A Look at the Maiden Season of the Norwegian Aura

A Look at the Maiden Season of the Norwegian Aura

Set to become the largest ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet, the Norwegian Aura will offer cruises in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean starting in mid-2027.

Cruise Industry News takes a closer look at the inaugural deployment of the new vessel, which is currently being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.

Inaugural Cruise in the Mediterranean
Dates: May 21, 2027
Length: 7 nights
Homeports: Trieste (Italy) to Barcelona (Spain)
Itinerary: Valletta (Malta); Salerno and Civitavecchia (Italy)

The Norwegian Aura will make its debut in the Mediterranean as part of a seven-night cruise departing from the Italian port of Trieste.

Sailing to Barcelona, the open-jaw itinerary features visits to destinations in Italy, Spain and Malta, such as Valletta, Salerno and Civitavecchia.

First Trans-Atlantic Crossing
Date: May 28, 2027
Length: 13 nights
Homeports: Barcelona (Spain) to Miami (United States)
Itinerary: Gibraltar (United Kingdom); Motril and Cádiz (Spain)

Following its inaugural cruise in the Mediterranean, the Norwegian Aura kicks off a trans-Atlantic cruise to Miami.

The 13-night cruise sails to three ports before crossing the Atlantic: Cádiz, Motril and Gibraltar. The itinerary also includes eight days of cruising.

U.S. Debut
Date: June 14, 2027
Length: 5 nights
Homeport: Miami (United States)
Itinerary: Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic); and Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas)

For its U.S. debut, the Prima Plus-class ship offers a short cruise to the Bahamas and the Caribbean sailing from PortMiami.

In addition to a day at sea, the five-night itinerary features visits to Puerto Plata and Norwegian’s private island destination of Great Stirrup Cay.

Eastern Caribbean
Date: Weekly departures starting on June 19, 2027
Length: 8 nights
Homeport: Miami (United States)
Itinerary: Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic); St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands); Tortola (British Virgin Islands); Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas)

After its first short cruise, the Norwegian Aura kicks off a series of regular seven-night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean for the summer of 2027.

Sailing from PortMiami every Saturday, the ship offers an itinerary that features visits to Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola and Great Stirrup Cay.

Western Caribbean
Date: Weekly departures starting on October 30, 2027
Length: 7 nights
Homeport: Miami (United States)
Itinerary: Roatán (Honduras); Harvest Caye (Belize); Costa Maya and Cozumel (Mexico)

The new ship will move to the Western Caribbean for the 2027-28 season, offering weeklong cruises to the region starting in late October.

Also sailing from Miami, the itineraries include visits to Honduras, Belize and Mexico with planned stops at Roatán, Harvest Caye, Costa Maya and Cozumel.

A Look at Norwegian Viva’s Maiden Season

A Look at Norwegian Viva’s Maiden Season

The Norwegian Viva is readying to enter revenue service for Norwegian Cruise Line.

During its first year in service, the newbuild is set to offer a series of cruises in the Mediterranean, in addition to a trans-Atlantic crossing to North America and different itineraries in the Caribbean.

Cruise Industry News highlights some of the itineraries of the ship’s inaugural season.

Maiden Cruise
Date: August 10, 2023
Length: Nine nights
Homeports: Trieste (Italy) to Lisbon (Portugal)
Complete Itinerary: Split (Croatia); Salerno, Civitavecchia and Livorno (Italy); Cannes (France); and Ibiza (Spain)

After leaving the building-dock in Italy, the Norwegian Viva is set to offer a maiden cruise that sails between the Eastern and the Western Mediterranean.

The one-way itinerary departs from Trieste and visits several destinations in Italy, France and Spain before arriving in Lisbon. In addition to the Portuguese capital city, the nine-night cruise is highlighted by visits to Salerno, on Italy’s Southern Coast, and to Cannes, in the French Riviera.

Greek Islands and Italy
Date: September 13, 2023
Length: Ten nights
Homeports: Piraeus (Greece) to Civitavecchia (Italy)
Complete Itinerary: Istanbul (Turkey); Santorini, Mykonos and Katakolon (Greece); Catania, Naples and Livorno (Italy); and Villefranche (France)

Viva’s program in the Mediterranean also includes several cruises to the Greek Islands and Italy. This ten-night itinerary sets sail in mid-September and features visits to some of the most popular destinations in the region, including Mykonos, Santorini, Naples and Istanbul.

Sailing one way between Piraeus and Civitavecchia, the cruise also pays visits to less usual ports of call, including Catania and Villefranche.

Adriatic and Sicily
Date: October 10, 2023
Length: Nine nights
Homeports: Civitavecchia to Trieste (Italy)
Complete Itinerary: Naples, Palermo and Messina (Italy); Valletta (Malta); Corfu (Greece); Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar (Croatia)

In October, the Norwegian Viva sails to the Aegean, the Adriatic and Ionian seas with this nine-night cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean.

After departing from Civitavecchia, the port for the Italian capital city Rome, the vessel is scheduled to visit Naples, Palermo and Messina, in Italy; as well as Valletta, in Malta; Corfu, in Greece; and Dubrovnik, Split and Zadar, in Croatia.

First Transatlantic Crossing
Date: November 16, 2023
Length: 11 nights
Homeports: Lisbon (Portugal) to Miami (United States)
Complete Itinerary: Ponta Delgada (Azores); St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands); and Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic)

After completing its maiden season in Europe, the Norwegian Viva offers an 11-night repositioning cruise to North America.

Sailing between Lisbon and Miami, the transatlantic crossing features visits to three ports in Portugal, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic: Ponta Delgada, St. Thomas and Puerto Plata. The cruise also includes a total of eight full days at sea.

Southern Caribbean
Date: December 15, 2023
Length: Seven nights
Homeport: San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Complete Itinerary: Tortola (British Virgin Islands); St. John’s (Antigua); Castries (St. Lucia); Bridgetown (Barbados); Philipsburg (St. Maarten); and St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands)

After a few itineraries departing from Miami, the Norwegian Viva is set to arrive at its winter homeport in December. Sailing from Puerto Rico during the entire 2023-24 season, the vessel is scheduled to offer a series of seven- to nine-night cruises to the Southern and Eastern Caribbean.

The first cruise from San Juan, for instance, sails for seven-night and features visits to Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados. St. Maarten and St. Thomas.

Royal Caribbean Group’s Executives Get a Preview of Silver Nova

Royal Caribbean Group’s Executives Get a Preview of Silver Nova

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Chairman Richard Fain and Silversea’s President Barbara Muckermann enjoyed an exclusive preview of the Silver Nova.

Royal Caribbean Group’s executives were welcomed by Meyer Werft Managing Directors Jan and Bernard Meyer and enjoyed a detailed tour of the ship. 

“Innovation drives our mission to provide the best vacations, responsibly, and Silver Nova embodies this commitment in every way. This stunning ship revolutionizes ultra-luxury cruising and represents an important step on our sustainability journey,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “I would like to officially thank and congratulate the Meyer family, and the talented teams at Meyer Werft, Royal Caribbean Group, and Silversea for pushing industry boundaries to create such a pioneering ship.”

 “Silver Nova embodies the vision of our brand and the evolution of our fleet, demonstrating the extent to which our guests are benefitting from our brand being part of Royal Caribbean Group,” said Barbara Muckermann, president of Silversea. “Silver Nova introduces an industry-leading approach to sustainability, an unprecedented openness to the world, and an entirely new take on luxury at sea. She is a beauty and I can’t wait to personally greet our guests on board, introducing them to the future of ultra-luxury cruise travel.”

The Silver Nova will set sail on its maiden voyage on August 14, sailing roundtrip from Fusina (Venice). After a series of Mediterranean cruises, the new ship will cross the Atlantic to the United States of America to offer Caribbean and Central America voyages.

On January 4, 2024, the Silver Nova will depart on the 71-day Grand Voyage South America.

Norwegian Getaway Kicks Off Summer Program in the Mediterranean

Norwegian Getaway Kicks Off Summer Program in the Mediterranean

Completing Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2023 lineup in Europe, the Norwegian Getaway is kicking off its summer program in the region today.

Sailing in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, the 2014-built vessel is set to offer a series of nine- to 16-night itineraries departing from different ports.

The first cruise of the season, for instance, sails from Lisbon, Portugal, to Civitavecchia, a port near Italy’s capital city Rome.

Cruising in the Western Mediterranean, the nine-night itinerary includes visits to a total of seven destinations in Spain, France and Italy, such as Málaga, Ibiza, Barcelona, Villefranche and Livorno.

Continuing its season, the ship offers an Eastern Mediterranean itinerary on June 24. Also sailing one-way, the nine-night voyage sails from Civitavecchia to Italy’s Trieste after visits to ports in Italy, Sicily, Greece and Croatia.

Between late July and October, the Norwegian Getaway is also set to offer itineraries in Northern and Western Europe.

On September 15, for instance, the 4,000-guest ship offers a 16-night cruise to the British Islands and Iceland.

Sailing roundtrip from England’s Southampton, the itinerary also features visits to Western European destinations, including France’s Le Havre, Germany’s Hamburg and Belgium’s Zeebrugge.

Following additional itineraries in the region, the Getaway is set to return to North America on November 4. On that day, the ship wraps up a 13-night transatlantic crossing that sails between Southampton and New York City.

In addition to the Norwegian Getaway, eight Norwegian Cruise Line ships are set to operate in Europe in 2023.

The local program stretches through December and features the company’s two newest vessels – the 2022-built Norwegian Prima and the 2023-built Norwegian Viva.

Other vessels sailing in Europe this year include the Norwegian Breakaway, the Norwegian Epic, the Norwegian Dawn, the Norwegian Star, the Norwegian Jade and the Norwegian Gem.

New Carnival Venezia Ready to Debut in Europe

New Carnival Venezia Ready to Debut in Europe

The new Carnival Venezia is ready for its big debut in Europe.

After being prepared at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz, the 2019-built vessel is on its way to Southern Spain, where it will embark on its first commercial voyage on May 29.

A transatlantic crossing, the cruise precedes Venezia’s U.S. debut, which is scheduled for mid-June. Sailing from Barcelona to New York City, the 15-night repositioning voyage features visits to five ports in Spain, the UK, Portugal and Canada.

Upon arriving in New York on June 13, the Venezia is set to kick off a year-round program of cruises out of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Extending through late 2024, the schedule includes four- to 15-night cruises to Bermuda, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Canada and New England.

For the 2024-25 winter, the Carnival Venezia is set to debut in Florida offering a series of cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas departing from Port Canaveral.

The first ship in the company’s new “Carnival Fun Italian Style” brand, the Venezia is debuting a brand-new concept.

Initially built for Costa Cruises, the Vista-Class vessel was designed with public areas and facilities inspired by the Italian city of Venice.

Combining the ship’s existing features with Carnival’s signature product, the new concept offers Italian-themed activities and experiences, such as a different version of Guy’s Burger Joint – which will serve its classic burgers and new, especially-created options inspired by Italy.

During its recent drydock in Spain, the Venezia also received other signature features of Carnival Cruise Line, including the Carnival Waterworks aqua park, the Piano Bar 88 and the Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse.

In 2024, a second ship is set to join the “Carnival Fun Italian Style Concept,” as the Florence-inspired Costa Firenze enters the fleet for a West Coast program.

Carnival Celebration Visits Mahogany Bay for the First Time

Carnival Celebration Visits Mahogany Bay for the First Time

Continuing its first cruise to the Western Caribbean, the new Carnival Celebration arrived at the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center for its maiden call on Thursday.

The call also marked the first time the new Carnival Cruise Line vessel visited Honduras.

After entering service with a transatlantic crossing in early November, the Celebration started its debut season on Nov. 21.

Following a special christening ceremony in Miami, the LNG-powered kicked off a series of week-long cruises to the Caribbean. After leaving Miami on Nov. 27, the ship’s current sailing also included the maiden visits to Mexico’s Cozumel and Costa Maya.

The 5,200-guest ship is now set to make regular visits to Mahogany Bay as part of its year-round schedule of Caribbean cruises.

Departing from Port Miami every Sunday, the itineraries also include visits to ports in the Eastern Caribbean.

Developed by Carnival Corporation in partnership with a local businessman, the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center opened in 2009.

A popular cruise destination in the Western Caribbean, the facility serves the Roatan island in Honduras Bay Islands.

In addition to a two-ship cruise pier, the cruise terminal offers a welcome centre and a variety of retail outlets, including two themed bars, a restaurant and several shops.

A chair lift system takes guests from the welcome centre to Mahogany Beach, a 10-acre private island featuring an 825-foot-long white-sand beach with a beach volleyball court and water sports opportunities.

Along with the new Celebration, the Carnival Pride also visited Mahogany Bay on Dec. 1. The vessel is presently offering a seven-night cruise to Mexico, Belize and Honduras departing from Tampa.

A third ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, was also docked at a different cruise terminal in Roatan. The Norwegian Cruise Line vessel is offering week-long Western Caribbean cruises departing from New Orleans.

Maiden Call for MSC Seascape in Cadiz

Maiden Call for MSC Seascape in Cadiz

The port of Cadiz in Spain today welcomed the MSC Seascape for the ship’s maiden call before she sets sail across the Atlantic for her official naming ceremony on Dec. 7 in New York.

The maritime tradition of a Crest Exchange took place onboard MSC’s newest ship between Master of the Vessel Captain Francesco Di Palma and officials from the Spanish port authority and Cadiz’s Councillor for Tourism, Montemayor Mures.

The ship is operating a 17-night Grand Voyage from Europe to the USA with 3,255 guests onboard according to a company statement.

The MSC Seascape will next call Funchal in Madeira and King’s Wharf in Bermuda before arriving in Manhattan on Dec. 5.

MSC said the ship will be the cruise line’s first ship to be named in New York to reflect MSC Cruises’ commitment to the North American market and the ceremony will be celebrated at the city’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

The ship will sail to Miami immediately following the event for an inaugural season in the Caribbean with two different 7-night itineraries from PortMiami:

• Eastern Caribbean: Calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau in The Bahamas, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic
• Western Caribbean: Calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios in Jamaica

Holland America Line Celebrates 150th Anniversary Crossing

Holland America Line Celebrates 150th Anniversary Crossing

Holland America Line’s Rotterdam VII departed Rotterdam last week for the cruise line’s 150th-anniversary transatlantic crossing, according to a press release.

The 15-day voyage was designed to recreate Holland America Line's first voyage onboard the Rotterdam I and the route follows the original route to New York, with stops in Le Havre, France, and Plymouth, England, according to Holland America Line.

“Today is historic for our brand as we depart 150 years to the day that Holland America Line’s very first ship began its journey to New York,” said Gus Antorcha, president, of Holland America Line.

“In that time, we’ve carried immigrants and cruising vacationers, soldiers and refugees and earned a reputation for the extraordinary care and welcoming all those guests as if into our own homes. As we sail into our next 150 years, that environment of service will be our hallmark as we create exceptional experiences for guests around the world,” he added.

Guests will travel through Holland America Line's history with onboard enrichment programming, culinary recreations of dishes served in the original sailing, and other forms of entertainment. The celebrations will continue on October 26 with a commissioned performance on the World Stage by past and present Lincoln Center Stage performers.

The cruise line will offer its anniversary sailing again on April 6, 2023, setting sail from New York and ending in Rotterdam on April 18.

Queen Mary 2 Takes Center Stage in HBO Max Film Let Them All Talk

The Queen Mary 2 is among the stars of the new film  "Let Them All Talk," directed by the award-winning Steven Soderbergh, streaming on HBO Max.

As Meryl Streep's character, Alice, steps out of the taxi upon arriving at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, she gazes in awe at Cunard's Queen Mary 2. This is one of the opening scenes of the new film, according to a press release as Streep's character is sailing aboard the Cunard ship as a special guest of the voyage's enrichment program, Cunard Insights.

The three-time Academy Award winner Streep is joined by fellow acting royalty, two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest, and five-time Emmy Award®winner Candice Bergen. Supported by Academy Award nominee Lucas Hedges and actress Gemma Chan, the film is set aboard the storied Transatlantic Crossing, amidst the backdrop of the ship.

In fact, the majority of the film was shot on board in some of the vessel's spaces: the Art Deco Commodore Club, the Queens Grill suites and dining room, the Royal Court Theatre, and the 9,000 volume library, among others. 

As the film was captured aboard a live voyage, many onboard guests had a chance to grab their moment in the spotlight when they were cast as extras in the film.

"We were absolutely delighted when Steven Soderbergh approached us to film his next feature onboard Queen Mary 2," said Simon Palethorpe, President, Cunard. "While Cunard and our flagship are accustomed to hosting luminaries from all over the globe, it was quite something to welcome Steven, Meryl, Dianne, Candice, Lucas, and Gemma for this very special and unique opportunity. We are very excited about the film, its witty and engaging story, and how lovingly Steven captured the essence of our flagship and the Transatlantic Crossing experience."

Commenting on his experience aboard Queen Mary 2, Soderbergh said: "Color me well impressed. I have never seen an enterprise on this scale of complexity run so beautifully. Every Cunard staff member we interacted with was committed to providing the best possible experience for their guests, which in this case included our cast and crew. And I can confirm without question that as stunning as Queen Mary 2 looks on camera, she's even more stunning to the naked eye."

Carnival ship’s transformation put on hold

The Carnival Victory will become the Carnival Radiance, but not in late April as previously planned.

Carnival Cruise Line is suspending work on the Carnival Victory’s refurbishment in Spain. After a $200 million overhaul, the ship is to be renamed Carnival Radiance.  

The ship is drydocked in the city of Cadiz. Carnival said that travel restrictions have made it difficult to secure workers. 

The Carnival Radiance’s four European sailings and transatlantic crossings have been cancelled and guests are being notified. The Radiance had been scheduled to make its debut on April 29 with a 10-day Mediterranean sailing from Barcelona. 

Carnival said affected guests will receive a refund or can rebook and receive a $600 onboard credit.

Carnival has not cancelled a naming ceremony currently scheduled to take place on June 24 in New York City, followed by a four-day cruise to Bermuda. 

The Destiny-class vessel is to get 115 additional cabins and new bars, restaurant and kids clubs. The ship will accommodate 2,998 passengers at double occupancy when the work is done.
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Carnival Magic to leave Miami

Carnival Magic

The 1,845-passenger Carnival Magic next year will reposition from Miami to operate cruises from Europe, New York City and Port Canaveral, Fla. 

Carnival Cruise Line said that the Magic will sail from four cities and two continents in 2021, including two transatlantic voyages. 

The Magic will leave Miami for Europe in March 2021 and undergo a two-week drydock ahead of a series of seven- and eight-day Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona through the spring. 

The ship will return to New York in June to kick off a summer schedule of four- to nine-day sailings to Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Canada and New England through late September. 

The Magic will reposition to Port Canaveral in November to launch a winter season of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises through April 2022.

Celebrity Edge arrives in Fort Lauderdale

Celebrity Edge arrives in Fort Lauderdale

The $875 million Celebrity Edge arrived at Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades after a 15-day transatlantic crossing.

To accommodate Celebrity Cruises' first new ship in six years, Port Everglades spent $120 million to reconfigure and upgrade two older terminals into a modern terminal called T25.

Both the terminal and the ship sport high design and state-of-the-art technology. The terminal will operate an expedited arrivals process and a dedicated lounge for premium guests booked in The Retreat.

Chock full of new features, the Edge's signature amenity is the Magic Carpet, a nine-ton movable platform cantilevered on one side of the ship, which can serve as a dining venue and a shore excursions departure platform.

"This has been more than four years in the making," said Celebrity CEO Lisa-Lutoff-Perlo, who shepherded construction of the ship at the Chantiers de L'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, along with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. chairman Richard Fain and RCCL executive vice president maritime and newbuilding Harri Kulovaara.

The Edge, which will sail from Port Everglades during the winter on Caribbean itineraries, is designed to carry 2,900 passengers, the same general capacity of Holland America Line's Nieuw Statendam, which debuts next month, and Virgin Voyages' inaugural ship the Scarlet Lady, which is scheduled to arrive in January 2020.

Norwegian Bliss 2018 Review

Norwegian Bliss
Transatlantic Ship Review
21st April -03rd May 2018.

Norwegian Bliss cruises through the mist at the port of Southampton at 6am. Photo by Dave Jones

Photos of the Norwegian Bliss - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmbCHEP7

Ship Stats from Meyer Werft 

4th Breakaway Plus Class

Gross Tonnage - 167,800

Overall Length - 1,082 feet

Beam - 136 feet

Draft - 27 feet

Engine - 23.2 knots

Guests - 3998 - 5200 Total

Staterooms - 2038

Crew - 2100

Cruise Speed 23.2 Knots ( 25+ knots were achieved in sea trails)

Engines - Diesel Electric - 2x MAN B&W 14V48/60CR and 3x MAN B&W 12V48/60CR

Decks 20

Hull artwork by Wyland, photo by Dave Jones.

Standing outside the port of Southampton since 5:15am waiting with other die hard, ship fanatics for Norwegian Cruise Lines latest offering, she finally cruised through the early morning mist to reveal the giant artwork by Wyland and it doesn't disappoint. Paintings of Humpback Whales and their calves and other marine life depicting what might be seen in her homeport cruise of Alaska.

After a relative painless boarding, we wait for Platinum members to board and thus came the first hurdle, Transatlantic New Ship crossings are like a badge of honour, and have very few first time or new to cruising passengers, so over half of the people waiting got up and started to head for boarding, as she's a large vessel and Southampton is used to large ships, boarding is not really a problem.

After cruising the Atlantic to Miami on the Norwegian Escape we expected a few hic-ups, on the Escape they had installed a new computer system for all the passenger and backroom tech. Before weeks before we cruised we tried to pre-book the shows and some Speciality Dining but it was not available and I put that down to a low capacity and no problems getting seating in the theatres. The Bliss theatre only holds 858 which is very small for such a large ship and personally, I believe this has been a big mistake with the Breakaway Class ships, why? On our 12 day cruise, the 'Jersey Boys' show was put on 3 times; 2 evening and 1 afternoon which gave a total of 2574 guests seeing the show out of a possible 3998. there's going to be a lot of disappointed people on a 7-night cruise where the show needs to be performed for 5 nights. Anyway, I digress we had to spend the first 3 hours or more waiting in queues to prebook the 'Jersey Boys, Havanna, and Happy Hour Prohibition' (which I shall review later in the entertainment section). The cruise technology which is meant to stop the queues 'i-concierge and the touchscreens around the ship, which there are many are not working because it's a new tech for this ship, and won't work until halfway through the voyage; with the shows booked and the meals put off until a later date we head for a well-earned drink.

Dining      

9 Speciality dining option with a cover charge.

5 Complimentary dining options.

La Cucina Italian Restaurant photo by Dave Jones.

We only tried two Speciality dining options (or A la Carte). The Italian called 'La Cucina' is always a must because I love Italian pasta and their sauces, add some Italian bread and I'm in heaven. We have found the meals sometimes hit or miss but on the Bliss, it was a direct hit, the food was perfectly cooked and there was a very good choice on the menu. The decor is nicely done and it always amuses me when the Philipino waiters/waitress trying hard to be Italian at the start of the evening but after the Antipasta course they have given up, but they get high marks for even trying.

The other A la Carte option we like is the French La Bistro restaurant, we were disappointed that the menu had changed since the last time we visited (July 17), and we even had trouble booking a table, we suspect that the dining options we scaled back due to the cruise only being about 45% full. To find La Bistro you need to head up into the heavens to deck 17 and towards the Go-cart track. A big problem in the restaurant was a constant vibration probably coming from the smokestack which is directly in front of the venue and the stacks coming from under your feet from the engine room. The food and the level of service can't be faulted, as a platinum member, we get a free bottle of wine of our choosing which went down very well. you could tell it was a newly opened it had that new car smell of new carpets and the linin was still crisp. I had a Fillet Beef (Blue) and it was perfect, tender and juicy and is making my mouth water thinking about it as I write. Besides the vibration, the evening was a joy, excellent food, nice wine and great company what more could you ask for?

The Manhattan room on deck 7 and the Taste and Savour Dining room on deck 6, have the same

The Manhattan Room photo by Dave Jones

menus, they consist of the everyday options which never change but have some lovely dishes such as steak, pasta, fish and a vegetarian option. on the other side is the Daily menu which as the name suggests changes every day. This might contain a different type of fish which might be a bit more select to Lamb Chops encrusted with a stuffing, all of which is very nice and is cooked to a high standard. we found the Taste and Savour restaurants to have a better service than the Manhatten, and if you tell them you have a show or someplace to be they will rush the service for you so you don't miss whatever it is you have planned.

A Roast at the Caving area Photo by Dave Jones

The Garden Cafe or Canteen as we kept calling it is a paradise for all food lovers, it has everything you could wish for, from the quick and easy Burger / Hotdogs, fries and Pizza, to Chinese and Indian selections ready made or made to order. There was always a carving station with joints of Beef or Lamb or even the thickest sirloin steaks with a wide choice of sauces if required. The Garden Cafe puts on specials throughout the cruise with the biggest display of shrimp I have ever seen, and one afternoon a rumour of Lobster was going around and 'Oh My Word' you could have the two claws, the two halves of the body or the whole thing, and if that did not satisfy you, then go back and have it again. There must have been over a Thousand being boiled and served.

At Breakfast, there is something for everyone, from Cereal, American and British Bacon,

American and British Sausages, pancakes, eggs (poached, scrambled, fried, omelettes and so on), my favourite is Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce, yummm. As you can guess there's so much to choose from to start your day. There is plenty of seating as the Cafe wraps all the way around the stern (back) in a giant letter U. At the back of the Cafe, it overlooks the observation lounge which also serves food throughout the day. At night we would go up and get a cup of tea to take back to the room, and sometimes indulge in the best Pizza at sea. All the members of the Garden Cafe work very hard and always have a smile, which sometimes must be hard. They are lighting fast at cleaning away the tables and even the 'Washy Washy Happy Happy ladies have a song to sing at times, a huge thank you to those special crew.

The Local Bar and Grill, Photo by Dave Jones

The local restaurant is a smaller version of the O'Sheehan's bar and grill which overlooks the Atrium
with the large LCD Screen and small stage, with bar stools going all the way around the horseshoe glass looking downwards to the stage area. The food options are limited to simple good Pub Grub in booths or tables, and the service is very good. I always liked the bar area where they show the latest sports events and you can have a laugh and joke with the bartenders.



Bars and Theater

We didn't have a favourite bar we seemed to follow our ears and stop off at the many areas which had

The Cavern Club, photo by Dave Jones

some music playing. Yes, we had our favourite bands such as 'Siglo'  (https://youtu.be/XeyoCso4bvI to see a video clip) who played in the 'The Cavern Club' normally reserved for the Beatles tribute band (who are shockingly Bad). They also played in the Atrium under the large LCD screen but have to rein in their normal energy to conform with sound levels. There were almost all styles of music catered for and another was a Lady playing the piano called Tatiana she was very good and sometimes had a backing from a saxophone player who's real job is to play in the 'Jersey Boys'

The Local Bar which overlooks the Atrium was one of our favourites on the Escape but with the alterations from O'Sheeans it seemed smaller and a lot busier, but still a great bar to grab a drink and watch the entertainment in the Atrium. 

The Skyline Bar on deck 7 has a huge 6 meter plus LCD screen which shows off all the different Skylines around the world from Hong Kong to Manhattan. This bar has also been reduced in size by almost 60% with slot machines now filling the space where comfy seating once lived.

Bar Q which is a Texas Smokehouse until 8pm and then becomes a live stage for country and western

Bar Q (Texas Smokehouse) photo by Dave Jones

music, which we were told was very good but I don't really understand what they were singing about, but that's our problem.

The Atrium bar held a wide range of music from Siglo, Tatiana to couples singing from Italy and South America. There were almost seating every night here until Siglo played, for the first time ever on any cruise ship extra seating was brought out to cope with the demand. Like all good things on a ship they have to ruin every night; bang on 9pm with a quiz of some sorts lasting one hour, and then back to the music.

We used to pay a visit to the 'Maltings Whiskey Bar' on deck 8 for a wee tipple or three! A great bar if you know your Malts and with a Cigar Humidor attached a perfect match, but even for us rum/vodka drinkers its still a very comfortable area to spend an hour.

The District Brew House is a must for all beer drinkers with 22 draft brand beers, and 50 different

The District Brew House, photo by Dave Jones

bottled beers, to a few more well known such as Newcastle Brown Ale and Boddingtons. Even if you are not keen on beers with strange names you still can order your tipple of choice. Now there's a strange man playing the piano called Jim Badger who is a cross between a comedian and bar singer, the result is an extremely fun night, old jokes, innuendos and on the odd time a singalong; but beware don't get noticed if you want to leave for whatever the reason. During the day-time, it is a good getaway with comfy seating.


The H2O Zone (adult only area) has a great little bar where you can relax around a large LCD screen on sun loungers and be waited on by bar staff. Besides all the usual cocktails, beers and shorts available there is a wide range of frozen cocktails available, so get ready for a brain freeze. Also in this area, there are two large jacuzzis to bubble away the time. There is a smoking area next to the bar area but this does not affect the area.

Photo credit P Massey / cruiseline.com

I've listed just a few of the bars that are available on and around the Norwegian Bliss, one thing I can guarantee there is something for everyone, including quite areas for a read.

The Theater is another story as I part mentioned just before dining, the Shows that are put on deserve a bigger proper theatre not just a black roofed area with different coloured striplights, with the most uncomfortable seating in any cruise ship we have ever been in. After about an hour into the shows, you can see people shuffling in their seats, they are roughly the same pitch and width of a small airline seat with the addition of cupholders at the end of small armrests it makes moving even for clapping very awkward. The pitch of the theatre is a bit on the shallow side, I'm 6 foot+ and I could feel the people behind me complaining because I restricted their views, the incline needed to be a few degrees higher. On a good note, the sound system is excellent and the stage effects are worthy of any land-based shows.

The Jersey Boys is a Fantastic show and is identical to the Broadway show, the stars of the show give it all they have, the only problem is again the seating and with the show being about 1 hour 40 minutes long it got very uncomfortable, but saying that it is worth seeing.

Havana has it all a love twist, an obvious happy ending, good songs and great sets, its a bit Disney at times but worth watching.

Prohibition Happy Hour Photo by Dave Jones

Prohibition Happy Hour (age restrictions apply entrance is 16+ and drinks are 21+) We didn't know what to expect, we knew there were 5 different cocktails to be drunk during the show, I thought it might be a bar with a gangster theme a bit like Broadwalk Empire, but boy was we wrong.

On entrance to the show being held in the 'Social Comedy & Night Club', we were given glass/plastic beads and shown to the seating once seated we had our first cocktail, then the show started. The theme is a madams house with 4 working girls and the hired help, they are all dressed in sexy underwear and perform songs and dance with a bit of tongue in cheek oneliners. The 4 working girls each tell speciality they have if you know what I mean?????

The Beatles star in the Cavern Club a mini mockup of what the venue used to look like without all the smoke bad language and Scousers. I'm not a fan of the 'Fab 4' but I do like some of their hits. These 'Not so Fab 4' are very poor, their Liverpudlian accent leaves a lot to be desired. They might have some of the moves while playing but without the accent, the songs fall a bit flat a bit like the bowl cut wigs they wear. It's a shame really living only 40 minutes away and having worked in the great city of Liverpool I know there are many excellent tribute acts, and any of these would go down a lot better than these wish I was the group.

Shops and the Casino.

Tradewinds shop, photo by Dave Jones

The shopping is much the same as on the other breakaway class of ship there's a large watch shop

with some very nice brands, which connects to the jewellery shop which caters for all fancy grom bracelets earrings neckless and of cause rings. The Margaritaville store has all you need to survive a Caribbean shore day in a multi-coloured way. The Norwegian DutyFree shop called  Tradewinds has a limited amount of alcohol and tobacco,  try not to forget any essentials such as suntan lotion, toothpaste or the such as there is a very limited choice and are very pricey. Ship merchandise with the ship's name or picture is as always on NCL virtually non-existent. There are tee-shirts and coats with the 'Wyland' hull design on as well as magnets, hats, towels, but only a ship fridge magnet and model has the image of the ship.

Center Island full of Watches, photo by Dave Jones

The photo gallery is a large area where you can view the photos taken of you and your party and have them printed or put on a removable device such as a thumb drive or DVD. Ther is also a tech area with the latest midrange of digital SLR cameras, point and shoot cameras, and 360-degree cameras. they also have digital video recorders and binoculars as well as flashcards and mini tripods.

All the shops share common areas along walkways and a large centre island which they take it in turns to sell watches, bracelets and the mandatory buy gold chains by the inch. Sometimes it's like running the gauntlet and should you stop to have a look at an item expect an assistant to appear within a blink of an eye.

The last area to test your sneaking past skills is the 'Park West Art Gallery' almost 100 yards to test your skill at looking at the art pieces while walking and trying not to attract the attention of the gallery's assistants; it's harder than you think.

The Casino covers nearly 70% of deck 7 with a few bars scattered around included one of our favourites the SkyLine bar, which also has a tea, coffee and snacks area hidden to one side of the large LCD screen. There are hundreds of slot machines in the casino and in the corridors and bar area, as well as all the usual types of card tables, roulette table and Craps table. If the tables are quite they will give you lessons on how to play. My favourite thing about the casino is that there is an enclosed smoking area where smokers can puff away to their heart's content and it won't annoy the rest of us.

Spa and thermal area.

The Mandara Spa area is on deck 16 Aft offers all the latest offerings from the world of the Spa. The Spa is the quickest way to lose a few $100 other than the Casino and then get high priced creams and lotions pushed which ruins the whole relaxing effect of the treatment. What I do love is the Thermal Area and I do pay for the cruise long pass which limits the number of people in the area to 120 per cruise. There are steam rooms, dry heat rooms and Aroma steam rooms, there's a salt therapy room which is also called Halotherapy, it helps alleviate respiratory problems, skin ailments, and to strengthen the immune system. An Ice and Snow room which works in conjunction with the heat treatment rooms and helps the circulation, but either wear some type of footwear or like I do place a towel on the floor to protect your feet, be prepared to have the fight to get the towel off the floor. The whirlpool tub and the Hydrotherapy pool is a large area it warms up the body and relaxes the muscles with different water jets to massage all parts of the body. 

Go-Carting and Lasser Tag.

Photo by Dave Jones

As the advert states its the largest race track at sea, but since the only other one is on the Norwegian Joy it's not much to boast about, but it is great fun. You do about 8 laps of the two-level track there's not much chance to overtake but they do move quite quickly. If you want to enhance the excitement then try it at night the race track really comes to life, and there's also fewer racers. As you can see the go-carts are large and with a safety bumper all around, there is also a two-driver option, so if you want to take your child with you then this is an option.

The Lasser Tag is an adventure and a chance to have a laser battle with your friends or family against another team. The objective is to shoot the gun your opponent has and that will make him/her have to go back to the respawn area and recharge the

The Laser Tag Course photo by Dave Jones.

weapon. The course is designed to look like an alien spaceship with life pods and command areas, add the trance music playing in the background it results in some great fun.

The problem it depends on how you look at it before we joined the ship at Southampton there was no mention of cover charges for the above activities, yes it's only $7 and $5 respectfully but they have swapped the ropes course, crazy golf and bowls (which were free to use) and replaced them with an entertainment with a charge, I feel sorry for any family with children who want to have a go a few times per cruise. A solution is if they want to charge then why not give everyone onboard one or two free goes and then charge for any extra races or laser tag but that is only my opinion.

LED Light photo by Dave Jones

Norwegian Bliss is a stunning ship with large panoramic 2 story views in the Observation lounge perfect for cruising Alaska or the Caribbean. Various artworks around the decks fit perfectly into the overall theme of the ship. The main wall into the Ocean Blue restaurant is a vast wall of white a light blue shades, quite stunning. The most striking piece of art is the 3 deck high LED light which changes colour throughout the day, with the glass backlight staircase working its way around the light makes this a stunning area, and a must for a photo opportunity.
This ship is brimming with tech which by now all the little gremlins will have been worked out, with touch screen help or the Norwegian smartphone app to the smart TV in the stateroom, all the way to the use of large LCD screens to show shows in the atrium to making effects in the theatre.
A big change is the smoking policy and areas, they are discreetly placed throughout the ship and if you weren't looking for them you would notice or smell them. Normally the worst area for non-smokers is the Casino but no more there is a separate area for smokers to play their favourite game of chance without having us moaning around them.

As always a ship even as majestic as this one it is still a big chunk of steel without the crew members giving her her soul and personality. from all the ones you will never see below decks making the ship run smoothly to the forever ingrained voice of 'Washy Washy Happy Happy' in the Garden Cafe. This crew not only worked hard and as I suspect understaffed because of the number of guests, to make our voyage very smooth and extremely enjoyable cruise; our thanks can't be large enough to every one of them.

A big thank you to all the Crew, some of the Garden Cafe working to keep us happy, Photo by Dave Jones.

Now would I cruise on the Bliss again its got to be 'no' why; she's a stunning ship with great crew and shows, but she was not 50% full and there were problems getting seating in certain areas such as the Atrium and the Cavern Club, on a rainy day the inside space would be nonexistent. A lot of space has been lost because the lifeboats have been moved 4 meters (13 feet) on either side, and there is a lack of natural light coming from the sides of the ship due to the bars and restaurants having the Al Fresco dining; but I might need to sample her on a wonderful Caribbean Cruise, one day.

Photos were taken on the Norwegian Bliss - https://flic.kr/s/aHsmbCHEP7