quercus alba

Go back to the Roll Calls for Joy and click the "Start a New Topic" button there (just like you did to start this thread).

That's all that's involved. 

Sometimes they make these forums more confusing than they need to be. 

(I'll be 3 weeks behind you.)

There is also 24 hr pizza delivery, is there not? For a small fee (to limit waste).

7 hours ago, Hollyann said:

Sorry, I did not take pictures. I can tell you for breakfast as soon as you ordered, you could go up to a small "salad bar" type area, that had a small assortment of fresh cut fruit (orange/grapefruit slices or melon slices, etc). They also had yogurt parfaits, etc. that you could have a healthy snack immediately while waiting for your eggs benedict (my cruise favorite), or thick french toast, etc. waiting to be served. 

Crab cakes benedict still on the menu?

10 hours ago, Hollyann said:

...We were allowed to eat breakfast and lunch in La Cucina which was nice - always a table ready - no wait and decent food and fast service - comparatively.

We'll be in a deck 14 concierge Family Inside next March.

So, down 6 decks--and Bloody Mary on the Waterfront every morning.

Perfect. 

You should be ON BOARD 2 hours before they leave. I've heard of folks being turned away with less than that. 

We arrived at ~2 PM and had almost no line (8 years ago, TBH, so ymmv)-- so that at least gives you a nice long morning to hang out in the Gothic Quarter.

2 hours ago, graphicguy said:

That ship hasn’t sailed in 7 years!

OK--"FINAL" sailing...

This reminds me of when I booked our first cruise, which just happened to be Epic in its first season in the Med. When I came here for more information there was a flurry of negativity: "Smoky casino!", "Nickel and diming!", "Omigod! Transparent bathrooms!!" After reading several, I realized that the stuff they were complaining about didn't matter too much to me, nor affect what I expected from a Mediterranean cruise, so we went and had the time of our lives! (Even though I had a devil of a time getting a good cup of coffee that week! 😛)

So OP--take it with a grain of salt, evaluate whether it really truly is a "make or break" issue for you and yours, and embark with a happy, go with the flow attitude. All three of our prior cruises have been "tainted" with some inconvenience or imperfection (you can read my reviews and look for those things if you want), but the positives have ALWAYS outweighed the negatives--even when I ended up in a shoulder immobilizer for half of a Caribbean cruise! We haven't cruised since 2015, but my 17 year old asked when we could again, and specifically requested to cruise as his senior Spring Break vacation--so looking forward to Joy 2020!

This is great, TexasCruiser.

2 questions for you or perhaps future reviewer:

1) Martini tastings? *My* favorite on-board activity!

2) Notice any scheduled activity for 18-21s? I'm concerned that my 18 yr old, who loved Entourage last cruise, is going to be "aged out" next March when we sail, even though he'll still be a HS senior. 

On 4/20/2019 at 11:51 AM, ColeThornton said:

 

 

Hopefully not in that order.   LOL

Well, in this series...you never know.

4 hours ago, steamboats said:

For those who want to see more photos... Here are the ones taken by my DH.

 

steamboats

Sehr schön!

19 minutes ago, TheDougOut said:

 

It heads around the corner slightly... but this is representative of Entourage.  We were told they’ll be hosting teen events throughout the ship - Galaxy Pavilion, Laser Tag, etc.

 On that topic, and the age limits issue--is Entourage going to "age out" an 18 yr old who is still in high school at the time of sailing? He had a great time connecting last time we cruised, and I suppose he's mature enough to hang with 18-21s if they have activities for that range, but just wondering if given that it's a Spring Break-time cruise next March, they'll keep high school seniors with the other teens.

Good pix of inside concierge suites in posts from TheDougOut over in the "Everything Joy..." thread--https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2647600-everything-norwegian-joys-westernization-2019/?do=findComment&comment=57355600

10 minutes ago, dkatrencik said:

 

Interesting, I actually like it better ha! To each their own I guess 🙂

Yeah, faux-Irish pubs are a bit overdone these days.

Thanks all. 

(And yes, I know that NCL leaves from San Pedro--as specified in my subject line. Just attribute the gaffe in my OP to my Midwest-centric views. Could I take a bus to see the Golden Gate bridge before we embark? I mean, California, right? 😎) 

5 minutes ago, Snagler said:

Would be interested in the inside concierge family suite pics if possible. Specially the smaller bedroom. Thx 

+1 on this

3 hours ago, Cruiser_Girl1 said:

Hi quercus alba

So if the bow is below the window we should be able to see the ocean in front of us.  Also, would you have any idea how bad the motion would be up front.

Honestly not that much worse than anywhere else in the ship, based on my limited experience with different positions. But different people will respond differently./

BTW, there is a really good picture of all of the forward-facing windows in this post--about the 5th or 6th image down: 

Thinking ahead to NCL Joy Mexican Riviera cruise next winter. Two sons, ages 17 & 14--have been to Disney (FL) twice.

Does it make sense to fly into BUR on Fri & Sat nite, stay in that area, do Harry Potter stuff Saturday, and Uber/Lyft down to Long Beach on Sunday?
(Would then need to get directly back to BUR after disembark the following weekend, too, I suppose. Sunday traffic less of an issue I hope, coming and going?)

Are there obvious alternatives I'm missing? Things I should think about differently with this plan? Totally out to lunch?

Educate me, oh Great Hive of Knowledge!

17 hours ago, Cruiser_Girl1 said:

..Also  will the window look right out onto the ocean or will the front of the ship extend out past the window?

...

You'll have a large portion of the bow extending forward below your window.

(If you look at a picture of the ship on the website, your window will be one of the ones on the "slanty" portion of the hull as it slopes down from the bridge.)

1 hour ago, ithaca gal said:

 Last week I sailed on NCL for the first time after A couple of dozen cruises on other lines. After reading this thread, I realize that these are not the people I want to sail with. I cannot, imagine people with hearts so al that they are inconvenienced by orphans. What the heck is wrong with people?  (Please don’t answer.)

1) the incident and complaint sparking this discussion occurred on Carnival, not NCL, fwiw.

2) I think comments on this thread are at least 2:1 "pro-orphan"--so maybe we actually could be the people you would like to sail with?

On 2/4/2019 at 2:20 PM, don24 said:

... But we cant help by throwing a hamburger at them and feeling better about ourselves. Please don't think I'm on a soapbox.

 

There is nothing wrong with extending simple gestures of kindness.

You'll be wanting the DS-3053.

Here's the site with full instructions.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/under-16.html

Our family's experience might indicate that Alaska 7-day cruises in the summer are more multi-generational and family oriented. (Kids out of school, destinations more "outdoorsy", etc...)

23 minutes ago, commodore2010 said:

 

I have been to China several times and yes that is the way they behave. My wife was spit on walking down the street. I don't think it was intentional, they are just as the video says "uncivilized".  

 

 

Just got back from China, and felt tons safer at night on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai than I would have in comparable neighborhoods of NYC or Chicago. I'd be really careful about calling people "uncivilized". 😦

23 hours ago, Teacherloves2Cruise said:

Did anyone notice there are now 2 Starbucks on the deck plans? The one in the atrium on deck 6 as well as in the observation lounge on deck 15?!

Seems tailor-made for Alaska crusing.

On 3/26/2019 at 6:57 AM, bluesea777 said:

 

I agree!! We wanted to sail on a ship that was built for the Chinese, to experience the Chinese culture, like Chinese restaurant, tea room, and things Chinese, so the Joy would be different ship to the other 3 - Escape, Bliss and Encore.

 

 

😞

Having just returned from a land trip to Beijing and Shanghai, I'd have to believe that a cruise ship is not the best way to really experience Chinese culture...however nicely decorated it might be.