Our "BLISSful" Trip

Absolutely!

We used Sabra Limo Services a/k/a Seattle Town Car (easy to Google)

We had booked an 11 person passenger van as we were concerned about having all the luggage. There were only 6 of us using this service, plus the luggage. After booking the Luggage Valet - we didn’t need half the room and made jokes at pier we could sell the extra seats for $10 (which we did not)

 

We split the $120 cost between 3 couples - prepaying.

(206) 229-7288.

 

New vehicle and Steve was a great driver who communicated well with us when’s we docked!

I highly recommend. And they have all size cars

/limos - price ranges etc.

Thank you for the information! Did you happen to notice if there were many taxis available? Two flat rate taxis would be cheaper than a private car service, but I would prefer to travel altogether as we are with grandparents and also two teenagers....

Would you be willing to share who you booked your transportation with to get to Sea-Tac after the cruise? Trying to find how to get our party of 7 to the airport....

I use Seattle Express. It’s always worked great for me.

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Thanks for your review. Did the go karts ressies fill up? We saw another

post saying the karts were sold out for the entire cruise and were sent away

when waiting for stand bye no shows. Thanks for your input. :)

Ed and Deb

Tampa Bay:cool:

Thanks for your review. Did the go karts ressies fill up? We saw another

post saying the karts were sold out for the entire cruise and were sent away

when waiting for stand bye no shows. Thanks for your input. :)

 

Ed and Deb

Tampa Bay:cool:

What is a ressies?

What is a ressies?

Reservation.

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I was on the Escape 4/2016 and 12/2017 (both times in Haven)

 

The casino games actually changed from first time to second. They always have the Wheel of Fourtune with gold wheel. They updated by changing the games to what’s “today” - Heart Lock Game, Wonder Woman, All the Chinese games with the “pots” 88 Fortunes. Also all had the traditional 3 and 5 line 7’s games, Quick Hits, Flintstones and Wizard of Oz. Lots of bonus and wheel games :):)

 

I never had a problem finding something familiar that I enjoyed!

 

As Floridian - the Florida ports are easy... if you’ve never done Alaska - for me it was “do at once in my life” - I have no regrets; indescribably beautiful!!

We were on the Escape in January and April:)

Would you say that the Bliss casino was roughly the same size and same number of machines?

Could you find the newest games in the non-smoking area?

(On Escape, the super small non-smoking area did not have the newest games.)

We really do need to book that 'once in my life' Alaska trip in the next year or so. My DH gets tired of shoveling snow here so we are normally looking for the Caribbean or Bermuda:cool:

Thank you for the report I am cruising the Bliss for Thanksgiving!!

we are our from Fl too so I was excited to see the casino having newer games.

I live 30 minutes from the hard rock In Tampa and Hate it lol We go to the Beau Rivage because they fly us there and the rooms are amazing.

can we use the promo dinning for the Mexican restaurants and the Q ?

thanks again

can we use the promo dinning for the Mexican restaurants and the Q ?

Yes, you can use the dining package for Los Lobos and Q.

Was it easy and quick to get off the ship at each of the ports?

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Thank you for the information! Did you happen to notice if there were many taxis available? Two flat rate taxis would be cheaper than a private car service, but I would prefer to travel altogether as we are with grandparents and also two teenagers....

As we were met directly outside the front door, I did not notice a line of Taxi’s (did see some though) and Uber folks were directed down the road a bit.

We were approached several times by different venues as to us needing transportation/shuttle service.

You will have no issues getting a ride on the spot that is more affordable. Had I understood how awesome the luggage valet worked; we would not have reserved such a large vehicle ahead of time. I was very happy with our service regardless. I would opt to “just catch a ride” if I did it again!

We were on the Escape in January and April:)

 

Would you say that the Bliss casino was roughly the same size and same number of machines?

 

Could you find the newest games in the non-smoking area?

 

(On Escape, the super small non-smoking area did not have the newest games.)

 

We really do need to book that 'once in my life' Alaska trip in the next year or so. My DH gets tired of shoveling snow here so we are normally looking for the Caribbean or Bermuda:cool:

Yes - they are very comparable in size.

Machines were 75% were in non smoking and 25% in the smoking room. All the games are the latest and greatest (in both areas)

Do you have a favorite I could verify for you?

I was completely satisfied with the selection myself.

Thanks for your review. Did the go karts ressies fill up? We saw another

post saying the karts were sold out for the entire cruise and were sent away

when waiting for stand bye no shows. Thanks for your input. :)

 

Ed and Deb

Tampa Bay:cool:

Tampa Bay here too! :cool:

(I knew what ressies meant - lol)

Yes! They did fill up - we made ours as soon as we boarded. As we had 10 in our group; 12 cars were on the track racing during our time slot.

Since we had our designated time - I did not notice the wait-line or if people were tuned away (sorry:eek:)

Thank you for the report I am cruising the Bliss for Thanksgiving!!

we are our from Fl too so I was excited to see the casino having newer games.

I live 30 minutes from the hard rock In Tampa and Hate it lol We go to the Beau Rivage because they fly us there and the rooms are amazing.

 

can we use the promo dinning for the Mexican restaurants and the Q ?

 

thanks again

I see someone else answered your question!

I’ll confirm the yes ....

I’ll see you in Clearwater on the Beau Rivage Plane ;p

Couldn’t agree more!!

I’ve been hitting Immokalee as payouts are better over Tampa (I’m 50 minutes to Tampa and 3 hrs to Immokalee.

I make the drive - it’s worth it!)

Was it easy and quick to get off the ship at each of the ports?

 

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Yes... And no...

We did 2 shore excursions that were first thing when ship docked and needed to meet in the theater to be let off. It was crowded both going and coming back. Not intolerable - just expect it. When you get back on; walk up a floor and go to the opposite side to catch elevators.

Depending on Port - your getting on/off multiple decks 4-7. If your not doing tours, wait a few and the crowds will be minimal. Same with getting back on; the last 30 minutes before time due was hectic.

Yes - they are very comparable in size.

Machines were 75% were in non smoking and 25% in the smoking room. All the games are the latest and greatest (in both areas)

 

Do you have a favorite I could verify for you?

I was completely satisfied with the selection myself.

That is good to hear! It sounds like they have been listening to more of us when designing and laying out the casino. If they have new machines in both areas that should keep all of us happy. Thanks for the details:cool:

Glad you enjoyed your cruise. Which nights are formal?

Thanks

Glad you enjoyed your cruise. Which nights are formal?

 

Thanks

None. There are no formal nights on any NCL ships. Dress up or not is any night you want.

We were on the Escape in January and April:)

 

Would you say that the Bliss casino was roughly the same size and same number of machines?

 

Could you find the newest games in the non-smoking area?

 

(On Escape, the super small non-smoking area did not have the newest games.)

 

We really do need to book that 'once in my life' Alaska trip in the next year or so. My DH gets tired of shoveling snow here so we are normally looking for the Caribbean or Bermuda:cool:

The Bliss casino is in the exact same spot as on the Escape. As far as floor space, it is smaller because on the Bliss, the lifeboats are stowed inboard (I.e., they do not hang out over the ship) So everything on Deck 7 is narrower. Casino, The Local (O’shehans), even the Manhattan Room. So there are fewer machines. And they used the space in the Skyline Bar for additional machines. So no Skyline Dancing. They use the Social (bigger headliners) as the night time club.

For the Manhattan Room, they got rid of the dance floor and most of the stage and packed it with tables. They also got rid of the large areas of 10-tips, so it is harder to get big groups in there.

Some notes from someone who was also on the Bliss last week...

- The Port Valet doesn't need to be done in the first two days of the cruise. My wife and I signed up for it on Thursday, after seeing it mentioned in the Daily. It's a great option, we paid $25 each for two bags that we set in the hallway on Friday night, and didn't see again until they popped out on the luggage carousel in our home airport. We also signed up at the same time for the $20 each bus trip from the port to Sea-Tac. When we arrived at Sea-Tac at the beginning of the trip, we were going to Uber down to the port, but I asked a Norwegian rep roaming around the luggage carousel if NCL offered a transportation option. When she said certainly, and at only $20 each, I said "SOLD"!

- There is a smoking area on Deck 17 Aft. This area is for adults only, from approximately 10a - 7p, so a nice respite from kids. The smoking area is next to the bathroom on that deck, and after seeing some of the same folks huddled there, day after day, I was glad I gave up the cigs in 1984.

- I didn't have any problems getting on the go kart track without a reservation, but I also wasn't in a huge group; just my wife and I. The only nit I have with the experience is that they had me finishing second, even though I lapped everyone on the track at least once. They rank the drivers for fastest lap time, not total laps. We're not racing to establish the pole position for a later race, NCL!

- The observation deck on 15 is a nice idea, but was abused by chair hogs, including a lot of folks snoring away. If you're that tired, go back to your room, and leave the observation area to people who have their eyes open.

- The District rocks, and Englebert and the gal from Croatia are great!

- The food was okay, nothing to write home about. This is based on no visits to the up-charge restaurants, if I'm paying as much as we did for a cruise, I'm not paying more to eat.

- The note on the bed placement in the midship cabins is spot on; get one with the beds by the balcony. If you don't, you will spend a week shimmying around the end of the bed, and jamming yourself between the bed and the closet, when getting clothes out.

Were there a large number of kids on the cruise? Wondering if the Bliss to Alaska is a big family type cruise or an older retired crowd? Thanks

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Were there a large number of kids on the cruise? Wondering if the Bliss to Alaska is a big family type cruise or an older retired crowd? Thanks

I thought it was pretty much a family cruise; a lot of age ranges.