What not to miss on the Bliss

[dcassetta]

Our first NCL cruise and we want to make sure to hit the highlights. 

 

We have looked at some daily schedules and there appears to be lots to do.  What would you say are the activities/games/parties not to miss?  TIA

[hallux]

If they're playing - SIX and Jersey Boys were both great shows.  Evaluate your own concern (or that of those in your party) for language related to Jersey Boys.  There are some references in SIX that MAY concern some, but it takes some thinking and I didn't really pick up on some of it until I listened to the sound track later.

 

Observation Lounge is AMAZING.  Some nights there's a pianist playing.

 

Siglo seems to be a long-running house band on the ship, as well as a couple others that were posted from recent sailings, all were pretty good.

 

There's a Beatles tribute band that plays in the Cavern Club (seems appropriate since it was modeled after the place where they first played), but I understand they do one show in the theater as well.

 

When I was on the ship in 2019 the entertainment staff was AMAZING.  I hope some of them are still there, or back.  'Wheel of Ill Will' sticks in my mind, only because one of the players was a 100 lb woman that had consumed half a bottle of wine with dinner and was asked to stand on one leg for an extended period of time without any other support.  The host for the game was amazing, keeping her eye on the tipsy flamingo and teasing her periodically.

 

That October sailing included Halloween, the staff and passenger costumes were amazing!

 

The Bliss is a great ship, the first goal is to just relax and enjoy the ports!

[YVRteacher]

Sadly, Six has been removed from the Bliss.  

[tallnthensome]

1. The thermal spa - buy passes

2. Eating at The Local to avoid the buffet

3. Sugarcane Mojito bar, especially on the waterfront

4. As said, Siglo at the Cavern Club with a few drinks. 

[dcassetta]

On 2/25/2022 at 11:28 PM, YVRteacher said:

Sadly, Six has been removed from the Bliss.  

 

That's too bad, we were looking forward to to this.

 

Has it been replaced by another show?

 

On 2/26/2022 at 5:14 AM, tallnthensome said:

The thermal spa - buy passes

 

We did, thanks!

[YVRteacher]

It hasn’t been replaced.  The whole reason I booked the Bliss was to see Six and I checked on the NCL site to make sure it was playing .  After I booked and could start making plans, I saw Six was no longer an option.

[YVRteacher]

When is your cruise?

[dcassetta]

March 13 - Mexican Riviera

[YVRteacher]

Same!

[Coachyo]

Hey YVRteacher & dcassetta, I’m right after you on the 20th.  Let us know what the entertainment is once you get hold of a dailies please.

‘Thanks, CoachYO

[JamieLogical]

On 2/26/2022 at 6:14 AM, tallnthensome said:

1. The thermal spa - buy passes

2. Eating at The Local to avoid the buffet

3. Sugarcane Mojito bar, especially on the waterfront

4. As said, Siglo at the Cavern Club with a few drinks. 

 

I agree with all of these! Except maybe The Local *instead* of the buffet. There are merits to both depending on the meal/time of day. I definitely prefer The Local for breakfast.

[jeffw67]

2 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I agree with all of these! Except maybe The Local *instead* of the buffet. There are merits to both depending on the meal/time of day. I definitely prefer The Local for breakfast.

So what is" the local"

[n4w]

31 minutes ago, jeffw67 said:

So what is" the local"

complimentary dining option, 24 hours.

The Local offers classic pub fare in a relaxed atmosphere. With popular dishes like the Reuben Sandwich and Fish n’ Chips, The Local has all your favorite comfort foods. So try one of our beers or cocktails on tap and catch a game with us!

 

click for sample menu:

https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/The_Local_All_Day_Mobile-Menu_v11-23-21.pdf

Edited March 1, 2022 by n4w

[YVRteacher]

5 hours ago, Coachyo said:

Hey YVRteacher & dcassetta, I’m right after you on the 20th.  Let us know what the entertainment is once you get hold of a dailies please.

‘Thanks, CoachYO

Hi!  I’m on the 20th as well.

[Uff da]

We just got off the Bliss Mexican Riviera cruise. First on NCL for us. Not first time ever. Good and Bad. We sailed the other big 2 some time back. It's been a while. 

If you want to know all things Bliss, look up "Norwegian Bliss Tour" on YouTube and find the one from Harr Travel. Long, but so worth it to know where everything is. I skipped over some stuff, like The Haven tour and the kid zone tour since I didn't need those. 

"So what is the local" - The local is on Deck 7 mid-ship (as well as the casino) and is part of 678 Ocean Place. These are the 3 decks where most of the indoor action is. We spent a lot of time at The Local. It's a restaurant, but they have bar type seating that goes all the way around the open Atrium area below on Deck 6. Most game shows and bands play in the Atrium and you can watch from down there or above in The Local. Bars on both decks if you need them. Deck 8 is more subdued and has a lot of shopping. Restaurants are found forward and aft on these 3 decks. It's a neat concept right now with the ships not sailing full. I'm not sure how it plays out with more people. There is a spiral staircase that will take you between the decks, but if you need an elevator, you have to go forward or aft to get to them. 

The Bingo is lame and expensive. There was one day it was $20 and that may be worth it, but otherwise, skip it. There are other game shows you can pay to play in the Atrium, like Deal or No Deal. They are fun to watch, even if you don't play. The reason people play the games is because you get tickets to enter the drawing for a free cruise, but you have to be at the last session of bingo to turn in your tickets and be present during the drawing to win. 

If the weather is nice, there's a lot of fun stuff on the pool deck. Bands, contests. It's just fun. 

We never ate in the buffet, it just didn't fit in the schedule. The other restaurants are fine. Highs and lows like everywhere. On the last sea day, I had an Asian Salmon at Taste that may be the best salmon I ever had. I hold most things up to the Saltgrass salmon I had in Vegas. This may have exceeded it. If you catch the night with Tiramisu for desert and you like it, it's amazing on Bliss. 

The Observation Lounge is amazing and I'm really looking forward to it for Alaska. 

Gangway is on Deck 4, in case you need to know, which we did need to know, but didn't. As a first timer, I shouldn't have had to go to Guest Services to find out how to get off the ship. Ugh. If you have Norwegian shore excursion tickets at a tender port (Cabo on this cruise) and it just says meet on the dock at such and such time, you can just to to the gangway and get off any time you want. They advertised booking tender times. You don't need that but it wasn't communicated. That is one of the little things that irked me about NCL, the communication. Sometimes great, sometimes lacking and so, so easy to fix. All announcements play in the hall. You have to run to the door to hear them if you are in your cabin. For experienced NCL cruisers, I'm sure it's no big deal, for me it was a little frustrating. I don't remember feeling this way on other lines, but it's been a few years since I cruised. 

One thing I really loved was when we got off the ship in Cabo (first port stop), there was a water station set up so you could get water before you ventured out or waited for your tour. When we came back, they had water and cold towels available. A nice touch. It was in every port, but some didn't need it. They had it in Ensanada and it was soooo cold at the pier that day. Cold towel...no. That poor girl holding that cold tray. Warm would have been good.  

As mentioned, Jersey Boys is the only show right now and it's good. It's hard to say when the others will be back. 

The Beatles cover band plays the theater the last sea day and it's a greatest hit thing instead of focusing on one album like they do in the Cavern Club. The music is good, but it's missing something. They just don't nail the look and sound well. I saw a Beatles cover band in Vegas and it was much better. I'm a little tainted. YMMV 

The "adult" comedy show was fun if you like that. I did not see the earlier, toned down comedy show, so I can't comment on that. 

You get the "happenings" every night. Just look it over and see if there is something you want to do and do it...or not. It's best just to roll with whatever happens. There were things I wanted to do but just didn't get around to. Wine/Cheese pairings at the wine bar for one. 

I did the race track, but it was ruined by some jerk so I won't taint you with that tale. 

We spent a fair amount of time playing video poker at the bar in the casino. The bartenders there are wonderful. They are great everywhere, but a few of them stood out. Two at the Casino and one at Mixx where our first stop muster station was. 

Have an amazing time! 



 

[hallux]

8 hours ago, Uff da said:

I did the race track, but it was ruined by some jerk so I won't taint you with that tale

I had one of those.  A kart in front of me was all over the track enough that even though I wanted to go faster they kept moving in front of me just as I would go to pass them.

[Uff da]

4 hours ago, hallux said:

I had one of those.  A kart in front of me was all over the track enough that even though I wanted to go faster they kept moving in front of me just as I would go to pass them.

Well, I'm old and female. I was really excited to try them though. I'm up for anything once. It's really hard to control those cars if you aren't super strong, especially in the turns and especially if it's your very first time. I did my best to stay to the side as much as I could. I hope you were understanding even though it was frustrating. In my case, there was someone in front of me I couldn't get around and it was fine. I just rolled with it. Unfortunately, the jerk behind me didn't like that and decided to rear end my cart going full speed. Mild whiplash. I hurt for hours. The "rules" are a joke. I will never ride them again. It's not formula one and people have forgotten how to be nice. If they would have taken their frustration to the staff, I'll guarantee they would have been offered another ride. They didn't have to hurt someone to make their point. 

[intrepid_guy]

Enjoying the info on Bliss, we are going on her for the first time this November. Keep up the good info. (Also, disappointed about "Six")

~Intrepid

[UKstages]

On 2/25/2022 at 11:23 PM, hallux said:

There are some references in SIX that MAY concern some, but it takes some thinking and I didn't really pick up on some of it until I listened to the sound track later.

 

there actually is no soundtrack for "six," as it has not yet been made into a film. there is a "studio cast recording" featuring the original london cast. it's the second most-streamed musical theatre album ever.

[ClevelandCruisin]

Cagneys

Le Bistro

Teppanyaki 

Food Republic 

Sugarcane mojito bar

The waterfront

[rsato]

I have been on 18 cruises and Siglo is the best “house” band I have seen!

[NW Pacific]

I totally agree,  Siglo the BEST