Norwegian Alaska Cruise Reviews 2024 UPDATED: Ratings of Norwegian Cruises to Alaska

Table Of Content

• A Leisurely Morning At Sea
• Night Western Caribbean - MiamiDetails
• Night 2 Dinner in the MDR
• We Are Onboard, Now Make Some Reservations.
• Read our detailed, day by day Norwegian Bliss Alaska Cruise Review…
• Day 5 Breakfast in the MDR

Anyway, the cruise I’m reporting on here was my second on the Bliss to Alaska, but was significant in that it was the very first Alaska cruise across all lines and ships of the 2024 season. It was also my first time cruising solo on the Bliss (last time I had my son with me). I’ll be providing a detailed trip report from each day as well as highlighting some features I loved about the Bliss (and a few I didn’t) and some tips for those booked on or considering her. The first two are videos, one a full ship tour and one a cabin tour.

A Leisurely Morning At Sea

As a big fan of piano music, I was expecting more from this performer. There is no better way to round out the cruise than with the dinner and show that is typical at this Japanese-style steakhouse. While we each had separate reservations for two, the hostess was able to sit us all together. With a beautiful morning unfolding, today was the day that I could finally capture some outdoor pictures and video.

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Night Western Caribbean - MiamiDetails

It’s always magical, ethereal, with so many lessons to teach me.  And it’s never, never the same. In October, as the environment around me began settling into winter, I witnessed the retreat, slowing down, and self preservation necessary for surviving a harsh season. Tonight is “Dress up or Not” night (see the second photo for a description of NCL’s “formal night” policy).

Night 2 Dinner in the MDR

The temperature was perfect and the views were equally as impressive. Getting to Q Texas Smokehouse about 20 minutes before the game started, our group of 6 was escorted into the room. Two additional parent/son groups would join our team for a total of 10 players. The Escape the Big Top challenge consists of a series of six puzzles that you need to solve to identify the magic words required to escape. I was able to convince the Princess to sleep in a bit today.

We Are Onboard, Now Make Some Reservations.

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Two hours in total, this walking tour took us through the streets of Skagway, reliving the history of this boom and bust town during the late 1890’s from a different perspective. On our last cruise, we did a combo tour that included a ride down the White Pass Railway, so we were already familiar with the stories of the Klondike Gold Rush. However, this edgy tour told the tales of the “ladies” of the era.

We booked this trip almost as soon as the itineraries were released. Even though we had a little taste of the new ship during a 3-day inaugural cruise earlier this summer, we couldn’t wait to get back onboard Norwegian Bliss. For our full week trip, we were cruising with two other couples. This “group cruise” included several planned dinners and excursions together, as well as some separately.

This took a bit longer than expected, so we were not off the ship until 5 pm. Finding our way to Fishermen’s Wharf was very easy, and the scenic walk took only about 10 minutes. We both enjoyed the walk as it was a gorgeous night that felt like autumn back home. On our previous cruise, we did a combo tour which included the Alaskan Lumberjack Show and a tour of authentic totem poles in Potlatch Park.

We signed up for the comedy show and the for-fee Happy Hour Prohibition which are not available to pre-book online. The staff did let us reserve those shows for our friends as well. Even though there are two comedians that rotate sets in the Social, you are only allowed to book a reservation for one showing. One 10-minute session of laser tag on the Bliss will cost you $9.95.

Solid Cruise and a fun time

This includes tales of the resident ghost Lydia, who was once a goodtime girl herself during the brothel’s heyday. Thankfully, he did not do any of the same jokes this time around. Even after a second pass, I was not won over by Tom’s non-traditional cruise ship comedy routine; although, he was still much funnier than Lenny. We then headed to the theater for the adults-only comedy show which was open seating. For this performance, Tom Simmons was the opening act doing about 20 minutes of new material.

We tried to fall back asleep, but the adrenaline was already starting to surge. Showering, getting dressed, and grabbing coffee, we were ready for a long day of our usual embarkation ritual. You'll find an international mix on Norwegian Bliss, which we expect to continue during its seasons spent sailing in Alaska.

While the profiteroles were not as memorable as Norwegian Escape, overall the service and food at Le Bistro were superb. It was the ideal dinner for the only true dress up night on the ship. However, we were not able to secure times for all of us on the outdoor activities, so the six of us would return later in the day to book a time slot for the race track and the laser tag.

But before I made it to the Observation Lounge, I stopped at my cabin to hair dry my shoes and hang my socks on the handy little wet sock hooks (there obvious purpose on an April Alaska cruise). It occurred to me midway through this process that I should have packed some “poopourri,” not just for its intended purpose, but for the pungent smell of steaming sneakers.

At this awkwardly located 5-hole course on the back of deck 19, you actually need to walk through the course to get to the starting point. With a few unlucky putts, the Princess was able to take this match. We would have to wait for the next item on her list, testing out the waterslides, as they were not set to open until the afternoon. Our orders of a custom omelet and the country sampler were delivered promptly, and we were in and out of breakfast in about a half-hour. Looking for a place to grab a final round of drinks, we settled on the District Brew House to listen to the rantings and music of Jim Badger.

Prior to meeting at the show for 10 pm, we grabbed a drink at the A-List bar. For the rest of the afternoon, we walked around the outdoor decks. We found the mini-golf course tucked behind the race track on deck 19. We also strolled the Waterfront, trying to burn off some of the calories we just devoured.

Norwegian Bliss Cruise Ship First-hand Expert Review

Table Of Content

• A Few Tips for Debarkation Morning
• Night 2 Dinner in the MDR
• Day 2: Sea day
• Day 2 Breakfast at The Local
• Read our detailed, day by day Norwegian Bliss Alaska Cruise Review…

We began our usual picture-taking process as it has just become reflexive at this point. Having sailed on Bliss back in May, we did already have plenty of photos. So, when we heard that the entertainment reservations were already open in Q, we opted to delay the photo tour. Being crazy cruise bloggers, we were up at 5 am to watch NCL Bliss sail into port.

A Few Tips for Debarkation Morning

There was a one-hour long presentation at the beginning of the cruise, but it was mostly a glorified shore excursion sales talk. We would have liked to see activities or classes that focused on the different ports or the history and culture of the region. Instead, many of the daily activities included your typical trivia and demonstrations or several for-fee offerings like painting classes, wine tastings, and other premium events. The ship holds just over 4,000 passengers but disperses the crowds nicely at most times.

Night 2 Dinner in the MDR

It wasn’t scheduled to open for another 20 minutes, but this would be the perfect place for our last celebratory drink. We stayed until 11 pm or so when we all decided to call it a night. We were the only ones flying out the next morning as one couple lives in Seattle and the other couple was flying back east on Sunday.

Day 2: Sea day

By way of a quick introduction, I’m Sarah, also known as “Prof. Cruise.” I retired after 10 years as a college professor to pursue my passion for cruising, moving across the country to Seattle where I now live downtown and within a five minute walk of the NCL cruise terminal at Pier 66. My passion for cruising is only equaled by my love for Alaska.

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This time around, we selected the Magnificent Misty Fjords by Seaplane excursion. With the shops open, now was as good of a time as any to secure our normal cruise ship purchases, a ship ornament for our holiday tree and an inaugural season t-shirt. I was a bit disappointed in the clothing selections, but I still managed to find a passable shirt in my size. One thing we did miss on Norwegian Bliss was enrichment talks and port specific activities. Our previous cruise on Celebrity included a naturalist and historian who gave standing room only talks almost every day.

So I was NOT going to miss it tonight even though we were scheduled to cruise through the Endicott Arm fjord during dinner. It was so quiet in the dining room it was like being in church and let me tell you, that cornbread was a religious experience. Our flight left on time, and we arrived almost 25 minutes early. Getting in our car, it was now an hour drive back home. We pretty much crashed immediately and began dreaming of our next cruise on Symphony of the Seas which is currently 2 months away. It seemed just like yesterday we were boarding Norwegian Bliss.

The third takes you to all the dining menus (MDR, specialty, fast casual, room service, and more) I collected onboard. As always, feel free to ask questions or share your own experiences on the Bliss to the comments. The service tonight was…off, until it got really comically bad.

It would have been faster but it was clear that check in agents were being trained and were still learning the systems. We would have been on the boat immediately, but the Coast Guard did an inspection and that held us in the waiting pen until almost 11 AM. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. With the Malting’s Whiskey bar packed, we were able to grab a couch at our go-to Sugarcane Mojito bar.

We were really making use of the Norwegian Ultimate Beverage Package. Our luggage was nowhere to be seen yet, but at least we could unload our carry-ons and take some pictures of the cabin. While we knew what to expect, the cabins on Norwegian Cruise Line ships just seem so much narrower than other cruise lines.

The sun was shining and there were few clouds in the sky. Between the four of us, we ordered a number of different options, including some sushi, pot stickers, rice, calamari, chicken (of course), and the signature Green Tea Brownie for dessert. Still, we feel that the food is worth the additional cost.

Played poker at the casino and had some amazing meals.alaska was beautiful and the people were friendly and welcoming . Our balcony suite was very comfortable and our steward was very attentive. We spent a lot of time on the balcony, the scenery was as amazing as you would imagine. In case you haven’t heard, the Bliss is a huge ass ship. And while there’s a ton to do for those not content to relax and eat for 168 hours straight (me), it’s not ideal for anyone looking for a more serene experience.

Now seems like a good time to educate you on what we Seattleites consider formal. This is pretty much as dressed up as we get with rain boots mandatory from about October through May (hat is optional, but I hate being cold and this is Alaska in April, so I figure better safe). For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. In addition, average cruise prices are updated nightly. Drop us an anchor below to tell us about your experiences cruising on this amazing new vessel. Back to our room, we were surprised that we did indeed get a towel animal for the final evening.

This late lunch was over by 4 pm, just as the ship was docking. Saying goodbye to the Local, we went back to our room to do a little packing before heading out. Wanting to catch the farewell Beatles tribute show at 2 pm, we rushed back to our cabin to make another costume change. Arriving to the show just as it was starting, we were able to find seats off to the side without too much difficulty. So instead, we somehow secured seats in the Observation Lounge to do some blogging and social media for a little while, grabbing a couple snacks in the process.

Norwegian Bliss is a beautiful vessel with a refined feel you don't normally expect to find on such a megaship. Its most striking feature is the 20,000-square-foot Observation Lounge, which dominates the entire forward section of the ship on Deck 15. It's simply a refined indoor haven of calm, and we've never seen anything quite like it on a mainstream ship. If you’re fortunate, as I am, to have visited Alaska many times, the Bliss is awesome on port days when most passengers are off the ship. In fact, on my first cruise on the Bliss with my son, we stayed onboard for the majority of our time in port and practically had the entire ship to ourselves. That’s when the Bliss is really fun and you can fully appreciate all she has to offer!

We stuck around to hear a few more songs, and then all of us decided it was time to call it a night. Dinner took about 90 minutes, meaning we were getting out just as the Welcome Aboard show was starting. Usually, this show is not well attended, so we figured we could still find some seats if we walked in late. The theater was packed, and we were stuck standing at the top of the balcony to watch the remainder of the show.

Carnival Jubilee Cruise Ship Explore Deck Plans & Sailings

Table Of Content

• Ocean View Staterooms
• Regent Seven Seas Grandeur builds on luxury of 2 sister cruise ships
• The Newest Carnival Ships Sailing in 2023
• Carnival Jubilee's New Year's Cruise Offers Plenty of Modern Fun: Live From the Ship
• Celebration Central
• Carnival Jubilee’s Atrium is a Destination

Carnival Celebration® has its own Punchliner Comedy Club in the Celebration Central zone, and up on stage you’ll find some real pros who know how to wedge a little laughter into anyone’s evening. Since some of them get up and say exactly what’s on their mind, we also schedule family-friendly performances… so the only red faces in the audience are from laughing a little too hard. We call Carnival Jubilee™'s onboard burger spot Guy’s Burger Joint™. Carnival Jubilee™ has its own Punchliner Comedy Club in the Grand Central zone, and up on stage you’ll find some real pros who know how to wedge a little laughter into anyone’s evening. I loved how the atrium area is now more incorporated into the daily flow of the ship, rather than an area you pass by to get somewhere else. The shows are stunning, with the action extending beyond the stage, including into the air.

Ocean View Staterooms

My cabin had some of the best soundproofing I've experienced on a new ship in a long time — I had balcony accommodations near an elevator bank and heard nothing when I was in my room. However, a couple of passengers told me they could hear noise from Bolt in their balcony cabin on Deck 15. I arrived 15 minutes early for a magic show at the Punchliner Comedy Club, and I couldn't find a single available seat in the entire place.

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur builds on luxury of 2 sister cruise ships

Usually, they don't have meat in them, nor was meat listed as an ingredient on the menu. The first couple had to do with differences between the Carnival HUB app and the daily Fun Times printed schedule. On one occasion, the app said Seafood Shack opened half an hour earlier than it did, while the paper version of the daily schedule had the correct information. Another time, the printed daily had the wrong theater show listed for that night; the correct one was posted in the HUB.

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The Newest Carnival Ships Sailing in 2023

BOLT was voted Best Cruise Ship Feature in the 2023 Cruise Hive Awards. It is the third consecutive year that the ride won the category. Interestingly, I don’t ever remember feeling bored or thinking there weren’t enough options on Carnival Inspiration when I sailed all those years ago. – on my first real “adult” vacation, and I couldn’t wait to book my next cruise. We tried out Rudi’s Seagrill and thoroughly enjoyed our meal there, especially the starters, which included a savory, hearty cioppino and fresh tuna slices.

On our Carnival Jubilee cruise, hosted by Carnival Cruise Line, we’re in a balcony cabin that overlooks the ship’s Havana Experience, an exclusive area that comes with a host of perks. The cruise line first introduced this concept on its Vista Class, and the approach is a smart one for the company that builds its cruises on fun. You won’t be disappointed if you are shopping for some vacation souvenir or a duty-free luxury watch or purse. During our cruise, our group toured the many shops and learned how the ship has exclusive items not only to Carnival Cruise Line but also unique items only found onboard this ship. This was my first visit to Rudi’s Seagrill and I enjoyed the superb seafood and other items we chose. It has a very high-end experience feel, and I would consider it for a romantic dinner during your cruise.

Carnival Jubilee's New Year's Cruise Offers Plenty of Modern Fun: Live From the Ship

New with the Excel class is Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken venue serving variations on the fried-chicken-and-biscuit theme from breakfast through the late afternoon. Carnival's pizza is some of the best in the biz, and the customizable tacos and burritos at BlueIguana offer something for everyone. Carnival Cruise Line currently has two more Excel class cruise ship on order.

Celebration Central

These two new ships are scheduled to debut in 2027 and 2028 and will be powered by LNG. This will bring the number of Excel class ships in Carnival’s fleet to five. In 2019, Carnival Cruise Line gave the cruise ship a massive $200 million renovation and a name change to Carnival Sunrise. The vessel originally debuted in 1999 and was the second Destiny class ship. The first Dream class ship from Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Dream was the first Carnival ship to be over 120,000 gross tons in size.

Carnival Jubilee’s Atrium is a Destination

They were also very approachable, shaking hands and taking pictures with guests as we exited the show. I thought this was wonderful and shows how touched guests were by seeing such talented entertainers live. We took the VIP Premium All Inclusive Beach Day excursion in Mahogany Bay through the ship. We enjoyed the drive over to a very private beachfront resort and then were escorted to a reserved VIP area of the beach with lounge chairs, umbrellas, palapas, and beach towels. The service and overall experience were very lovely and a great value overall. We also appreciated the excellent new accent lighting around the desk’s mirror and the bed’s headboard.

Offering a new set of onboard “wow” factors plus Carnival Cruise Line’s signature venues and restaurants, Carnival Jubilee was far and away the top vote-getter in the Best New Cruise Ship category of the 2023 Cruise Hive Awards. (You can also find the roller coaster on sister ships Carnival Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.) This ride is an adrenaline-filled two laps around, with some fun twists and turns that got my heart pumping. At the time, I wasn’t aware of any specialty dining options, and, at 25 years old and still early in my professional career, I would have struggled to afford anything beyond the cost of the cruise itself. My very first cruise was a Carnival cruise, on the defunct Carnival Inspiration. That sailing, some 23 years ago, left from New Orleans just about the same time as this one sailed from Galveston, and both that one and my current cruise sailed through the Gulf of Mexico on a Western Caribbean itinerary.

This nautically themed outpost is next to a popular access point to the outer decks, so the only downside is that you might be blasted with hot air while your drink is being made. No Carnival sailing would be complete for a carnivore without a visit to Fahrenheit 555, the onboard steakhouse. On Carnival Jubilee, it's adorned in neutral tans, dark browns and red tones.

If you want some greens with your pizza or turkey sandwich, you have to travel seven decks to the Lido Marketplace. Gone is the line's iconic soaring atrium, replaced by the three-deck-high Celebration Central with panoramic windows looking out to sea. Guy Fieri is no longer the only celebrity chef in town; he's joined by Shaquille O'Neal and Emeril Lagasse. Carnival's thrilling water parks now have to make room for a top-deck roller coaster, and the RedFrog Pub has been replaced by the indoor hangout in the Summer Landing zone.

Cabanas are available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Prices vary by sailing, but on my voyage, they were $500 per day from 8 a.m. Pool lifts accommodating up to 300 pounds are available for passengers with limited mobility. Go one deck farther, and you can choose between the Havana Bar, which serves Latin-themed cocktails, and the Heroes Tribute Lounge, which has a special menu of drinks dedicated to military members. I also wasn't impressed with how long it took a bartender to ask for my order, especially since it wasn't particularly crowded.

Most nights are designated "cruise casual," which means just that — khakis or jeans, polo shirts, sundresses and the like. Super casual items such as cutoff jeans, men's sleeveless shirts, T-shirts and gym shorts are supposedly not permitted, but I saw plenty of them in the dining rooms during dinnertime on Carnival Jubilee. My two most disappointing extra-fee food encounters on Carnival Jubilee were Seafood Shack (Deck 16, in the Lido zone, near the pool) and room service. Shaq's Big Chicken, a restaurant backed by basketball great Shaquille O'Neal (who is also Carnival's CFO, chief fun officer), is perfect if you have a hankering for some fried chicken. In addition to chicken strips, sandwiches and fries, the counter-service venue also serves breakfast.