Norwegian Bliss Named in Seattle

Norwegian Bliss became the largest cruise ship ever christened at Seattle on Wednesday when Seattle radio personality Elvis Duran named the ship in the Emerald City.

The complete story appeared in the May 30 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Made for Bliss

When the Panama Canal expanded in 2016 to accommodate larger ships, it was like they were just waiting for this. This week, at more than 168,000 gross tons, Norwegian Bliss became the largest passenger ship ever to transit the new Panama Canal.

Details appeared in the May 16 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 20, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• The topping off of the new nine-story parking garage at Port Miami which is currently under construction
• Meyer Werft delivered Norwegian Bliss yesterday, and today the yard gives us a look around (video below)

Details appeared in the April 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Norwegian Bliss Delivered

Norwegian Cruise Line grew to 16 ships today when Meyer Werft delivered the 168,028-ton Norwegian Bliss. The handover took place at Bremerhaven at the conclusion of an 18-month building period.

The complete story appeared in the April 19 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Your Ship Has Come In

Norwegian Bliss has successfully completed its conveyance down the Ems River and arrived at Eemshaven on Thursday morning. Its departure from Meyer Werft in Papenburg and the beginning of the journey down the Ems was documented by the yard in the video below.



Video courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved.

Bliss on the River

Norwegian Bliss left the Meyer shipyard Tuesday night on its conveyance down the Ems River never to return. After a few days at Eemshaven at the mouth of the river to provision and board additional crew members, the ship will depart for its sea trials in the North Sea.

Overnight and through the day today, Norwegian Bliss has wound its way down the river at times like threading a needle though the narrow passages. At 994 feet long and 136 feet wide, it is passing between barriers that sometimes give it only four feet clearance or less. Of course, as always, it is doing all this stern first for better maneuverability.

The complete story appeared in the March 14 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Photos courtesy of Heiner Lohmann. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

The End Is Near

Meyer Werft floated out Norwegian Bliss on Saturday, a sure sign that the ship is nearing completion.

It will remain at the dock at the Papenburg facility until mid-March when it goes down the Ems River (never to return) for sea trials and whatever adjustments are necessary after that.

Delivery is expected sometime (just) prior to April 19. Then after preview events in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, Norwegian Bliss has a date in Seattle on May 30 for its christening. It's the first new ship Norwegian has ever entered into service in Seattle where it will be sailing seven-night Alaska cruises round trip beginning June 2.

The complete story appeared in the February 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Norwegian Bliss (left) with section of AIDAnova being towed into the building dock

Video and photo courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll want to Know - February 6, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• MSC's 3-year agreement with the Miami Dolphins so fans can sail with Miami Dolphin legends and the Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders. 
• Cunard and P&O decide to phase out all single-use plastic aboard their ships by the end of 2022.
• Meyer Werft gave us the first look at the hull art for Norwegian Bliss (below)

Details can be found in the February 6 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - January 12, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• The NGV fetty Fantastic allided with Viking Cruises' Viking Star at Barcelona on Friday. 
• Norwegian Bliss will homeport at New York for the 2019/2020 winter season.
• 21 more passengers were arrested on drug-related charges while boarding Wednesday's sailing of Norwegian Epic.

Details appeared in the January 12 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Norwegian Likes Men

Bucking centuries of tradition, Norwegian Cruise Line has chosen yet another man to christen their next ship, Norwegian Bliss. The line today said nationally-syndicated radio personality Elvis Duran will be the godfather of Norwegian Bliss.

Mr. Duran is the award-winning New York-based host of “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,” which he's hosted since 1996.

Details appeared in the November 29 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Elvis Duran (left) and Andy Stuart

Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Norwegian Reveals Norwegian Bliss Features

At an industry meeting for travel agents over the weekend, Norwegian Cruise Line revealed some of the main features of Norwegian Bliss which will debut next summer in Alaska. Guess what? They are remarkably similar to Norwegian Joy, the first of the class which is homeported in China for that market.

The complete story appeared in the August 14 edition of Cruise News Daily.

It Was a Bliss-ful Day in Papenburg

Meyer Werft began the block assembly of project S.707 today at their Papenburg yard, or to the rest of us we'd say they laid the keel for Norwegian Bliss when the first 350-ton block was lowered into the dry dock today.

The complete story appeared in the May 24 edition of Cruise News Daily.

The first block o Norwegian Bliss was lowered into the dry dock at Meyer Werft in Papenburg today.

Photo courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

There Will Be Bliss in Miami

Norwegian Cruise Line said today that the 167,800-ton Norwegian Bliss will sail from Miami after its inaugural season in Alaska. The winter Caribbean season will begin with the ship's November 17, 2018 sailing from Miami.

Details appeared in the January 10 edition of Cruise News Daily

Bliss in Germany

Last Friday, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Ruso pushed the button at Meyer's Laser Center in Papenburg to start the computer-controlled plasma torch cutting the first piece of steel for newbuild S.707, which eventually be named Norwegian Bliss.

Meyer's computer-controlled plasma torch makes the first ceremonial cuts 

Bernard Meyer and Frank Del Ruso (left) hold the first ceremonial cutting

Photos courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express pemission.

A Whale of a Ship

Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled the hull artwork today for Norwegian Bliss, the 167,800-ton Breakaway Plus-class ship that will begin sailing from Seattle to Alaska in 2018.

Called “Cruising with the Whales,” the mural features the image of a mother humpback whale and her calf as the centerpiece of the design, created by marine life artist Wyland.

The complete story appeared in the October 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Copyright Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied of used without permission. 

Norwegian Commits to Seattle/Alaska

At a press conference today in Seattle, Norwegian Cruise Line said their next ship, a Breakaway Plus-class ship, Norwegian Bliss, will be custom-built for cruising in Alaska.

At the same time, the line announced a 15-year agreement to remain at the Port of Seattle and invest $30 million to upgrade the facilities at Pier 66, the terminal Norwegian uses for their Alaskan cruises.

The complete story appeared in the October 13 edition of Cruise News Daily.