If you are following our social media pages (which you should be!) you will have seen that Travel Machine had the opportunity to be on the inaugural sailing of the Norwegian Bliss out of Miami, Florida at the beginning of May. The Bliss is one of the most highly-anticipated ships to date for Norwegian Cruises. It holds the largest competitive race track at sea, open-air laser tag course, Aqua Racer waterslides, exclusive specialty dining & bar concepts, as well as Broadway-caliber entertainment, luxurious accommodations in the Haven, and so much more. A special feature is the quarter-mile wraparound oceanfront promenade that allows you to connect with the ocean while experiencing some of the ships signature venues.

Food & Drink 

With so many options on board to eat and drink it can get overwhelming on what to choose. Luckily, we did a little taste test for you to help better narrow your options. The main dining rooms Savor & Taste are a great way to get a little bit of everything that The Bliss has to offer. The menus are filled with so many fresh seafood options and decadent desserts paired with the best wine choices. The Garden Cafe’, the buffet-style eatery, is a great option to grab a quick lunch when you need a break from the sun. A plethora of different types of cuisine including Asian, Indian, traditional style American & so much more is included for your dining pleasures. One of our days onboard included a seafood buffet which had all of the fresh oysters, crab legs, shrimp and lobster that you could want!

The ship also has many specialty dining options available which are defiantly worth the extra cost. We had the opportunity to dine at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea and the Tuscan inspired restaurant La Cucina. They both had amazing food and drink options. La Cucina has the special outdoor seating, which you won’t find on many cruise ships.

Of course, the ship is filled with so many places to grab a drink before dinner and places to wind down or dance the night away. We spent one of our evenings rocking out with Live Beatles music at The Cavern Club. We were bopping along to different eras of Beatles tunes performed by a group of loveable rockers who were the spittin’ image of the Fab Four. Finding live music on the ship won’t be a problem. Some time was also spent at the Maltings Whiskey Bar that has a unique international variety of spirits, you can sip your way around the world without leaving your chair.

Entertainment

The nightly entertainment onboard does not disappoint! Including the Tony Award-Winning Broadway show Jersey Boys, Happy Hour Prohibition- The Musical and making its world debut ¡HAVANA!. This musical is a celebration of Cuba’s music and culture, journeying back in time to its 1950s heyday. The beautiful colors and costumes along with the catchy music make for a great end to a fun-filled day.  There are also many theme nights available as well and even a silent disco, which you can’t knock till you try it!

With the race track, laser tag & waterslides there really is no shortage of fun that can be had. We also may have tested out the waterslide a few times…. you know…for science purposes.

This only scratches the surface of what the Norwegian Bliss really has to offer. If you want more details you can contact our office and we would be happy to help you experience all The Bliss has to offer for your next vacation! (337) 981-7870 – info@travelmachine.net

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One of our favorite quotes says it best, “You will never be completely at home again because part of your heart will always be elsewhere.” That is how one of our agents felt after her trip to England & Scotland with Contiki.

Contiki promises to deliver 18 to 35-year-olds their bucket list destinations and fulfill their travel dreams. Having experienced Contiki first hand, we can say wholeheartedly that they practice what they preach! Contiki remains cost-focused so they cater more towards the experience of the destination than the level of stars for the hotel. Many of the hotels along this adventure were 3-star properties. While all of them were very clean and comfortable, they are not for someone looking for more luxurious accommodations.  Contiki also assigns a roommate if you are traveling alone and would prefer not to pay a single supplement fee. This goes along with the Contiki philosophy of getting out of your comfort zone and meeting new people. When you mention the words “Escorted Tour” most mind’s fill with visions of long lines, big groups, and a flag-waving tour guide at the head of the group. Contiki takes all of the ideas you have about guided tours and turns them inside out. Most days you get free time to wander around the city alone or with your new friends that you’ve made but you do still get the comfort of traveling with a group and having transportation.

For any of Contiki’s trips starting in London, they have a “kick start meeting” held in their Contiki Basement, located at the Royal National Hotel. This meeting is to meet the Contiki Staff, tour guide and driver, your fellow travelers, and give you an overview of what your trip is going to look like.

The first night’s adventures included a late-night production of London’s STOMP. It is a lively show filled with talented percussionists creating music from literally anything they can get their hands on! The rest of the evening was left open to go off with fellow travelers and explore London’s exciting nightlife. After breakfast the next morning, the group had free time to explore all of the London sites, including Big Ben, Parliament, the London Bridge, the London Eye and so many more- a whirlwind day of tourist attractions.

On the third day, the group loaded up onto the Contiki coach and headed towards Liverpool, home of the Beatles. The day was spent exploring the wonderful city’s downtown shops, waterfront, and even a ride on a Ferris wheel! In the evening, everyone headed down to the Cavern Club where the Beatles first got their start. A night full of singing all of the Beatles greatest hits and plenty drinks to go around. This is definitely a must in this port city for any diehard Beatles fans! No better way than to start the morning by taking a drive through Liverpool and getting a guided Beatles tour of all of their favorite spots and a quick visit to Penny Lane with a photo op in front of the Penny Lane sign!

The group then headed off to York. This historic 13th-century walled city has over 1900+ years of history. The narrow cobblestoned streets are easily walkable and as small as the city is, it has quite a lot to offer. York is home to The Shambles, which takes its name from the Saxon word shamel, meaning “slaughterhouse”. In the 1800s there were 60+ butcher shops along the streets. Thankfully today the butchers are long gone, but the small cobbled lane is lined with 15th century  Tudor buildings, making it the most picturesque streets in Britain. J.K. Rowling even took some inspiration from The Shambles modeling Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley after the streets.

York is also home to the most haunted bar in England, the Golden Fleece! Built in 1503, the building has become so warped and misshapen that when you place your beer on a table, the degree of tilt makes your beer spill out of your glass! Another great activity is just to walk around the medieval walls of the city. It has a truly whimsical and dreamy landscape. Our group happened upon an old brick house where we had afternoon tea. An afternoon spent with specialty tea along with scones, clotted cream, apricot and raspberry jam is never an afternoon wasted!

The next stop was England’s Lake District. The group started the day with a ferry ride around the nearby lake, roaming around boutique shops and restaurants that were spread out around the little town. This area of England is vividly picturesque and perfect for a simple afternoon to wander around and get lost.

The final stop of the adventure was in Edinburg, Scotland. This city dates back to the early 15th century and is the center of education and medicine for Scotland. The ‘Royal Mile” is the center of the city, which runs up to the hilltop-perched Royal Castle.

The best way to see and get a feel for the city is to just walk around and explore. There are so many shops, pubs, and restaurants all over the winding streets and alleyways. There is truly something magical about this city. J.K. Rowling made it even more magical by drawing majority of her inspiration for the Harry Potter series from Edinburgh. She started writing the novels in a little cafe just off the Royal Mile called “Elephant House”. You can even sit at the same table she sat with a great view of Edinburgh.

Something not to miss is Edinburgh’s Scotch Whisky Experience. It is home to the largest whiskey collection in the entire world and takes you through all of the regions of Scotland and what makes each bottle of whiskey unique. Meandering through the Royal Castle and learning about centuries of history within its walls is a great way to end a truly magical trip!

This week was truly an amazing adventure and getting to leave with 30 more friends was just icing on the cake! Have you discovered a new favorite city in an unlikely place? Let us know what adventure Travel Machine can plan for you next!