Bliss Pacific Coastal April 17th

[drumming cruisers]

8 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

The original plan was to walk from the hotel down to the ship but we got lazy and ordered an Uber instead. Total cost for Uber was $8 and took around 5 minutes. We did walk down last night and it’s a very quick, easy walk if you choose to do so. In port this morning is Bliss and Discovery Princess.

 

Our arrival time was between 9 and 9:30am and we got out of our Uber at 9:15am. We dropped our bags and then joined the line to wait for security to open. Just after 9:30am they called for Haven guests to come through for the security screening. There were probably around 50 people in this group and immediately afterwards the general line started moving. At security they checked our passports against a printed list - only 3 agents so it moved pretty slowly. The other interesting thing was that we were reminded many times that masks were required once in the security screening tent, yet all 3 passport checkpoints had agents with masks below their noses. This is a pet peeve of mine - if you’re going to require masks then require them to be worn correctly!

 

We were through security by 10:10am and passed on to check in. Here we were asked if we were latitude members - well, yes we are but not at the level that gets priority boarding…I was honest and let the rep know that we weren’t priority and we were handed a group 5 boarding card. There were many more people being funneled through to priority because the agent wasn’t asking the right questions! Check in was slow going as there were only 3 agents at the general check in side. This was also the first sailing into Canada and they requested the ArriveCAN receipt at check in. We had ours ready to go but others were downloading and completing it right there at the check in counter! For us, check in was quick and easy - showed passports, proof of vaccination, negative Covid test, and completed a paper health form. We were done and sitting waiting to board by 10:40am.

 

 

What is ArrivCAN? never heard of it. We are going to Alaska in June stopping in Victoria, nothing on our on line reservation about it. 

Also what is the drink the says enjoy? Looks good. 

 

[www3traveler]

4 hours ago, drumming cruisers said:

What is ArrivCAN? never heard of it. We are going to Alaska in June stopping in Victoria, nothing on our on line reservation about it. 

Also what is the drink the says enjoy? Looks good. 

 

ArrivCAN: Heath form required to be filled out prior to arriving in Canada

[hallux]

8 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

My best guess is that since this was the ship’a first trip into Canada there was some kind of coastguard inspection or something.

It may have been a CG inspection, but it certainly wasn't due to being the first trip to Canada.  I did this cruise in 2019 (with @debenson0723) and was able to board as soon as I was done checking in, around 11:30.  The PC cruises are purely repositioning, you won't get them except at the one at the beginning and one at the end of the Alaska season.  When I did the Mexican Riviera trip in October, we were delayed boarding, I believe due to a CG inspection, but I don't think it was the first MR cruise of the season.

[Shaded Lady]

1 hour ago, hallux said:

It may have been a CG inspection, but it certainly wasn't due to being the first trip to Canada.  I did this cruise in 2019 (with @debenson0723) and was able to board as soon as I was done checking in, around 11:30.  

I'm pretty sure Ceilidh meant the first trip to Canada post-COVID...

[TravelGirlinDallas]

@ceilidh1 I'm so glad you are finally getting to see the Bliss! You and I were both booked on the same Pacific cruise last year before cruising restarted that ended up being cancelled. I'm a little jealous!! Have an amazing time!

[ceilidh1]

Day 2 dailies

[hallux]

43 minutes ago, Shaded Lady said:

I'm pretty sure Ceilidh meant the first trip to Canada post-COVID...

Why would the US Coast Guard have any extra interest in doing an inspection of the ship prior to sailing to Canada?

 

Often a ship may be subject to an inspection on its first arrival in a US port for the season, so the CG at that port can be sure all is in order.  The Canada CG would do their inspection upon arrival in the first port in Canada, if the ship will be there long enough.

 

@ceilidh1 would it be easier to grab the daily from the NCL app on your phone?  You can get a PDF of at least the schedule.

Edited April 18, 2022 by hallux

[OrcaGirl]

I didn’t grab photos but the ship had a special Easter Sunday menu in the dining room last night. Looked good! 
 

I stuck with the buffet, also with Easter themed choices, and everything was delicious… I think that was my first-ever hot cross bun!

 

 

[OrcaGirl]

Hope everyone got a chance to see the whales this morning! There were so many of them! Both sides of the ship, lots of spouts and a couple of tail flips. One person said she saw a momma and baby!

 

Alas, I didn’t bring my DSLR this trip, so I hope someone else got good pics to share. 

 

[drumming cruisers]

4 hours ago, www3traveler said:

ArrivCAN: Heath form required to be filled out prior to arriving in Canada

Where/when do you receive it? We have cruised  to Alaska 6 times, and never had to fill out a form like this. And always stop in Victoria. Is this a new form after Covid?

 

Edited April 18, 2022 by drumming cruisers

[OrcaGirl]

39 minutes ago, hallux said:

 

 

@ceilidh1 would it be easier to grab the daily from the NCL app on your phone?  You can get a PDF of at least the schedule.

Not sure if @ceilidh1 is having the same issue I am, but the daily isn’t updating on the app in a timely manner. It’s still showing yesterday’s daily for me, even after closing and reopening the app. Same thing happened on the Bliss in December, it seemed to take a few hours to update.

[OrcaGirl]

5 minutes ago, drumming cruisers said:

Where/when do you receive it? We have cruised  to Alaska 6 times, and never had to fill out a form like this. And always stop in Victoria. Is this a new form after Covid?

 

Yes, it’s a during-COVID form; you either download the ArriveCAN app or visit the website. It has to be filled out by everyone entering Canada, by plane or car or ship, whether Canadian or foreign traveller. 
 

It takes 5 minutes and you just need to keep a copy of the confirmation code/email handy for cruise check-in and when you actually arrive in Canada. I’ve never been asked to actually show my form, just provide confirmation that I’ve filled it out.

 

[www3traveler]

14 minutes ago, drumming cruisers said:

Where/when do you receive it? We have cruised  to Alaska 6 times, and never had to fill out a form like this. And always stop in Victoria. Is this a new form after Covid?

 

Yes, new form since Covid.  Go to ArrivCAN and download the form.  Looks very easy and I did not see that there was a fee for it.

[davencl]

45 minutes ago, OrcaGirl said:

Not sure if @ceilidh1 is having the same issue I am, but the daily isn’t updating on the app in a timely manner. It’s still showing yesterday’s daily for me, even after closing and reopening the app. Same thing happened on the Bliss in December, it seemed to take a few hours to update.

On our Bliss Apr. 3 cruise the daily wasn't showing up in the app at all for us.

[YVRteacher]

You can easily Google information about the ArriveCAN program.  Download the app and upload your information before boarding.

(it is spelled ArriveCAN not ArrivCan)

[LCfromFL]

What time does the Thermal Suite open? I cannot tell if it is 6 am or 8 am in the Daily's? I'm an early bird and the hubster likes to sleep in - so I plan to spend mornings there. 🙂

[Travelicious]

I'm not surprised it took so long for boarding to begin.  I was on the cruise before yours and it took forever to disembark.  I heard there were approximately 3100 passengers, and I bet at least half were self-assist, which went first.  They were supposed to be called at 8:45, which I think was pretty close.  My color was supposed to be at 9:00, but it was closer to 10:00 and there was still a long line of self-assist ahead of us.  The line snaked from the forward staircase all the way through the casino and back to the forward exit.  It probably would have taken an hour to get through had I not taken advantage of a crew member allowing a family cut through.  I'm pretty proud of myself for just following them, as I'm usually such a rule follower.  But I was getting really concerned about missing my flight.  Even then, it was around 10:30 when I got off.  It was a real cluster.  

 

I'll also share that once outside, I ordered an Uber.  It took several minutes to even get a response that a driver was coming, and that driver was supposedly 25 minutes away.  There were many people waiting for Ubers.  I had kind of expected they would be lined up ready for the business, like taxis often are.  After a few minutes, a guy came through saying he had a shuttle ready to leave.  Another couple and I canceled our Ubers and hopped in his van for $80 split between us.  We made it to the airport in plenty of time, but it was pretty stressful.

[ceilidh1]

Day 2:

A few observations so far…

 

We have yet to meet our room steward - this is new. Usually they are like ninjas and pop up to introduce themselves the second you enter the room on the first day! Not this time! I left a note asking if he could make up the sofa bed and switch the bed to two beds. Also requested that the paid items in refrigerator be removed and a wine glass be left in the room. The bed request was fulfilled but neither of the other requests have been. Also of note is that the coffee maker is tucked away in the closet with a note stating that coffee supplies would be provided on request. Not really sure how you would request them if you never see the steward… Finally, the club balcony has a “food “ amenity included so I was expecting a small treat in the room on boarding. Nothing so far. Not a big deal at all, but something that should be included but so far hasn’t been…

 

I stopped at guest services to ask about the charge from Ocean Blue. I had assumed it was for the coffee I had as it was the same cost. If so, it should have been covered under premium plus. Initially the staff at guest services told me specialty coffee wasn’t included- kind of ironic as I was standing there with my Starbucks that I had just got with the package. After some searching he agreed that coffee was included. However, he then told me the charge was sales tax as we were in port. I knew that there was 8% charged in LA and saw the charges for the bars BUT we had already been sailing for 45 minutes when we went to the restaurant. He told me that they charged the tax until 6:30pm??? At that point I was done arguing and just left but I’m not convinced that the charge was tax. Also of note was at the pool bar the bartender took cards from 4 people (including myself) and served our drinks. From the looks of it, my card was charged for all 4 drinks taxes as I only had one drink at that bar but 4 charges appeared. Again, not a big enough amount to warrant standing in line again but frustrating!

 

Premium Plus drink package: I upgraded the drink package not really sure if it would be worth it. I’m not really a high end liquor girl but I do like nice wine with dinner. I also love Starbucks. I definitely got some value on the first day! Two margaritas with Don Julio, two Pina Coladas with Zacapa, a Dark n Stormy with Zacapa, a bottle of Pinot Grigio, 2 Starbucks, and 2 bottles of water. All covered! Also to note- I bought my 10 year old the soda package as he wasn’t covered under free at sea (is this new) and I didn’t have an option to add it online. In the past, the package for 12 and under was a lower price than the adult/teen package. Now it is the same price for everyone. Ironically, I have not been asked for his card at all when ordering drinks for him, so probably could have just not bought it!

[ceilidh1]

Cruise critic meet and mingle! 

[ceilidh1]

Cruise critic meet and mingle! 

[hallux]

@ceilidh1 have you caught the names of any of the activity staff doing trivia and games in the Atrium and other places?  There was a staff member on my Mexican Riviera cruise in 2019 that we loved and I hope that she made it back on board.  I realize that those folks move from ship to ship as contracts are available, I figured I'd start with the ship she was on.

[YVRteacher]

The problems you are experiencing are the exact same as I experienced on the Bliss three weeks ago.  I saw my room steward twice in two weeks.

For the coffee, it’s better tasting and easier to use the room service order from and order a pot of coffee for delivery.  Continental breakfast items do not have a charge.  
Be persistent about those incorrect charges.  I had many and they add up.  I did a Cruise Critic pub crawl and the next day noticed that EVERYONE’s drinks had been charged to my card.  Guest services told me they would take care of it.  I told guest services I wasn’t leaving until it was taken care of.  They called the bar manager and she fixed it but it took about 20 minutes.  I then told guest services they needed to compensate me for for my time, stress and inconvenience.  They sent wine (which I don’t drink) and chocolate covered strawberries.

 

At one point a bartender (who had previously spilled a drink on me) told me that Bailey’s was not covered in the drink package.  I just walked away.

 

On the last day I had several incorrect charges on my folio and had to go back to guest services . It was so frustrating.  Keep checking your bill and charges!

Edited April 18, 2022 by YVRteacher

[YVRteacher]

13 minutes ago, hallux said:

@ceilidh1 have you caught the names of any of the activity staff doing trivia and games in the Atrium and other places?  There was a staff member on my Mexican Riviera cruise in 2019 that we loved and I hope that she made it back on board.  I realize that those folks move from ship to ship as contracts are available, I figured I'd start with the ship she was on.

Was her name Alexandra (goes by Alexa?) she is wonderful!  Bliss just took on a new round of cruise director’s staff.

[YVRteacher]

Tip: the Bliss has great cookies.  If you go to the buffet at 9:00pm-11:00pm and ask for a plate they will give them to you.  They don’t put them out.  You can also contact chef Godfrey and ask him to send cookies to your room and he will.

[hallux]

2 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

Was her name Alexandra (goes by Alexa?) she is wonderful!  Bliss just took on a new round of cruise director’s staff.

No, Una was one of them, another I'd be curious about is Rod (not a woman but I thought he was great too).  I can hope that she just rotated out if she's not on now, I hope she made it through the last 2 years and has continued with NCL as we thought she was going to do well with them.