Norwegian Cruise Line announces newer and larger ship to homeport at Port of New Orleans in 2018
Norwegian Cruise Line announced today it will deploy the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Breakaway to the Port of New Orleans beginning November 2018. The 1,068-foot vessel will be the largest cruise ship in both length and passenger occupancy to ever sail from Port NOLA, and its arrival will nearly double Norwegian’s guest occupancy from New Orleans.
“The Port of New Orleans values our close partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line and appreciates the addition of the Norwegian Breakaway to the cruise schedule next year. The passengers who begin and end their Norwegian Breakaway cruise from our historical city will experience Port NOLA’s commitment to high level service and the Crescent City’s vibrant energy,” said Brandy D. Christian, Port of New Orleans President and CEO. “Our cruise business contributes significantly to the hospitality industry’s regional economic impact and we are pleased to welcome the largest ship we have ever accommodated.”
Norwegian Breakaway, which arrives Nov. 11, 2018, will accommodate nearly twice as many guests as the 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl, which will homeport at Port NOLA November 2017 through April 2018.
Norwegian Breakaway will sail seven-, 10- and 11-day seasonal cruises to the Caribbean, visiting ports of call including Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Roatan Bay Islands, Honduras; and Norwegian’s beautiful island destination, Harvest Caye, Belize.
“Norwegian Breakaway will be the largest and newest ship from Norwegian to sail from New Orleans, and we are thrilled to bring our signature Breakaway-class ship to this important homeport,” said Andy Stuart, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “We want to provide more opportunities for our guests across the country to explore beautiful destinations and enjoy all the spectacular features of our newest ships, along with the freedom and flexibility that only a Norwegian cruise can offer.”
In 2016, Port NOLA’s cruise terminals handled a record 1,070,685 passenger movements, breaking the one million passenger mark for the third consecutive year. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) ranks Port NOLA as the sixth-largest cruise port in the U.S. with two state-of-the-art cruise terminals located in the heart of the city near the historic French Quarter, family attractions, shopping, dining and hotels.
“We are so excited to welcome Norwegian Breakaway next year as we celebrate our 300th birthday,” commented Mark Romig, President and CEO of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, the city’s leisure travel promotion agency. “The introduction of this magnificent cruise ship to New Orleans will give discerning cruise enthusiasts another wonderful opportunity to experience a vacation on the seas as well as in New Orleans. We are especially appreciative of Norwegian Cruise Line’s investment in the Port of New Orleans and our city, and look forward to helping provide the passengers with memorable and exciting stories that will last a lifetime.”
