Norwegian Breakaway – 28 April – 29 April 2013

With the cruise being so short it was always going to be difficult to be able to give a proper review so instead I will just simply post the photos I took over the weekend here and let you have a look for yourself.

[pe2-image src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fg9ZxnNrUDQ/UX6cEdcXOxI/AAAAAAAADvs/Qiso27hUYHk/s144-o/%252520Norwegian%252520Breakaway%25252028-29%252520April%2525202013%252520%252528200%252529.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113759669148989399717/NorwegianBreakaway2829April2013#5872302564574706450" caption="Norwegian Breakaway - Southampton 29 April 2013" type="image" alt=" Norwegian Breakaway 28-29 April 2013 (200).jpg" ] [pe2-image src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wobbtBHFsdo/UX6cEQZLimI/AAAAAAAADv0/IlyAgNd2fpM/s144-o/%252520Norwegian%252520Breakaway%25252028-29%252520April%2525202013%252520%252528201%252529.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113759669148989399717/NorwegianBreakaway2829April2013#5872302561071696482" caption="Norwegian Breakaway - Southampton 29 April 2013" type="image" alt=" Norwegian Breakaway 28-29 April 2013 (201).jpg" ] [pe2-image src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-p7E-i1NKib4/UX6cEU5yB_I/AAAAAAAADvw/XV8XWGK54gA/s144-o/%252520Norwegian%252520Breakaway%25252028-29%252520April%2525202013%252520%252528202%252529.jpg" href="https://picasaweb.google.com/113759669148989399717/NorwegianBreakaway2829April2013#5872302562282178546" caption="Norwegian Breakaway - Southampton 29 April 2013" type="image" alt=" Norwegian Breakaway 28-29 April 2013 (202).jpg" ]

Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #3.1

Our whirlwind weekend is nearly over and we are just making the final approach into Southampton. We have been tracked for the last hour by a helicopter which is making a right racket. It will be a shame to get off but it has been a fantastic experience.

The approach to Southampton

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Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #2.5

Rotterdam Sailaway

With the muster all done we have set sail from Rotterdam. The locals have all turned out to wave goodbye and there balloons and streamers let off from the quay side. The tugs even sprayed water and it was quite a party atmosphere.
Off to grab a cocktail now!

The locals wave goodbye to the Norwegian Breakaway

The tug gets in on the act too

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Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #2.4

Very quickly on and are in the cabin. First impressions are thumbs up.

Cabin 14780

Cabin 14780

Cabin 14780

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Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #2.3

Rotterdam Cruise Terminal

Safely at the cruise terminal and there big queues to get on. Looks like everyone has the same idea. Hopefully we won't be hanging around too long.

Rotterdam Cruise Terminal with ship

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Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #2.2

Norwegian Breakaway in Rotterdam

After a couple of hours more sleep we can now see the ship in daylight across the river. She is still a bit too far away to be able to see the restaurant style prom deck which NCL have called the Waterfront. All this will happen properly later on today.
One little thing we spotted this morning is that she has yellow guide ropes holding her to the quay.

Norwegian Breakaway's Waterfront

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Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #2.1

Norwegian Breakaway Arrives in Rotterdam

At 6:00am the Norwegian Breakaway has arrived in Rotterdam on schedule. We have been able to lie in bed and watch her edge slowly into her mooring position.

Norwegian Breakaway Arrives in Rotterdam

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Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #1.3

Spido's Abel Tasman getting up close to the Rotterdam

We have just spent the last hour just sitting and watching everything that's happening on the river in front of our window. So many boats going up and down the river from the Spido's to the container boats, the water taxis, the river cruisers and a whole load more. Who needs TV!
The Rotterdam has just conducted its muster ready for sailing at 5:00pm. They started at 4:00 and have been out there at least 20 minutes.

Rotterdam doing their muster drill

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Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #1.2

Platform 5 Schiphol train station

Our Spido Port Tour Boat

After getting the non stop train to Rotterdam we took a taxi to the hotel to drop the case off. With 2 hours to kill we decided to take the Spido boat tour of the port which cost €10.75 each for a 75 minute narrated trip around the port. Thoroughly good value and only really spoilt by a chilly wind on the open decks. The tour took us past the SS Rotterdam which was our overnight stop on our previous visit. We also spotted the Splash Boat tour which was bobbing all over the place, very pleased we chose the Spido option.

Our hotel room has a river view and it is even better than I could have anticipated. Where else can you sit in front of the window and have a birds eye view of a cruise ship and terminal.
The room is lovely and clean and there is really big shower with 2 heads?
Looks like we had the best of the weather as it is now raining. We are just wondering what time the Rotterdam will be sailing tonight. A bit of trivia picked up today is that she is the 6th ship to bear that name.

We should get a fantastic view of the Norwegian Breakaway tomorrow morning when she comes in.

SS Rotterdam

Splash Boat Tour

Maritime Hotel Room 705 Panorama

HAL Rotterdam viewed from our hotel window

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Norwegian Breakaway Postcard #1.1

Stage one completed and we have arrived at Schiphol on time. A very smooth flight and we are just stopping off for a bite to eat before catching the train to Rotterdam.

Flybe Bombadier at Schiphol

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The Norwegian Breakaway is floated out.

Today, NCL's newest ship was floated out of the shed at the Meyer Werft ship yard in Germany. There are a couple significant things about today's float out,  firstly at 146,600-tonnes she is the largest cruise ship to ever be built in Germany and secondly she is the first to be floated out bow first.

[gallery link="file" ids="3115,3116,3117"]

Not long now until we do our one night cruise on her from Rotterdam.

 

Norwegian Breakaway’s hull art nears completion

The time is fast approaching when the Norwegian Breakaway will leave the shed at the Meyer-Werft shipyard in Papenburg. Final preparations to the hull art are nearly complete and she is starting to look like the artists renderings. Looking at the photo, I wonder how many will call her the "Peter Max"?

[caption id="attachment_3089" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Norwegian Breakaway’s hull art nears completion at the Meyer-Werft shipyard in Papenburg. Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line[/caption]

Norwegian Breakaway Hull Art Revealed

NCL have revealed what artist Peter Max has come up with for the hull art on the Norwegian Breakaway.

 

[caption id="attachment_2340" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Norwegian Breakaway Hull Art[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1942" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Norwegian Breakaway & Peter Max[/caption]

Announcing Norwegian Breakaway 28 April - 29 April 2013

In 2010 we cruised from Rotterdam to Southampton on the brand new Norwegian Epic for a one night relocation cruise and so when the opportunity to do something similar came up again how could we not do it. So today we booked our cabin on the the yet to be finished Norwegian Breakaway doing exactly the same route.

When it came to choosing a cabin I found the amount of different cabin grades a bit over the top and we debated on which would be the best for just one night. In the end we chose a mid-ship balcony (Cat BA) on deck 14, as this stateroom is mid-ship it means we will have easy access to all the  dining and activities on board.

• King-size bed (that can be separated into two twin beds) with pillow top mattress


• Chestnut leather headboard cushioned and tufted to make reading and sitting up in bed more comfortable


• Convenient lighted recess above the bed to hold books, magazines, tablet computers or electronic reading devices


• Sofa bed with additional storage


• Built-in 26-inch flat-screen television


• Built-in vanity area with shelving and lots of storage space


• Full-size closet that is easily accessible with sliding doors


• Recessed nook under television to hold cruise information, books and magazines


• LED lighting surrounds the perimeter of the ceiling to give the room warmth


• Energy efficient by utilizing key card access to control lighting in the room


• Mini-bar


• Bathrooms feature a contemporary, clean design, ensuring a generous and comfortable space


• Multiple rich-wood shelving areas to help reduce clutter and keep everything within easy reach


• Enclosed vanity underneath the sink that hides the trash bin, along with more storage


• Built-in sink generous in size with an easy to use faucet


• Private shower with a shaving bar for the ladies


• Accommodates up to 4


• 226 sq. ft.


• Located on Decks 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 & 14

Our journey will begin with a drive to Southampton Airport where we will fly to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, from there we will take the train to Rotterdam and overnight in the Maritime Hotel. This hotel is right across the river from the cruise terminal and we have booked a room with a river view. It will only be a 15 minute walk on the morning of the cruise over the 'Erasmusbridge' to get to the ship.