Inside the NCL Bliss! | Complete Ship Tour + The Haven Experience

Tony and I decided to try our first Norwegian cruise this year aboard the Bliss. We boarded at the Port of Los Angeles and started exploring right away. This ship had so many features I had never seen before on any cruise.

From go-karts on the top deck to a Beatles-themed pub, the Bliss was full of surprises. Some things were amazing, while others didn’t quite work for us. I’m excited to share what we found as we toured the public areas and even got to see the exclusive Haven section.

Key Takeaways

The Norwegian Bliss offers unique features like go-kart racing and bowling that set it apart from other cruise ships
Family-friendly spaces include age-specific kids’ clubs and arcade areas with various entertainment options
The ship provides multiple dining venues and entertainment spaces, though some areas can get crowded during shows

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My Experience Aboard the Norwegian Bliss

Special Ship Elements

This ship had so many things I had never seen on a cruise before. The go-kart track on the top deck caught my attention right away. There was also a jogging track that actually runs through a restaurant, which seemed pretty unique.

I loved finding the Beatles themed pub. It felt cozy and different from other ship bars I’ve visited. The ship model display was huge and sat in a special area with awards from all the ports the ship has visited.

Unique Dining Options:

Three main dining rooms with identical menus but different colored chairs
Tanyaki restaurant with cooking shows and singing
Q Texas Steakhouse for barbecue lovers
The Local – a 24-hour free venue with snacks and meals

The mini bowling alley surprised me most. I played a game and wasn’t very good, but the bumpers helped me out. I had never seen bowling on a cruise ship before.

My Initial Thoughts

When Tony and I boarded at the Port of Los Angeles, we started exploring right away. The ship felt much different than what I expected. Some things impressed me while others didn’t work as well.

The ship stayed spotlessly clean throughout our trip. The main atrium stayed busy with live bands, dance lessons, and balloon making classes. It got pretty loud with all the activities happening there.

I noticed the arcade package only worked for certain games. The claw machines and prize games cost extra tokens. Kids might get disappointed if they expect the package to cover everything.

Entertainment Spaces I Found:

Bliss Theater for main shows like the Beatles experience
The Social room for movies and comedy shows
Multiple dining rooms that double as meeting spaces
Kids club areas separated by age groups

The guest services desk had someone available all day and night. The shore excursion desk sat next to a full Starbucks if you need your coffee fix.

Getting on Board at Los Angeles Harbor

Getting on the Ship

Tony and I started our first Norwegian cruise on a Tuesday. We got on the Bliss at the Port of Los Angeles.

The ship looked huge from the dock. I could already see some amazing things on the top deck that I had never seen on a cruise ship before.

First Look Around the Ship

Right after we got on board, we started walking around to see what the ship had to offer. I was excited to explore because this ship had so many unique features.

From the very beginning, I could tell this wasn’t going to be like other cruise ships we had been on. There were things I had never seen before – some really cool and others not so great.

The ship had a go-kart track on the top deck. There was also a Beatles themed pub that looked really cozy. One of the strangest things was a jogging track that actually went through a restaurant.

I was looking forward to trying new drinks and seeing the shows. The ship also had something called the Haven, which is like a ship within a ship concept that we would get to tour later.

Fun Activities for Families with Children

Youth Activity Centers

The ship has special play areas just for kids on deck 5. Each room is made for different age groups. Kids get to play with other children their same age, which keeps everyone happy.

You can check the ship’s app or website to see what activities happen each day. The age groups stay separate, so little kids play with other little ones.

These clubs help a lot when you have children on the ship. Kids need breaks too. They want to hang out with other kids their age instead of just parents all the time.

Game Room and Payment Plans

There’s a nice big arcade area for older kids who want to play games. It has lots of different activities and stays cool and shady. This makes it perfect when kids don’t want to be in the sun.

You can buy a prepaid package for arcade tokens. But this package only works for certain games. It doesn’t work for claw machines or games where you can win prizes.

Here’s what I found about the arcade package:

Works for: Traditional games like the Star Wars game
Doesn’t work for: Claw machines and prize games
Best for: Kids who like regular arcade games

Make sure the prepaid package covers the games your kids actually want to play. I didn’t see some games like the coin games during my visit.

Play Options by Age

The ship keeps different age groups in their own spaces. Little ones have rooms just for them. Bigger kids can use the arcade area.

Each age group has activities that fit what they like to do. Younger children get age-appropriate games and crafts. Older kids have more advanced activities and games.

The staff makes sure kids stay with others close to their age. This helps everyone have more fun and feel comfortable.

Food and Drink Options

Main Restaurant Complex

The ship has three main restaurants that all serve the same menu each night. The menu changes daily, so you get different options throughout your cruise. The three spots are Taste, Saver, and Manhattan Room.

You can tell them apart by their chair colors. Taste has blue chairs while Saver uses red ones. Other than that, they look almost the same inside.

I noticed there were always lines at these restaurants. The menu items didn’t really grab my attention either, so I skipped eating at any of the main dining spots during my trip.

Premium Restaurant Options

Teppanyaki Restaurant offers an interactive dining experience where chefs cook right at your table. The food quality was excellent and really impressed me.

The chefs do a lot of singing during the cooking show. I would have preferred to just enjoy my meal without all the extra entertainment, but that’s just my personal taste.

Q Texas Steakhouse focuses on barbecue and meat dishes. The restaurant looks nice inside, though it doesn’t really have that barbecue feel you might expect. I didn’t get a chance to eat there during my visit.

They also use this space for officer Q&A sessions and other seminars throughout the week.

The Local 24-Hour Venue

This is a great spot that stays open all day and night. It’s completely free too, which makes it perfect for late-night cravings.

They serve breakfast, lunch, desserts, and lots of different snacks. The Cobb salad was really good and stood out to me.

The seating area is spacious and comfortable. Since it’s open 24 hours, you can always count on finding something to eat here no matter what time it is.

Culinary Highlights

Starbucks has a full location on board if you need your coffee fix. Since I visited in October, they had pumpkin spice drinks available everywhere.

Mix Bar sits right between two of the main dining rooms on deck six. It’s a convenient spot to grab drinks.

The ship also has different entertainment venues that serve food and drinks, though some have interesting policies. At The Social, they turn off bar service once shows start. You have to get your drinks before the performance begins, and there aren’t servers walking around during the show.

Shows and Entertainment

Main Theater Venue

The Bliss Theater serves as the ship’s primary show venue. I watched the Beatles experience show here and really enjoyed it. The theater has comfortable seating that makes it easy to relax during performances.

I also attended bingo in this space. Even though I didn’t win anything, I had a good time. The theater gets used for different events throughout the cruise.

Live Performances and Musical Acts

The main atrium stays busy with live entertainment. Bands perform here regularly. I saw dance lessons happening in this space too.

They also host different seminars and classes. I watched a balloon animal making demonstration. The area can get quite loud because so much activity happens here.

Jersey Boys Performance

I noticed a big advertisement for Jersey Boys at the far end of the promenade. This appears to be one of their major productions on the ship.

Beatles-Themed Experience

The Beatles experience show in the main theater was really fun. I liked it a lot. The performance takes place in the comfortable theater setting.

There’s also a cozy Beatles-themed pub somewhere on the ship. This gives guests another way to enjoy Beatles music in a more relaxed setting.

Special Ship Features

Racing Track on Deck

The go-kart track sits on the top deck of the ship. You can see it from other parts of the boat, including from the ship model display area.

It’s one of those things that makes this ship different from other cruise ships. The track goes around part of the upper deck area.

Running Path Through Dining Area

This was something I had never seen before on any cruise ship. The jogging track actually goes right through one of the restaurants.

It’s pretty wild to think about running while people are eating nearby. This kind of design choice really surprised me when I first discovered it.

Horizon Park Area

This grassy relaxation space used to be something completely different. The old laser tag arena got converted into this nice outdoor area.

Now it’s called Horizon Park and has:

Artificial grass surfaces
Relaxing seating areas
Open space for activities

You can still see the old setup in some of the ship model displays, but the real thing looks much better now.

Ship Display and Award Collection

The ship model was really big and sat in a special area. I love looking at these detailed models on cruise ships.

This display area had tons of plaques covering the walls. Every city the ship visits for the first time gives them an award plaque.

What you’ll see:

Large detailed ship model
Plaques from many different ports
Awards from cities around the world

The number of plaques shows just how many places this ship has been to over the years.

Small Bowling Lane

At the far end of the Atrium, there’s a tiny bowling alley. I had never seen anything like this on a cruise ship before.

It was really cute and fun to try. I played a game but wasn’t very good at it. Lucky for me, the bumpers were already up, which helped a lot.

Bowling details:

Located near the main seating areas
Bumpers available for beginners
Fun activity for when you want to try something new
Small size makes it cozy and different

I still didn’t win my game, but it was entertaining to have this option available on the ship.

Rest Areas and Entertainment Spots

The Haven

The Haven on this ship offers something really special. It’s called a ship within a ship concept. This exclusive area gives you your own private space away from the crowds.

You get access to special amenities that regular passengers can’t use. The Haven has its own pool area and sun deck. There’s also a restaurant just for Haven guests.

The best part is how quiet and peaceful it feels. When the main decks get busy, you can escape to your own private area. It’s like having a VIP experience on the ship.

Mixing Lounge

The Mix Bar sits right on deck six. It’s perfectly placed between the three main dining rooms. You can grab a drink here before or after dinner.

Location Details:

Deck: 6
Position: Between dining rooms
Nearby: Taste, Saver, and Manhattan dining rooms

The bar has a great central location. You’ll walk past it when moving between the dining areas. It’s easy to find and always seems busy with people.

Reading Room and Game Area

I found a small library and card room tucked away at the far end of the ship. It’s the perfect quiet spot when you need a break from all the action.

The room has several different activity options:

Tables set up for checkers
Small felt-covered game tables
Lots of books to choose from
Comfortable seating areas

What I loved about this space:

Very peaceful and quiet
Great for reading or playing games with friends
Away from the busy main areas
Perfect for relaxing

This spot is ideal when you want to slow down and enjoy some quiet time. You can read a book or play cards without all the noise from other parts of the ship.

Art Display Area

Walking through the art gallery was really interesting. Each ship has different types of artwork, and this one had some unique pieces I hadn’t seen before.

The collection includes several different art styles:

Sculptures in various materials
Glass artwork and decorative pieces
Different artists’ work on display
Some Wyland items mixed in

Types of Art I Saw:

Art Type	Description
Paintings	Various styles and artists
Sculptures	Different materials and sizes
Glass Work	Decorative and artistic pieces
Mixed Media	Various artistic techniques

I think it’s always fun to walk through and see what kind of art each ship features. This gallery had a good mix of different styles. You can spend time looking at all the different pieces as you walk through the area.

Guest Services and Convenience

Coffee Shop On Board

When you need your coffee fix while at sea, there’s a full Starbucks right on the ship. I found it located near the main atrium area. Since I was there in October, they had all the pumpkin spice options available. The coffee shop gives you that familiar taste you know from home.

Help Desk

I noticed the guest services desk right in the main atrium area. This is where you can get help with just about anything you need during your cruise. The staff works like a concierge or purser service.

Someone is usually there 24 hours a day. If you have questions or problems, this is the place to go.

Trip Planning and Booking Area

Right near the coffee shop, I saw the shore excursion desk and cruise booking desk. The staff there can help you book your next cruise if you want to plan another trip.

They also handle shore excursions and other cruise-related bookings. It’s convenient to have everything in one area of the ship.