Coming back to NCL - questions before booking Bliss

[cot427]

Next year it'll be about 6 years since I've cruised Norwegian, I know a lot of things are the same, but wanted to clarify some things before I decide to book. Looking at a late winter/early spring Western Caribbean on the Bliss. I've been on BA, GA and Escape. I loved the Escape, but don't want to cruise out of PC. I wanted a ship that still has Spice H2O, so Bliss is it. My questions are:

• The drink package that comes with free at sea needs upgraded if I want water bottles and Starbucks included? Anything else additional I would get with the upgrade?
• Does the specialty dining package have any limitations specific to Bliss restaurants? Is it one dinner per person per night? 
• The food at The Local is included?
• How is their late-night/24 hour food selection? I am talking post-midnight/1,2 am hours?
• Does Norwegian have hard seltzers? I glanced at a menu and only saw one lemon/lime option.

 

Quite honestly I love Royal but I am looking for something different...just different bar menus, food and overall vibe. Really appreciate good drinks, great food, quality entertainment and good late-night parties. 

[tetleytea]

The Local is certainly included, but the food is the cheaper stuff, unless you like chicken wings.   

 

I don't remember there being any 24/7 food options.  Not even the Observation Lounge did that.  Maybe the Local was 24-hour, but I think they were just really-long-hours.  The 24/7 option I used was the mini-fridge in my cabin.

 

Yes, we got no Starbucks or water bottles (or water boxes) with the Free At Sea regular.  However, Irish Coffee did fall under Free At Sea.

Edited August 3, 2022 by tetleytea

[scooter6139]

Here's something I found useful on another site dealing with the upgrade Premium Plus Bev package.

[hallux]

52 minutes ago, tetleytea said:

The Local is certainly included, but the food is the cheaper stuff, unless you like chicken wings.   

You can get a good Rueben and some really good burgers at The Local.  Some would argue the best burgers on the ship (American Diner included, possibly).

 

53 minutes ago, tetleytea said:

Maybe the Local was 24-hour, but I think they were just really-long-hours.

It's the closest thing to 24/7.  In fact - the daily from my cruise on the Joy (nearly identical ship to the Bliss) this past March indicates it's always open.  They may close it for 30-60 minutes to switch menus between meal types.

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, cot427 said:

• The drink package that comes with free at sea needs upgraded if I want water bottles and Starbucks included? Anything else additional I would get with the upgrade?
• Does the specialty dining package have any limitations specific to Bliss restaurants? Is it one dinner per person per night? 
• The food at The Local is included?
• How is their late-night/24 hour food selection? I am talking post-midnight/1,2 am hours?
• Does Norwegian have hard seltzers? I glanced at a menu and only saw one lemon/lime option.

You would have to drink a bit of water and starbucks to break even on the drink package upgrade. You decide if it would be easier to just pay for the water vs. the upgrade price. 

 

The specialty dining package is per meal. Meal = multiple appetizers, one entrée, multiple sides and desserts. Some waiters have been instructed to say that it really means one appetizer, one entrée, one dessert, but that is no where in the terms and conditions. We sail multiple times a year and have never been charged for multiples. Good at Ocean Blue, Los Lobos, Food Republic, Teppanyaki, American Diner, Cagney's, La Cucina, Q BBQ, and Le Bistro. 

 

Complimentary Restaurants include: The Local Bar & Grill, Garden Cafe Buffet, Savor, Taste, Manhattan Room, Observation Lounge. 

 

Late Night Menu (better than Sorento's at 1 am) 

[BermudaBound2014]

The local (formally O'Sheehans) is one of the things we really enjoy on NCL. DH does like bar burgers after bar I really like the sweet Korean BBQ wings. Eating at 2 am is something I would never do at home, but such a splurge t on a cruise.

 

If you are really interested in 24/7 food options the Local blows out any other cruise line IMO. PS: If you stay up really late you can get breakfast 😉 

 

PS: Just in case it's been a really long time since you've sailed NCL, the free at sea specialty dinner perk is no longer unlimited (those were the days). You now get X number of visits based on length of sailing and I think even that was reduced further recently. 

Edited August 3, 2022 by BermudaBound2014

[coastcat]

In addition, the number of your included specialty restaurant meals depends on the length of the cruise and the cabin you book. For a 7-night cruise, you get one specialty dinner if you're in a Studio, interior, or ocean view cabin and two dinners in a balcony or higher category. You can purchase additional dinners.

 

If you don't want to upgrade to the Premium Plus Beverage Package, you do have the option to purchase a water package and/or an unlimited Starbucks package (this is new!). It all depends on what you prefer to drink.

[tetleytea]

 

If you are really interested in 24/7 food options the Local blows out any other cruise line IMO 

 

I have to favor International Cafe on Princess for that one.

Edited August 4, 2022 by tetleytea

[cot427]

Thank you all for the feedback regarding the freestyle inclusions, additions and late-night food. 

 

Can anyone comment on the parties/deck parties/entertainment on Bliss? Also very important to me coming from Royal...I love the variety of shows on Oasis class.

[hallux]

1 hour ago, cot427 said:

Can anyone comment on the parties/deck parties/entertainment on Bliss? Also very important to me coming from Royal...I love the variety of shows on Oasis class.

Probably can't compete on par with an Oasis-class ship.  However, the Beatles tribute band is usually a good show (in a venue designed for them), comedians (if it's like the Joy they'll have two that each do an all-ages show and an adult show), various musical performers from a 'house band' to a country group to a keyboardist and vocalist.  Not to mention the fantastic theater shows - Jersey Boys and SIX.

 

There are also a couple organized parties on deck.

[cot427]

I figured I would provide some feedback since there's not much info for Bliss Caribbean runs (I was looking ahead, it doesn't do too many so that's probably why). - Feb 18-25th W. Caribbean (Roatan, Harvest Caye, Cozumel) (skipped Costa Maya due to winds)

 

Ship - I've been on BA, GA and Escape, and I remember loving Escape. Not sure what changed this time, but the ship always felt cramped and crowded. Getting an elevator was a disaster, the pool and open deck areas were very crowded and hard to get loungers. I ended up finding a secret deck area on 19 forward that had a bar (opposite Vibe). The deck plans only indicate a sun deck and not a bar, but it was fully staffed, so that was nice. Perhaps the ship is just more suited for colder, Alaska climate where it spends most of its time. I've cruised in February before, but I don't ever remember feeling the ship move and rock and sway as much as the Bliss did this trip. Even when the seas seemed calm. So I'm not sure if it was just the time of year or if the ship just doesn't handle the water as smooth as some other classes of ships. 

 

Bar/Bar Service - I also remember loving their bar menus and handmade cocktails. It seems now they cutback and offer the same menu throughout the ship, with a few exceptions. The mojito bar mojitos were not as good as years ago, no muddling and seems like they are batched. I only got 1. Spice H2O was very disorganized, it would sometimes take 20-30 to get a drink. One server would write down the drink you wanted, ring you in, and then another bartender would make the drink and then set it there, having no idea who to give it to. The best bar I encountered was Observation Lounge due to some fantastic bartenders (Zandy and Rachel). No one else went above and beyond like they did. 

 

Stateroom - My stateroom attendant was not very personable at all. He scoffed when I asked him to put the beds together. Every night the crack in the middle of the bed would expand and the sheets would come off the sides of the bed. Other attendants would say hi as I walked down the hall, but not him. I was just unlucky. 

 

Food - The food was decent. We tried Teppanyaki, Ocean Blue and Le Bistro and they were all fantastic. Food Republic was also very good. The Local's food was good but hit or miss on the speed of service. I miss having a 24 hour walk up and go place like on Royal. Went to the dining room only one night and due to the slowness of service (2.5 hours for a group of 😎 did not return. We were only offered beverages once. The buffet was fine, nice options but at peak times it may have been the most crowded, chaotic buffet I've been to on a ship.

 

Shows/Entertainment - Love the deck themed parties every night (and there was one every night). Absolutely loved Six and Jersey Boys. Top notch talent and performers. Missed Levity until the last night in the main theater when both had an open seating show, however walked out because the first guy (Mike Klein maybe?) was not funny at all. Glad to have missed the solo show for him. Missed the other entertainment options that Royal has both throughout the day and at night with other shows. 

 

Overall, I wanted to try Norwegian after 6 or so years of not, but I missed Royal. I just can't justify spending the amount I did on Norwegian ships, that lack a lot of the wow factors, but also the quiet and more open public spaces. I also missed the level of service I am used to on Royal. 

 

 

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by cot427

[hallux]

6 hours ago, cot427 said:

So I'm not sure if it was just the time of year or if the ship just doesn't handle the water as smooth as some other classes of ships. 

I've sailed the Bliss twice and Joy once, both were smooth rides!  I'd say equal to Royal's Anthem on the NY-Bahamas cruise.  It must just have been the weather on your cruise.

[kdawg954]

Wish I saw your post earlier, I could of helped out.  Will give my two cents.

 

Bliss did not feel like a Caribbean ship when I went in early January.  She's gorgeous, but it was very cramped everywhere.  Avoid the western itinerary also . . All the ports were packed and we just didn't enjoy getting off the ship as it also was the best time to be on the ship (in port less crowded).

 

Waterfront continues to be the star of this class of ship.  And the Observatory deck, which I can only imagine is insane when cruising Alaska.  

 

I'd do it again if I got a rock bottom rate and use the savings for the Spa pass and maybe even Vibe (chair hogs were ridiculous) with no intent to leave the ship (early year western Caribbean).

[cot427]

11 hours ago, kdawg954 said:

Wish I saw your post earlier, I could of helped out.  Will give my two cents.

 

Bliss did not feel like a Caribbean ship when I went in early January.  She's gorgeous, but it was very cramped everywhere.  Avoid the western itinerary also . . All the ports were packed and we just didn't enjoy getting off the ship as it also was the best time to be on the ship (in port less crowded).

 

Waterfront continues to be the star of this class of ship.  And the Observatory deck, which I can only imagine is insane when cruising Alaska.  

 

I'd do it again if I got a rock bottom rate and use the savings for the Spa pass and maybe even Vibe (chair hogs were ridiculous) with no intent to leave the ship (early year western Caribbean).

You make excellent points! I'm done with the Western itinerary for a while after this. And Bliss, while beautiful, was made not beautiful by the masses. The Observation lounge was the star of the cruise, and I should've splurged for Vibe. I did get a good price, so I am happy with the "value". I will say, I think the waterfront is slightly underutilized. The outside parts of all restaurants except La Cucina were almost always not full, and the small parts of the bars of Sugarcane and Cavern were not nearly as big as they should be. 

[kdawg954]

5 hours ago, cot427 said:

You make excellent points! I'm done with the Western itinerary for a while after this. And Bliss, while beautiful, was made not beautiful by the masses. The Observation lounge was the star of the cruise, and I should've splurged for Vibe. I did get a good price, so I am happy with the "value". I will say, I think the waterfront is slightly underutilized. The outside parts of all restaurants except La Cucina were almost always not full, and the small parts of the bars of Sugarcane and Cavern were not nearly as big as they should be. 

 

Can agree with all of that.  Actually disappointed that Waterfront Sugarcane wasn't more of a spectacle.  A lot of potential in that area.  Did have a wonderful dinner at Ocean Blue outside.  It was literally perfect, from the sunset to the temperature to the nice breeze and the service/food.  Maybe my favorite dinner ever on a cruise ship tbh.  

 

But the western Caribbean just isn't for me when the east and south are so much nicer.  And that's ok.  I know what I gotta stick to going forward.