Great Bliss, but don't be Alaska Towns' First Ship!
Norwegian Bliss Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 88
7 Night Alaska With Glacier Bay (Seattle Roundtrip)
Sail date: April 23, 2022
Ship: Norwegian Bliss
Cabin number: 5415
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 2 years ago
Review summary
Being on the Bliss was a great experience! Food and meeting staff from different countries was remarkable. Entertainment seemed limited but did participate in events like Bingo, Art Auction, Jersey Boys and Beatle Revival, limited gambling and giveaways. Talking with Ryan the Port Shopper was nice but appeared to be just for promotional purposes since we couldn't collect on his grand prize giveaway of a Tanzanite pendant unless we booked our next cruise, which I would not rather do with Norwegian. Norwegian got too big that their own staff didn't know what to expect, and to be given a map that didn't tell us we'd be 5 miles out of Ketchiken because they built their own port was unforgivable! Internet access even after purchasing additional was slow, of course no cell phone reception even if we in the U.S. didn't help trying to call for our own taxi, which staff was useless with so many. Cultural differences play a huge part in staffing as well as passengers, we should all learn to respect one another and learn to enjoy and not judge! I will never take the first Cruise ship to anywhere again!Embarkation
Path through everything was so long, definitely need to have a wheelchair for most seniors!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The buffets were great, I could find anything to eat and some nights were special. The specialty restaurants Ocean Blue and Cagneys service was spectacular and the wait help tried to do little routines together. But asking for a doggy bag for half of meal or when my daughter felt sick and had to return to the room, 5 plates were delivered! But eating a whole lobster in the comfort of our room, my daughter loved it!
Onboard Activities
There was so much to do and the Jersey Boys complimentary show and the Beatles revival in the Cavern were fantastic! Free giveaways was also great to get us into the store, but the ran at the same time on different levels, so difficult to do them. Bingo the first day and gambling on board was also enjoyable, but can be expensive, loved the tshirts though! Attending an Art Auction for the first time was a great experience, but couldn't afford anything! A lot of promotion of jewelry sales on proved to be disappointing/ Ryan should have learned prior what really was out there before he spoke, The biggest outlet Diamonds and Tanzanite International was not open at any of the 3 towns, which was quite heartbreaking, when we had one the greatest prize at his presentation but was unable to collect it and had to settle for less from another store. Also we were given a wrong map of Ketchiken, Norwegian built a new port, 5 miles away from town, the shuttle service ended by 9:30am and we had to pay for a taxi $42 including tip, luckily split with 6 people! Then we had to rush and lineup early for the last shuttle back to ship by 11am for 1:15pm departure, walking 5 miles was not an option for me!
Entertainment
Complimentary Jersey Boys was great but limited shows. Beatle Revival was in the Cavern but was short and luckily had a beverage package, but was great but times were usually 8pm and 10pm. I was usually back in my cabin by 8pm, luckily one of last nights was earlier at 7pm. Lots going on in the Atrium but didn't interest us so preferred the privacy of our cabin.
Children's Programs
Have no children, but would have loved to do Pools, Speedway and Laser Tag but was up on top deck which was cold!
Service and Staff
It was mostly great to talk to individuals from various countries but mostly from Philippines, which I am used to at home. But when boarding they changed our cabin to a higher deck, but our bags were not delivered by 6pm, so I had to look for them myself although I had advised the cabin person. I found one bag outside and the other was being tagged for my room but the person took the first bag while I was claiming the second. And the cabin boy acted like he had accomplished finding my bag for me, so I was upset that I had found it, but someone took only 1, which arrived after I came back with the 2nd. Then I was called by his supervisor and told that my bag didn't have a luggage tag, which was a lie and made me feel like it was my fault thoughout the trip, since I had already packed it away. I also couldn't have the cabin boy in our room the 2nd day because my daughter is very sensitive about where things are placed and he had mixed up the things on our bed. And when we put on the Do Not Disturb sign he seemed to criticize me since they couldn't deliver my water and he couldn't clean my room! So it turned out bad from the beginning, where I couldn't complain because people were coming into our room everyday with my valuables and purchases. They should not say things which isn't true and make the customer feel at fault, just for a better tip, which we did not feel necessary since it was already included! I was also disappointed that these staff on top level with the bars on their shoulders didn't know what glacier was what and said they'd have to call the Captain who was steering the ship! Someone should have been there to tell us what we were looking at Also staff outside on docket Ketchiken was not accommodating and basically ignored us and our concerns and just walked away - very unprofessional in a tourism industry!
Ship Quality
Although 17 decks, most of the time the elevators were fast, being on a floor closer to the buffet really did help. But I have difficulty walking but decided not to take my walker which would have been difficult with the carts in the hallways and the cabin being so far, so I tended not to go to the cabin as much as I needed to. Had to get used to the restrooms signage even just locking the doors. Shops, entertainment, and gambling was convenient on the middle decks, just that it is a big ship!
Cabin / Stateroom
Moved to 10415 when boarded, so luggage was missing the first afternoon till I looked for it. As a senior with a walking issue it was a long walk to the cabin and luckily didn't bring my walker with the limited space in the aisles with the carts and sometimes in the elevator even with half the occupancy. But room was comfortable, but we tried to keep clean ourselves since staff was coming in everyday and we were criticized for putting up the Do Not Disturb sign! It was nice to have bed done, but fear of valuables and things being moved around.
Ship tip
Usually the ship and staff were great, but don't be the first ship to visit Alaska, the stores are not prepared to accommodate you!
Thumbs up
1
Ports of call
Embarking procedures were too far, most seniors should request a wheelchair just the walk up the plank was long, but so much to do prior to boarding!
Shuttle took us straight to town, but not all the stores were open like Diamonds/Tanzanite International where we had won the best prize but was not open at any of the ports. Great place to souvenir shop and Tram although short, the short film about the indigenous American Indian tribe and Johnny Perkins presentation of the Raven, Eagle, and Thunderbird tribes should be really emphasized. Prices for seafood is just as bad as my home state, so really didn't try much!
Train ride was cut short, so even with a discount was pricey! And although paid a higher price on the ship, advertising a free tote bag from their store, should have said "With a $10 purchase." Got to walk around town a bit and visit some shops but transfers at $3 each was also a bit high so decided to leave early. I got to visit the Visitor Centers and found Northern Lights to eat, but they had no salmon, what we had wanted to eat from Alaska, but got great fried chicken anyway.
We couldn't hear most of the Rangers talk and when we went to the Observation Lounge where they had a table set up, there were no Rangers to talk to, just random things to purchase. When we went upstairs to see the glaciers, no one was there to tell us which glacier was which, I just assumed must be the Pacific but where was the other?? Staff with bars said he'd have to call Captain who was steering ship! Nice to see the glaciers go by from the Spa though!
Although the Totem Bright Park tour was Sara was good to visit and hear the stories, we returned about 10am and the last transfer to town left at 9:30am. Staff in orange jackets did not want to hear our concerns and walked away and there were so many just standing around doing nothing! Then we had to call our own taxis which was difficult without cell service and share the cost of about $42 with tip, that some people short changed the others sharing the cost. We had to get to town to collect a prize from Ryan at Monarch which we were promised a Tanzanite pendant from Diamond/Tanzanite International at Juneau, but had to rush back to stand in line for the last 11am shuttle back to the ship. Didn't even get to see anything else or taste food. This was upsetting that Norwegian would have built a port 5 miles out of town, yet give us a map that they were right in town! And us to have to pay the cost of taxi fare and rush back for boat to leave from the biggest/most interesting town in Alaska!
Victoria, British Columbia Did not visit port
Hearing the horror stories of what Norwegian did to Barcelona passengers leaving them behind after testing positive and others isolating passengers with no service or food made me fear that visiting Canada could be same, even after taking all the last minute steps of getting approval.
Disembarkation
It was good, just Wish there was more restrooms available, had to rush to airport terminal to find one.