NCL Joy Dry Dock

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

Does anyone have any insight to the dry dock? I am excited to be on the US Inaugural sailing, April 26-29th. However, I don't know a lot about the changes. I know they are changing signage and some dining. But what else? If anyone has any tips or insights, I would love to know! Thanks!!

[BirdTravels]

They are Americanizing the poor ship. Taking out the seafood buffet, tea houses, extra casino spaces, high end retail and putting in bars and tacky souvenir shops. They are removing the rooms at the front of Deck 15 to build an Observation lounge (which isn't all bad). 

 

Thousands of people where thrown off the Norwegian Joy when NCL cancelled the true "inaugural cruse" on April 27 so they could run more freebie cruise like the one mentioned above. Thousands of people with ruined vacations so that they can cater to lookie loo media, travel agents, VIPs, and employees. 

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

14 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

They are Americanizing the poor ship. Taking out the seafood buffet, tea houses, extra casino spaces, high end retail and putting in bars and tacky souvenir shops. They are removing the rooms at the front of Deck 15 to build an Observation lounge (which isn't all bad). 

 

Awesome! Thanks for the info!

[PhillyTravelBug]

 

I saw this article in the cruise industry news website. Gives a little more info on Joys dry dock refurb.

 

Joy Dry Dock

[quercus alba]

Cool--sounds like they continue to work while underway, so not just dry dock.

[Sand and Seas]

Interesting article, thanks for adding the link.    It will be interesting to see how much like the Bliss they can make it.

[OceanBlueWaters]

Well, they neglected to put in Studio/Solo Cabins, so it will not mimic the Bliss in that respect.  I am assuming they are "Americanizing" as best/fast they can to re-coup.  JMO

[quercus alba]

2 hours ago, OceanBlueWaters said:

Well, they neglected to put in Studio/Solo Cabins, so it will not mimic the Bliss in that respect.  I am assuming they are "Americanizing" as best/fast they can to re-coup.  JMO

No, they're keeping that area for inside family concierge suites. Going to give them a try. More space and not that much more expensive than cramming 4 of us into a "mini-suite"--and comes with some extra services. 

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

On 2/19/2019 at 11:11 PM, quercus alba said:

No, they're keeping that area for inside family concierge suites. Going to give them a try. More space and not that much more expensive than cramming 4 of us into a "mini-suite"--and comes with some extra services. 

Yes, I am looking forward to seeing those family concierge suites, I think they will go very well. I wish they could add a thermal suite- that's a bummer not to have in Alaska. 

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

On 2/19/2019 at 5:57 PM, Joeghartman said:

 

I saw this article in the cruise industry news website. Gives a little more info on Joys dry dock refurb.

 

Joy Dry Dock

Thanks for sharing! I read that one, too. I am hoping that we can get some photos from folks working on her while she is being renovated. I always love seeing that process. So excited for the changes and to see her in person at the end of April.

[ParrotheadKev]

They now have "Footloose" on the Entertainment page as well as "Wine Lovers the Musical"

It looks like things are moving along

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

On 2/27/2019 at 2:55 PM, ParrotheadKev said:

They now have "Footloose" on the Entertainment page as well as "Wine Lovers the Musical"

It looks like things are moving along

Yes, very exciting! 

[MaryZ]

When I was looking at the cabin choices, I definitely thought the inside family cabins with 2 bedrooms was an excellent idea.  I don't like taking little kids in cabins with balconies.  So I would definitely book one of those.

[fstuff1]

On 3/4/2019 at 6:14 PM, MaryZ said:

When I was looking at the cabin choices, I definitely thought the inside family cabins with 2 bedrooms was an excellent idea.  I don't like taking little kids in cabins with balconies.  So I would definitely book one of those.

 

never heard of Concierge suites before. i guess ncl is trying out a new concept that might be on the Ninja turtle ships.

-> Access to concierge service, priority embarkation and disembarkation, daily breakfast and lunch in private restaurant.

 

somewhere in the middle between peasants and Haven?

Wonder what the private restaurant is?

 

and interesting no studio cabins. 😞

that means no studio lounge for solo meetings. (ie: no access to free espresso)

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by fstuff1

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, fstuff1 said:

 

never heard of Concierge suites before. i guess ncl is trying out a new concept that might be on the Ninja turtle ships.

-> Access to concierge service, priority embarkation and disembarkation, daily breakfast and lunch in private restaurant.

 

somewhere in the middle between peasants and Haven?

Wonder what the private restaurant is?

 

and interesting no studio cabins. 😞

that means no studio lounge for solo meetings. (ie: no access to free espresso)

 

The ship was built more than a year before the Bliss for the more affluent Chinese market. Concierge rooms are a step above mini-suites (and there are a lot of them on the ship).

 

The private restaurant will be Cagney's serving breakfast and lunch (like on small ships for suite guests). 

 

Again, the ship was built for a market where solo cabins would be unattractive to the clientele. So, instead, they put in some large concierge suites with virtual balconies (like on RCCL).  

Edited March 8, 2019 by BirdTravels

[fstuff1]

30 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

The ship was built more than a year before the Bliss for the more affluent Chinese market. Concierge rooms are a step above mini-suites (and there are a lot of them on the ship).

 

The private restaurant will be Cagney's serving breakfast and lunch (like on small ships for suite guests). 

 

Again, the ship was built for a market where solo cabins would be unattractive to the clientele. So, instead, they put in some large concierge suites with virtual balconies (like on RCCL).  

 

thx.

 

so far none of the ships of the Breakaway+ class are alike:

Escape- too wide for even the new panama canal locks because life boats hang over the edge of the ship.

 

Bliss- can go though the new panama canal locks because life boats are tucked into the ship. 

but had to sacrifice the dance floor in the Manhattan room MDR for space.

Something else was also sacrificed to make room, but i forgot what.

 

Joy- Concierge rooms

 

Encore- ???

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by fstuff1

[BirdTravels]

Yup. Deck 7 on the Bliss is pretty skinny. Since we sailed on the Bliss about a month after the Escape last year, it was really noticeable. Photos of the Joy appear to be the same. 

 

Encore marks the demise of Spice H20 in favor of a larger laser tag (revenue earning) facility. 

[Sand and Seas]

5 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

thx.

 

so far none of the ships of the Breakaway+ class are alike:

Escape- too wide for even the new panama canal locks because life boats hang over the edge of the ship.

 

Bliss- can go though the new panama canal locks because life boats are tucked into the ship. 

but had to sacrifice the dance floor in the Manhattan room MDR for space.

Something else was also sacrificed to make room, but i forgot what.

 

Joy- Concierge rooms

 

Encore- ???

 

Bliss also lost space due to the lifeboats where The Local is.  Not as many booths and tables available. 

[Sand and Seas]

Just got off the Bliss.  We were also amazed at the amount of space on the 15th floor that is taken up by the Observation Lounge.  While I can imagine how much this space will be utilized on Alaska cruises we didn't see much going on there during our warm weather Caribbean cruise last week.  We did enjoy the light salad options available there. 

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

On 3/4/2019 at 6:14 PM, MaryZ said:

When I was looking at the cabin choices, I definitely thought the inside family cabins with 2 bedrooms was an excellent idea.  I don't like taking little kids in cabins with balconies.  So I would definitely book one of those.

Yes! I think these will be a good fit for a lot of folks. 

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

On 3/7/2019 at 11:44 PM, fstuff1 said:

 

thx.

 

so far none of the ships of the Breakaway+ class are alike:

Escape- too wide for even the new panama canal locks because life boats hang over the edge of the ship.

 

Bliss- can go though the new panama canal locks because life boats are tucked into the ship. 

but had to sacrifice the dance floor in the Manhattan room MDR for space.

Something else was also sacrificed to make room, but i forgot what.

 

Joy- Concierge rooms

 

Encore- ???

 

Additional differences for Joy will be the addition of galaxy pavilion and laser tag (on the top deck in this case.) Also a smaller gym and spa.

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

Now that dry dock is underway has anyone found any blogs, sites, instas or FBs of folks on board showing progress?

[timf2001]

It only arrived in Singapore yesterday.  I doubt there's much to show yet.

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

On 3/17/2019 at 11:22 PM, timf2001 said:

It only arrived in Singapore yesterday.  I doubt there's much to show yet.

I thought it had arrived a little earlier than that but your point remains the same. I will just have to be patient! I have found a couple Instagram accounts of folks on board but they haven’t posted too much yet. We shall see! So excited to experience it all firsthand on April 26!

[seemoreroyals]

Any final word on restaurants? Read somewhere that Los Lobos Mexican restaurant was going in next to Cagney’s.  Looking forward to updates on this thread.