Watch: Panama Canal Welcomes Its Largest Passenger Ship 'Norwegian Bliss'

Panama Canal records new milestone, welcomes the largest passenger ship to-date. Operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines, the transiting Norwegian Bliss weighs more than 168,000 gross tons and can carry nearly 5,000 passengers.

Norwegian Bliss_Expanded Panama Canal_2 — Image Credits: Panama Canal

The Norwegian Bliss left Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard in March to begin a 15-day itinerary this month, sailing from Miami, Florida through the Panama Canal and up along the west coast of Central and North America before reaching its final destination in California.

“The Panama Canal is proud to welcome the Norwegian Bliss and recognizes that this distinct milestone is made possible by the Canal Expansion, as well as the experience and efforts gained in the two years since its inauguration,” said Deputy Canal Administrator Manuel Benítez. “The Norwegian Bliss is within the 10 biggest cruise ships of the world. It was built taking into consideration the Expanded Panama Canal dimensions.”

norwegian bliss in expanded panama canal_transit — Image Credits: Panama Canal

“The Norwegian Bliss departed from Miami and the transit through the Panama Canal is one of the highlights of it’s journey.“ Klaus Lugmaier, Regional VicePresident of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Norwegian Bliss_Expanded Panama Canal_captain plaque — Image Credits: Panama Canal

Deputy Administrator Manuel Benitez delivered the plaque by inaugural transit through the Canal de Panamá Cruiser’s Captain Norwegian Bliss, the largest to transit the new locks.

El crucero neopanamax Norwegian Bliss transita a través del Corte Culebra, antes de llegar a las Esclusas de Cocolí. pic.twitter.com/ytIczUpT0Y

— Canal de Panamá (@canaldepanama) May 14, 2018

The Neopanamax cruiser Norwegian Bliss passes through the Culebra cut, before reaching the Cocolí locks.

Así transitó las Esclusas de Agua Clara el Norwegian Bliss, crucero que marca un hito como el de mayor capacidad en cruzar el #CanalAmpliado. pic.twitter.com/Z8nMScqF6H

— Canal de Panamá (@canaldepanama) May 14, 2018

This is how the clear water sluices transited the Norwegian Bliss, a cruise that marks a landmark like the one with the greatest capacity to cross the Canal Ampliado.

Panama Canal records new milestone, welcomes the largest passenger ship to-date. Operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines, the transiting Norwegian Bliss weighs more than 168,000 gross tons and can carry nearly 5,000 passengers. pic.twitter.com/ruV0b5RiFF

— Panama Canal (@thepanamacanal) May 14, 2018

The Norwegian Bliss has a total length of 325.9 m., sleeve 41.4 M. and draught of 8.3 m. It is also the third ship of the Breakaway Plus class of the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). The first two are Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Joy.

Reference: Panama Canal

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