Live from Bliss TA

I was more upset at no Baked potato and bacon soup.

Yes, this is the real issue. All the talk of steak is just a distraction. This needs to be reversed now. :)

Still, Pam has managed to replicate the recipe fairly closely, so I can still sort of get my fix. I’d be interested to see the new starter options if you get chance.

That’s quite a price rise, by the way. The boards are going to melt down when this news spreads.

Yes, this is the real issue. All the talk of steak is just a distraction. This needs to be reversed now. :)

 

Still, Pam has managed to replicate the recipe fairly closely, so I can still sort of get my fix. I’d be interested to see the new starter options if you get chance.

 

That’s quite a price rise, by the way. The boards are going to melt down when this news spreads.

Post #114 had the menu but I’ve extracted the starters here.

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Another quick speed test

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Given the reduced numbers on board there’s been no issues with queuing for breakfast anywhere.

Had a nice breakfast in the local, a continental in Garden Cafe and even a light pastries breakfast in the observation lounge.

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I will miss the potato soup if that's rolled out. Best soup on board.

The $20 restriction has always been there for the latitudes meal. I believe that what has happened here is that they have put up the prices so that now the 8oz is more than $20. It was exactly $20 on the Spirit in March, which is where the other member of Craig’s party yesterday would have had theirs recently with no problem.

 

That’s fairy crazy as the fillet is probably the most popular cut for people to order. You would hope that NCL will realise this and increase the limit, but knowing them I suspect not.

 

You have always been able to pay the extra over $20 (although it seems that they often don’t actually charge it if it’s only just over). I once got a $1 bill in Cagneys for this.

 

I can’t remember the old cost of the Porterhouse. Maybe it was always over $20 and you got lucky previously.

 

Whatever, if this price increase goes fleetwide and they don’t increase that limit then this will be the first of many hundreds of discussions on this board about this.

 

 

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I guess I was lucky, then...I did not pay any extra the two times I dined there...is the UDP limit different than the Platinum?

I guess I was lucky, then...I did not pay any extra the two times I dined there...is the UDP limit different than the Platinum?

Yes, there is no such monetary limit with the SDP.

I did find an old menu from Cagneys earlier which had the Porterhouse at $20, so that may be why you didn’t pay any extra. Looking at the menu that Craig posted above, you may have to pay $2 in future, whilst I may be charged $4 for the fillet.

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Yes, there is no such monetary limit with the SDP.

 

I did find an old menu from Cagneys earlier which had the Porterhouse at $20, so that may be why you didn’t pay any extra. Looking at the menu that Craig posted above, you may have to pay $2 in future, whilst I may be charged $4 for the fillet.

 

 

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Unfortunately besides the porterhouse they did the same thing e.g. the lamb chops which went from $20 and allowed under the Platinum limit to now $22. Not particularly interested in using a loyal customer voucher and having so many items excluded. Would seem the entree $ "limit" needs to be reconsidered.

Quick snack in the garden cafe with the guys post pub crawl. If you get a table near the front this is the view

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Unfortunately besides the porterhouse they did the same thing e.g. the lamb chops which went from $20 and allowed under the Platinum limit to now $22. Not particularly interested in using a loyal customer voucher and having so many items excluded. Would seem the entree $ "limit" needs to be reconsidered.

I certainly didn't mean to suggest that it was just the Porterhouse (or Fillet) that has increased. I was just using those as an example.

Yes, the maximum limit needs to be increased, but I have no faith in NCL doing so. However, in the scheme of things this isn't something I can get too excited about. I'll pay the few dollars and enjoy my food.

 

 

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Stunning view! Love the layout of the OL and garden buffet. After having a very rough cruise back in January and swearing off cruises, I'm starting to come around again after all these amazing pictures and reviews!

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So it’s cruise day no.4. Our 3rd day at sea as we head to the Azores. Our location is:

 

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Its odd for a ship to be built in 2018, they are still using 1996 systems..wow..that's crazy!!. they should really really update their systems. I know the ships system is not internet accessible so it is a bit secure that way, but still can be considering a legacy software security risk

So tonight I went to see the comedian from the levity group in the social. As comedians go, this one - Warren Hall was pretty much entry level with some jokes used years ago! 2*..

Then went to see the magician show in the theatre which was better.

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Dailies for day 7. It’s interesting that they’ve had to “tell passengers off” for sprawling all over the furniture in the observation lounge!

Quick snack in the garden cafe with the guys post pub crawl. If you get a table near the front this is the view

 

 

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Looks great...so great, that people may just hang out there beyond their meals and take away seats from those looking for a table....

Is Jersey Boys going to play at all? Doesn’t look like it has yet from what I can tell.

Is Jersey Boys going to play at all? Doesn’t look like it has yet from what I can tell.

I’m booked to see them on the 30th. Next Monday.

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Looks great...so great, that people may just hang out there beyond their meals and take away seats from those looking for a table....

Yes and I confirm when I went for Breakfast late one morning there was a table with what looked like a board game being set up.

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So mid cruise already! Where have those 6 days gone.

So impressions so far.

Out of all the opening cruises I’ve done I’d say this ship is probably the most “completed”. Yes there is still some work being done but mainly out of hours. (An example was in the Brewhouse they cut out part of the marble top to install a drip tray overnight).

The main differences from say Escape are the racetrack in lieu of sports complex and that’s both the sports basketball court and the ropes course! And the new observation lounge deck 15.

Love the spacious part of the lounge but can’t help feel it’s too big. As you enter from the forward lobby it’s weirdly quiet like some kind of retirement home and then the noise begins towards the front around the bar area. Some were just using the chaise lounge as indoor Sunbeds. Again not sure how this would work in cold Alaskan climates versus Caribbean.

Entertainment wise I do think personally NCL is still playing catch up to some other lines like Royal. The 2 main acts only one has been on which was great. But outside the theatre it’s still pretty much singers/pianist players in same venues each night.

I’m glad to see the 80s party is on tonight. The only problem I have with the social is due to its use for comedy and other activities it often doesn’t start until 11:15 by which time most people tend to settle at the bar they are in.

The ents schedule would change on a real cruise with multiple evening showings. As we are some 2200 passengers only one 8PM theatre slot. On some they have 3 slots including say a late night 11PM slot.

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I know it’s controversial for some but I do like the new smoking policy onboard. The Casino smoking area is enclosed, no smoking on the Waterfront (so Maltings outside is useable). Although I find myself not even having had a drink at Skyline bar yet as it’s no longer a “venue”.

The cavern club is too small a venue and so unless you are there like an hour before the band plays it’s standing room only and it’s also still badly designed that the route between main door and the bar is straight in front of the stage each time.

The pianist Jim Badger who’s resident in the Brewhouse plays same tracks nightly and just talks a lot. I love the venue of the Brewhouse but it would be nice to just have one bar with quiet background music so you can talk to others or even maybe have the sound on for the game.

The crew as ever are fantastic from my room steward, the bar staff to the top and Klaus (it’s so nice when walking through and someone senior recognises you. )

Food - quality has been fine in all venues so far from the Local, Garden Cafe, main restaurant (taste or savour offer more around table space then Manhattan) through to Cagneys (albeit without my soup! ) and Q which I was surprised at. Wish they’d do the loaded fries in the local.

My cabin has all the amenities you’d want except drawer space. Loads of shelves and for some reason quite a lot seems to be used for spare bedding.

Ocean view forward only have one problem imho, distance from fwd lifts. Also if I go to say the social deck 6 nearly aft lift to my cabin deck 13 all the way forward it’s a fair trek. My app shows I’m averaging (just onboard as sea days and I stayed onboard at Azores) some 4 miles a day walking!

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Fellow passengers often can make or break a cruise. Especially when travelling solo albeit on this one I know a few from previous cruises.

The first solo meet was in a bar but then they went back to the studio lounge so not been to any subsequently. Although they’ve often clashed (5:30-6:30) with say having a meal at 6pm to be able to see the 8pm show (again would be fixed on normal schedule with a later show).

At this point I also recall I’ve not heard the Capt speak once! No daily address or welcome onboard. Only Silas’ comes over the tannoy. Seems a bit strange. I do miss that connection to the bridge.

I’m not sure if it’s the weather, the added walking or the drinking but so do feel tired more on this cruise. During the theatre show I felt myself nodding off and came back to my cabin and was at like a light in minutes!! now it’s 6AM and I’m awake (9AM in origin time zone, 4AM NY destination)

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Also as expected internet connection speed improves when most are asleep [emoji3]. Although Doug got 21Mbps upload

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Get this for a nice morning view when you open the drapes

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We are heading into a high pressure ridge so hopefully some nice sunny sea days ahead

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