Bernadette Chua

It’s just weeks away from the launch of Norwegian Cruise Lines’ latest ship, the Norwegian Bliss and she has emerged from the building dock in Germany.

Designed to sail around Alaska, she is now in the final stages of construction – she’ll be kitted out with some of the latest features including a two-story race car track, a laser tag course, dozens of restaurants and much more.

She’s the third Breakaway Plus ship and she’ll accommodate around 4,000 passengers. The float out was also revealed the ship’s signature hull artwork designed by world-renowned marine life artists and conservationist, Wyland.

Best known for his marine life paintings, sculptures and grand scale murals, or “Whaling Walls,” Norwegian Bliss’ hull design is named “Cruising with the Whales” and features a stunning image of a mother humpback whale and her calf as the centerpiece of the design which reflects the Alaskan wildlife.

Norwegian Bliss will also be the first ship to be built with features for keen amateur naturalists like a 180-degree Observation Lounge where guests can see whale breaches and the stunning scenes of Alaska and Canada.

She will also be the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to make her debut in Seattle, with cruises beginning May 2018.  Norwegian Bliss will offer weekly seven-day cruises to see America’s last frontier with ports-of-call including Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, along with scenic glacier cruising.

“Our partners at Meyer Werft have done an excellent job realising our vision for a ship designed to experience Alaska and the Caribbean like never before,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line president and chief executive officer.

“We are counting down the days until her official debut in Seattle summer, where guests will be able to race around the world’s largest two-level race track at sea against the backdrop of Alaska’s wild frontier, and enjoy other first-at-sea experiences.”

Following preview events in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, Norwegian Bliss will sail into Seattle for her official christening on May 30, with North-American summer cruises to Alaska beginning June 2.

She will spend her Northern-Hemisphere summer seasons with seven-day cruises to Alaska, and North-American autumn seasons sailing to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles.

In the North-American winter of 2018 she will sail to the Caribbean from Miami, and in the 2019 Northern-Hemisphere autumn/winter season she will cruise from New York City to Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean.