Semi-Live Norwegian Joy to Bermuda - Norfolk, VA - May 8, 2022

[mking8288]

@lx200gps Bonjour, how's Montreal these days ... gotta tell another BIL/SIL as they relocated to the States some 25 years ago.  Back on subject -

 

Marriott, especially RI, Townplace & Springhills, our preferred & first choice when traveling, love their suites - Weehawkins location is excellent, across the river.  Lots of places on NJ side to eat, great view of Manhattan skyline & sunrise - local traffic along the waterfront and its recent development/growth are another story ...Commuter ferry is quick & easy, good choice & won't take you 2 hours to come across.  MCT/Pier 88 porters are there from 7:30 to 8 onward, just drop your checked bags anytime and do your morning sightseeing.  Ships should/normally be docked there by 6 to 7 am, if not sooner and when things are fairly smooth (since we just ran into the USCG insection routines earlier this month, nothing else should come up - unless there's a norovirus outbreak that require deep cleaning & maybe a public health inspection, let's not wish for one) - go back to finish the check-in between noon and 1 pm ... typically can be onboard in as little as 20 to 30 minutes, in better times.  

 

Taste & Savor MDR should be open for sit-down lunch until 1:30 pm or for a slightly faster meal, head over to The Local ... soup, wings & a quick bite.  Depending on your assigned Muster Station, report their to swipe your Guest Key Cards first, crew members stationed there will check you off - then, make your way to the stateroom, suite, or whatever ... our luggage were outside in the hallway by 3 pm, unpack & relax ...then, get ready for the sailway down the river, etc. 

 

Our friends, also from NYC, we met initially via CC at a M&G several years ago, are also on this sailing of yours (as part of a group charter - I believe) - they are Sapphire and recently joined the Roll Call - which doesn't appear too active (fairly common nowadays ...)  Time is short, but someone within that group - even with limited prior "organizing" experience, should take it up and quickly put together a request with the rest, and arrange for a Meet & Greet, be sure everyone that attend get to mingle, chat & not just sit there ... do some kind of icebreakers. Group event will set up the meeting space to allow for social distancing, and everyone can be reminded to bring a mask along and wear them - I highly recommend doing so, if not urging ...  

 

Pack some sanitizing wipes along with hand sanitizers - toss them into the checked luggage ... and, washy washy.  I feel many are running to Covid fatigue and burning out, easing and letting the guards down ... maybe, just maybe this wave will start to fade soon, until then - keep the highly contagious & fast spreading variants from catching up.  

[UKstages]

21 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Except it's more complicated than you suggest given all the layers of quasi-governmental agencies and private contractors involved.  

 

 

yes, but i would say that it's both more complicated and simultaneously less complicated because the main customer at that terminal is NCL. all those contractors and agencies are indeed involved, you're absolutely right. but - at the end of the day - you have a client that isn't happy. (i'm assuming NCL isn't happy because many of its passengers aren't happy, but that may be an erroneous assumption.)

 

as the primary customer of the manhattan cruise ship terminal, NCL needs to throw its considerable weight around and demand changes and adherence to its policies. they seem hesitant to do that, but imagine what might happen if they threatened to pull out of the terminal in, say, 2025, unless significant changes are implemented in the next 12 months.

 

and, by the way, if NCL wants masks to be worn by passengers in the terminal (they apparently don't), they can demand it. there is no state or city law preventing that from happening.

 

8 hours ago, mking8288 said:

NCL doesn't have an apparent problems obtaining Haven passengers exclusive priorities to speed thru  cruise teminal in NYC (Pier 88/MCT) nowadays - same as pre-Covid days - whether it's document checking, security screening, and of course, the private check-in and escorted boarding.  Hence, SP and SC suite passengers should too, but ... same port contractors doing it.  Wait, maybe, someone isn't giving clear & specific written instructions and/or communicating to the NCL "agents" on the pier.  The same agents that recognize Latitudes Platinum memberships and also Casino At Sea passengers or guests ... Maybe, the mess is a direct/indirect result of manpower shortage and staffing level ... we saw fewer stations opened & manned.  

 

 

i was a haven passenger on the gem in april of 2022 out of manhattan.

 

there was a two hour wait to get through security and document check. one security line fed the x-ray machines security checkpoint and, once through security, one long line funneled to the desk for document check. only then could you go to "check-in," with priority areas set up for platinum, CAS or suite/haven. there certainly may have been cantankerous contractors at the port, or perhaps they were uninformed, but there were no apparent alternate lines to process priority passengers until after security and document check.

Edited May 25, 2022 by UKstages

[njhorseman]

56 minutes ago, UKstages said:

 

as the primary customer of the manhattan cruise ship terminal, NCL needs to throw its considerable weight around and demand changes and adherence to its policies. they seem hesitant to do that, but imagine what might happen if they threatened to pull out of the terminal in, say, 2025, unless significant changes are implemented in the next 12 months.

 

That would be an empty threat because NCL has no other place to go in the Northeast where its extensive year round operations can be accommodated. NCL can stomp its corporate feet and have a temper tantrum but really doesn't have much leverage.

 

In any event the current situation is a product of problems directly attributable to the pandemic and should eventually resolve itself. I'm sure that the shoreside services contractor has had problems filling job openings just as many other businesses have. These are per diem employees and I'm reasonably sure a substantial percentage of experienced employees did not come back to work after the lengthy pandemic shutdown. There's additional workload caused by the COVID protocols...checking the  vaccination and COVID test documentation. For Bermuda cruises the process was even more cumbersome because of their travel authorization process that still had to be completed for numerous passengers who had not received approval prior to arriving at the pier. That should ease somewhat now that Bermuda is permitting test results to be verified at check in similar to how it's done for other itineraries, but the passenger's possession of a travel authorization from Bermuda will still have to be checked.

 

The bottom line is that right now you have fewer employees who have less job experience being required to do more work, which creates the mess everyone has seen at MCT.

 

56 minutes ago, UKstages said:

 

and, by the way, if NCL wants masks to be worn by passengers in the terminal (they apparently don't), they can demand it. there is no state or city law preventing that from happening.

Since NCL doesn't own or operate the terminal what authority do they have? How much power does it have under its contract with the PA? Can Greyhound insist that its bus passengers wear a mask while inside Port Authority Bus Terminal? Can United Airlines require its passengers to wear a mask while inside Newark Airport ? Doesn't that authority rest with the Port Authority, not the common carriers who use the facilities?

Edited May 25, 2022 by njhorseman

[JIMESOPUS]

After what happen on our 4/17 Bermuda embarkation at MTC we have decided to travel north to Boston for our next Bermuda cruise ( parking real cheap also ), they had issues during their Bermuda first cruise but seemed to have corrected the problem based on recent reviews / roll calls. 

 

Side note, MTC needs to address those escalator's, there was at least one that we know that fell and heard about two more. Need to remove them and install ramps during the off season, would provide better and safer flow off the ship.

 

[cruiseny4life]

3 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

After what happen on our 4/17 Bermuda embarkation at MTC we have decided to travel north to Boston for our next Bermuda cruise ( parking real cheap also ), they had issues during their Bermuda first cruise but seemed to have corrected the problem based on recent reviews / roll calls. 

 

Side note, MTC needs to address those escalator's, there was at least one that we know that fell and heard about two more. Need to remove them and install ramps during the off season, would provide better and safer flow off the ship.

 

We were on the same cruise @JIMESOPUS. The embarkation was a joke, but it sounds like it's getting better. Most likely our next cruise will be out of NYC as the Boston routes of Canada/NE do not appeal to us at all. Too bad - I wish there were more selection for those of us that live in the northeast and want to cruise. 

 

Where were these escalators I keep everyone talking about? I only remember stairs, but I always take the stairs...still interested to hear about this. Was it a matter of the crowd just being rude and pushy? 

[shof515]

4 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Side note, MTC needs to address those escalator's, there was at least one that we know that fell and heard about two more. Need to remove them and install ramps during the off season, would provide better and safer flow off the ship.

 

Those escalator do suck and I wish they was a better way. It is a big bottleneck getting off the ship and is the area I see with the most crowds

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

 @JIMESOPUS. The embarkation was a joke, but it sounds like it's getting better ... Where were these escalators I keep everyone talking about? I only remember stairs, but I always take the stairs...still interested to hear about this. Was it a matter of the crowd just being rude and pushy? 

Embarkation from "our" week (May 8th) wasn't too horrible for us, invoking Platinum (pier agents apparently clueless about Sapphire & Diamond, receiving no written instructions with their briefing, not on their clipboards ...) once I realized suites were meaningless to them for any sort of priority ... after going thru that single line for screening, security, and then Bermuda document checkers - just as described by @UKstages who sailed earlier as Haven ...  But, we did see some guests being directed to bypass the line on the right side, to go straight to the next available agent doing the Bermuda docs checking.  There was another area for those with missing, incomplete or zero TA on hand to get help & sort out the options.  It was a lot better in March cruising the Getaway, as destination was PC, GSC and Nassau, Bahamas - went thru the whole 9 yards in about 20 to 25 minutes, worst being the security & initial screening once inside the building.  It was disorganized, chaotic and confusing and not the way things used to be ... snaking thru the lines to move up, inches away sometimes from others who aren't masking (since it's no longer required or enforceable, whatever ...) didn't help, that's my personal risk impression/informal assessment)

 

  If only the Asst GM and or Asst GS manager would do a little management by walking the talk, get inside the cruise terminal and see for himself/herself, observe and evaluate as to what was working and not so good - they'll have a better sense of the frustration and disappointment from a customer standpoint.  

 

  Accessible passengers using wheelchairs & walkers apparently, were able to keep left & skip the lines too, although it also looked inconsistent 

 

  I think, as @shof515 just wrote, it's those (usually set to) "down" escalators - 2 of them in the far end of the cruise terminal, taking disembarking passengers from the pier "level" down to the street level of the terminal where luggages are sorted & laid out in color/tagged sections for pickup.  Express Walk-Off passengers, I think, as we only did that once in recent years, do not take those escalators down - they take a different and shorter route to exit the terminal directly (straight from the pier/embarkation level - 2/F ) on the outside, on the south side of the pier complex - as they are taking all their bags & luggages with them, not permitted to enter the building & go downstairs.  

 

  They are long elevators but not particular steeper than average, difficult to hold and balance when folks got oversized 24" or 25" plus bags that they try to take downstairs themselves.  There are pier agents standing on top and on the bottom of the elevators, managing the flow & holding up the lines as needed - just in case someone lost their balance and/or didn't hold on tightly to their heavier luggage, sending it flying down the moving escalator steps ... possibly hitting & injuring someone in front and below them.  

 

  When things are backed up, it spilled outside to the pier's walking path as there is also a long line for waiting to get into the passenger elevators for the accessible and the escort pushing them.  Better (bright & high intensity) lighting in that area, especially as it lead down to the luggage "hall" at the bottom of the stairs, would also help.  This, is, an issue with the terminal operator and responsible for the systems & functions of the piers - and NCL has even less control over that.  

 

  Even with priority disembarkation, once they get you off the gangway from the ship - their job is considered basically done ... turn around to take the next waiting guests off the ship, and/or time to hurry and get those waiting to embark to get onboard.  

 

  This time, the post-cruise eSurveys has space to write comments in and asked for feedback on "others" - and I didn't even blink and just write it up - NCL getting more "poor" grades on their performance feedback, maybe - just maybe, the higher up will pay attention.  Break the code of silence, lately - it's consistently in-con-sistent and not acceptable.  

Edited May 25, 2022 by mking8288

[shof515]

Express walk off still need to take those escalators , they do permit luggage on the escalators. There is only 3 options to get to the lower level and that is stairs, elevator or the escalator .

 

They do have someone on top of the escalator to try help people get the luggage on the escalator 

[coalman78]

Did anyone stay on deck 15? I have a balcony on mid-15 and the potential for noise above never occurred to me until I just read another thread. Should I be concerned about noise from deck chairs scraping about? I've never stayed directly below the pool level. Thanks.

[mking8288]

@coalman78 - While our suites were on Deck 10 Fwd/Mid - our niece was also on the Joy in late April - they were in a port side balcony ("BA")  #1515* that slept 3.  Liked the midship location, between the Sun Deck and Kids' Aqua Park - didn't hear deck chairs or anything else being moved around late night/early morning, or other noises coming from overhead.  Vast majority of the balconies on Deck 15 are really not under the sun deck with loungers or chairs.  

 

Of course, it depends on your balcony's "precise" location and Joy's occupancy level for the week of your cruise are in play.  You know the Joy has a very small pool area, between that and the hot tubs - noises aren't directly generated.  Noisy and rowdy passengers can pop up anywhere and sometimes be heard running down the corridors, screaming and yelling as in DYKWIA.  Can't do much about it ... did you read about the fight last week in Spice H2O during party time.  

[The P]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

@coalman78 - While our suites were on Deck 10 Fwd/Mid - our niece was also on the Joy in late April - they were in a port side balcony ("BA")  #1515* that slept 3.  Liked the midship location, between the Sun Deck and Kids' Aqua Park - didn't hear deck chairs or anything else being moved around late night/early morning, or other noises coming from overhead.  Vast majority of the balconies on Deck 15 are really not under the sun deck with loungers or chairs.  

 

Of course, it depends on your balcony's "precise" location and Joy's occupancy level for the week of your cruise are in play.  You know the Joy has a very small pool area, between that and the hot tubs - noises aren't directly generated.  Noisy and rowdy passengers can pop up anywhere and sometimes be heard running down the corridors, screaming and yelling as in DYKWIA.  Can't do much about it ... did you read about the fight last week in Spice H2O during party time.  

I didn't hear about it. What happened?

[mking8288]

14 minutes ago, The P said:

I didn't hear about it. What happened?

Good evening, Sharon - I trust all is well with you ... we are probably going to need to give Bonnie a little extra boost to reassure others and her to not freak out.  Did you meet other solo CC'ers last week ?  Way too much taking place lately as in (link) here.  Doing anything special for Fleet Week since you are right near/next to all the action on the Hudson.  

 

Was a night time incident in Spice H20, apparently on the 20th during the Glow Party ... here I was, wondering why they move the venue a week earlier indoors.  Go to YT and search using these key words - a 7 minutes video should come up, learned it from someone else via social media ... 

Norwegian Joy cruise May 20, 2022  (AND)  Spice H20 during the Glo Party

[dexddd]

I saw half way through the dinner at FR.  Wow.  We ate there twice on Escape.  Think first was Haven lunch first day for free then Platinum cert for snacks.  Does that sound right that Plat/Sapphire cert lets you eat there?

 

We have two Sapphire and DD is Platinum so will it be 8 or 12 items if certs can be used there?

 

FR incredibly excellent.

[The P]

9 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Good evening, Sharon - I trust all is well with you ... we are probably going to need to give Bonnie a little extra boost to reassure others and her to not freak out.  Did you meet other solo CC'ers last week ?  Way too much taking place lately as in (link) here.  Doing anything special for Fleet Week since you are right near/next to all the action on the Hudson.  

 

Was a night time incident in Spice H20, apparently on the 20th during the Glow Party ... here I was, wondering why they move the venue a week earlier indoors.  Go to YT and search using these key words - a 7 minutes video should come up, learned it from someone else via social media ... 

Norwegian Joy cruise May 20, 2022  (AND)  Spice H20 during the Glo Party

WOW, Henry!! I didn't go to the Glow Party because I went to a show in Q called Broadway Cabaret. What a mess! I'd made a shirt in the Atrium with day glo paint to wear it but it looks like I made the better choice to go to Q  instead........... I had one friend from previous cruises on board but didn't go to any solo meet ups. I've been on the Intrepid and hope all the military will leave NYC covid-free..............

[MsTabbyKats]

35 minutes ago, The P said:

WOW, Henry!! I didn't go to the Glow Party because I went to a show in Q called Broadway Cabaret. What a mess! I'd made a shirt in the Atrium with day glo paint to wear it but it looks like I made the better choice to go to Q  instead........... I had one friend from previous cruises on board but didn't go to any solo meet ups. I've been on the Intrepid and hope all the military will leave NYC covid-free..............

Hi Sharon....I'd opt for B'way Caberet too.  Glow Parties aren't my thing....lol.

 

@mking8288We'll be bringing masks....but we'll probably be anti-social anyway.

 

I just hope the ship isn't crowded.  Today's "balcony stateroom" is $200 more/pp than it was a week ago.  No fire sales on this cruise.

 

[CrazyTrain2]

10 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Good evening, Sharon - I trust all is well with you ... we are probably going to need to give Bonnie a little extra boost to reassure others and her to not freak out.  Did you meet other solo CC'ers last week ?  Way too much taking place lately as in (link) here.  Doing anything special for Fleet Week since you are right near/next to all the action on the Hudson.  

 

Was a night time incident in Spice H20, apparently on the 20th during the Glow Party ... here I was, wondering why they move the venue a week earlier indoors.  Go to YT and search using these key words - a 7 minutes video should come up, learned it from someone else via social media ... 

Norwegian Joy cruise May 20, 2022  (AND)  Spice H20 during the Glo Party

Why cruises should NOT leave from NYC or Boston.   The crowd just doesn't get it.

 

A couple of THC gummies for everyone involved.  I hope they brigged everyone involved.

[mking8288]

3 hours ago, dexddd said:

... We have two Sapphire and DD is Platinum so will it be 8 or 12 items if certs can be used there?FR incredibly excellent.

Yulp, Platinum or Sapphire will get you that 2nd. voucher in the booklet, good for La Cucina, Moderna, Q or the casual Food Republic - each person can order up to 4 items on the (digital) menu ... no surcharges or upcharges.  It was a lot of food, 3 items per person is more than enough even for big eaters - 2 dining get you 8, 3 dining together get you 12 (a 4th person can probably just share the items ... they don't mind.  If not enough, then order extra & put it on the onboard account - most likely not needed. 

 

They "should" be open on sea days, i.e. for your Prima T/A - should be a great dining experience & nice change, wash down the sushi rolls with a cold beer or warm sake 👴   All for your convenience. 

 

Otherwise, Cagney's would be a safe SD with the filet or the 20 oz. porterhouse (priced at $45, no extra charge with the voucher)  We ate with a combo of Platinum/Sapphire vouchers and SD coupons, server put them on different "accounts" - before zeroing out our total for 2 with the dining package, was over $200 USD 😁  Can I say, we got our money's worth, "free" and our server was happily rewarded. 

[mking8288]

@dexddd - for your convenience, of source ... to save you a little time to try to decide what's good to try.  Here are more close-up food photos - finally extracted more from DW's SS Galaxy S21 - one of the friendly hostess at Food Republic, mask off just for photo (she'll very pleased that this is on CruiseCritic)

 

 

[mking8288]

Post-cruise, misc. reflections - better prepared for "your" upcoming cruise ahead, whether it's Bermuda or another similar destination, where pre-embarkation Covid-19 testing is required (and, not necessary just for NCL)  

 

If you are going to be in the NY/NJ area prior to your sailing date - at the moment, free testing are still currently available with quick turnaround for the Antigen Rapid test.  Our recommendation & suggestion, that, to plan ahead, look and see whether you can go to one of the community or neighborhood-based mobile testing sites, get it free and done with - with a simple QR-code based mobile registration with your iPhone or smartphone (you will need your cellular/mobile # and email address, text messaging or SMS will be used).  Fewer & fewer CVS/Walgreen sites are doing rapid testing these days (and, CVS's partner Quest Lab billed our insurance, at no cost or out-of-pocket expense to us).  

 

We've used RRT at least 3 times within the last 5 months, very convenient and simple to us, and fast turnaround for getting our (negative) Antigen Rapid test results ... PCR testing also done at the same time, both free and no insurance info needed or used (good for travelers and the uninsured, etc.)    At any given date and during mostly daylight hours, easily 50+ mobile sites are running and testing ... nowadays, no or very short lines and practically no wait, take "more" time to register for your first/initial testing (and, just 1 or 2 minutes on subsequent testing to answer several screening questions)  The digital reports was (are) ready in about 30 minutes for Antigen and within 24 to 36 hours for PCR results (longest wait in early January 20222 during the winter surge.)  

 

To locate a free walk-in testing location within NYC - use this official link (updated weekly ahead, early Sunday morning) - https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/covid-19-testing-sites/

Bing and/or Google to map & check the location to see if it's accessible to you & convenient.  

Most of these mobile locations will have one or more van or mini-bus as seen in pictures below and signage, scan the QR code to start the registration for first-time visit & testing (if in doubt, check and ask first)  You will need to confirm & verify your email & phone # used on your device to complete the account setup.  

 

Of course, you can choose one of the recommended or endorsed options, including Euro Fins at the NY cruise terminal for a fee, one of the proctored test & reporting services - including iHealth home kits shipped free by USPS as some received them as ordered from the official federal government online website, CVS/Walgreens or urgent care clinics, like CityMD and others, as long as the digitally generated reports are in a standardized format with all the important biographical & clinical data shown.  Below is the free testing & reporting (sample only) issued by RRT, affiliated with and a partner with NYC Dept of Health and has been accepted for most travel, including our 2 recent cruises on NCL.  

 

Personally, we also recommend bringing your own testing kits, and of course, high quality (K)N95/KF94/3-ply surgical masks to use - just in case ... you just don't know, while onboard and/or shortly before disembarkation & traveling again/going home.  

 

Edited May 28, 2022 by mking8288

[dcipjr]

Are you all back to normal, @mking8288?

 

I tested negative last Friday, and DD tested negative yesterday. DW never got it—either her immunity prevented her from getting it (vaccines + maybe an asymptomatic infection that never got picked up?), or she just got lucky...no way to know.

 

Aside from a stray cough that has gotten progressively less frequent, I am completely back to normal. 

 

We're probably going to cruise in August for our anniversary week. We should have some protection from our immunity, provided another variant doesn't take off in the meantime, and we're thinking the current wave will have subsided by then. 

[sassycruiser]

I am still coughing as is my husband.   I get tired really easily.   Hopefully this ends soon.  

[graphicguy]

Kinda putting a magnifying glass to this cruise in July.

 

As has been all over the news, Delta airlines is all kind of messed up right now.   Delta is who I fly with (mostly) out of Cincinnati.

 

So, I've traveled enough to know that even when Delta is running like a well oiled machine (which is rare), they can be persnickety enough to throw rust into their gears of progress at a moments notice.

 

As such, as much as I don't like to do it, I'd probably come in the night before.

 

Hotel suggestions?  

[smillerholmes]

11 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Kinda putting a magnifying glass to this cruise in July.

 

As has been all over the news, Delta airlines is all kind of messed up right now.   Delta is who I fly with (mostly) out of Cincinnati.

 

So, I've traveled enough to know that even when Delta is running like a well oiled machine (which is rare), they can be persnickety enough to throw rust into their gears of progress at a moments notice.

 

As such, as much as I don't like to do it, I'd probably come in the night before.

 

Hotel suggestions?  

 

I also have a cruise out of NY although not until September 3rd.  Delta is also my preferred carrier mostly out of CMH.  The holiday weekend has me skittish to say the least.  Sigh... I am thinking of getting a one way car rental and flying back when it matters less what time I get home.

 

 

[graphicguy]

7 minutes ago, smillerholmes said:

 

I also have a cruise out of NY although not until September 3rd.  Delta is also my preferred carrier mostly out of CMH.  The holiday weekend has me skittish to say the least.  Sigh... I am thinking of getting a one way car rental and flying back when it matters less what time I get home.

 

 

I get it.  I've flown out of CMH plenty.

 

I'm a 2M Miler with Delta.  And even at that, I'm looking for alternatives.

 

Actually looking at AMTRAK to New York.  Wouldn't mind driving, but I'd have to block out way more time, as I'd also have to drive home (CVG).

[smillerholmes]

43 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I get it.  I've flown out of CMH plenty.

 

I'm a 2M Miler with Delta.  And even at that, I'm looking for alternatives.

 

Actually looking at AMTRAK to New York.  Wouldn't mind driving, but I'd have to block out way more time, as I'd also have to drive home (CVG).

Hmmm...Amtrak...that means TOL or CHI.  Ugh!