Seventeen stories up from the ocean, riders slip on their black balaclavas, strap into black-and-red electric go-karts adorned with racing stripes and secure their black helmets before zooming up onto the longest race track at sea.
The ride can last eight laps _ if you're fast enough _ with cars speeding up to 30 mph with the aid of a "boost" button on the steering wheel. Cars zip around eight hairpin turns and across two decks. And drivers will inadvertently smash into each other or skid on the hot rubber track.
It's exhilarating and intense _ and that's exactly what Norwegian Cruise Line was going for when it put the track on its latest ship: Norwegian Bliss.
"It's not just different for the sake of being different, it's an activity that people are going to love, they are going to have fun and that is also going to be unexpected on a ship," said Andy Stuart, president and CEO of Miami-based NCL. "You do an image of a race track on top of the ship and everybody stops and they raise an eyebrow."
The race track isn't new to cruises or Norwegian; the feature debuted on the line's ship in China, Norwegian Joy, last year. But it is new to North American cruisers and about 40 percent larger than its predecessor.
With Bliss, Norwegian wants to one-up itself in almost every area, including luxury, activities, dining and entertainment.
Recently, media, politicians and travel agents got a preview of the 4,004-passenger vessel, which is on its way to its first homeport in Seattle for summer sailings to Alaska. The ship will return to Miami in the winter for seven-day trips to the eastern Caribbean.
"I would rate this ship in my top five ever," said travel agent Don Rennard, who owns a Clearwater, Fla.-based franchise of Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative.
Rennard, who has been on more than 20 cruises, said Bliss will likely appeal to several kinds of travelers. Kids and millennials will like the adventurous features, parents will like the entertainment and dining options and grandparents will enjoy the all-glass, 180-degree view observation lounge or NCL's signature, The Haven, he said.
The Haven, Norwegian's ship-within-a-ship concept, got a boost on Bliss. The luxury area with private pool deck, restaurant and concierge was expanded to include 50 suites inside the complex and another 30 outside. Suites range in size from 324 to 1,458 square feet.
Norwegian has also added 74 connecting mini-suite staterooms for large family parties. Ocean-view and balcony rooms can also be connected for larger groups. For solo travelers, 82 studios, each about 99 square feet, are available on Bliss. These, too, can connect for friends traveling together.
"Norwegian speaks to a wide market," said travel agent Robin Matthews, owner of a Boca Raton, Fla.-based Dream Vacations franchise. "I like the design (of this ship). NCL has always led the industry in innovation."
