Table Of Content
We stopped in for some appetizers and drinks at the Blue Crab, a recommended restaurant which is located along the waterfront. We enjoyed our light fare of local mussels and clam chowder. The show included a mix of songs, some that we had already heard in the band’s first show, as well as songs from the Abbey Road album and a few notable solos like Lennon’s Imagine. At the end of the performance, there was the typical officers farewell along with a parade of crew members.
Day 2
And, a few hours luxuriating in a good book on a comfy chair in the Observation Lounge can't be beat. On my last NCL cruise (to Antarctica/South America in December) I missed skillet cornbread night in the MDR because it was my son’s birthday and he wanted to celebrate at Teppanyaki. I’ve regretted prioritizing my kid’s happiness over that cornbread ever since.
The First Night Onboard
Still, we had one more day on the ship and a short stopover in Victoria, British Columbia. Sleeping in a bit, we arrived at the Local at 10 am for breakfast with our Starbucks in hand. The show was a solid hour and included several song and dance routines with Madam Lulu and her “girls”. The show was enjoyable; although, the cover charge feels a bit steep at $29.95 plus service charge.
Solid Cruise and a fun time
We were right as the venue was packed with others cruisers listening to the band’s British Invasion set. There is no signature menu at this bar, so we ordered our typical go-to drinks, a Daydreamer’s Daiquiri and a Sidecar. We could already tell that the reports would be correct and that the Observation Lounge would be busy the entire cruise. Actually, we were quite proud of our ability to get everything done and get to the restaurant on time. Tonight, we were dining at Los Lobos with our party of six.
A Ship of the Night
Lenny Schmidt was the closer, also doing about a 20 minute set. To the Food Republic right before 7 pm, we had to wait a few minutes for our friends to show up, wine in hand, of course. You can not make reservations at this venue, but it is never that busy either, as it is not part of the Norwegian Specialty Dining package. With only about 45 minutes to spare, we were able to order, find seats, and dig into the savory crab legs! This was on the top of my to-do list for this trip, so I am glad we were able to fit it in.
Norwegian Bliss Cruise Ship First-hand Expert Review - CruiseCritic.co.uk
Norwegian Bliss Cruise Ship First-hand Expert Review.
Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:43:41 GMT [source]
A Few Tips for Debarkation Morning
But then I worried about being a stereotype (vegetarian, salad, you know). So I went with the obvious choice, the one with candy in it. And it seems after only 3 nights the chef knows my preferences and put extra brittle in mine. I also appreciated some warm soup after a chilly, drizzly day at port. Then I carb loaded for tomorrow’s hike with pasta and bread.
…and delicious complimentary snacks and unique desserts, many with an international flair and not available anywhere else on the ship. You can also maximize your drink package without judgment byrotating among several bars located nearby. All my food was good (the corn with a side of corn and the salad) to great (the guacamole and cake) but again, not worth the a la carte price ($60 + 20% service charge) I’d have paid without my Platinum voucher. I also ordered a betabel salad, the rajas and crema tacos, the elotes, and the tres leches cake. The tacos and the elotes were essentially the exact same dish, but with one including an edible delivery device and the other requiring another awkward conversation (they cut the kernels off the cob table side) and a fork.
Day 7
Given that we were already upstairs, I wanted to peek into the much publicized Seafood Buffet at the Garden Cafe. The only additions were a large section of shrimp cocktail and steamed mussels. A few other seafood dishes were scattered among the other food but nothing really stood out. Outside, the weather appeared to be getting nicer, so we took a stroll on the Waterfront. Still a tad too windy to stay outside for any length of time, it was nice to get some fresh air. Looking for something else to do, we decided to check another bar off our list.
His roughly 30-minute set was timely with reference to current events and controversial topics that just felt very atypical for a cruise ship. I did find some of his jokes good but overall was not impressed. The group’s opinion was a bit more split with this comedian as I seemed in the minority this time. We arrived to the wine bar early and put in our order to check another bar off our list. This drink around the ship was going to be done in no time! Chatting and recounting the day with our friends, time flew by.
Our tour today was one of the most popular, and a large mob of people were led outside into the rain to slowly load onto buses. As Norwegian Bliss is a brand new ship, the machines in the casino are mostly new games. This meant that her favorite slot was nowhere to be found. So, she tested out a game named after her but quickly lost the $20 that she threw into the machine. With so much nightlife onboard, we actually never returned to the casino for the rest of the cruise. The game takes approximately an hour, so we were done by 1 pm.
These reservations do fill up quickly, so we suggest that you book on embarkation day if you have your heart set on testing out these activities. After cruising on Norwegian Bliss, we are more than glad we opted to secure the vacation funds for a second Alaskan cruise sooner than expected. For mega-ship lovers, Norwegian Bliss is the ship to choose when cruising to Alaska. It has all of the bells and whistles you have come to expect from a ship of its size, including signature entertainment, a variety of bars and lounges, diverse dining options, and an enthusiastic crew. Overall, we enjoyed our transatlantic sailing on Norwegian Bliss and we think it can only get better once it gets to Alaska and the Caribbean, where the destination will play a bigger part in the overall experience. While we do wish there were a fewer extra charges (especially for the laser tag, which was our favorite top deck activity), there is still lots to keep you busy.
Plus, it is rare that a brand new ship makes its debut in the Alaskan region. Being avid mega-ship fans, this end of summer cruise was almost a given for us. But Norwegian Bliss can only mimic a small upscale vessel to a certain extent. For the size of the gym versus the size of the ship, it really should be been open 24/7 to have a prayer at accommodating everyone weird enough to exercise on vacation. And to make matters worse, as soon as I disembark tomorrow, I’m moving (20 feet across the hall, but still!)!
Norwegian Bliss is home to several new and innovative spaces that you can only find on the ship. These features include the largest race track at sea and the first outdoor laser tag. Both of these activities are fun, even if they do cost additional money. The Ocean Loop waterslide was a gravity-defying wet and wild ride that you will want to repeat numerous times.
The food was delicious, the choices were plentiful as well as the drinks. We met people from all over the world and the atmosphere was relaxed and happy. Everything was first-class and seemed to run very smoothly., from the crowd control to the ports to the onboard entertainment.
No comments:
Post a Comment