New York is to be the home to Norwegian Cruise Line‘s new 4,000-passenger ship when she launches, city officials confirmed October 7.

The Norwegian Breakaway is set to be the largest ship ever to home port in NYC and will enter service in 2013, departing on a planned 88 cruises in less than two years.

Breakaway will boast new rooms designed to invoke a boutique hotel and a luxury private area called ‘The Haven’, complete with 24-hour butler service, a poolside valet and white-tablecloth in-room dining.

Breakaway will initially sail a series of seven-day cruises from New York to Bermuda, Norwegian confirmed.

New York is an easy embarkation point for international visitors — the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is also home to lines such as Carnival, Cunard, Holland America, Princess Cruises and Crystal Cruises.

The arrival of Breakaway will be a significant coup for the Big Apple’s tourist authorities and is expected to being an additional 140,000 visitors to the city over two years, who will spend some $35 million.

It is also a vote of confidence in the city’s booming cruise trade, which saw spending in 2010 jump by 54 percent compared to 2009.

Source: AFPrelaxnews