With the Free at Sea promotion, the NCL Bliss was a very good value for the money. It’s a beautiful larger ship, and thee ship really is a destination unto itself. Next time, I would spend more time in the spa. Those heated, stone loungers were fantastic! This was my first Norwegian cruise, after having several canceled over the last couple of years, due to the pandemic. It was also my first cruise back, since the pandemic. I had a fantastic time and really feel like I got my money’s worth. I will definitely sail on this class of ship again, maybe even the Bliss again soon!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Our embarkation day was significantly delayed, which led to long lines and crowding in the departure terminal; however, the embarkation staff were friendly and worked hard to keep things moving along.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
I dined at all of the 3 main dining rooms (Manhattan, Taste, and Savor), and all 3 were good. I also went to the following specialty restaurants, La Cucina (Italian), Food Republic (Asian/Sushi), and Teppanyaki (Japanese Hibachi). I enjoyed the food and experience at all 3 specialties. I was traveling with a vegan friend, and there was a noticeable difference in the level of service for his needs at the specialties, as opposed to the MDRs. The service staff at the specialties were much more knowledgeable about their menus and varying dietary needs. That being said, all of my dining experiences were very good.
The Local Bar & Grill
3 out of 5
I was expecting more from The Local, after watching several YouTube vloggers talk about it. The food was just okay - not bad, but not special; however, the fish (from the fish and chips) was fantastic. I found the drinks and service to be the best part of the experience. Also, it was the only food option open late at night. So, if you’re a night owl, like me, then you’ll inevitably end up here at some point on a 7-day cruise.
Food Republic
5 out of 5
We went to Food Republic as part of our including dining package. We were able to get 4 items each, which was plenty of food. One of our friends is vegan,and he was able to call down to the restaurant and place an order in advance. The sushi rolls were fantastic! We were in a group of 4, and we all got several items and just shared them.
La Cucina
5 out of 5
I had the salmon, and it was beautifully prepared! It was moist and flaky, as it fell apart the moment I stuck my fork into it. The server was fantastic and really paid attention to our questions and needs.
The Observation Lounge
5 out of 5
The bar in the Observation Lounge was the best on the ship, in my opinion! They had a full coffee service, so I was able to have Irish Coffee on a couple of nights, and they were beautifully prepared! The space is fantastic, with plenty of seating and loungers and stunning views from the floor to ceiling windows! It was great for breakfast in the mornings and drinks in the evenings, which is predominantly how we used the space.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
The pools and hot tubs were great. Out sailing was at about 60% capacity, so we only had 1 time in which we were not able to get a hot tub. I didn’t use the fitness center, but I did take a tour. It was well appointed with plenty of machines. Our sailing was quite windy, as the weather was unseasonably cool. Because of the high winds on some days, the water slides and go karts were closed for periods of time. Consequently, I did mt do either, but I will definitely be looking to do them on my next sailing.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We saw the Jersey Boys twice, as there were two different actors portraying Franky Valli. The show was fantastic! Both were good, but I definitely liked one more than the other (just personal preference). The Jackson Rayne magic show was great, and the Back in the Day rock bad was really good.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff all over the ship was friendly and efficient. My stateroom attendant, Dominic, was fantastic. He addressed us by our names from Day 1. There was also a waitress, Frenz, in The Local, and she was outstanding!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The Bliss is a beautiful ship! The design is fantastic! I was on the ship with friends in design and the arts, and they raved about the design choices all over the ship. The ship really sells itself. It’s only about 4 years old, and it is in immaculate condition! Everything worked perfectly. The rooms had plenty of cubbies and storage spaces.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin, 9280 (balcony), is beautifully designed. It had lots of storage spaces, between closets and cubbies. I appreciated the USB chargin ports integrated into the bedside lighting, which was integrated into the headboard. Also, there was storage under the couch, which I didn’t realize until the last few days of the cruise. The bathroom was nice with a good amount of space in the shower. Overall, the room did feel just a little bit on the small side, but it was well designed.
Ship tip
There is too much to do on one 7-day sailing aboard the Bliss. Do your research in advance, make a list of the top 3 - 4 things you want to do, and focus on those activities for your first sailing. If you try to do everything then you will feel overwhelmed and pressed for time.
San Pedro is a little bit out of the way from Los Angeles. We flew into Long Beach and stayed in a hotel in that area. It proved to be a smart decision, as LGB was small and very easy to navigate, and it was only a 20-ish minute ride from the hotel to the port.
Puerto Vallarta is fantastic, and I can’t wait to go back and explore more. We spent the day at Mantamar Beach Club, and it was fantastic. The food and drinks were very good, and the loungers and umbrellas were comfortable. The service was fantastic!
Cabo San Lucas’s is beautiful! We took a catamaran out into the harbor, and it was a fantastic way to spend the day. There are nice shops and restaurants in the port area.
i was very impressed with Mazatlan. I did mt do much research on this port in advance of the cruise, but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the shops and restaurants in the area. We got off the ship and just walked around the whole time in port, which was a relatively short port day.
Disembarkation was easy. We had priority luggage tags delivered the night before, and we set our bags out to be taken off the ship. We got up at about 7:30 am, had time to shower and wrap up, and we had time to have a bit of breakfast in The Garden (buffet) before disembarkation.
When was your sail date? Your review says a date in the future. I am leaving on the Bliss May 28th 2022 so I’m trying to view reviews as recent as possible. Ps I’m so happy for you you had such a good experience!
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. Glad you enjoyed your cruise. We sail for first time on Bliss in Jan 2023 for 15day Panama Canal cruise and can't wait. Your review is very helpful.
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