Miss a year, miss a lot

[Mandy412]

I haven't cruised since last December so I haven't been on Cruise Critic. That's about to change with another cruise in December for my 40th bday and planning for next summer. Norwegian has me confused af.....we are considering going to Bermuda next summer and what I don't understand is why the Escape is in New York and the Breakaway is in Miami. I literally don't understand why they are always moving ships around. And why is the Joy going to be in Alaska? I thought that was going to be an Asian centric ship. Sidenote: I'm still salty that a few cruises ago, we had the worst cruise director on the Getaway that was practicing for the job on the Joy. She was very nice but quiet and I'm a Tyler and Andre type cruise director fan. This poor girl was soooo boring.

 

Anywho, what the hell have I missed with NCL. Also, why is it hard to get a good Caribbean cruise in the summer...the only options are Eastern, Western, and Bermuda...I wanna see the Southern Caribbean but they seem to be fall, water, spring opportunities.

[JamieLogical]

The Joy did sail in Asia for over a year. However, that apparently turned out to be a poor business decision and the Joy is now moving to the west coast of North America to sail to Alaska in the summer and Mexican Riviera in the winter. They are doing a massive overhaul of the Joy to get it ready for a Western Market.

[BirdTravels]

As ships like the breakaway get to their 5-year dry dock and are sent to Europe for refit, other ships take over their itinerary. And as another mega ship is delivered every year, NCL is spreading them out (e.g., New Orleans). As for the Joy, the Chinese market did not support twice a week cruises to Japan, so NCL is spending $50M to rip out the Chinese features and turn her into a “normal” NCL ship.

[Mandy412]

Dayummmmm FDR really read that market wrong.

 

Another question: If you cruise from NOLA, do you have to wait until you get into the Gulf to gamble? It's a pretty long trip down the Mississippi right?

 

Thanks for the fast replies.

[Two Wheels Only]

Also, the "musical chairs" with the ships gets people to continue to book NCL instead of getting tired of the same old ship.

[PTC DAWG]

Dayummmmm FDR really read that market wrong.

 

Another question: If you cruise from NOLA, do you have to wait until you get into the Gulf to gamble? It's a pretty long trip down the Mississippi right?

 

Thanks for the fast replies.

 

Yes you must wait...it take 8 hours or so I believe. One reason I'll never sail out of NOLA...I like to visit NOLA...they have Casinos on land.

 

Also, check out some of the Jade's sailings out of Miami..they have a 10 day southern I believe....

[Mandy412]

Thank you! I love NOLA and want to take my mom but I think we'd like a land trip more.

[Sand and Seas]

Dayummmmm FDR really read that market wrong.

 

Another question: If you cruise from NOLA, do you have to wait until you get into the Gulf to gamble? It's a pretty long trip down the Mississippi right?

 

Thanks for the fast replies.

We sail out of NOLA at least once a year and are always playing in the casino about 30 or 40 minutes after we sail away. We've done 5 cruises out of NOLA since December of 2015 and have always seen the casino open shortly after leaving port. It does take many more hours before you reach the Gulf.

 

Very excited they are moving a larger ship (Breakaway) there for our November cruise. We haven't been on her since her Inaugural season.

[NLH Arizona]

We sail out of NOLA at least once a year and are always playing in the casino about 30 or 40 minutes after we sail away. We've done 5 cruises out of NOLA since December of 2015 and have always seen the casino open shortly after leaving port. It does take many more hours before you reach the Gulf.

 

Very excited they are moving a larger ship (Breakaway) there for our November cruise. We haven't been on her since her Inaugural season.

Been the same for me; about 30 minutes after departure.

[PTC DAWG]

I stand corrected, I was told otherwise....obviously the ship is not in international waters in 30 minutes...must be a deal with Louisiana..

[Sand and Seas]

I stand corrected, I was told otherwise....obviously the ship is not in international waters in 30 minutes...must be a deal with Louisiana..

It probably was a deal to get all those cruise ships to NOLA. Maybe something like the old 'river-boat' gambling.

 

Somewhat similar, Bermuda now allows ships docked over-night to open their casinos in the evening but not their duty-free shops. On the Dawn last week the casinos opened at 9pm in port.