ClaireAndMike

Ugh, people...  some don't even need alcohol to enhance their level of jerk-iness, but I do find adults who drink far beyond their limits to the point of acting out to be quite intolerable.  

On 12/15/2018 at 5:10 PM, Shidah said:

Great review, thanks for sharing. Looking at booking the Bliss Haven next summer maybe.  Must admit the pictures of the guests on the waterfront  with their bare feet on the pillows grossed me out.  Note to self, never use a pillow on a cruise ship couch.  So that lady has her sweaty foot on the pillow, then the next guest could have their young child sleeping on the same pillow, blah.

My exact thought.  Looked like they had bare feet on the tables as well.  So gross to think about placing a drink down on top of it.  Ewwwwwwwwwwww.

4 days until the Bliss.  First cruise since Feb. of 2015.  I can't believe it.

On 12/18/2018 at 8:39 PM, shadowmeboy said:

La Cucina Menu

 

Note: I like the La Cucina menu on the other Norwegian ships a bit better than the La Cucina menu here on the Bliss. Too many spicy things and my favorite steak was not longer on the menu.

 

 

 

I got a Burrata "Caprese"

 

OMG I want that burrata caprese!!!  

I could be wrong, but I want to say that I read in another recent review that the contract for many of the staff just ended so maybe this was a largely new crew on your sailing?  Might explain part of it?  I'm on it this Saturday so I'll soon experience it for myself.      

1 minute ago, emilyreid09 said:

 

Hi Jo!

 

Yes, the CD was Silas, I thought he was very friendly and engaging! 

 

The dance show was also very risque, which is unfortunate because on the Getaway it was just plain funny, this time it was 90% twerking. Not as good. 

Ewwwwwwww, twerking.  No thanks!  😂

3 minutes ago, ziggyuk said:

 

Haha, what did you blow up on our 240v

I had an unfortunate incident with a hair dryer!

Haha, I learned the difference between voltage converters and adapters the first time I visited London.  Lesson learned!  

Just now, emilyreid09 said:

 

The BBC was delicious!!! A combo of banana and coconut and Baileys!

 

The Bushwacker was good too, similar to a Mudslide but with the vanilla, amaretto, and coconut.

 

 

I noticed before I cruised there weren’t a lot of vegetarian reviews/info so I made sure to keep notes of my food and options to help other veggies in the future! 

 

Yay, thank you!!! 

This is my first cruise as a "pescetarian", but with a shellfish allergy which can get tricky!  I was on the Breakaway with a large group dinner in 2014 and we ate at Cagney's one night so I think I ended up eating a plate of roasted veggies or something, but this go 'round, I can maybe have salmon or something!    

Now I've got to ask, and apologies in case I missed it, what's the BBC?  Google says a banana Bailey's coconut - is that it?  I'm going to try it.  Also, I love reading about the food from a vegetarian perspective!  I was total vegetarian for ten years, but let reverted a little and started eating a little bit of fish a couple of years ago.  

Ugh, I know what you mean on this one.  It really stinks.  :(  

13 minutes ago, shadowmeboy said:

 

Susan and I turn off our phones onboard, so I have no experience with this. Maybe Trace can help with this.

Oh thanks!  I've read so many reviews and live reports lately that I'm confusing you with someone else.  Long story short, I have a 13 year old sick dog (my baby) at home that I need to be able to check in on daily (I almost didn't commit to the upcoming cruise because of that).  My husband is staying home with her - that's why I got the "social media" package because it says you can access messenger apps.   Here's hoping it works!    

I have a quick question about the internet packages.  I prepaid for the social media package, but how do I actually activate it once on board?  Do I get a code of some sort at some point?    

Also, what a fun roll call!  My sailing doesn't even have a meet and greet scheduled.  First cruise I've ever been on that hasn't.  

Woohoo another one to follow!  I'll be on the December 29-whatever that next Saturday is sailing.  

Do you know how Maria liked the the honey salmon from Q?  I'm new-ish to eating fish (was vegetarian for many years but have recently eased up) and thought that'd be a specialty restaurant I might try.  Oh!  And also that smoked peach signature drink.  How was that??  I'm usually just a wine drinker, but thought that one might be good to try.  

This is fabulous!  You two look like so much fun.  How come I never meet awesome people on my cruises?! 

Especially enjoyed the Alaska Airlines love.  My best friend is an operations manager for them.  

Thank you for this - I'm sailing December 29th and haven't really gotten into the mood - I originally said no but decided to go pretty late in the game, which I'm happy about.  Looking forward to reading the rest.

17

😃

2 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

Alrighty, then... I was able, with my superior typing skills of over four words per minute, to compile the thank you list for the adventure that we all just endured... I can't express enough how much that you're input meant to me over the last week or so. My life is pretty much void of purpose without my travels, and sharing it with you fine people. I often went for years without even a single vacation, thinking that the cost involved were just not worth it. After the loss of my best friend nearly five years ago, I realized that there is a lot more to life than just being responsible, and paying bills and such. Through her passing, I found a reason to live, and do it without regard for debt and always worrying about the future. The future is now, and if you aren't doing things and having experiences that you will remember forever, then you're doing it wrong. You're memories are the only thing that no one can take away from you... I don't make nearly enough money to cruise 3 or 4 times a year like I have been, not by a long shot. But, in this world you never know how long you really have, so you better do the things you want to do while you're able. 

 

My travels are meant to bring meaning to my life when I thought it had no meaning. When they put me in the ground, I don't want my tombstone to read "Here lies Sid. He had lots of money and material things"... I want it to say "He may be broke, but he spent it all doing the things he loved..."

 

Without further adieu... The thank you list for my wonderful adventure on the Bliss is as follows: Lupush, Noworkforme23, jkburns, adam3313, cruisestan2, mkcurran, marktwothousand, Diann24, mochwr, OceanBlueWaters, jbhcw, HeyJut, kpark895, Kealy, zencruisers, cincicruisers, blarko, skakeNbake, TravelGirlinDallas, Jme4166, candigirl41, whiterose79, bochest124, retiring soon, morety, trish4bruce, LuvCruSun, emm126, MzShae, ktmush2, JJAukland, SNJCruisers, SenatorsFan, itseaya, CazV, sandy85, Steff79, SAmome, Milly1966, ww3traveler, 50SumthnCruiser, HBCruiser, sexy50, Chesneygirl, kcruz, samiam0403, Tropicalgurl, NCLgetawaymenhoney, kackles, Hooked!, Saint Greg, MusterDrill55, HideoutII, 8373seth, CincyJen, meatball_nyc, Dayana, Hooked Already, david_sobe, LinnieRed, Beachiekeen, MsJersey84, ClevelandCrusin, Shidah, dcipjr, Just Jo, BigNance, ClaireAndMike, saintsfan777, perditax, ESCARGO, fuentecat, klarson1027, ev98, MrFunInTheSun, jpc763, All-ready2cruise, Jldevin, pbxtech, tanyaewa, rxlowry, JC5240, CRUISERMOMX3, mccallister, MrMike45, CelticMCO, pebbles1102, cml4958, Nittany Cruise, Cole Thornton, 2+2, purpleally, kenmyfam, itolduso, pinklucky61, need2cruisesoon, bina, DeanDeeDee, smokie36, Stlcardsfan79, edspec, and Yorkvillain......

 

Thank you all, and we'll see you on the next adventure in about 2 months... 

Hear, hear!!!!!  

2 minutes ago, CincyJen said:

 

Hi ClaireAndMike,

 

What type of stateroom are you booked in now?  I haven't reached that portion of my review yet but on Day 3 we did a Cabin Crawl with our Cruise Critic Roll Call group, and got to see many different stateroom types up close.  The only difference between a Spa Mini-Suite and a Mini-Suite is, obviously, the Thermal Suite access, and some upgraded amenities.  I'd book any mini-suite that exists just to get that shower.  Have I told you guys how much I loved that shower yet?  HA!

 

If you followed my Semi-Live Blog, I did mention that the location on Deck 15 is, indeed, at times quite noisy.  It didn't bother us, but you'd be surprised how many people run across that pool deck, and at night the music can be pretty loud.  I'll talk more about it later in this review, but yeah, if you're sensitive to noise, skip the Spa Mini-Suites which I believe are all located on Deck 15.  But, don't forget the upside... the Observation Lounge is right down the hall!

So envious of that shower!  We're currently in a BD balcony cabin on deck 13 Forward.     

Sooooooooo, and it might be too late for this anyway since we're less than three weeks from sailing, but I've been seriously considering trying to upgrade my mom and I to a spa mini suite.  My only concern (well, I have two) is the noise having what I'm guessing would be the pool deck above us and also, we're currently booked in a room right beside my brother, his wife and their two kids.  That was done intentionally to be close to them and my mom would probably not be pleased with me if I switched our rooms.  Ugh, I wish my husband (or sister) was going because I'd be bunking with one of them and they'd be totally onboard (heh) with the upgrade request.

Thanks so much for posting pictures of the dailies.  Silas was the cruise director on my very first cruise on POA.  I hope he's still there in three weeks!  

Just now, RushFan said:

Believe it or not it’s not water.. you slide on mats I believe.  But yes , quite a drop..

Wet OR dry, whatever it is, no thank you!!!  Yikes.  I'm getting boring now that I've entered my mid 30s.

19 hours ago, RushFan said:

Sail Away...   RCL Symphony.   Another beautiful ship 

 

OOOOOOMG that water slide looks terrifying!  

3 minutes ago, cml4958 said:

 

 

 

 

Here you go...contact information for NCL.

 

https://www.elliott.org/company-contacts/norwegian-cruise-line-ncl/

 

I would suggest emailing Vivian Ewart first.

Haha thanks!  I'll wait until I return from my sailing to see what my firsthand experience is.  Maybe they'll read it, laugh and move on, but you never know!

16 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

I wonder if there is any way we could contact NCL with a complaint about nappers in the lounge. Does anyone have contact info/feedback email address I can write to?

 

i would definitely be willing to send a note this week, as my Bliss cruise is Christmas.

 

the only way the situation will be resolved is by speaking up, it might be a case of...”no one is bothering to say anything, so NCL doesn’t really consider it a priority”.

 

NCL is pretty on top of chair hogs, so maybe they’ll pay attention to this too.

 

other option is...if you’re in a group, you could sit near a napper, have a loud chat and play some music on a speaker to deter them. 

Yeah, I would be willing to contact them too.  Like, go nap in your room!  And the bare feet?  That's just...a very basic question of cleanliness.