DRMiami: Norwegian Bliss, the first cruise ship custom-built with features and amenities for the ultimate Alaska cruise experience, departed from Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, on March 13 for her conveyance along the Ems River and reached Eemshaven, Netherlands, on March 14.
After arriving at Eemshaven, she took on additional provisions and crew members, before heading toward the North Sea for technical and nautical sea trials. This will be one of the final phases before Norwegian Cruise Line takes delivery of their sixteenth ship on April 19, 2018 in Bremerhaven, Germany. Norwegian Bliss completed another key milestone with only two months until her highly- anticipated arrival to Seattle, Washington, where she will offer seven-day Alaska cruises throughout the summer.
“Today marks another historical moment for Norwegian Bliss, the most highly anticipated ship of the Norwegian Breakaway Plus class, the most successful class of our company’s history,” said Andy Stuart, President and Chief Executive Officer, Norwegian Cruise Line. “When she arrives at Seattle in June, guests will be excited to experience many new first-at- sea activities, including the largest two-level race track at sea, new dining experiences such as Q Texas Smokehouse and Coco’s a chocolate and treat shop, the Tony award -winning Broadway Show Jersey Boys and much more.”
Measuring 994-ft- long, 136-ft- wide, and at a gross registered tonnage of 168,028, she embarked on her journey down the Ems River and up to the North Sea in reverse, making the narrow passage through Meyer Werft’s sea lock, with less than four feet clearance. This very careful manoeuvre took about two hours at a speed of only 0.2 knots. The precise navigation included a team of experienced Ems River pilots, navigation officers, the yard captain and the local German waterway authorities.
After passing through the sea lock, Norwegian Bliss continued along the river stern first, which helps with the manoeuvrability of the ship and is a key component when navigating her through such narrow passages. Her journey to Eemshaven included cruising through the narrow passages of the Friesenbrücke Bridge in Weener; Jann Berghaus Bridge in Leer, and Ems- Barrier in Gandersum. Norwegian Bliss will then begin her passage across the Atlantic Ocean on April 21 and will arrive to the US on May 3, where she will begin her inaugural tour, the most extensive of any ship in Norwegian Cruise Line history.
Events will take place in New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles, and then will conclude with a christening ceremony on May 30 at the new Pier 66 at the Port of Seattle in Washington State, followed by her inaugural cruise. Following the preview events and christening, Norwegian Bliss will offer cruises to Alaska beginning June 2. She will spend her summer sailing seven-day cruises to Alaska, and fall season cruising to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. In winter of 2018 she will sail to the Caribbean from Miami, and in the 2019 fall/winter season she will cruise from New York City to Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean.
