Keel Laid for Norwegian Bliss

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has held a keel laying for Norwegian Cruise Line’s latest newbuilding, the Norwegian Bliss, at the yard’s facility in Papenburg, Germany.

During the ceremony, one of the keel blocks of the 167,800 gross ton vessel was lifted into the covered building hall, signifying a major milestone in the ship’s construction.

Norwegian Bliss is due for delivery in April 2018 and will be the first cruise ship custom built with features and amenities for the Alaska cruise experience, the cruise line said.

 “We are overjoyed to celebrate the keel laying of Norwegian Bliss, our sixteenth ship and sure to be our most innovative ship to date,” Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and Chief Executive Officer, said.

The third ship in the line’s Breakaway-Plus class, Norwegian Bliss will accommodate 4,000 guests and will be the 12^th ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet to be built by Meyer Werft.

During its inaugural summer 2018 season, Norwegian Bliss will sail weekly seven-day Alaska cruises each Saturday from the recently expanded Pier 66 Cruise Terminal in Seattle. The ship’s itinerary will feature calls in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, British Columbia, along with scenic glacier cruising.