Johannesburg - Norwegian Cruise Line will once again pioneer a new era of Alaska cruising from June 2018, as the company has announced that its next new vessel, Norwegian Bliss, will be the first cruise ship custom-built for the ultimate Alaska cruise experience.
Norwegian Bliss will cruise to America's Last Frontier from Seattle and will be the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to make its debut in the Emerald City.
At a ceremony held at Port of Seattle's Pier 66, Norwegian President and CEO Andy Stuart shared the exciting news, alongside Port of Seattle CEO Ted Fick and Port of Seattle Commission President John Creighton.
“Norwegian was the first cruise line to begin cruising to Alaska from Seattle in 2000 and it's only fitting that we bring our newest ship, Norwegian Bliss, directly to this incredible location,” said Andy Stuart, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line.
“Alaska is one of the top destinations for our guests to explore and we are thrilled to be the first cruise line to offer our guests the opportunity to experience this coveted destination aboard a brand new, state-of-the-art cruise ship custom designed for Alaska, the first of its kind to ever debut in Seattle.”
Norwegian Bliss, the third ship in the line's Breakaway Plus-Class, is designed with features and amenities to offer guests the ultimate Alaska cruising experience.
At approximately 167 800 gross tons and accommodating 4 000 guests, the ship will be constructed at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and scheduled for delivery in spring 2018.
After a transatlantic cruise and a Panama Canal transit through the new locks, the ship will sail north along the West Coast, reaching Seattle for the start of the summer cruising season.
Norwegian Bliss will sail a seven-night Alaska cruise every Saturday from Pier 66 in Seattle, offering guests the premier way to see America's last frontier, while also providing all of the innovative features, entertainment, signature dining and on-board experiences that Norwegian Cruise Line is known for around the globe. The ship's itinerary will feature calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, Canada, along with scenic glacier cruising.
Adapted from a press release for IOL