NCL planning a luxury Haven

While Royal Caribbean keep details of their new Project Sunshine cruise ships under wraps, Norwegian are pursuing a policy of releasing details of their own Project Breakaway bit by bit.
The latest announcement, made in New York at the launch of Condé Nast Traveller magazine’s first issue dedicated to cruising, is a re-branding of the luxury ship-within-a-ship complex containing the best – and most expensive – suites.
Out goes the Courtyard, and in comes The Haven.
On the newbuilds, to be constructed at the Meyer-Werft yard in Germany, the area will have 42 suites on decks 15 and 16, and contains a private restaurant, cocktail bar – all surrounding a courtyard (sorry, haven) with a swimming pool, sun deck, and two whirlpools (pictured above).
On most ships, the Owner’s Suite is the best accommodation available. On the as-yet-unnamed Breakaway ships, there are not only two Owner’s Suites but also two De Luxe Owner’s Suites, which can be combined into one unit sleeping a family of eight.
There will be 21 two-bedroomed family villas and 17 penthouses grouped together and separated from the rest of the 4,000 passengers, as well as eight additional penthouses at the front and 10 at the stern.
Passengers occupying The Haven enjoy the services of a concierge and butlers, and are given direct access to the ships’ spas.
The Courtyard area which fills the ugly bulge above the bridge of last year’s new ship, Norwegian Epic is to be re-named The Haven, as are the similar sections on board the smaller Gem, Jade, Jewel and Pearl which have their own pools and sundeck, but not a restaurant or bar.
More details of the two Breakaway ships will be released as the months go by until their launch in 2013 and 2014. Their names are to be chosen by readers of The CruiseLog in a contest open only to residents of the USA and Canada.
Norwegian has set up dedicated websites with more details of Project Breakaway in general, and The Haven in particular.