German shipbuilder MEYER WERFT hosted on Tuesday the keel laying ceremony for Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) first ever ship styled exclusively for Chinese guests, the Norwegian Joy (Xǐ Yuè Hào), arriving in summer 2017.
During the ceremony, the first of 80 blocks that will comprise the 168,800 gross ton vessel was lifted into the covered building hall, officially marking the start of the ship’s assembly.
“We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate the Keel Laying for Norwegian Joy today with our partners at MEYER WERFT,” said Norwegian Cruise Line President and Chief Operating Officer Andy Stuart . “Norwegian Joy is yet another evolution for Norwegian Cruise Line and we know the outstanding work of the teams at MEYER WERFT will truly make her a first class vessel.”
“We are carefully designing every element of Norwegian Joy, from her VIP accommodations to gourmet dining venues, outstanding recreation and entertainment choices and family-friendly features, to create a First Class at Sea experience that is completely focused on exceeding the expectations of our Chinese guests,” said NCLH China President David Herrera .
Home porting in Shanghai & Tianjin (Beijing), the new Breakaway Plus-class vessel is expected to be built in just 12 months, featuring a capacity of 3,900 guests.
According to NCL, the ship’s top decks will feature the only race track at sea, among multitude of other amenities.
To support NCL’s expansion in China, the company has opened offices in Beijing (Guomao CBD) and Shanghai (Xintiandi), supporting all three brands in the company’s portfolio – Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.