by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:51 AM ET, Wed September 16, 2015
Norwegian Cruise Line executives cut the first steel Tuesday to build what will become the newest ship in the fleet, the Norwegian Bliss.
In a report from Carolyn Spencer Brown of CruiseCritic.com, Norwegian Cruise Line President Andy Stuart and Meyer Werft CEO Bernard Meyer together pressed the button at the manufacturing facility in Papenburg, Germany, officially starting the machine that cut the first piece of steel for the new ship.
The Norwegian Bliss is expected to be completed in a year and a half, and should be ready for launch in spring 2017. Along with its sister ship the Norwegian Escape-scheduled to be launched in a month-the Norwegian Bliss will be one of the two biggest ships in the company's fleet.
Norwegian Cruise Line president Andy Stuart released a statement following the steel cutting:
"On behalf of the more than 20,000 Norwegian team members worldwide, we are thrilled to mark the start of construction of the second ship in our company's Breakaway Plus class and the continued evolution of the Norwegian brand. Not only will this ship fully embody the Norwegian brand and the freedom and flexibility that a Norwegian Cruise Line vacation means, but the combined expertise of the company's new leadership team will create what is sure to be the epitome of contemporary cruising."
This is just the latest in a long history of construction projects between Norwegian and Meyer Werft, which includes the construction of the Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Pride of America, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway.
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