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New Orleans’ largest cruise ship ever sets sail for the western Caribbean

It has five water slides and a frigid ‘ice bar,’ where even the glassware is frozen.

By Missy Wilkinson
Photos courtesy Brian Poole, public relations specialist at Norwegian Cruise Line

So far, 2018 has seen major developments for the Port of New Orleans. The Disney Cruise Line announced its Wonder ship will sail from the Erato Street Cruise Terminal in 2020, and Royal Caribbean cruises return next month. Yesterday marked another first: the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway became the largest cruise ship ever to sail from New Orleans.

“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,” stated Port of New Orleans president and CEO Brandy D. Christian in a press release.

The Breakaway is 1,068.3 feet long. To put that into perspective, it’s three times the size of the Titanic and 22.3 feet longer than the Chrysler Building is tall.

Built in 2013 and refurbished in 2018, the Breakaway set sail from New Orleans for the first time ever at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, November 11. It’s currently ferrying 3,963 guests and 1,657 crew members on a weeklong cruise through the western Caribbean.

The ship features five water slides, a ropes course, three Broadway shows, including Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor, 24 dining venues, and 21 bars and lounges, including an ice bar where the ambient temperature hovers at 17 degrees Fahrenheit. Everything from the glasses to the bar is made of ice, and the admission cost includes a parka rental.

There are 2,014 staterooms, which range from 932-square-foot suites to 99-square-foot studios designed for solo travelers. Norwegian pioneered the solo cruise concept in 2010, when it introduced single-occupancy cabins. The snug interior units include access to a shared lounge area and hosted activities to promote mingling.

The ship will offer seven, 10, and 11 day cruises through April 2019. Ports of call include Ochas Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Belize City and Norwegian-owned resort island Harvest Caye, both in Belize. Prior to arriving in New Orleans, the Breakaway sailed to the western Caribbean from New York City.