The First Voyage of the Norwegian Bliss to Alaska

[10-6mom]

Thank you for sharing your trip! This was very helpful!!

[BirdTravels]

We're ready for Alaska again this year. Time to try the Joy!

[QTsKid]

On ‎3‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 6:09 PM, BirdTravels said:

We're ready for Alaska again this year. Time to try the Joy!

When are you going on Joy? We're going in June, but I have no aspiration of being able to do a review like you 🙂

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, QTsKid said:

When are you going on Joy? We're going in June, but I have no aspiration of being able to do a review like you 🙂

We were booked on the inaugural voyage of the Joy to Alaska and the inaugural voyage of the Encore out of Miami. Both were cancelled so NCL could do additional press/TA/public relation cruises/events. 

 

We could not rebook on the new inaugural Joy due to conflicts with a cruise we booked on another cruise line. So,,,, we're booked on the Joy later this summer (after you). We have not decided what to do with the new inaugural Encore since it is around Thanksgiving (where we already have travel plans). NCL is making it too hard to book cruises!

Edited April 16, 2019 by BirdTravels

[alwalaska]

On ‎3‎/‎26‎/‎2019 at 6:09 PM, BirdTravels said:

We're ready for Alaska again this year. Time to try the Joy!

Have you been on the Escape?  I love your reviews and am planning Europe 2021 and it looks like Escape is the only ship in the northern part of Europe that year.

[lvcrzn]

BIRD TRAVELS, One million thanks!

[sometimes sailor]

On 6/4/2018 at 8:00 PM, McFins said:

Thank you so much for taking the time to post all of the great info and amazing pics. Just beautiful.

Capacity...what does it mean when they say capacity is 3994 pax but there are 4700 pax on board? I've seen it mentioned in relation to other sailings/ships and have always wondered how they could carry so many over capacity? Is there there a limit as to how many passengers they can have on board a particular ship?

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and expertise.

The published "capacity" is for double occupancy in all staterooms, except the studios.  The number of passengers onboard includes all the 3rd and 4th bodies in cabins.

[Action Dave]

Sadly I cannot find this escursion on NCL website for the Norwegian Joy in August-sept sailing.

 

[cruisewithbaby]

On 6/4/2018 at 3:45 AM, BirdTravels said:

Replacing Le Bistro on Deck 6 is Coco’s. (Bistro is now up next to Spice H20 where the video arcade is on other ships)

 

 

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Wondering if you have the UBP could you technically order a milk shake? They are under the $15 charge.... 

[BirdTravels]

On 5/2/2019 at 8:57 AM, Action Dave said:

Sadly I cannot find this excursion on NCL website for the Norwegian Joy in August-sept sailing.

Not sure which excursion you are talking about. If it is the Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer, NCL does offer that tour on the Joy in Juneau. 

[abugarcia1]

THANK YOU! I have read a lot of blogs and articles for information and I have learned so much from the information here. Thank you!

I do have one question. I noticed on day 3 that the afternoon dining options did not include the MDR's? Is an announcement made on why some of those options would be available on one day and not on another?

[drumming cruisers]

On 6/2/2018 at 10:35 AM, BirdTravels said:

 

 

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Hello, I

 

On 6/2/2018 at 6:30 AM, BirdTravels said:

June 2, 2018

 

The Norwegian Bliss was Christened on May 30, 2018 by Godfather Elvis Duran and will begin her first voyage to Alaska today.

 

Seattle (Washington)

Ketchikan(Alaska)

Juneau (Alaska)

Sawyer Glacier (Alaska)

Skagway (Alaska)

Victoria(British Columbia)

Seattle (Washington)

 

 

 

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I just booked a cruise to Mexico on the Bliss, restaurants I want to book aren't available on lie and neither is the Six show. Where do I book them on the ship? 

[BirdTravels]

59 minutes ago, drumming cruisers said:

Hello, I

 

I just booked a cruise to Mexico on the Bliss, restaurants I want to book aren't available on lie and neither is the Six show. Where do I book them on the ship? 

When you show up at check-in, ask for a copy of the Welcome Aboard flyer (has a ship's map on the back). The flyer will tell you where to go to RESERVE YOUR SHOW TICKETS and make dining reservations. Last year, they were using the Box Office (Deck 7 Forward, Starboard Theater Entrance) for show tickets and The Social (Deck 6 Mid-ship) for Restaurant reservations. They have been moving these around on other ships, so check the flyer or ask. 

 

We normally board early and head straight to the box office to book comedy shows (early shows are family oriented, late shows 18+),  main theater shows, go karts (extra charge), laser tag (extra charge), Wine Lovers the musical (extra charge), Escape Rooms (free), and Canvas by U painting classes (extra charge). Everything except the escape room and painting can also be booked using one of the touch screen kiosks near elevator lobbies.

 

After the shows are settled, we head to The Social to fix our dining reservations so that they don't conflict with the shows. 

 

[nhtravels]

Amazing review!  Truly appreciate the time you have spent on the review and answering comments!  

[dpepper64]

I hope whoever was on this first voyage to Alaska on the bliss could help me out.  We are on the first voyage out of Miami on the Encore and was wondering a couple of things.

1.  Do they have anything special going on prior to going out to sea

2.  We have Kelliy C. as the godmother for the Encore  could she show up or does she do the trip to the US if any at all

3. How was service   my feeling is they will have best servers on the first couple of months to get a good vibe.

4.  Anything we should worry about being on the first voyage out of Miami.

[BirdTravels]

Just now, dpepper64 said:

I hope whoever was on this first voyage to Alaska on the bliss could help me out.  We are on the first voyage out of Miami on the Encore and was wondering a couple of things.

1.  Do they have anything special going on prior to going out to sea

2.  We have Kelliy C. as the godmother for the Encore  could she show up or does she do the trip to the US if any at all

3. How was service   my feeling is they will have best servers on the first couple of months to get a good vibe.

4.  Anything we should worry about being on the first voyage out of Miami.

So,,, NCL is not so good at inaugural voyages compared to say Royal. We have been on the inaugural voyage (first paying voyage after christening) of the Breakaway, Getaway, Escape, Bliss, and Symphony of the Seas. The godparents have not been present. Hull artist like Wyland and Lebo were onboard doing special exhibitions. Celebrity chefs like Geoffrey Zacharian (Ocean Blue we’re onboard).  Every port had fire boat escorts. And during the day, visits from local dignitaries with plaques and media. Other than that, you would not know it was an inaugural cruise. 
 

On the Symphony, we got swag (keepsakes) almost every night and a big fireworks display at PortMiami. 

[Catbiri2]

Thank you for these posts. I was supposed to go on Joy on April 25, 2020 to Alaska, and I read your Live Blog for the Joy, and re-read it and re-read it... then that cruise got cancelled. I rebooked to go on the Bliss for October 4, 2020 to Alaska, I hadn't found this blog before that cruise, but that is fine.. as that cruise also got cancelled. I am now rebooked for the Bliss to Alaska on October 2, 2021..... I am sure I am going to be studying this post a million times between now and then. Thank you for your time and effort! If I think of any questions between now and then I will be sure to refer to this post before I ask 🙂

It will be mom and I, we have a Spa Balcony Room with an angled balcony.

 

Edited to add: Neither mom nor I have ever been to Alaska....we are hoping Third Time's the Charm for this!

Edited October 15, 2020 by Catbiri2

[BirdTravels]

Alaska is our favorite cruise destination and we ty to go on an Alaskan cruise annually. We have an early-season cruise to Alaska on the Quantum of the Seas next year in a Grand Suite. We’re crossing our fingers that it actually sails. 

 

We’ve had 5 cancelled cruises in the last year, and we don’t want another cancellation email message. 

[nhtravels]

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Alaska is our favorite cruise destination and we ty to go on an Alaskan cruise annually.

 

In a typical (pre-coronavirus) year, how many cruises would you typically take?  And besides Alaska what did you consider "must do" each year?  

 

Fingers crossed for you that 2021 is far better with 0 cancellations!  Those FCC can become a mess after a while! 

[BirdTravels]

22 hours ago, nhtravels said:

 

In a typical (pre-coronavirus) year, how many cruises would you typically take?  And besides Alaska what did you consider "must do" each year?  

 

Fingers crossed for you that 2021 is far better with 0 cancellations!  Those FCC can become a mess after a while! 

In a “typical” year, we cruise 4 to 6 times. Mix of RCL and NCL. Mix of suite and non-suite. 

We don’t have any other favorite cruises. We do book special cruises. 

 

Last year, we booked the inaugural Joy and Encore. Both got cancelled by NCL and slipped. We missed the Joy due to a conflict with a RCL cruise and were on inaugural encore.  
 

We were on the inaugural Symphony of the Seas after she was finally christened in Miami. 

 

The first voyage of Harmony of the seas from her new home port of Port Canaveral. 
 

We were on inaugural Bliss, Escape, Getaway, and Breakaway. 
 

We were on the last cruise of the Escape before she left Miami for New York. 
 

We were on the first cruise if the Epic out of dry dock on a repo cruise from Southampton to Barcelona. 
 

 

[andychris]

Loved reading your post!!

We just booked the bliss aug 2021. This will be our first Alaskan cruise. Any must do’s? In your opinion is the vibe worth it or skip? 

[PATRLR]

On 9/21/2019 at 2:26 PM, BirdTravels said:

So,,, NCL is not so good at inaugural voyages compared to say Royal. We have been on the inaugural voyage (first paying voyage after christening) of the Breakaway, Getaway, Escape, Bliss, and Symphony of the Seas. The godparents have not been present. Hull artist like Wyland and Lebo were onboard doing special exhibitions. Celebrity chefs like Geoffrey Zacharian (Ocean Blue we’re onboard).  Every port had fire boat escorts. And during the day, visits from local dignitaries with plaques and media. Other than that, you would not know it was an inaugural cruise. 
 

On the Symphony, we got swag (keepsakes) almost every night and a big fireworks display at PortMiami. 

What Bird says here is true, but, I think he downplays it a bit.

We too were on that inaugural Bliss sailing and I thought it was fun to have the fireboats welcoming us and also neat that Wyland was on board.    May not be a big  deal compared to what other lines do, but, if you don't have anything to compare to, it might be special for you.

[BirdTravels]

On 10/19/2020 at 7:01 AM, andychris said:

Loved reading your post!!

We just booked the bliss aug 2021. This will be our first Alaskan cruise. Any must do’s? In your opinion is the vibe worth it or skip? 

Skip the Vibe. There will be ample loungers on the main decks. The pool bar is normally not too busy and they are giving out hot soups on the pool deck (vs. frosty drinks). It will be cool for some, but folks will be out getting some sun. We're out in shorts in the cool weather, because it is warm for us. 

 

Must Dos: We sail Alaska every year (except this year). Next year we are (hopefully) on the Quantum of the Seas. We sit out while the ship is moving in the evenings and watch for sea life,,, lots of whales and dolphin. Have different clothes for different weather (glacier watching day will require a heavy coat, gloves, and a hat. Enjoy Alaska... in August, there should be chances to see a lot of whales and bears, but you need to get out of the tourist shops to see them. 

 

Post #374 on this thread states: The Vibe sold out this week. People showed up early to get a low boarding group number and racing through the ship. Temps in the low 50s. Cold, blustery days.

Edited October 23, 2020 by BirdTravels

[Ballwin Babe]

So the thermal suite is operational?  What was the price of a pass?  Thanks.

[NikiPinkston]

Thank you, @BirdTravelsfor another wonderful review. I really enjoyed reading about the inaugural voyage of the Bliss. We were on her for Christmas, 2021 and will be sailing to Alaska again on the Bliss this summer. I especially enjoyed all of your amazing photos and your great tips, as well as the stats on the amount of food required for a week's voyage! Your taking the time from your cruise to share with us is much appreciated!