NCL’s Norwegian Bliss Mexican Riviera Review: What 5 Nights Was Really Like
I sailed on Norwegian Bliss for a 5-night Mexican Riviera cruise, visiting Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, and this trip gave me a good look at what this ship does well, where it feels crowded, and who I think would enjoy it most.
This was my first time visiting these ports, and we stayed in a Club Balcony Suite on deck 12. Between the dining, bars, observation lounge, go-karts, tendering in Cabo, and a surprisingly fun e-bike excursion, there was a lot to take in.
I also made a full video from this cruise, which is worth watching if you want to see the ship, cabin, food, ports, and onboard spaces for yourself.
Watch the Full Video
The video gives you a full visual walkthrough of the cruise, including embarkation, the cabin, ship tour, specialty dining, Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, and the final cost discussion.
Quick Verdict: Is Norwegian Bliss Worth Booking for the Mexican Riviera?
Yes, I think Norwegian Bliss can be a strong choice for a Mexican Riviera cruise, especially if you like a ship with a lot of dining and bar options, good outdoor spaces, a great observation lounge, and some fun extras like go-karts.
The biggest highlights for me were the Waterfront on deck 8, the Observation Lounge, the specialty dining, Spice H2O, and the Cabo e-bike excursion. The weaker points were the crowded buffet, inconsistent main dining room food, some technical issues with dining reservations, and one rough night of movement in the cabin.
This is a good cruise for people who want a lively but not overwhelming NCL ship with plenty to do. It may not be the best fit if you want a quiet, small-ship feel or if you plan to rely heavily on the buffet during busy times.
Embarkation: Starting the Trip
We boarded in Los Angeles for this 5-night Mexican Riviera cruise. Embarkation was fairly smooth, and once we were on board, I had that familiar cruise feeling where everything else starts to melt away.
After checking in at the muster station, we went for a quick lunch at O’Sheehan’s, one of NCL’s included casual restaurants. I went with the chicken salad sandwich, which is one of my usual picks at O’Sheehan’s or The Local on other Breakaway-class ships, and it was just as good as I remembered.
Cabins were not ready right away, so we had some time to start exploring before heading to the room.
Our Club Balcony Suite on Norwegian Bliss
We stayed in cabin 12802, a midship Club Balcony Suite on the starboard side.
The cabin had a king-size bed, a sofa that converted into an additional bed, a small fridge, and a good amount of storage. Just keep in mind that the minibar items in the fridge are extra, even if you have a drink package.
The biggest upgrade in the Club Balcony Suite was the bathroom. It had double sinks and a larger shower, which made the cabin feel more comfortable for three people sharing the space.
It was not a huge cabin, especially compared with a larger suite experience, but for this cruise, it worked well.
Sailaway and First Impressions
For sailaway, we headed up to Spice H2O on deck 17. This is an adults-only outdoor area with hot tubs, a full-service bar, plenty of seating, and wraparound views.
It was a great spot to watch the ship pull away and get into vacation mode.
That first evening, we grabbed drinks at Maltings Whisky Bar on deck 8. Since we had purchased NCL’s More at Sea package, drinks up to the package limit were included for us, but you should always check the current terms for your own sailing.
Deck 8 ended up being one of my favorite areas of the ship.
Dining on Norwegian Bliss
Norwegian Bliss has a lot of dining options, both included and specialty.
Our first specialty dinner was at La Cucina, the Italian restaurant on deck 8. I started with the carbonara, while my friends had the pear walnut salad and caprese salad. The starters were good overall, though the caprese could have used more basil.
For mains, I had the chicken cacciatore. It tasted good, but the chicken was a bit dry. My friends had the lasagna and steak with blue cheese ravioli, and the steak was a standout. We shared tiramisu for dessert, which was excellent.
Another highlight was Palomar, a Mediterranean and seafood specialty restaurant. The decor felt elegant and upscale, and this was one of my favorite dining experiences on the ship. The Greek salad was fresh, the filet of sole was light and flavorful, and the desserts were strong.
The main dining room was more mixed. In The Manhattan Room, some dishes were good, like the cheese ravioli starter with lobster sauce and the bang bang chicken and shrimp. But my chicken Madeira was dry, and the desserts were disappointing.
Overall, I thought specialty dining was the stronger food experience on this sailing.
Ship Tour: What Stood Out Onboard
Norwegian Bliss has a lot going on, but a few spaces really stood out.
The Waterfront on deck 8 was one of my favorite parts of the ship. It wraps around much of the deck with outdoor seating, ocean views, and access to bars and restaurants. It was inviting, comfortable, and rarely felt crowded.
The Observation Lounge on deck 15 was another major highlight. We spent a lot of time there enjoying the views, music, snacks, and relaxed seating. It was a great space for reading, chatting, playing cards, or just watching the ocean.
The pool deck was lively, but not impossible to navigate. There were plenty of deck chairs when we were there, and the bars and servers kept things moving.
The Garden Cafe buffet was less enjoyable. The food was average, and on a sea day at lunch, the crowding made it feel chaotic.
Go-Karts at Sea
One of the most unique features on Norwegian Bliss is the go-kart track.
I had never done go-karts on a cruise ship before, and it ended up being a lot more fun than I expected. The cost was $15 on our sailing, and the race lasted about 10 minutes.
The cars went faster than I thought they would, and I would absolutely do it again.
This is one of those features that makes Norwegian Bliss feel different from a more traditional cruise ship.
Cabo San Lucas: Tendering and E-Bikes
Our first port was Cabo San Lucas.
Because there is no standard cruise dock for large ships in Cabo, we had to tender ashore. If you’ve never tendered before, it means the ship anchors offshore and smaller boats take passengers into port.
Tendering can take some extra time, but it also gives you some great views of the ship from the water.
Once ashore, we joined an e-bike excursion. After a bus ride, safety briefing, and gear setup, we were off riding through the desert and along the beach.
This was one of the highlights of the entire trip.
After the ride, we had margaritas, Mexican food, and even a surprise whale sighting. That is exactly the kind of port day that makes a cruise feel memorable.
Book some of my favorite excursions on Viator: https://www.viator.com/partner-shop/bradonboard
[Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.]
Ensenada: A Laid-Back Port Day
The next morning brought us to Ensenada.
This is one of those ports where I do not think you necessarily need a big excursion to enjoy yourself. Walking around town gives you a chance to slow down, see a little local color, and take in the end of the trip at an easier pace.
For a short Mexican Riviera itinerary, I thought Cabo brought the bigger excursion moment, while Ensenada worked better as a casual, low-pressure port day.
What I Liked Most
The biggest wins on Norwegian Bliss were:
The Waterfront on deck 8
The Observation Lounge
Spice H2O for sailaway and outdoor views
Palomar specialty dining
The go-kart track
The Cabo e-bike excursion
The larger bathroom in the Club Balcony Suite
This ship gave us plenty to do without feeling like we had to schedule every minute.
What I Didn’t Love
There were a few weaker points.
The buffet was crowded and average. Some main dining room dishes were disappointing, especially a few dry chicken dishes and weak desserts. We also had some technical trouble with dining reservation screens.
The ship also moved more than expected one night, which made for a rough sleep. That may not be typical for every sailing, but it was part of our experience.
Best For and Skip If
Norwegian Bliss is best for cruisers who want a ship with lots of dining, bars, lounges, entertainment, and outdoor spaces. It is also a good fit if you like NCL’s casual style and want a ship that feels active without being as massive as the biggest ships at sea.
You may want to skip it if buffet crowding really bothers you, if you prefer smaller and quieter ships, or if you do not care about extras like go-karts, specialty dining, and multiple bars.
Final Verdict
I had a very good time on Norwegian Bliss.
The ship had a lot of variety, the specialty dining was mostly strong, the Observation Lounge and Waterfront were excellent, and the Mexican Riviera itinerary gave us a fun mix of adventure and relaxed port time.
It was not perfect. The buffet was crowded, the main dining room was hit or miss, and a few details felt frustrating. But overall, this was a cruise I enjoyed more than I expected.
If you want to see the full trip, including the cabin, ship tour, dining, Cabo e-bike excursion, Ensenada, and what we paid, watch the full video above. And if you like honest cruise reviews and practical tips, subscribe to Brad On Board for more.
FAQ Section
FAQ
Is Norwegian Bliss good for a Mexican Riviera cruise?
Yes, Norwegian Bliss works well for a Mexican Riviera cruise, especially if you want a ship with strong outdoor spaces, lots of dining and bars, and fun extras like go-karts. The Waterfront, Observation Lounge, and Spice H2O were especially good spaces for this itinerary.
What cabin did you stay in on Norwegian Bliss?
We stayed in cabin 12802, a Club Balcony Suite on deck 12. The cabin had a larger bathroom with double sinks and a bigger shower, which was the main benefit of the Club Balcony Suite category.
Is the Norwegian Bliss buffet good?
The Garden Cafe buffet was fine, but it was not a highlight for me. The food was fairly average, and the crowding at lunch on a sea day made the experience feel chaotic.
Is specialty dining worth it on Norwegian Bliss?
Based on this sailing, specialty dining was one of the stronger parts of the cruise. La Cucina had some good dishes, and Palomar was one of my favorite dining experiences on board.
Do you tender in Cabo San Lucas?
Yes, large cruise ships typically tender in Cabo San Lucas. That means smaller boats take passengers from the ship to shore, which can take extra time but also gives you great views of the ship.
Is Ensenada worth getting off the ship for?
I think Ensenada is worth getting off the ship for if you want a relaxed walk around town. It may not need a big excursion to be enjoyable, especially on a short Mexican Riviera cruise.
