*LIVE* from the Norwegian Joy – 7-Night Bermuda – May 12-19, 2024

[BirdTravels]

Join The Bird, *live*, from the beautiful Norwegian Joy on a Mother’s Day cruise to Bermuda. The Joy started her Bermuda season in April and will continue sailing to Bermuda weekly through mid-October (She takes a break during September to make two fall foliage cruises to Quebec.)

 

The Joy just completed a major dry dock in mid-February. This major update follows a $50M renovation in 2019 when the ship was “Americanized” after leaving Asia. 24 cabins were “re-installed” replacing part of the Observation Lounge. A Thermal Suite was added to the Mandara Spa (something originally not planned for the Asian market) replacing the Galaxy Virtual Reality Pavilion. And the Vibe Beach Club was expanded, using space from the old Laser Tag area. 

 

The Plan

 

Sun New York depart 6:00 pm

Mon At Sea

Tue At Sea

Wed Bermuda arrive 8:00 am

Thu Bermuda

Fri Bermuda depart 3:00 pm

Sat At Sea 

Sun New York arrive 7:00 am
 

 

[BirdTravels]

On a cool, drizzly morning, the Joy awaits our arrival at Pier 88. 
 

“Fill ‘er up” as the ship bunkers fuel… and don’t forget to wash all of the windows!  
 

Edited May 12 by BirdTravels

[PatJim]

Happy Mother’s Day!  So glad for your post, as we’re boarding the Joy when you disembark on the 19th, and know you’ll take good care of her.

 

If you get the chance, please post a list of her officers.  Over our many years sailing NCL, we’ve become friends with many.  It would be nice to anticipate meeting up with some of them next week.  Many thanks.

[BirdTravels]

First stop is document checks. Today, they were using facial recognition at document check based on… check-in photo??? CBP digital photo???  
 

Those who fail the facial recognition are sent to a [long] line for manual processing. If you pass your facial recognition, you proceed on to X-ray and metal detection. 
 

Edited May 12 by BirdTravels

[BirdTravels]

Once you pass security screening, it is time to find your check in area and line. Deck 5-11 used the check in at the front of the terminal. Haven and Decks 12-15 used the back checkin area. 
 

 

[www3traveler]

7 minutes ago, PatJim said:

Happy Mother’s Day!  So glad for your post, as we’re boarding the Joy when you disembark on the 19th, and know you’ll take good care of her.

 

If you get the chance, please post a list of her officers.  Over our many years sailing NCL, we’ve become friends with many.  It would be nice to anticipate meeting up with some of them next week.  Many thanks.

This week's list could be slightly different than next week-- there is a General Manager's Conference beginning later today in Miami-first one in several years.

[BirdTravels]

There seemed to be a shortage of check in agents today. Lines were long and slow. 
 

Now that you’re all checked in, time to find somewhere to sit. 
 

Priority boarding is divided in two. 

 

Edited May 12 by BirdTravels

[Laszlo]

Have a great cruise, will be in Bermuda in 6 weeks

[goldmom]

Thank you so much for doing this.  We are also getting on when you get off and hopefully this will add to the cruise excitement and anticipation until it's our turn.

Really looking forward to following along with you and appreciate your wealth of information.

[BirdTravels]

Happy Mother’s Day from the Norwegian Joy

 

[andychris]

Have a wonderful cruise!

[schmoopie17]

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

 

Those who fail the facial recognition are sent to a [long] line for manual processing. If you pass your facial recognition, you proceed on to X-ray and metal detection. 

 

So...if your passport picture is a few years old...and in the mean time, you've grown a beard...does that cause you to fail facial recognition?

[PatJim]

Can’t answer for the beard, but it still recognizes my white hair from brown hair photos!!😁

[BirdTravels]

Tired of lugging around, use the bag drop. 

[graphicguy]

Great to see this.  Will be boarding next month (right before @Laszlo).

[JandC_Cruising]

@BirdTravels We know you are a fan of the Thermal Suites on the other BA and BA+ ships.  Anxiously waiting for your review of the new space. 

 

Enjoy the week!

[BirdTravels]

Day 1 Main Dining Room

 

 

The Manhattan Room

 

[BirdTravels]

What entertainment is on the ship this week. For future cruisers, The Bird notes that this week’s schedule is different than last week’s schedule which was different from the week before. 
 

[BirdTravels]

5 hours ago, PatJim said:

If you get the chance, please post a list of her officers.  Over our many years sailing NCL, we’ve become friends with many.  It would be nice to anticipate meeting up with some of them next week.  Many thanks.

Who is running the ship?

 

[vacation44]

Thank you, @BirdTravels, as we will be on the Joy in three weeks.   Your information of the separate boarding areas is very helpful to me as we are 11 in total with all different status.

 

Am I correct that if two passengers sharing a cabin and one is platinum and one is gold, the gold passenger would be permitted to stay with the platinum passenger in the boarding area?

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

[BirdTravels]

3 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

Thank you, @BirdTravels, as we will be on the Joy in three weeks.   Your information of the separate boarding areas is very helpful to me as we are 11 in total with all different status.

 

Am I correct that if two passengers sharing a cabin and one is platinum and one is gold, the gold passenger would be permitted to stay with the platinum passenger in the boarding area?

 

Have a wonderful cruise.

Just sit in the priority area and tell them you are bunking together. 
 

The Birds are Diamond and there was an annoying guy carding people sitting and waiting. That being said, he kicked out a bunch of people. The Diamond and Platinum waiting area board through “side doors” before they open the ropes for general boarding. 

[BirdTravels]

[BirdTravels]

It must be 5 o’clock somewhere. 
 

Standard bar menu. 
 

Edited May 12 by BirdTravels

[DRGrammy]

Have a wonderful cruise!  Thank you for doing this.  Your Live blogs are always so informative.  We’re on the Joy the 26th, so this will really get us excited for out trip.

[DRGrammy]

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Tired of lugging around, use the bag drop. 

Could you tell me where the bag drop is?  I was told it was outside of Q on a previous cruise.