Even before the delivery of the 155,873gt Norwegian Epic in 2010, Norwegian Cruise Line was planning a new breed of ship, culminating in the birth of the Breakaway Class. The 145,655gt Norwegian Breakaway commenced construction on 21st September 2011 and was delivered on 25th April 2013. Sistership Norwegian Getaway followed on 10th January 2014. No sooner had construction of the ‘Breakaway commenced than an expanded version of the class, to be known as Breakaway Plus, being around 10% larger with an extra deck to incorporate new innovations, had been announced. The first example arrived in the form of the 165,157gt Norwegian Escape in the late autumn of 2015. The next member of the class was to be the Norwegian Bliss but this was revised to the Norwegian Joy. The 167,725gt ship was tailored to the new Chinese cruise market and was delivered on 27th April 2017. Two slightly smaller, 150,695gt, Breakaway type vessels were also delivered in 2016 and 2017 as the Genting Dream and World Dream for Star Cruises. The latter was founded as an associate of the Malaysian Genting Group in 1993 with its corporate headquarters in Hong Kong. Star Cruises acquired Sun Cruises in 1999 and fully acquired Norwegian Cruise Line, including its subsidiaries Orient Lines and Norwegian Capricorn Line, in 2000. Prior to the purchase of NCL, Star Cruises had several other newbuilds planned or already under construction, but with the merger of the two companies, most of the new vessels joined the NCL fleet.

Shipyard Breakaway

Norwegian Cruise Line announced on 14th July 2014 that it had reached an agreement with Meyer Werft Gmbh of Germany to build two more Breakaway-Plus class cruise ships for delivery in the second quarter 2018 and the fourth quarter 2019. The contract price for both ships was stated as approximately Euro 1.6 billion. The first ship of this duo was assigned the name Norwegian Bliss and the keel laying ceremony for Hull No. S707 took place at Meyer Werft’s state of the art cruise ship factory at Papenburg on 24th May 2017. During the ceremony, the first of 90 blocks that would comprise the 168,028gt vessel was lifted into the covered building hall, officially marking the start of the ship’s assembly. NCL’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Andy Stuart, was present in the hall and laid the traditional lucky coin, etched with the outline of the ship’s signature hull scene designed by wildlife artist Wyland, before the first block was lowered into place. Readers may well be aware that each NCL ship has her own distinctive bow artwork and the Breakaway Class members are no exception. Perhaps the only distraction from these scenes is that the Artist’s name is carried forward on the bow whilst the ship’s name is shown along the vessel’s side, aft of the bow. The Norwegian Bliss provided the blank canvas for one of the world’s premier marine life artists, Wyland. Entitled “Cruising with the Whales,” the magnificent scene prominently features a mother humpback whale and her calf as the centrepiece, signifying the beauty of Alaska and the importance of conservation. Wyland specialises in iconic whale murals, marine life paintings and sculptures. The finished artwork on the ‘Bliss was revealed to the world on 17th February 2018 when the ship was floated out of the cavernous building dock at the shipyard. The uninitiated will think that the ship is named Wyland but of course her name is displayed further aft.

The Norwegian Bliss is the 12th NCL ship to be constructed by Meyer Werft, whose cruise ship building expertise was put on the map when P&O’s 69,840gt Oriana was delivered in 1995. The shipyard was founded in 1795 and is in its seventh generation of family ownership. The first car ferry, the Malmo, was built at Papenburg in 1964 and the first cruise ship was delivered in the form of Home Lines’ Homeric (2) in 1986. Bernard Meyer has been at the helm since 1982. The company began building iron ships with steam machines in 1872, an era when around 20 shipyards populated the Papenburg area. Today only Meyer Werft survives and the company also has a subsidiary, Neptun Werft, at Rostock (since 1997) and the blossoming Meyer Turku yard in Finland, another cruise ship specialist, acquired in 2014.

The Norwegian Bliss, dubbed the first cruise ship custom-built with features and amenities for the ultimate Alaska cruise experience, departed Meyer Werft’s fitting out quay at Papenburg, Germany on the night of 13th March 2018 for her conveyance along the River Ems, arriving at Eemshaven, The Netherlands, the following day. Once clear of the narrow sea lock at Meyer Werft, a manoeuvre that takes two hours, the ship was towed stern first down the river, passing through the narrow passages at Friesenbrücke in Weener, Jann Berghaus Brücke in Leer and the Ems-Barrier in Gandersum. The tug that trails the ship at the bow is attached to a “V-shaped” pontoon which cradles the ship’s bow and improves manoeuvrability during the slow passage. Once at Eemshaven the ship took on additional provisions and crew before heading out into the North Sea for technical and sea trials. The 16th member of the NCL fleet then proceeded to Bremerhaven’s Columbus Cruise Centre on the Columbuskaje. This terminal was built on the River Geeste around 1857 as Germany’s largest passenger port at that time, whilst the present facilities came into being from 1924.

A brand new terminal here will commence the construction phase of a €78.7 million project in early 2021 to enable it to easily handle the large cruise ships of today. On 19th April the Norwegian Bliss became the latest Papenburg newbuild to be handed over here and invited guests then converged on the terminal from across Europe and further afield to embark the ship for her first passenger carrying voyage. This departed at 19.30 that same evening bound for Southampton as the first part of her delivery voyage to Seattle.

Cruising Bliss

Whilst the ship gently eased into her stride during a mini heatwave on the North Sea, those aboard could put the facilities through their paces. The Norwegian Bliss boasts 20 decks, 16 of which offer a host of facilities and accommodation. Decks 5, 8 and 9-15 feature the majority of the 2,043 Staterooms that include a variety of grades including 19 Penthouses, 20 Spa Mini-Suites, 308 Mini-Suites, 1,088 Balcony Cabins, 111 Oceanview Staterooms, 374 inside cabins and 82 Studio cabins for the solo Traveller. The latter also have exclusive access to the Studio complex and exclusive Studio Lounge. More than 80% of the staterooms have a seaview while 40% of them have their own balconies. Forward on Decks 17-19 can be found The Haven, NCL’s signature “ship within a ship” luxury enclave that includes 26 Suites/Villas and 24 Courtyard Penthouses. The largest accommodation here comes in the form of two 135m2 The Haven Deluxe Owner‘s Suites, complete with 2 balconies, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room with dining area, Butler service and Concierge for a maximum occupancy of 6 guests. Other facilities here include the 100 seat/487m2 Vibe Beach Club, Haven Sundecks, Courtyard swimming pool, an exclusive 35 seat/218m2 lounge/bar, 104 seat/235m2 restaurant complete with alfresco option plus a stunning 35 seat/218m2 Horizon Lounge, with double height picture windows located forward on Decks 17/18 offering views out to sea.

With regard to dining options on the ship, NCL remains the innovator in cruise travel with a 51-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising, most notably with the introduction of Freestyle Cruising that revolutionised the industry by giving guests more freedom and flexibility. The company was founded as Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1966 by Knut Kloster and Ted Arison and initially employed one 830gt vessel offering low-cost Caribbean cruises. Ted Arison later founded Carnival Cruise Lines, while Knut Kloster acquired additional ships for Caribbean service. NCL has pioneered many firsts in the cruise industry and, in 1979, acquired the famous liner S.S. France and rebuilt her as the cruise ship S.S. Norway. Each of NCL’s present day ships has been built specifically for Freestyle Cruising so a multitude of restaurants replace the traditional main dining room format. Freestyle was born at a time when cruising etiquette was somewhat more rigid than it is nowadays. However, a minimal dress code is maintained and, although there are no formal nights with Freestyle, any night can be a formal night if the individual so wishes. Freestyle Cruising (F1.0) was initiated on 28th May 2000 with the first ship ready-built for F1.0 being the 78,309gt Norwegian Sun in 2001. Following the 2007 announcement aboard the then new 93,530gt Norwegian Gem, NCL began offering the enhanced Freestyle 2.0 (F2.0) from 2008 on its Jewel Class ships, including A La Carte dining in Speciality Restaurants where patrons paid a cover charge dining supplement (now known as A La Carte pricing). The Norwegian Bliss offers 19 dining venues, 8 of which are complimentary, with a total of 27 dining options between them, including Room Service. Situated Deck 6 forward is a brand new restaurant to NCL ships and, so far, exclusive to the ‘Bliss. The 223 seat/565m2 Q Texan Smokehouse offers superb Texas BBQ cuisine plus live music on stage. The largest of the complimentary table service restaurants, the 512 seat/1,099m2 Manhattan Room, is located aft on Deck 7, complete with an impressive high ceiling centrepiece that encompasses part of Deck 8 above plus a dance floor and stage. Bordering the upper reaches of the Manhattan Room on Deck 8 is the ever-popular 142 seat/405m2 Cagney’s Steakhouse on the port side and the 142 seat/420m2 Mexican cuisine Los Lobos restaurant to starboard with the A-List Bar separating them. Whilst we are on Deck 8, these restaurants form the aft area of The Waterfront, which runs along the promenade deck on both sides of the ship for around 70% of her length. The Waterfront was designed for the Breakaway Class ships as an early attempt to reconnect guests with the sea that surrounds them, in a similar way to the latest ship designs such as MSC’s Seaside Class and NCL’s next newbuild series, the 140,000gt Leonardo Class. So, the Waterfront promenades feature outside seating areas for the aforementioned two venues plus the 100 seat/227m2 Sugarcane Mojito Bar, 119 seat/291m2 Ocean Blue seafood restaurant, the 152 seat/278m2 La Cucina Italian restaurant, The Cavern Club, a 167 seat/297m2 venue based on the Liverpool club where The Beatles performed plus the Dolce Gelato ice cream parlour. The forward areas of The Waterfront feature the 94 seat/253m2 The District Brew House, where 24 draft beers are on tap along with 50 bottled varieties, and the Asian cuisine restaurant Food Republic. Within this 90 seat/257m2 venue guests can order from at-table electronic tablets. Both locations offer around 50% seating in a glazed conservatory area rather than the open air so as to keep guests clear of sea spray as they drink or dine. The other principle complimentary dining locations are the 282 seat/544m2 and 284 seat/282m2 restaurants Savor and Taste, aft on Deck 6. Other dining options aboard include Teppanyaki (Deck 6), The Local Bar & Grill (Deck 7 – known as O’ Sheehans on the other Breakaway ships) and Le Bistro French Restaurant. On Deck 16 forward is the large Garden Café self-service restaurant. The forward section is a mezzanine floor that looks out through the huge picture windows of the lounge below. The lounge in question is the sumptuous Observation Lounge, labelled as the largest such lounge on any cruise ship. Punctuated with stylish seating, furnishings and screens, the 180 degree lounge occupies around a third of Deck 15 port, starboard and forward. Three food counters are located in this area and what better than to enjoy breakfast whilst looking out on whichever scenery the ship is sailing through. Ranks of plush chez lounges also line the picture windows and a large model of the ship guards the port side entrance. A vibrant three deck atrium is located just aft of midships, Decks 6 to 8. At the lower level is the Social Comedy & Nightclub on one side and Coco’s 28 seat/65m2 confectionary and crepe outlet on the other. On the Norwegian Breakaway this area housed Le Bistro and the Headliners Comedy Club. Among other differences, on Deck 8 of the atrium on the ‘Breakaway could be found the Ice Bar whilst the ‘Bliss has the Sugarcane Mojito Bar here. Ironically an Ice Bar would perhaps have been quite appropriate for a ship cruising Alaska! The atrium’s centrepiece is a 9.35m x 3.92m x 8.35m LED chandelier, resembling a multi-coloured stalactite, by Preciosa Lighting. This is detailed with mesh plus crystal trimmings and twisted glass tubes. This impressive feature weighs around 4,000kg. The atrium levels are linked by suspended glass stairways illuminated in blue. Another two deck atrium and video wall can be found in the Guest Services area on Deck 6/7. This location is also home to the first purpose built Starbucks Coffee Shop on an NCL ship. The décor throughout the ship is of a contemporary style and easy on the eye, nothing too glitzy.

Entertainment on Track

The Norwegian Bliss provides many ways to entertain cruise-goers including the 858 seat Bliss Theatre on Decks 6/7 for shows such as Jersey Boys and Havana, the Bliss Casino on Deck 7 plus the Mandara Spa and two pools on Deck 16. The pool deck is also overlooked by a large video screen and sound system which doubles as a disco under the stars at night. Above the Aqua Park on Deck 16 can be found the 110m long tandem Aqua Racer water slide that drops from Deck 20 to Deck 17 on the starboard side of the vessel, just forward of the funnel. Guests can race side-by-side on inner tubes with a translucent section that provides stunning ocean views as guests twist and turn to the finish line. On the adjacent side is the Ocean Loops free fall water slide that drops from Deck 18 to Deck 16 via two exhilarating loops and carries Users 3.5m out over the side of the ship and 48m above the sea. It was only 12 years ago that NCL introduced the first bowling alley on a modern day cruise ship. The 93,530gt/2006 built Norwegian Pearl took this honour and a two-lane facility is carried by the ‘Bliss on Deck 8 by The Local. On Deck 20 forward can be found a Laser Tag course but the ship’s principle entertainment talking point is the two-level race track located aft of the funnel on Decks 18/19. The Norwegian Joy hosted the first race track at sea but that aboard the ‘Bliss is longer at 300m and wider to provide some scope for overtaking. Up to 10 battery powered Go-Karts go out on the track at any one time and can be remotely limited or stopped when incidents occur. The cars can achieve speeds of up to 43mph (70km/h) with up to 50 people an hour being handled at peak times. There is no age restriction on the Go-Karts, just a 1.2m height restriction. Two-seater Go-Karts are also available on a pre-booked basis for parents or guardians to take youngsters out. Anything more than a light drizzle will halt the track’s use so perhaps the Alaskan climate may limit this attraction’s potential. The finish line and pit lane are located on Deck 18 and the karting is priced at $5 each. The track on Deck 19 is open air with plenty of spectator viewing areas, day and night. Alas there is not the space available to discuss all that the ‘Bliss has to offer, but she has something for all ages. The stern area on Deck 17 provides a bar, more hot tubs, a stage area plus splendid views out across the ocean and the ship’s wake. This trail of white, blues and greens is generated by a diesel electric propulsion system powering two 20mW ABB Azipod XO units, with a trio of Brunvoll AS FU115 bow thrusters installed for manoeuvring. The Azipods and other services are powered by five main engines with a total output power of 102,900hp/76,800kW. These consist of two 22,520hp MAN B&W 14V48/60CR and three 19,300hp MAN B&W 12V48/60CR marine diesel engines. The engines use a common-rail injection system, which is suited for both heavy fuel oil and distillate fuels, and helps reduce fuel consumption and gas emissions. Four ABB propulsion transformers of 11,250kVA each and four distribution transformers of 2,500kVA each are fitted. The remaining 11 transformers, whose efficiency is between 550kVA and 2,500kVA, are fitted in different parts of the ship. Five Green Tech Marine (GTM) exhaust scrubbers are also installed and heat recovery systems for improved energy efficiency. The scrubbers are small, occupy little cabin space and other service areas and enable the ship to comply with the 0.1% sulphur limit in emission control areas (ECA).

Transatlantic Getaway

The 333.46m long, 48m beam and 8.72m draught Norwegian Bliss departed Southampton’s City Cruise Terminal just after 17.00 on 21st April following a one-day showcase event and having embarked passengers for the continued delivery voyage to America’s west coast. After a call at Ponta Delgada in the Azores the ship reached New York on 4th May to begin her inaugural tour, the most extensive of any ship in Norwegian Cruise Line history. Events took place in New York City, Miami (8th May), and Los Angeles (25th May) via a transit of the Panama Canal. The celebrations concluded with a christening ceremony on 30th May at the new Pier 66 in the Port of Seattle in Washington State, followed by her inaugural cruise to Alaska, the largest ship to cruise there from that port. The vessel’s Godfather was announced on 29th November 2017 as being nationally-syndicated radio and digital personality Elvis Duran. Following a three-day inaugural voyage with a call at the port of Victoria, British Columbia, the ‘Bliss returned to Seattle on 2nd June to then embark on her first seven-day voyage to Alaska. The ship’s autumn season will take her to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles whilst in winter 2018 she will sail the Caribbean from Miami. In the 2019 autumn/winter season she will cruise from New York City to Florida, the Bahamas and Caribbean. In an ever-changing cruise market, how long the Norwegian Bliss serves Alaska for remains to be seen but she is a fine addition to the NCL fleet and a credit to Tillberg Design and SMC Design who were responsible for how the ship looks internally. Many dismiss modern cruise ships as “blocks of flats” or worse but, like a modern office block or hotel, they are built for a purpose and if we, the potential passengers, did not demand balconies and sea views then their appearance could be very different. It is worth remembering how ships such as the Canberra and QE2 were disliked when they arrived on the scene yet both retired as huge icons in the world of passenger shipping. The steel cutting ceremony for the final ship in the series, the Norwegian Encore, (Build No. S.708) took place on 1st February 2018 in Papenburg and she will make her debut in November 2019. The four members of the Leonardo Class will then join the fleet from 2022 with options for two more in 2026/27. Like the Norwegian Bliss, the ‘Encore will offer the best from her sisters with some new facilities and innovations of her own. The initial member of the Class, Norwegian Breakaway, visited Southampton for the second time a week after the ‘Bliss and also became the largest ship to call at Portland’s cruise terminal the day before. Her 93,558gt/2006 built fleet mate Norwegian Jade will again operate from Southampton for the 2018 season and arrived on 4th May.

Special thanks must go to Claire Nelson and team at Flagship Consulting plus the NCL Events Team for all their invaluable assistance with information, imagery and a superb inaugural event aboard the ‘Bliss’.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

BREAKAWAY CLASS

Norwegian Breakaway 145,655gt/2013

Norwegian Getaway 145,655gt/2014

BREAKAWAY PLUS CLASS

Norwegian Escape 165,157gt/2015

Norwegian Joy 167,725gt/2017

Norwegian Bliss 168,028gt/2018

Norwegian Encore 168,000gt/2019