When it was recently revealed that Norwegian Cruise Line would deploy its new Norwegian Bliss to Alaska in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter for its inaugural season, the company also quietly unveiled a number of unique features coming to the ship not found on its predecessors, namely alterations to The Haven and not one but two observation lounges.

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When we previewed Norwegian’s latest Norwegian Escape, we detected decor subtleties from the original Breakaway-class ships. There was a departure from the vibrant blues and purples of the Norwegian Breakaway’s and Norwegian Getaway’s accommodations more in favor of neutral earthen hues.

At first, the change was not altogether favorable, but as the look is refined according to the latest Bliss renderings—viewable in the slideshow below—for The Haven, it has evolved into a sharp one.

Still, the most elaborate modifications from previous iterations of The Haven are not aesthetic ones but rather ones to its layout. No Breakaway- or Breakaway Plus-class ship has yet featured an observation lounge, but a number of forward suites have made way for a new double-decker one just for The Haven. The panoramic venue—as seen in a second slideshow below—will span the full width of Deck 17 and extend above to a loft on Deck 18 nestled between a pair of The Haven Deluxe Owner’s Suites.

What is particularly impressive is actually a 20,000-square-foot public observation lounge, also rendered above, that will be widely available below The Haven. The former spa and its forward thermal suite windows overlooking the bow has now been displaced to become the second observation lounge that – upon inspection of the video hosted at my Popular Cruising YouTube channel and embedded below – will have a forward section that opens up to two decks in height, with either a second observation lounge deck or a to-be-announced restaurant perhaps above, collectively making it larger than The Haven equivalent.

For those counting, that’s an impressive three or four decks worth of observation lounges. Until now, only Viking Ocean Cruises’ Explorers’ Lounge has come close, occupying two decks, but this new array will easily take the cake as the most robust variation ever seen at sea—absolute perfection for Alaska. Now, we’ll just have to wait and see where the spa will be relocated.

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In the meantime, we can get excited for what is sure to be a comfortable observation lounge, extending the handsome decor of The Haven to the public space. Norwegian adds in a statement that it will exhibit, “rich woods and a silver and gray color palate,” as well as be furnished with couches and chaise loungers. Plus, there will be a 360-degree polished-aluminum and quartz-topped bar serving guests cocktails while they rest and relax.

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