Alaska is ready for another record-breaking cruise season

Table Of Content

• Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport
• Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships
• Norwegian Bliss Ship and Cabin Tours
• Consider a Specialty Dining Package
• More in Travel
• Compare Shore Excursions
• If you have The Haven rooms can you invite guest from the other decks to dinner and or drinks in the Haven area?

Also, popular ship activities will be very crowded on your two sea days. If that doesn’t bother you and you decide to book for Alaska, be sure to reserve your preferred dining venues and ship activities as early as possible, because everything fills up fast. There is a lot to do before and during your cruise, so get organized. The Princess and I set up a series of checklists to help us organize everything including the schedule for days ashore in ports of call, dining reservations, and entertainment reservations.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

My passion for cruising is only equaled by my love for Alaska. I’ve cruised there so many times locals now wave to me, ask me to take in their mail when they travel, and flag me down to see if they can borrow a cup of sugar to which I reply, “you know I don’t actually live here, right? ” I’ve cruised to Alaska dozens and dozens of times on nearly every cruise line and itinerary. With so many bars and lounges to discover, finding your favorite may take a few days. Pull up a stool on The Waterfront and pair your favorite vintage with soothing waves at The Cellars - A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar.

Other Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships

The different room categories might also include different perks depending on the promotion, so take a few minutes to explore the different options. Canada Place will also welcome a handful of ships for the first time, including Explora I, Silver Nova, Celebrity Edge and Hanseatic Spirit. It is a nice space to watch the scenery so stake a claim on a space early if you want to sit there while sailing close to the glaciers. However, there are times on your days at sea when they also play recorded lectures about Alaska geography and wildlife. You will probably want to be in the Observation Lounge while sailing past icebergs in Glacier Bay so be sure to scope out seats early on that day. The Observation Lounge on Deck 15 was our favorite space on the boat.

Norwegian Bliss Ship and Cabin Tours

The first two are videos, one a full ship tour and one a cabin tour. The third takes you to all the dining menus (MDR, specialty, fast casual, room service, and more) I collected onboard. As always, feel free to ask questions or share your own experiences on the Bliss to the comments.

Consider a Specialty Dining Package

Anyway, I walked through downtown for research purposes (I’m working on an article for the blog about Alaska cruising in April) and then headed out for today’s hike on the Perseverance Trail. I don’t hike this trail as often when I visit Juneau because I usually opt to hike to the top of the Mt Roberts tram. But the tram wasn’t open for the season yet, so I wouldn’t have the option of taking it back down the mountain (which I don’t usually do anyway, but psychologically I like having the option). Some may be wondering why I cruise to Alaska so often and why I’d want to do the exact same thing two cruises in a row. It’s always magical, ethereal, with so many lessons to teach me.  And it’s never, never the same.

More in Travel

In October, as the environment around me began settling into winter, I witnessed the retreat, slowing down, and self preservation necessary for surviving a harsh season. Think of it as your travel companion, helping you experience an unforgettable cruise vacation every step of the way. Learn about the latest ships and destinations by browsing hundreds of questions (and the answers to those questions) posted by real cruisers.

Are there board games to use or a book library?

It’s quite a ways from the downtown area and requires transportation. One benefit of Norwegian Cruise Line is the company’s “Freestyle Approach” to dining. With no set dining times or table assignments, you can choose to dine at a variety of restaurants whenever you want. Before you get onboard, you will want to get familiar with the complimentary and specialty dining venues. Regular NCL cruisers will recognize many of the venues, but there are a few new ones like Q Texas Smokehouse and the Local Bar and Grill. We even have all the Norwegian Bliss Specialty Restaurant menus, so you can review all of the different food options.

Compare Shore Excursions

If you’re fortunate, as I am, to have visited Alaska many times, the Bliss is awesome on port days when most passengers are off the ship. In fact, on my first cruise on the Bliss with my son, we stayed onboard for the majority of our time in port and practically had the entire ship to ourselves. That’s when the Bliss is really fun and you can fully appreciate all she has to offer! The service tonight was…off, until it got really comically bad. The high point was when my waiter approached the table next to mine and called a clear “ma’am” a “sir.” I generously thought, “language barrier? ” but when he realized his mistake three courses later, he just busted up laughing and was like, “you’ve been a lady this whole time?

During the special event, the first block (out of 90) was lifted into the yard's covered shipbuilding hall. With this officially started the NCL Bliss ship's assembly. The ceremony was attended by Andy Stuart (NCL's President and CEO).

While the Norwegian Bliss was built for Alaska cruising, it also services the west coast of Mexico in the winter months. Watch out wolf, you’ve got competition from the Bliss whenit comes to being big and bad. Average-sized cruise ships hug the shoreline, hoping to blend in so theBliss won’t swallow them up and spit them back out into the ocean along withthe pulverized organic waste destined to become fish food. Seabourn strives to offer a more tasteful Alaskan cruise and not only because it’s an ultra-luxury cruise line. Edge will be joined by a pair of fleet mates for the season, albeit Summit’s seven-day roundtrips are turnarounds out of Anchorage or Vancouver, and Solstice’s weeklong jaunts are solely based in the British Columbian seaport.

Find Norwegian Bliss Cruises to Alaska (with Prices) - Cruise Critic

Find Norwegian Bliss Cruises to Alaska (with Prices).

Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 21:45:11 GMT [source]

The glacier explorer out of Juneau is a great excursion going to the glacier on a small tour boat ahead of the ship. The Encore calls at the three main Alaskan ports (Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan) and also spend the day cruising Glacier Bay. I second the Glacier Bay for your first cruise so maybe a switch to the Encore is in order, either that or choose a date early in the season when the Bliss does Glacier Bay. As far as ports go, I vote for Skagway ,Juneau ,and Ketchikan (Ward Cove).

Enjoy superb French fare at Le Bistro or Premium Black Angus Beef at Cagney’s Steakhouse. Or roll up your sleeves and dig into a half rack of ribs at Q Texas Smokehouse. Hidden at the top of the ship, The Haven features our most luxurious, well-appointed accommodations as well as 24-hour butler service, concierge service and private sundeck. Photographs are for illustration purposes only used to represent the excursion experience and may not accurately depict the excursion, location, or activity indicated. Participation in activities and excursions may involve physical exertion, and may be potentially hazardous or dangerous.

The ship’s reimagined pool deck, which overlooks the water on her starboard side, and all-new outdoor venues — the Dusk Bar and the Marquee — allows unique openness to view spectacular Alaskan glaciers and wildlife. Those who want to experience an older and smaller Evolution-class Silversea vessel can book the Silver Muse, which also will sail mostly seven- to 14-day trips between Anchorage and Vancouver. Since it’s a round trip the side of the ship is less important. One small consideration, if going to Glacier Bay, is that ships travel up the right side of the bay so the starboard rooms are much closer to shore.

The NCL Bliss' hull art has as a centerpiece an image of a mother humpback whale and her calf. The design signifies Alaska's beauty and the importance of conservation. Next are listed the NCL Bliss ship's venues by deck location. Follows the complete list of Norwegian Bliss restaurants and food bars. The boat has 20 decks, of which 16 are passenger-accessible and 11 with cabins. In fact, there's a lot about Norwegian Bliss that's unexpected.

The cruises nearly all call at Ketchikan, Skagway or Juneau, with some rarer alternatives for Haines, Hoonah and Sitka. Find and plan your next 2024 Alaska cruise out of Seattle, Washington; Seward, Alaska; Vancouver, British Columbia; Whittier, Alaska; with Norwegian Bliss. Embark on an unforgettable Alaskan adventure aboard the magnificent Norwegian Bliss.

It can get crowded at times, especially in the front by the bar, but if you look along the sides you should be able to find a couch, chair, or, if you are lucky, a lounger. There are also snacks put out throughout the day including a light breakfast and lunch, afternoon tea, and after-dinner desserts. On the Norwegian Bliss Alaskan cruise from Seattle, you have two full days and two half-days at sea. That is a lot of time to kill if the weather is rainy or windy (or just cold!) After all, it is the Pacific Northwest.