Meyer Werft cuts first steel for Norwegian Escape

Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan (left) and Bernard Meyer, managing partner of Meyer Werft

MARCH 21, 2014 — The first steel was cut at Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany yesterday for the construction of Norwegian Escape, the first of two new Breakaway Plus Class cruise ships for Norwegian Cruise Line, set for delivery in fall of 2015.

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.

Norwegian Cruise Line and shipbuilding executives watched as the first plate of steel was cut by a plasma torch in the shipyard’s state of the art facility. This plate will become part of Block 46.

“Norwegian Escape will be the largest ship in our fleet and will continue our legacy of innovation,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s chief executive officer. “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 of 2015.”

“Norwegian Escape will be tenth 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 onboard,” said Bernard Meyer, managing partner of Meyer Werft.

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 seven-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary starting November 14, 2015; 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.

Norwegian Escape’s hull artwork has been designed by Guy Harvey