Two of the world’s largest cruise ships have arrived at their new homeport, Port Canaveral.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s massive Norwegian Epic with a capacity of 4,100 people joined another behemoth, the 5,400-passenger mega-cruise ship Oasis of the Seas over the weekend. Oasis had just started its first sailings from Port Canaveral. The ship arrived at the port a week earlier.
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Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line has recently announced that it will launch a massive new ship specifically designed for cruises to Alaska.
The announcement was made during a ceremony at the Port of Seattle’s Pier 66 only a few days ago. The Norwegian Bliss will be the first cruise ship to offer custom-designed features and amenities for “ultimate Alaska cruise experience.” The new 4,000-passenger Norwegian Bliss is the 3rd Breakaway Plus class ship. The vessel is currently being constructed at the MEYER WERFT shipyard in Germany. The ship is set to make its debut in June 2018 with sailings between Seattle and Alaska. Continue reading
Hermine is quickly gaining steam in the Gulf.
They call it ‘the storm that doesn’t want to go away’. At least two cruise lines have been forced to change itineraries because of Tropical Storm Hermine. Continue reading
The Norwegian Getaway will serve as a floating hotel for 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Getaway will take an extended break from its regular Caribbean schedule to serve as a floating hotel in Rio de Janeiro during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, according to a news release.
The Getaway will take 40 days off to head to Brazil. The cruise ship will spend more than two weeks, from August 4 – 22, berthed at the Pier Maua in Rio.
The company Landry & Kling, a decades-old travel agency, chartered the 4,000-passenger vessel on behalf of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee.
The ship will provide supplemental housing primarily for corporate sponsors, as well as members of the International Olympic Federation and the National Organizing Committees, the Rio Host Committee and other guests.
For Landry & Kling, the deal is the largest charter in the company’s history. They have been planning the deal since 2007.
Although this is the ship’s first Olympic appearance, this isn’t the first time the Norwegian Getaway has been hired for a high-profile sports event. Before the cruise ship officially entered service for Norwegian in 2014, it was temporarily renamed the “Bud Light Hotel” and docked at the New York Passenger Ship Terminal, during the week of Super Bowl XLVIII.
A couple was filmed while waving their arms on a Bahamian port as they watched the Norwegian Breakaway sails away with their children on board.
Youtube user Scott Thomas uploaded dramatic footage of the event showing vivid scenes of the parents racing to catch the ship as it set off and the mother got on her knees as the cruise ship’s passengers helplessly looked on. Continue reading