discussed possible legal action. The ship was also connected to public health concerns during the early COVID-19 pandemic. A passenger from a March 2020 voyage later tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and subsequently died. Other passengers reported symptoms and criticized the timing and method of the company's communications and disembarkation procedures. The episode formed part of the wider crisis that led to the suspension and disruption of cruise operations worldwide.

Norwegian Breakaway was developed as the lead ship of Norwegian Cruise Line's Project Breakaway, a program that also produced its sister ship Norwegian Getaway. The two vessels represented a new generation of large Norwegian Cruise Line ships intended to offer extensive onboard choices while serving major cruise markets. Their names were selected through a public contest, with Norwegian Breakaway announced as the winning entry on 14 September 2011. Construction began on 21 September 2011 when Meyer Werft cut the ship's first steel in Papenburg, Germany. Norwegian Cruise Line accepted delivery on 25 April 2013. The ship then moved from Bremerhaven toward Rotterdam for inaugural activities before undertaking a transatlantic voyage from Southampton to New York City. Its naming ceremony in New York reflected the vessel's intended connection with the city, which became its initial home port. The Rockettes were named godmothers, reinforcing the New York theme. Norwegian Breakaway began seven-night Bermuda voyages on 12 May 2013. During its early deployment, it sailed from the New York Passenger Ship Terminal and offered Bermuda service in the warmer months, followed by Bahamas and Florida itineraries during the autumn and winter. At the time, it was described as the largest cruise ship homeported year-round in New York City. Later deployment plans placed the vessel in other North American gateways, including New Orleans, Miami, and Port Canaveral, illustrating the ship's use across Norwegian Cruise Line's seasonal network. The ship's design emphasized a broad resort-like range of experiences. It measured about 146,600 gross tons, carried 3,963 passengers at double occupancy, and included 1,604 staterooms and 350 suites. Publicized features included Ocean Blue, a restaurant linked with Geoffrey Zakarian; a comedy club presenting a Second City company; and exterior artwork by Peter Max. The combination of dining, entertainment, accommodation, and recreational facilities formed the central commercial proposition of the vessel. Several incidents became part of the ship's public record. In September 2013, a woman fell two decks from an exterior balcony before the ship reached Bermuda. In February 2014, a four-year-old child drowned after falling into a pool, while another six-year-old was revived and evacuated by Marine helicopter. In July 2014, a child injured in a bunk fall was also medically evacuated. On 20 July 2016, an accident during a rescue-boat drill killed one crewmember and injured three others. The most prominent operational controversy occurred during a January 2018 voyage through a major North American blizzard. Strong waves struck the ship, some passenger cabins were flooded, and passengers reported severe seasickness and difficult living conditions. Norwegian Cruise Line apologized after the ship arrived late, and some passengers demanded substantial compensation or discussed a possible class-action lawsuit. The following cruise was shortened by one day because of the delayed arrival. Norwegian Breakaway was again the subject of scrutiny during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. A passenger from a March 2020 cruise was hospitalized after becoming ill and later tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The passenger died on 9 April 2020 after prolonged respiratory treatment. Other passengers reported symptoms and criticized the company's communication, saying that some learned of the positive test through news reports or social media rather than direct notification. Reports also questioned the absence of visible screening during disembarkation. These events occurred during the wider global suspension and disruption of cruise operations.

1. 2020COVID-19 case associated with March sailing

   A passenger from a March voyage tested positive after disembarkation and later died, while other passengers raised concerns about notification and screening.

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2. 2018North American blizzard voyage

   A severe-weather voyage toward New York resulted in reported cabin flooding, passenger distress, delayed arrival, and an apology from the operator.

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3. 2013Delivery and inaugural season

   The ship was delivered on 25 April, named in New York after its transatlantic crossing, and began regular Bermuda cruises on 12 May.

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4. 2011Project Breakaway name announced

   Norwegian Cruise Line announced Norwegian Breakaway as the winning name from a public naming contest on 14 September.

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5. 2011Construction starts

   Meyer Werft cut the first steel for the ship in Papenburg, Germany, on 21 September.

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A large, resort-style Norwegian Cruise Line ship combining flexible dining, entertainment, family recreation, and destination-based cruise itineraries.

• Norwegian Breakaway cruise vacationsCruise travel2013

  The ship's principal offering is a cruise vacation combining accommodation, meals, entertainment, recreation, and port visits in a single resort-style travel product. Its early schedule centered on seven-night Bermuda sailings from New York during the warmer season and Bahamas and Florida routes during the colder season. Later deployment plans included other North American home ports and itineraries.

• Ocean BlueDining2013

  Ocean Blue is a seafood-focused restaurant associated with chef Geoffrey Zakarian. It forms part of the ship's specialty dining portfolio and supports Norwegian Cruise Line's strategy of differentiating large ships through branded culinary experiences.

• Second City comedy venueEntertainment2013

  The ship includes a comedy venue featuring a performing company from The Second City. The venue adds a dedicated theatrical and comedy component to the ship's onboard entertainment program.

• 2020COVID-19 passenger notification and disembarkation responseOther

  A passenger from a March 2020 sailing tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after becoming ill, and other passengers later reported symptoms.

  What changed. Norwegian Cruise Line notified passengers after the positive test was reported, while disembarkation proceeded amid reports that screening was limited or absent.

  Aftermath. Passengers criticized the timing of communication and raised concerns that earlier disclosure could have enabled additional precautions.

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• 2018Operator response to severe-weather voyageOther

  A voyage toward New York encountered a major winter storm, with reports of flooding in passenger cabins, heavy seas, seasickness, and a late arrival.

  What changed. Norwegian Cruise Line issued a formal apology after passengers described difficult conditions and some sought compensation.

  Aftermath. The next cruise was shortened by one day, while some passengers discussed legal action or demanded full compensation.

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• 2020COVID-19 disclosure concerns after March 2020 voyage

  A passenger from a 7–14 March 2020 voyage later tested positive for COVID-19 and subsequently died. Former passengers reported symptoms and criticized the timing of notification and the lack of screening during disembarkation.

  RegulationOther
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• 2018Severe-weather voyage causes flooding and passenger complaints

  During a January voyage toward New York, the ship encountered a major winter storm. Reports described powerful seas, flooded cabins, seasickness, a delayed arrival, and demands from some passengers for compensation. Norwegian Cruise Line issued an apology.

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• 2013Norwegian Breakaway delivered to Norwegian Cruise Line

  Meyer Werft handed the completed ship over to Norwegian Cruise Line on 25 April 2013.

  Product launch
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• 2013Ship enters regular Bermuda service from New York

  After its transatlantic crossing and New York naming ceremony, Norwegian Breakaway began seven-night Bermuda cruises on 12 May.

  Product launch
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• 2011Norwegian Breakaway name selected through public contest

  Norwegian Cruise Line announced Norwegian Breakaway as the winning name for the first Project Breakaway ship after a public naming competition.

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• 2011Construction begins at Meyer Werft

  The first steel for Norwegian Breakaway was cut at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, formally beginning construction.

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1. Norwegian Breakaway
2. Norwegian Breakaway official ship page