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NCL Bliss review March 2024 This was our 5th cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line so I would consider our selves NCL experts. Perviously we have sailed on the Breakaway, Getaway(2 times), and the Escape. As much as we love cruising with NCL this was our least favourite ship so far. The ship is stunning with a lot of the same areas as the previous ship we have been on. On this cruise we were traveling with our 2 youngest children Samuel (8) and Joshua (12), and that is where our 90% of our dissatisfaction comes from, granted we did do this cruise during spring break which always puts kids/teens activities on high demand. 🚢The ship🚢 With no sports deck/basketball court, there is very little to do for the kids without incurring extra costs. Go karts were a lot of fun but at $15 a person each time it can add up quickly. If traveling with small kids the go karts do a double rider between 10am to 12pm everyday where you only have to pay for the driver. Also the laser tag was fun but only open from 7-9pm daily and at a cost of 9.95 per player. So the kids/teen spent a lot of time in the arcade which we always purchase the unlimited arcade package for them as a little extra perk. This is a cost on $175USD for the entire cruise. Water sides were very underwhelming as well. With only 2 slides and one being where the floor drops out from underneath you(not everyone’s favourite) and the other a tube side which loses its appeal after the 5 or 6 time and waiting 15 to 20 each time, do to the volume of guests using it. Also there is a 5 hole mini putt, which is free of charge but again losses its appeal after 3 or 4 times. The teen club was limited to only 30 teens at a time, so on a cruise with over 1000 kids under 18 this can cause issues. Kids club was just ok not as good as others we have had. These 2 issues could just be related to the staff and time of the cruise, which will vary depending on the time you are planning to be on the ship. Entertainment was ok, Norwegian's broadway style show SIX left the bliss 2 weeks before we got on so only had Jersey Boys and the Beatles experience which were both great shows but you see them once and you are done, leaving you trying to find other night time activities. Food in buffet was probably the worst we have ever had on NCL the verity wasn’t there like on previous cruises. With all of our cruises we find food to be one of the most highly debated topics. Even at home from your local grocer the quality of the food varies, items out of stock, it happens. During this cruise we used our specialty dining credits for Q's Texas Smokehouse and Teppanyaki, both were amazing. I highly recommend you order the Pitmaster Plater at Q's, it really gives you a large sample size of each item; it might be shareable if you are not big eaters. Teppanyaki is always a great time and the food was outstanding. One of the main reasons we have grown to love cruising is the cruise director. Each ship we have been on they have their own ways to engage all guests. Unfortunately on this cruise the cruise director was the worst one we have ever had. Would leave parties half way though. Didn’t promote the big parties at all. Our favourite party is the glow/white party and a bunch of people we talked didn’t even know it was happening. 🌎The itinerary We ported out of Los Angeles, San Pedro, our first time from there and is one of our favourite ports now. Embarkation and debarkation were a breeze. Although if you are planning to head to Disneyland after your cruise I would suggest prearranging a ride before hand as getting an Uber to Lift posed quite a challenge after the cruise. This cruise hand ports of call in Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Los Cabos, each were 3 very different ports. Puerto Vallarta we highly recommend booking an excursion, but if you don’t want to there is a Walmart and shopping mall as soon as you get off the ship, which if you want to shop this is the ideal port for you. Mazatlan The complete opposite of Puerto Vallarta. You get off the ship into a standard cruise port but just outside you have the ability to walk the streets and immerse yourself in Mexican culture. The Beach is only a 20 minute walk from port. Los Cabos Tender port, absolutely stunning port with a lot of newer infrastructure. This is one of the fastest growing destinations in Mexico. The port was your standard cruise port with lots of shops but the beaches are very close and the board walk was full of great bars/restaurants. Avoid the bike taxis here as we heard a lot of passengers getting scammed, and everything is easily walkable. In summary The we would recommend the Bliss to more of our adults only cruisers or families with younger kids, that can be easier entertained with the Aqua park, which our 8 year old loved, and the kids club. If you are traveling with older kids make sure you prepare yourselves to spend a little extra money to keep them entertained during your cruise. You can purchase unlimited arcade package as well as the unlimited go karts, to try and minimize on board spending.