Pros and Cons of the Joy

[Royals Carol]

My husband and I are hopefully, going on the Joy in November to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. We have never cruised on the Joy. Can I get information from those of you who have gone on the Joy? Is it handicapped accessible? I am thinking about making reservations at LeBistro. Would that be the best place?  Thank you

[Roger88]

if you are talking about Norwegian Joy cruise - its a very fancy one. I ve seen many videos from on board the ship and it was fascinating. Its like one of the best cruisers out there, and certainly the best one in Europe. Its so well equipped. I will definitely cruise with it someday. I hope it will start operations soon 

[BirdTravels]

8 minutes ago, Royals Carol said:

My husband and I are hopefully, going on the Joy in November to celebrate our 25th Anniversary. We have never cruised on the Joy. Can I get information from those of you who have gone on the Joy? Is it handicapped accessible? I am thinking about making reservations at LeBistro. Would that be the best place?  Thank you

Le Bistro or Ocean Blue would be a nice place for an anniversary dinner. Reservations open in July. Book as soon as possible, 120 days prior to departure.

 

Pros: The Joy is a new ship. And just underwent a $50M facelift after leaving the China market. Upgrades included adding a beautiful forward-facing observation lounge. New ship has the latest restaurants and bars that are favored by the contemporaneously cruiser. Enclosed smoking casino. 

 

Cons: The joy was the first with a race track which is smaller than other ships (slower). The Joy (liker her sisters the Bliss and Encore) have lifeboats stowed inboard to allow for passage through the Panama canal. It makes Deck 7 (The Local, Casino, MDR) a lot more narrow. 

 

The link below is to our live post from the Joy. Some pictures and menus.

 

 

[Royals Carol]

Yes, I am talking about the Norwegian Joy. I hope it's not cancelled...

[Royals Carol]

20 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Le Bistro or Ocean Blue would be a nice place for an anniversary dinner. Reservations open in July. Book as soon as possible, 120 days prior to departure.

 

Pros: The Joy is a new ship. And just underwent a $50M facelift after leaving the China market. Upgrades included adding a beautiful forward-facing observation lounge. New ship has the latest restaurants and bars that are favored by the contemporaneously cruiser. Enclosed smoking casino. 

 

Cons: The joy was the first with a race track which is smaller than other ships (slower). The Joy (liker her sisters the Bliss and Encore) have lifeboats stowed inboard to allow for passage through the Panama canal. It makes Deck 7 (The Local, Casino, MDR) a lot more narrow. 

 

The link below is to our live post from the Joy. Some pictures and menus.

Thank you!! I will look at your review. You always go into great detail! Thank you!!

 

 

[kwokpot]

The Joy has no Spa thermal Suite a major miscalculation considering they just do a massive reno/upgrade. NCL has been the leader in Spa Thermal Suite even in their older ships like their Jewel Class. Not sure what their thinking was for such a large and new ship. 

[coastcat]

Pro:

1. Observation Lounge and The Waterfront - the two features which will bring me back to Joy/Bliss/Encore over and over again
2. Smoking area of the casino is enclosed so the cigarette smells stay put
3. Go look at BirdTravels's photos - this ship is beautiful

Con:

1. No Thermal Suite
2. Like the other BA+-class ships, has only two banks of elevators

As a solo traveler, I'd add "no Studio area" as another con. Overall, though, I loved Joy and was set to sail her a second time last month. Oh well.

 

You can mitigate the elevator issue by booking a cabin in the aft end or just heading in that direction at meal times; the aft elevators were usually less busy (the buffet is forward).

[bearette]

I did the Joy last year over Thanksgiving, it was the noro-virus cruise on the news so it has a lot of issues with keeping everything clean, much like now.  Hand sanitizer everywhere and we couldn't touch items in the gift shop, they would bring it to you and if you didn't buy it, wipe it off, and put it back.

 

Pro:lots to do, Le Bistro was delicious  ($$$ if not on speciality dinning plan, our bill was over $100 so you are better off getting a package of you didn't get one with your booking.)

Con: you needed a reservation for everything and they told you that you couldn't wait, but we usually did and were able to get into things, but they discouraged it and sent us away alot, they charged for all the fun items like race cars and laser tag

 

We had fun, but we all agreed we wouldn't do it again.  We were on a holiday sailing so your experience may be better as we had other issues (family member ill) that tainted it for us.

[valleyvillage]

12 hours ago, Royals Carol said:

Is it handicapped accessible?

I cruised on Joy using my walker/rollator and did not encounter any major problems. I hope you get to have a great cruise!

[Royals Carol]

On ‎5‎/‎17‎/‎2020 at 12:15 AM, valleyvillage said:

I cruised on Joy using my walker/rollator and did not encounter any major problems. I hope you get to have a great cruise!

 

Thank you so much!! My husband doesn't get out often and that is why cruising is so important. It gives him the  freedom to get out and meet so many people.. I enjoy watching him smile and talk to people..Again, Thank you

[Georgia_Peaches]

On 5/16/2020 at 1:03 PM, kwokpot said:

The Joy has no Spa thermal Suite a major miscalculation considering they just do a massive reno/upgrade. NCL has been the leader in Spa Thermal Suite even in their older ships like their Jewel Class. Not sure what their thinking was for such a large and new ship. 

This con alone ensures that we will never sail on the Joy.

[UnorigionalName]

On 5/16/2020 at 10:03 AM, kwokpot said:

The Joy has no Spa thermal Suite a major miscalculation considering they just do a massive reno/upgrade. NCL has been the leader in Spa Thermal Suite even in their older ships like their Jewel Class. Not sure what their thinking was for such a large and new ship. 

 

It was supposed to be for the China market.  The market research they did must have determined that the spa was not cost effective for their targeted Chinese pax and put an entertainment area instead.

[kwokpot]

12 minutes ago, UnorigionalName said:

 

It was supposed to be for the China market.  The market research they did must have determined that the spa was not cost effective for their targeted Chinese pax and put an entertainment area instead.

I already knew that and that's why I'm more puzzled that during the recent renovation from a China based ship to a North American based ship they didn't add a Thermal Suite when they know their non Asian clientele is interested in that amenity. 

[ekallina]

Pros: observation lounge in addition to what others have also posted

 

Cons: We had to push a button every time we wanted to open a door (they were not motion activated). Along with the only 2 banks of elevators.

[UnorigionalName]

8 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

I already knew that and that's why I'm more puzzled that during the recent renovation from a China based ship to a North American based ship they didn't add a Thermal Suite when they know their non Asian clientele is interested in that amenity. 

 

gotcha.  I would assume that it's either a price or engineering thing or both.  Water is heavy and i doubt you can just throw pipes and a huge spa at will.

 

I don't think they did huge renovations for the US market right? mostly cosmetic and relabeling.

[kwokpot]

10 minutes ago, UnorigionalName said:

 

gotcha.  I would assume that it's either a price or engineering thing or both.  Water is heavy and i doubt you can just throw pipes and a huge spa at will.

 

I don't think they did huge renovations for the US market right? mostly cosmetic and relabeling.

Actually they spent $50 Million in refurbishments 

https://www.travelandleisure.com/cruises/norwegian-joy-cruise-ship-renovation-china-americas

[BirdTravels]

6 hours ago, UnorigionalName said:

 

gotcha.  I would assume that it's either a price or engineering thing or both.  Water is heavy and i doubt you can just throw pipes and a huge spa at will.

 

I don't think they did huge renovations for the US market right? mostly cosmetic and relabeling.

Nope. Per my post #3, it was a large $50M renovation. They removed a bunch of rooms to put in the observation lounge. Tore out casino space and turned it into The Social on Deck 6 and tore out casino space in the Haven and turned it into lounge space.  The removed the meditation garden and turned it into a pool deck. And yes, there was no place to put the Thermal Suite, so they did not install one (sad.... first cruise we did in a long time without a spa pass). They renovated (carpets, furniture, decor) restaurants to change them from tea rooms to NCL standard fare. They even took out the seafood buffet and replaced it with Los Lobos (for the Americans) 😞  It was a lot more than sign changes.

[don't-use-real-name]

7 hours ago, ekallina said:

Pros: observation lounge in addition to what others have also posted

 

Cons: We had to push a button every time we wanted to open a door (they were not motion activated). Along with the only 2 banks of elevators.

 

No motion doors - - -

Oh oh a virus sanitation check-point.

 

FYI - JOY present location San Pedro - Port of Los Angeles

[BirdTravels]

On 5/18/2020 at 5:46 PM, ekallina said:

Cons: We had to push a button every time we wanted to open a door (they were not motion activated). Along with the only 2 banks of elevators.

Both buttons on exterior doors and elevator configuration is the same on all NCL big ships. It is not unique to the Joy. 2 elevator banks are also on RCL big ships. 

[zonacruiser25]

On 5/18/2020 at 2:46 PM, ekallina said:

Pros: observation lounge in addition to what others have also posted

Cons: We had to push a button every time we wanted to open a door (they were not motion activated). Along with the only 2 banks of elevators.

Definitely book a balcony.  Check out the deck plans and see where you want to spend time while at sea.  Then get a room close to the closest elevator for what you want to do.  With all the virus changes I hope NCL, and all cruise lines, help prioritize elevator access for handicap and older passengers.  

 

Another con for us was the atrium was the center of too many activities.  It gets very busy and loud and just some activities just seem like they are forced into the space.  

 

We had been on Bliss right before Joy and they are both beautiful ships but NCL even admits they are not making any more large ships and are going back to "smaller" ships.

[don't-use-real-name]

FYI

 

JOY has departed San Pedro Port of Los Angeles

Destination Honolulu Hawaii

 

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:4856320/mmsi:311000599/imo:9703796/vessel:NORWEGIAN_JOY/_:9b8627f0bab2b4c9ace333c13e2c3ef4

[Sand and Seas]

We just changed our January cruise to an 11 Day October 2021 on the Joy that will go to the ABC islands plus St Kitts & St Lucia.    Love the interesting itinerary as we haven't been to some of those islands.  

 

As we loved the Bliss (and Encore) hoping we will feel the same about the Joy☺️

[Alynna715]

We did the Joy last summer and have another cruise planned next June (hopefully) We did both LeBistro and Ocean Blue. Both were great but we liked Ocean Blue more. We loved the observation deck. I also loved the waterfront. The shows were great and we had a fantastic time. 

 

It really depends what you are looking for. There is ALWAYS a wait for the elevators. We found the aft elevators better so we would walk the whole length of the ship to take the aft elevator to avoid the crowd. The ship is huge but feels more crowded then other ships we have been on. There are so many places to eat and things to do. It is a great ship. 

[romalley99]

On 5/22/2020 at 12:55 PM, don't-use-real-name said:

FYI

 

JOY has departed San Pedro Port of Los Angeles

Destination Honolulu Hawaii

 

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:4856320/mmsi:311000599/imo:9703796/vessel:NORWEGIAN_JOY/_:9b8627f0bab2b4c9ace333c13e2c3ef4

 

She's skipping Hawaii and heading straight to Osaka, Japan  🙂 

[don't-use-real-name]

On ‎5‎/‎19‎/‎2020 at 12:26 AM, don't-use-real-name said:

 

No motion doors - - -

Oh oh a virus sanitation check-point.

 

FYI - JOY present location San Pedro - Port of Los Angeles

 

On ‎5‎/‎25‎/‎2020 at 11:53 PM, romalley99 said:

 

She's skipping Hawaii and heading straight to Osaka, Japan  🙂 

 

Out somewhere in the north Pacific Ocean ?

Left San Pedro 5/22 - destination Honolulu

Change course 5/25 - destination Osaka

Marine tracking - NCL JOY is out of range - - -

I don't know the number of days to cruise from the US mainland to Japan

But the JOY is now 10 days at sea

 

Latest CC report destination is now Busan - ETA ?