Caribbean Cruise on the Norwegian Getaway

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

 

Written by: Orad Eldar Bar

 

This article describes a cruise on the Norwegian Getaway to the Caribbean, including the ship's attractions, restaurants, entertainment, and more.

 

♦ Article about a cruise on a different itinerary on this ship: Trans-Atlantic family cruise on the Norwegian Getaway from England to New York

 

 

General background on Norwegian Cruise Line - NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line is undoubtedly one of the most successful cruise lines for families. It is a dynamic company with a fleet of new and renewing ships, most of which include attractive and unique facilities. Norwegian began its journey in 1966 with an idea that was revolutionary at the time: regular cruises to the Caribbean from the Port of Miami. The company offered good food and friendly service at an attractive price, a winning combination for people seeking entertainment and activity. The company was founded by the Norwegian Kloster and his Israeli partner Ted Arison, who later left and founded Carnival. The company's first ship, then called "Norwegian Caribbean Line," was a steamship of only 830 GRT that sailed to the Bahamas. In 1979, the company acquired the ship SS Norway, which was 70,000 GRT and was the largest passenger ship in the world at the time. The company developed many destinations in the Caribbean such as Ocho Rios in Jamaica and was the first company to purchase a "private island" in the Bahamas. A lot of water has passed since then in the Caribbean... Today the company has many ships in volumes between 77,000 and 168,000 GRT, and in recent years, the company launches a new ship every year. The older ships were also renovated by the company. In fact, all the company's ships were renovated at the earliest in 2013. In Norwegian, only one ship was built before 2000 (built in 1999) and it too was renovated (in 2013). This is why Norwegian is considered the company with the "youngest" fleet. It was the first company that started (back in 2001) with the "FREESTYLE CRUISING" method, where you can choose when and with whom to eat and completely abolished the traditional method where everyone has a fixed table and fixed time for a meal. The company is also known for the wide variety of alternative restaurants it offers passengers in addition to the standard dining rooms. In the state-of-the-art ships, there are more than 10 different restaurants in various styles on each ship (some involve an extra charge). Today many companies are adopting, at least partially, the Freestyle method, given its great success. Those who are not enthusiastic about formal meals, where everyone dresses in their finest clothes and all the men wear evening suits and tuxedos, will be happy to know that Norwegian is much more flexible on the subject and less formal.

The company has many sports activities. Every ship currently has a climbing wall. NCL offers a program for learning to dive called Dive-In Snorkeling on its cruises in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Hawaii. There are basketball courts, volleyball, jogging tracks, bowling, and additional sports facilities on the ship. Many of the ships have climbing walls, a ropes park, and a water park. The company has a rich program of activities for children and youth, as well as a rich variety of shows and social games for adults, with an emphasis on competitive games. If you are competitive and active - this is the company for you! The company organizes many activities and parties around the pool. On the new ships, the variety of shows in the evening is very impressive. Not only independent productions in Broadway and Las Vegas style, as in most companies, but also successful productions brought from Broadway itself such as: "Tony n' Tina's Wedding," the "Blue Man Group" show, dinner with a circus show, "Comedy Club," and jazz clubs. Many honeymoon couples, families, and many for whom this is their first cruise, choose to sail with this company. The company's new ships have many rooms with a connecting door, which makes it attractive for families. The company began its journey in cruises to the Caribbean and now offers a large variety of itineraries in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, South America, Alaska, and Bermuda, in addition to a wide range of Caribbean itineraries. Norwegian is the only company that offers cruise itineraries between the Hawaiian Islands in all months of the year on the ship "Pride of America," which is the company's first ship sailing under an American flag with an American crew. On the rest of the company's ships, the officers are usually Norwegian, but the crew, as in all companies, is from all over the world. Each of the ships has a giant colorful painting on the side from the bow to the middle of the ship that distinguishes it from the others. (For example: Norwegian Sun has a sun painting, Pride of America has a US flag painting, etc.). 

In 2010, Norwegian Cruise Line NCL announced a new line of luxury cruise ships called the Breakaway class. The line currently includes three identical ships, each of which is the eighth largest in the world. One of the ships is the Norwegian Breakaway - inaugurated in May 2013 and it is intended for about 4,000 passengers and over 1,600 employees and crew members. The ship's main home port is currently in New York, and you won't be able to miss the "Big Apple" atmosphere in the paintings on the front of the ship, in the art details, in the public spaces, and even in the restaurant names. It is of course recommended to combine a visit and tours in New York City before or after the cruise.

The ship Norwegian Getaway was inaugurated in January 2014 and it is intended for 3,969 passengers and 1,640 employees and crew members.

Additionally, Norwegian launched even larger ships: the ship Norwegian Escape (started activity in October 2015).

In the spring of 2018, Norwegian Bliss was launched, which is an upgrade of the Breakaway class with many additional surprises. In 2019, a twin sister ship to Bliss was launched named Encore.

Another very nice ship for families is the Norwegian Epic, which sails in the summer months in the Mediterranean from Barcelona and Rome to the Western Mediterranean.

Cruise Itineraries

Cruises from New York:

Sailing from New York has two prominent advantages: the first is that New York is the closest US destination to Israel and the flight to it is shorter and cheaper compared to flights to Florida or the Western US. The second advantage is that departing from the Port of New York (and of course returning to this port at the end of the cruise) is an impressive scenic experience: sailing from the port in the Hudson River along all of Manhattan both north and south, passing near the Statue of Liberty and going under an impressive bridge that almost touches the ship's masts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norwegian offers a selection of cruises from New York both to Bermuda and the Caribbean Islands:

♦  Cruises to Bermuda:

To Bermuda, the cruise is seven nights long, during which the ship anchors in Bermuda for three nights. This is the ship's only port, and passengers get to enjoy three full days on the island of dreams, can spend the day on the beaches and the evening in the many restaurants and bars. About Bermuda you can read in my article: Trip to Bermuda Island - An Island of Magic and Mystery.

♦  Booking tours and excursions in Bermuda adapted for cruise ship passengers (except for the catamaran cruise) from Viator:

♦ Guided Bicycle Tour and Swimming at the Beach - Railway Trail Bike and Beach Tour in Bermuda Starts and returns from the cruise port.

 

One of the beaches in Bermuda: 

 

View over Bermuda:

 

♦  Cruises to the Caribbean

The second route from New York reaches the Caribbean Islands and is usually 10-12 nights.

Cruises in Europe for the Norwegian Breakaway:

In 2018, the Breakaway sailed "close to home" in Europe on a wonderful itinerary to the Baltic Sea.

 

 

Description of the Norwegian Getaway and its attractions

As mentioned, the ship was inaugurated in January 2014 and it is intended for 3,969 passengers and 1,640 employees and crew members. The ship's home port is in Miami, and as is fitting, the ship was designed by local interior designers and architects. They wanted to bring the urban landscape of Miami to the ship - and succeeded. Miami - in all its shades and residents - is reflected in the careful design, the art details, the public spaces, the living rooms, and the overall atmosphere. Usually, the ship offers a 7-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean Islands.

 

 

Entertainment on the ship

The Norwegian Getaway offers appropriate entertainment for everyone and at every age. The highlight is the show called "Illusionarium," which is a spectacular show of magicians, presenters, and mentalists who present supernatural phenomena of magic and telepathy. The show takes place in a special round hall built for it, while a 3-course dinner is also served concurrently with the show. The show is at an extra charge, but the experience is definitely recommended. In addition to the magic show, you will also find other shows on the ship such as "Legally Blonde: The Musical," based on the successful movie, "Burn the Floor" - a particularly well-invested dance show, "Wine Lovers" - a unique musical that combines wine tasting and a comedy show (at an extra charge), a fireworks show, a stand-up show, performances by jazz ensembles, and more. On the ship you will also find a room called the GRAMMY® Experience at sea, displaying historical and interesting items from the music awards ceremony. These items were first displayed at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and were brought to the ship specifically as part of a collaboration between the ship and the Grammy institution.

In the evening, and almost every evening, a singer who won the ceremony or was nominated for one of the awards performs in the Grammy room. This is a jazz and R&B show recommended for music lovers.

The children, like the adults, are not neglected at all on the ship... Thus, you will find daily well-invested activities for children of all ages and for teenagers: circus classes, singing and dancing competitions, pajama parties, games and competitions with Nickelodeon channel stars, and more. The Entourage club designed for ages 13-17 operates from morning until evening and includes a variety of different activities such as a fashion show, creative workshops, dance parties, themed parties, pool parties, and more.

The younger children, aged 3-12, will surely enjoy what is offered to them at Splash Academy, where you will find sports activities, movie and pizza nights, "treasure hunt" games, and more.

Sports and extreme on the ship

Have you heard about a water park on a ship already? The Norwegian Getaway proves it is possible. The water park located on the 15th floor of the ship includes five water slides for all ages and among them even free-fall slides and two "whirlpool" slides built in a spiral shape. On the ship they thought of everything and children will also be able to enjoy a water park of their own, including smaller slides, shallow pools, and a colorful experiential environment entirely dedicated to "SpongeBob" and his friends. Want more? Sports and extreme activities on the ship really do not end here. An especially experiential challenge you will find in the largest ropes park on a ship! In the ropes park, you will pass through 40 different points, beams, ropes, and a zipline, but the real challenge is Walk The Plank - walking on a thin beam, 18 stories above sea level... do you think you are capable? Additional sports activities you will find at the climbing wall, the well-invested mini-golf course, soccer and basketball courts, an equipped gym, and more.

After all this sport, you also need to rest - don't you? Real and relaxing rest you will find in the spa rooms on the ship. In the spa you will find a Jacuzzi, sauna, salt rooms, treatment rooms offering various massages, and a beauty and grooming complex including a hair salon, manicure, pedicure, and more.

Atmosphere and culinary

Gambling and casino enthusiasts will surely enjoy trying their luck at one of the largest casino structures at sea. In the casino you will find blackjack tables, poker, slot machines, and more. The casino on the ship was chosen as the best casino among the different casinos on cruise ships by Casino Player magazine and Porthole magazine.

So there is entertainment, sports, a casino - but we haven't eaten yet, haven't drunk yet. On the ship there are 6 different dining areas without payment, 8 restaurants for a fee, 4 cafes and snack bars for light snacks, and no less than 12 bars. The main dining rooms are called Savor and Taste, and in them breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served. Besides the restaurants, you will also find buffet-style cafeterias, where food in all styles is served: salads, pizzas, meats, pastas, seafood, and fish, and of course - many desserts.

The paid restaurants offer a variety of flavors and styles - a Brazilian meat restaurant (in an "all you can eat" style, recommended!), a Japanese restaurant, French, Italian, sushi bar, American steakhouse, and more. One of the recommended (but also expensive) restaurants is Ocean Blue by Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. In the restaurant, you will find a variety of fish and seafood and you can also dine on the promenade on the ship and overlook the sea and the sailing.

Indeed - there is much to do, see, and taste on the ship, and without even noticing, the sailing days will come to an end... and we haven't even talked about the many well-invested parties that the entertainment staff organizes, the nice activities in public spaces (trivia, couple games, quizzes, and various entertainment shows).

 

 Ports on the cruise route

Besides the wonderful time you will spend on the ship, do not forget the beautiful ports you will reach. The Caribbean ports offer the perfect vacation - quiet sea, white sand, a tasty cocktail, warm sun, and you are all set. The ship sailed to the ports of St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and the Bahamas. Afterward, a change was made in the ship's destinations toward the Western Islands of the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, Mexico.

In summary, a cruise on the Norwegian Getaway will give you the perfect vacation - beautiful beaches, relaxing vacation, diverse activities, fun extreme, good food, and everything needed to enjoy the holiday.

 

In the spring of 2018, as mentioned, the ship Norwegian Bliss was launched, which is an upgrade of the Breakaway class with a wealth of surprises, innovations, and changes. Details on the Bliss and on crossing the Panama Canal with this ship can be read in the article: Cruise from Miami to Los Angeles through the Panama Canal on the Norwegian Bliss

 

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