Ship

A ship is a large buoyant watercraft. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size, shape and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas,rivers,and oceans for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing, entertainment, public safety, and warfare. Historically, a "ship" was a sailing vessel with at least three square-rigged masts and a full bowsprit.

In armed conflict and in daily life, ships have become an integral part of modern commercial and military systems. Fishing boats are used by millions of fishermen throughout the world. Military forces operate vessels for naval warfare and to transport and support forces ashore. Commercial vessels, nearly 35,000 in number, carried 7.4 billion tons of cargo in 2007. As of 2011, there are about 104,304 ships with IMO numbers in the world.

Ships were always a key in history's great explorations and scientific and technological development. Navigators such as Zheng He spread such inventions as the compass and gunpowder. Ships have been used for such purposes as colonization and the slave trade, and have served scientific, cultural, and humanitarian needs. After the 16th century, new crops that had come from and to the Americas via the European seafarers significantly contributed to the world population growth.Ship transport has shaped the world's economy into today's energy-intensive pattern.

Norwegian Escape

Norwegian Escape is a cruise ship for Norwegian Cruise Line, in service since October 2015. It was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany.

Design and description

Norwegian Escape is in the "Breakaway Plus" class of cruise ships which will include the Norwegian Escape and a second unit, originally named Norwegian Bliss. The Breakaway Plus class are being built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, for Norwegian Cruise Line. The vessel entered service in October 2015, where it completed a series of short preview sailings from Hamburg, Germany and Southampton, UK. The 164,600 GT ship departed Southampton on 29 October 2015 on her transatlantic crossing to Miami, where the ship will be based year-round offering seven-night Caribbean cruises.

The name of the ship was selected in a contest on USA Today. In 2014, Guy Harvey was chosen to paint the hull art.

The Norwegian Escape is homeported in PortMiami, sailing seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruising to Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. Norwegian Getaway will move to the Western Caribbean run.

Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Getaway is a cruise ship of the Norwegian Cruise Line. It was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and was delivered to its owner on January 10, 2014. At the time of its christening it was the world's ninth largest cruise ship with a passenger capacity of 3,969 and a crew of 1,640.

Amenities on board the ship include restaurants by chef Geoffrey Zakarian, an entertainment venue devoted to magic called the "Illusionarium", and another entertainment venue themed in conjunction with the Grammy Awards. The ship is based out of Miami and mostly sails seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises. It was christened in Miami on February 7, 2014, with the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders serving as godmothers. The ship departed on its maiden voyage the next day.

Design and description

Norwegian Getaway is the sister vessel of Norwegian Breakaway, and was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, for Norwegian Cruise Line. The name of the ship was selected in a competition, and was submitted by Dennis Hultman of Vienna, Virginia, United States. NCL expects the ship to be based out of Miami year-round.David Le Batard was commissioned by NCL to design the mural on the hull of the ship.