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| A rendered image of the Norwegian Breakaway, currently being constructed in Meyer Werft in Germany. // (c) 2011 Norwegian Cruise Line. |
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Kevin Sheehan announced that Norwegian Cruise Line’s new state-of-the-art 4,000 passenger ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will make New York City its year-round home port.
Beginning in May 2013, Norwegian Breakaway will replace Norwegian Pearl and embark on a minimum of 88 cruises from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal through March 31, 2015. The ship calls will bring an estimated 140,000 additional embarking passengers into New York City over two years, resulting in an estimated $35 million in additional direct spending. Mayor Bloomberg and Norwegian Cruise Line were joined at the announcement in the Manhattan Cruise Terminal by New York City economic development corporation president Seth W. Pinsky and NYC & Co. CEO George Fertitta.
Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise line to homeport year-round in New York City beginning in 2003. Since then, the company has been committed to bringing its newest and largest ships to New York, with two ships calling year-round in New York City since 2010. In 2013 alone, Norwegian Breakaway is expected to make 34 calls at Manhattan Cruise Terminal. In addition, Norwegian Gem will continue to call year-round at MCT, with an expected 47 calls, and Norwegian Pearl will make 15 calls in 2013 before being replaced. In total, Norwegian Cruise Line ships will bring approximately 285,000 embarking passengers into New York City in 2013, generating approximately $70 million in direct spending in the City - a $13.5 million increase due to the additional passengers on Norwegian Breakaway.
The cruise ship industry contributing to the record-breaking 48.7 million visitors who visited New York City in 2010. Overall, tourism is the fifth-largest industry in New York City - supporting nearly 320,000 jobs across the City’s five boroughs and the City presently remains on track to meet the mayor’s goal of attracting 50 million visitors annually by 2012.
According to a 2010 Economic Impact Study of cruise passenger and crew spending in New York City, passengers and crew spent an estimated $144.6 million in New York City in 2010, far exceeding the $93.8 million spent in 2009. Embarking passengers were the largest spenders at $117.9 million, followed by crew spending at $21.5 million and transit passenger spending at $5.2 million. Passengers with pre-cruise or post-cruise overnight stays had the highest average spending per passenger at $437 during a two-night stay. The study found that only 21 percent of cruise passengers resided in the tri-state area.
Cruise passenger arrivals in New York City were also significantly higher in 2010 compared to 2009. In 2009, there were 445,718 combined embarking and transit passengers and 181 ship calls. These numbers jumped to 582,979 combined embarking and transit passengers and 241 ship calls in 2010. NYCEDC currently projects this upward trend to continue in 2011, with an expected 264 ship calls and 645,000 passengers.
Currently under construction at Meyer Werft in Germany, Norwegian Breakaway will be 144,017 gross tons and is scheduled for delivery in April 2013. Following inaugural events, the ship will sail a series of 22 seven-day cruises from New York to Bermuda beginning May 12, 2013 through Oct 6, 2013. Departing on Sundays, the ship will spend three full days in Bermuda, along with three days at sea.
Norwegian Breakaway’s New York to Bermuda cruises are scheduled to go on sale to Latitudes members, Norwegian’s frequent guests, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011 and to the public on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Also, as part of its Partners First commitment, Norwegian will open Norwegian Breakaway’s sailings for group block bookings exclusively for travel partners on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011.
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