NY Super Bowl 48 charter changes Norwegian Getaway maiden plans

Norwegian Getaway has been chartered to provide accommodation for Super Bowl 48, disrupting the travel plans of thousands of passengers.
The ship, currently under construction in Germany, is to be based in Miami but it will now head for New York next January.
An 11-night Transatlantic crossing from Rotterdam has been changed to a 10-night sailing from Southampton. Instead of setting out from Miami for its official maiden voyage on February 1 it will be tied up at Manhattan Piers from January 29 to February 3.
The Super Bowl takes place at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium – home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets – on February 2.
Like sister ship Norwegian Breakaway, which is based in New York and was christened in the city by the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes in May, Getaway will carry 4,000 passengers.
It has some significant design changes – the hull art, designed by Lebo Le Batard has  Miami theme and where Breakaway has a sliding glass roof over its exclusive Haven courtyard and pool, Getaway’s will be open to the skies.
Both ships will be together in the Hudson River on January 31 and February 2, making for some spectacular photo-opportunities.
Passengers who have booked places on the Transatlantic crossing were told today their reservations will automatically be transferred to the new itinerary at a slightly reduced fare an with $100 per cabin on-board credit ($200 for suites).
A letter from Crane Gladding, senior vice president of passenger services, adds: “If the new departure is not convenient for your vacation, you also have the option to move your reservation to any available sailing in our fleet from now until December 31, 2014.”
The letter does not, however, make reference to alternative post-cruise hotel accommodation or flights for those who had been expecting to sail to a warm January Florida rather than New York in mid-winter.
Similar letters are understood to have been sent to passengers booked on the Miami maiden, which has now been moved to February 8.
Another Norwegian ship, the 2,500-passenger Norwegian Jade, has been chartered to provide accommodation in February for the 2014 Winter Olympics, taking place in the Russian Black Sea port of Sochi.