Beautiful ship for Panama Canal

Norwegian Bliss Cruise Review to Panama Canal, Central America

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 7
Helpful Votes: 112

Overall rating:

4.5 out of 5
Norwegian Bliss

15 Night Panama Canal - Eastbound (Los Angeles To Miami)

Sail date: December 02, 2022

Ship: Norwegian Bliss

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

Beautiful ship, excellent service all around. Definitely try the specialty dining. On a long cruise the drink package is a very good idea if you enjoy the bars. The shows in the theater were very well done! We would sail on Bliss again.

Embarkation

5 out of 5
Embarkation at the terminal was fast

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5
Specialty restaurants shined, main dining rooms consistent, buffets had great variety

Sugarcane Mojito Bar

5 out of 5

More than just a mojito

Savor Restaurant - Main Dining Room

4 out of 5

Very consistent quality and great service

Maltings Whiskey Bar

5 out of 5

Very dependable and plenty of different whiskeys to sample

The Cavern Club

5 out of 5

The Beatles act was fun and the outside bar on the boardwalk is a great place to kick back

American Diner

5 out of 5

Shrimp and Grits and killer burgers

The Observation Lounge

5 out of 5

Peaceful here... enjoy a beverage, have breakfast or lunch at the buffet. The bar is nice.

The Manhattan Room - Main Dining Room

5 out of 5

Consistently good with great service

The Local Bar & Grill

4 out of 5

Sit at the bar and watch these amazing bartenders work. The World Cup was great at this bar!

The Cellars - A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar

5 out of 5

After several wine tastings we became after breakfast and brunch tasters

Ocean Blue

5 out of 5

Wow! You’d swear you were on the coast. Try the sea bass and the halibut

Los Lobos

5 out of 5

It’s easy to over do it on the appetizers here so be careful

Le Bistro

5 out of 5

A true Bistro experience

La Cucina

5 out of 5

Very nice Italian dishes

Garden Café

5 out of 5

Amazing variety from all over the world because of the multinational kitchen

Food Republic

5 out of 5

Asian Fusion with a flare!

Cagney's Steakhouse

5 out of 5

If you like filet mignon....

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5
Wine tasting, whisky tasting, miniature golf, pools, hot tubs and bar on deck 17.

Mandara Spa

5 out of 5

Accupuncture, deep tissue massage.... and don’t forget the spa treatments and facial

Entertainment

1 out of 5
Jersey Boys, Company Men and Beatles cover band were excellent

Bliss Theater

5 out of 5

Excellent sound system and production staff

Children's Programs

No kids

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Service anywhere on the ship was excellent

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
Easy ship to get around, clean everywhere

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Balcony stateroom 15836 midships. Comfortable with a great view.

Ship tip

As soon as you board go directly to the uppermost deck with a bar and wait for your luggage to be delivered. On this ship the Observation Lounge on deck 15 forward or H2O on deck 17 aft.

Ports of call

San Pedro (Los Angeles), California

3 out of 5
Here for embarkation only

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Did not visit port

Rest day after a very long flight

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

5 out of 5
No excursion but sampled a nice lunch at La Hacienda Resort

Acapulco, Mexico

5 out of 5
No excursion but enjoyed the local shops and lunch on the coast

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

5 out of 5
Coffee plantation tour, very good. Sampled the coffee and bought 5 Ibs. Have a Gallo beer while you’re there.

Panama City, Panama

5 out of 5
No excursion but sampled the local foods

Panama Canal Transit

5 out of 5
Amazing scenery-discovered an indigenous tribe lives in the protected lands along the river and Lake Gatun

Cartagena, Colombia

5 out of 5
Local shopping in the old town, food and beverages from street vendors

Miami, Florida

5 out of 5
Here for the airport only

Disembarkation

3 out of 5
Disembarkation was delayed due to not enough customs agents available. Not the cruise line’s fault!
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4 Comments

AuntPinkie    1 year ago

Glad you thoroughly enjoyed Canal transit. Appreciate your details.

Gwbigdog    1 year ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise

jeffykins    1 year ago

Did you mean to rate the entertainment 1 star? Excited to see Jersey Boys on my next trip! Was Six not performing?

javawoody    1 year ago

Appreciate the feedback

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