NCL just announced that their first Breakaway-plus vessel, Norwegian Escape, will feature the largest ropes course at sea. There will be over-water planks, zip lines and a three story ropes maze that guests can climb through. The aquapark will feature the Aqua Racer slide, a tandem waterslide. The entire area will be branded in Nickelodean themes, including the Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Rooftop 9 miniature golf course.
Also slipped in to the press release was the announcement that she will be sailing year round from Miami when she launches in November 2015.
Full Press Release:
Norwegian Cruise Line’s largest ship ever, Norwegian
Escape, will offer the most exhilarating and action-packed activities for families and thrill
seekers alike when she sets sail from her homeport of Miami in November 2015. The
ship will feature the largest ropes course at sea, a three-story multiplex of heartpounding
challenges complete with two planks and five Sky Rails, zip tracks that allow
guests to soar through the air. Norwegian Escape’s Aqua Park will be the largest at sea
and includes a new Aqua Racer slide, while the expansive sports complex boasts a
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle miniature golf course. Adding to the family fun, Norwegian
Escape will also feature an expanded Kids’ Aqua Park; entertainment from Nickelodeon,
the number-one entertainment brand for kids; along with the line’s first dedicated nursery
for young cruisers two and under.
“Building on the tremendous success of our Breakaway-class ships, we are
delivering bigger thrills and more action-packed activities for our largest ship to date,”
said Drew Madsen, president and chief operating officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.
“From the extraordinary Sky Rails on the expanded Ropes Course to the exciting Aqua
Racer slide, guests sailing on Norwegian Escape will have the family adventure of a
lifetime. We can’t wait for our guests to experience these incredible new activities.”
Sports Complex and Aqua Park
The Ropes Course soars to new heights on Norwegian Escape and dares guests of all
ages to conquer 99 different elements. The three-story elevated ropes course will span the
entire width of the ship with features on both the port and starboard sides. The course tests
the mettle of guests with two Planks, six-inch wide beams that extend eight feet from the side
of the ship. The course’s exhilarating Sky Rails will put the wind in guests’ hair and smile on
their faces as they glide through the air on zip tracks, with the longest one bringing guests out
over the side of the ship, offering a bird’s eye view of Norwegian Escape that is a must-see.
There are three Sky Rails on the main Ropes Course and two on the Kids’ Ropes Course,
which offers kid-size fun,
challenges and feats.
The Aqua Park on
Norwegian Escape will be the
largest at sea and feature four
multi-story water slides, a dedicated
Kids’ Aqua Park, two pools and four
hot tubs. All-new on Norwegian
Escape is the Aqua Racer slide, the newest tandem waterslide at sea where competitors can
race side-by-side on tubes as they twist and turn to the finish line. Back by popular demand,
Norwegian Escape will also feature the Free Fall, which first debuted on Norwegian
Breakaway. These side-by-side slides offer adventurous guests the chance to literally free fall,
as the floor drops from underneath, propelling them into a thrilling loop. For those who prefer a
more relaxing ride, there is a family-friendly open-flume body slide.
Norwegian Escape will also bring the
Kid’s Aqua Park to a new level, with
enhanced attractions, an enclosed tube slide
and a two-story climbing structure for kids to
explore. This watery wonderland offers an
incredible array of new features for kids Norwegian Escape Family & Recreation Spaces/3
including a multitude of interactive wet elements such as water cannons and elevated
buckets that deliver surprise drenchings. Cranks and spray features, along with a multistory
tower, a rope bridge and lookout platform, equal endless fun for children and are
sure to leave the littlest guests delighted.
Both kids and kids-at-heart can test their skills on the new nine-hole, Nickelodeon
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Rooftop 9, miniature golf course. Inspired by the
Nickelodeon hit-animated
television series, this first-ofits-kind
miniature golf course
will have guests saying “turtle
power” when they sink a hole
in one alongside favorite
characters Leonardo,
Raphael, Donatello and
Michelangelo.
Norwegian Escape’s sports complex will also include a full-size basketball court for
family-friendly competition and a new bocce ball court, a first for the line.
Nickelodeon™ Entertainment
Norwegian Escape will be the sixth Norwegian ship to offer Nickelodeon branded
entertainment, which will delight families with the latest in Nickelodeon activities and
events that kids of all ages will enjoy, including an opportunity to meet SpongeBob
SquarePants, Patrick Star and Dora the Explorer, among other favorite Nickelodeon
characters; as well as participate in a variety of exciting interactive Nickelodeon
experiences. At the popular Nickelodeon Pajama Jam Breakfast, kids will have the
opportunity to enjoy an action-packed experience with their favorite Nickelodeon
characters; and at Dora’s Dance Party, young cruisers will sing and dance to their
favorite songs with Dora the Explorer and Team Nick. Rounding out the fun, additional
activities will include Story Time with Dora and Nickelodeon arts and crafts.
Youth Programming
In a first for the line, as part of the
Guppies program, Norwegian Escape will
offer childcare services for children ages six
months to three years. The nursery will
include an active area for play time and age-Norwegian Escape Family & Recreation Spaces/4
appropriate activities and a separate space for napping. In addition to the nursery services,
Norwegian Escape’s Guppies program will offer a dedicated open play area for parents and
babies to play together, featuring sensory-based games, interactive media and themed
activities hosted by an early years coordinator.
Norwegian Escape features a centrally-located, expansive Splash Academy complex
on Deck 5, offering age-appropriate supervised activities for children ages three to 12. It is
also adjacent and easily accessible to the ship’s family-friendly oceanview staterooms,
accommodating up to five guests. As on all Norwegian vessels, when parents enter they
will utilize Norwegian’s e-Youth
tablet-based electronic registration
system, which allows them to swipe
their keycard to register their children
and input a password for additional
safety to sign in and pick-up their
children. Once children sign-in at the
colorful and welcoming reception
area, a forest-themed play zone offers space for creative games and play time, while an
interactive dance space with a corresponding large video screen encourages lots of activity
in this central space.
Splash Academy, the ship’s youth program, will once again have spaces for specific
age groups, along with a Nickelodeon themed night and activities. New on Norwegian
Escape, children participating in Splash Academy will enjoy an enhanced version of the
popular Circus program, with additional skill options and an innovative grand finale.
Children will also have an opportunity to participate in Officer Snook Theme Day, an
expansion of Norwegian’s current program that will share an interactive environmental
message through games and activities.
Three to five year olds can explore in their own space decorated with vibrant,
engaging colors, along with child-sized furniture and open space for active games and an
activity center to encourage creativity. Magnetic white board walls will keep little hands busy
in between organized programming.
In a separate area decorated with fun graphics to captivate children’s imaginations,
the six to nine year olds will enjoy a “hang out” area for lounging with new friends that also
features dedicated gaming stations with the latest video games. An activity zone will have
space and supplies to create cool arts and crafts.
Children ages 10 to 12 years old will also have their own hangout, with access to the
central multipurpose visual dance space and corresponding large video screen, open space Norwegian Escape Family & Recreation Spaces/5
for active activities and comfortable bean bags for lounging. In addition, within this space are
dedicated stations for video games for individual or group competition.
Rounding out Splash Academy is a cool and comfortable “open zone” lounge area,
with sofas and chairs in vibrant colors creating the perfect atmosphere to chill out, and a
separate full-size cinema and bean bags for casual lounging and viewing favorite flicks.
Entourage, located on Deck 17, is Norwegian’s high energy, exclusive teen zone for
ages 13 through 17. This hip area gives teens their own unique space that includes trendy
lounge furniture and a central gaming station. Complete with sleek, neon lighting, the space
also includes favorites like air hockey and foosball. In the evening, Entourage transitions into
a teens-only nightclub featuring a nightly teen theme complete with team challenges and
giveaways. Entourage is conveniently located adjacent to the ship’s video arcade.