I just got off the ship, Norwegian Bliss, and I must share my experience with our followers ASAP! This ship is out of this world, now let's dig deep into what that means. Future travelers aboard the Bliss can expect...
Check out how I rate the following experiences...
Accommodations
9/10
Our balcony cabin # 11764 was easy to find and conveniently located near the elevators. The room is 207 square feet and it had two twin beds, a love seat and a desk. The bed can easily be converted into a king size bed. Something I really like about this stateroom was the USB outlets located next to the beds. I love having my phone near at all times, especially while charging. The bathroom was a decent size, and the sink shelves were great for storage. The balcony is a must when traveling to Alaska. Having a balcony provides your own viewing space to take in spectacular scenery, glaciers, wildlife and more. It's definitely worth the extra money. Something I didn't like about the stateroom and because of it, I can rate it a 10 was the lack of storage. There are only two drawers in the bottom of the loveseat and one closet with some open shelves. Our packing cubes were very helpful for keeping everything organized.
Food
8/10
The Food in the ship was not as expected, I was expecting the food to be as good as it was in the Norwegian Encore back in February. Some items were good some were missing a little flavor. We did however enjoy Le Bristo and Food Republic. Le Bristo is a French specialty restaurant and the most elegant and formal restaurant in the ship. If you are looking for an upscale dining experience, you will not be disappointed. Food Republic, for me was the best restaurant in the ship. They serve tapas-sized dishes from across the world with an emphasis on Asian cuisine. The kimchee fried rice was one of my favorite dishes. The only negative thing about food republic is that the restaurant does not participate in the Specialty Dining Plan. Which means all meals are always a la carte. The menus are available on an iPad and the prices range from $2.99 to $12.99. The restaurant is located in the middle of the ship in deck 8 but it does not offer outdoor waterfront seating. However there are still some great window seating.
Beverages
10/10
There are 16 bars and lounges aboard of the Norwegian Bliss. Sugarcane mojito is by far my favorite. The atmosphere at the Sugarcane Mojito Bar just oozes a Havana vibe. From the music, decor and the freshly mojitos everything is vibrant and delicious. Along with breathtaking views from the 180-degree glass walls, the Observation Lounge on Norwegian Bliss has a bar serving with the perfect view. The margarita's in the observation lounge were fantastic.
entertainment
8/10
Being on the Bliss was a great experience, although entertainment seemed limited. The only show available was The Jersey Boys. The show was great and everyone enjoyed it. Six was not available during our sailing and. because we were attending a seminar at sea we didn't have a lot of free time to enjoy the day time entertainment or outdoor activities like Ko-karts and laser tag.
activities
10/10
Due that we were the first and only ship in Alaska, not all excursions where available. However, we enjoyed each port. Our first port was Juneau, Alaska. While in Juneau we took the tram 1800 feet up the mountain and the view from the top was spectacular. (check out our TikTok video.) Walking distance from the tram was The Red Dog Saloon. The Red Dog has been recognized by the Alaska Legislature for its longevity as the oldest man-made tourist attraction in Juneau. They are know for their 'Duck Fart" shots, Glacier Margaritas and hard lemonade. Of course we tried them all. We couldn't leave Juneau without stopping at Tracys's King Crab Shack for some amazing king crab legs.
Next on our schedule was Skagway, Alaska. Skagway is home to the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. Last year when we visited Skagway we took the railroad and we loved it. It's way more than just a train ride, it was a ride through history. This time around we decided to just enjoy the town. Because it was so early in the season the excursions we wanted where not available. Skagway is a very interesting town. There are many shops with local merchants selling all types of local items. We found the cutest little coffee shop and had some yummy Alaskan Fried bread at Klondike Doughboy. Highly recommend everyone to check out Klondike Doughboy, the owner and staff are very friendly and welcoming.
Another port we visited was Ketchikan, Alaska. Ketchikan is a small town with only 8,000 residents but it is full of fun things to see. This time we went to see The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. The show was very entertaining and funny. Because our day was short in Ketchikan, we couldn't do anything else, but we did take some beautiful pictures and did a little shopping in the port. The weather was just perfect. Ketchikan has become my favorite Alaska port.
Cruising to Alaska is always a magical experience. There is as much adventure as you can handle and so much beauty and history. Alaska has become one of my favorite places in the United States.
I truly believe everyone should visit the last frontier at least once in their lifetime. Is Alaska in your bucket list? If so, what are you waiting for? Let's connect and make it a reality.