Say hello to Norwegian Breakaway

There’s some suitably stirring music to accompany these impressive videos showing Norwegian Breakaway emerging into the open air for the first time today.
The 146,600-ton ship is the largest passenger vessel ever built in Germany and was towed gently out of the construction shed at the Meyer-Werft yard this morning.
There’s a few more weeks of fitting out to be completed before Breakaway makes the tricky 36 km conveyance down the River Ems to the North Sea.
Already in place and prominently visible from the shore are the ship’s extensive water slides. Less apparent are the Waterfront complex of bars and restaurants along Deck 8 and the entertainment facilities which include a theatre production of West End musical Rock of Ages.
Shame it’s not possible to say the ship – with its distinctive hull art designed by pop artist Peter Max to reflect its home port of New York – emerged into the sunlight but it looks like the weather in Papenburg was rather grey.
And if the ship itself is huge – 324 m long annd almost 40 m wide – just try to imagine the size of that massive construction shed. It’s 504m long, 125 m wide and 75m high. Inside, sister ship Norwegian Getaway is already under construction, ready for a launch next year.
Thanks to Inselvideo for getting up early to record the event.