By
Rebecca Gibson |
Meyer Werft laid the keel for Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Joy (Xǐ Yuè Hào) at its yard in Papenburg, Germany on 5 April.
During the ceremony, the first of 80 blocks that will comprise the 168,800gt vessel was lifted into the covered building hall, officially marking the start of the ship’s assembly.
In a nod to maritime tradition, executives from Norwegian and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) placed a special commemorative coin – which was blessed at the XingTian Temple at Fang Ta Park in Shanghai on 31 March – under the 680 ton keel block.
“This steel block for Norwegian Joy marks another milestone of our successful partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line,” said Bernard Meyer, managing director of Meyer Werft. “We are thrilled to build a totally new ship which is designed for the fast growing Chinese market and will be delivered in just 12 months.”
Norwegian Joy, which is the first ship to be purpose-built for the Chinese market, will launch in China in summer 2017 and homeport in Shanghai and Tianjin (Beijing).
The 3,900-guest ship will feature luxury accommodation, Norwegian’s largest boutique shopping venue, various at-sea firsts, a range of onboard entertainment and Mandarin, Cantonese and Continental dining options. More details can be found here.
During the ceremony, Norwegian also revealed it has appointed NCLH’s former senior vice president of strategy and business development David Herrera as president of NCLH China. In this role, Herrera will take responsibility for the sales, marketing, public relations and operations for all three brands – Norwegian, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises – within the NCLH portfolio. Herrera and his family will relocate to Shanghai, China this summer so he can lead the Norwegian Joy project.
“David is building an incredible team of talented individuals in China who are committed to making the launch of Norwegian Joy a resounding success, and that dedication starts at the top,” said Harry Sommer, NCLH’s executive vice president for international business and operations. “It was abundantly clear that David’s involvement in our China efforts since 2012, as well as his enthusiasm and passion, made him the right person to lead the team on the ground in Shanghai and we are so pleased to have him in this new role.”