By
Rebecca Gibson |
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss is to boast the largest race track at sea, an open-air laser tag course, new dining concepts and much more when she debuts in 2018.
Currently under construction at Meyer Werft’s yard in Papenburg, Germany, the 4,000-guest Norwegian Bliss is the line’s 16th ship and is the first to have been designed specifically to operate in Alaska.
Following the popularity of the go-kart track on her newly launched sister, the China-based Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss will be the first North America-based vessel to have a two-level race track for electric cars. At 1,000 feet long, it will also be the longest at sea.
Guests can also compete against family and friends in an open-air laser tag course, or compete with friends on the 360-foot-long tandem Aqua Racer slide. Also part of the Aqua Park will be the Ocean Loops freefall slide, which includes one loop that extends over the side of the ship and a second transparent loop that stretches down to the deck below. In addition the ship will feature an expansive sundeck with two pools and six infinity hot tubs.
Signature Norwegian elements will include two observation lounges; the adults-only Vibe Beach Club and Spice H2O; 678 Ocean Place, a three-deck central hub with restaurants, shops, entertainment and guest services; The Waterfront, an outdoor promenade with al fresco dining, bars and lounge spaces; and the Mandara Spa.
Norwegian Bliss will also offer many of the line’s popular speciality restaurants such as Cagney’s Steakhouse, Le Bistro, La Cucina, Ocean Blue, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea, Teppanyaki and The Bake Shop.
New dining venues will include the Texas Smokehouse named Q, which will have live contemporary pop country music each night; Los Lobos, an outpost of the brand’s new Mexican restaurant; Coco’s, a chocolate-themed à la carte dessert venue; and complimentary dining concept The Local, which will offer guests pub fare in a ‘relaxed neighbourhood atmosphere’ 24 hours a day.
Bars will include The A-List Bar, named in honour of the line’s president and CEO Andy Stuart, and The Cellars, A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar, which will offer a curated wine list, light bites from La Cucina, and daily educational seminars and tasting sessions. Guests can also head to The District Brew House, which serves 24 beers on tap and more than 50 bottled beers, along with bites from the adjacent Food Republic. In a nod to the ship’s homeport of Seattle, the ship will also include a full-service Starbucks.
In a first for Norwegian, the casino will offer a smoking and a non-smoking casino to cater to all guest preferences.
Accommodation will include suites in exclusive enclave The Haven by Norwegian, as well as Studio staterooms for solo travellers with virtual ocean views, and new connecting staterooms for large groups.
“Norwegian Bliss will no doubt be our most incredible ship to date,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian’s president and CEO. “We have elevated Norwegian Bliss’s onboard experience to new heights, bringing the best features from across our fleet plus exciting new first-at-sea activities like the largest race track and new dining concepts to create the ultimate cruising experience.”
Beginning in June 2018, Norwegian Bliss will sail weekly cruises from Pier 66 in Seattle, becoming the largest ship to ever seasonally homeport on the US West Coast. The ship’s itinerary will feature scenic glacier cruising and calls in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway in Alaska, as well as Victoria in British Columbia. In November 2018, the vessel will start sailing seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from PortMiami in Florida to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas.