Norwegian Bliss, the third of Norwegian Cruise
Line’s Breakaway Plus class, emerged from the Meyer Werft building
dock in Papenburg, Germany on Saturday, representing
a major milestone in the vessel’s construction.
The ship
will remain in the shipyard port for the final phase of
construction, until its conveyance down the River Ems towards the North Sea, scheduled for mid-March.
During this time, the first
crewmembers will move into their staterooms on board, begin their training, and familiarizing themselves with the ship - readying her
for the first guests to arrive after delivery in 60 days, on 19 April
2018.
The construction of the ship began in October 2016 with
the traditional steel cutting ceremony launching the 12th
Norwegian Cruise Line ship to be built at the Meyer Werft
shipyard.
Norwegian Bliss
measures 1,082 feet in length by 136 feet wide, has a gross
tonnage of 167,800 and can accommodate approximately 4,000
passengers.
Part of the excitement of this float out will be the public
debut of the ship’s signature hull artwork designed by world -
renowned marine life artist and conservationist, Wyland. Best
known for his marine life paintings, sculptures and grand scale
murals, or “Whaling Walls,” Norwegian Bliss’ hull design is named
“Cruising with the Whales” and features a stunning image of a
mother humpback whale and her calf as the centrepiece of the
design, representing the beauty of Alaska’s wildlife.
Norwegian Bliss
has custom-built
features and amenities for the ultimate Alaska cruise experience,
including an 180-degree Observation Lounge.
She will
also be the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to make her debut in
Seattle, with cruises beginning May 2018.
Norwegian Bliss
will offer weekly seven-day cruises to see America’s last
frontier with ports-of-call including Ketchikan, Juneau and
Skagway, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, along with
scenic glacier cruising.
“Our partners at Meyer Werft have
done an excellent job realizing our vision for a ship designed to
experience Alaska and the Caribbean like never before,” said Andy
Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive
officer. “We are counting down the days until her official debut
in Seattle this summer, where guests will be able to race around
the world’s largest two-level race track at sea against the
backdrop of Alaska’s wild frontier, and enjoy other first -at-sea
experiences.”
Following preview events in New York City,
Miami and Los Angeles, Norwegian Bliss will sail into Seattle for
her official christening on 30 May, with summer cruises to Alaska
beginning 2 June. She will spend her summer seasons with seven-day
cruises to Alaska, and fall seasons sailing to the Mexican Riviera
from Los Angeles. In winter of 2018 she will sail to the Caribbean
from Miami, and in the 2019 fall/winter season she will cruise
from New York City to Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean.
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