Semi-live from the Bliss - Mexican Riviera - Feb 11-18

[Seas2mountains]

So sorry to hear about your Mom. I hope she gets excellent medical care and has as minimal pain as possible. 

[hallux]

19 hours ago, cruisinfamily7609 said:

Very true. Food is a big deal though, so it’ll be interesting to see how I feel post-cruise.

Just off the Bliss on Sunday, I had NO issues with the quality of the food itself.  Service, on the other hand, seemed lacking at times.  I'll post more in my own thread and leave this for @OrcaGirl to continue if her mom gets the treatment she needs in PV and can stay on board.

[OrcaGirl]

Hey everyone, quick update on our first sea day, now from the perspective of dealing with an injured passenger on board.

 

The medical and housekeeping team coordinated on providing us a wheelchair free of charge for mom to use until we’re offloaded in Puerto Vallarta. 
 

A commode (portapotty) was also delivered to the cabin, since the wheelchair is too wide to be used in the cabin and getting her up and over the bathroom ledge is a b****. 
 

The medical centre provided her with the good drugs, enough to last her to Puerto Vallarta, and when they’ve kicked in she’s doing okay if she can keep her leg still and elevated.

 

We managed to get her out onto the waterfront for some fresh air, and then we had a light lunch up in the Observation Lounge. And made lots of new friends, as everyone was very accommodating at helping move the heavy chairs to make space for her.

 

 

 

Mom wouldn’t let me and Red cancel our spa passes, so in the afternoon we wheeled her up to Mandara and she got to nap on the heated stone loungers while we got a little spa time. Compared to my last cruise on the Escape in October, the thermal spa was soooooo empty, especially for a sea day. We were the chair hogs this time, because I didn’t want to move momma once she was settled, but there were plenty of empty stone loungers all afternoon.

 

 

 

Mom insisted on us attending the afternoon bingo, but her drugs started to wear off midway so I threw my final bingo card at the Fox and wheeled momma back to the cabin for more drugs and a rest.

 

We had reservations for Q that night, and mom’s appetite was back, so we moseyed on down there. Getting to the restaurant was really the only non-bathroom-related challenge of being in the wheelchair. Big queues in front of Taste and Savor merged in front of the elevator bank, and it was tricky to navigate through without bumping mom’s leg. 

Once we got to Q, it was a mixed bag. The band was crazy loud, so you couldn’t hear anything the waiter said, and service was very slow. The food, however, was much better than last time my husband and I ate there. We used two dining credits for the three of us, and still left food on the table. 
 

We missed our Six reservations, but I hadn’t been too optimistic that mom would last that long anyway, so we might try again tonight. Or not.

 

We got settled back in the cabin, getting snatches of sleep. There was a Code Alpha on deck 3 at one point, but I reassured mom that it wasn’t because of her. 🤣

 

Random observations

 

Both medical services and the housekeeping team called us at various points during the day to check on mom, and ensure that the wheelchair was working out and we had everything she needed.

 

Last night while mom was still in the medical centre, a security officer came and took each of our statements, and then walked me up to the thermal spa to show him what had happened where. There’s been no follow up on that yet though.

 

While she was being examined last night, they gave mom a breathalyzer. I get it, I understand why, but also it seems a little ridiculous to give a 75-year-old woman in pain a breathalyzer. (She’d had one pina colada with lunch, and a mudslide in the deck 19 hot tub during the afternoon of that first day, but nothing with dinner and blew a zero.)

 

Medical also wrote a note for me to give to the Shore Excursion desk to have our excursions cancelled without penalty. *If* we’re allowed to return to the ship, I’d love recommendations for wheelchair accessible tours in Mazatlan and Cabo (although with the tender, I’m thinking that would just be a spa day.)

 

 

 

 

[justhappy]

I hope your Mom continues to have good pain meds and that she can continue on with her vacation.

[PistolPete13]

Glad to heard that your mom is doing OK under the circumstances!  She seems like quite the trooper!  When are you due in port?  Tomorrow?  Just make sure to keep all passport and critical paperwork for the both of you with you at all times.

[brookie848]

So sorry to hear about your Mom's injury @OrcaGirl. I can relate -- it wasn't a cruise, but I broke my foot in five places while on vacation in the summer of 2022. Like you, it wasn't the trip I had planned. I'm glad she is getting what she needs on the ship.

 

Sending positive thoughts your way!

[spotfish]

On 2/11/2024 at 7:54 AM, OrcaGirl said:

I previously sailed the Mexican Riviera on the Bliss two or three Christmases ago, although very much not sold out as it was the first Christmas cruise of the restart and there were almost zero children onboard; that was a great cruise. 🤣

We had 1700 passengers under the age of 18 on the ship. pool area was a mess but that's why we got Vibe passes! 😀

[OrcaGirl]

6 hours ago, PistolPete13 said:

Glad to heard that your mom is doing OK under the circumstances!  She seems like quite the trooper!  When are you due in port?  Tomorrow?  Just make sure to keep all passport and critical paperwork for the both of you with you at all times.

We’re due to be in Puerto Vallarta from 7am to 7pm tomorrow, so hopefully that’s enough time to get to the hospital, get mom taken care of, and — hopefully — go back on board before sailaway. Because the flight options home from Puerto Vallarta are surprisingly limited without 12-hours in San Francisco or without connecting through Toronto or Montreal (wrong direction!)

 

And it turns out I have a cousin in Puerto Vallarta (news to me!) who my mom used to babysit so he’s on standby to meet us and assist with anything we need if we do need to remain behind in PV.

[www3traveler]

9 minutes ago, OrcaGirl said:

We’re due to be in Puerto Vallarta from 7am to 7pm tomorrow, so hopefully that’s enough time to get to the hospital, get mom taken care of, and — hopefully — go back on board before sailaway. Because the flight options home from Puerto Vallarta are surprisingly limited without 12-hours in San Francisco or without connecting through Toronto or Montreal (wrong direction!)

 

And it turns out I have a cousin in Puerto Vallarta (news to me!) who my mom used to babysit so he’s on standby to meet us and assist with anything we need if we do need to remain behind in PV.

BEST WISHES

Happy Valentine's Day to you and Mom

[laudergayle]

48 minutes ago, OrcaGirl said:

And it turns out I have a cousin in Puerto Vallarta (news to me!) who my mom used to babysit so he’s on standby to meet us and assist with anything we need if we do need to remain behind in PV.

Well that’s good to hear.  Praying for a good outcome tomorrow and Mom gets the best care.  🙏🏻

[Panhandle Couple]

4 hours ago, OrcaGirl said:

We’re due to be in Puerto Vallarta from 7am to 7pm tomorrow, so hopefully that’s enough time to get to the hospital, get mom taken care of, and — hopefully — go back on board before sailaway. Because the flight options home from Puerto Vallarta are surprisingly limited without 12-hours in San Francisco or without connecting through Toronto or Montreal (wrong direction!)

 

And it turns out I have a cousin in Puerto Vallarta (news to me!) who my mom used to babysit so he’s on standby to meet us and assist with anything we need if we do need to remain behind in PV.

PV is the one port I would choose to use for medical help along the MX west coast.  With the large influx of US and Canadians every winter, they are used to treating injuries to foreigners.  

 

I hope your Mom and the rest of you preserver and keep enjoying your cruise. 

[SliderNc]

Glad to see your mom enjoying herself to the best she can with the injury.  Hopefully you are able to get the medical help you need in PV and get back on the ship and enjoy the rest of the cruise.  Best of luck to you and hope everything goes well for your mom.

[Coffeeluvr05]

Enjoying this thread, but wow, so sorry to hear of your mom's injury @OrcaGirl! 

 

As someone getting back on the Bliss in the next couple of weeks, I'm curious about booking the thermal suite for the week.  Is there any advantage to waiting until on board to get better pricing?  The price right now to book seems a little steep for one week ($299pp) as I recall on our 15 day Panama canal itinerary it was something around that. Hmmm...Any advice?

[hawaiigirl1965]

2 hours ago, Coffeeluvr05 said:

Enjoying this thread, but wow, so sorry to hear of your mom's injury @OrcaGirl! 

 

As someone getting back on the Bliss in the next couple of weeks, I'm curious about booking the thermal suite for the week.  Is there any advantage to waiting until on board to get better pricing?  The price right now to book seems a little steep for one week ($299pp) as I recall on our 15 day Panama canal itinerary it was something around that. Hmmm...Any advice?

We're going to Bliss on 4/13 and can't book the thermal pass beforehand. NCL says sold out?? Maybe it is possible to buy on board?

[Frogger22]

4 hours ago, hawaiigirl1965 said:

We're going to Bliss on 4/13 and can't book the thermal pass beforehand. NCL says sold out?? Maybe it is possible to buy on board?

I would try on board first day. Will Bliss be in Alaska then? If so it might be sold out. Over New Years in Mexico, it did not sell out and mid week they offered 3 day and later a 1 day pass. 

[NW Pacific]

Thinking of you, your Mom and family.  Know you have to be overwhelmed.   Hoping the best outcome in Puerto Vallarta. We get onboard Feb 25th.  Sure going to be careful as possible onboard.  when everting settles down, let us all know how things are going. 

[hawaiigirl1965]

3 hours ago, Frogger22 said:

I would try on board first day. Will Bliss be in Alaska then? If so it might be sold out. Over New Years in Mexico, it did not sell out and mid week they offered 3 day and later a 1 day pass. 

Yes Bliss will be in Alaska since April 

[OrcaGirl]

Hey everyone,

 

Thank you for all the well wishes etc. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming in the morning: mom saw the orthopaedic surgeon in PV this morning, who determined it was a clean fracture, she doesn’t need surgery, and gave her the ‘fit to sail’ clearance. So we reboarded and will finish out the cruise instead. It gives us a couple more days to let her rest up and make arrangements to get her home comfortably.
 

I’ll recap the last two days in more detail in the morning. But yay!

[detroitlions]

7 hours ago, OrcaGirl said:

Hey everyone,

 

Thank you for all the well wishes etc. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming in the morning: mom saw the orthopaedic surgeon in PV this morning, who determined it was a clean fracture, she doesn’t need surgery, and gave her the ‘fit to sail’ clearance. So we reboarded and will finish out the cruise instead. It gives us a couple more days to let her rest up and make arrangements to get her home comfortably.
 

I’ll recap the last two days in more detail in the morning. But yay!

That is great news. I hope everyone has a great time!

[cruiseny4life]

So happy for you and your mom! I hope you get to enjoy the next couple days onboard knowing her fracture was a good fracture (if there's such a thing).

[laudergayle]

Yay!!! So thrilled your journey onboard continues.. and yhe Bliss is such a beautiful ship to be on.  Is your Mom still wheelchair bound or did she get a walking cast?  

Edited February 15 by laudergayle

[dlh015]

Glad to hear the good news on your mom!!  Wishing her a speedy recovery!

 

Also glad to follow along on yet another of your semi-Lives.

 

 

[OrcaGirl]

Okay, let’s recap. Tuesday at sea was a blur, but highlights included:

— Red having some good beginners luck in the casino

— Mom enjoying watching (not participating in) the line dance class in the casino

— Mom being brought (non-alcoholic) frozen drinks by (very nice) strange men

— Watching the Mr. Sexy Legs shenanigans up by the pool deck

 

 

For dinner, we grabbed an early seating at Los Lobos, just in case we didn’t get to return to the ship in PV; we originally had reservations for Friday for my mom’s birthday dinner.

 

The food was delicious as always, but soooooo much of it. We shared the tableside guacamole, the queso fundido, a beet salad and an order of the pescado tacos… they kept trying to get us to order more food, but we just couldn’t finish it all.

 

 

 

 

(Meanwhile, a table behind us sent back their tortilla chips like five times. Too salty, not warm enough, not salty enough, etc.)

 

Mom was fading by this point, and the drugs were wearing off, so instead of ordering dessert, we sent Red off to join the Fox in the theatre for Six while we headed back to the cabin.

 

We packed up all of our stuff, since at that point we didn’t know what was going to happen at the PV hospital and if we’d be able to return.

 

Since the medical centre advised us that the ambulance required payment in cash, I popped down to the casino ATM to withdraw a ****ton of US bills. 💸  Which created a fraud alert on my Mastercard so it’s been suspended until I get a chance to call them. 😂 So glad to have brought multiple credit cards.

 

 

And that was Tuesday at sea.

 

”Draw me like one of your French girls…”

 

[OrcaGirl]

Oh, Red and the Fox reported that there was an ASL interpreter at SIX, and that amazing as SIX is, watching the interpreter was just as cool.

 

And that the actress playing Jane Seymour was particularly delightful.

 

I’m sooooo bummed that this is the second-last sailing with SIX. The Broadway shows on NCL have always been a huge part of the appeal for me, and Wheel of Fortune is just not acceptable as a replacement. 

[hallux]

28 minutes ago, OrcaGirl said:

And that the actress playing Jane Seymour was particularly delightful

I saw two different Jane Seymours, I wonder which one he was commenting on.  One was quite petite.  The petite one is the 'swing' that also can fill two other roles.