daveispar

11316, it was a great Cruise and the ship was great, also. We're not one to complain, but, one little problem was there was quite a bit of soot on the balcony. If you move your chairs and table and chaise lounge toward the doors it was okay, but, the railing was filthy every day and we just cleaned it ourselves. It's just a minor complaint, but, we heard the captain tell us that by the time they cleaned and filtered whatever they were burning for fuel there was only steam coming out of the engines. Not true !

We might have gotten lucky, but, we got off the Bliss from our Panama Canal Cruise on Memorial Weekend Friday and had no problem making our 12:45 flight. As a matter of fact we got the earlier flight at 10 :45 ! But, we were in line at 4:30 AM and carried our own luggage and were 3rd off the ship after the Haven and Super Duper Platinum or whatever ! We flew through customs, caught a cab, no traffic and were at the airport before 9 ! Maybe, we got lucky, but, it was stressful until we got to the airport !

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There are 2 kids, 4 and 5, right now hanging on a ship in the Mediterrean, hoping they can survive !! They wish, they had your problem ! Give me a break !!

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Hands down, the Observation Lounge in the front of the ship 15 deck. When you get to the Bar, say Hi to Lovely for us, she was great to us !!

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I'd say 14 or 15 for a boy and 16 for a girl. All you have to do is turn on the news or pick up a newspaper ! I would rather be safe than sorry ! Too many "bad" people running around !! Also, safety in numbers !

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We are in the same room in Oct ! We ca't wait to go. We were just on the Bliss for their Panama Canal Cruise. We had an aft balcony, it was very nice ! The only issue we had was, oh, wait, we had nothing to complain about, as usual !! We're so lucky, we can Cruise, how can you complain, 99% of the people in the world will never be able to vacation as we do ! Complain, hardly, we're too busy giving thanks !!

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We're going to be in that room in Oct. We are looking forward to it. Where can I see your pics ?

Thanks,

Dave & Lee

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Yes, I agree, you were on a great vacation that 99% of the people in the world will never get to do ! How can people complain ? About anything. I'm lucky(although, my Wife and I worked very hard our whole life) enough to be able to play a lot of Golf. When one of friends complain about a bad shot or a missed putt, I always say, " there are 2 little kids hanging on to a boat in the Mediterrean, they wish they had your problems" ! That usually shuts them up ! We'll be on the Spirit in Oct and we won't be complaining about anything ! And we'll be sure to say please and thank you to everyone ! We treat all people the way we want to be treated !!

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We were on the Bliss through the Panama Canal in an aft balcony and the bed was next to the balcony. It wasn't a mini-suite.

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Several years ago I was with a group of students on a bus tour of England and France. Two women on the tour refused to do the routine of switching seats after the different stops. They wanted the front seats on the top deck of the bus and would not let anyone else switch for any period of time. It got to the point where they refused to leave the bus to visit the actual monuments ( Stonehenge, Notre Dame, etc.) because they did not want to lose their precious seats. We all wondered why they wanted to travel. As it happened, one of them fell and broke her ankle the last evening and sure enough the next day, her friend was trying to run us all down pushing that wheelchair through the airport since she had to be first. I have always hoped that she had a window seat on that plane!

We've taken a couple of Gate1 Tours. They make it their rule for everybody to rotate up to the front in order 2 rows everyday. That way everybody gets a chance to sit in the front at least once. It made everybody happy and that way a couple couldn't hog those seats for the whole Tour !

So I was on the Bliss for the Panama Canal. I know all about the Observation Lounge and the issues.

So let me say this about folks who get up and walk away for a few minutes

 

1) folks get up to get food at the various stations or visit the bar and yes they leave things at their chair - no problem I say

2) folks go to the bathroom which is a 1 minute walk to the back. - no problem I say

3) folks during lunch and or breakfast get a spot and walk up to the Buffet to get food and bring down. - I say okay if really crowded and give them a break. Most folks I saw eating did so and then left.

 

What I hate to see is:

1)folks who sleep for several hours. They should be awakened after 20 minutes and told go back to room. I had to move because a guy was snoring very loudly.

2) A group come in and take seats and then talk and laugh loudly for more than 30 minutes. They should be at the bar. IT STATES IN THE DAILY, that the Observation Lounge is a quiet zone so quick chatting only.

3) folks who leave a mess and do not clean up after they have eaten.

 

As far as the very front seats, gets rather chilly and can be boring if at sea. You can do just as well on the sides or in the off hours at the buffet. BTW the loungers are not that comfortable either. Trust me the back does not recline and the velvet fabric makes it hard to get settled. And a lot of the chairs are very heavy and hard to move towards the window. I found the Observation Lounge annoying at times and went to the waterfront more often.

 

So the idea of hogging is hard to determine unless you spend the time to watch and wait. Most people if they see someone has a book or shoes at a chair or lounger will most likely assume they will be right back and not get huffy or demanding. Most folks were nice. One can always say to the person nearby "please watch my chair as I will be right back".

We were, also, on the Panama Canal Cruise. There should be a 1 hour time limit to those chairs in the Observation Lounge. That would make it fair for all. Why should someone be allowed to hog a chair and a great view indefinitely !

I think it will be a very interesting future for the ship, especially for the fact that the average age of the cruisers was at 65.

So a different folk will lead to a different behaviour.

 

As already mentioned, the buffet is too small.

I saw an empty area in the front, but I am not sure, if they will use it for more tables.

We just adapted ourself to the small area in the following:

We picked our food and went down to the observation lounge instead of spending endless minutes to find a free table.

 

About the atrium:

Its the same problem on every ship and In my opinion some kind of no go.

Due to the fact that the guest service is located there its likely, that you want to clarify something very important, but its not really possible to communicate. So this could not very nice.

 

About the chair hogs:

Yes, they su**, but what su**s way more are people at the waterfront who abuse the tables for their feets. Especially if the put their bare feet directly on it.

Sorry, but whats going on in the head of these people?

I agree bare feet all over the place ! They put little signs up not to do it, but, they were ignored ! Morons !

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A couple of F-bombs.

Nothing over the top.

I was on the ship for the 2-day preview in Miami.

 

We're booked for January and I believe my daughter will let her 10-y-o son see it.

He saw Brat Pack on Escape, and it also had a few F-bombs.

Not a few F-Bombs, a lot and, also, at least that one Mother F-Bomb ! Not for a 10-y-o.

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Thank you for sharing! We are less thrn 2 weeks away from our cruise.

 

You mentioned cussing in jersey boys. My son is 10 and looking forward to the show as he sings in a chorus...how bad was the swearing?

We were on the Panama Canal Cruise and went to the late show to see the Jersey Boys, I heard the early show was the same. If you don't mind your Son hearing F this and F that many times during the show and, also, MF this then take him, but, I wouldn't. It was very adult.

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Watching the water is the MAIN reason we book the aft!! So relaxing!

We, also, love the aft, where are you located ? We are in 11316. We can't wait we're on the Panama Canal Cruise in about 10 days.

Have you had any problems or concerns ? How about the TV schedule, movies, etc ?

Thanks in advance !

We were told by CruiseNext people that on new ships, cabins are limited to 60% and you are correct that we sailed at about 50%.

 

 

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We're on the Panama Canal Cruise coming up May 25th, any idea how full the Bliss will be then ?

Only 10 days or so, we're getting excited !

My Wife and I are booked for the Panama Canal, May 10th in an aft balcony. We're getting very excited. We last went through the Panama Canal in 1992 on the old classic Holland America, Rotterdam. It was a great ship !

Does anyone have any idea what Norwegian ship the new Bliss would be most like ?

Does anyone have an idea what Norwegian ship the new Bliss would be most like ?

Lyn is correct, the entrance is on the port side of the ship.

I just got off of Marina, was in 7008. Never heard noise as I walked past the laundry room, and there was a machine available every time I needed one...all 6 times!

Hi,

My Wife and I are going to be on the Marina in 2 weeks. We are in 7008 and my Sisters and their spouses in 7006 and 7004. We're getting pretty excited. Do you have any pictures of the room and the balcony ? I've heard the balcony is very large compared to the Marina's normal balconies. Is that true like 115 sq ft compared to the normal balconies of around 50 sq ft. ? Anyway, if you have some pictures you can post that would be great ! Or e-mail them to me at daveispar@comcast.net

How did you like the ship and the cruise .

Thanks,

Dave & Lee

We will soon be travelling on the NCL Spirit. We normally like an Aft Balcony, but, they don't have Aft Balconies. Could anyone suggest another Balcony that is special ? Something different or a little extra special ?

Thanks in Advance,

Dave & Leona

We have an oversized balcony on our June 2nd Cruise. It's approximately 120 sq ft. Does anybody know if they come with lounge chairs ? Or is that something that must be requested in advance from Oceania ?

Thanks in advance,

Dave & Lee :D

These comments are making me even more excited to sail on the Spirit. DH and I will be sailing on the Spirit for the first time in May. She looks like such a classic and stately ship. Nothing like the new builds. Really looking forward to 14 days in the Mediterranean! We are less than 2 weeks from final payment date and just today I was able to get a $700 price drop on our balcony cabin! So that is making me even more excited for this trip now! :D

We Cruise a little, but, I'm curious, how did you find out about that $700 price drop ? Did you or your TA get it ? Did you change to a different balcony cabin ? Or keep the same one ? We're cruising on the Spirit in October. Thanks in advance.

We're on a Spirit Cruise in Oct in a Balcony Room, do the rooms have a flat screen TV ?

Thanks in advance,

Dave & Lee

My Wife and just signed up for the 10 night, June 2nd Cruise from Southampton to Copenhagen on the Marina. We have booked room 7008 on Deck 7. My TA says the balcony is 118 sq ft, as opposed to the normal 42 sq ft. Has anbody stayed in one of these big balcony rooms recently ? Did you like them ? Any advantages or disadvantages ? Does anybody have any pictures ? Thanks in advance.