By
Rebecca Gibson |
Meyer Werft has started the final construction phase for Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Bliss after floating the vessel out of her building dock at its yard in Papenburg, Germany on 17 February.
Norwegian Bliss, which is the 12th ship Meyer Werft has built for Norwegian, will remain in wet dock while the shipyard’s team completes outfitting and other works ahead of her conveyance down the River Ems to the North Sea in mid-March. During this time, the first crew members will move into their staterooms to begin training before guests arrive on 19 April.
Designed to accommodate 4,000 guests, Norwegian Bliss is the third in the line’s Breakaway Plus class and has hull artwork created by marine life artist and conservationist, Wyland. The hull design is named ‘Cruising with the Whales’ and features an image of a mother humpback whale and her calf to represent the ‘beauty of Alaska’s wildlife’.
Norwegian Bliss is the first cruise ship to be custom-built with features and amenities for ultimate Alaska cruise experience, including the 180-degree Observation Lounge. The vessel will also be the first in the Norwegian fleet to make her official debut in Seattle, with her christening taking place in the city on 30 May and seven-day cruises to Alaska starting on 2 June. These weekly voyages will include calls in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway in Alaska, as well as Victoria in British Columbia.
“Our partners at Meyer Werft have done an excellent job realising our vision for a ship designed to experience Alaska and the Caribbean like never before,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian’s president and CEO. “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.”