The Ultimate Alaska Cruise Experience Awaits

The cruise buzz today is all about the float out of Norwegian Cruise Line’s  Norwegian Bliss. Adam Coulter, Cruise Critic UK Managing Editor describes the event well, “A cruise ship float out takes place when a new vessel is first touched by water. It is a key milestone in the construction of a cruise ship, and in keeping with maritime tradition, is taken very seriously indeed — both on a technical level and on a traditional level.”

What this means to those of us not at the Meyer Werft building dock in Papenburg, Germany on Saturday, February 17, is that we are one step closer to getting a new cruise ship experience for the Alaska cruise market.

Norwegian Bliss will be the first cruise ship custom-built with features and amenities for the ultimate Alaska cruise experience, including the 180-degree Observation Lounge where guests can enjoy Norwegian’s most expansive views at sea.  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.”

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 crew members will move into their staterooms on board, begin their training, and familiarize themselves with the ship – readying her for the first guests to arrive after delivery in 60 days, on April 19.

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.  It is the third ship in the Breakaway Plus class, measuring 1,082 feet in length by 136 feet wide, with gross tonnage of 167,800 and accommodating approximately 4,000 guests.  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 centerpiece of the design, representing the beauty of Alaska’s wildlife.

Following preview events in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, Norwegian Bliss will sail into Seattle for her official christening on May 30, with summer cruises to Alaska beginning June 2.  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.

Source: Norwegian Cruise Line