Giant new cruise ship Norwegian Bliss to sail from New York

Gene Sloan, USA TODAY Published 7:05 a.m. ET Jan. 15, 2018

Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss, will have a deck-top Aqua Park with two major water slides, as seen in this architectural drawing. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Among the attractions of the Aqua Park planned for Norwegian Bliss is a water slide with a loop over the ocean. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Scheduled to debut in April 2018, the 4,000-passenger Norwegian Bliss will be the first North America-based cruise ship with a race track on its top deck. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An architectural drawing of the Ocean Place area on

At the center of Norwegian Bliss' public decks will be a three-deck-high open area called Ocean Place, as seen in this architectural drawing. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss will feature a new venue called the A-list bar, a subtle homage to Norwegian Cruise Line president and CEO Andy Stuart. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Atrium Bar on Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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A version of Norwegian Cruise Line's signature steakhouse, Cagney's, will be one of more than a dozen eateries and bars on Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Cagney's steakhouse on Norwegian Bliss will have outdoor as well as indoor seating. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Skyline bar planned for the casino area of Norwegian Bliss, as seen in an artist's drawing. Norwegian Cruise Line

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A new venue on Norwegian Bliss will be Coco's, a chocolate-themed dessert outlet. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The new Coco's dessert outlet on Norwegian Bliss will service speciality coffees and teas as well as desserts. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss will feature the District Brew House, a beer venue that first debuted on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist's drawing of the District Brew House planned for Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Another venues planned for Norwegian Bliss is Dolce, which will serve gelato. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist's drawing of Norwegian Bliss, a Norwegian

Norwegian Bliss will be the third vessel in Norwegian Cruise Line's Breakaway-Plus series, which began debuting in 2015 with the arrival of Norwegian Escape. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Also returning on Norwegian Bliss is Food Republic, an eatery that first debuted on Norwegian Escape. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Garden Cafe eatery planned for Norwegian Cruise Line's new ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Haven Restaurant planned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Humidor cigar loungeplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss will offer a version of Norwegian Cruise Line's signature Italian eatery, La Cucina. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist's drawing of the La Cucina Italian eatery planned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss will have a French eatery called Le Bistro. It's a concept that appears across the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet. Norwegian Cruise Line

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New on Norwegian Bliss will be Los Lobos, an upscale Mexican eatery. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Los Lobos will have outdoor as well as indoor seating. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist's drawing of the Main Lobby planned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss, will feature a whiskey bar called Maltings. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist's drawing of the Manhattan Room restaurantplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss will have an outlet of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Ocean Blue seafood restaurantplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Ocean Blue seafood restaurantplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss will feature an upscale barbecue eatery called Q. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss also will be the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship will a full-service Starbucks store. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Sugarcane Mojito Barplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss will have a Teppanyaki restaurant, a signature feature of Norwegian Cruise Line ships. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Cellars Wine Barplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Local will be a pub on Norwegian Bliss that takes the place of the O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill found on some other Norwegian Cruise Line vessels. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist's drawing of The Local pubplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Entourage is one of several areas for kids planned for Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Guppies is a zone for small children on Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Humidor cigar loungeplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist's drawing of the Aqua Park planned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Kids Reception Areaplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Returning on Norwegian Bliss is Spice H2O, a deck-top lounge area-by-day that turns into a nightspot after the sun goes down. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The Splash Academy kiddie areaplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Vibe Beach Club on Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Bliss will have the Barber Shop, for men's cuts. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist darwing of the hair salonplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The spa reception area on Norwegian Bliss, as seen in an artist's drawing. Norwegian Cruise Line

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An artist's drawing of spa treatment roomsplanned for Norwegian Cruise Line's next ship, Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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A thermal suite will be part of the spa planned for Norwegian Bliss. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship is heading to New York.

A top executive at the Miami-based line on Friday revealed that the soon-to-debut, 4,000-passenger Norwegian Bliss would operate out of the Big Apple for several months starting in November 2019.

The deployment will come after Bliss' inaugural seasons in Alaska and the Caribbean. The vessel is scheduled to debut in April of this year.

At 167,800 tons, Bliss will rank among the ten largest cruise vessels in the world. On order from Germany's Meyer Werft shipyard, it'll be the third ship in Norwegian's Breakaway-Plus class. It follows Norwegian Escape, which debuted in 2015, and the recently unveiled, China-based Norwegian Joy.

Designed to have all the trappings of a major mega-resort, Bliss will feature such over-the-top amusements as a two-deck-high racing course where passengers compete against each other in electric go-carts — a first for a vessel based in North America.

Like Joy and Escape, Bliss also will have sprawling water park with multi-story water slides; a restaurant-lined boardwalk; Tony Award-winning production shows including Jersey Boys and a giant spa. Dining options will include a modern Texas barbecue eatery called Q that will feature live pop country music — a new concept for the line.

When based in New York, Bliss will sail seven-night trips to the Bahamas and Florida as well as 11- and 13-night voyages to the Caribbean.

The New York deployment was announced Friday by Norwegian president and CEO Andy Stuart during the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. Duran will serve as Bliss' godfather when it is christened later this year.

USA TODAY Cruises: The fleet and home ports of Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship is the 3,883-passenger Norwegian Joy, which debuted in May 2017. The 167,725-ton vessel is the first at Norwegian custom designed for the Chinese market, and it sails in Asia. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Unveiled in November 2015, the 4,248-passenger Norwegian Escape is one of two Breakaway Plus vessels in the Norwegian fleet (along with the new Norwegian Joy). It sails year-round to the Caribbean from Miami. Norwegian Cruise Line

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A sister ship to Norwegian Cruise Line's latest ship,

A sister ship to Norwegian Cruise Line's eight-month-old Norwegian Joy, to be called Norwegian Bliss, is scheduled to debut in April. Carrying 4,000 passengers at double occupancy, it'll sail in Alaska and the Caribbean. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Sailing since 2014, the 145,655-ton, 3,963-passenger Norwegian Getaway is the newer of Norwegian's two Breakaway Class vessels. It sails to the Bahamas and Caribbean out of Miami. It also sails in Europe. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Unveiled in 2013, the 146,600-ton, 3,963-passenger Norwegian Breakaway is the older of Norwegian's two Breakaway Class vessels. It sails to the Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean out of New York. It also operates summer sailings in Europe. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Unveiled in 2010, the 155,873-ton, 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic is in a class of its own at the line. It sails to the Caribbean and Bahamas out of Florida and also in Europe. Michele Verdure

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Sailing since 2007, the 93,530-ton, 2,394-passenger Norwegian Gem is the newest of Norwegian's four Jewel Class ships. It sails in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Canada and New England. Danny Lehman

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Dating to 2006, the 93,500-ton, 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl is the second oldest of Norwegian's four Jewel Class vessels. It sails in Alaska and along the Pacific Coast as well as in the Caribbean and Bahamas. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Unveiled in 2006, the 93,558-ton, 2,402-passenger Norwegian Jade is the second oldest of Norwegian's four Jewel Class vessels. It sails in Europe and the Caribbean. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Built in 2005, the 93,502-ton, 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel is the oldest of Norwegian's four Jewel Class ships. It sails in Alaska, and to the Mexican Riviera. It also operates voyages along the Pacific Coast. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The 92,250-ton, 2,340-passenger Norwegian Dawn is the newer of Norwegian's two Dawn Class vessels. Unveiled in 2002, it originally was ordered for Asia's Star Cruises and was originally to be called Superstar Scorpio. It sails to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and New England. Michele Verdure

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Dating to 2001, the 91,740-ton, 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star is the older of Norwegian's two Dawn Class vessels. Like Norwegian Dawn, it originally was ordered for Star Cruises. It sails a wide variety of itineraries from the Caribbean to Europe to Asia and Australia. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Built in 1998, the 75,904-ton, 2,018-passenger Norwegian Spirit is the sole member of Norwegian's Spirit Class of ships. Originally built for Asia-based Star Cruises, it sailed in Asia as the Superstar Leo until joining the Norwegian fleet in 2004. Shown here in Kotor, Croatia, it now sails in Europe as well as the Caribbean and Bahamas. Norwegian Cruise Line

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Norwegian Sun in Tortola - British Virgin Islands.

Unveiled in 2001, the 78,309-ton, 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun is the newer of Norwegian's two Sun Class ships. Shown here in the British Virgin Islands, it currently sails in Alaska, South America and along the Mexican Riviera. Michel Verdure

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Dating to 1999, the 77,104-passenger, 2,004-passenger Norwegian Sky is the older of Norwegian's two Sun Class ships. It sails short voyages to Cuba and The Bahamas out of Miami. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The 80,439-ton, 2,186-passenger Pride of Hawaii is a U.S.-flagged, Norwegian-operated vessel that sails year-round in the Hawaiian Islands. Shown here sailing in the islands, it's based in Honolulu. Norwegian Cruise Line

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A vintage advertisement touts Norwegian Cruise Line's SS Norway, an iconic vessel that sailed for the line from 1979 to 2003. Originally built as the SS France, it was scrapped in 2008. Norwegian Cruise Line

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The 42,276-ton Seaward sailed for Norwegian from 1988 to 2005 (from 1997 on, it was called the Norwegian Sea). It now sails for Asia's Star Cruises as Superstar Libra. Norwegian Cruise Line

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