For the Norwegian Breakaway, a new ship that will home port
in New York City, Norwegian Cruise Line commissioned Peter Max to paint its
hull with images of the New York skyline, named the Rockettes as godmothers,
designed a promenade inspired by the Coney Island Boardwalk, and added New
York-style hot dog carts.
On Monday, Norwegian announced the first of the Miami features that will grace Breakaway’s twin, the Getaway, which will home port here: a hull painted by David “LEBO” Le Batard, a Cuban-born Miami artist known for his murals. The hull will feature a mermaid, a lighthouse, pelicans and other whimsical sea features.
“We wanted somebody who embodied the unique culture of Miami,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian’s CEO, who cited Le Batard’s “bright, colorful, fun … stunning” works in making the announcement at the artist’s studio in Wynwood.
Sheehan declined to say what other Miami details might be associated with the ship: An arepa stand? A promenade that looks like Ocean Drive? “Cuban coffee,” he volunteered. Well, of course! But what could be more Miami than to announce a work of art on a ship to kick off Art Basel week?
The Breakaway and the Getaway are 4,000-passenger ships under construction in Germany. The Breakaway will arrive in New York in May and sail cruises first to Bermuda and later to the Caribbean and Florida. The Getaway will arrive in Miami in January 2014 and will sail to the eastern Caribbean year-round.
Renderings of the Getaway (top) and Breakaway (above) courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line.
