We have a tendency to consider cruise ships as all-inclusive resorts on the water. No less than that’s the approach it was. Previous to crusing on the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship from Seattle to Alaska, it had been 20 years since my final cruise. Again then, I keep in mind ordering room service at will, grazing at midnight buffets, and indulging in no matter leisure was supplied on board.
Whereas we selected our Alaska cruise provider due to the Norwegian Bliss value, which was fairly inexpensive for a household of three, we rapidly found that some elements of cruising have modified in current a long time. The ships have gotten a lot bigger and lots of provide a lot extra when it comes to eating and on-board actions over time.
With these modifications and upgrades, have come fairly a couple of hidden (or at the least sudden for people who didn’t learn the small print) prices.
For our Alaska cruise on the Norwegian Bliss, we chosen the specialty eating package deal and the limitless beverage package deal for 2 as our included “add-ons” to our package deal. So my expectation going into our cruise was that it was going to be a reasonably all-inclusive expertise whereas on board. I used to be fallacious!
The rule within the hospitality trade nowadays appears to be a decoupling pricing technique. The airways have lowered their flight value, solely to decouple charges for luggage, seat choice, leisure, and meals. It appears as if the cruise trade goes in the identical path, at the least that was our expertise on the Norwegian Bliss.
The Norwegian Bliss is a part of Norwegian Cruise Strains’ Breakaway Class of ships, which sails to Alaska, the Caribbean, Mexico, the Pacific Coast, the Panama Canal, and extra. To proceed to boost the bar on facilities, the Bliss has added extra facilities and actions together with laser tag, water slides, and even a go-kart race monitor. All of those upgrades value cash.
I keep in mind taking a Princess cruise with a good friend in my twenties and we did a wine tasting totally free. And when Glenn and I took a Royal Caribbean cruise whereas we have been courting, I don’t keep in mind paying further for mini golf or to make use of the mountaineering wall. So I’m undecided if this phenomenon is endemic to the cruise trade or to Norwegian specifically.
Nonetheless, all of the add-on bills made our Alaskan cruise deal not such a steal in spite of everything. Once I posted about this on Instagram, I acquired quite a few stunned feedback in regards to the non-all-inclusive nature of our expertise. So I figured I’m not the one one who could be stunned.
That’s the reason I needed to offer an inventory of add-on bills on the Norwegian Bliss in order that others can finances accordingly. I didn’t embody the apparent ones like spa or salon companies and shore excursions, as a result of I believe most individuals are conscious that these are extra.
The others might or might not shock you. We definitely didn’t count on all the things, just like the specialty eating, to be free. Nonetheless, the constraints of a few of the “perks” just like the limitless drink package deal have been positively a shock.
Added Prices on the Norwegian Bliss Cruise Ship
Word: costs are topic to vary. Verify with Norwegian for present pricing and insurance policies as these might change. Nonetheless, good luck getting the data upfront of your cruise as a result of they’re very reluctant to offer out this info.
Laser Tag
The Laser Tag is an elaborate maze providing 30-minute classes, which have to be reserved upfront. I’d suggest scheduling these as quickly as you board with visitor companies or by means of the net contact screens close to the elevators as a result of the classes e-book up rapidly, particularly for days at sea. Simply take into account that on the Alaska cruise your session should find yourself canceled attributable to unhealthy climate.
The associated fee is $9.95 per individual. Tip: you probably have a teen, the Entourage teen membership supplied one evening exercise with limitless laser tag – totally free! In case you have a teen that doesn’t thoughts becoming a member of a teen membership, this may be a great way to strive Laser Tag totally free. Verify and see if they’re nonetheless providing this and enroll early within the week.
Race monitor
If you want to take a spin on the two-level race monitor, additionally, you will want to order a time slot early. It’s nice enjoyable to race in opposition to one another and take hairpin turns whereas at sea.
The associated fee is $15.00 per individual. Tip: the monitor is behind the smoke stack so it’s possible you’ll get soiled, don’t put on something good and you’ll want to wash your face and hair after!
Arcade
Subsequent to the Children’ Golf equipment and Teen Membership you’ll discover a small arcade. There are a selection of video games from automobile racing to basketball hoops, to a digital rollercoaster. All of the video games are a la carte by swiping your room key however in case you assume your youngsters would possibly spend loads of time within the arcade, particularly on unhealthy climate days at sea, it’s possible you’ll need to have a look at buying a package deal.
The package deal is $10 per individual, per day, which provides you with limitless video games on sure machines with a inexperienced swipe. Looks like a deal in case you solely bought it for at some point or one individual. Nonetheless, it have to be bought for the entire cruise and for everybody within the cabin. It could possibly actually add up quick both approach!
Bowling
In The Native restaurant, you’ll discover two small duck pin bowling lanes. It’s a enjoyable leisure choice, however it prices about $6 a sport. Simply one other approach that the leisure choices add up quick.
Specialty Eating
Specialty eating packages will be bought for the variety of meals that you simply want, or you possibly can pay both a canopy cost at some specialty eating places (e.g. $14.95 at Margaritaville) or a la carte pricing. This isn’t uncommon now that many cruise traces provide specialty eating past the buffet.
In reality, I’m glad to pay extra to get higher meals. That’s the reason when Norwegian provides the choice of two “free” add ons as a part of the cruise package deal, it’s akin to fashionable alternative.
Nonetheless, even in case you purchase or obtain totally free the specialty eating package deal, that doesn’t imply your meal can be free. For instance, Ocean Blue costs a further $10 per individual over and above the eating package deal.
And, a compulsory 20% gratuity is extra, though you pay the usual ship service cost individually that covers service in the primary eating room.
Limitless Beverage Bundle
The limitless beverage package deal additionally included a couple of catches. It solely contains drinks beneath $15. Order one thing above that and also you pay the distinction. It really works out nicely for mixed-drink and beer drinkers, however wine and Scotch drinkers usually encounter a surcharge. I searched excessive and low for a wine that I favored beneath $15 a glass and there was just one. The “higher” wines are conveniently priced simply above the edge. You should buy these at a 20% low cost you probably have the beverage package deal.
And the package deal solely contains wines by the glass. If you’d like a $40 bottle of wine (which incorporates 4 glasses at $10 every), however it isn’t supplied by the glass, then your solely choice is to buy a bottle at a 20% low cost.
The Limitless Beverage package deal additionally doesn’t embody gratuities on drinks. So each drink you get racks up a 20% gratuity that’s over and above the obligatory service cost that you simply pay for the cruise workers. Additionally, if you end up in Seattle, you continue to have to pay state tax on the drinks included in your beverage package deal. And, there may be additionally a wine station within the Backyard Cafe buffet that isn’t included within the drink package deal.
Espresso /Cappuccino
In case you like a morning cappuccino or after-dinner espresso, you will want to pay further, even within the complimentary eating rooms. Solely common espresso is included (even with the drink package deal). The onboard Starbucks can also be a la carte. The Starbuck cost wasn’t a shock, however it was a bit stunning that you simply couldn’t get an espresso after dinner within the complimentary eating room. Fortunately I’m not a espresso drinker and my husband switched his customary espresso for the standard espresso (however espresso drinkers beware that it isn’t nice.)
Sweets
You will get dessert on the buffet or predominant eating rooms, but when the macarons, gelato, cupcakes, or sweets at Dolce Gelato or Coco’s catch your candy tooth, they’re solely out there a la carte. They usually aren’t low-cost!
Tastings
The Norwegian Bliss provides a number of alcohol-tasting experiences. These embody wine tastings, American whiskey tastings, and Alaskan beer tastings. These are all for a further payment (value varies), even you probably have a drink package deal (however you’ll get a reduction.)
Spa Thermal Suite Entry
In most resorts, while you e-book a spa remedy, it features a day cross to make use of the opposite spa services. Not so with the Norwegian Bliss. A spa remedy doesn’t embody entry to the thermal suite, which features a salt room, snow cave, dry sauna, whirlpool, and heated tiled loungers. So you may get a therapeutic massage however then you aren’t allowed to go sit within the sauna afterward. I discovered that odd however I’ve by no means used a cruise spa earlier than so I can solely examine it to a typical day spa.
To entry the spa services, you want to buy a week-long cross for $269 per individual ($249 if you are going to buy on-line upfront.) Day passes will not be out there, in any other case I’m certain everybody would need to buy it only for the day at sea.
On-board Messaging
They promote that the NCL app for the Norwegian Bliss contains onboard messaging and calling. That is true, however solely if you are going to buy a messaging package deal for $9.95 per individual for limitless onboard messaging.
In any other case, you should buy the onboard wifi (even pricier) or do issues the old style approach and depart one another notes within the cabin. (See my Alaska cruise packing listing for concepts on how to do that!)
Adults-only Solar Deck
Vibe is an adults-only space on the pool deck, which is accessed solely by buying certainly one of a restricted variety of passes.
Possibly there are different extra bills on the Norwegian Bliss however in our one week on the ship, these have been those that basically jumped out at me. It turned a working joke on the variety of issues that have been extra. The sensation of being nickel-and-dimed put a little bit of a damper on the journey as we felt the necessity to watch the finances and keep away from further add-ons like espresso after dinner or a nicer glass of wine, which we had anticipated to be included.
To listen to my full assessment of the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship, you’ll want to tune in to our Trip Professionals podcast on the Bliss:
Additionally learn the way what to put on on an Alaskan cruise and the greatest Alaska cruise excursions for households.
Altogether, the Norwegian Bliss value nonetheless makes for an inexpensive household trip, even with the added prices. I simply assume you may have a proper to know what to anticipate in the case of complete prices, particularly you probably have an expectation {that a} cruise is just about like an all-inclusive trip.
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