JayS

I did a 9 day out of NY a few years ago. I was not worse than other cruises on the same size ship.

The libraries on both ships are the same.

IMHO If you want an onboard library try Holland America. All their libraries are several times larger than any on the 

other lines I have been on.

Hoping somebody chimes in with their opinion on whether the show is good! At $60 cad for two, it's on the pricey end, but it looks like it would be right up my alley!

 

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I was on the first PC Bliss cruise. One of the reasons I am thinking of booking a NY cruise next year is to see

Prohibition again.

Warning this show is not for a teetotaler.:D

NCL Escape Dec 9 from NY. Cruise to St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands); Roseau (Dominica); Bridgetown (Barbados); Castries (St. Lucia); Basseterre (St. Kitts).

Inside $689 + tax & fees

Anyone have a photo of the Bliss MDR lunch menu?

I was on the PC Bliss cruise. The MDR menus looked the same as all the NCL MDR menus.

Bird Travels has a Getaway report. Look at #34.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2666700

FYI the specialty restaurant menus were different on the Bliss.

If you are wanting to do the extremely popular railway excursion in Flam be sure to book ahead. You can buy tickets in advance online. Don't pay for the cruise line's ridiculously expensive excursion. Flam is a very small town and it is easy to buy your own tickets and take the very short walk from the ship to the rail station. When we were there we walked past long lines of very disappointed cruisers trying to get tickets that morning in Flam. Of course they were completely sold out ahead of time and I would imagine that is the case on any day there is a ship in port.

I was on a B2B that stopped twice in Flam. I got off the ship ASAP and went to the rail station and picked up an 11:00 train. An hour later everything prior to the ships departure was sold out.

On the second leg, I left the ship about 9:00 the trains were sold out. Next to the ticket office a tourist office sold other excursion. I bought a ferry trip through the Fjord. It included a 20 km bus trip of which 15 were in tunnels.

great review i just have 1 question at the breakfast buffet do they have kippered salmon on it?

I was on this transit. I also was on the Breakaway Transatlantic. Thirteen days between cruises.

I hope you don't mind MHOs.

The buffet seemed to be raised a notch or 2 above other NCL's buffets. The breakfast had real lox on display not hidden away. They had shrimp, crab legs (snow and king) and oysters on various nights. I didn't realized until the OP pointed out no Mexican station but a large Indian area.

The MDR are equivalent on both ships.

The specialty restaurants common to both ships had changed menus. Cagney's only the prices changed. I preferred the old menus.

The Local similar to the O'Sheenans with a slightly different menu.

On a previous cruise one of the shows was a Jersey Boys act with 4 singers. I thought the show on the Bliss would be similar. I was pleasantly surprised.

I was told the Happy Hour Prohibition show included 5 drinks. I was expecting small amounts with just a taste of alcohol. Again I was surprised.:D

Finally for those of us on the cruise, in Mazatlan we were docked with the Carnival Splendor and in LA with the USS Iowa. The Splendor is too wide by 17 or so feet for the old locks while the Iowa class ships are at the limit.

I also was on the Bliss Canal cruise. In addition I was on the Breakaway Transatlantic in April. According to the B'way captain we were 60 miles from the Bliss on its TA.

My pictures of the last lock of the Cocli have a time stamp of 8:17 PM.

Some comparisons between the two cruises.

The food and menu at the MDR are equal.

The menu at the Local and O's has changes. I usually get the wings and Fish and Chips at this restaurant. Some changes in the type of wing sauces but can't complain.

The Platinum coupon substituted Q and Los Lobos. These were the two easiest to get a reservation.

The menu and food at Cagney's are the same except for higher prices for the entree.

The menus at the Le Bistro, La Cuccina, and Ocean Blue are changed. I preferred the old menus.

The Ocean Blue changed so much I would not recommend especially with the upcharge on the SDP.

For those interested the La Cuccina now has Pizza.

As the OP said they were pushing the buffet. What they didn't tell you was the upgrade of some offerings.

Among some of the unpublished offerings were Crab Legs (snow and king), shrimp, oysters, and stone crab claws.

For those that wand Indian Food there was a large area on the Bliss. As a comedian said this is where you go if you want to be alone.

I was on the Breakaway TA. Unpacking and packing for the Bliss PC cruise. Thanks for this blog.

We passed within 60 miles of you according to our captain. The weather was foggy and no attempt was made to meet the Bliss. Earlier I talked to the captain who said they were thinking about passing close to the Bliss.

Our weather in Ponta Delgada was as bad as yours in Halifax.

So tonight I went to Cagneys. It was one of the Latitude rewards and previously I’ve had the baked potato soup, 8oz fillet and a nice Oreo cheesecake for dessert. Shock that it has a new menu with no baked potato soup.

 

Menu

 

 

The price on the BA Cagney's $20 for a porterhouse, and if my memory is correct a lower price for the shrimp and oyster appetizers.

The shrimp only had 3 shrimps, earlier cruises had 4 or more.

 

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I am not exactly sure what your question is.

 

The retail price (if you were to buy a dining package) is:

 

3 Meals $69

4 Meals $84

5 Meals $99

6 Meals $114

7 Meals $129

8 Meals $139

9 Meals $149

 

So the retail value of a 4 night package is $84.

 

It is a really good deal since we can spend more than $50 per meal at some of the restaurants.

Those prices are pre boarding. You have to add the 20% service charge.

Buying onboard is more expensive.

Question....do we have any idea if there are restaurants besides Ocean Blue that would be an additional charge when using the dining package??

 

Also - I’m guessing that Food Republic will be totally a la carte and not covered by the dining plan - like it is on the Escape??

 

 

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From the FAQ on the package

https://www.ncl.com/specialty-dining-package/faq

IN WHICH VENUES WILL MY SPECIALTY DINING PACKAGE BE HONORED?

Specialty dining packages are honored in the following specialty restaurants: steakhouses, Churrascarias, French, Teppanyaki, Los Lobos, Q Steakhouse, Margaritaville at Sea and Italian restaurants. Guests who have purchased the package may also choose to dine in other select à la carte priced restaurants, entertainment-based restaurants, Bayamo, Pincho Tapas Bar, and Ocean Blue restaurants, for the following per person upcharges:

• Ocean Blue - $15 USD
  
• Bayamo - $15 USD
  
• Cirque Dreams/Illusionarium - $10 USD regular seats/$15 USD premium seats/$35 USD VIP seating on Breakaway
  
• Sushi -$7 USD
  
• Raw Bar - $7 USD (Seafood Platter not included)
  
• Pincho Tapas Bar - $7 USD
  

Room Service, Mini Bar, Food Republic and District Brewhouse, Specialty Items in the Asian restaurant, Hot Rock, a la carte items in the Main Dining Rooms, The Bake Shop items, The Bake Shop, O’ Sheehan’s Ice Cream Bar, Gelato, Special Occasion/Holiday menus (New Year's, Christmas, etc.), Jazz Brunch, Wine Lovers and Murder Mystery lunches, and beverages are not included as part of the Specialty Dining Packages.

BTW

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea

Your lost shaker of salt is right here in Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea. Savor signature items like the Cheeseburger in Paradise. Sip on a Who’s to Bla ...

• PRICE $14.95 USD
  

• Items on menu are individually priced. An 20% gratuity and specialty service charge will be charged at time of payment.
  

I was on the B'way in June and December. The menu was as posted above.

In June the waitress mention a Tomahawk was available even though not on the menu. In December it was not available. I guess it depends on how the ship is provisioned.:confused:

Lobster only in the Ocean Blue.

Thanks DaytonCruiser I just booked the TA.:D

I hope we pass the Bliss coming to NY. I will be on that in May.

Thx for your review! I keep reading about cutbacks in buffet with the Lox, but I wonder if I can still get it in the MDR? ;)

It was on the menu in December.

I don't eat Lox but did notice on the 2/2 BA cruise the girl sitting at the next table at breakfast had it for her bagel. This was in the buffet. So there is hope.

You had to ask an attendant who took it out of the refrigerator.:(

I've been on both ships.

The studio on the B'way are small. On the Anthem I was upgraded to an interior so I can't compare studios.

The Bells and Whistles are better on the Anthem.

The virtual Views are basically the same as the Bridge or Aft camera on the regular TV but shown on a dedicated monitor.

IMHO If ALL things being equal I would chose Anthem. It would not take much however to go to the B'way.

In past cruises there were exceptions to what could be ordered, from these posts it sounds like a change has been made, if so I am thrilled to learn this for our upcoming cruise!

 

 

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As of December on the BA, the only exception I was told by the host ( and it is in the FAQ's) is the Seafood Extravaganza.

Here is a menu.

http://www.beyondships2.com/uploads/8/2/4/5/8245255/222_ocean_blue.pdf

It would be an illegal cruise, so they can't take passengers.

That cruise would violate the PVSA. An old law that many wish would disappear.

Tom

I am not sure. I have been on a SEA to San Diego to Tahiti to San Diego. I have seen a NYC to FLL to Europe to FLL. Looks like if you don't disembark before the distant foreign port you would be OK.

I have a hard time believing that a Jewel class ship will be going thru the new locks. They were designed specifically for larger ships (Away, and tankers).

True.I was on a partial in March. The commentator said they do use the larger new locks for smaller ships IF traffic is high for the old locks and low for the new ones.

I would not count on this happening on a cruise on a smaller ship.

It's a huge unsolved mystery as to whether or not you can get multiple appetizers at Ocean Blue with the SDP. Nobody seems to have a clear answer.

Yes

In June the OB hostess said the seafood extravaganza was NOT part of the package but if ordered the full price would be charged.

I ordered Mussels,Crab Legs, Lobster, side dish and desert paying only the $18 (including service charge)

Thanks. Question - isn't this a new ferry designed & built for NCL and paid by ... It broke down during inaugural season - warranty claimed against the shipyard builder ?? Or, is this a refurbished & reconditioned ship with a few fresh coat of shinny paint & freshening ?

As others said it was reconditioned. From the paperwork on the boat I believe it was built in Australia in 2008.

When the ferry passenger arrived at the dock NCL personnel took our cabin numbers. I later received a bottle of sparkling wine, some chocolate covered strawberries and credit for some ferry tokens when I presented a receipt.

Other than a notice that the ferry was canceled nothing else was said about the ferry.

I was on it when it lost it steering.

Picture of the tow.

NCL Breakaway is offering solo discounts (less than 100% single supplement) on Dec 3 12 day Caribbean out of NY

Balcony with $100 OBC and 2 extras for $1874 plus tax and fees

 

Travel & embarkation

 

 

 

Shortly thereafter a group who had booked something called “My Time” magically appeared out of nowhere and these 150 to 200 people were moved ahead of us in the line.

 

 

 

 

 

MY TA was able to put me in this "MY TIME" group on 2 Breakaway and one Getaway cruise. As you stated I received priority boarding on the Breakaway In NY. In Miami for the Getaway when I mentioned MY TIME the clerks did not know what I was talking about. I boarded with the rest of the regular passengers.

 

There are supposedly other benefits but they are not known by the staff. :(

I've heard it's a private sailing, possibly travel agents or corporate.

 

 

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I was told that by the next cruise manager on the Getaway.

I would like to take a train to NY instead of a plane to FL.:(

Thanks for the help. I will be coming off the ship with no car. Probably using MCO and ship's shuttle.