New Norwegian Cruise Ship To Call PortMiami Home

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- PortMiami will be the year-round home port to a brand new state-of-the-art 4,000 passenger cruise ship currently under construction by Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Lines. It's called the Norwegian Getaway.

NCL's Chief Executive Officer Kevin Sheehan, along with Miami-Dade County officials, made the announcement Tuesday morning on board the Norwegian Spirit.

Norwegian Getaway, which will be the largest ship ever to home port year-round in Miami, will embark on weekly cruises beginning in the spring of 2014.

"PortMiami is pleased to be the home of the most modern and innovative ships on the seas today. Norwegian Getaway will be a great addition to our fleet," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. "We are anxious to welcome Norwegian Getaway to the Cruise Capital of the World."

Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise brand to sail from Miami.

"Miami has been the home of this Company since our beginning in 1966. Therefore, we are so excited to bring one of our two new Breakaway-class ships here to Miami to homeport year-round," said NCL CEO Kevin Sheehan.

PortMiami Director Bill Johnson said, "Norwegian vessels will generate more than one million passenger moves annually through the Port once Norwegian Getaway arrives, contributing an estimated $500,000,000 each year to Florida's economy. Norwegian Getaway alone is expected to generate 450,000 passenger moves each year."

The Norwegian Getaway is being built at Meyer Werft in Germany. Norwegian will announce the ship's inaugural itineraries and on-sale dates later this year. Norwegian Getaway's sister ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will begin sailing from her year-round home port of New York City in May 2013.