Norwegian Cruise Line · All Norwegian Cruise Line ships · Breakaway Plus Class

Norwegian Bliss: ship guide

Built for Alaska: Observation Lounge, Bliss Speedway, Ocean Loops and a 2025 refresh.

Best for: Families and first-time Alaska cruisers who want a big ship with an Observation Lounge, go-karts and waterslides from Seattle, or a no-fly Caribbean cruise from New York in winter. Sails from Seattle, New York in 2026 and 2027.

Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Bliss
168,028gross tons
4,010guests at double occupancy
1,716crew
16decks
2018entered service, refurbished 2025
1,094 ftlong

About Norwegian Bliss

Norwegian Bliss was purpose-built for Alaska and delivered by Meyer Werft in 2018, the third Breakaway Plus Class ship, with hull art by marine artist Wyland and Elvis Duran as godfather. At 168,028 gross tons and 1,094 feet it carries 4,010 guests at double occupancy with a crew of 1,716. Its 180-degree Observation Lounge was designed for glacier viewing, and a January 2025 dry dock added Horizon Park, three-bedroom Haven suites, 26 staterooms and new restaurants.

The Bliss Speedway is a two-level go-kart track, Ocean Loops and Aqua Racer are the big waterslides, and 678 Ocean Place links three decks of bars and lounges including The Cavern Club, The District Brew House and the Sugarcane Mojito Bar. The Choir of Man plays the theater. The 2025 refit replaced Los Lobos with a larger Cagney’s Steakhouse, Coco’s with a larger Teppanyaki, and Ocean Blue with the Mediterranean seafood restaurant Palomar.

In 2026 and 2027 Norwegian Bliss sails seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle each summer with Friday, Saturday and Sunday departures to Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Glacier Bay or Dawes Glacier. Between Alaska seasons it transits the Panama Canal to the East Coast and spends winter 2026 to 2027 sailing eight-night Bahamas and Florida and 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruises round trip from New York. It suits families and first-time Alaska cruisers who want a big, well-equipped ship.

  • Observation Lounge with 180-degree glacier views, designed for Alaska
  • Bliss Speedway two-level go-kart track
  • Ocean Loops and Aqua Racer waterslides in the Aqua Park
  • Horizon Park outdoor lawn games and loungers on the top deck, added in 2025
  • The Choir of Man in the Bliss Theater and The Cavern Club Beatles tribute
  • 678 Ocean Place, three decks of bars and lounges around The Waterfront
  • The Haven on two decks with three-bedroom Premier Owner’s Suites, a private pool and the Horizon Lounge
  • Palomar Mediterranean seafood and an expanded Cagney’s, both new in 2025

Staterooms and suites

Studio

Solo staterooms with no single supplement and keycard access to the shared Studio Lounge.

Inside

Interior staterooms sleeping two to four, including family layouts; the lowest-cost way to sail Alaska on a big ship.

Oceanview

Picture-window staterooms including large family oceanviews on the lower decks that sleep up to five.

Balcony

The most common category, with full-height glass doors for scenery days; 24 balcony staterooms were added on deck 15 in 2025 in part of the former Observation Lounge.

Club Balcony Suite

Mini-suites with a larger bathroom, extra living space and priority perks, sleeping up to four; two more were added in 2025.

The Haven by Norwegian

Keycard-access suite complex on two decks with Courtyard Penthouses, Spa Suites, two-bedroom Family Villas, Deluxe Owner’s Suites and the three-bedroom Premier Owner’s Suites with Large Balcony redesigned in 2025 with three and a half baths and a dining room overlooking the Haven Horizon Lounge; all include butler and concierge service, The Haven Restaurant, lounge and private pool.

Norwegian Bliss deck plans

Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.

Deck 20 plan

Deck 20

Aqua Racer, Laser Tag.

  • Laser TagHuman colonisers have lost contact with Planet Earth. It's up to you to find them while searching an abandoned spaceship in this fast action experience at sea. Whether friends or family are joining you on this mission, the fate of the world is in your hands.
  • Aqua ParkSlide into the time of your life. Make it the best of three on Aqua Racer, tandem waterslide at sea. Or call it a lazy day and lounge by the pools and hot tubs with a frozen drink in hand. However you like to make a splash, the Aqua Park is overflowing with excitement.

Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.

On board Norwegian Bliss

Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune
Waves Pool Bar
Waves Pool Bar
Video Arcade
Video Arcade
Vibe Beach Club
Vibe Beach Club
Trade Winds
Trade Winds
The WaterFront
The WaterFront
The Time Zone
The Time Zone
The Tides
The Tides
The Photo Gallery
The Photo Gallery
The Marketplace
The Marketplace
The Manhattan Room
The Manhattan Room
The Local Bar and Grill
The Local Bar and Grill

Dining on Norwegian Bliss

The Manhattan RoomIncluded

The largest of three main dining rooms with a dance floor and views over the wake.

Taste and SavorIncluded

Two smaller main dining rooms sharing the same rotating menu.

Garden CaféIncluded

Indoor buffet with floor-to-ceiling windows serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Local Bar & GrillIncluded

24-hour pub-style eatery with burgers, salads and nightly specials.

Cagney’s SteakhouseSpecialty

American steakhouse enlarged in 2025 into the former Los Lobos space.

Le BistroSpecialty

Norwegian’s signature French restaurant.

La CucinaSpecialty

Italian restaurant with seating on The Waterfront.

TeppanyakiSpecialty

Japanese hibachi grill, enlarged in 2025.

Food Republic and Q Texas SmokehouseSpecialty

Asian-Latin fusion small plates, and Texas barbecue with live country music.

PalomarSpecialty

Mediterranean seafood restaurant that replaced Ocean Blue in 2025.

Entertainment and activities

  • The Choir of Man in the Bliss Theater
  • The Cavern Club Beatles tribute, comedy and game shows such as Wheel of Fortune
  • Bliss Speedway two-level go-kart track
  • Ocean Loops and Aqua Racer waterslides and the Aqua Park
  • Observation Lounge with 180-degree views
  • Horizon Park lawn games and the adults-only Vibe Beach Club
  • 678 Ocean Place bars including The District Brew House and Sugarcane Mojito Bar
  • Mandara Spa, mini golf and Casinos at Sea

Families and who it suits

Splash Academy runs complimentary programs for ages 3 to 12, Entourage is the teen club for 13 to 17, and Guppies sessions welcome under-threes with a parent; the Kids’ Aqua Park, Speedway, waterslides and mini golf round out a strong family offering.

Best for: Families and first-time Alaska cruisers who want a big ship with an Observation Lounge, go-karts and waterslides from Seattle, or a no-fly Caribbean cruise from New York in winter.

Sails from: Seattle, New York · Regions: Alaska, Bahamas, Eastern Caribbean, Panama Canal

Norwegian Bliss questions we answer every day

How big is Norwegian Bliss?
Norwegian Bliss is 168,028 gross tons and 1,094 feet long with 16 guest decks, carrying 4,010 guests at double occupancy and a crew of 1,716. It was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and delivered in April 2018 as the third of four Breakaway Plus Class ships, between Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore in size.
When was Norwegian Bliss last refurbished?
Norwegian Bliss had a dry dock from January 17 to February 2, 2025. It added Horizon Park on the top deck, converted the Premier Owner’s Suites with Large Balconies into three-bedroom suites, created 24 balcony and two club balcony staterooms on deck 15 from part of the Observation Lounge, expanded Cagney’s and Teppanyaki, and replaced Ocean Blue with Palomar.
Where does Norwegian Bliss sail in 2026 and 2027?
Norwegian Bliss sails seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle in summer 2026 and summer 2027 with Friday, Saturday and Sunday departures. In October 2026 it repositions through the Panama Canal from Los Angeles to Miami, then sails round trip from New York through March 2027 on eight-night Bahamas and Florida cruises to Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau and 12-night Eastern Caribbean cruises.
Which staterooms are best on Norwegian Bliss?
For Alaska a balcony stateroom is worth it, and the 2025 additions on deck 15 are high and forward with good views. Club Balcony Suites add a bigger bathroom and more space, and large oceanview staterooms sleep families of five. The Haven spans two decks with Courtyard Penthouses, Family Villas, Deluxe Owner’s Suites and the new three-bedroom Premier Owner’s Suites with butler service.
What is included in the fare on Norwegian Bliss?
The Manhattan Room, Taste, Savor, the Garden Café buffet and the 24-hour Local Bar & Grill are included, along with The Choir of Man, the waterslides, pools, Horizon Park and Splash Academy. Specialty restaurants, Speedway laps, drinks and Wi-Fi are extra unless covered by a Free at Sea package. SmartCruiser adds bonus onboard credit on sailings where Norwegian allows it, something you will not get booking direct.
Is Norwegian Bliss good for families?
Yes. The Bliss Speedway, Ocean Loops and Aqua Racer slides, the Kids’ Aqua Park, mini golf and Horizon Park lawn games keep kids busy, and Splash Academy and Entourage cover ages 3 to 17 with complimentary programming. Family oceanview staterooms sleep five and Haven Family Villas sleep six. The Observation Lounge is the best spot on board for watching glaciers and whales together.

Facts checked against Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian newsroom: new and expanded guest experiences on Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian newsroom: over 500 voyages during peak 2027 season on October 13, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.

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