*LIVE* NCL Joy Bermuda 7-nite sailing from NYC in HAVEN-06/16/2024-w/pics

[CruisnHallelujahs]

18 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

You could join me and my ragtag but lovable fun team!

 

Sounds like a plan…one day 🤗🥳

[Cruisercl]

My thanks to all three contributing cruisers here!!

A wonderful review...😎

[graphicguy]

First and foremost, this was a great cruise.  Of course, I say that about them all.  What's not to like.  Someone to. take care of you 24/7.  Plenty of food, cabin was clean, docked at an exotic locale.  Tough to say anything was bad.  The pics tell the story.

 

The things that were great and the things that did go sideways had everything to do with others on board.

 

@debenson0723 and @Sugar Magnolia were a major reason this cruise was so much fun, if that wasn't obvious.  Not only are they wonderful people, they are just a blast to hang around with.  I tip my hat to both of them for keeping me entertained and for contributing to the cruise overall.

 

THE PORT

One port....Bermuda.....aside from some gusty winds (which really weren't bad), the weather was just about perfect.  Got a little warm but if I broke a sweat, it was because I  was hoofing it though the hilly areas or trudging through the sand.

 

It's clean.  The beaches are pristine as are the waters.  There are so many things to do.  This was what I like in a port.  It offers beautiful waters and beaches.  No one is hounding me to "buy" something or "hire" them.  There are caverns, a nice downtown area, and many "nooks and crannies", many beaches, etc to explore.  And, I just used the ship as my hotel.

 

THE SHIP

The Joy is one of the newer NCL ships, and has been recently refurbished from being (originally) in the Asian Market.  Don't know why, but it wasn't in the intended market for long.  But, as such, it is in great shape.  It's one of the Breakaway Plus class ships, and is one of the largest in the fleet.  As all NCL ships, it's clean as a pin and very well maintained.

 

For you pool buffs, it only has one main pool.  Personally, if I'm in Bermuda, with all the beautiful beaches and blue waters, I don't know what the attraction would be to hang out on the ship's pool.  But, they did...in droves.  Go figure.

 

I stayed in the Haven, but spent quite a bit of time all around the ship.  The nicest areas of the ship were in the Observation Lounge and one deck up in the Haven, the Horizon Lounge.  Snacks and drinks throughout the day.  And, there were comfy couches and chairs to just hang out with floor to ceiling windows and a 270º view all around.  The Observation Lounge actually has a Starbucks.  I know the Observation Lounge was shrunk to add cabins, but it is still VERY large.  The times I was there, it never felt crowded.  Horizon Lounge was even less crowded.  There are other places to hang out both inside and out. As I always say, if one place is too crowded, there's another a 100 feet away.  True of the Joy.  In brief, beautiful ship that's relatively new, and in great shape.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

Not going to repeat what both @Sugar Magnolia and I posted earlier, but the rumor of the broadway/West End type entertainment's demise has been greatly exaggerated.  But, on the Joy, I enjoyed Elements, the main show.  It's rather "avant garde" but enjoyable...a little acrobatics, a little magic, a little dancing.

 

The Aerialist was only 2 performers, but they were amazing....again a combo of dance and acrobatics.

 

The real entertainment, in my estimation, were the different bands all around the ship, whether it be in the Cavern Club, the Sugarcane, etc.  All were good and all were fun and they seemed to just be everywhere.  Very enjoyable.

 

Did not do the Beatles tribute, as I had seen it before, nor the Comedian (not really a comedy guy).

 

I am a big fan of shows like Choir of Man, Burn the Floor, etc,  So, those types of shows are in development, from what we were told.  Don't see any reason for them to lie about that.  Looking forward to those when they are announced.

 

Did not do the go carts.  Have done them in the past (on the Bliss).  They're fun.....once!

 

Game shows and trivia?  Check. If you like it (and apparently you do given how crowded they were), you got it.

 

'nuff said!

 

 But, just like the bars, there is no lack of entertainment for everyone just about all the time.

 

THE FOOD

I'm going to get this out of the way upfront...there is absolutely no reason to require long pants in any of the restaurants on board.  The few (the VERY few) who want some sort of "formality" on cruise ships have other options.....Cunard, HAL, etc.  NCL ain't formal.  So, trying to have dinner in LeBistro as some sort of formal dining experience was a chore.  They finally said I could "sit outside" (WTH, I dropped major coin on the Haven and I'm some sort of Pariah?).  But, they acted like they didn't want me there. Fine.  Found other, better dining venues.  I am willing to bet that less than 1/10 of 1% of the guests cared one little iota about long pants in any of the dining venues.

 

The SDPs were all good.  Cagney's is not Ruth's Cris.  LeBistro is not a "French Bistro".  Food is fine, and may be a step above the MDRs, but they are NOT fine dining.

 

Haven restaurant was/is excellent.  Had surf and turf one night and it was the best meal on the ship.  Steak was perfectly rare, Lobster tail was tender and meaty.  And not, I am not a glutton.  I only ordered one tail.

 

Did not eat in the Garden Buffet, nor any of the MDRs.

 

Cookies...plenty of cookies...I saw them, a lot of them, in both the Observation Lounge and the Horizon Lounge.

 

Hashbrowns...didn't see them, don't care about them.

 

(TBC)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cruiseny4life]

11 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Hashbrowns...didn't see them, don't care about them.

Well....that's rude! Apparently Arby's is bringing back potato cakes which appear to basically be a hash brown. Another fine dining establishment to get your fried sponge, so take that NCL! I'm still not touching those disgusting country potatoes that have no taste or spice, and are rarely cooked thoroughly. 

 

  

22 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Haven disembark..

Oh, how I miss that long, lonely walk! Hopefully sooner than later I'll be taking that Haven wander from NYC (nothing booked yet though). 

 

  

23 hours ago, Sugar Magnolia said:

 

I would have asked Taylor Swift to sing "Welcome to New York" for you but she is still on her Eras Tour in Europe.

 

Every time we cruise back into NY, or drive across the GDub, we blast us some Taylor! I still say NY doesn't give a flying apple if we're there or not, but I'll not miss my welcome back to the city! 

 

15 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Not going to repeat what both @Sugar Magnolia and I posted earlier, but the rumor of the broadway/West End type entertainment's demise has been greatly exaggerated.

If Wicked actually happens, I don't care about any other entertainment. I've seen it before, I'm definitely going to see the movie, and I'll totally watch it onboard...every time it plays. I still highly doubt NCL will fork over the dollars for Wicked. Please, NCL, color me surprised!!

 

17 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I'm going to get this out of the way upfront...there is absolutely no reason to require long pants in any of the restaurants on board.  The few (the VERY few) who want some sort of "formality" on cruise ships have other options.....Cunard, HAL, etc.  NCL ain't formal.  So, trying to have dinner in LeBistro as some sort of formal dining experience was a chore.  They finally said I could "sit outside" (WTH, I dropped major coin on the Haven and I'm some sort of Pariah?).  But, they acted like they didn't want me there. Fine.  Found other, better dining venues.  I am willing to bet that less than 1/10 of 1% of the guests cared one little iota about long pants in any of the dining venues.

Were they really that ornery? Makes my decision to not bother with Ocean Blue or Le Bistro an even better one. But yes, us pantless ones are the pariahs onboard! 

 

And now, a major thanks to @graphicguy for starting this thread, albeit weeks ahead of time. For @Sugar Magnolia not being tired of posting on Cruise Critic and showing us her 4 AM - 2 AM life. How do you do it? And, @debenson0723 - now spill the beans on how to make those magic casino games pay out!!! Thank you all - y'all helped me get through the hot and humid Central NY week. It was well worth following along on your Bermudan journey! 

[Sugar Magnolia]

9 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

For @Sugar Magnolia not being tired of posting on Cruise Critic and showing us her 4 AM - 2 AM life. How do you do it?

 

I don't drink or sleep. Lots of gelato and cookies.

 

[schmoopie17]

22 hours ago, graphicguy said:

 

But, the miscreants I just cruised with are trying to talk me into a TA cruise.

Which one? If the timing's right, maybe we'll join you. Would probably have to be in 2026, though, since we're pretty much booked up until then. And it looks like the CC group cruise will not be happening.

[Sugar Magnolia]

2 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

And it looks like the CC group cruise will not be happening.

 

A few of us should just pick a cruise and the heck with everyone else. If they can make it fine...but we know what happens when there are too many cooks in the kitchen. If the Ancient Greeks knew how some democracies have turned out, they would not have invented it.

 

[graphicguy]

THE WATERFRONT

 

This is where I spent most of my afternoons when I wasn't ashore.  I'd grab a chair or couch, read, grab a lemonade (yes, a pure, all American Lemonade) and sometimes post here.  I can't tell you how relaxing it is to me to just calm myself overlooking pristine waters going by and immersing myself in a book.  My favorite part of the ship.  Plus, there are bars outside if you're so inclined.

 

REFREHSMENTS

 

This is probably the cruise I drank the least.  Couple of beers with dinner or while watching entertainment.  Maybe a bourbon after dinner drink or nightcap, and that was about it.  Still made FAS worth it, but barely.

 

EXCURSIONS

The only one I booked was the 10:00 p.m. Bermuda Triangle excursion.  Worth $119?  Tough sell.  Extracting my $50 excursion credit and charging $70?  OK....I can see it.  What they do is take you out in the inky waters at night (for effect) where there was some luminescence and regaled with some of the history of the Bermuda Triangle (most of it was not based in fact).  If you want to sail out at night, this might be the one for you.

 

The rest of the time, I self entertained (sometimes chaperoned by @Sugar Magnolia).  Go explore the beaches on your own.  Take the ferry to St Georges and wander around.  Go to Harbor Nights in Hamilton.  There is so much to explore and do, craft your own excursions.  No way you'll be late back to the ship, since it will be there the next morning.  Got no recommendations other than to jump on a bus, a ferry, a taxi and just go...somewhere...anywhere...you won't be disappointed.

 

CABIN

Well, it was in the Haven (HI).  Huge cabin and a huge balcony.  Spent more a.m. drinking coffee and most p.m. having a night cap there.  The Butler (Made) was fine.  Didn't ask much (if anything) of him.  He brought snacks, cookies, and refilled my coffee.  My Steward (Rayner) took very good care of my cabin.  Rosemarie and Efron (the concierges) did most of the heavy lifting as far as planning dinner, shows, (dis)embarkations.  The only thing they couldn't do, was work out the dress pants thing in LeBistro.  They did finally get them to acquiesce, but I felt like LeBistro really tried to be something they are not by playing the "fine dining" card.  But, they were the real stars of my show.  I would tell them what I wanted to do, and like magic, it was done.  

 

Haven Bar is usually a hub of activity, but I didn't spend as much time there as usual because I had compatriots to hang out with (which were way better company than the ever present bar patrons).

 

THE REST

I guess the rest would be the guests.  Touchy subject.  @Sugar Magnolia mentioned the guy who was yelling about getting hit by a bus during the Latitudes get together.  One of the crew said the Captain kicked him off the ship.  

 

There was another guy in a Cowboy outfit running around taking pictures at the main pool bar.  Weird?  Sure.  Some were annoyed by him.  He didn't get near me, so all's good.

 

I had no problem with the WiFi either at sea or while docked.  I was able to post here (with lots of pics, no less).  I was able to use WiFi to make phone calls without issue.  I know @Sugar Magnolia was able to post a video.  So, it worked great.  No clue about VPNs or any other particular questions that may come up, though.

 

I love kids.  The ones on this cruise were....ummm...difficult to like.  By association, so were there parents.  Not going to belabor the point about parents insisting on tilting alcoholic beverages while there kids ran amok (literally).  I had heard about it, but never experienced that sort of behavior before.  I want to say it's a NYC thing, but that's being unfair to the vast majority of pleasant New Yorkers on this cruise.  

 

Will repeat for emphasis, if you can not control your kids, keep them in the cabin...seriously.  The rest of the guests do not think they are darlings and will not, should not have to be disturbed by them.  No matter their age.  We do understand.  Kids DO NOT belong in the bar areas, period.  We DO NOT what you or they are all about. Go to Disney.  Mickey and Minnie will love them.  Us heathens will not.  

 

Of course, I'm joking (am I?)!

Enough of that.

 

My last cruise is always my favorite.  This is not exception.  

 

Were there cutbacks?  Maybe?  Changes for certain.  Did any of it affect my cruise?  Absolutely not!

 

Would I do it again?  Would have made this one a B2B if given the chance.

 

Applaud NCL.  And, a gracious thanks to my cruise partners.  They made it for me.

[graphicguy]

These pics were from yesterday....

[graphicguy]

Movie time in the Atrium....

[graphicguy]

Will sort through some more......and post.

[asctony]

13 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Movie time in the Atrium....

Do they charge for popcorn?

[schmoopie17]

18 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

 

There was another guy in a Cowboy outfit running around taking pictures at the main pool bar.  Weird?  Sure.  Some were annoyed by him.  He didn't get near me, so all's good

 

Chocolate Cowboy sure gets around.

[schmoopie17]

21 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

 

Will repeat for emphasis, if you can not control your kids, keep them in the cabin...seriously.  The rest of the guests do not think they are darlings and will not, should not have to be disturbed by them.  

 

I wish I could like this post 100 times.

[graphicguy]

13 minutes ago, asctony said:

Do they charge for popcorn?

nope...it's free!

[Sugar Magnolia]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

Were they really that ornery? Makes my decision to not bother with Ocean Blue or Le Bistro an even better one. But yes, us pantless ones are the pariahs onboard! 

 

I shall now refer to @graphicguy and @cruiseny4life as The Pantless Wonders.

 

Even more absurd are the MDRs like The Manhattan Room that require pants. I know it was true on the Encore back in March 2023 but do not know whether that is still in effect.

 

[graphicguy]

saw me coming, I suppose!

[graphicguy]

[graphicguy]

stairs to the Haven Restaurant.

[graphicguy]

Smoky drinks....

[graphicguy]

[graphicguy]

LOVED this coffee machine in the Horizon Lounge.  Killed any barista Starbucks coffee...

[graphicguy]

duplicate

Edited June 24 by graphicguy

[graphicguy]

teeny LEDs over looking my bed....

[graphicguy]

Spice H20