DightonBlue

In one word: WONDERFUL! The Bliss is a beautiful ship with a friendly, professional staff. Everyone on-board seemed eager to make our first-time cruise a once-in-a-lifetime event. The food (we only ate at the inclusive venues, opting not to spend extra for the specialty restaurants) was Marvelous except for the Country Fried Chicken which NCL should drop from their menu. Everything else was perfectly prepared and expertly served. I was a little disappointed that the mini-suite was not much of an upgrade from the balcony cabin. The only differences were a larger bathroom (which may be worth the price difference, the bathroom WAS very nice and spacious) and a slightly larger balcony. The only other disappointment was the inaccessibility of a smoking area. The website stated, in more than one place, that the starboard-side Waterfront walkway, with a few exceptions, would be a smoking area; it was not. The only smoking areas were outside on Deck 17 Aft and inside the Humidor Cigar Lounge, Deck 8 Mid. Considering the number of smokers utilizing these areas at any given time and the general feeling of disappointment amongst them, NCL should reconsider having so few smoking areas or should re-do the website so false information is not published. The shore excursions were well planned and executed. Embarkation and disembarkation (we had airport transfers both ways and used Port Valet for disembarkation) were easy and hassle-free. Our stateroom steward, Christian, was an absolute Gem! Friendly, hard-working and efficient, he was a consistent bright spot in an already bright and shiny day - every day! The Observation Lounge is a wonderful concept. Unfortunately, many parents allowed their children to run loose throughout the lounge area and crew members did nothing except step aside when a small herd of running kids was headed their way. The idea of sitting in a relatively peaceful atmosphere while relaxing and enjoying the view appealed to us greatly but we were never able to do so. The entertainment was top-shelf. The original show, Havana!, and the production of Jersey Boys (both FREE, by the way) were both terrific! The tribute band, Britain's Finest, sounded just like the Beatles (who I never really liked in the first place) and put on a good show. The Cruise Director's staff did a remarkable job of providing non-stop activities. From game shows to trivia contests to dance lessons (all FREE, as well), the events were energetically presented, well-attended, and enjoyed by all. If you were bored on this cruise, it's because you chose to be! Overall, the trip was Great and we will absolutely be cruising again!