Macaroni Kid has a tradition of selecting one of our hundreds of local Publishers to be the “Publisher of the Year” and the prize is always a fabulous trip! For 2016, the winner is Laurie Corbett, Publisher of Macaroni Kid South Shore Boston, and the prize is an amazing cruise sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Lines. We’ve sailed on two of the Norwegian ships, the Norwegian Breakaway, and the Norwegian Escape, and we gave Laurie the choice for her trip. Which one will she choose? Here’s the scoop on both ships, and you can read our thoughts on the Norwegian Breakaway and the Norwegian Escape via the links.
Designed as New York’s ship, Norwegian Breakaway brings the best of NYC to sea from her year-round homeport in Manhattan, offering the high-caliber dining and entertainment options that New York is known for worldwide. The ship’s groundbreaking design includes an open-air boardwalk, The Waterfront, and 678 Ocean Place; a wide range of indoor and outdoor venues on three dynamic decks that will create a whole new complex at sea that enhances guests’ connection with the ocean. Norwegian Breakaway’s entertainment includes three Broadway shows: five-time Tony nominated ROCK OF AGES; the dance sensation BURN THE FLOOR; and CIRQUE DREAMS & DINNER JUNGLE FANTASY. The famed comedy troupe The Second City and Howl at the Moon dueling pianos also perform on the vessel, bringing laughs and fun in Headliner’s Comedy Club.
The ship features a total of 29 dining options on board and an Ice Bar, which is kept at 17 degrees Fahrenheit and features New York City-inspired specialty cocktails, as well as ice sculptures of the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty to pay homage to New York City.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tisocGNaeWo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tisocGNaeWo
The top decks of Norwegian Breakaway feature the first Aqua Park at sea with five full-size water slides, including twin Free Fall slides, the first ever at sea, and a three-story sports complex that includes the largest ropes course at sea, a nine-hole miniature golf course, basketball court, rock climbing wall and more.
The ship also offers a rich mix of stateroom options including the exclusive The Haven™ by Norwegian, comprised of 42 suites at the top of the ship and 22 additional suites located throughout the ship; the innovative Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers; Oceanview staterooms, Balcony and Mini-Suites; along with Spa Balcony, Mini-Suites and Suites in close proximity to the spa.
Norwegian Breakaway sails seven-day cruises each Sunday from Manhattan cruising to Bermuda in the summers for three days of sun, sand and surf, and to the Bahamas and Florida in the winter. For more information on Norwegian Breakaway, please visit www.ncl.com.
The newest and largest ship in Norwegian’s fleet of 14 vessels, Norwegian Escape, sails seven-day Eastern Caribbean sailings every Saturday from Miami year-round, bringing guests the best that this region has to offer with calls in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. Norwegian Escape features an elevated design that makes for a decidedly upscale experience. Quality finishes, curated artwork and the most luxurious The Haven by Norwegian™ exclusive ship–within-a-ship suite complex are just a few of the standout features that put Norwegian Escape in a class of her own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0anBb2OoVlQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0anBb2OoVlQ
Norwegian Escape’s Haven is the largest in the fleet and the most luxurious. At the heart of the private enclave on the top of the ship lies a three-story covered courtyard. An expanded forward sundeck with a cantilevered whirlpool, along with a new outdoor dining space in the Haven’s private restaurant, makes Norwegian Escape’s Haven the ultimate small ship experience, while still providing the freedom to enjoy large ship dining, entertainment and amenities.
Norwegian Escape’s dining options offer guests a mix of complimentary selections, signature favorites and new premium specialty outlets. Showcasing all-new upgraded menus across all restaurants, the ship’s 11 complimentary dining offerings and signature specialty restaurants Le Bistro, Cagney’s and La Cucina rival those of luxury lines, with menu highlights including Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb, Fresh Maine Lobsters and Steak au Poivre with cognac sauce. Two new specialty restaurants from James Beard Foundation's Award-Winning Iron Chef Jose Garces, include Bayamo (a Latin seafood specialty restaurant) and Pincho Tapas Bar. Also new onboard is the Food Republic, a sophisticated food hall developed by Miami-based The Pubbelly Restaurant Group. The combination of choice and quality in dining options onboard and her upmarket design sets Norwegian Escape apart in the contemporary cruise market.
Continuing with Norwegian’s commitment to excellence in entertainment, Norwegian Escape features a spectacular Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that headlines the Escape Theater -- After Midnight (the smash-hit musical that combines the big-band songs of Duke Ellington and the best dancing from Broadway), along with For The Record: The Brat Pack™ (a critically acclaimed Hollywood night that celebrates classic soundtracks of motion picture masters).
Nightlife onboard includes outposts of several popular land-based outlets, including the first-ever Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant and 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar at sea, a music venue and outdoor bar on The Waterfront that features live nightly performances. The District Brew House, a hip, urban craft beer hall featuring an exclusive partnership with Miami’s own Wynwood Brewing Company will serve up more than 24 draft beers while The Cellars, a Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar, features an array of immersive wine experiences focusing on tasting, education, and the enjoyment of wine. Norwegian Escape will also feature Miami’s oldest and most legendary bar, Tobacco Road.
Norwegian Escape’s recreation spaces are unrivaled, with the largest ropes course at sea leading a wide array of activities. This three-story multiplex of heart-pounding challenges, complete with two planks and five Sky Rails, zip tracks allow guests to soar through the air. On the top of the ship, guests will find a redesigned pool deck area that features an open area for sunbathing, a double-deck bar and two new large format LED screens. Norwegian Escape’s Aqua Park is the largest at sea and includes a new tandem Aqua Racer slide, complete with a clear acrylic section to further enhance the thrill of this adventure ride. Adding to the family fun, Norwegian Escape features an expanded Kids’ Aqua Park with an enclosed slide, rope climb fun zone and spray cannons for kids to splash and play in their own designated space. Along with an expanded Splash Academy youth center that includes dedicated play spaces for specific age groups, Norwegian Escape also offers the line’s first nursery for cruisers two and under.
In addition to family oceanview staterooms that accommodate up to five guests, Norwegian Escape’s accommodations include Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers, plus many options for families, multi-generational groups, spa enthusiasts and more.
Learn more about Norwegian Escape’s luxurious accommodations, as well as its distinctive dining, entertainment, shopping and leisure options, by visiting http://www.escape.ncl.com/.
So should Laurie and her family kick it New York Style on the Norwegian Breakaway? Or go big on the Norwegian Escape? Which do you think she’ll choose? Leave a comment below by April 30th and be entered to win a cool NCL Backpack! (rules)
