How We’re Planning Our April 2026 Norwegian Bliss Cruise (And What We Still Haven’t Figured Out Yet)

This wasn’t some long-term, perfectly mapped-out plan.

It started the way a lot of our trips do:

• Scrolling
• Browsing
• Saying, “We’re just looking…”

And then suddenly:

“Wait… this is actually a really good deal.”

We found it while digging through:

• Norwegian Cruise Line’s last-minute deals
• Repositioning cruise listings

And just like that…

A “maybe” turned into:

“Okay… are we actually doing this?”

This will be our third time on the Norwegian Bliss.

Which was definitely not the original plan.

• First sailing: Alaska for Melanie’s 50th birthday (and her first time back since being born in Ketchikan)
• Second sailing: A “why not?” Mexican Riviera cruise booked just 6 days before departure
• And now… somehow… here we are again

Three Bliss sailings in under a year.

Totally unplanned.
Zero regrets.

And what’s interesting is this:

The more ships we sail (Escape, Dawn, and others)…

The more we appreciate what the Bliss does really well.

But this cruise is different for another reason.

This is the one where we’re being more intentional about how we prepare.

On our last Bliss cruise, we started engaging in Facebook groups:

• Asking questions
• Answering questions
• Sharing what we were learning

Then we did it again on the Dawn.

And now?

We’re doing it again — but with more purpose.

Not just documenting the cruise…

But showing everything that happens before we even step onboard.

We don’t want to overplan.

But we also don’t believe in walking onto a ship without a plan.

For us, it’s about maximizing the experience while keeping realistic expectations — so we know we’ll have a great time no matter what.

This is where things start to get a little more structured.

Before we ever board, we’ve already:

• Looked through deck plans (multiple times)
• Picked out restaurants we want to try
• Noted bars, lounges, and quieter spaces
• Scoped out shows and entertainment options

Not to build a rigid schedule…

But to avoid that “What should we do right now?” feeling.

One advantage of this being our third sailing on the Bliss in less than a year is that we already know many of our favorite spots — and what we want to repeat.

But we also know what we missed.

For example:

• We plan to try Le Bistro for the first time
• We missed Spice H2O on both previous Bliss sailings

Weather may play a role, though.

Sailing from Los Angeles up to Victoria and Vancouver in April can be unpredictable.

We’re sailing out of Los Angeles (San Pedro), which we’ve done before — so we have a good sense of what to expect.

The structure of this cruise:

• Two sea days to start
• Victoria, BC
• Vancouver, BC

We’ve already started researching:

• What each port is known for
• What’s actually walkable vs. what requires transportation
• How to make the most of our time in port

Because port days can either feel smooth and enjoyable…

Or rushed and chaotic.

And that usually comes down to preparation.

We always review cruise line excursions.

But this time?

We’re not booking any of them.

Instead, we’re:

• Using excursions as research
• Pulling ideas from what’s offered
• Building our own plans for each port

Why?

Because we want flexibility.

And we also want to keep costs under control — which was part of the appeal of this cruise in the first place.

We want our days to feel like our trip…

Not a pre-packaged schedule.

For the third time in our last five cruises, two of our best friends — who are actually family — are joining us.

Which is great…

And also adds another layer to planning.

Now it’s about:

• Sharing ideas
• Comparing priorities
• Deciding what to do together
• And when it makes sense to split off

The goal isn’t to do everything together.

It’s to make sure everyone has a great trip.

We’re not keeping this planning process to ourselves.

We’re sharing it in Norwegian Bliss Facebook groups as we go.

That includes:

• What we’re researching
• What we’re deciding
• What we’re still figuring out

And some of the best ideas we’ve gotten have come from those conversations.

That’s part of what makes this process more interesting.

It’s not just planning…

It’s collaborative.

Even with all this preparation…

There’s still quite a bit we haven’t finalized.

Our Exact Daily Schedule

We have ideas.

We have options.

But we don’t have a detailed, hour-by-hour plan — and we’re not going to.

What we will do is have a clear embarkation day strategy.

Once we board:

• Muster station first
• Find the entertainment schedule
• Identify key shows and events
• Plan dining reservations around those

Especially our two specialty dining nights.

Because nothing’s more frustrating than realizing your plans overlap.

Final Port Day Plans

We’ve started researching Victoria and Vancouver…

But we’re not finished yet — and that’s intentional.

On our Alaska cruise, Victoria was a short late-night stop.

This time, we’re overnighting.

Which gives us the opportunity to see more of the city.

The same goes for Vancouver.

Our current plan:

• Head downtown for dinner and exploring
• Spend the next day exploring more before our 5:30 PM flight

But the details are still being worked out.

Disembarkation Day Strategy

This is one of the most overlooked parts of a cruise.

Our flight isn’t until 5:30 PM.

So we’ll have time after getting off the ship.

The challenge is figuring out how to use that time without creating unnecessary stress.

We’re still working through that.

What We’ll Actually Skip

This might be the most important decision of the trip.

Because you can’t do everything on a cruise.

And trying to usually leads to a worse experience.

So we’re intentionally thinking through:

What we’re completely fine skipping

What matters most

What would be nice to do

This might sound like a lot.

But it’s not about overplanning.

It’s about being prepared enough to enjoy the trip more.

Because when you:

• Know your options
• Make key decisions ahead of time
• Remove unnecessary friction

You don’t feel scheduled.

You feel relaxed.

As we get closer — and once we’re onboard — we’ll be sharing:

• What actually worked
• What we would change
• What surprised us
• What wasn’t worth it

Because the goal isn’t perfect planning.

It’s learning…

And making each trip better than the last.

We’re not packed yet.

We don’t have everything figured out.

And that’s part of the process.

But by the time we step onto the Bliss…

We’ll have a plan that makes the trip smoother, easier…

And a lot more enjoyable.