Norwegian· Breakaway Class
Norwegian Breakaway
Norwegian Breakaway was the ship that changed NCL's direction when she launched in 2013 at 145,655 GT. As the first Breakaway-class vessel, she introduced The Waterfront boardwalk concept and Freestyle Cruising to a larger platform, carrying 3,963 guests.
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Ship specs
- Cruise line: Norwegian
- Ship class: Breakaway
- Year launched: 2013
- Gross tonnage: 145,655 GT
- Length: 1,068 ft
- Passengers (double occupancy): 3,963
About Norwegian Breakaway
Norwegian Breakaway was the ship that changed NCL's direction when she launched in 2013 at 145,655 GT. As the first Breakaway-class vessel, she introduced The Waterfront boardwalk concept and Freestyle Cruising to a larger platform, carrying 3,963 guests. She is smaller and older than the Plus-class ships, but she has been well maintained and offers solid value.
Best for: Budget-conscious cruisers and first-timers who want a classic NCL experience out of the New York area without paying new-ship premiums.
Key features and highlights
- ▸The Waterfront boardwalk debuted on this ship, offering open-air dining and ocean views that became an NCL signature.
- ▸Burn the Floor is the current headline show, a high-energy ballroom and Latin dance spectacular that has played Broadway and London's West End.
- ▸The Aqua Park features Free Fall waterslides, and the Sports Complex includes The Plank, a beam extending 8 feet over the side of the ship.
- ▸Peter Max designed the hull artwork, giving the ship one of the most recognizable exteriors in the fleet.
- ▸Ocean Blue by celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian offers upscale seafood dining.
What to know before you book
Cabin tips
Standard balcony staterooms are about 172 square feet with a 30-square-foot balcony. Avoid cabins on the front of Deck 5, as they sit directly below the theater and its storage area, which can be noisy.
Dining
Breakaway has three main dining rooms (Taste, Savor, The Manhattan Room) plus specialty venues including Cagney's Steakhouse, Le Bistro (French), La Cucina (Italian), Teppanyaki, and Ocean Blue. O'Sheehan's Bar and Grill and Shanghai's Noodle Bar are solid complimentary options.
Entertainment
Burn the Floor is the current headliner. The Spiegel Tent hosts Cirque Dreams and Dinner Jungle Fantasy with acrobatics during a multi-course meal, and Howl at the Moon offers dueling piano fun.
Cabin sizes by category
Interior
| Subcategory | Cabin size | Balcony | Max guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside | 129 sq ft | No balcony | Not published |
Oceanview
| Subcategory | Cabin size | Balcony | Max guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oceanview | 161 sq ft | No balcony | Not published |
Balcony
| Subcategory | Cabin size | Balcony | Max guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balcony, Large Balcony, Mini Suite | 172-204 sq ft | 30 sq ft | Not published |
Suite
| Subcategory | Cabin size | Balcony | Max guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spa Suite, The Haven Courtyard Penthouse, The Haven Owner's Suite, The Haven 2-Bedroom Family Villa | 280-742 sq ft | 30-190 sq ft | Not published |
Cabin sizes come from third-party deck plans. Sizes may vary by specific stateroom number. Always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Frequently asked questions
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More on Norwegian
Other Norwegian ships
Travel data researcher and publisher
Caden Sorenson runs Travel Vient, an independent travel research site built on a verified database of airline baggage rules, airport connection times, cruise line policies, and eSIM plans. He built the verification pipeline behind it: each record is read from the company or government page that publishes it (connection times: OAG data via ExpertFlyer), stored with that source link and the sentence it came from, and re-checked on a schedule. He is a senior staff engineer with 15+ years building software, a Computer Science graduate of Utah State University, and based in Logan, Utah.
Figures link to the source they were read from and show the date last checked; some cite a travel publication or aggregator rather than the company.
Sources & verification
- Year launched: https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/942562-CMI-Ship-Fact-Flyer-Breakaway.pdf
- Length: https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/942562-CMI-Ship-Fact-Flyer-Breakaway.pdf
- Gross tonnage: https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/942562-CMI-Ship-Fact-Flyer-Breakaway.pdf
- Cabin dimensions: https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/Norwegian-Breakaway (third-party)
- Passengers (double occupancy): https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/942562-CMI-Ship-Fact-Flyer-Breakaway.pdf
Verified Sep 2026. Ship specs and cabin sizes can change with refurbishments and reconfiguration. Confirm with the cruise line before booking.
If a figure looks wrong, email hello@vient.org, see how we handle corrections, or browse past fixes in our public changelog.