Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
The Norwegian Bliss launches,
Norwegian Bliss isn’t a new class of ship, but it feels like one.
A lot of that has to do with the go-carts racing around the top deck track — the signature attraction on the 167,800-ton vessel, the third ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus class.
While Norwegian Bliss made a pit stop in Miami last week on its way to a summer of Alaska sailings, the ship will make Miami home again in November. In preparation for its return for a season of Caribbean sailings, here are 10 things that set it apart.
1. The go-carts
This is actually the second ship on which Norwegian provided a go-cart track, but the first, Norwegian Joy, spends all its time halfway around the world sailing in China and Australia. Plus, the Bliss track is 40 percent bigger, at nearly 1,000 feet across two decks, and thus better. Is it really a draw? This track is intense, with 15 turns. The go-carts go up to 30 mph, and even let riders push an acceleration button like a dose of Nitro in a “Fast & Furious” movie. It’s an added cost, but only $7, and riders get eight laps racing up to nine other riders at a time. It’s not for lightweights, and passing isn’t the easiest. Other drivers can cut you off while trying to pass on the inside, and then the staff push a magic button that slows everyone’s go-carts in order to disentangle the little road-rage incidents. In the end, there’s more speed thrills than not, and riders get to see how they fared on the leaderboard after the race. For adrenaline fans, this fits the bill.
2. The observation lounge
The cruise line touts the ship’s design as one to take in expansive views for both its two main destinations: Alaska and the Caribbean. The massive Observation Lounge wraps around 180 degrees of the ship with hundreds of relaxing seating options to take in the views through the floor-toceiling glass. It’s a gem for the views, but also the serenity one can find. It encompasses 3,500 square feet, so there’s usually a cozy spot to find some privacy. One can even get light breakfast in the lounge, including bloody Marys for those who need it from the lounge bar.
3. Q Texas Smokehouse
The Q stands for barbecue. Diners will find wagon wheel lighting fixtures that fit right in with the brisket, ribs and chicken accompanied by live country music on stage. The food is topnotch, what cruise line execs promised to be an elevated barbecue experience. Even so, diners will get their hands dirty, but the meat is fall-off-the-bone succulent. There are four sauces, including a smoky barbecue, that will test stomach capacity limits, especially when trying to squeeze in appetizers and side items like the deviled eggs with maplecured bacon and jalapeno cheddar grits. Diners should leave room for dessert like banana pudding and peach cobbler. Even the drinks have their own barbecue feel as well, created by noted mixologist Kathy Casey. Try the smoked peach margarita or Pineapple Run Champ. Or just stick to a beverage in the red cups waiting at the table that are reminiscent of a college kegger. In the end, the meal is outstanding, music entertaining and experience memorable. Just be prepared to loosen your belt.
4. Laser tag
Another new top-deck feature on the ship is this alien-labthemed team experience. The $5 per person game gets would-be shooters five minutes with a space rifle in on either the scientist or marine teams, darting around like something out of the movie “Aliens” blasting people into virtual oblivion. The guns are pretty fun with more than just triggers, such as button combinations that should please anyone who ever played on a Nintendo game system. It’s open-air, so it can be a workout in the daytime, so best to make time for a pool or water slide cool down afterward.
5. The water slides
The ship has only two slides as opposed to the four on sister ship Norwegian Escape, but one of Bliss’ offerings, the Ocean Loops, is a welcome addition to the scream-inducing set. This one launches riders down a tube through a set of bomb-bay doors for an eight-second figure-eight ride over the side of the hull that gets the heart racing. It’s a blast. However: a word of caution. The sign may say minimum weight of 99 pounds, but several riders on the smaller side were unfortunately getting stuck, meaning they didn’t have enough propulsion to make it around the last corner of the figure-8, and thus ended up sliding backward in the tube and had to be extricated. Those unlucky enough to be stuck said it was scary, but that the rescues were so quick that they barely had time to freak out. So those on the heavier side, no more than 300 pounds, will have an easier time, but if you’re not claustrophobic, it’s worth a shot. The second slide, the Aqua Racer, is a tube ride that allows for single and double riders. It’s pretty tame in comparison, but for someone who accidentally goes down backward, the lack of knowing what’s coming, including passing through the giant clear tube that’s hanging out over the ship’s edge, caused at least one rider to yell, “Holy Moly!”
6. “Jersey Boys” and “¡Havana!”
Norwegian is no stranger to bringing versions of top-billed Broadway shows to their ships, including “Rock of Ages” and “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” For Norwegian Bliss, passengers will enjoy sailing down memory lane with “Jersey Boys,” the Tonyaward-winning dramatic musical that tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The music is timeless with songs like “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” accompanying the story of the group’s struggles, despite being one of the few American bands to have a string of hits during the British Invasion. Several younger people in the crowd remarked after the show that they didn’t realize The Four Seasons sang so many songs they knew. On top of that, the second mainstage show “¡Havana!” offers an original tale of a nightclub in pre-Castro Cuba’s capital city. While the show’s songs don’t have the built-in nostalgia of “Jersey Boys,” the Latin rhythms mesmerize while the show’s brilliant visual set explodes with color alongside amazing costume and fantastic choreography that make it a worthy second billing. Also on board is a theatrical production called “Happy Hour Prohibition — The Musical,” a one-hour performance set in 1919 on the eve of Prohibition, which is a pre-dinner show and late night adults-only show in the ship’s comedy and nightclub venue.
7. The A-List
It’s just a small bar sitting between two Norwegian specialty restaurants on Deck 8, but it has a story. The A stands for Andy Stuart, the president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line, who is celebrating 30 years with the company this year. He was somewhat hesitant about the idea when it was insisted upon by his boss, Frank del Rio. But Stuart likes the name, since his name begins with A as do the names of his wife, three children and even his assistant, so it’s fitting he said. Plus he has not one, but two drinks on the menu: The Boss V&T, but also Gunners G&T, which is in deference to his favorite Premiere League soccer club Arsenal. It features gin and cranberry juice, making it red just like his team’s colors, and is mixed with tonic, lime juice, lemon and juniper seeds. Magic.
9. Wyland
Norwegian ships are among the most striking at sea, and that’s because of the signature artwork on the hulls. The humpback whales and other sea life created by artist Wyland make Norwegian Bliss stand out. Originally touted as a specialty ship for Alaska, the artwork is still apropos for sailing among glaciers as well as sailing to islands filled with palm trees. Plus you can enjoy Wyland TV in the stateroom for a dose of happy little sunsets.
10. The rest
The ship has a few other new features including a dining venue called The Local that’s like a neighborhood grill, which is a welcome complimentary dining alternative. Also, the cruise line has joined the cult of Starbucks, as Bliss has the first full-size Starbucks in the fleet. One of the best specialty dining additions is making only its second appearance on a Norwegian ship. Mexican option Los Lobos features fresh guacamole made tableside and a tres leches that’s a must for dessert fans. Also expanding its footprint in the fleet is another version of the Cavern Club, which is inspired by the Liverpool club where The Beatles played in the 1960s. And back on board are the Food Republic fusion dining option and microbrew-centric District Brew House, which both made debuts on Norwegian Escape.
While the newer venues may upstage the rest, the ship is filled with mainstays found on several other ships in the fleet, including a giant casino and Mandara Spa. There’s a bar for nearly every drink type including The Cellars wine bar, Sugarcane Mojito Bar and Maltings Whiskey Bar as well as half a dozen other places to sidle up and grab a drink. Other dining options include Cagney’s steakhouse, La Cucina Italian dining, Le Bistro French cuisine, Ocean Blue seafood, Japanese hibachi steakhouse Teppanyaki and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea. Many of these offer both indoor and outdoor waterfront seating.
The ship is among the largest in the fleet along with the other Breakaway Plus class ships, with a 4,004-passenger capacity based on double occupancy. Cabins include The Haven’s 80 suites, which is the line’s exclusive shipwithin-a-ship concept with its own restaurant, outdoor terrace, private lounge and courtyard with pool, whirlpools, sauna, spa and sunbathing deck. The rest of the ship features 308 mini suites, 1,088 balcony staterooms, 374 inside staterooms and 82 studio staterooms designed for solo travelers that feature virtual ocean views and its own private lounge.
The ship’s official christening will be in Seattle on May 30, and its first Alaska voyage will be June 2. The ship returns to Miami for Caribbean sailings beginning Nov. 17.
To book a cruise on Norwegian Bliss, call 888-625-2784 or visit ncl.com for details.