We Just Got Off the NCL Bliss…Here Are Our HONEST Thoughts #NorwegianCruiseLine #CruiseLife#Cruising

We just finished our first cruise on the Norwegian Bliss and wanted to share our thoughts while everything is still fresh. Getting off the ship this morning was easy, though we did wait about 10 to 15 minutes for a shuttle back to our parking lot.

This was our first time sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line, so we’re curious to hear from others about their experiences. We’ll walk through what we loved and what we didn’t love about the Bliss, from the casino fees to the go-kart track. Some things really impressed us, while others left us wondering if this is typical for NCL or just specific to this ship.

Key Takeaways

• The ship had great features like go-karts and plentiful bathrooms but charged unexpected fees like a 3% surcharge to use your onboard account at the casino
• Food options were limited on the pool deck with no dedicated pizza place and the American Diner closed most of the time
• Haven passengers get an elevated experience with specialty dining options ranging from $40 to $60 per person for dinner

Getting Off the Ship and Starting Our Journey Home

Easy Exit from the Vessel

We got off the NCL Bliss around 9:30 in the morning. The whole process was really simple and straightforward.

There weren’t any major issues. Everything moved quickly and we didn’t run into any problems.

Parking Lot Transportation Details

The only small delay we had was after we left the ship. We parked in the remote parking lot before our cruise.

We had to wait in line for a shuttle bus to take us back to where our car was parked. The line took about 10 to 15 minutes.

It wasn’t a big deal at all. The wait was short and the shuttle came pretty quickly.

Pros and Cons of Norwegian Bliss

What Makes NCL Different from Other Cruise Lines

We found several things that set Norwegian Bliss apart from other cruise lines we’ve sailed with. The ship had public bathrooms everywhere. They were clean and came in different sizes, from single units to larger multi-stall options. We could always find a bathroom no matter where we were on the ship.

One feature we really liked was how the shopping area was set up. All the shops were contained in their own separate district. We didn’t have to walk through stores to get anywhere else on the ship. This was different from some Royal Caribbean ships where shopping areas create traffic jams in the middle of main walkways.

The ship had a really cool spot called Horizon Park on deck 20. It featured:

• Artificial grass
• Bean bag chairs
• Views of the pool area
• Views of the ocean or port
• Lounge chairs with coverings
• Both sun and some shaded areas

This area gave us amazing views from a high vantage point. We could see the pool deck below and the water around us.

Near Horizon Park, we found a large ship model tucked away at the back of deck 6. The display included plaques from different cities that the ship has visited. We spent some time looking at all the details.

The ship also had an area called Vibe Beach Club that you have to pay extra for. Prices range from $150 to $250 depending on your sailing length. We didn’t think it looked worth the extra cost. The free public area on the other side had the same jacuzzi and similar chairs. The main difference might be age restrictions if you want a guaranteed adults-only experience.

We tried a couple of specialty dining restaurants. The teppanyaki was fun, and we really enjoyed the Food Republic on our first night. Food Republic offered Asian fusion dishes and we would recommend it. However, specialty dining restaurants only served dinner and cost between $40 and $60 per person. These charges can add up quickly.

The go-karts were an awesome feature and a fun novelty. Christina tried them in Ensenada as the sun was going down. She got stuck with what seemed like the slowest car on the track. The turbo boost button didn’t work for her, and another driver bumped her car a couple times. Despite these issues, it was still a fun experience.

Unexpected Fees and Surcharges

We ran into some surprise charges on Norwegian Bliss that we haven’t seen on other cruise lines. The casino charged a 3% surcharge just to use our onboard account to play slot machines. We’ve sailed with Princess, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean, and none of them charged us a percentage fee to play casino games.

We learned from listening to other guests at the cashier that the fees get worse. If you want to use a different credit card while onboard instead of the one you put on file, they charge a 6% fee on cash advances. We understand that cash advance fees exist in places like Vegas, but the 3% charge just to play slots was new to us.

The Vibe Beach Club required an additional payment of $150 to $250 per person depending on cruise length. This was for an exclusive pool area that didn’t look much different from the free public space.

Room service pizza came with a fee. This was disappointing because we couldn’t find any dedicated pizza spot on the ship. We checked decks 6, 7, 8, and 16. The only pizza available was at the buffet during open hours. Ships from Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess all have dedicated pizza places where you can grab slices throughout the day.

The lack of free grab-and-go food options near the pool was a problem. We found two bars by the pools but no food spots. There was an American Diner nearby, but it was closed most of the time we tried to visit. A jogging track ran through the diner, and the go-kart track sat above it.

The specialty dining restaurants charged $40 to $60 per person and only opened for dinner. If we got hungry during the day, our options were limited. Carnival offers included options like Guy’s Burger, Blue Iguana, and Big Chicken. Royal Caribbean has similar free venues. For what NCL charges, we expected more included food choices.

The ship’s store had very little NCL branded merchandise. We wanted to buy t-shirts and other clothing with the cruise line logo. Most items they did have showed the branding on the tag behind the neck where you’d never see it. We ended up not buying anything because the selection was so small. We don’t know if this was because they were transitioning from Alaska to Mexican Riviera itineraries.

Debarkation went smoothly until we got off the ship. We had to park in a remote parking lot, so we stood in line for 10 to 15 minutes waiting for a shuttle. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it added time to getting home.

Features and Facilities Around the Ship

Shopping Area Layout

We really liked how the shopping was set up on the Bliss. All the stores were grouped together in one specific area. This was different from some other cruise lines where shops are spread out down the middle of busy walkways.

The shopping district on the Bliss was completely separate. You could visit if you wanted to browse, but you didn’t have to walk through it to get anywhere else on the ship. This kept the main paths clear and avoided those frustrating traffic jams.

We did notice that the ship merchandise was pretty limited. When we wanted to buy NCL branded clothing like t-shirts, there wasn’t much to choose from. Most of what they had showed the branding on the tag behind your neck. You’d never even see it when wearing the shirt. We ended up not buying anything because of this.

Restroom Locations

The Bliss had public restrooms everywhere. We could always find a bathroom no matter where we were on the ship.

Bathroom Features:

• Found on almost every deck
• Clean and well-maintained
• Different sizes available
• Some were single units
• Others had multiple stalls

We’d sometimes turn a corner just exploring and find another bathroom. Many of these were at the end of hallways. The ship had lots of dead ends, but at least bathrooms were always nearby.

Ship Replica and City Recognition Display

The ship had a really large model of the Bliss itself. This was tucked away in a small area at the very back of deck 6. We thought this was a cool feature.

Around the ship model, there were plaques from different cities. These were given to the ship when it made its first visit to each destination. We spent some time looking at the model and reading all the different plaques. It was a nice spot to check out.

Outdoor Spaces and Activities

Horizon Park and Sun Areas

We found this spot up on deck 20 during our first day. It’s like a little park area with artificial grass and bean bag chairs.

The views from up here were wonderful. We could see the pool area, the ocean when we were sailing, and the port when we were docked. It gave us a different perspective than most areas on the ship.

There were plenty of lounge chairs with coverings. We also noticed lots of full sun areas for people who wanted to tan.

The shade wasn’t as plentiful as we would have liked. But the bean bag and artificial grass setup was really cool.

Vibe Beach Club and Free Areas

We noticed an area called Vibe Beach Club from the park. You have to pay extra to use this space.

The cost depends on how many days you’re sailing. It ranges from about $150 to $250 per person.

What We Observed:

• The club sits below Horizon Park
• It has exclusive access
• It may limit ages for an adults-only experience

We got some video of it. Honestly, it didn’t look that special to us.

The free public area on the other side looked almost identical. It had the same jacuzzi and similar chairs. The only difference might be fancier clamshells in the paid area.

The adult pool was right on the main deck next to the regular pool. It wasn’t in a separate location.

We didn’t think the paid club was worth the extra cost. But if you want a guaranteed adults-only space, it might work for you.

Go-Kart Track

The go-kart track was a great feature. We thought it was an awesome novelty.

Christina tried it last night while we were in Ensenada. The sun was going down as she raced, which made it hard to see at times.

She says she got the slowest car on the track. Each car had a turbo boost button, but hers didn’t seem to work at all. She came in last place.

Another racer bumped her car a couple times during the race. It seemed like he had it out for her.

Despite the slow car, it was still a fun experience.

The track runs above the American Diner area. It’s located up on the upper decks of the ship.

Food and Dining on Board

Specialty Dining Venues

We found several specialty restaurants on the ship that required extra fees. The prices ranged from $40 to $60 per person at each venue. These restaurants only served dinner, so they weren’t available during the day.

We tried two of them during our trip. We went to a teppanyaki restaurant on our last night, which was entertaining. We also ate at Food Republic on our first evening. This spot offered Asian fusion dishes and we really enjoyed the food there. We would suggest trying that one if you’re interested.

Quick Food Options Were Hard to Find

We had trouble finding quick snacks and meals during the day. The pool deck had two bars but no food stations nearby. This made it difficult when we wanted to grab something to eat without leaving the area.

There was a place called the American Diner near the pool. A jogging track ran through it and a go-kart track sat above it. The problem was that it stayed closed most of the time. More often than not, when we walked over there, we couldn’t get food.

The buffet served food at certain times. After the buffet closed, we could order room service but it came with a fee.

No Pizza Station Anywhere

We looked all over the ship for a dedicated pizza spot. We couldn’t find one anywhere. There was no pizza station on deck 6, 7, 8, or 16.

The only place to get pizza was at the buffet during open hours. If the buffet was closed, room service was the only option and it cost extra. We found this really surprising for a cruise ship.

How Other Cruise Lines Handle Food

Carnival has really set a high standard for us when it comes to free pizza. They offer it at their pizza spots and we think it’s still some of the best pizza at sea. Royal Caribbean has Sorento’s, though it’s not our top pick. Princess has Alfredo’s, which is pretty good.

Carnival offers a lot of included food venues:

• Pizza stations
• Shack’s Big Chicken
• Guy’s Burger Joint
• Blue Iguana
• Seafood Shack (minimal charge)
• Fry times on XL class ships
• Bao buns

Royal Caribbean also provides many of these quick dining options. We were surprised that NCL didn’t have more of these casual eateries. The price point suggests a more elevated experience, but the grab-and-go food options didn’t match that expectation. This might just be specific to the Bliss since we haven’t sailed on their other ships yet.

What We Loved About Our Trip

Our Suite Upgrade Experience

We didn’t get the chance to upgrade to a Haven suite on this sailing. The background information provided doesn’t include details about a Haven suite upgrade story for this particular cruise.

The Ship’s Vibe and People

We found some really nice spots on the ship where we could relax and enjoy the views. The Horizon Park area on deck 20 was one of our favorite discoveries. It had artificial grass and bean bag chairs scattered around.

The views from this spot were amazing. We could see the pool area below and look out at the ocean when we were sailing. When we were docked, we could see the port too.

Bean bag chairs made this space feel casual and fun. The artificial grass added a unique touch we hadn’t seen on other ships.

Special Areas You Pay Extra For

The ship had something called Vibe Beach Club that cost between $150 and $250 per sailing. We could see it from the Horizon Park area above. It didn’t look worth the extra cost to us.

Vibe Beach Club Features:

• Private lounge chairs
• Jacuzzi access
• May limit ages for an adults-only experience
• Clamshells and other seating options

The free public side looked almost the same to us. It had the same type of jacuzzi and similar chairs. The main difference might be fewer fancy clamshells.

The adults-only pool was right on the main Lido deck next to the regular pool anyway. We’re not sure the extra cost would be worth it for most people.

Food Venues We Tried

We ate at two specialty restaurants during our cruise. Both required reservations and had cover charges between $40 and $60 per person.

On our first night, we went to Food Republic. This restaurant served Asian fusion style food. We really enjoyed the meal and would recommend it to others.

Our last night, we tried the teppanyaki restaurant. The experience was fun to watch and be part of.

Bar and Lounge Spaces

The ship had two bars near the pool area. They sat diagonal from each other on the pool deck.

We noticed the shopping district was tucked away in its own separate area. We didn’t have to walk through it to get anywhere else on the ship. This was better than some other cruise lines where shops block main walkways.

Outdoor Deck Areas

The pool deck had both sunny spots and some covered lounge chairs. There were several areas to choose from when we wanted to be outside.

Horizon Park on deck 20 gave us the best views. We spent time up there enjoying the different perspective of the ship and ocean.

The ship didn’t have as much shade as we would have liked in some areas. But there were enough covered spots if we looked around.

Show Times and Extra Services

We didn’t use priority show seating or concierge services on this sailing. The background information doesn’t include details about these Haven perks for our specific cruise experience.

Staff and Crew Observations

Warmth and Attention from Team Members

We noticed the crew members were present throughout the ship. They were working in different areas and available when we needed them.

The staff kept the public bathrooms clean all the time. We found bathrooms everywhere we looked on the ship. Some were single units and others had multiple stalls. They were easy to find no matter where we were on the vessel.

Haven Beach Club Access

We saw an area called Vibe Beach Club while we were at Horizon Park. This is a special spot you have to pay extra to use. The price ranges from $150 to $250 depending on how long your trip is.

We got video of this area so you can see what it looks like. It didn’t seem that different from the free areas to us. The public side right next to it looked almost the same. It had the same type of hot tub and similar chairs. The paid area might have fancier clamshells and seating options.

Key differences:

• Vibe Beach Club costs $150-$250 per sailing
• May have age limits for adults only
• Public side has similar features at no cost
• Same jacuzzi style and lounge seating

The adult pool was on the main Lido deck right next to the regular pool. If you want a truly adults only space, the Beach Club might be worth it for age restrictions. But based on what we saw, the free public areas looked just as good.

Drink Station Variations

There were two bars on the pool deck. They sat diagonal from each other near the swimming areas.

We didn’t find many food options near the bars on the top decks. If you left the pool area, there was a place called the American Diner. But we found it closed most of the time we tried to go there. More often than not, it wasn’t open when we walked over.

The lack of grab and go food near the pool bars was something we noticed. Other cruise lines we’ve been on have more casual dining spots on the top decks.

Final Thoughts From Our Trip

Will We Choose NCL for Future Cruises?

We need more time to think about this one. The ship had some really great features that we loved. But it also had some things that left us wanting more.

The lack of quick food options near the pool really bothered us. We’re used to having pizza available anytime we want it. On the Bliss, we could only get it at the buffet or through room service for a fee.

The 3% charge to use our onboard account at the casino was frustrating. We’ve cruised with other lines and never paid a fee just to play slots. If we used a different card for a cash advance, the fee jumped to 6%.

The go-karts were amazing though. That was something totally new for us. The bathrooms were everywhere and always clean. The Horizon Park on deck 20 gave us incredible views.

How NCL Stacks Up Against Other Lines

Here’s what we noticed compared to other cruise lines we’ve sailed:

Food Options

• Carnival has way more grab-and-go choices
• Royal Caribbean has their pizza place on most ships
• Princess offers Alfredo’s pizzeria
• NCL Bliss had very limited casual dining near the pools

Casino Fees

• Princess, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean don’t charge fees to use your sail card at the casino
• NCL charged us 3% to use our onboard account

Shopping Layout We actually liked how NCL kept all the shops in one dedicated area. On Royal Caribbean ships, the shops run down the middle of the main promenade. This creates traffic jams. NCL’s setup meant we didn’t have to walk through the shops to get anywhere else.

Branded Merchandise The ship store had very little NCL branded clothing. Most of what they had showed the logo on a tag behind your neck. You’d never even see it. We don’t know if this was because they were switching from Alaska runs to Mexican Riviera. Either way, it was disappointing.

Public Restrooms NCL wins here. We found bathrooms everywhere on the ship. They were clean and came in different sizes. Some were single rooms and some had multiple stalls.

How Important Was The Haven?

We didn’t stay in The Haven for this cruise. We can’t speak to how much it would have changed our experience.

The ship did have the Vibe Beach Club. This cost between $150 and $250 per person depending on the cruise length. It sat on deck 16 and might have age restrictions for an adults-only experience.

We looked at it and got some video footage. It didn’t seem worth the extra money to us. The free public side right next to it looked almost identical. Both had jacuzzis and lounge chairs. The paid side might have had fancier clamshell seats.

The regular adult pool was right next to the main pool on the Lido deck anyway.

What We Learned From This Trip

This was our first time sailing with NCL. We learned that one ship doesn’t tell the whole story about a cruise line.

Things we’ll remember:

• Check what casual dining options are available before booking
• Look into casino fees if we plan to gamble
• The Horizon Park with artificial grass and bean bag chairs is a must-visit spot
• The ship model display on deck 6 was tucked away but worth finding
• Specialty dining restaurants only served dinner and cost $40 to $60 per person

The teppanyaki restaurant we tried on the last night was fun. The Food Republic on the first night served really good Asian fusion food. We’d recommend that one.

The American Diner had a jogging track running through it. The go-kart track ran above it. We can imagine it wasn’t quiet. It was closed most times we walked by anyway.

Getting off the ship was simple. The only wait was for the shuttle back to the remote parking lot. That took maybe 10 to 15 minutes.

We found lots of cool features on the Bliss. The ship had some dead ends when we explored. But we also discovered the big ship model with plaques from different cities. These were gifts from ports the ship visited for the first time.

We’d love to hear from people who’ve sailed on the Prima or Encore. Maybe the newer NCL ships handle food options differently. This might just be a Bliss issue.