Norwegian Cruise Line and Meyer Werft celebrated the keel laying of the Norwegian Bliss at the shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. During the ceremony, one of the keel blocks for the 167,800-gross-ton ship was placed in the deck building room, officially marking the start of construction. The Norwegian Bliss is scheduled for delivery in April 2018 and will be the first custom-designed cruise ship with features and amenities tailored to provide the ultimate Alaskan cruising experience.
Andy Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line, placed the traditional “lucky coin” engraved with the silhouette of the ship's hull, adorned with artwork designed by artist Wyland, before the block was put in place.
“We are truly thrilled to celebrate the keel-laying of Norwegian Bliss, our sixteenth ship and certainly our most innovative to date,” said Stuart. “We have witnessed incredible anticipation and excitement from our guests and partners to experience Norwegian Bliss, from its stunning custom-designed spaces, such as the observation lounges, to its elegant suites in The Haven by Norwegian, and we are delighted to see this magnificent ship begin to take shape under the guidance of Meyer Werft.”.
During its inaugural summer season in 2018, the Norwegian Bliss will sail weekly from Seattle on seven-day Alaskan cruises. The ship's itinerary will include stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, Alaska, and Victoria, Canada, and will also feature glacier-viewing. The Norwegian Bliss will begin its inaugural winter season in November 2018 with seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises departing every Saturday from the Port of Miami and calling at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas.
The design of the Norwegian Bliss will offer passengers the freedom and flexibility to “Imagine the Norwegian Bliss” and create their ideal experience at sea, with a wide selection of accommodations, including luxury suites in The Haven by Norwegian, studios for solo travelers with virtual ocean views, and new connecting staterooms, ideal for large groups and families traveling together. The Norwegian Bliss will also feature two observation lounges, including one exclusively for guests in The Haven.
Norwegian Cruise Line is taking its award-winning entertainment program to the next level aboard Norwegian Bliss, bringing the best of Broadway to the high seas with the 2006 Tony Award® winner for Best Musical , Jersey Boys, and an all-new, original show created by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Warren Carlyle, both headlining on the ship’s main stage, the Bliss Theater. Norwegian Bliss will also feature a new cocktail-infused theatrical experience, Happy Hour Prohibition – The Musical. Alibi, the ship’s nightly comedy club, will host two comedy shows six nights a week. Rock and roll will take center stage at The Cavern Club, a recreation of the legendary Liverpool pub where the Beatles frequently performed in the 1960s, with nightly live performances and a Beatles tribute band.
Continuing its tradition of incorporating original artwork into the hulls of its ships, Norwegian Cruise Line has commissioned Wyland, one of the world's leading artists of marine-themed artwork, to design the hull artwork for Norwegian Bliss. The artwork will feature images of humpback whales, which are found in oceans around the world, and will serve to highlight the importance of ocean conservation and preservation.
