Norwegian Cruise Line Building Bliss for Alaska Cruises
The Norwegian Bliss (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)
Norwegian Cruise Line is building its 16th vessel to become the ultimate in Alaska cruising experiences.
Norwegian’s third Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship, Norwegian Bliss, is now under construction and is scheduled for delivery in Summer 2018.
Norwegian first announced the construction of the new ship in late October, a mere two months before Norwegian celebrates its 50th anniversary. Specifically, October 28 marked the first steel cut for the ship. The steel plate will be among the first 81 blocks that will comprise the new ship.
“As we close in on Norwegian Cruise Line’s 50th anniversary, we are thrilled to celebrate the start of construction for Norwegian Bliss, our latest and most innovative ship yet,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line in a press release.
The 4,000-passenger Norwegian Bliss will measure in at 167,800 tons, making it among the 10 largest cruise ships in the world once it debuts. Bliss will be the sister to the Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Joy, the latter of which is custom-built for the Asian cruise market.
Bliss will be unique in that it will be the first Norwegian ship to homeport in Seattle. More importantly, the ship is the first for the line to be custom-built with features and amenities specifically for Alaska cruises.
“Norwegian Bliss will offer the ultimate in Alaska adventures, both on and off the ship, and we look forward to welcoming guests onboard [sic] in June 2018,” Del Rio said.
Alaskan itineraries
The ship’s itinerary will feature calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, British Columbia in addition to scenic glacier cruising. If June 2018 is too far away, eager guests can reserve their cabin aboard the Norwegian Bliss beginning January 2017.
Exhaust gas scrubbers will be installed to protect the Alaskan ecosystem. The scrubbers decrease the ship’s air emissions, including the reduction of up to 99 percent of sulfur released into the atmosphere.
Park West’s exciting art auctions are found aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships, whether they are sailing to Alaska or the Caribbean. Find out more about our art auctions here.
