Bliss awaits Norwegian’s Alaska adventures
4,000-guest liner with 20,000-sq.-ft. observation deck to be unveiled in 2018
We’re getting a better picture of what Norwegian Cruise Line (ncl.com) has planned for its latest-and-greatest ship, which will make its debut next year in Alaska before repositioning to Miami for a winter season of inaugural Caribbean cruises.
The 4,000-guest Norwegian Bliss is currently under construction at Germany’s Meyer-Werft shipyards in Papenburg, and is scheduled to hit the oceans in the spring of 2018.
And although she’s the third ship in Norwegian’s highly successful Breakaway Plus class of vessel, there are a number of things about Norwegian Bliss that are going to set her apart from her fleetmates and make her ideally suited to the destinations she’ll be based in.
Chief among these is the addition of an expansive observation lounge that will span 20,000 square feet of prime space high atop Deck 15.
Featuring 180-degree views over the bow, port and starboard sides of the ship, the observation lounge will have floor-to-ceiling windows and plush seating surrounded by a central bar accented with polished aluminum and quartz.
Given that the ship’s inaugural itineraries will take her to Alaska, a forward-facing observation lounge will be essential to Norwegian Bliss’s success in the region. In inclement weather, it will no doubt become the most popular space on the ship. Even better, guests who book Norwegian’s luxury, ship-within-a-ship accommodations known as The Haven will have access to their own private, forward-facing observation lounge that spans two full decks in height — the ultimate feature in Alaska.
But observation lounges are also ideal for Caribbean cruising, allowing guests to enjoy panoramic vistas of the Caribbean Sea and tropical ports of call, while relaxing with a cool drink.
They’re a feature that has disappeared from some newer ships as of late, and it’s great to see Norwegian bring them back in a big, bold way aboard Norwegian Bliss.
Also onboard are a huge array of stateroom and suite choices for guests to pick from.
These range from 82 Studio staterooms intended for solo travellers or friends travelling together who don’t wish to share a stateroom to the ship’s 80 lavish suites that are part of The Haven by Norwegian — a luxury cruise experience embedded in a big ship package.
Located on decks 17 to 19, guests who book one of Norwegian Bliss’s Haven suites will also be treated to exclusive use of their own secluded paradise, complete with a private restaurant with outdoor terrace, private lounge with a dedicated mixologist, courtyard area with retractable roof that features a pool, two whirlpools, sauna, spa treatment rooms and sunbathing deck.
All Haven suites feature dedicated butler and concierge service, as well as priority access to reservations, VIP embarkation and disembarkation, and exclusive reserved seating in the ship’s show lounge.
For the rest of us, Norwegian Bliss will have 374 attractively designed inside staterooms. Though these may lack a window, on a ship as big as the Norwegian Bliss, they’re also some of the best value out there, as you’re really only in your inside stateroom to change and sleep.
I always really like oceanview staterooms.
These have a picture window but no balcony, and are also a great value if you don’t feel the need to have your own private veranda. A total of 111 of these will be aboard Norwegian Bliss. The bulk of the staterooms aboard Norwegian Bliss will feature private verandas, with 1,088 balcony staterooms available throughout the ship.
Norwegian Bliss will make her debut in Alaska in May of 2018, sailing weeklong voyages round trip from Seattle that call on Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway (Alaska) and Victoria.
Following her inaugural season in Alaska, Norwegian Bliss will sail a short Pacific coastal voyage from Vancouver to Los Angeles on Sept. 30, 2018.
She’ll then head out on a 14-day journey from Los Angeles to Miami via the newly-completed locks of the expanded Panama Canal, with calls in Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia.
Her regular season of winter Caribbean cruises will begin on Nov. 18, 2018 from the Port of Miami, where she’ll sail to the warm waters of the Eastern Caribbean. Departing Saturdays, these voyages will offer calls on St. Thomas; Tortola; and Nassau.
Bookings for Norwegian Bliss’s inaugural season are now open.
Happy cruising.
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