Norwegian Cruise Line on Thursday took supply of its largest ship to this point, the 164,600 gross ton Norwegian Escape.

The supply from German-shipbuilder Meyer Werft passed off throughout a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany following a constructing interval of simply 17 months.

Norwegian Escape is the primary ship within the firm’s new Breakaway Plus Class, the biggest and most superior vessels within the firm’s fleet to this point. Delivery a second vessel is anticipated for spring of 2017. In July 2014, NCL ordered two further Breakaway Plus ships with supply scheduled within the second quarter 2018 and the fourth quarter 2019.

“Norwegian Escape’s arrival marks a true evolution for our brand – we’ve capitalized on the best of our Breakaway Class ships and taken freedom and flexibility to the next level with this incredible new ship,” mentioned Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and chief working officer. “Once again, the team at MEYER WERFT, along with our new build and operations teams, and all of the ship’s officers and crew have done a remarkable job and we cannot wait to welcome guests on board this spectacular new vessel.”

“We are thrilled to deliver the first in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus class,” mentioned Bernard Meyer, managing associate with MEYER WERFT. “Norwegian Escape is the newest and most advanced cruise vessel on the seas and we are proud of the team that worked diligently to design and build her.”

The ship, the biggest in Norwegian’s fleet of 14 ships, will carry 4,200 company every week from Miami to Caribbean locations together with St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. Norwegian Escape’s signature hull paintings is designed by marine wildlife artist and champion of ocean conservation, Guy Harvey.

From Bremerhaven, the vessel will set sail for Hamburg for the beginning of her European inaugural festivities, adopted a two-night cease in Southampton earlier than making the crossing to her year-round homeport of Miami on October 29.

The ship shall be christened in Miami on November 9.

The first two ship’s within the Breakaway Plus class had been ordered for euro 1.4 billion, NCL has mentioned beforehand. The second two ships had been ordered for euro 1.6 billion mixed.

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