Currently on the Joy. My review so far....

[Sadric]

Written Day 5:

 

The NCL Joy is a large and pretty ship with copious features that will no doubt delight many people. Prior to departure, I had read many accounts of people’s journeys with the Joy post westernization and found many to be overly critical. Expectations should be managed. Nothing is perfect by any means but to condemn a brand new ship and crew based on one error shows flaws in expectations.

I write this on the last sea day. Victoria tomorrow followed by a return to Seattle. I write this review to highlight where this ships flaws are and where her strengths are.

Embarkation was a breeze at 11 am. We arrived and were in our cabin by 11:30. There was no discombobulation as many have reported. It was incredibly efficient and well done. Pier 66 is a bit hard to get to as the Streets of Seattle are not conducive to the volumes of people arriving at one location but inside the building, NCL handled the crowds with precision. The few problems I witnessed were with guests who did not have proper documentation which I lay on their shoulders not NCL.

The ship itself is an odd layout with multiple decks reserved for just cabins with no public space at all. Basically everything from Deck 9 – 14 is cabin territory with nothing else public except for the oddly placed medical center on Deck 13. There is ample deck space which was never utilized on this Alaska voyage. The cool weather was just too persistent. So why pools, slides, and a few bars were open up there, only the most intrepid of explorers wandered out and a few people who had an apparent total immunity to cold used the pools. I think the Government should take these people to research facilities for close study. Few really used the laser tag and the go karts. One major flaw on this ship is devoting so much deck space to this and mini golf. For the love of God, please put a sports court back on this ship. A basketball court that is free is a much better use of space for most people. The teenagers on this ship were aching for it. I had a 14 year old with me and he reported how disappointed everyone was. He used both the go carts and the laser tag once. A sports court would have been used consistently. The mini golf was never used and is no better than a putting green. Eliminate this!

 

Written Day 6

The atrium stays bizarrely crowded with no seating and consistent mayhem. Between people arguing , Dan Dan the Cruise Director shilling for Bingo, pre cruise consultations, the internet café, a great bar, and Starbucks there is a lot going on. I don’t understand why they don’t use Q or the theater more for the game shows and other things.  The Atrium is packed liked a clown car all the time while the rest of the ship remains largely unused. Basically a mom or someone with a family sets up camp in the morning in the chairs and never leaves. Refuse builds around them as the day progresses until at the end of the evening, they are largely buried under buffet plates and tall mocha frappacino double soy expresso frappe cups. You see small eyes periodically peer out from under the pile furtively glancing around for a glimpse of a free jewelry giveaway.

Speaking of the buffet, my knowledge here is limited and my few experiences were not the best. The buffet is a jabberwock of a setup. The dream of a mad man in a maze. I don’t understand the layout at all. It takes up a huge amount of Deck 16 while still managing to offer as little seating as possible. It is very confusing and rarely yields too many edible nuggets despite the volume of the offerings. Much is repeated at different areas and lines are crazy long. There is enough seating for maybe a family of 5 while most make the death march down one deck to the Observation lounge for additional seating wistfully looking around for a tray so that they might add a drink to their plates. At one point I very much was thinking about the scene in the Hobbit where the Dwarves invade Bilbo’s house eating everything in sight and sing wildly “Chip the glasses and crack the plates that’s what Bilbo Baggins Hates”!

 

The Observation Lounge on Deck 15 is HUGE and used nicely with a Starbucks, a bar, games and drink stations as well as evening light meal offerings from 10:30 PM to midnight. My favorite, the egg salad was very well done and reminiscent of a southern 4^th of July Picnic sandwich lovingly made by your favorite grandmother. I liked this area in general and it would be better used as a place once in a while where you could go for a game show (rather than the atrium). Also a note…I never found either Starbucks to be crowded.

 

Now on to the entertainment. Footloose which is a movie I loved was not well executed. The primary problem is not the acting and singing which was all admirably well done but the source material itself which is thin and to continue the Hobbit reference felt like too little butter spread over too much bread. Again the cast did a lot with a little here but you just can’t shine dirt. I knew we were all in trouble about 30 minutes in. The first of the kids started to become restless and parents started breaking out games on phones for them. Across the theater little beacons of light started erupting all over the theater as if we all received breaking news at the same time. This was ok at first but after 45 minutes the first cries erupted followed by parents trying desperately too quiet them down. I didn’t know then but wish I did that we had over an hour left. Things really took off during the second diner scene an hour in. Parents started ushering their little crying treasures out of the theater never to return. They were the lucky ones. At 1 hour and 15 the drunks started leaving, either needing to use the restrooms or to get more drinks (they don’t serve them during the show and there is nowhere to get one). They also never returned no doubt finding solace in their drink packages. At 1 hour 30 it was pandemonium. This was what I call “The Exodus”, older folks mostly no longer able to sit for such a duration had to exit. It was just time. I don’t know why. It was like some universal unseen bell went off and en masse our elders left. I never saw many of them again. There is a science fiction book in there somewhere I just know it. Finally, at 1 hour 50 minutes as the last song was sung and the lights went on, the survivors were revealed. It looked like the Fields of Gettysburg in 1863. Those that were left were in some fashion wounded, no longer able to stand and pale as ghosts. We mostly sat stunned and withered waiting on Dan Dan the Cruise Director to release us with his healing powers.

 

Now that being said, Elements was awesome and at 50 minutes just the right length. This show rivals any cruise lines best attempts and even compares well with my favorite, Aladdin from DCL. It hit all the right notes and was well executed.

 

Well off to Victoria. More to come!

[ceilidh1]

Love this write-up! You have a great sense of humour and I appreciate you telling it how it is!

[valleyvillage]

You are hilarious!

[mking8288]

Mucho thanks for writing & sharing, I can visualize the new trend, atrium chair hogs stalking out the prime spots. We saw this on the Escape and folding chairs deployed for the routine overflow ... safety hazards in terms of egress in an emergency, IMHO.

Collateral results when planners for the compartmentalized public space under-estimated how to best fit a fraction of 4,500 + passengers on a busy sailing, especially on a sea day.

We don't fall for the extra bells & whistles, much rather stick with the smaller ship's.

Andriod Pie 9.0 on Moto X4, Google Fi w Tapatalk

[elwood_98034]

We had a similar experience on the Jewel a few years ago. People would arrive in the cafe really early, grab the window tables (one person per table of four), set up their laptops, cameras, coffees, blankets, water bottles, and never leave until dark. The problem was when you tried to find somewhere to sit at meal times, you were SOL, as everyone with an inside cabin had claimed all the tables. I saw this as an excellent opportunity for the cafe management to excel, and encourage the squatters to return after the meal times had ended. That never happened. Hello room service.

 

I also find it interesting that you found the weather in Alaska in Spring to be quite unlike that in Hawaii, or somewhere similar. Others have said the same thing. I guess that is why Juneau isn't called North Waikiki or some such. We are from Seattle, and find that walking around in the rain is normal behaviour. Otherwise we would go to Hawaii, and walk around in the sun. We just swim around in the pools in the rain, because you can only get so wet, right? You can't get wetter. The only annoying things are the occasional sleet that makes your hair very cold, and that the crew kicks you out of the pool when the ship starts rolling in rough water. They clearly have never heard of wave pools.

[Sadric]

I quite liked the weather actually . As a southerner my pools need to be 90 degrees plus to go into however . We all felt it was very temperate otherwise 

10 minutes ago, elwood_98034 said:

We had a similar experience on the Jewel a few years ago. People would arrive in the cafe really early, grab the window tables (one person per table of four), set up their laptops, cameras, coffees, blankets, water bottles, and never leave until dark. The problem was when you tried to find somewhere to sit at meal times, you were SOL, as everyone with an inside cabin had claimed all the tables. I saw this as an excellent opportunity for the cafe management to excel, and encourage the squatters to return after the meal times had ended. That never happened. Hello room service.

 

I also find it interesting that you found the weather in Alaska in Spring to be quite unlike that in Hawaii, or somewhere similar. Others have said the same thing. I guess that is why Juneau isn't called North Waikiki or some such. We are from Seattle, and find that walking around in the rain is normal behaviour. Otherwise we would go to Hawaii, and walk around in the sun. We just swim around in the pools in the rain, because you can only get so wet, right? You can't get wetter. The only annoying things are the occasional sleet that makes your hair very cold, and that the crew kicks you out of the pool when the ship starts rolling in rough water. They clearly have never heard of wave pools.

I quite l

[fabnfortysomething]

love your sense of humour-hope to sail with you sometime

[Podie]

You're a great writer! I've only been on two NCL ships, Spirit and Getaway, and I also was mystified by all the things scheduled in the Atrium when the noise level is tremendous even without the shows. I remember literally screaming at the Guest Services agent because the desk was in the Atrium and no one could hear a thing. Every other cruiseline does it a lot better!

[Son of a son of a ...]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

compartmentalized public space

 

Agreed.  I would have preferred the 6-7-8 openness being carried aft, but that might not be structurally feasible.

[arpie05]

Sadic - Did you go to Icy Straight or Skagway? I have yet to see a report from a Joy cruiser who has gone to Icy Straight. I'm curious to what they did - wish they did, etc.

[jvsnana]

33 minutes ago, arpie05 said:

Sadic - Did you go to Icy Straight or Skagway? I have yet to see a report from a Joy cruiser who has gone to Icy Straight. I'm curious to what they did - wish they did, etc.

Not the OP, but we have been to ISP twice and we will be there again in a few weeks.

The first time we just walked into town (Hoonah),  It's a long haul, but interesting none the less.  A small little town...the highlight was to go into "City Hall" and get free Hoonah pins.  We also saw many Eagles along the way.  The port dock is fun to walk around and lots to see.

The second time we did the whale watch and bear viewing NCL tour.  

This time we are doing only the bear watch...it was fantastic last time, so we are hoping for a repeat.

Oh...and crab legs on the pier are on the "to do" list this time too!

 

[adoris]

I was on the Joy last week and never had any of the issues that the original poster had.  I enjoyed Footloose and never noticed any of the problems they seemed to see.  Yes, the Atrium is busy but get there a half hour before the show starts and you will find seating, if you have a large group it might be difficult but they do bring in the folding chairs which are comfortable.  I was always able to find seating in the buffet and if not, it is only one floor down to the Observation Lounge, and you don’t need to carry drinks down, they are available.  I don’t know what they meant about ‘Dan Dan schilling for bingo’ I never saw anything like that.

[Sadric]

47 minutes ago, adoris said:

I was on the Joy last week and never had any of the issues that the original poster had.  I enjoyed Footloose and never noticed any of the problems they seemed to see.  Yes, the Atrium is busy but get there a half hour before the show starts and you will find seating, if you have a large group it might be difficult but they do bring in the folding chairs which are comfortable.  I was always able to find seating in the buffet and if not, it is only one floor down to the Observation Lounge, and you don’t need to carry drinks down, they are available.  I don’t know what they meant about ‘Dan Dan schilling for bingo’ I never saw anything like that.

 What can I tell you ? Dan Dan was Schiller Maximus this time. I generally liked the ship and loathed Footloose. To each his own

[Dst314]

On 5/31/2019 at 5:32 PM, jvsnana said:

Not the OP, but we have been to ISP twice and we will be there again in a few weeks.

The first time we just walked into town (Hoonah),  It's a long haul, but interesting none the less.  A small little town...the highlight was to go into "City Hall" and get free Hoonah pins.  We also saw many Eagles along the way.  The port dock is fun to walk around and lots to see.

The second time we did the whale watch and bear viewing NCL tour.  

This time we are doing only the bear watch...it was fantastic last time, so we are hoping for a repeat.

Oh...and crab legs on the pier are on the "to do" list this time too!

 

Regarding the whale watch and bear viewing tour, was the walking strenuous during the bear tour part or on a lot of uneven ground?  My husband had 2 knee replacements last year and wondering if it’ll be too much for him or not.  We’re going in July and trying to decide on tours now. Thanks!

[Breezy Kate & Joe]

i loved Footloose and would go again, elements not so much - to each his own.  Observation lounge was always crowed - some people had more crap in there than i had in my stateroom - that being said i always found another place that i could sit and relax and enjoy the views.

 

[ebay33]

On 6/9/2019 at 11:59 AM, Dst314 said:

Regarding the whale watch and bear viewing tour, was the walking strenuous during the bear tour part or on a lot of uneven ground?  My husband had 2 knee replacements last year and wondering if it’ll be too much for him or not.  We’re going in July and trying to decide on tours now. Thanks!

 

It was not strenuous at all.  Very easy, with boardwalks for walking the entire route.

[Dst314]

Thanks so much for your reply!  Were there stairs or ladders or any inclines?  The tour is rated as level 2 moderate instead of level 1 easy. Just wondering why there’s a higher level assigned. 

[ebay33]

On 6/10/2019 at 4:32 PM, Dst314 said:

Thanks so much for your reply!  Were there stairs or ladders or any inclines?  The tour is rated as level 2 moderate instead of level 1 easy. Just wondering why there’s a higher level assigned. 

 

Some inclines.  I don't recall any stairs.  If there were any stairs, they would have been 2-3 steps at most.