Bliss2Alaska

Was the main dining room open for lunch on embarkation day? I know this used to be on other NCL ships but it has been awhile since I have cruised NCL.

Thank You

Joyce

As others have replied, yes. Taste and Savor (sit-down dining) open at 12. But check out the early pages of this thread - you can see the Freestyle Daily (day planner) from each day of the Inaugural Alaskan last month. While of course they may have changed things after possibly learning a few things after that first go-around, I'd suggest you can still get a great sense of what to expect and when. Day 1 (departing Seattle) is about halfway down page 1 of this thread.

Thanks for the quick reply! I heard that you get one entree and as many appetizers and desserts as you want...true? Is that only with the SDP or is that in the restaurants that have a "cover charge" as well? Thanks again.

On Bliss, I went to La Cucina and they point at your menu saying "one from here, one from there. . ." adding up to three things - an appetizer, main, and dessert. If there was room for negotiation, they sure didn't advertise it!

At Los Lobos, the next night, I think they said any three things, similar to La Cucina, but we ordered the Guacamole dip to share (that's something you have to ask for and has a price if you aren't using SDP), and they still gave us an appetizer, main, and dessert beyond that.

Ocean Blue I think was similar to La Cucina.

Based on some conversations I inadvertently overheard between servers and guests, however, I got the sense that if your request was reasonable, they would work with you. But you have to ask. . .I was never given the impression that I can just go for unlimited anything.

Question for those who have already sailed on the Bliss

I have the 4 Meal Specialty Dining Package and am making our reservations. When I choose Ocean Blue there is an $18.00 charge per person even though it would be our fourth restaurant reservation. Is this correct? There is an upcharge for Ocean Blue even with the Dining Package?

Yes. I had a 3-Meal package. I ate at La Cucina and Los Lobos, and was "charged" $0 with the card swipe and then when the card was swiped into Ocean Blue I was charged $18.

Hint hint: Try to use a specialty meal the evening the ship goes to visit a glacier (after Juneau normally). The specialty restaurants all have easy outdoor access so that you can put down your utensils, go and get a picture, and go right back to dining. It worked for me. This is helpful especially if you like to eat early and the ship is only getting to the glacier long after you would have liked to start eating. On the Inaugural Alaskan, I got some quick pics from my balcony as we approached Dawes glacier on June 5, then checked into Ocean Blue without a reservation (everyone was out looking at the glacier), then when we got close enough to the glacier (you can see from the windows) stepped out for a great picture, then went right back to eating!

Hi everyone,

I had been following this thread for a few months leading up to taking the Inaugural Alaskan on June 2.

For those interested in what it was like I can only echo the sentiments of most others here in that it is a beautiful and amazing ship! And Alaska was definitely the place to go!

My two "difficulties" (in the sense of difficulties in paradise, really) were:

1) walking around both the Garden Cafe and Observation Lounge (taking the stairs to get between them) a couple of times on Tuesday while departing Juneau to find seating for lunch (because everyone was doing the same thing, of course, waiting to board the ship as it was departing for complimentary lunch rather than getting lunch on shore).

2) The Observation Lounge, as others have alluded to, is very prone to seat-saving (which is discouraged in each Freestyle Daily) and a couple taking up prime-location sofas/couches that can really seat 5-6 people. A couple of times I managed to get a front-facing view, but I find that the best view (and easier to obtain) when coming into the ports was from deck 16 in the Garden Cafe forward facing.

I do have a question, however, for anyone who may know. I'm trying to get the title / artist / etc. for the song that they performed in the theater on the first night of the cruise, introducing the ship and the vacation. It has a line often repeated, "I'll go where you go." I've searched this line in many ways on the Internet but can't come up with what it was. I'm guessing they are using the song each Saturday night throughout the season, but they definitely used it on June 2. Thanks in advance!