The line’s 16th ship will sail to Alaska and the Caribbean with select voyages to the Mexican Riviera, beginning in June 2018.
The 4,000-guest Norwegian Bliss will have many features the line believes are the first to appear at sea “for the global market”, including “the largest competitive race track at sea” and an open-air laser tag course.
Many of the ship’s amenities were announced by Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive, at an exclusive event at Virtuoso Travel Week at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
Travel agents were able to use interactive 3D virtual reality experiences to sample some of Norwegian Bliss’ features.
The two level electric-car racetrack follows the popularity of the track on Norwegian Bliss’ sister ship in China, Norwegian Joy.
The 1,000-ft track will cater for novice, intermediate and advanced drivers, reaching up to 30 miles per hour. The electric cars will also be silent so as to not disturb other guests.
Elsewhere, the ship’s pool and sundeck will feature two spacious pools and six infinity hot tubs that scale the side of the ship. The ship’s Aqua Park will include two multi-story waterslides and there will also be a Kids’ Aqua Park and Splash Academy – NCL’s complimentary youth program.
In terms of the dining offering, there will be a Texas smokehouse, Q, a new à la carte specialty restaurant serving authentic Texas barbeque. Los Lobos will be an outpost of the brand’s new restaurant serving Mexican cuisine, and along with Cagney’s Steakhouse there will be a bar called The A-List Bar, named for Norwegian president
chief executive Stuart. It will serve handcrafted cocktails, wines and premium spirits.
Sweets and treats will be served up day and night at Coco’s, a completely new à la carte dessert venue, and “in a nod to the ship’s homeport of Seattle”, there will be a Starbucks onboard.
Signature à la carte restaurants including Le Bistro; La Cucina; Ocean Blue; Food Republic; Jimmy Buffett’s
Margaritaville at Sea; The Bake Shop and family favourite Japanese steakhouse Teppanyaki will also feature.
The Local will offer complimentary dining 24 hours-per-day.
Norwegian Bliss will feature the line’s 678 Ocean Place, a three-deck central hub with restaurants, shops entertainment and guest services and The Waterfront, an outdoor promenade designed to enhance guests’ connection to the ocean with al fresco dining, bars and lounge spaces.
Accommodation will include The Haven by Norwegian siutes, Studio staterooms for solo travelers, and new connecting staterooms.
Norwegian Bliss will also feature such entertainment offerings as Jersey Boys.
Continuing its tradition of featuring original artwork on its ship’s hulls, Norwegian Cruise Line has commissioned marine life artist Wyland to design the hull art for Norwegian Bliss.
“Norwegian Bliss will no doubt be our most incredible ship to date,” said Stuart.
“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.”
During its inaugural summer season, Norwegian Bliss will sail weekly seven-day Alaska cruises each Saturday from Seattle. The ship’s itinerary will feature calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, British Columbia, along with scenic glacier cruising.
The ship will sail its inaugural winter season beginning in November 2018, sailing seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises each Saturday from PortMiami, featuring calls in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas.
