NCL Bliss Mexican Riviera as a solo review

Just off the Bliss from the Mexican Riviera 2/15-22 as a solo traveler. Bear in mind I am a notorious introvert, don't drink, and am utterly boring as a traveler so my review is going to be a bit skewed as far as that. You have been warned :D

Flew into LAX and used Uber to a Sonesta hotel in Torrance. Nice and easy, pretty affordable overall even with rideshare. Ate $13 a pound Korean grapes from an Asian market for dinner! Took Uber from there to the port. Again, easy peasy. Bliss was the only ship going out so there was no question where to go, haha. Check-in time was 1030-11, walked through security and was on the boat by 11. If you have the time, wander over to the USS Iowa museum which is docked there.

Booked a Solo Balcony which gave me access to the Studio Lounge. Cabin as always is more than enough for my needs. I do think the balcony can be a bit tight to stretch out and wish there was a lounger type chair (or some footrests) instead of the two chairs and table, but it is what it is.

Studio Lounge is a treat - like I said I'm boring AF when I cruise so I went to bed early - and got up early. So nice at 5am to have the cappuccino machine right there and some bakery treats like croissants and fruit. Nice sweet treats throughout the day. Also water and juice/tea (but no ice machine which was weird).

**Now to the meat of the review**

**Food:** I really don't understand people who say the food is terrible. There were some lows - things I wouldn't eat again and were not-so-great but I have yet to have a truly awful meal on NCL. Visited Cagneys and had the lamb which is delicious. Also the creme brulee is forever a favorite. Le Bistro I tried the Sole Grenobloise which was nicely seasoned - I wish it had come with a larger portion of sides though. And the Marquis Chocolate (aka the "suppository" - if you've had it, you know what I mean haha) was great. Q Smokehouse was a lower point, but not bad. I think my problem this time was that I wasn't particularly hungry. I also visited Taste as well as the Manhattan Room. I tend to gravitate to the buffet a lot simply because I eat a big breakfast (so many pastries!) and then maybe a snack and then an early dinner so it's just easier and faster as a solo. Plus I get to try new things!

**Food cons:** I think NCL drops the ball *a lot* on desserts. Their specialty dining desserts usually hit the mark but the buffet desserts always seem to be a low point. Thank goodness for ice cream, haha.

**Entertainment:** They ended *Jersey Boys* right before our cruise began and didn't replace it with anything, which was a major bummer. *Choir of Man* is starting on March 5 which is a good show but our week was pretty nothing as far as entertainment. I saw the Beatles tribute band twice and I thoroughly enjoyed them both times. If you can see them in the Theater instead of the Cavern Club its much better - way more seats and room. I also saw *Icons* which I enjoyed. The rest of the week it was a mix of comedians, "illusionists", and a juggler (?) which I had zero interest in.

**Entertainment cons:** Like I said before, I'm boring AF and go to bed early. Very early. It's unfortunate that NCL can't offer more *daytime* entertainment, even if just on sea days. The earliest shows were 7 or 730pm and then after 9pm. For those who want to relax at night or want to be well-rested for a port, there's not a lot of options for earlier shows. There are musicians/bands that play but it's usually crowded, people are wandering around getting drinks, having whole conversations, or loudly (and badly) singing along.

**Ports:** No real complaints about ports - Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo. The usual problem of *extremely* pushy drivers and shopkeepers. I know this is how they make a living but it actually makes me *less* likely to want to look at their shop/items if they're pressuring me. Also very unnerving as a solo woman to have a man suddenly in my path calling me "baby" and offering taxi or boat services. I did ship-organized excursions because I felt safer having it all planned out for me. It also made tendering in Cabo so much easier because I didn't have to get my own tender time.

**Ship and crew:** I think the ship is lovely. Beautifully appointed, great look. Easy to navigate once you get your bearings. Nice and clean. I always saw crew cleaning, tidying, stocking, or painting. The crew works hard and they respond fast when you need them. I left a note for my steward day one that my shower was draining slow and it was fixed within a few hours. One morning out to get my early coffee I spotted what looked like someone had gotten sick all over the corridor. I called guest services and it was cleaned up within an hour. I was never treated rudely that I can recall.

**Negatives:** Most of my complaints are with *guests* and not the ship or crew. People loudly complaining if the slightest thing didn't go their way. A man was loudly complaining on day 1 that we had to "find our own luggage" (luggage was lined up in the corridor) - like, SIR...they haven't DELIVERED THEM YET. People with no elevator etiquette. People vaping on the Waterfront. People walking past the "washy washy" without washy washy (y'all nasty). At one point I walked into the Studio Lounge to find a whole bunch of people in there with their kids - no idea how they got past key-card access but it was frustrating to have that "adult only" space disturbed.

Thank you for coming to my novel, I mean review. Happy Cruising, lovelies.