Just back…BLISS. November 5-12

[graphicguy]

Agree about the foie gras!  Despise liver ANYTHING!  Can’t eat anything that has liver in it, on it, around it…..period!

[laudergayle]

The Service

 

we felt the service was above average.  With the exception of a few instances the staff and crew were happy, friendly, helpful and efficient.  The waitstaff in the dining venues (except The Local) seemed stretched and didn’t have time to remember the small details like requested condiments, and sometimes basics like water and coffee.  The bars we visited were fully staffed and the bartenders and bar backs were having fun with the guests.  
 

Room Stewards are not as thorough as they were when doing 2x daily service.  Our room had litter snd feathers on the floor from the previous cruise.  The steward was accommodating with whatever we requested but was still cleaning cabins at 4:00 (not ours, thankfully).

 

The highlight with the staff and crew was on our last day.  Upon returning to the ship in Ensenada they lined up and clapped and sang for the returning guests.  Then again that evening after the Jersey Boys performance they cheered everyone as we exited the theater.  Honestly, it brought a tear to my eyes.  
 

The Entertainment 

 

Having two major productions, SIX snd The Jersey Boys, on one ship is a rarity these days.  While we have seen both it was nice to see they were still being offered (for now as SIX will be leaving in early 2024).
 

Originally SIX was to perform 1x on Sunday and 2x on Monday.  On Monday we received notification that SIX was canceled due to illness and we were given an OBC of $21 pp.  They quickly added a Beatles show for Monday early evening.  They also adjusted the rest of the weekly entertainment schedule, which unfortunately conflicted with previous planned dinner reservations.  
 

The Jersey Boys was phenomenal.  This is a DO NOT MISS performance.
 

We saw one comedy show that was 18+. I must admit, the older I get, the more conservative I become.

 

We did participate in several events.  Bingo is now $49 for one card/3 games…for prize winnings of $100, $250 and $900.   It’s to the point where I would rather drop 50 bucks in the slots for better odds.

 

Atrium activities are always fun and we totally suck at trivia.  We were thoroughly impressed and enjoyed the Fruit & Vegetable Carving demo.  
 

We also attended our very first Park West art auction.  While we will likely never buy anything, it was fascinating to see the pieces and watch the bidding.  We’ll definitely attend more.

 

The casino is huge and also very crowded at times.  There was an CAS 80’s Slot Tournament going on, as well as a private slot pull with 60+ people. So much fun.

 

Overall, there was never a lack of things to do, and there’s always the Observation Lounge to just chill.

 

 

Edited November 14, 2023 by laudergayle

[laudergayle]

The Ports

 

Cabo San Lucas.  First, the tender process is a total cluster $#&%.  NCL’s communication on where to go to catch the tender was non-existent. Combine that with the tenders are run by the port.  Hopefully this will improve each week.
 

We did an NCL excursion, the Luxury Day Sail.  Well worth the cost.  We boarded a sailboat and headed out to the arch, then off to Santa Maria bay for snorkeling and swimming.  The fish were everywhere…so many that I had to get out of the water.  They served chips, homemade guacamole and pico, along with grilled shrimp.  After swimming we were fed again, pasta salad, chips, and ceviche.  We also had mimosas, beer, rum punch, Mexican coca-cola.  The most amazing thing at the end of the trip…we saw a humpback whale!!  Sorry no pics ☹️

 

 

Puerto Vallarta.  We did a self excursion. Took the public bus for 20 pesos to the Malecon for a Bean to Bar Chocolate Experience at the Chocolate Museo.  The  Malecon still had up their annual Day of the Dead exhibit with Guinness World Record Tallest Callavera Catrina.  The chocolate experience was very educational (not very hygienic lol).

 

 

Mazatlan.  We just shopped at the area right outside the ship.  The vendors were nice, the prices were good.  And, it’s crazy the drugs controlled in the US are available OTC at their pharmacia.

 

Ensenada.  NCL excursion Sightseeing and shopping. We stopped at the once grandiose resort where the Margarita was invented, then on to a quick wine tasting at Santo Tomas and then some time to shop.  It was an ok excursion with first person bring free.  

[HBCcruiser]

8 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

 First, the tender process is a total cluster $#&%.

Was it just as bad even though you had an NCL excursion? Where did they have you meet? We have a 12:30 PM NCL excursion that we do not want to miss. Any suggestions? 

[Bostonjetset]

16 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

The Ports

 

Cabo San Lucas.  First, the tender process is a total cluster $#&%.  NCL’s communication on where to go to catch the tender was non-existent. Combine that with the tenders are run by the port.  Hopefully this will improve each week.
 

We did an NCL excursion, the Luxury Day Sail.  Well worth the cost.  We boarded a sailboat and headed out to the arch, then off to Santa Maria bay for snorkeling and swimming.  The fish were everywhere…so many that I had to get out of the water.  They served chips, homemade guacamole and pico, along with grilled shrimp.  After swimming we were fed again, pasta salad, chips, and ceviche.  We also had mimosas, beer, rum punch, Mexican coca-cola.  The most amazing thing at the end of the trip…we saw a humpback whale!!  Sorry no pics ☹️

 

 

Puerto Vallarta.  We did a self excursion. Took the public bus for 20 pesos to the Malecon for a Bean to Bar Chocolate Experience at the Chocolate Museo.  The  Malecon still had up their annual Day of the Dead exhibit with Guinness World Record Tallest Callavera Catrina.  The chocolate experience was very educational (not very hygienic lol).

 

 

Mazatlan.  We just shopped at the area right outside the ship.  The vendors were nice, the prices were good.  And, it’s crazy the drugs controlled in the US are available OTC at their pharmacia.

 

Ensenada.  NCL excursion Sightseeing and shopping. We stopped at the once grandiose resort where the Margarita was invented, then on to a quick wine tasting at Santo Tomas and then some time to shop.  It was an ok excursion with first person bring free.  

Oh the Cabo tenders were still a nightmare eh?  I do hope they get it together. I was there on Princess in 2019 and the experience was much better. 
 

I love Mazatlan. I think that may be my fave port in the area. The town is really cute with lots of local artisan places to shop. 
 

You mentioned $21 obc for the cancelation of Six. We got $21 obc early in our cruise and I can’t figure out why. Maybe because I complained about the hot tubs being closed?  I never asked for anything and was never told why I got this obc. It just showed up on my account and my husband’s account. If that is a standard amount for unpleasantries maybe I got it for my hot tub issue. That’s all I can think of looking back. 

[laudergayle]

Memorable Moments

 

The Meet and Greet was 100+ people strong…and the attending Officers were totally impressed.  We had a hometown gift exchange and I picked a bag from a lovely young lady from Oregon.  It was filled with all sorts of treats.  
 

Following the M&G was a slot pull with over 60 participants. We split into three groups. While there was not a BIG win, I did take 2nd Place for highest spin.  I got a trophy, 50 bucks and bragging rights!  Yay!  So much fun.

 

 

THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT

 

And, not in a good way.  If you recall in Post #1 I mentioned my hubby’s fear that Cagney’s caused his illness.  It didn’t, but it’s hard to just forget that was the last meal you had eaten.  Then, under my Food review, I mentioned that our Cagney’s experience wasn’t great…and we didn’t finish our entrees AND I didn’t get my birthday OMG cheesecake.  Well here’s the backstory.

 

Remember, they had just cleaned the carpet. Well…midway through our entree I had the sudden urge to pee (oops).  I excused myself and hurried off to the Ladies room…kinda.  Well, when I stepped off the carpet onto the hard surface at the bar, my front foot slipped forward and I went down like a high school cheerleader into a geriatric split.  My knee was gashed and bloody, my butt bone hurt like heck and I have bruise the size of a baseball on my arm.  Some bystanders brought me a chair, the Cagney staff got me some bandaids (I declined medical) and summoned my hubby.  He escorted me to the waiting area and went back to get my purse.  The waiter told him to wait so he could sign the ticket.  He asked for my cheesecake to be delivered to our cabin. I sat in the chairs outside Cagney’s while I waited for my husband, and I would have thought that someone from Cagney’s would of at least checked on me. They didn’t , and my cheesecake never arrived.☹️
 

Security tracked me down the next evening to give a statement.  They asked me to complete a form and write a few sentences.  Funny, once I told them I believed I slipped because the carpet may still have been wet, they no longer wanted my written statement.  They simply said if I feel like I need to see medical I should visit them.

I did not let this incident spoil my evening nor my cruise…but I think hubby and have decided we won’t try Cagney’s on the Bliss ever again. It just bad juju for us.

 

Overall, the cruise was Epic and full of Bliss.  We feel blessed to be able to cruise.  Hope you enjoyed reading my review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, HBCcruiser said:

 

Edited November 14, 2023 by laudergayle

[laudergayle]

56 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

Was it just as bad even though you had an NCL excursion? Where did they have you meet? We have a 12:30 PM NCL excursion that we do not want to miss. Any suggestions? 

That was part of the problem, they never told the excursion people where to go…just meet on the pier after tendering and allow 45 mins to tender. We went to the Manhattan MDR for Platinum Priority tendering.  By the time they got to us they we’re on a group  6 general tendering.  Stop by Cruise Next deck on Day 1 and ask them if they have refined the process.  I would also sign up upon boarding for Group 1 as a backup.  Good luck.

[lepidoptera]

Thanks so much for the review. Sorry to hear about your fall and your husband being ill. Hope you both are recovered! 

[laudergayle]

57 minutes ago, Bostonjetset said:

You mentioned $21 obc for the cancelation of Six. We got $21 obc early in our cruise and I can’t figure out why. Maybe

Hmmm…maybe it wasn’t for SIX.  That was all I could think of.

[ChiefMateJRK]

19 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

 I got a trophy, 50 bucks and bragging rights!

I'll give you fifty bucks for the package!

[Seas2mountains]

Happy Birthday to you! I'm so sorry to hear about your fall. That sure sounds painful. I hope your bruise goes away quickly. 

 

Thank you again for taking the time to provide a wonderful review and photos!  I appreciate your reminder last night about the Bliss not going to Glacier Bay. I'm sure we will stick with Encore if we do choose to do this with family this summer.   When and where is your next cruise if you have one planned?

When in Le Bistro on Escape in May/June, two people in our family ordered the filet de boeuf without the foie gras and those entrees were not charged the $10 supplement. However, when my husband tried to do this on the Spirit this summer, we initially got charged the $10 but it was corrected.

[laudergayle]

15 minutes ago, Seas2mountains said:

Happy Birthday to you! I'm so sorry to hear about your fall. That sure sounds painful. I hope your bruise goes away quickly. 

 

Thank you again for taking the time to provide a wonderful review and photos!  I appreciate your reminder last night about the Bliss not going to Glacier Bay. I'm sure we will stick with Encore if we do choose to do this with family this summer.   When and where is your next cruise if you have one planned?

When in Le Bistro on Escape in May/June, two people in our family ordered the filet de boeuf without the foie gras and those entrees were not charged the $10 supplement. However, when my husband tried to do this on the Spirit this summer, we initially got charged the $10 but it was corrected.

Thank you for your kindness.  Right now I’m chuckling about my fall…but realize it could have been so much worse.

 

Our next cruise.  We are re-doing Alaska in mid-May.  The Jewel…Vancouver to Seward, with awesome excursions already booked.  
 

I’m so happy I may have helped you curate the perfect cruise.  Bon Voyage 🛳️

Edited November 15, 2023 by laudergayle

[laudergayle]

3 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I'll give you fifty bucks for the package!

I already chuckled.  But does this package come with an original “Rat Wrap” ?  
 

Still in.

[HBCcruiser]

4 hours ago, laudergayle said:

Security tracked me down the next evening to give a statement.  They asked me to complete a form and write a few sentences.  Funny, once I told them I believed I slipped because the carpet may still have been wet, they no longer wanted my written statement.

Bad form NCL! 😡 I’m glad you were not seriously hurt. 

Edited November 15, 2023 by HBCcruiser

[Seas2mountains]

54 minutes ago, laudergayle said:

 

Our next cruise.  We are re-doing Alaska in mid-May.  The Jewel…Vancouver to Seward, with awesome excursions already booked.  
 

I’m so happy I may have helped you curate the perfect cruise.  Bon Voyage 🛳️

Thank you. Will you be doing the Major Marine or the Kenai Fjords tour in Seward?  I highly recommend it if you haven’t experienced one of these tours in Seward. We prefer Vancouver to Seward or vice versa rather than the Seattle round trip. 
 

We actually have had hotel rooms reserved at Harbor 360 hotel in Seward for June ‘24 as we thought one of our our daughters could get the time off work but she can only take one week at a time so the Jewel plans were scrapped. So it’s either the Encore or something else. 

[cruiseny4life]

Oh my! I'm so sorry about your experience in Cagney's and the fall. I've totally lost it moving from a wet carpet to shiny floor that NCL has. I didn't experience quite the same bumps, bruises, and cuts that you got...yeesh! I felt the pain when I read "geriatric split!"

 

I'm glad you're still talking mostly positively about the Mexican Riviera and looking forward to your cruise in May! 

 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. You know how much I love following along and I was really looking forward to hearing about yours. 

[laudergayle]

@HBCcruiser  I just LOVE your new identity!!!

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 hour ago, laudergayle said:

@HBCcruiser  I just LOVE your new identity!!!

Is that a rat?!

[laudergayle]

45 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Is that a rat?!

You should know…right?

[HBCcruiser]

2 hours ago, laudergayle said:

@HBCcruiser  I just LOVE your new identity!!!

Thanks, but actually it was my original one. Looong 🐀 story. IYKYK. 😉

[laudergayle]

On 11/15/2023 at 9:45 AM, cruiseny4life said:

Oh my! I'm so sorry about your experience in Cagney's and the fall. I've totally lost it moving from a wet carpet to shiny floor that NCL has.

I almost forgot the biggest laugh I had the day after my fall.  Enjoy the “slip”.

 

[OrcaGirl]

Hilarious typos aside, did you happen to keep digital copies of the Freestyle Dailies? I'd love to see them.

[laudergayle]

1 minute ago, OrcaGirl said:

Hilarious typos aside, did you happen to keep digital copies of the Freestyle Dailies? I'd love to see them.

I’m so sorry to say that I did not download and I tossed the hard copies.  I will say they rearranged most evening entertainment due to SIX being canceled, which IMO didn’t make sense and messed with our dinner reservations.  

[marne-c]

On 11/13/2023 at 8:22 AM, laudergayle said:

(snip)  We got to the cruise terminal shortly before 10 am and checked in by 10:00.  Boarding began at 11:15 with Haven to the left of the terminal then Latitudes.  However, on the right they began boarding Priority Access about the same time as Haven.  (snip)

 

@laudergayle  Do you happen to know what time pax without Priority Access were allowed to board?  

 

My wife and I will board Bliss this Sunday.  We have boatloads (literally) of status on Oceania and Regent, but this is our first NCL cruise.  Unfortunately, we get no points for our status on the other two NCLH lines, so our status on Bliss is pot metal, pewter, or whatever first-timer newbies get.

 

--Marne

Edited November 16, 2023 by marne-c

[laudergayle]

14 minutes ago, marne-c said:

@laudergayle  Do you happen to know when pax without Priority Access got to board?  

 

My wife and I will board Bliss this Sunday.  We have boatloads (literally) of status on Oceania and Regent, but this is our first NCL cruise.  Unfortunately, we get no points for our status on the other two NCLH lines, so our status on Bliss is aluminum foil, waste paper, pewter, or whatever rank newbies get.

 

--Marne

I don’t know specifically, but it seemed to be efficient.  I would get there around 9:30 am to get a lower Group Boarding number.  And I would sit in the chairs on the right side (when facing the counter) after checking in.  (Heck, I might even just mosey over to the chairs in the PA area and act like I belong there).  Haven and status Latitude entered from the left, which seemed much more congested.  I suspect right after Priority Access boarded on the right, they started General Boarding.  FWIW, no one was even checking our cards when boarding through Priority Access. They handed out small slips of paper that had PRIORITY ACCESS printed on them (not the large Group Boardng cards), and the PA slips weren’t even collected.  When boarding with the Group Boarding cards, they are collected as you enter boarding area. Hope this helps.  Have an amazing cruise!!

 

 

Edited November 16, 2023 by laudergayle