NCL Joy 6-2-24 Quick Thoughts and Comments

[CruisnDeb]

Just now, Sand and Seas said:

😲

My DH will be very disappointed with a skimpy Reuben!

And I love the Chicken salad sandwich.    I would rather they save wasted food by listening to me when I say 'no fries'.

I will be too.  Whenever cruising NCL, I love having the reuben on embarkation day and at least 2 more times for lunch during the cruise.

[vacation44]

2 minutes ago, Sand and Seas said:

😲

My DH will be very disappointed with a skimpy Reuben!

And I love the Chicken salad sandwich.    I would rather they save wasted food by listening to me when I say 'no fries'.

And the second sandwiches came with additional fries and they were not eaten along with the extra bread.   Oh, and they also downsized the pickle too.   I think they tried to slice it into 8ths!   

[vacation44]

4 minutes ago, CruisnDeb said:

I will be too.  Whenever cruising NCL, I love having the reuben on embarkation day and at least 2 more times for lunch during the cruise.

Me too!   Once on boarding day, once mid trip and one final one on the last day.    

[Sand and Seas]

5 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

And the second sandwiches came with additional fries and they were not eaten along with the extra bread.   Oh, and they also downsized the pickle too.   I think they tried to slice it into 8ths!   

That's just sad😕

More wasted food and still not enough meat for a decent Reuben or Chicken sandwich!

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

2 hours ago, vacation44 said:

Oh, and they also downsized the pickle too.

I hate it when my pickle is downsized.

[laudergayle]

5 hours ago, vacation44 said:

I know!     For months leading up to the trip, I kept telling my daughter's significant other how great the sandwich was.   Of course, he ordered it at our first day lunch and it was so disappointing.    They were also very light on the chicken salad the few times my daughter ordered it.   She then started to ask for an extra scope in a bowl.   Like my experience with the Reuben, they then brought her two sandwiches instead.   

This was our experience on the Jewel last month.  I stated that since NCL can’t downsize the menu much more, they have really started to downsize in other places.  The chicken salad sandwich on a whole sandwich was equal to a half sandwich…I guess I saved carbs since I made one decent half sandwich.  I could go on and on about where they “saved $$$” by modifying EVERYTHING.  I haven’t dumped NCL all the way…but we have 2 MSC and 2 Princess cruises booked compared to 1 NCL.  Time will tell.

[vacation44]

12 hours ago, laudergayle said:

This was our experience on the Jewel last month.  I stated that since NCL can’t downsize the menu much more, they have really started to downsize in other places.  The chicken salad sandwich on a whole sandwich was equal to a half sandwich…I guess I saved carbs since I made one decent half sandwich.  I could go on and on about where they “saved $$$” by modifying EVERYTHING.  I haven’t dumped NCL all the way…but we have 2 MSC and 2 Princess cruises booked compared to 1 NCL.  Time will tell.

We feel the same--have not dumped NCL yet (still have two on the books), but my husband is very interested in MSC.  This was the first time we did not purchase any cruise next certificates.

[JGmf]

3 hours ago, vacation44 said:

This was the first time we did not purchase any cruise next certificates.

 

I was "this close" to do the same.  We were at zero certificates...and getting hounded by the Cruise Next people...and I resisted.  I was shocked that my wife pushed us to get a new batch on the afternoon of the last day - she loves Bermuda and NCL is the leading option for getting there from NYC.

[njkate]

On 6/11/2024 at 3:38 PM, vacation44 said:

And the second sandwiches came with additional fries and they were not eaten along with the extra bread.   Oh, and they also downsized the pickle too.   I think they tried to slice it into 8ths!   

Cheaper to try and fill you up on fries versus decent amount of meat on sandwich 

[knitlady037]

23 hours ago, JGmf said:

 

I was "this close" to do the same.  We were at zero certificates...and getting hounded by the Cruise Next people...and I resisted.  I was shocked that my wife pushed us to get a new batch on the afternoon of the last day - she loves Bermuda and NCL is the leading option for getting there from NYC.

I felt the same way on my last cruise but broke down and bought a haven cruise next certificate. I have the Aqua booked for next year, but this cruise will determine whether I buy more certificates.Never thoucht I would feel this way.

[CDR Benson]

I've been away from this board too long and am playing catch-up.  I noted your post with interest, ma'am, as I remember the info you provided me for our last NCL cruise, about suite 14148, as we had booked its mirror opposite, 14778.

 

It's discouraging, in a general sense, to read your report of menu changes.  I've seen other comments to that effect.  None of the specifics I've read about will affect our dining preferences, but the handwriting has been written on the wall:  NCL is reducing some of its offerings, yet the price remains the same.

 

That always annoys me.  It's like buying a product off the shelves at a grocery store, like a box of cereal or a package of cookies, or a frozen-food dish; you discover the amount, or size, has gotten smaller, yet the same price is charged.

 

I would much prefer that the size remain the same and the price be increased.  The same for NCL.  Pro rated by passenger, I don't think a fare increase would be too damaging, and it would be worth it to keep the same quality.  At least, it'd be more honest.

 

This is especially timely for us, ma'am, given we're sailing again on Norwegian Joy in November.  The Good Mrs. Benson loved that ship, the Haven, and the suite.  So, I've booked the same suite (# 14778).  That pain I feel when I sit down is from my wallet, as I've just finished paying the final fare amount due.  So, I especially take your comments to heart.

 

After this, we are backing off our annual cruising a bit.  Now that I'm retired, for the third and final time, we have to decide each year between home renovations and cruises (before we could do both each year).  But  for the 2026 cruise, I am, like your husband, taking a hard look at the MSC Yacht Club.  I suspect we can get a better bang for our buck there.

 

Thank you for your posts, this one and the ones from before.

 

Edited July 11 by CDR Benson

[vacation44]

On 7/11/2024 at 2:36 PM, CDR Benson said:

I've been away from this board too long and am playing catch-up.  I noted your post with interest, ma'am, as I remember the info you provided me for our last NCL cruise, about suite 14148, as we had booked its mirror opposite, 14778.

 

It's discouraging, in a general sense, to read your report of menu changes.  I've seen other comments to that effect.  None of the specifics I've read about will affect our dining preferences, but the handwriting has been written on the wall:  NCL is reducing some of its offerings, yet the price remains the same.

 

That always annoys me.  It's like buying a product off the shelves at a grocery store, like a box of cereal or a package of cookies, or a frozen-food dish; you discover the amount, or size, has gotten smaller, yet the same price is charged.

 

I would much prefer that the size remain the same and the price be increased.  The same for NCL.  Pro rated by passenger, I don't think a fare increase would be too damaging, and it would be worth it to keep the same quality.  At least, it'd be more honest.

 

This is especially timely for us, ma'am, given we're sailing again on Norwegian Joy in November.  The Good Mrs. Benson loved that ship, the Haven, and the suite.  So, I've booked the same suite (# 14778).  That pain I feel when I sit down is from my wallet, as I've just finished paying the final fare amount due.  So, I especially take your comments to heart.

 

After this, we are backing off our annual cruising a bit.  Now that I'm retired, for the third and final time, we have to decide each year between home renovations and cruises (before we could do both each year).  But  for the 2026 cruise, I am, like your husband, taking a hard look at the MSC Yacht Club.  I suspect we can get a better bang for our buck there.

 

Thank you for your posts, this one and the ones from before.

 

Sorry to be responding to your reply so late as I just noticed it now.

 

Yes, I clearly remember all of our conversations regarding those cabins in 2022.  To date, that is still our favorite cabin, even including an inside the Haven cabin.  

 

Now, we are thinking of trying out Princess for just my husband and myself.   But, for our family vacation in 2027, my young adult children want to go on an Eastern Caribbean sailing on NCL so I think we will end up booking NCL again when NCL releases those dates.    

 

So happy to hear from you and I hope you and The Good Mrs. Benson have a wonderful time.   Enjoy that cabin and please report back.

[CDR Benson]

19 hours ago, vacation44 said:

So happy to hear from you and I hope you and The Good Mrs. Benson have a wonderful time.   Enjoy that cabin and please report back.

 

Thank you for your kind words, ma'am.  Aye, we're only forty-nine days away from sailing, and we're looking forward to it greatly.

 

I've looked at Princess.  One of the positives of that line is that they put many of their premier suites and staterooms amidships and away from any noise-making venues above, a practise which eludes many other cruise lines.  Princess is on our list of potential choices for our 2026 cruise.

 

As always, I appreciate your graciousness.

 

[justhappy]

1 hour ago, CDR Benson said:

 

Thank you for your kind words, ma'am.  Aye, we're only forty-nine days away from sailing, and we're looking forward to it greatly.

 

I've looked at Princess.  One of the positives of that line is that they put many of their premier suites and staterooms amidships and away from any noise-making venues above, a practise which eludes many other cruise lines.  Princess is on our list of potential choices for our 2026 cruise.

 

As always, I appreciate your graciousness.

 

I too look forward to hearing about your experience on the Joy, and I hope you  have a lovely cruise.

As my husband and I are booked in cabin 14778 for our 50th Anniversary cruise next year, I picked that cabin for the location near the stairs, and also the large angled balcony. I’m hoping the noise from the location is not unbearable.

 I like that it is not under a pool deck and only a few decks below the Haven facilities.

 

[CDR Benson]

28 minutes ago, justhappy said:

I too look forward to hearing about your experience on the Joy, and I hope you  have a lovely cruise.

As my husband and I are booked in cabin 14778 for our 50th Anniversary cruise next year, I picked that cabin for the location near the stairs, and also the large angled balcony. I’m hoping the noise from the location is not unbearable.

 

Thank you for your kind wishes, ma'am.

 

I can tell you from our experience in 14778, you have selected an excellent suite.  You and your husband will suffer no ambient noise, even though you are but ten-to-twelve feet from the elevator bank.  The room is quiet.  

 

The convenience to the elevator will put you in the Haven proper in two-to-three minutes.  There is rarely a wait for an elevator, except at peak times such as embarkation/debarkation.

 

The suite itself is larger than a comparable suite in the Haven proper, and the angled balcony is a nice plus.  The amidships location means that your suite will ride smoothly in inclement weather.

 

Congratulations to you and your husband on your upcoming golden anniversary.  The Good Mrs. Benson and I are twelve years behind you, and we plan on going the distance.

 

[UKstages]

On 6/10/2024 at 2:37 PM, vacation44 said:

We had the absolute pleasure of meeting both @UKstages and @JGMT in the Vibe.    Both are wonderful individuals and we enjoyed spending time talking with them during the week.     Contrary to some members of this board, @UKstages was successful (again) in obtaining Vibe passes for this week's cruise and the past week's cruise upon boarding.   He is a very friendly and knowledgeable cruiser, and we hope to run into him again in the future.  We had a wonderful time in the Vibe and the Vibe staff is truly outstanding. 

 

hey, hi there! i'm coming late to the party in this (now resurrected) thread. but right back at ya.  it was a great pleasure meeting you both and spending time in the vibe together.

 

and - not to bury the lede - but thanks for the shout out re: vibe availability and confirmation that my time in the vibe (after purchasing a pass on embarkation day) is not a fantasy!