Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to go onboard the brand-new Norwegian Bliss with my 17-year-old son Henry. The new ship has lots of offerings for families, but what gets the highest marks? I asked Henry for his top five.
Racetrack
Description: The standout experience on Norwegian Bliss is the largest go-kart racetrack at sea.
Henry Says: “It’s cool that you can compete against others in your group. And even though the cars are silent, I love that they pump racing sounds into the helmets. It really adds to the ride.”
Ocean Loops Waterslide
Description: The Ocean Loops is a drop slide — where the floor drops away, sending the rider into the tube — that extends over the side of the ship.
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Henry Says: “OK, I’ll be real about this one: It’s scary. But it’s also amazing and deserves a top spot just because it’s so wild.”
Laser Tag
Description: An open-air laser tag course with a space-station theme.
Henry Says: “Big thumbs up. It was especially fun to play at night, under the stars. I was going to play it only once, but I ended up doing it over and over again, joining different groups of players.”
Duckpin Bowling
Description: Inside The Local restaurant and bar is a small duckpin bowling alley.
Henry Says: “I’m all about the video games — which you can play in the onboard arcade — but the old-school bowling alley was really fun, too. It’s sort of hidden, so you have to look for it, but it’s worth it.”
Q and Coco’s
Description: Q serves Texas barbecue along with live honky-tonk music, and Coco’s specializes in all things chocolate.
Henry Says: “I had to list both these places because I couldn’t choose which one I liked more. The barbecue platter at Q was lit — although I didn’t love the country music there. And the hot chocolate and chocolate crepes at Coco’s were amazing. I suggest dinner at Q, but save room for dessert at Coco’s.”
The Details
Norwegian Cruise Line
www.ncl.com
