PAPENBURG, GERMANY — Norwegian Escape, soon to be the largest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, was floated out of MEYER WERFT’s covered building dock II in Papenburg, Germany on Saturday.

The 4,200 passenger, 164,600-ton ship has been under construction since September 2014 and is the first ship in the line’s Breakaway Plus Class.

Norwegian Escape’s float out represents a major milestone in the vessel’s construction, with the ship being well on her way to completion it will now move into the final phase of construction with delivery taking place on October 22, 2015.

“MEYER WERFT has done an excellent job with the construction of Norwegian Escape,” Norwegian Cruise Line’s President and Chief Operating Officer Andy Stuart said. “The ship’s float out brings us one step closer to bringing the next evolution of Freestyle Cruising to the world and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Following the ship’s float out, the next milestones will be mounting the ship’s signature Norwegian Cruise Line funnel and taking thrills to new heights by adding a third story to Norwegian Escape’s ropes course — due to be the largest at sea. Norwegian Escape’s conveyance down the river Ems towards the North Sea is scheduled for September 16 (weather permitting).

Following inaugural events in Europe and Miami, Norwegian Escape will sail seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises departing every Saturday from Miami beginning on November 14, 2015.