Featuring the largest competitive racetrack at sea, original new dining concepts, and heart-racing waterslides that round the side of the ship, Norwegian Cruise Line’s sixteenth ship, the Norwegian Bliss, is already making quite the splash ahead of its spring 2018 debut.
Yesterday, Norwegian Cruise Line revealed features for the Norwegian Bliss at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. The 4,000-passenger vessel will boast some of the same amenities as its sister ship in China, the Norwegian Joy, such as the aforementioned racetrack and a laser tag course. With a two level electric-car race track spanning nearly 1,000 ft., the competitive track marks the first time this experience will be available aboard a North American-based cruise ship. After burning rubber at the track, guests can test their agility at the open-air laser tag course. Themed as an abandoned space station, the course comes to life both day and night as guests go into stealth-mode and compete against family and friends with laser guns.
When its time to cool down, guests will find refuge in the ship’s pool and sundeck with its two spacious pools and six infinity hot tubs that scale the side of the ship. The ship’s Aqua Park also boasts two multi-story waterslides, including the high-speed Ocean Loops free fall slide, which features two loops—one that extends out over the side of the ship and a second see-through loop that stretches down to the deck below. The tandem Aqua Racer slide allows guests to race side-by-side on inner tubes for more than 360 ft., with a semitransparent section that provides stunning ocean views as guests twist and turn to the finish line.
With these “exciting, different innovations, we are checking off every box,” says Andy Stuart, president and CEO for Norwegian Cruise Line.
Junior cruisers can splash around the Kids’ Aqua Park complete with splash pads, water cannons, tipping buckets and slides. The little ones will enjoy the Splash Academy, the fleet’s award-winning complimentary youth program centrally-located on Deck 5. The Splash Academy will offer supervised activities for children ages three to 12 with programming including conservation-minded games, a circus spectacular celebration, jungle-themed nights and more.
Teens ages 13 to 17 will enjoy their own space aboard Norwegian Bliss at Entourage on deck 5, adjacent to the ship’s arcade. The exclusive teen space features plush lounge furniture, gaming stations, foosball, air hockey and a dance floor with neon lighting. Even tiny cruisers, ages six months to just under three years old, will have a dedicated space to enjoy aboard Norwegian Bliss with the fleet’s largest Guppies playroom, where early years coordinators will host sensory-play activities for parents and babies including messy play, exploration, music and movement. In line with its youth programming across the fleet, Norwegian Bliss will also offer a wide range of family-friendly activities for guests to enjoy including family balloon twisting, interactive games and a Family Glow Party.
“With the Bliss, we are debuting innovations and combining them with the things passengers really love,” says Stuart.
While the kids are away, adults can play during live performances, deck parties at Spice H2O or at the ship’s expansive casino featuring hundreds of slot machines and table games. There will also be a Mandara Spa located on deck 16 aft with 24 treatment rooms, a full-service salon and a barbershop, fitness center and thermal suite.
Everyone, however, can come together for meals at the ship’s many restaurants, including signature Norwegian favorites as well as exclusive new concepts. For the example, guests will be able to tap their boots to the beat of live contemporary pop country music each night as they indulge in authentic Texas barbeque at the all-new Texas Smokehouse, Q. Keeping up with culinary trends, this a la carte specialty restaurant will offer generous portions of sides and starters including deviled eggs with natural air cured ham, fresh cheddar and breadcrumb-crusted mac-n-cheese and baked sweet potatoes smothered in pecan honey butter and cinnamon, as well as a selection of brisket, ribs, chicken and sausages freshly smoked over hickory, oak and pecan woods.
With a wide variety of accommodations including luxurious suites in The Haven by Norwegian, Studio staterooms for solo travelers with virtual ocean views, and new connecting staterooms ideal for large groups and families, there will be plenty of ways for guests to custom design their own bliss.
During her inaugural summer season, Norwegian Bliss will sail weekly 7-day Alaska cruises each Saturday from Pier 66 in Seattle. In a nod to the ship’s homeport of Seattle, guests aboard Norwegian Bliss can warm up for their glacier walk with a caramel macchiato at the full-service Starbucks store on board the Norwegian Bliss, because as Stuart says, “you can’t base a ship in Seattle for the summer without having a Starbucks.”
The ship’s itinerary will feature calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, British Columbia, along with scenic glacier cruising. Norwegian Bliss will sail her inaugural winter season beginning in November 2018, sailing 7-day Eastern Caribbean cruises each Saturday from PortMiami, featuring calls in St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas. For more information, visit bliss.ncl.com.
