DESTINATIONS SHIP REVIEWS CRUISE
TRIED & TESTED by Harry Kemble
Norwegian Bliss
The amount of fun offered on board Norwegian Bliss is simply staggering. At one vantage point by the vessel’s
go-kart track on Deck 19, you can see the hairpin turn drivers have to negotiate, as well as the laser tag and the aqua park – and those are just the upper decks. But it’s not only adrenaline-packed activities that Norwegian Cruise Line’s Bliss has in store. There is an exclusive area, The Haven, for passengers wanting a private deck with sumptuous sunbeds and 24-hour butler service.
w STAY COOL Spectacularly, The Haven houses 52 owner’s suites, 24 family villas, and 24 penthouses, which are sure to be popular when Bliss sails the Caribbean this winter. This extra luxurious space is a bonus,
as Bliss has 80 fewer cabins than sister ship Escape, which passengers complained was a bit of a squeeze. During a two-night Bliss sailing, my
balcony stateroom wasn’t huge, but had a sumptuous bed that was just as good as those in The Haven.
w SPECIAL MENU We ate at two speciality restaurants – Los Lobos, a premium Mexican
If you’ve got clients with kids searching for a fun- packed escape, send them on Bliss – they won’t be disappointed
restaurant, and Cagney’s Steakhouse, already familiar to repeat Norwegian passengers, near the ship’s stern. Waiter Cheeky and sommelier
Ernest expertly guided us through our meal at Los Lobos. However, it was the chef who made the meal stand out, immediately offering to whip
up a guacamole without onions to accommodate one diner with allergies – and having tasted both of the freshly- prepared dips, we couldn’t tell the difference; both were mind-blowing. We got great levels of service at à la carte Cagney’s Steakhouse too. The filet mignon ($16) melted in the mouth and was cooked to perfection. The price tag here if you go for every course is about $35 a head. As well as the main dining rooms,
other complimentary options include The Local, with classic pub grub, and The Haven Restaurant, exclusively for guests of The Haven. Speciality venues include Food Republic for sushi, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville for poolside favourites, La Cucina and Le Bistro, which tick off Italian and French cuisine, Q for Texas barbecue bites, and Ocean Blue for seafood.
w TECH TROUBLES The only downside was the perennial cruise passenger’s complaint about the lack of a fast internet connection on board. Saying that, poor Wi-Fi did not
affect the rest of the tech on the ship. For instance, the laser tag was run efficiently with passengers of all ages enjoying it, for a fee of $5 per session. It’s clear Norwegian Bliss has
ABOVE: The Haven
LEFT: Laser Tag
42
travelweekly.co.uk 28 June 2018
cemented the line’s place as a direct rival to other family-oriented lines, so if you’ve got clients with kids searching for a fun-packed escape, send them on Bliss and they won’t go home disappointed.
PICTURE: RICK DIAZ PHOTOGRAPHY
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