Just remember that the Bliss is a BIG ship. You will wait for overcrowded elevators and you will have to get to anything on the ship early. If they tell you that the show is not suitable for children, believe them. The restaurants are excellent, and the food is superb. All of the staff that we encountered were nice and pleasant and really went out of there way to ensure that we had a wonderful vacation.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Getting on the ship in Seattle has to be the easiest embarkation that I have ever had.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Numerous restaurants and bars. Recommend getting the three "free" Specialty Restaurant package.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Due to a large number of passengers, anything that is done on the ship, you have to get there early.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Jersey Boys was excellent, however, wasn't thrilled with Havana.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Those individuals that I came in contact with were friendly, and actually acted in a way that made me feel that they were there to insure that I had a good time.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
My only complaint here would be that there are a lot of passengers, so, crowding hallways with merchandise tables, and having staff setting up photos at areas that were not conducive with good traffic flow.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin steward did an excellent job. On on the first day, he noticed that my wife and I were both diabetics and he brought in Sharps containers without us asking. Since this was an Alaskan cruise having a balcony was GREAT expicially when we visited Glacier Bay.
Ship tip
Remember that anything that you buy on the ship you can most likely get back home for half as must...case in point. I forgot the binoculors and I bought a really nice pair on the ship for $229.00. When I got home I found out that the average price is around $143.00
As I have previously mentioned the embarkation process was flawless and we go onto the ship with no problem, however, we took a Seattle excursion that was not the best. There was a marathon running when we returned and it prevented the buses from getting around town in a timely manner, and we spent most of the time that we should have been at the Space Needle and the Market trying to find a place to part. Case in point, one we looped to the city twice, we finally parked about 5 city blocks from the Space Needle, once we walked there we were basically given about 30 minutes. There was a long line to get in and you had to go through a security screening, and then walk back the 5 blocks to the bus.
The logistics are terrible. Although NCL attempts to stagger passengers from departing the area when you muster for your excursions is hectic and confusing. I gave it three stars because we liked the Mendenhall and Mt. Gibson excursion.
The Whitepass Railway and Salomon Bake excursion was GREAT. Once you depart the ship you stand in long lines waiting to get on your excursion bus. My wife and I were standing in the line that we were told to stand in, only later to learn that they line thaty been shifted and the line that we were standing in was not for our excursion.
Unlike Juneau and Skagway, Ketchikan got it right, at the top of the pier were you stand to wait for your bus there is a gift shop that diffuses the passengers
Due to a medical emergency in Ketchikan, we were two hours late in departing, so we arrived in Victoria late. We had booked an excursion to the Gardens and by the time we got there it was DARK, and we only had about 45 minutes to visit, Also, there were three ships in port and it seemed that everyone took this same excursion. Way too many people on narrow paths, and everyone wanting to take a selfie.
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