NORWEGIAN BLISS
January 14, 2026 | Mexican Riviera Cruise – Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Norwegian Bliss (Norwegian Cruise Line) reached Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on January 14, 2026, during our Mexican Riviera cruise. Set along Banderas Bay, the city was our first Mexican port after two days at sea sailing south from Los Angeles.
Norwegian Bliss visited Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on January 14, 2026, during our seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles. Sailing January 11–18, the voyage combined three Mexican ports with days at sea along the Pacific coast. This gallery documents Day 4 of our cruise, when the ship reached the southernmost destination on our itinerary before continuing north to Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.
Puerto Vallarta lies on the eastern shore of Banderas Bay in the state of Jalisco. Its coastal setting combines beaches, a historic town center and the mountains rising inland from the bay. The maritime terminal receives visiting cruise ships north of the city center, while the Malecón and older streets around the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe are among the destination’s best-known landmarks.
Our week aboard Norwegian Bliss began with two full days at sea before reaching Puerto Vallarta. The visit marked the start of three consecutive Mexican port calls, each offering a different view of the Pacific coast. These photographs form part of our record of the voyage, connecting the ship’s time in Banderas Bay with the following stops and our return to Southern California.
Information List
Ship: Norwegian Bliss
Operator: Norwegian Cruise Line
Builder: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Ship Class: Breakaway Plus
Delivered: April 19, 2018
Entered Service: 2018
Gross Tonnage: 168,028 GT
Length: 333.3 meters / approximately 1,094 feet
Beam: 41.4 meters / approximately 136 feet
Passenger Capacity: Approximately 4,010 at double occupancy
Crew: Approximately 1,716
Propulsion: Diesel-electric with electric pod propulsion
Service Speed: Approximately 22.5 knots
Ship Type: Cruise ship
Cruise: Seven-night Mexican Riviera
Cruise Dates: January 11–18, 2026
Departure Port: Los Angeles, California
Day: Day 4 – Puerto Vallarta
Date: January 14, 2026
Location: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Previous Days: Two days at sea following departure from Los Angeles
Next Port: Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico – January 15, 2026
Return Port: Los Angeles, California – January 18, 2026
Personal Voyage: Ocean Liner Photography sailed aboard Norwegian Bliss
January 2026 – Mexican Riviera Cruise
Our Seven-Night Voyage:
We boarded Norwegian Bliss in Los Angeles on January 11, 2026, for a seven-night roundtrip Mexican Riviera cruise.
The itinerary included Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.
January 12 and 13 were spent at sea as the ship sailed south along the Pacific coast.
Puerto Vallarta was our first Mexican destination, followed by Mazatlán the next day and Cabo San Lucas on January 16.
A final day at sea followed the Cabo San Lucas visit before the ship returned to Los Angeles on January 18.
The voyage added another firsthand shipboard journey to the Ocean Liner Photography collection.
Voyage Itinerary:
January 11 – Day 1: Departed Los Angeles, California.
January 12 – Day 2: At sea, sailing south along the Pacific coast.
January 13 – Day 3: At sea, continuing toward Mexico.
January 14 – Day 4: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
January 15 – Day 5: Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
January 16 – Day 6: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
January 17 – Day 7: At sea, returning north toward Southern California.
January 18 – Day 8: Arrived in Los Angeles and disembarked.
Puerto Vallarta – Day 4:
Norwegian Bliss reached Puerto Vallarta on January 14, 2026, after two consecutive days at sea.
The call was the first of three Mexican destinations during our cruise.
Puerto Vallarta’s position on Banderas Bay made it the southernmost port on this itinerary.
The city’s maritime terminal accommodates cruise ships visiting Mexico’s Pacific coast.
The historic center, Malecón and beaches are prominent parts of the destination.
Our photographs document the ship during this stop before the voyage continued north to Mazatlán.
The Mexican Riviera:
The Mexican Riviera is an established cruise region along Mexico’s Pacific coastline.
Roundtrip sailings from Southern California commonly include Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.
Puerto Vallarta is set along Banderas Bay, Mazatlán combines a historic city with a working commercial harbor, and Cabo San Lucas lies near the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.
Our seven-night voyage included three port days and three full days at sea.
The January cruise formed part of Norwegian Bliss’s winter operations along the Pacific coast.
History and Features
Construction and Launch:
Norwegian Bliss was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, for Norwegian Cruise Line.
She is the third ship in the Breakaway Plus class, following Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Joy.
The ship floated out of the building dock on February 17, 2018.
Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery on April 19, 2018.
Her christening took place in Seattle on May 30, 2018, with radio personality Elvis Duran serving as godfather.
Her introduction included preview visits to New York, Miami and Los Angeles before the inaugural Alaska season.
Design and Technical:
The ship measures approximately 333.3 meters in length, with a beam of 41.4 meters and a gross tonnage of 168,028 GT.
Norwegian Cruise Line currently lists approximately 4,010 passengers at double occupancy.
Her diesel-electric machinery supplies power for shipboard operations and electric propulsion pods.
The Breakaway Plus design combines extensive accommodations with restaurants, entertainment venues and outdoor public spaces.
Marine wildlife artist Wyland created the whale-themed hull artwork, titled “Cruising with the Whales.”
The design’s centerpiece depicts a humpback whale and calf, reflecting the ship’s original connection with Alaska.
Designed for Alaska:
Norwegian Bliss was developed with Alaska cruising as an important part of her intended service.
The enclosed Observation Lounge provides forward-facing panoramic views.
The Waterfront promenade offers outdoor viewing areas and restaurant seating along the sides of the ship.
Energy efficiency and emission-control systems were important elements of the ship’s engineering.
These observation spaces also suit other coastal itineraries, including the Mexican Riviera.
Onboard Features:
One of the ship’s best-known attractions is the two-level electric go-kart racetrack.
Recreational facilities include waterslides, pool areas and outdoor gathering spaces.
The Haven provides a separate suite accommodation complex with dedicated facilities.
A refurbishment in 2025 introduced Horizon Park, an outdoor space with games and loungers.
The work also expanded Cagney’s Steakhouse and Teppanyaki and introduced the Palomar seafood restaurant.
Updated suites and additional balcony accommodations formed part of the same refurbishment.
Service:
Norwegian Bliss entered service in 2018 and became closely associated with Norwegian Cruise Line’s Alaska program.
Her deployments have included Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, the Caribbean and other North American itineraries.
Seattle has served as an important departure port for her Alaska seasons.
Los Angeles has supported her Mexican Riviera operations during parts of the autumn and winter.
Our January 11–18, 2026, voyage followed a seven-night roundtrip itinerary with calls at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas.
Notable Notes:
This gallery forms part of our personal January 2026 cruise aboard Norwegian Bliss.
Puerto Vallarta was our first Mexican port and Day 4 of the voyage.
Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas followed on the next two days.
The photographs connect this port visit with the other galleries documenting our week aboard the ship.
OLP Social: Day 4 of our seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise brought us to Puerto Vallarta on Banderas Bay, our first port after two days at sea from Los Angeles.
