Meyer Werft Floats Out Norwegian Joy
Norwegian Cruise Line’s first cruise ship custom designed for China has been floated out of Meyer Werft’s covered building dock II on March 4 in Papenburg, Germany, where the 168,800-gross-ton ship has been under construction since September 2015. Beginning early Saturday morning, the 3,850 passenger vessel, Norwegian Joy, departed building dock II.
Now well on its way to completion, the 324-meter-long and 41.4-meter-wide Norwegian Joy will move into the final phase of construction ahead of its April 27, 2017 delivery. The cruise ship will then arrive to its home ports in Shanghai and Beijing (Tianjin) in summer 2017.
“We are thrilled that Norwegian Joy is now one step closer to delivery and one step closer to delivering on our promise to create a First Class at Sea experience for our Chinese guests,” said David J. Herrera, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings China President.
Norwegian Joy is the second cruise line in NCL’s Breakaway Plus Class, and its first purpose-built for the Chinese market, with amenities that cater to the unique vacation desires of Chinese guests. The ship features hull artwork designed by Chinese artist Tan Ping and is the first-ever with a two-level competitive racetrack at sea. The ship will also have a laser tag course, simulator rides and interactive video walls, hover craft bumper cars, a racing simulator, two multi-story waterslides, an open space park and a large upscale shopping district.
With capacity for 3,850 guests, the liner includes a range of accommodations such as larger VIP balcony staterooms, staterooms designed specifically for families, connecting staterooms for extended families traveling together, as well as an array of mini-suite, balcony, ocean view and interior staterooms, many with virtual balconies.