GOOD LORD!
NCL To Build 4,200 Passenger Cruise Ship
By John Konrad On October 17, 2012
Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that it has reached an agreement with MEYER WERFT GMBH of Germany to build a new cruise vessel, for delivery in October 2015, with the option for a second ship for delivery in spring 2017. The new ship, at 163,000 gross tons and approximately 4,200 passenger berths, will be larger than the Company’s Breakaway class ships currently under construction at MEYER WERFT and incorporate many of those vessels’ unique design elements and innovations.
Named “Breakaway Plus,” this new vessel will be the largest in Norwegian’s fleet.
The ship’s contract price is approximately euro 700 million and the Company has export credit financing in place which was arranged and underwritten by KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH of Germany.
“We are extending the excitement and anticipation with a new, larger edition Breakaway Plus class ship” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “This new order further solidifies our commitment to continued innovation in terms of the guest experience and will incorporate technical and environmental advances.”
MEYER WERFT, based in Papenburg, Germany, is currently building Norwegian’s two new 146,600 gross ton, 4,000-passenger Breakaway class vessels: Norwegian Breakaway, scheduled for delivery in late April 2013, and Norwegian Getaway, scheduled for delivery in mid-January 2014.
Prior to the Breakaway class ships, MEYER WERFT built Norwegian’s four Jewel-class ships; the Norwegian Gem delivered in 2007, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Jade delivered in 2006, and Norwegian Jewel delivered in 2005. This new vessel on order, along with the option for the second ship, will be the tenth and eleventh that the Company will build with MEYER WERFT.
“Our companies have a long history together and we appreciate Norwegian Cruise Line’s continued commitment to MEYER WERFT.” said Bernard Meyer, managing partner of MEYER WERFT.
Norwegian Breakaway’s entertainment will include three Broadway shows and the first Aqua Park at sea with five full-size water slides, including twin Free Fall slides. Also a first is a planned three-story sports complex that includes a large ropes course, a nine-hole miniature golf, a basketball court and rock climbing
We’ve seen that emergencies do happen on large cruiseships so honestly tell me now having something like 6000 persons aboard can a major emergency be managed effectively? 6000 is a higher POB that an aircraft carrier has and on a carrier “everyone” is an emergency responder and trained so function if needed. Here you have 4200 cattle to herd! These new cruiseships are just too damned BIG!