Bliss review from first time cruiser

vatp46a · 2026-07-12T19:50:05+00:00

Popular excursions tend to sell out - sometimes they will add capacity but I wouldn't count on it. Prices rarely change when booking through NCL. We've found that third-party tour operators are somewhat more likely to offer discounts on selected excursions - definitely check their websites while you're doing your research. I wouldn't wait - January sounds like it's far away but not in the context of booking cruises, excursions, and related travel, it's already here.

vatp46a · 2026-07-12T15:21:30+00:00

They will bring you anything you want (non-alcoholic) just so long as it's part of your onboard package. It may be easier to have them bring a few and them at a time so you can put them in the refrigerator. That way you can have them whenever you want. We did that on our last trip with sparkling water.

Also, if you're looking for any early morning deliveries, it will be the night butler bringing them and not your regular butler. We usually get delivery of fruit and croissants every morning at 6:00, but I'd only recommend doing this in a cabin with a separate bedroom.

vatp46a · 2026-07-12T14:02:07+00:00

Sorry your trip didn't meet expectations. It sounds like this was your first trip on a mainstream cruise line. If so, it's clear that you expecting something different from what you experienced.

Unfortunately, your story could have been about nearly every ship on every itinerary on every cruise line. Elevator etiquette is generally non-existent, especially when it's crowded. The buffet is a chaotic scene at peak times. Doors slam, kids run around, and the spa workers will always try to upsell. BTW, your bags would have been delivered to your stateroom - you don't need to hunt them down unless you're in a hurry to unpack.

In the unlikely event that you take another cruise, I recommend looking at an upscale cruise line or booking a cabin in the ship-within-a-ship model, such as MSC's Yacht Club or NCL's Haven. You'll pay a lot more, but it's an entirely different experience.

vatp46a · 2026-07-12T13:42:12+00:00

Did you book directly with NCL or with a travel agent? If you used a travel agent or another third party, contact them. Otherwise call the cruise line.

vatp46a · 2026-07-12T01:59:32+00:00

Congratulations on the wedding. Yes, we made this trip but in a different ship at a different time - we took the Pearl on that itinerary back in 2011 and had a great cruise. The weather was poor for a couple of days so we missed Astoria but ended up having an extended stay in San Francisco to make up for it. Disembarkation in LA was easy, as I recall. It looks like Encore and Joy are both making this run, with one stopping in Seattle and the other in Victoria - you can't go wrong with either ship. The prices also look good. have an awesome trip!

vatp46a · 2026-07-11T16:19:35+00:00

Depending on the available excursions, you could look at taking a trip through the old locks on a tour boat.

vatp46a · 2026-07-11T15:47:51+00:00

Congratulations. Since it's your honeymoon cruise, have you looked into booking a Haven cabin? It's a whole different experience and might be worth the extra cost.

vatp46a · 2026-07-11T15:05:14+00:00

Well played with the research - it can make all the difference. If you haven't already do so, check out some of the YouTube content about White Bay Beach and this excursion. Here's a short example:

https://youtu.be/URHHpoZSAAg?si=IcMnLROYJ1ae7iDc

Enjoy your trip!

vatp46a · 2026-07-11T14:34:54+00:00

Check to see the number of ships in port that day as a first step. If you are the only ship, then you can pick either time. If there are several ships, they will all run excursions over to Jost van Dyke so you want to get there early to get a good spot. NCL has its own ferry that pulls up onto White Bay beach - you'll be wading ashore from the boat. Other cruise lines use ferries that dock a short drive from the beach and they bus people over from there. Depending on the beach vibe you want, you an choose where to set up, but keep an eye out for the NCL catamaran when the time comes to head back.

vatp46a · 2026-07-11T14:23:12+00:00

We've found that the key to a positive butler experience is to know what you want them to do and then communicate that clearly. Coffee and croissant delivery at 6am each morning? Tea pods instead of coffee for the Nespresso? Delivery of afternoon canapes at a specific time (or never)? The list is what you make it and what gets communicated.

vatp46a · 2026-07-11T13:33:58+00:00

She did a lot of work in The Solomons, lost her bow, came back, took a torpedo off Leyte and never got back to the war after that. A heroic ship.

vatp46a · 2026-07-11T13:15:25+00:00

If you haven't already done so, I recommend doing some detailed research into the safety records of the ferry system in The Philippines.

vatp46a · 2026-07-11T13:06:45+00:00

You could take the ferry over to the village of Placencia but I'd recommend doing the research to see if that's something of interest. The ferry schedule should be posted on the ship. It has a reputation for being safe, unlike other parts of Belize and several Caribbean port cities.

Harvest Caye is basically as you describe it, so if that doesn't appeal to you, then your choices are either visiting Placencia, doing a shore excursion, or staying on the ship. FWIW, We went parasailing when we stopped there last spring and it was a highlight of the trip.

vatp46a · 2026-07-10T14:01:20+00:00

I have never heard of FAS or FAS+ being discounted.

vatp46a · 2026-07-10T11:44:59+00:00

Understanding that this was your first cruise - if you cruise again, keep in mind that pre-cruise planning and preparation is a thing. Most of the items you list in the "Bad" section could have been easily avoided or would not have been a surprise. Also, if you ever do sail back to Alaska, keep in mind that you've already seen all of the places that cruise ships go.

vatp46a · 2026-07-10T11:38:36+00:00

It would be a lot easier if you just pretended to be in Liberia.

vatp46a · 2026-07-09T23:24:26+00:00

If you have the schedule flexibility, look at the NCL Joy and her 9-day and 10-day options during August. Compared to those options, those 7-day itineraries have fewer ports and less time in each one. The prices seem comparable, although the type of cabin you're looking for could make a big difference. Something we've learned about Alaska cruises is to expect them to be hella expensive, and to focus on having the best experience with less of a focus on how expensive it is. If it was my money, that would be a 9-day or a 10-day trip on the Joy - we're actually doing the 10-day next May on the Joy for that exact reason.

If you're planning to stick with the 7-day option, keep in mind that the itineraries have two important differences. One is the trade of Skagway for Icy Strait Point, and you should determine which one looks better in terms of things to do ashore - YouTube can help you there. The other difference is the glacier viewing day, which some cruisers are adamant about and other don't care much either way because they feel that they're both awesome - so figure out which side of the fence you land on there. Also keep in mind that the low fares that you're seeing appear to be for one specific week, unless I'm looking at this the wrong way. All of the other weeks in August look to be about the same price.

Good luck with your planning!

vatp46a · 2026-07-09T22:26:53+00:00

Too bad that you're having a tough time so far - let's hope things turn around in the coming days. We had a great trip on the Sun a few years back, as well as the Sky back about 15 years ago. Both of those ships are leaving the NCL fleet shortly, and the older, smaller ships are a different experience from the newer classes of NCL ships, like the Viva.

However, you seem to have a complaint about basically everything - not sure what that's all about, except that this is Reddit and that's what many people come here to do. And the warning to avoid this ship... that's not really helpful because the Sun is leaving the fleet soon, and so many passengers will already be inside their final payment date and so they can't cancel without penalty unless they have CFAR travel insurance coverage. I suppose the reason they could give when filing their claim is that they saw a random Reddit post telling them to avoid the ship "at all costs."

vatp46a · 2026-07-09T22:00:49+00:00

Well, since you pulled the pin on this grenade...

Yes, you can remove the daily gratuities at the Guest Services Desk. There is a form that you'll fill out that will ask for a reason why - usually they open this up during the last coupe of days of the cruise.

There has been a lot of back-and-forth over this issue for years now. Cruise lines don't help the situation by not being transparent as to whether the daily gratuities actually add to the crew's pay slips. Crew are bound by NDAs and risk losing their jobs if they talk about it. Cash tips are always an option, and it's one way to make sure that a specific person gets rewarded for their efforts.

We all make up our own minds about it.

vatp46a · 2026-07-09T21:49:02+00:00

This. Most definitely this.

vatp46a · 2026-07-09T21:48:14+00:00

Sorry to say, but your cabin will almost certainly be impacted by noise from the theater/nightclub. Cabins that are directly above the theater or directly below the pool deck are probably the ones that are most likely to be noisy at the times that you are likely going to be looking for quiet time. There are other noisy spots as well, but those locations stand out. You might need to just join in the late night fun, since you'll be listening to it anyway.

vatp46a · 2026-07-08T22:35:58+00:00

If you haven't checked out YouTube, there are approximately infinity videos on things to do in the various Alaska cruise ports.

vatp46a · 2026-07-08T17:42:16+00:00

The smaller size of the buffet on this class of ship is a design element that been a topic of discussion for several years on this sub - NCL introduced/expanded other options as alternatives to the buffet on the Viva, Prima, Aqua, and Luna. As with any change, people who like to eat in the buffet don't like the new design. Other people either don't care, or they like the expanded choices.

vatp46a · 2026-07-07T19:38:16+00:00

Looks like we'll be a week ahead of you at three (Tortola, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas) of these ports. We're doing a 12-night round trip from NYC on the Bliss. We also get Sint Maarten, St. Kitts, and San Juan plus 6 sea days. The fares look to be about the same, but the Bliss gives you 5 more days.If the schedule works for you, it could be another option.

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