Awful experience

Item: Norwegian Bliss
Rating: 2.4
Author: marleneatnaples

Norwegian Bliss Cruise Review to Alaska - Inside Passage

marleneatnaples

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 20

Overall rating:

2.4 out of 5

7 Night Alaska: Juneau Ketchikan Sitka & Victoria (Seattle Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 02, 2023

Ship: Norwegian Bliss

Cabin number: 11396

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

I will never take another NCL Cruise. Poor embarkation, poor customer service and they will nickel and dime you till the end. Do not pay for extra Dining, Wifi or drinks, the lines were unbearable. Guest services only 2 employees for 4,000 people. My entire trip was lines, lines and more lines, the towels and sheets were dingy, grey and over washed! They do not have docking privileges so most ports you have to pay extra to get into the city. Awful!

Embarkation

1 out of 5

Terrible 4 1/2 hours under the rain

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

The main dining room buffets were okay.

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

The fitness center was one of the best and cleanest spots

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Short staffed at all the bars, room steward was un-eventful, Guest Service was an approximate 45-60 Min wait. Only 2 guest service employees for 4,000 plus passengers!

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Several bathrooms were dirty and looked like they were forgotten. Do not travel on this ship.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

size was adequate, mattress was uncomfortable with swells, towels, sheets and all the linens were dingy and over used. do not travel on this ship

Ship tip

Get up and around at around 6am to avoid countless lines and crowds.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Seattle, Washington

5 out of 5

Love Seattle!

Thumbs Up 0

Sitka, Alaska

2 out of 5

Juneau, Alaska

3 out of 5

Salmon Bake was good

Thumbs Up 0

Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Alaska

2 out of 5

short visit

Thumbs Up 0

Ketchikan, Alaska

2 out of 5

too short

Thumbs Up 0

Victoria, British Columbia

1 out of 5

8PM to 11:30 PM visit in the dark for 31/2 hours most establishments closed.

Thumbs Up 0

Disembarkation

2 out of 5

Super crowded elevators and no guidance to passengers. Waited 3 hours to disembark.

11 Comments

Armageddon 1 year ago

Well agreed about the Victoria stop . Esp was a hurdle for me to get visas for parents with delays at the embassy had to cancel the trip ..Rather should have been no visa if staying on board or a visa . The visa cost is also too expensive per person .. wish I had known this sooner .

Thumbs Up 0

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jeffykins 1 year ago

It really is a bummer that the Victoria stop is such an obvious middle-finger to the government for its grossly outdated "must stop in a foreign port" law. But the itinerary does have the times posted... So nobody should have been surprised about the weird nighttime short stop there?

Thumbs Up 1

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rockaway 1 year ago

We had the total opposite experience. Can’t wait to sail on Bliss again. We bought cruise next deposits. Our sheets were spotless, white and crisp. Never waited in line for anything, but then I’m a very good planner. The only wait we had was on embarkation day due to IT problems which they’ve never had before and beyond their control.

Thumbs Up 2

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StuPedasso 1 year ago

Appreciate the review

Thumbs Up 0

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Gwbigdog 1 year ago

Oops sorry 😞 thanks

Thumbs Up 0

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PaulzyJC 1 year ago

Why don't people who sail to Alaska from Seattle bother learning why they have to stop in Canada (regardless of the time)? But, the cleaning issues are likely valid for the amount of staff vs passengers. When I sailed on Bliss last year, it was two weeks with 1300 passengers; there were no issues with cleaning or service. The longest line was seven people.

Thumbs Up 2

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AuntPinkie 1 year ago

Appreciate your detailed feedback. Sorry you were disappointed.

Thumbs Up 0

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javawoody 1 year ago

Do you believe that all the passengers go to guest services at the same time? It seems that you do not understand the Victoria stop.

Thumbs Up 2

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cruising2004 1 year ago

Sorry you were disappointed with your cruise.

Thumbs Up 1

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Matty123 1 year ago

Seems like ncl is having poor reviews lately. Good Choice to stay away from ncl for now.

Thumbs Up 1

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Dumfy75 1 year ago

Well I assume there weren’t 4000 people trying to talk to guest services at the same time! Port times is something you need to check you’re happy with before you book. Seems to be a lot of complaints about the port times being too short on this itinerary.

Thumbs Up 2

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