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Also, most of these benefits are the base packages you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.On our recent Norwegian Escape cruise, we were lucky enough to get a personal tour of the Thermal Suite but did not get to experience any of the amenities firsthand.
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If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the Free at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. Through this program, guests receive free open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at their specialty restaurants. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a Free at Sea fare. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Norwegian ship.īase Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses. Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. Onboard CostsĪnother way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit Norwegian's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.Ĭruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. On the Encore, only 50% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board. On the Bliss, 53% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.īoth ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Encore. Norwegian Encore has fewer pools than the Bliss and fewer hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 4 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.
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The Norwegian Bliss has a total of 4 pools and 11 hot tubs. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. We're a firm believer that if you want to just spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. It has 13% more dining options than the Encore.īoth ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options. If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Bliss might be a better choice. 7 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 16 have an additional fee. Some of its popular venues are Garden Cafe, Q Texas Smokehouse, and Cagney's Steakhouse. The other 18 options have an additional fee. Of those options, 8 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare.
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The Bliss has 26 different dining options like Garden Cafe, Los Lobos, and Teppanyaki. When you look at the "Space Ratio," or tons of ship compared to number of passengers, the Bliss has the same amount of space per person as the Encore.įood is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience. Norwegian Bliss holds about the same number of passengers as the Encore based on double occupancy (two people per room). For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout although they may have different features and attractions on board. The Bliss and the Encore are in the same class which means they're sister ships. Coming in at 1,094 ft long and 136 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 3 football fields, as wide as 2.6 tractor trailers and the same height as a 15 story building. The Bliss is considered a large size ship. It's 1 year older than the Encore, which was built in 2019.
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