The May 8 christening of Norwegian Cruise Line’s long-awaited Norwegian Breakaway underlined the 4,028-passenger ship’s dedication to New York. As the largest ship ever to be homeported in New York City year-round, Breakaway was presented as a seagoing piece of the Big Apple, from her godmothers (the Rockettes) to her hull art by New York icon Peter Max.
Christening ceremonies, emceed by Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s “Cake Boss,” included Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, who blessed the ship, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Norwegian CEO Kevin Sheehan prides himself on being a New Yorker, and Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, whose Ocean Blue is on the ship, is executive chef of a number of restaurants in New York City. New Yorker Slam Allen’s blues and soul music brought standing-room crowds to the Fat Cats Jazz & Blues Club onboard, while shows from “Rock of Ages” extended Broadway’s reach.
Breakaway is sailing to Bermuda and will switch to the Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries this fall, with all trips departing out of NYC.
