Bloomberg, Rockettes christen New York's largest cruise ship ever

The biggest cruise ship ever to call New York City home was christened Wednesday, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rockettes were on hand to celebrate the Norwegian Breakaway.

The 18-deck ship will dock at Pier 88 and make seven-day trips to Bermuda in the summer and the Bahamas and Florida in the winter. Bloomberg said Wednesday it will play a major part in the city's cruise industry.

"This is a wonderful day for the ship and New York," he said. "It's a tremendous vote of confidence in New York as a tourist hub."

He added: "After the next 238 when I'm gonna be unemployed, I'll have plenty of time to go to both of your wonderful islands," he joked to the leaders the Bahamas and Bermuda.

The cruise industry in New York brought in about $200 million to the city in 2012, an increase of about 30% over the past four years, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation.