The Norwegian Bliss: Norwegian Cruise Tips and Tricks

* Sponsored. This post is in partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line. All opinions are my own.

Do you want to take your cruising experience to a whole new level? Looking for Norwegian cruise tips and tricks so you can have the best vacation ever? Then the Norwegian Bliss is your answer since it's one of Norwegian Cruises' best ships!  Norwegian Cruise Lines newest shop provides state of the art cruising with many different Norwegian Bliss itineraries for destinations around the world.

Hello Friends! Since crusing is getting back on track, thought I would share my last crusing guide with you. Hopefully these tips will help if you do choose a Norwegian Cruise. I will be back posting more content soon, the big move took a lot out of us!

My daughter and I were on the Seattle inaugural sailing of the latest addition to the Norwegian Cruise fleet. We had the most amazing time. I promise you will be totally obsessed with the Bliss, especially after reading some Norwegian Bliss reviews,  and will be sad to disembark when the time comes! Every minute of the 3 day trip was magical from morning 'til night. The entertainment, dining and activities were over the top.

After our Norwegian Cruise check in, the first night christening ceremonies were held on 4 different decks. We attended the one in the atrium. It was a total blast, and we rocked the night away!

 She will be homeported in Seattle during the summer, LA for fall and in Miami for the winter months. Cruises to Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean , so do your Norwegian Cruise booking.  One of my top cruise line tips and tricks is to book well in advance since Norwegian cruises fill up fast.

Interesting Facts

Built: 2018
Guests: 4004
Crew: 1,716
Gross Tons: 1698,028
Decks: 20
Dining Options: 27
Bars & Lounges: 22
Homeport:  Seattle in summer and Miami in winter

Key Highlights

Race track, 360-degree Observation Lounge, Mandara Spa, Splash Academy and Laser Tag

On this Norwegian Cruise ship, the brand message  is reflected in on every detail of the Norwegian Bliss deck plans for this amazing city at sea. Norwegian wants their guests to enjoy "freedom and flexibility."  They believe a real vacation isn't about sticking to a schedule but being free to choose all the moments you want to enjoy.

The Bliss had us at hello and we loved every minute on board.  I invite you to check out all this 17 deck ocean liner has to offer:

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE DINING

Experience the best of  cuisine on this ship. The food was exceptional every place we dined. There are meals to cater to every type of taste. Several of the restaurants offer outdoor dining so you can feast while enjoying amazing scenery.

As mentioned earlier, there are 27 options to satisfy whatever craving you may have.  Imagine delectable mouth watering choices. It was quite a battle choosing sometimes!  We were fortunate to dine at 10 different restaurants.  We tried so many flavorful dishes. I'm listing my Norwegian cruise line tips for the best places to dine below.

 The first 5 listed  are specialty dining choices which are not included in the general cruise package. Check out more specialty dining options here.  Four main dining rooms are included in the cruise reservation price: The Local, Garden Café,  Taste & Savor and the Manhattan Room.

Food Republic

The food and atmosphere here was so unique. Sample the tasty sushi, mochi ice cream and other tastes from around the globe. Your taste buds will be in heaven here!  I ordered ramen soup and it was a total taste sensation.

Recommended dish: Deep fried sushi with salmon, avocado and cream cheese smothered in creamy goodness.

Margaritaville at Sea

Singing "Wasting away again in Margaritaville" no margaritas for us though!  The bartenders were enjoying time off while the ship was in port. The burgers and fish and chips were fabulous and the fun Key West vibe was great too.

Recommended dish: Fish and Chips

Los Lobos

Guacamole at your service! The waiter fixing a fresh bowl of green yum at your table side was the highlight of eating at this restaurant.  It's so awesome that you have input on how you want it made.  Do you love it spicy or not so much?  It's all up to you mate.

Recommended Dish: Roasted Pablano Peppers

Q

Oh my. This Texas roadhouse style dive was seriously the best food I've ever tasted!  Smokin' hot barbeque, a variety of sauces for dippin' and spicy jalepeno corn bread will leave you in a food coma for days.  This one was definitely my favorite of all.  Live contemporary music will keep y'all hopping too!

Recommended dish: Beef Brisket

Cagney's Steak House

The steak house was my 2nd favorite dining experience.  Enjoy an upscale dining experience and dine on choice cuts of premium black angus beef: portherhouse, filet mignon, ribeye and NewYork strip steak are calling your name!  Two sides are available with your order.

Recommended dish:  New York strip steak with garlic sauce, truffle mashed potatoes and tender roasted carrots.

The Garden Café

This one was a hit with my daughter. She wanted to eat there every morning for breakfast. Rise-n- shine with a lavish spread of morning goodies. Lunch and dinner are a hit as well.  Offerings include juicy burgers, endless salads and ethnic cuisine. Everything is served buffet style.  Enjoy your meal by the huge viewing windows inside or outside on the deck.

Recommended Dish: Penne Pasta, Roasted Veggies, and Club Sandwich


The Local

The Local is located on deck 6 and you have the option to dine at a counter overlooking the atrium on the 6th floor.  Enjoy live sports on the two story screen, billiards and draft beer.  If you need to satisfy a  middle of the night craving, no worries.  The Local has you covered, it's open 24 hours.  American style eats and prime rib will keep you coming back all week long!

Recommended dish: Korean chili hot wings, pretzels with a beer flavored dip and caesar salad.

 Starbucks

For all the coffee fiends on board: the first every floating Starbucks is on the 6th deck. Sip your morning latte and feast on beautiful views of the sea.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ROOMS

During our Norwegian Cruise  getaway, our Mini Suite  was a lovely retreat and comfortable stay. The rooms are styled with teal and brown décor throughout. I loved our stateroom, it was so homey. My favorite part of the room experience was coming in to a towel animal resting on our bed.  Another hit was the double shower. The water spouts out as twisting rain and feels like a massage.

These Norwegian Cruise line rooms are known as  Haven suites, and are luxury rooms with tons of Norwegian Bliss amenities and the option of two or three bedrooms.  This area is an exclusive enclave hidden away at the top front of the ship. Access is granted only by private key card. Take a dip in the pool or bask in the sun in the private courtyard.  Haven guests also enjoy personal service from a certified butler and concierge.  Pampering 24/7 is on order here all day long!
The concierge will also take care of all your arrangements on board and on shore.

                                         Photo Credits( This image only) Norwegian Cruislines

We took a tour of the Haven. Oh my, it was unreal. I wanted to go home, get my belongings and move right in! Viewing these rooms felt like stepping into a penthouse in upscale New York. Villa suites are available for families. The Haven was voted best accommodations two years in a row by Porthole Magazine.

There are so many wonderful options for rooms. Everyone will find one to fit their unique travel style:

Balcony State Rooms

Mini Suite State Rooms

Oceanview State Rooms

Wheel Chair State Rooms

Studios

Haven Spa Suites with Balcony

Penthouses


NORWEGIAN CRUISE ENTERTAINMENT


We experienced the most electrifying entertainment every night.  Norwegian provides award winning shows, music and comedy.  The performers come  from many different paths such as:  Broadway, The West End and other far corners of the world.

                      Spice H2O                      

The talent of the dancers is incredible! Each one goes through training at the Cruise Line's entertainment training facility in Tampa.  It is here at the 46,000 square foot warehouse the production staff and entertainers are creating magic for the shows at sea.

The Jersey Boys and Havana are two spectacular shows you can't miss!  Reminisce with the Jersey Boys as they feature the doo-wap style music of Frankie Valli.  As quoted by Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times:

" This show overflows with music that both captures a generation and transcends it with passion, drive and energy that will never go out of style."

Havana is an at sea exclusive, full length musical. No other cruise company has debuted a show such as this before.  This Cuban delight is an original musical by Broadway-hit-maker Warren Carlyle.  He has brought together some of the most sought after names on Broadway to create this show.  It was sensational on the edge of your chair excitement for the whole show. I loved it! When you book a cruise on the Bliss be sure to reserve your seats for Havana.

Entertainment on this ship will keep you hopping and busy as you want to be. If musicals are not your thing there are many options to choose from.  Other entertainment highlights include:

The Cavern Club: A mock up of the bar in Liverpool England that launched the Beatles

Texas Roadhouse Dancing at the "Q"

The Social- A Comedy Night Club

Spice H20- An adult only retreat: relax in the hot tub or dance the night away under the starts.

A Brilliant Bar Scene 

Every night on board the Bliss is a night to remember.  You can dance the night away or spend a romantic night taking in the sunset with a glass of wine. There are 22 bars and lounges to fit every taste. Experience tropical island vibes at Sugarcane Mojito Bar. The strawberry guava drink is a flavor explosion.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE ACTIVITIES 

Electric Race Cars

The Bliss offers exhilarating fun never imagined before on any cruise ship. Up top on Deck 17 take your first lap on the longest race track a sea. The senior director of guest experiences said it was no easy task putting a real race track on top of a ship.  The ship builder in Germany thought the idea was crazy at first. They thought there was noway it could be done.

The cars are environmentally friendly and don't create noise pollution. This was definitely a concern because of the sensitive wilderness areas in Alaska.  We took a 5 laps round the track and had a blast. I got left in the dust.  I was driving like grandma ha!  I had to get used to steering on those hairpin curves. You will be blown away and just have to experience it for yourself.

Laser Tag Adventure

Get ready for the adrenaline rush.  The ultimate laser tag adventure awaits you opposite deck of the race cars. Burst onto the scene with your laser gun into an abandoned space station. No one has been here for over 200 years.  As you make your way into the erie setting get ready to zap anyone who gets in your way.

We had big laughs and heart pumping excitement playing tag. If you plan to do laser tag you must wear closed toe shoes. Be sure to pack a pair and make reservations early.

Aqua Park

If you want to experience wet and wild water play, it's all happening on deck 16.  If you are part dare devil, the Ocean Loops will be your friend.  The high speed free fall slide has two see through loops and oh yes- one of them hangs over the side of the ship! I watched as our Seattle KOMO news guy, Seth Wayne got sucked away into oblivion- ha!

I decided to leave the loops to the daring ones and opted for the aqua racer slide instead. My daughter and I raced down side by side on a huge inner tube. My screams echoed all over the ship I'm sure!  Even though the temps outside were chilly,  the water inside the slide was warm.

If you are not a swimmer and prefer to bask in a whirly soak, the 7 hot tubs on board have you covered. We loved the beautiful back drop views from the hot tubs and spent several hours there.

Splash Academy & Teen Lounge

Taking the family on a week long cruise has never been easier. The Norwegian Bliss caters to all ages;  even the littles between 6 months - 3 years.

Guppies playroom is a colorful space for this age group to enjoy.

Splash Academy is a kid's paradise and is located on the 5th deck.  Children have the chance to participate in interactive theme nights such as Superhero and Pirate night. Also included are an interactive video room, full size cinema room and an spacious open play room.

Parents can register and drop of their kiddos using an iPad registration system. The parent's and kid's cards must be used upon pick up to ensure safety.  Teens can also enjoy time with others their age in a dedicated space called the Entourage.  A dance floor, gaming stations, foosball and air hockey are available along with many more fabulous activities.

"Imagine the Works"

The places to discover on board the Bliss are endless.  

It would take several cruises to experience everything this incredible ship has to offer. It was pure euphoria and excitement to experience a state of the art ship!  I am definitely looking forward to another cruise on it already.  I'm highlighting a few more fantastic places on board, you don't want to miss.

The Observation Room

If you are looking to relax and or catch magnificent views head to the observation room. This viewing oasis was designed with Alaska scenery in mind. Norwegian wants you to experience all the Last Frontier has to offer.

Mandara Spa

 678 Ocean Place

Decks six, seven and eight are where most of the activity on the ship takes place. These 3 floors are where are hoppin around the clock with food, fun and activities. The magical lit up staircase that takes you between the floors- is ahh-maz-ing! It's the perfect back drop for all your photo shoots, with the dazzling neon lights. Keep your eyes peeled, the lights change colors frequently.

Coco's Chocolate Shop

Imagine liquid chocolate oozing from your spoon, as your taste buds are on overload.  Coco's is a chocolate lover's paradise.  Enjoy a old  classy ice cream parlor vibe while you devour your decadent treats.

Dolce Gelato

This little ice cream shop serves up double yum!  The inside of the shop is a bakery loaded with cupcakes, chocolate and all kinds of goodness. On the deck side is where creamy gelato is served. The pink shop is the perfect backdrop for your Instagram shots.

I hope you enjoyed my Norwegian Bliss visual tour aboard one of the best Norwegian cruise ships out there. Summer time is almost here and it's time to pick those Norwegian Cruise dates and get those cruises booked.  If you want to live the palace life for a week then the Bliss is the ship for you. Bon Voyage Friends!

A huge thank you to Norwegian Cruises for hosting us on the Seattle Inaugural sailing!

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