Virgin Voyages Reveals More Renderings

Virgin Voyages has revealed a number of new interior renderings from multiple design firms. The first of three 2,860-guest Virgin Voyages cruise ships will offer cruises from PortMiami starting in early 2020.

“We chose these three design firms because of work they had done that we loved,” said Dee Cooper, Senior Vice President of Design for Virgin Voyages. “They are all great at clever design and creating spaces we knew would resonate with sailors.”

The designs start with The Athletic Club designed by Concrete Amsterdam (pictured above).

"We're sure our sailors will appreciate their focus on function when it comes to design,” said Tom McAlpin, President and CEO of Virgin Voyages. “We know our sailors will love the look, feel and the element of surprise they've created as well.”

The approach to The Athletic Club reflects another innovative notion with its raised jogging track that seems to float above the ship, rendered in an eye-catching shade of Virgin signature red, the company said. A massively unexpected catamaran-inspired net for people watching is also featured here, for lounging above it all. It’s the perfect cross-section of athletic meets relaxation meets socializing, according to Virgin.

Next, pictured above is the elevated Mexican restaurant designed by Tom Dixon.

"These interior design architects are responsible for some of the most talked about travel spaces in the world," Virgin said. "With this dream team’s vision, sailors will be enchanted by a series of sleek yacht-like spaces, classic nautical accents, inventive surprises and nods to Virgin’s British heritage."

Above, the Manor (nightclub) was designed by Roman & Williams and is trendy as ever.

"Nightclubs on ships don’t tend to focus on atmosphere, as a good nightclub should. Lighting, navigation, hidden and open spaces, especially for dancing. We decided to go with Roman and Williams here because of the strength of places they've done like the Boom Boom Room [in the Standard Hotel in NYC]. They know to create an atmospheric space," said Cooper. 

The Dock, pictured above, was designed by Roman & Williams. The Dock is an outdoor lifestyle space with a focus on comfort, social life and an appreciation for the ship's gorgeous views.

At Virgin Voyages, the vision has always been to create a “ship of contrasts,” made up of one-part refined and one-part casual, the company said.

There is also a VIP area, as pictured above and designed by Tom Dixon.

Meyer Turku Expanding and Hiring

With an order book stretching into 2024, Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku is investing €200 million in infrastructure improvements, new technologies, an expanded design team, and a sustained staffing ramp up for at least the next five years, a company spokesman said Wednesday.

A new 120-meter crane looms over the shipbuilder’s drydock, where crews are assembling TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 2 ahead of a 2019 delivery.

When the big blue crane goes online this summer, it will be able to lift 1,200 tons — twice that of the yard’s current lifter. 

Pieces of Costa’s Smeralda sit in open-sided warehouses within earshot of construction for new steel cutting lines. Half of a 500-meter hall is ripped apart while the new technology is installed.

Crews in blue coveralls craft steel sheets for Smeralda’s superstructure in the other side of the hall. When the plasma-cutting robots are ready the crews will move over and this side will be ripped up. There’s a joke around the yard that shipbuilding has gotten much easier: Robots do all the work while people are simply there to make them comfortable.

That’s far from true, of course. There’s plenty of people work to be done. There were some grumbles when the machines took over obvious jobs — ten men sandblasting is now two pushing buttons to start and stop their mechanical colleagues — but most humans are being retrained for other, more engaging work. Furthermore, Meyer Turku is on a hiring tear, looking to grow their in-house staff of around 1,900 to 4,000, said Tapani Mylly, the yard’s communications manager. It’s not an easy task as the working language at Meyer Turku is Finnish, one of the world’s less common tongues.

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft bought the facility from struggling Korean-owner STX Finland in 2014, acquiring 100 percent ownership a year later. With seven generations of shipbuilding know how the Meyer family has turned Turku’s fortune’s around considerably. “The previous owner was not interested in making investments,” Mylly said. “A family-owned company is able to make decisions very fast — around the breakfast table. ... When decisions need to be made there is no need to contact Korea.”

The yard is also adding steel treatment facilities, more panel lines and storage areas, further IT and automation, and enhanced in-house design capabilities to reduce reliance on subcontractors. That said, about 800 subcontractor companies work on each ship — so many that the city of Turku is considering zoning an industrial park outside the shipyard for them.

If it’s built, Meyer Turku CEO Jan Meyer would see his subcontractors each day when bicycling into work from the city centre.

Royal Caribbean unveils overhauled Independence of the Seas

The Observatorium, an escape room game, is part of the Royal Amplified package that was added to Independence of the Seas. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

ABOARD THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS -- In a two-day preview cruise for British, Irish and European travel agents, Royal Caribbean International unveiled changes from a 30-day, $110 million renovations of the Independence of the Seas that eliminated a half dozen venues and functions.

Among the venues that were axed, moved or drastically altered were the ship's chapel, mini-golf course, photo gallery, a juice bar, the disco and the Sabor restaurant.

The Independence is the first ship to gain Royal Caribbean's new Royal Amplified package of amenities, the most prominent of which is the bungee trampoline attraction Sky Pad.

The overhaul, which included $16 million in marine and technical work, is believed to be the most Royal Caribbean has ever spent in a single ship renovation.

The Sky Pad, a bungee trampoline apparatus used with virtual reality goggles, adds a new dimension to the profile of the Independence of the Seas. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

A favourite in the U.K. market, the 10-year-old Independence will sail summers from Southampton and winters in the Caribbean.

The biggest change to the 152,000-gross-ton ship is the addition of a package of activities on the upper rear deck, including the Sky Pad, two tubular water slides and some lesser items, such as the Sky Climber apparatus and some hammocks and swings. The ship's FlowRider is also in the area.

To make room, the mini-golf course was relocated to the upper deck on the bow, and a bar and some storage lockers for sports equipment were eliminated.

The multi-coloured perforated dome of the Sky Pad alters the profile of the Independence and gives guests a chance to bounce on one of four personal-sized trampolines while watching programs on virtual-reality goggles. It cost roughly $5 million to develop and install.

Royal Caribbean officials aboard were excited about the reception for the Playmakers Bar & Arcade, an expansive sports bar that attracted an overflow crowd for a soccer match. Playmakers were built out of the old photo gallery on Deck 4, which has been relocated and downsized as a digital outlet.

High atop the ship on Deck 15, in a hidden space where the chapel used to be, Royal Caribbean has created a puzzle room attraction called the Observatorium, in which game players have a limited time to figure out how to escape from the room.

A new casual restaurant, Fish & Ships, serving deep-fried seafood, was added where a juice bar used to be on the pool deck. Another new restaurant, the sushi and teppanyaki concept Izumi, has been added, replacing Sabor, a Mexican restaurant that wasn't doing very well, said Royal Caribbean president Michael Bayley. Izumi was carved out of the top floor of a two-level disco, while the bottom floor was rebuilt as new accommodations.

The children's water play area on the Independence, formerly the H20 Zone, has been enlarged and improved as the Splashaway Bay.

A former cigar lounge outside the Star Lounge has been repurposed as the library, which was formerly located near the Atrium Bar.

Another component of Royal Amplified will be the Sugar Beach candy store, launched on the Symphony of the Seas last month and now open on the Independence.

New swing chairs on the Independence of the Seas were part of a $110 million overhaul. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

Bayley said a total of 107 new cabins have been added to the Independence, mostly by building a new cabin block at the front of the ship above the gym, but also from squeezing space in the refurbishment to add a cabin or two here and there.

Royal Caribbean's next ship to receive the Royal Amplified treatment, the Mariner of the Seas, is already in drydock and will emerge to serve the short-cruise market from South Florida this summer. It will be followed by Navigator of the Seas.

Bayley said Royal Amplified will touch 10 Voyager-, Freedom- and Oasis-class ships over the next three years at a budgeted cost of $900 million.

Carnival Corp Inks Deal to Develop Dubai Cruise Terminal

Carnival Corporation has signed a deal with Meraas for the Dubai Cruise Terminal, which will become the company's primary hub for its homeporting and transit operations in the region, according to a statement. 

The partnership will also result in both parties "working together to identify and grow the cruise tourism business in the Arabian Gulf region," with operations starting in late 2020.

Speaking on the agreement, Arnold W. Donald, Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation said: “We have a long history in Dubai with our world-leading cruise brands. We are excited to be part of this important venture that will drive new tourism opportunities for Dubai and the region through cruising.”

Carnival Corporation will launch new cruises from “Dubai Cruise Terminal” and aims to attract new source markets from India and China, the company said.

The cruise terminal is designed as a strategic maritime centre, providing easy access to and from the city, while offering passengers an unparalleled view of iconic landmarks, such as Ain Dubai and the upcoming Dubai Lighthouse, as well as the Dubai’s stunning urban skyline.

Dubai Harbour will be home to two cruise terminal buildings, spanning a total of 30,000 square meters, joined by a single quay of about 1 kilometer, capable of accommodating up to three cruise ships concurrently, including Carnival Corporation’s newest and most advanced cruise ships, as well as up to 13,200 passengers at a time. In anticipation of an upsurge in cruises, Meraas has planned for the addition of two more terminal buildings that will increase capacity to six cruise ships at the same time.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that mega projects being implemented in the UAE are reinforcing the country’s profile globally as a model for sustainable growth driven by diversification, innovation and productive partnerships with the private sector.

“We welcome visitors from across the world and provide them with an exceptional tourism experience. We want them to leave with lasting memories that they can share in their countries and communities. The continuous development of infrastructure has enabled our country to be a destination of choice in the region. Supported by the talent and creativity of our people, I am confident that we will be able to establish global leadership in several sectors. The UAE will continue to be a symbol of progress and prosperity,” Sheikh Mohammed added.

HH Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he approved the "Dubai Cruise Terminal" as the main hub for cruise tourism in Dubai. His Highness also attended the signing ceremony of a strategic partnership agreement between Meraas and Carnival Corporation that aims to transform Dubai into a major regional maritime tourism hub, according to a statement. 

Under the agreement, signed by His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman of Meraas, and Arnold W. Donald, Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation, the companies will collaborate across several strategic areas including port development, terminal management and new cruise development opportunities at Dubai Harbour and the broader region.

Norwegian Bliss Becomes Largest Cruise Ship to Transit the Expanded Panama Canal

Photo: Norwegian Bliss transits the Expanded Panama Canal, May 14, 2018. Photo: Panama Canal Authority

Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Bliss on Monday became the biggest cruise ship to transit the Expanded Panama Canal.

The 168,000 gross ton cruise ship has a total length of 325.9 m (1,069.2 ft), beam 41.4 m (135.8 ft) and draft of 8.3 m (27.2 ft).

Norwegian Bliss was delivered by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft in March and, last month, began a 15-day itinerary from Miami, Florida, through the Panama Canal and along the west coast of North and Central America to its final destination in the Port of Los Angeles, California. The vessel will this serve the Alaska region until the end of the cruise season, after which it will reposition itself in the Caribbean.

Photo: Panama Canal Authority

The Panama Canal expects to receive approximately 236 cruise ships through the Panamax and Neopanamax Locks during the 2017-2018 cruise season, which officially began in October.

In April 2017, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder became the first cruise ship to transit the Expanded Canal.

Norwegian Bliss third ship of the Breakaway Plus class of the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and has the passenger capacity of about 4,000.

Photo: Panama Canal Authority

Carnival Unveils Largest Operations Center in Industry

PHOTO: Carnival Operations Center (Photos courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

Carnival Cruise Line has previewed its new Fleet Operations Center (FOC) in Miami. The 35,000 square-foot facility is the largest and most advanced in the cruise industry. It’s designed to offer around the clock monitoring of the line’s 26 cruise ships.

The FOC’s most impressive features were on display at a ribbon cutting ceremony and interactive demonstration. They include a 74-foot-long video wall made up of 57 LED screens. The high-definition wall displays the status of all ships, including weather, itinerary updates, safety, engine and environmental updates.

State-of-the-art tracking and data-analysis provide real-time information about the status of each ship. Ports, logistics, guest operations and several other functions are monitored, as well.

Seating in the FOC is arranged in “pods” according to ship classes, to facilitate communication and teamwork.

“In designing the FOC, we combined best practices from the military, government and industry to achieve a generational leap in facility design, sophisticated technology and utilization, creating the largest and most advanced fleet operations centre in the industry,” said Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our guests and crew, and this new facility enhances our already comprehensive approach to safety and operational excellence.”

Carnival built custom tools for the FOC, including proprietary software applications “Neptune” and “Argos.” Argos is a knowledge management tool which gathers information from thousands of data points to facilitate communication. Neptune analyzes navigational safety data. It enables efficiencies in nautical operations, procedural optimization and sustainability.

“The FOC brings together real-time information for decision making. Integrated shoreside teams support our shipboard officers to act quickly and decisively while significantly increasing the operational efficiency of our ships,” said Gus Antorcha, Carnival Cruise Line’s chief operating officer.

Carnival partnered with Constant Technologies, Inc., a design firm specializing in operations centres. The design of the FOC features an open concept floor plan with sustainable furnishings and ergonomic features such as blue ceiling lighting to decrease eye fatigue. Desks are sitting/stand ready and carpeting is made from recycled fishnets. The FOC also features multiple conference rooms that can be linked to the main LED wall. They are intended for use by support teams in the event of any incidents at sea.

The Miami facility is the third and largest in Carnival Corporation’s global FOC network. Additional facilities are located in Seattle and Hamburg.

Should the need arise, the Miami FOC can monitor the entire 103-ship fleet of parent company Carnival Corporation.

Norwegian Bliss Launches Month-Long Inaugural Celebrations

Norwegian Bliss in Ponta Delgada Azores. (Photo by Dave Jones)

Norwegian Bliss has begun her month-long inaugural celebration in the US.

Now on her way to Miami, the sixteenth and newest vessel in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet arrived in New York City on Thursday, May 3. The ship will then call in Los Angeles and Seattle, where her christening will take place on May 30.

The two-day Norwegian Bliss inaugural preview in New York included brand partners, media, and industry representatives. The ship’s godfather, nationally-syndicated radio personality Elvis Duran, was on hand, as well. Guests enjoyed a performance of the line’s original musical theatre show, ¡HAVANA!.

A cocktail reception on board featured an appearance by Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio. The two are original members of The Four Seasons, the group that inspired the Tony award-winning musical Jersey Boys. The evening ended with the Norwegian Bliss premier of Jersey Boys in Bliss Theater.

“Norwegian has been committed to providing our guests with the finest entertainment at sea and we have elevated this commitment by introducing Jersey Boys and ¡HAVANA! onboard Norwegian Bliss,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “It has been such an honour to have icons in the music and theatre world partner with and join us on this inaugural tour.”

Norwegian Bliss will sail a preview cruise out of PortMiami from May 8 to 10. Special guests include the hull artist, Wyland, the godfather, Duran, as well as television personalities.

After the Miami cruise, Norwegian Bliss will cross the Panama Canal, making history as the largest cruise ship to ever do so. Preview events will take place in Los Angeles from May 25 to 27. The ship will then travel to Seattle. After the christening on May 30, Norwegian Bliss will sail a three-day exhibition cruise.

Norwegian Bliss will begin a series of seven-day Alaska cruises June 2. Calls include Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, British Columbia. For the fall/winter season, Norwegian Bliss will sail to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles. She’ll also sail to the Eastern Caribbean from Miami.

In 2019, Norwegian Bliss will return to New York City. From there, she’ll sail seven-day voyages to the Bahamas and Florida, as well as the southern and western Caribbean.

Norwegian: Revenue Management System Helps Booking Curve

A propriety revenue management platform at Norwegian Cruise Line has been key to the development of the optimal booking curve, according to a company presentation.

Norwegian said its revenue management strategy starts with deployment, which is the number one driver of pricing. Deployment decisions have helped lead an expansion into premium destinations for the brand.

On premium deployments, the company follows an itinerary-specific port optimization plan, while leveraging its own ports and reviewing and improving the “lowest performing products.”

After deployment and the stateroom mix, Norwegian said staying on an optimal booking curve is the next most important tool for driving pricing as the revenue management system will dynamically optimize each sailings’ booking curve.

As sailings near, the company will make investments in marketing to drive demand.

“Value is now our primary promotional lever, not price,” the company said.

In the big picture, disciplined capacity growth has allowed the company to fill ships and command pricing strength.

One more Breakaway-plus class ship, the Norwegian Encore, follows in 2019. After that, it’s four smaller Leonardo-class newbuilds.

The 3,300-guest ships are slightly smaller, at 140,000-tons, and will have a footprint to allow for more deployment options, the company said, including unserved and underserved markets.

Unserved markets for Norwegian, according to its own presentation, include Ft. Lauderdale, Mobile, Baltimore, Texas, Charleston and Jacksonville.

Underserved markets include Alaska, Los Angeles, Australia, Tampa, Cuba and Boston.

Carnival Horizon a 'Vista Sista' but with notable differences

The outdoor serving station at Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/Brewhouse. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

ONBOARD THE CARNIVAL HORIZON -- Before this ship got its official name, Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy liked to joke that it would be called the Vista Sista.

The two ships are truly as similar as siblings, with just a few wrinkles separating the 2016-delivered Carnival Vista from 2018's Horizon.

One of the most noticeable differences can be discerned as soon as guests board the 133,500-gross-ton Horizon, however. The Horizon is the first Carnival ship to be equipped with "destination-based" elevators.

The Funship Towel Animal mascot strolling the decks. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

The system, which was initially intended for the Vista, puts all the elevator floor commands on a touchscreen in the waiting area, rather than having them clustered on a panel inside the elevator itself.

Passengers punch in their destination, and a software program assigns them the next elevator that is headed to their destination floor. The idea is to cut down on wait times.

For anyone who hasn't encountered the system on land previously, it takes a day or two to get comfortable with not having the traditional buttons to push inside the car. The walls next to the elevator doors look oddly empty, and one is left to trust that the system really will deliver you to the desired destination.

Many of the features introduced on the Vista have been faithfully reproduced on the Horizon without any variation, including the Imax theatre, the Family Harbor Lounge and the amazing Dreamscape columns that anchor the main atrium and the casino bar.

Up top, the nifty SkyRide recumbent bikes suspended from their dual tracks circle the funnel just like on the Vista.

At first glance, the Havana Cabana section seems like another duplicate, but the warren of tropically themed suites has been enlarged, giving it 79 cabins, 18 more than on the Vista.

On the top deck, the WaterWorks children's water park has been festively rebranded with Dr. Seuss themes, with Seuss characters prowling the premises. Kids can choose between the red-and-white Cat in the Hat slide or the blue Fun Things slide. There's also a 300-gallon Cat in the Hat tipping bucket.

Stairs to the water slides at the Dr. Seuss WaterWorks. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

In the atrium, Carnival has added new retail names such as Michael Kors, Hublot and Kate Spade. But the biggest addition for the Horizon is Victoria's Secret store, the lingerie chain's first full store at sea.

Perhaps the greatest area of innovation on the Horizon has been in the food offerings, starting with Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/Brewhouse, a name that requires some unpacking to understand.

The Guy is Guy Fieri, the TV chef who has created a burger concept for Carnival and also some complimentary BBQ pit stops on a few Carnival vessels. The Horizon is the first ship to have a proper barbecue restaurant, which accounts for the Smokehouse part of the name. It is open for free lunch on embarkation and sea days and at dinner with a la carte pricing each evening of the cruise.

The Brewhouse is a relocation of the brewery on the Vista from the RedFrog Pub into the BBQ restaurant. Carnival's brewmaster has created four craft beers intended to complement the smoky food.

Another area where Carnival has combined venues is Fahrenheit 555, the steakhouse speciality restaurant that now has piano music at dinner. That was accomplished by relocating Piano Bar 88 from an area down the hall on the Vista to a space immediately adjacent to the steakhouse, where a private dining room sits on the Vista.

Bonsai Teppanyaki is Carnival's foray into a Japanese griddle restaurant. Photo Credit: Tom Stieghorst

A wall divider between the piano bar and the restaurant is opened during early evening when dinner begins.

"You have live piano music while you're in the steakhouse," Duffy said. "And then we close that off and go back to the piano bar after dinner."

Another change in the steakhouse is dessert presentation, which is done with flair and brio at the table.

The Bonsai Sushi area has been expanded to incorporate Carnival's first attempt at teppanyaki, the Japanese griddle restaurant with performing chefs who plate food with a circus-like theatricality.

MSC Seaview's preview cruise cancelled

The MSC Seaview is slightly behind schedule, and will now be delivered on June 4, forcing the cancellation of a preview cruise scheduled June 7 through 10.

While a nearly 4,000-strong team at the Fincantieri shipyard is working 24/7 around the clock to finish the ship for her inaugural season, she will now require a few extra days of final fitting," MSC Cruises said.

MSC said that the inauguration ceremony will no longer take place in Civitavecchia, the port city for Rome. Instead, the ceremony will be moved to Genoa, where the ship is scheduled to take its initial cruise on June 10.

Following delivery, the Seaview is scheduled to cruise in the Mediterranean this summer. It will move to South America for the 2018-19 winter season.

Norwegian Sun starts Cuba Cruises from Port Canaveral

The first cruise from Port Canaveral to visit Cuba is expected to dock in Havana on May 9.

Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sun is doing a series of four-day voyages from the central Florida port, on an itinerary that makes a call in Key West before overnighting in Havana.

The 1,936-passenger Sun is coming off a drydock and will be berthed at the port's Cruise Terminal 10, recently renovated at a cost of more than $35 million.

Norwegian continues to sail five-day cruises from Miami to Cuba on the Norwegian Sky.

Norwegian Cruise Line Invites Guests to Cruise Into Savings

Spring is the time to save with Norwegian Cruise Line. (photo courtesy Norwegian Cruise Line)

Cruise fans have yet another reason to book a getaway with Norwegian Cruise Line this spring.

The company just announced it’s offering a bonus onboard credit of up to $1,000 on select cruises between now and May 17, 2018. The credit is also combinable with the cruise line’s Free at Sea promotion, providing guests as much as $3,700 in value on a cruise.

Norwegian has also extended its Free at Sea promotion through May 17. The signature value-added promotion provides guests who book a new three-day or longer cruise the choice of up to five free offers.

Options include free unlimited open bar, $50 credit per stateroom that can be used for port excursions, a free speciality dining package, 250-minute internet package or Norwegian’s Friends & Family Sail Free, which allows the third and fourth guests to sail complimentary on select cruises.

Offers are based on the stateroom category selected by passengers. For instance, those who reserve an inside cabin or Norwegian’s studio staterooms, which are specifically designed for solo travellers, receive one free offer.

Ocean view, balcony, and mini-suite category rooms include up to two free offers. Guests who book Norwegian’s ultimate luxurious offerings, which include butler service, will receive all five free amenities.

Free at Sea All-Inclusive All-Inclusive has also been extended through May 17. This offer is aimed at new three, four or the five-day Bahamas or Cuba voyages on Norwegian Sun or Norwegian Sky. Guests on these trips can take advantage of the promotion, in addition to the already included complimentary unlimited open bar.

The promotion allows guests to choose up to five onboard amenities. Options include a $50 speciality dining credit per stateroom, a $50 credit per stateroom that can be applied toward shore excursions, 100-minute Internet package, a photo package with ten free images, or Norwegian’s Friends & Family Sail Free offer that allows the third and fourth guests to sail complimentary on select cruises.

The Free at Sea Hawaii promotion, which has been extended like the other promotions, is designed for those who book a new cruise vacation aboard Pride of America, the only ship to sail a seven-day inter-island itinerary roundtrip from Honolulu all year.

The promotion offers include a free one-night pre-cruise hotel stay with an option to select reduced airfare starting at $399 from select gateways, a free specialty dining package, free pre-paid service charges for the first and second guest in the stateroom, free $50 credit per stateroom that can be applied towards shore excursions in each port, or Norwegian’s Friends & Family Sail Free offer, allowing the third and fourth guests in each stateroom to sail for free on many 2018/2019 sail dates. Guests who book a suite aboard Pride of America receive all five offers.

The Norwegian Bliss: Big race track, big milkshakes

Travel Weekly's Johanna Jainchill (foreground) driving a go-kart on the Norwegian Bliss.

NEW YORK -- The Norwegian Bliss' arrival here on May 3 marked the U.S. debut of the largest racetrack at sea and the Tony award-winning Broadway Show "Jersey Boys" on a cruise ship.

Elvis Duran, the morning radio show host who is the ship's godfather, hosted his May 4 show from the Bliss and along with his entourage, spent the weekend taking full advantage of all the ship had to offer. Duran was spotted racing around the go-kart track; eating barbecue at Q, the line's new Texas smokehouse; and dining at Los Lobos, the second outpost of Norwegian's upscale Mexican restaurant. 

Brisket and sides at the Q Texas Smokehouse. Photo Credit: Johanna Jainchill

"This is a whole new time for cruising," Duran told the media, adding that it's not about "blue hairs" and "buffets" anymore. He gave a specific shout-out to the ship's crew: "The people who work here are the magic of the Norwegian Bliss. "

Also onboard was Franki Valli, whose story is portrayed in "Jersey Boys." He caught the Bliss' production of the musical, featuring hits by Valli's 1960s-era band, The Four Seasons. They include "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)," "Sherry," "Walk Like a Man," and "Working My Way Back to You."

The two-level go-kart racetrack occupies the top aft of the ship. The track made its debut for Norwegian on the China-based Norwegian Joy, so this iteration is a first for the North American cruise market and the largest at sea, about 40% bigger than the Joy's. Cruisers here were excited about the $7 ride, on which up to ten electric go-karts can race each other day and night. Two-person cars allow young children to ride with someone else.

Other firsts on Norwegian's 16th ship is Coco's, an a la carte dessert venue with several types of house-made chocolates, gelato and sundaes. Coco's serves Instagram-worthy Mad Milk Shakes, which are definitely sized for sharing. The $14.99 Snickers Bar has pieces of its namesake candy bar, chocolate gelato, marshmallow and whipped cream and is garnished with a jumbo rainbow lollipop.

At Coco's, two Mad Milk Shakes: the Snickers Bar and Cookies 'N Cream. Photo Credit: Johanna Jainchill

The Bliss also brought to the U.S. the open-air laser tag course that debuted on the Joy, and Norwegian's first Starbucks cafe, in a nod to its Seattle homeport.

The 4,000-passenger, 167,800-gross-ton Bliss has the line's largest Haven area, which has 50 luxury suites within the Haven complex and another 30 outside which offer access to its facilities and perks, such as a private restaurant, bar, concierge, lounge,and the two-story Haven Courtyard with a retractable roof over a pool, two whirlpools and a sundeck.

The Bliss' Haven area has a two-story Horizon Lounge with panoramic views, designed with Alaska sailings in mind.

Norwegian Takes Delivery of New Bliss

Norwegian Cruise Line has officially taken delivery of the new 167,800-ton Norwegian Bliss in Bremerhaven, Germany, following a handover from Meyer Werft shipyard.

The Norwegian Bliss is the 11th ship built for Norwegian Cruise Line by the Papenburg-based shipyard.

“This is our 13th cruise ship we delivered to Norwegian within the last 15 years. Our team made has done a great job. I am proud and thankful for their contribution”, said Tim Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft.

Following the delivery, the ship will sail for Southampton, where the ship will be presented to the public for the first time. After a crossing, she will be previewed to media and VIPs in New York and christened later in May in Seattle ahead of her debut summer season in Alaska.

Norwegian Bliss - Main Data

Tonnage	167,800 GRT
Overall length	333.46 m
Width	41.4 m
Number of decks	20
Draught	8.40 m
Machine output MAN	3x 12 V 2x 14V total 76,800 kW
Propulsion power	44,000 kW
Speed	23.2 kn
Passengers	3998
No. of passenger cabins	2043
Number of outside cabins (incl. suites)	1599
No. of inner cabins	444
Crew max.	1,716
Theatre seating capacity	858
No. of restaurants	18
No. of bars/lounges	12
Total weight of applied paint approx.	300 t
Total length of installed cables.	2,200 km
Total length of installed pipes approx.	400 km
Flag	Bahamas
Class	DNVGL