Semi-Live Joy 7 nights NY-Canada New England 9.16.2022 - we are back

[shof515]

Welcome to St John Norwegian Joy

Edited September 20, 2022 by shof515

[mking8288]

 

Good morning, local time 8:50 am now, ship is behind schedule but almost engine full stop now. Raining here in Saint John. Not expected to be cleared for guests to go ashore for maybe up to 1 hour w CBSA clearance. 

 

 

 

Satellite WiFi is slow & poor, switching over to Google Fi data and on 5G coverage on dual sim Pixel smartphone 😄

Edited September 20, 2022 by mking8288

[dexddd]

How did I miss this and we are already on page 4?

 

I was going to say why you up so early but if 8:50 local, I guess not.  Have a great trip.

[dexddd]

23 hours ago, mking8288 said:

It's a cloudy morning, 54 degree F and wet weather expected by afternoon  - rain on its way. 

 

Long pants to pair with a lined jacket for a walk to town along the waterfront. Ship just been cleared & pax can procces to gangway.

Looks like RCCL drives a bit faster than NCL, for your convenience, of course.

[mking8288]

16 minutes ago, dexddd said:

Looks like RCCL drives a bit faster than NCL, for your convenience, of course.

Aren't you on the Prima this month ?  All is well 😅

 

We're going between 18 to 20 knots overnight, fog horn being used and indeed left Portland behind the VOS. Plus, finally felt the ship moving 😆

Anyway, local time corrected to 8:29 ADT.  Weather - wet ... this morning, going ashore a little later. Folks gathering by the gangway already 

Edited September 20, 2022 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Gangways now open on Deck 5 Fwd and Deck 7 Aft, ship has been cleared and pax can proceed to go ashore. Proof of vax and ArriveCAN e-receipt/QR code needed, along with the usual ...

 

And, rain poncho or umbrella ☔ and a lined jacket recommended 😉 

 

Edited September 20, 2022 by mking8288

[cruiseny4life]

12 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Used on 2nd Platinum dining coupon tonight at Q Texas SH with live music, not very busy & no restrictions, etc. 

 

It's a lot of food for 2 to eat and finish, unless you are very hungry. 

 

 

Those plates of food look amazing! I absolutely think I want to try Q when I'm on a ship that has it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how it compares to some of the best land-based BBQ joints you've been to. There's so much mediocre smoked meat out there that always looks tasty. I'm not expecting Joes from Kansas City aboard NCL, but I'd love to know if this is at least a bit above mediocre. 

 

If you're able to respond, thanks! If not, that means you're enjoying your cruise!

[shof515]

St John looks busy with the Joy and 2 other Royal ships. how does the port handle the crowds?

[EllieinNJ]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Those plates of food look amazing! I absolutely think I want to try Q when I'm on a ship that has it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how it compares to some of the best land-based BBQ joints you've been to. There's so much mediocre smoked meat out there that always looks tasty. I'm not expecting Joes from Kansas City aboard NCL, but I'd love to know if this is at least a bit above mediocre. 

 

If you're able to respond, thanks! If not, that means you're enjoying your cruise!

When we went to Q my husband ordered the bbq ribs.  They brought out 3 ribs and they were raw.  I ordered the Cajun shrimp squewers and they were delicious so they exchanged his for the shrimp.  They gave him a free soda to say sorry.

[UKstages]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

There's so much mediocre smoked meat out there that always looks tasty. I'm not expecting Joes from Kansas City aboard NCL, but I'd love to know if this is at least a bit above mediocre. 

i've been to Q both on the bliss and  - last week - on the joy.

 

i'm pleased to report that it is indeed better than mediocre. it's not world class BBQ crafted by an award-winning pitmaster, but it's pretty good. in fact, i have upgraded my opinion of Q after last week's experience on the joy. it was quite tasty and it is a lot of food... even though the sides are rather small and served in stainless steel ramekins. (homey wants a little more cole slaw than that, thankyouverymuch!) i ordered the banana pudding for dessert and was so full i could only take one bite. they also do a "smokey peach margarita," which is quite good and which i've been unable to get elsewhere on the ship. i do think the meats are likely prepared somewhere in a central kitchen off the ship and vacuum sealed and brought onboard and then "warmed to order." i doubt they have a smoker on board. (and if they did, would it have to be located at spice H20? 😁) i think i'm in the minority in that i don't actually appreciate the live music while dining... it can be pretty loud, depending on where you sit - making conversation difficult -  and i'm just not a big fan of country music.

 

@mking8288, very much enjoying this "live" review... same ship, same ports, many of the same experiences i had on the cruise just before you, including a total absence of hash browns.

 

and i was also on deck 15!

[PistolPete13]

Thank you for taking us along in words and photos!

 

I'm inspired to try and do the same on the Prima sailing from NYC on 10/10.

Edited September 20, 2022 by PistolPete13

[mking8288]

We are braving the rain shower with a bit of wind & pounding wet pavement to walk up the hill to City Market ... and take pictures 🤓. More comments later, pix for now.

 

See the church in the middle, we are going there now.

[CrazyTrain2]

Hurricane Fiona tracking more westerly towards Nova Scotia as a Cat 1-2.  Hopefully you can scurry back to home before it gets bad.

 

Should be a little more fun out there on the dance floor.

[mking8288]

Slowly ascending the hill, stopping for photos & to rest our feet ... 

 

 

[mking8288]

On top of the world ... I mean, the hill & center of town & tourist area in Saint John ... indoor shopping mall too. 

 

[fstuff1]

Q restaurant:

 

Music was too loud but not as loud as last week's 3 (4?) person band with male singer and male guitar player/singer.

The lead singer looked awkward just standing there for 1 song where the guitar/singer sang the whole thing.

 

i had the variety platter last week (doing b2b).

It was good but TOO much food.

 

This week I did 1/2 boneless short ribs and 1/2 brisket. 

the short ribs were Delicious! the best from all the foods in this restaurant.

 

it's 2' x 2" in size and were 3 of them.

If there's a next time, will get full order of this.

6 pieces would be enough food for me.

 

Edited September 20, 2022 by fstuff1

[mking8288]

City Market at SJ - pickup 2 pullovers here as souvenir in support of the Purple Heart Project 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2022 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Lunch at Billy's Seafood - seafood chowder & lobster roll, toasted bun ... yummy good, not expensive at all.

 

 

[Topdog52]

1 hour ago, mking8288 said:

We are braving the rain shower with a bit of wind & pounding wet pavement to walk up the hill to City Market ... and take pictures 🤓. More comments later, pix for now.

 

See the church in the middle, we are going there now.

The Pictures are Great!! Thank You so much. Do you know where you would catch the Big Pink Bus Tour Hop -On Hop-Off? I was wondering if it right as you get off the ship, or do you need to walk into down? 

[kattybiz]

We took the bus last week, and there's a pink tent right outside the port building to catch the bus.

[mking8288]

Tips: 💡💡💡 From City Market back to (from, too) the ship, we went underground that connect to the shopping mall, then more inside skyways to another building, ending down by the waterfront - escalators or elevators that are accessible friendly ... then a matter of walking on flat street level to the terminal entrance. Because of rising tide, the gangway had moved up 1 deck AFT & lower FWD too. 

 

[mking8288]

Royal's AOS docked behind us and sailed ahead of us, made an "easy" looking turn in the harbor channel with the VOS on the other side ... and on her way.  Almost 6 pm here, we should be under way at 6 - all abroad 5:30 pm

 

 

BTW, there are taxis available just outside by the cruise terminal and also across the street. 

 

 

 

[mking8288]

Next stop - Halifax.  6:30 pm - we are turning around to head out & leaving the harbor.  Bye, Saint John ... we were going 18 to 20 knots last night, probably the same to make the distance to arrive by noon tomorrow 🫣

[mking8288]

2 more pix of SJ view from portside as it began to rain again.  

 

 

[mking8288]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner tonight at Tappanyeki was excellent, entertaining & nicely prepared - my filet mignon cooked perfectly to medium well. 

Edited September 21, 2022 by mking8288