NCL Bliss Day Four | Puerto Vallarta | Mexican Cooking And Shopping Excursion

Day 4 of our 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise on the Norwegian Bliss takes us to Puerto Vallarta—a gorgeous port, but one that can be a little tricky to navigate compared to the others. We start very early (5:15am for a 7:00am call time) and meet in the Bliss Theater for a cruise-line excursion (Puerto Vallarta is not a tender port, so getting on/off the ship is smooth and easy). Our day turns into a total adventure: a quick city tour to the Malecón, a glimpse of the beach, plaza, and cathedral (we wish we’d had more time there), and then a couple of shopping stops that felt a bit “tour-operator incentivized” (silver shop, etc.). The real surprise? A bumpy, off-road ride in a sprinter van up into the Sierra Madre to a stunning mountain resort—where the highlight of the day is a hands-on Mexican cooking class making salsa and guacamole with a super fun group vibe. After exploring the resort (yes—dogs and horses are everywhere, which we loved), we head back through Puerto Vallarta’s security and share a big tip: be careful about trying to bring anything questionable back onto the ship, because PV security can be strict about confiscations. We also check out the port shopping area, catch an incredible sail-away moment with the port pilot (including a fun goodbye), and even spot Steve Jobs’ yacht in port. Back onboard, we keep it chill with a spa visit (and a reminder: don’t be the person filming in the spa), grab drinks, get hilariously derailed by a raffle win, and end the night with dinner in The Manhattan Room—the ship’s largest main dining room. We wrap up with a preview of Day 5 in Mazatlán, which is a port you can absolutely do on your own without paying extra for an excursion. In this video: Puerto Vallarta port tips (and why it’s not the easiest to DIY) Early-morning excursion logistics + smooth disembarkation Malecón / beach / plaza / cathedral quick stop The shopping-stop reality of some excursions Off-roading in a van to a mountain resort (wild ride!) Mexican cooking class: salsa + guac (highlight of the day) PV security & what not to bring back onboard Sail-away moment with the port pilot + surprise yacht sighting Spa time, onboard vibes, and dinner at The Manhattan Room Teaser for Mazatlán (Day 5)