NCL Bliss: 15-Day Panama Canal Cruise LA to Miami

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Advisor - Monica Fonck
Curated By

Monica Fonck

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NCL Bliss: 15-Day Panama Canal Cruise LA to Miami
Curator’s statement

My husband surprised me with the most incredible birthday cruise on the NCL Bliss – Panama Canal Cruise! It was filled with so many firsts for me. I was absolutely thrilled! The Bliss is a beautiful ship with a refined feel that you wouldn't normally expect to find on such a megaship. Its most striking feature is the Observation Lounge, which takes up the entire forward section of the ship on Deck 15. It was originally designed to be the heart of the ship. It was meant as a place where cruisers could relax, chat with new friends and even take a nap (we often saw people here napping all day long). It's not a place for games, lectures or seminars. It doesn't turn into a disco at night, and there's no stage for a small band to play on. It's a serene and exclusive indoor retreat. The Bliss has a lot of surprises. It feels like a big ship that's been given the trappings of a smaller, more upscale vessel.The service is consistently excellent, and the restaurants offer top-notch cuisine. The family-friendly features, while present, are not as visible as on other ships. With 4,004 passengers, it's a big ship, with lots of dining options and fun activities. On the top deck, there is enjoyable nighttime entertainment. It has the perfect mix of high-energy fun and plenty of spots for quiet relaxation. We're not sure the mix works for everyone, especially families, as we can't picture what a family with small kids or teenagers would do in the evening. Overall, we had a blast sailing on the Bliss, and nothing beats a few hours of relaxation with a good book in the comfy chairs of the Observation Lounge.

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Where to stay in Port

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It turns out that a lot of people are interested in this cruise and have had plenty of questions. I'm sharing all the important things you need to know about a Panama Canal cruise so you can determine if it deserves a spot on your travel bucket list. Now, let's dive into what to expect when you embark on your own Panama Canal cruise adventure!

Good news — you don't need to sign up for an excursion to explore the ports. We usually prefer to get off at the port and venture out on our own.

Sea days

We had a total of six sea days, plus the scenic cruising through the Panama Canal, and I loved every minute of it! I was never bored on the sea days, but instead looked at them as providing a nice little break between the ports. I totally appreciate the down time.

Our sea days were my favorite. I spent most of them sitting on the balcony with my coffee in the morning, one on one of the outside decks with a book and a drink or in the casino.

There were so many fun activities to do on board. Every day, there were different events, like bingo, lectures, demonstrations and more. Some of the events were paid, and some were free. There was also a walking track on the top level, a gym and a spa. Every night, there was a show at two different times in the evening, and activities in the lounge. Whether you're into unwinding, staying active or making new friends, there's something for everyone on the sea days.

I was asked about the food more than anything else! And it's totally understandable. Food is super important when you're spending a lot of money on a trip, right?

Our food experience was absolutely amazing! There were a ton of options for free: the dining rooms (there were two of them!), the Irish pub and the buffet. The buffet was great for lunch, and the American Diner was absolutely incredible.

The Irish pub had a small set menu, but the food was delicious.There are also several paid dining options on board:

  • Cagneys: A steak house

  • Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant

  • Le Bistro: A French restaurant

  • La Cucina: An Italian restaurant

  • Moderno: A Brazilian-style steak restaurant,

  • Texas Q: A smokehouse

  • Los Lobos: A Mexican restaurant.

The Panama Canal cruise route is one of the longer and more expensive ones, so expect an older crowd no matter what cruise line you take. If you're young and looking to party, this isn't the best route for you.The benefit was that there were few yelling and screaming children and no drunk 20-year-olds, which was a nice and relaxing change.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and am grateful to my husband for allowing me to experience these places and for the incredible Panama Canal cruise.

Some ship information

You'll find a wonderful international mix on the NCL Bliss.

NCL maintains a casual atmosphere on board. During the day, it's all about being comfortable, with swimsuits, shorts and tees being the norm. At night, it's a bit more relaxed too. For men, it's usually dark jeans with a collared shirt or polo shirt, while women wear blouses with slacks or nice jeans, skirts, sometimes sundresses. I'd suggest wearing what you're comfortable in, as long as you don't have ripped jeans. (Bring a sweater or denim jacket for when the A/C is cranked up.)

Just a friendly reminder that tank tops and baseball caps are not allowed in the main dining room and specialty restaurants.

The Bliss Theater, located on Decks Six and Seven, is the place to be on the ship for the most spectacular big-stage productions. This includes one-of-a-kind shows by the best comedians, magicians, hypnotists and other guest performers. During the day, this incredible venue transforms into a movie theater, a seminar venue and a place for fascinating lectures about ports.

There's so much to do on the Bliss that you'll never be bored! The fun starts as early as 8:30 am with an aerobics class in the atrium, and then continues with a new activity every 30 to 45 minutes through the early evening. The atrium is the heart of the ship, with non-stop action all day. You can try your hand at silly games, towel folding, fruit carving, cooking demonstrations and circus trick and balloon twisting classes.

Mixx (Deck six): Great for meeting people before or after dinner, but you can only sit at the barstools around the square bar. Atrium Bar (Deck Six): A great spot if you're going to another place or just want to chill in the Atrium. Social Comedy & Nightclub Bar: The drink servers go there to get drinks for people at the comedy and nightclub. Skyline Bar (Deck Seven): Casino players and anyone who wants to watch a sports match on the big screen, go there to get a drink. It's also close to the Manhattan Room, so it's a good place to get a pre-dinner drink. The Local Bar and Grill (Deck Seven): It's a restaurant and bar, so it's a great place to grab a drink and hang out with friends. At the back, there are two lanes of bowling and a few arcade games, but no pub games.The A-List Bar (Deck 8) is between Cagney's and Los Lobos, and it has a variety of cocktails. The square bar is open for dinner and has limited seating.Sugarcane Mojito Bar (Deck Eight): This bar on the Waterfront has indoor and outdoor seating. Try a flight of six mojitos, sweet or savory.Humidor Cigar Lounge (Deck 8): The only place to relax with a cigar is hidden at the back.

Maltings Whiskey Bar (Deck Eight): For stronger drinks, go to the Maltings Whiskey Bar, which offers a large selection of scotch, whiskeys and bourbons. Whiskey flights feature three or four brands. They also have whiskey-, scotch- and bourbon-based cocktails. Find indoor and outdoor seating along the Waterfront. The Cavern (Deck Eight) is a replica of the Liverpool club where The Beatles got their start. It's across from The Cellars and next to Maltings. When the Beatles tribute band isn't playing, a ship's house band often plays there. The bar has typical drinks.The Cellars Wine Bar (Deck Eight) has a great selection of Michael Mondavi wines and other vintners. They have daily wine seminars and tastings for a fee. When they're not hosting seminars, you can get wine by the glass, bottle, or in flights of three. There are four flights to choose from, including one featuring French and Californian Cabernets and an Italian red blend.

Hey, beer lovers! If you're looking for the perfect place to enjoy a variety of brews, then look no further than the District Brew House, located on Deck Eight. Here, you'll find an incredible selection of 24 beers on tap and 50 bottled beers to choose from. We're talking craft beers. No matter your favorite beer type, whether it's lagers, pale ales, IPAs or stouts, they have you covered. And if you're looking for a fun night out, you can't go wrong with the awesome piano entertainment. One thing to keep in mind is that, despite its charm and ample seating, including bar side, high tables and couch seating, this is not the place to catch a sports game.But, if you're looking for a place to capture some fun memories, there's a photo machine and a wall in the back where you can put your picture up for everyone to see.

Waves Pool Bar & Surf Bar (Deck 16): These two poolside bars are located on opposite ends of the pool deck, ensuring that every guest has their own personal oasis.Observation Lounge (Deck 15): The Bliss' pièce de résistance is this massive lounge with 180-degree views spanning the entire forward section of the ship on Deck 15. It's an all-day quiet zone, though there's always the hum of conversation. It's easily one of the most beautiful lounges we've seen at sea.

The space is incredibly comfortable, with couches, upholstered loungers facing the windows, tables and chairs and comfy armchairs for sitting, reading, playing quiet board games or just napping.There's a bar at the front of the lounge for any other drink you need.

The only drawback to the space is how popular it is, but that just adds to its charm.

Spice H2O Bar (Deck 17): Adults only area until 7 pm at night There are two hot tubs in this area: one on the left and one on the right. If you're a smoker, there's a section for you on the right side of the bar.Vibe Beach Club Bar (Deck 19): This bar is for cruisers who are relaxing in the extra-fee Vibe Beach Club.

The Bliss has lots of fun spots and activities for kids, but compared to other Norwegian Cruise Line ships, it might not be the most family-friendly. Some of the public spaces are not the best for little ones, like the Observation Lounge, and the nighttime entertainment might not be a hit with most kids or teens.But, the good news is, the Bliss has the cruise line's amazing kids' club, Splash Academy, which is divided into three groups by age, and there's even a club just for teens! All of these clubs are located on Deck 5, which is one deck below the atrium and a bit out of the way, but not too far from the main areas.On that same deck, there's also an arcade for kids, but it does require an extra fee.Every day, the Freestyle Daily activity schedule, which you can find in the bottom left corner of the second page, highlights a bunch of family-friendly activities.

And for those evenings when the kids want to hang out somewhere other than with their parents, there's the kids club. It has lots of fun activities and entertainment that are just right for their age. Plus, it's totally free from 7 to 10:30 pm.

The Bliss also has the largest Guppies playroom in the Norwegian fleet. Early Years Coordinators host sensory-play activities (up to two hours a day) for parents and their babies (ages six months to just under three years). Parents must accompany all children to these sessions, and cruise staff will not change diapers.

While there isn't in-cabin babysitting available, the "Late Night Fun Zone" is open every night from 10:30 pm to 1:30 am for a small fee. During these times, children of all ages are welcome to enjoy the fun.

Need to know

A Panama Canal cruise on NCL Bliss offers an incredible blend of luxury, adventure and cultural experiences.

Winter & Spring (December to April): These months are ideal for warm weather, as it avoids the rainy season in the Panama Canal region.

Avoid Hurricane Season (June to November): Though hurricanes do not directly affect the Panama Canal, these months bring more rain and unpredictable weather.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Cruises page.

Advisor - Monica Fonck

Travel Advisor

Monica Fonck

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