NCL Shares Details on Project Breakaway

Project Breakaway” is the name given to the new build of the two 4,000-passenger NCL ships. According to Kevin Sheehan, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, the name “Breakaway” was taken from the vacation home his family would visit in order to escape the pressures of work, school…everyday life.  It also implies how NCL has broken away from the company they once were.


So, what do we know about “Project Breakaway?”  Mr. Sheehan said the new ships would take the best of the best from the line’s ship builds over the past 10 years, culminating with the Norwegian Epic that debuted a year ago.  He good-naturedly joked, “And now for the big news.  These ships will have fully enclosed bathrooms,” (referring to the controversial bathrooms on the Epic).

The same UK firm that designed the Epic’s award winning studio cabins will design the staterooms of the new ships. “Modern boutique hotel meets the sea,” said Mr. Sheehan in describing the new cabins. He continued by saying they would be “warm and inviting and have a very contemporary feel with clean modern lines.”

The reveal of the standard balcony cabins and mini-suites showed a product in which form meets function, aimed at maximizing space throughout. The design included a king-size bed (which can be separated) with a padded leather headboard, above that a recessed storage area for books or magazines, sofa bed with drawers below, built in flat screen TV that can tilt to face the bed or sofa and a roomy desk/vanity area with lots of storage.

The enclosed bathroom is lovely with glass-enclosed shower, generous size sink with easy to use faucet and again, lots of storage.  The mini-suite bathroom was spacious with double vanities, glass tile and a spa shower with rain head, jets and hand-held sprayer.

“Project Breakaway” ships will debut April of 2013 and April of 2014, respectively. Embarkation port and itinerary were not yet announced, although more details will be released next month."