BlushPell

I have stayed in the Joy Haven and also have had Vibe passes on a different cruise(Getaway). I wouldn’t sail in the Haven again. The Haven sun deck was always full and I never got a seat. The bar service was slow and sometimes non existent. The Vibe however I have always gotten a lounger with great service. Ice water was brought the moment I sat down and some fruit was brought at a later time. The staff knew my name. In the Haven the staff never knew my name or even that I was an Haven guest. And the best part no children. Yes the Vibe doesn’t have a pool  when I sailed the haven pool and hot tub had a bunch of kids in it. 

I am hoping the Joy leaves Bermuda as scheduled and gets to NYC for my departure on Monday. 

Just off the Escape two weeks ago it was ready deck by deck and not in any type of order. 

When I called my PCC yesterday he gave me the option of only upgrading one passenger if I wanted to. Maybe call instead of using the website since their site is glitchy at times.

2 hours ago, Mike C said:

Just a heads-up, it might not be that easy to get a taxi near the cruise terminal, especially for a short trip to GCT. There is a taxi stand across the street, but the city doesn’t staff it. It’s chaotic. Someone will be screening the people looking for a cab, trying to find the airport fares.  There will be a few fake “Uber” drivers looking to grab fares, telling you that their car is a down the block.  If you take your time coming off the ship, it might be worth it to try and grab a cab outside the second floor of the terminal where the taxis are dropping off customers.  Last time, we tried for a cab to GCT and then called an Uber.  The driver told us he prefers to pick up on the second floor, since it’s less congested.  Good luck, and have a great cruise.

I second this and have had the exact same experience/problem debarking in NYC. Don’t fall for the fake drivers you will get scammed. Also the taxis won’t want to drive you a short distance to the train station they are looking for bigger fares. Although it’s illegal to refuse a fare they find ways around it. Do yourself a favor and call an Uber.

Food Republic is a favorite of mine. Last cruise we used our dining credits and ate there three times. Twice we used one credit for four items which was plenty for two people. The last day we still had a credit for two people and couldn’t eat the 8 items that were included, we only made it through 6 of them. You can split  the credit and use it for four items each time you go. On the Joy we ate there for lunch as well as dinner.

24 minutes ago, RMLincoln said:

Thanks for the info. I’m hoping the onboard app will show restaurant times and allow us to text each other to coordinate. 
 

Do they have room service breakfast on debarkation day?  

No room service on debarkation day.

Thanks for sharing and sorry it didn’t live up to expectations. I had a similar experience on the Joy in July it was just too crowded sailing at just shy of 4900(I was told) which was well over the double capacity of around 3800. The over capacity BA+ class ships are loud and crowded. 
 

Glad you had some good experiences as well.

2 hours ago, kentuckmn said:

I guess we didn't realize it was an island. Thanks for the info. Uber may be our best bet as we don't even know what we were planning on doing.

Newport the city isn’t an island itself but is on Aquidneck(Rhode) Island. The traffic getting on and off and around can be a bit of a pain. Uber is a good option and the drivers know the roads well. There is plenty to do and you will enjoy whatever you decide. Have fun!

I am not sure where you are planning to go with the car rental but the parking in Newport can be a bit of a challenge and add up. There is a trolley that goes around if that is something that would work. Being a tender port you wouldn’t have all day to use the car since you would have to plan on the time for tendering. Traffic getting on and off island can take a bit of time too. May I ask where you were thinking of heading to, just to get an idea of what might help.

If the car rental still is of interest the closest would be Enterprise in Middletown they open at 8 am.

4 hours ago, leithbones said:

15 day caribbean from NY, Getaway, Nov 2023.  Angled Balcony.

Weighing upgrade bid to Haven variants (we've never been, Min = $600pp)

vs.

Vibe @ $290pp

Only 1 new port of 10 for us, so we may stay aboard more frequently than in the past.

I've scoured Vibe threads and Haven threads.

Thoughts on comparisons for those who have done both?

I just got off the Joy and booked my first Haven room. I wouldn’t do it again. I know there are lots of people who love it but for me the Haven area is too closed in and you don’t have open access to the outside on most of the loungers except for the sun deck.

The Haven sun deck was completely full on sea days I was unable to get a lounger and all seats were gone by 7 am. People got up at 530 am to secure seating on the sun deck. Also I didn’t like sitting in the enclosed area of the Haven (I like to see the ocean not frosted windows).  So I ended up sitting on my balcony to be outside and avoid the pool deck crowds. I have felt much less crowded in Vibe than I did in the Haven.

I have NEVER had a problem getting a lounger in Vibe and also the bar service is much better in Vibe than the Haven, there were many times in the Haven that drinks took upwards of 20 mins to arrive. The bar area is often crowded in the Haven and not crowded in Vibe. 

Also the music played on the Haven sun deck was annoying and even if there had been a seat I wouldn’t have liked listening to it or smelling the smoke from the smoking area in the front of the sun deck. 
 

While my stateroom was lovely and butler service was good sometimes the Haven restaurant was a flop for us. The food we found repetitive and boring and we ate elsewhere after trying eating there a few nights, the service wasn’t great and the food was just ok.

Personally I would book Vibe and some specialty dining. You will get the attentive service, space and good food for much less than the Haven and will be assured of getting everything you book. I know people may disagree but that is just my thoughts.

I’ve done self disembarkation from the Pearl and been in the parking lot by 8:30 depends when the ship arrives and then starts the process. If you can carry all of your luggage you can leave pretty early. Also if you self disembark you can walk off anytime. Just remember you need to have all your baggage with you with that option.

7 minutes ago, KarenRB said:

Saw I have a 10% off in my account (nice surprise) on a cruise through March 31st.  I'm free mid-February thru the end of March. Don't normally cruise that time of year but would do it if I could guarantee I could get a Vibe or Posh pass.  Is it possible to find out if they're available before finalizing a booking?  Thanks in advance.

Try messaging someone in the roll call. Once I called and asked NCL and the agent said they couldn’t tell me until I booked. Not sure if that is always the case. Someone who is already booked for the sailing you want would be able to check.

27 minutes ago, GTJ said:

That is incredible. We're talking about yellow taxis, correct? TLC regulations require that, excepting some unusual circumstances, that rear doors cannot be locked. "While on duty and operating for-hire, a Driver must not lock either of the rear doors except with the consent or at the request of a Passenger or for a reason specified in these rules."

 

A strategy some people have used, when peppered with a driver request for destination, is to initially provide a false destination (e.g., Kennedy airport), and once moving state that the destination has been changed.

Yes it was yellow cabs. Most were the van type larger so I think they wanted families and airport runs(at least that is what one driver told us)

Maybe that is why they stand outside their cabs so they can lock the doors since they aren’t in the vehicle.

Thanks for the tips hopefully next time will be better. 

9 hours ago, Noxequifans said:

We have had a number of experiences hailing a cab after a trip at MCT.  As some have said, we hailed a cab just across the street from the pier. When the number of people there waiting seemed too many, we went over one block and hailed a cab with ease. 

I tried that and asked several while walking about a mile or so away from the ship to take us. Cabs that were blocks away wouldn’t take us either. Finally about a mile away someone had gotten out and we got in.

All the drivers wouldn’t open any doors or trunks for us we asked about 6 of them so I couldn’t get in to demand anything. They were all standing outside of their cabs and saw it was just two of us with carry on luggage. I could have taken photos and made phone calls to report them but at that point I just wanted to go home and didn’t feel like arguing.

Next trip I’ll try Uber or worst case walk.

Well I just returned and wanted to add that there were plenty of taxis waiting….and NONE of them would take us to the train station. They were all waiting for bigger fares to the airport. There was one person who approached us right away to take us but ended up being a “gypsy cab” with no meter and was going to ask a ridiculous amount to ride in his “car”. 

I walked about a mile to the station and finally got a cab about a mile away after trying to get cabs along the way all refusing to take us. What a racket. I’ve never used Uber so I was hesitant to try it being so unfamiliar with it in large city but I will have to revisit learning how when I cruise again from NYC next month. I wish I could cancel the cruise but it’s too late, but I know I will never cruise again from NYC after this, it is just too much of a scammy hassle.

I have nothing against Goth but I was on a cruise in the past that had a large group. The Trailer Park boys which was supposed to be a charter for the whole ship and didn’t sell out. I found out only after booking and couldn’t cancel since it was too close to sailing. I wouldn’t take another cruise again where there is a large group. It did affect the cruise I was on and not in a favorable way. I still had a good time but the experience was not the same as other cruises.

If the group is large I would cancel and rebook but that’s just me.

Here is the official website for more info https://gothiccruise.com/faq

This happened to me three times this year. When I called the tech department I mentioned they really should have a spot that you can enter the information yourself. It is a pain. NCL tech is really behind in a lot of ways.

11 minutes ago, www3traveler said:

Not for long because beginning on the 10th of September, The Escape will be sailing out of New York City for a series of New England cruises followed by a series of cruises to Bermuda before returning to Port Canaveral for the Winter Season according to NCL's website.

Escape actually starts the New England sailings even earlier. I am on the September 03 sailing from NYC.

Thank you so much for posting all about your trip. So glad you made it home safely and had a great time!

Hello I have cruised from  the Manhattan cruise terminal last year and found it difficult to get a cab once crossing the street.

I have a cruise on the Joy arriving August 6 2023 and I will be trying to get from the cruise terminal to the Moynihan Train station after debarking. When I crossed the street last year it was just a large disorganized group of people all waiting for cabs and no cabs were stopping.

Is there a better way to get a cab? I asked in the terminal last time and they just said to go across the street. I believe in the past there may have been a dispatcher but there wasn’t one last year. 
 

Any tips? Should I just get an Uber? Does Uber pick up at the same location? Thanks 

Glad you had a great time and I love the Joy as well.

I took the glass bottom boat and snorkel. The boat ride was nice and seeing the wreck through the glass bottom was interesting but the snorkeling area they took us too was lousy. It was good for someone who doesn’t swim well as there were currents outside of the area that we were in. I think that they took us to a very safe area for swimming but there wasn’t much to see. It was probably the worst snorkeling I have ever done but might be enough for a child who just wants to see a few fish in an easy to swim area.

59 minutes ago, Dorhead1230 said:

Good morning! Eight days to go—huzzah! Here’s questions for any past Joy cruisers who may be reading this…upon embarkation, what location is used on the Joy for dining reservations? (We have our main specialties booked, but I want to reserve Food Republic). Or, does FR come up to reserve on the screens? Also, is it the same location to book laser tag? LM is too little for go karts but he is fully committed to trying out the laser tag.

Yes the Food Republic on Joy takes reservations on the touch screens. I am not sure about laser tag though. You can make all dining reservations on the touch screens.

I am not sure if you need to use your minutes. This is a recent daily and it mentions that the use of cruisecritic is free so maybe you will be able to use it free as well.