Wanderlusting for adventure and luxury on the high seas? The new Norwegian Bliss cruise ship can make all of your daydreams a reality. A few of our Gnational Gnomads including Ava Roxanne Stritt of Spa Travel Gal recently embarked on the ship’s maiden voyage. Here’s what they had to say about their incredible experience onboard.
Photo Credit: Ava Roxanne Stritt of Spa Travel Gal
Where You Lay Your Head
Experienced cruise goers know that not all cabins are created equal… many times, you’ll find they’re just barely tolerable. But the Norwegian Bliss will blow you away and completely raise your standards for all cruises to come! Each level of rooms on this ship has some of the finest touches at sea. The layouts are so smart and efficient, you’ll find it hard to utilize all the storage areas conveniently located in multiple areas of your cabin. My Mini-Cabin gave me more of a true 4-star hotel room experience than any other cruise cabin I have stayed in.
Gnomad Tip: The Haven 2-Bedroom Family Villa with Balcony can actually be economical for a family of 5 due to all the extras included with this type of accommodations.
Norwegian Bliss Food Spectacular
Kelly Stilwell from Food, Fun & Faraway Places was so impressed by the food on board the Norwegian Bliss. “Whether you’re heading to Alaska or the Caribbean, the food on the Norwegian Bliss is spectacular. Meals at five different restaurants plus room service are included in your cruise. Choose from dining at the Garden Cafe with floor to ceiling window views of the ocean, or try one of the Chef’s Signature Dishes in the Taste Main Dining Room. For those evenings when you want to take it up a notch, you’ll have twelve specialty restaurants to choose from, including Teppanyaki, the authentic hibachi experience, or Los Lobos, where the guacamole is made at your table.”
One of the trendiest places to dine at sea is Food Republic. Here you order small sharing plates from a tablet throughout your meal. Not full yet? Order again! See something that looks amazing on the table beside of you? Order it for yourself! Here you can take control of your dining experience in the palm of your hand.
Gnomads Tip: Got a sweet tooth? Kelly recommends, “Finish off your meal at Coco’s, the most amazing dessert cafe on the seas!”
Family Fun
Meagan Wristen of Mommy Travels tells us the Norwegian Bliss has some incredible amenities for kids including a double level go kart track on deck 19, a laser tag arena on deck 20 and water slides for all ages in the pool area. The laser tag arena is the first open air laser tag experience at sea in North America.
“It’s well done and much bigger than you would expect considering it’s on a cruise ship.The go karts are electric and go quite fast! The seats and pedals are adjustable, making them accommodating for kids. Here I am living out my dreams as a race car driver!” This largest race track at sea is extremely thrilling. The two-level track has blue skies above and turquoise waters below. You never have to leave the beauty of the sea to find your thrills on board the Norwegian Bliss.
Gnomad Tip: Remember that you can play during the daytime or nighttime. While others are off at dinners and shows, take your own spin on the race track!
Spa Serenity at Sea
Recharge and relax during your cruise with a spa day at sea. The Mandara Spa onboard has more to offer than most spas on land. My favorite amenity was the salt therapy room—a dramatic grotto surrounded with thousands of salt crystals. Salt therapy has been practiced over 100 years and can help boost your general well-being. I was so blown away with their luxurious facilities, I named it the Best Spa at Sea! The therapists at the Mandara Spa are extremely well educated, so any of their treatments is a good choice.
Gnomad Tip: Men needing a proper haircut will also enjoy the very traditional Barber Shop inside the spa area of the ship.
Gnomad Tip: If you can’t decide on a spa treatment, go ahead a pick up a Thermal Suite Pass. You never have to lose sight of the sea while enjoying this hydrotherapy circuit.
Enlightening Entertainment
A standout for Kirsten Maxwell of Kids Are a Trip was the onboard entertainment. She enjoyed the journey back in time with the musical production of !HAVANA!, but what really had her singing was the true story of the remarkable Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Jersey Boys. “Everyone was singing along with so many top hits this group had during radio days like “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man”, and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” This blockbuster musical was a timeless night of musical memories for the entire auditorium. The entertainment on board the Norwegian Bliss is family-friendly too!”
Gnomad Tip: If you’re a Broadway fan, you may want to consider booking a cabin in The Haven, which comes with reserved seating for shows in a special section that includes beverage service during the show!
Unique Brews
A stop at the District Brew House is like visiting all your favorite local breweries at one time. Here you can find brews customized just to your cruise ship and your cruise destination. With 24 draft beers on tap and over 50 choices of bottled beer, you may just find a new favorite.
Joe Miragliotta of Joe’s Daily enjoyed sailing out of the Long Beach inaugural cruise aboard the Norwegian Bliss. “I had the pleasure of doing a bar crawl with a few of the other media. My favorite spot by far was in ‘The Local’, Norwegian Bliss’ answer to a modern day pub. There you will find a wide variety of beers to sip on while you’re catching whatever game is on the two-story TV screen.”
Gnomad Tip: If you are a beer lover, do not miss sipping the Wyland Brew, which was crafted in partnership with Wyland himself, and exclusive to the Norwegian Bliss.
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We are leaving this coming Saturday. What will the weather be like. Warm enough to enjoy the pools?
It was for my cruise this spring! Where is your cruise taking you?
This looks amazing! I’d never really fancied a cruise, I always only preferred smaller boat trips – but this has totally changed my mind. That spa looks incredible! I don’t think you’d ever get bored.
You would not get bored on the cruise or even if you just stayed in the spa. The spa was huge and offered so much. I would visit it at least every other day on a longer cruise! I only had one day to explore the entire ship!
Can a women get a haircut and blow dry on board, or is it for men only.
Yes females can get hair services too.
Fairly insightful post. Never thought that it was this simple after all. I had spent a good deal of my time looking for someone to explain this topic clearly and you’re the only one that ever did that. Kudos to you! Keep it up