Norwegian Bliss Cabins to Avoid: Noisy & Obstructed Rooms

What Norwegian Bliss rooms are you supposed to avoid? In brief: avoid the cabins on Deck 15 that are located below the deck with the pool and the buffet; the cabins above the crowded public spaces on Deck 8; the cabins near elevator shafts and stairwells; the cabins in the bow area on lower decks in case you easily suffer from seasickness; connecting rooms unless you really require them; and any cabins close to the crew areas not marked on the deck plan. The aft cabins on upper decks near the go-karting area and the cabins in the bow section need further consideration.

That's the quick answer. But cabin selection on a ship this size deserves more than a checklist, because the difference between a great week at sea and a frustrating one often comes down to a few feet on a deck plan. Two staterooms can share the same category, the same price, and nearly the same position on the ship — yet one delivers blissful quiet while the other treats you to scraping deck chairs at 6 a.m. and thumping bass at midnight.

This guide walks through exactly which Norwegian Bliss cabins to avoid, why each location causes problems, and which staterooms are worth booking instead.

Getting to Know the Norwegian Bliss

Launched in 2018 as part of Norwegian Cruise Line's Breakaway Plus class, the Norwegian Bliss carries around 4,000 guests across 20 decks. She's best known for her Alaska and Caribbean itineraries, a two-level go-kart Speedway up top, an open-air laser tag arena, the adults-only Spice H2O area, and the glass-wrapped Observation Lounge designed with glacier viewing in mind.

Staterooms fall into a handful of familiar categories:

• Inside (Interior) cabins are the least expensive choice — small, box-like, and dark, as there are no windows or any way to let in natural light.
• Studio staterooms have been designed specifically for solo travelers with access to the private Studio Lounge, avoiding paying the hated double-occupancy surcharge.
• Oceanview cabins come with a picture window, providing natural light and the sight of the sea without having to pay extra for a balcony.
• Balcony cabins make up the bulk of all the cabins aboard and are the perfect choice for most cruisers, particularly when sailing around Alaska.
• Club Balcony Suites (previously Mini-Suites) provide some extra space and benefits without the full price of a suite.
• The Haven is a unique resort-like ship within a ship, located near the top deck, featuring its own private pool, lounge, dining room, and concierge services.

Of course, knowing the cabin categories is only part of the story. In the Bliss, the location of the cabin becomes just as important as the category itself.

Norwegian Bliss Cabins to Avoid

Here are the specific locations that generate the most complaints from past passengers — and why.

Deck 15 Cabins Directly Below the Pool Deck and Buffet

If there's one location on the Bliss that earns the most consistent warnings, it's this one. Deck 16 is home to the main pool, kids' aqua park, and the Garden Café buffet — which means Deck 15 staterooms sit directly beneath the busiest, loudest real estate on the entire ship.

Crew members typically rearrange loungers and set up the pool area in the very early morning hours, and the sound of furniture dragging across the deck transmits straight through the ceiling. Add early-riser deck chairs, running kids, pool parties, and buffet foot traffic, and Deck 15 can feel like sleeping under a busy street.

The fix: If you want a high-deck cabin for quick pool access, choose one with staterooms above and below it — Decks 12 through 14 midship are a much safer bet.

Cabins Above the Deck 8 Entertainment Zone

Deck 8 on the Bliss is a public deck packed with venues: the Waterfront promenade, bars, restaurants, and nightlife spots that stay lively well past midnight. Cabins on Deck 9 positioned directly above these venues — particularly above bars with live music or late-night entertainment — can pick up bass and crowd noise through the floor.

Many of NCL's lounges operate as regular entertainment venues in the early evening and then shift into full nightclub mode around 10 or 11 p.m., which is precisely when most cruisers are trying to wind down.

The fix: Study the Deck 8 plan before booking anything on Deck 9. If your prospective cabin sits above a bar, lounge, or music venue, move midship or up a few decks.

Staterooms Next to Elevator Banks and Stairwells

This one applies to every deck. Cabins immediately adjacent to elevator lobbies deal with constant foot traffic, conversations in the corridor at all hours, and the chime of arriving elevators. The issue isn't just people walking past your door — on cabins flanking the lobby, guests are often walking and talking alongside your cabin wall, which is less soundproofed than you'd hope.

The fix: Aim for cabins a few doors down from the elevator bank. You'll keep the convenience without the corridor soundtrack. (One aft-balcony guest on Deck 13 described their location as close enough to the elevators to be handy, but far enough to escape the noise — that's the balance to aim for.)

Far-Forward Cabins on Lower Decks (If You Get Seasick) 

Forward staterooms feel the ocean's movement more than any other part of the ship, especially in rougher waters — a real consideration on open-ocean stretches of an Alaska itinerary. Forward-facing balconies on higher decks come with an extra catch: wind. Some guests report barely using their forward balcony because the airflow at sailing speed made it unpleasant, and in genuinely rough weather the captain can restrict access to forward balconies entirely.

The fix: Motion-sensitive cruisers should book midship, where the ship pivots least. Midship on a middle deck is the most stable spot on the entire vessel.

Cabins Near Unmarked Spaces on the Deck Plan

Here's a trick seasoned cruisers swear by: scan the deck plan for blank, unlabeled areas near your prospective cabin. Those white spaces are usually crew work areas, service corridors, pantries, or storage — and crew activity in them often peaks overnight, when staff are preparing for the next day. Cabins beside, above, or below these zones can experience door slams, rolling carts, and voices at hours when the rest of the ship is silent.

The fix: If the cabins around yours suddenly stop and give way to unmarked space, pick a different stateroom surrounded by other cabins on all sides.

Aft Cabins Beneath the Speedway and Upper-Deck Attractions

The Bliss's famous two-level go-kart track sits on the upper aft decks, with laser tag nearby. It's a genuine highlight of the ship — electric karts are quieter than gas ones, but the rumble of wheels overhead and the activity around the attraction can still filter down to the highest aft staterooms during operating hours.

The fix: The Speedway runs during the day and evening rather than overnight, so this is a lighter concern than pool-deck noise — but very light sleepers and nap-lovers should still favor midship over high-aft locations.

Connecting Cabins You Don't Need

Connecting staterooms are brilliant for families booking both sides of the door. If you're only booking one side, however, that interior door transmits noticeably more sound than a standard cabin wall. Your neighbors' television, conversations, and alarm clock become part of your cruise.

The fix: Deck plans mark connecting cabins clearly. Unless you're using the connection, choose a standard stateroom.

Obstructed-View Staterooms (Unless You Know What You're Getting)

A handful of oceanview and balcony cabins have views partially blocked by lifeboats or structural elements. NCL labels these categories and prices them lower, so they can actually be a smart buy — but only if you go in with open eyes. The frustration comes when guests expecting a postcard panorama end up staring at the top of a tender.

The fix: Read the category description carefully. If an unbroken sea view matters to you, confirm your cabin carries no obstruction note before booking.

Guarantee Cabins (If Location Matters to You)

A "guarantee" booking locks in your category at a discount but lets NCL assign your specific cabin later — and the unsold cabins that get assigned are disproportionately the very locations this article warns about. If you've read this far, you clearly care about location, which makes a guarantee rate a gamble that's usually not worth the savings.

The fix: Pay the modest premium to select your exact stateroom. It's the cheapest insurance policy on your entire cruise.

The Best Cabins on Norwegian Bliss

Avoiding the duds is half the job — here's where the Bliss genuinely shines:

• Midship balconies on Decks 10–14. The gold standard: stable, quiet when buffered by cabins above and below, and steps from everything. On Alaska sailings, a balcony transforms glacier days.
• Aft-facing balconies. These staterooms overlook the ship's wake with sweeping views in multiple directions, and their balconies often run noticeably larger than standard ones. They book up fast for good reason.
• Club Balcony Suites. More room, a larger bathroom, and extra perks for a moderate step up in price — a strong value play for couples who want breathing space without Haven pricing.
• The Haven. If budget allows, the private courtyard, pool, restaurant, and concierge service create a boutique-hotel experience atop a big ship. Following the ship's 2025 refurbishment, the top-end Haven accommodations were upgraded further, including expansive multi-bedroom suites with wraparound balconies.
• Studio staterooms. Solo travelers get a cleverly designed cabin plus a private lounge for meeting fellow single cruisers — no single supplement required.
• Deck 5 staterooms. An underrated pick: far below the pool deck and theater noise, close to the kids' and teens' clubs, and convenient for disembarkation in port. The trade-off is a longer trip up to the buffet and pools.

Quick Checklist Before You Book

• Look up, look down. Check what occupies the deck directly above and below your cabin. Cabins sandwiched between other cabins are the quiet ones.
• Scan for blank spaces. Unmarked areas on the deck plan usually mean crew zones — keep your distance.
• Match the cabin to the itinerary. Alaska rewards a balcony; a port-intensive Caribbean run may make an inside or oceanview the smarter spend.
• Check real guest reviews. Cruise forums often contain photos and firsthand reports on specific cabin numbers.
• Book early. The best-located staterooms — especially aft balconies — disappear first. The longer you wait, the more likely you'll be choosing from the leftovers this guide told you to avoid.

Final Thoughts

The Norwegian Bliss is a spectacular ship, and the honest truth is that most of her staterooms are perfectly comfortable. But "most" isn't "all," and the handful of problem locations — under the pool deck, over the nightclubs, beside the elevators, next to the crew corridors — are entirely avoidable with ten minutes of deck-plan homework. Do that homework, book midship if you're unsure, and the only thing keeping you up at night will be deciding between the go-karts and another round at the Observation Lounge.