norwegian joy cruise to bermuda reviews

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Norwegian Joy Deck Plans & Reviews

Norwegian Joy

Activities & entertainment

• Observation Lounge
• Arts and Crafts Classes
• Beauty Salon *
• Behind the Scenes Tour *
• Joy Casino *
• Chess and Card Room
• Dance Classes
• Deck Parties
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Galaxy Pavillion *
• Gaming Lessons *
• Whirlpools (9)
• Hydrotherapy Pool *
• Jogging Track
• Late Night Dancing
• Mandara Spa *
• Waterslides (5)
• Poolside Games
• The Humidor Cigar Lounge
• Vibe Beach Club *
• Wine Tasting *
• Kids Aqua Park
• Splash Academy _ Kids Club
• The Haven Lounge _ Suite Guests
• The Haven Observation Lounge _ Suite Guests
• Comedy Performances
• Joy Theater
• Onboard Movie Screenings
• Social Comedy and Night Club
• The Cavern Club
• Live Nightly Music
• Sports Games Televised
• Savor Restaurant - Main
• Taste Restaurant - Main
• The Manhattan Room - Main
• Food Republic - Tapas *
• The District Brew House - Brewpub *
• Garden Cafe - Buffet
• American Diner - Diner *
• A_List Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Skyline Bar - Clubby Bar *
• Mixx Bar - Cocktail Bar *
• Sugarcane Mojito Bar - Mojito Bar *
• Starbucks - Coffee Bar *
• Le Bistro French Restaurant - French *
• La Cucina Italian Restaurant - Italian *
• Teppanyaki - Japanese *
• Cocos - Pastries *
• Surf Bar - Pool Bar *
• Waves Bar - Pool Bar *
• The Local - Pub
• Ocean Blue - Seafood *
• Q Texas Smokehouse - Barbecue *
• Cagneys Steakhouse - Steakhouse *
• The Haven Restaurant - Suite Guests
• The Cellars - Wine Bar *
• Room Service *
• Excellent 80
• Very Good 62
• Terrible 36
• All languages ( 262 )
• English ( 256 )
• Spanish ( 2 )
• French ( 2 )

Upcoming itineraries

Norwegian Joy

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line |

Find a Cruise on Norwegian Joy

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Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 846 guests have reviewed Norwegian Joy , giving it a rating of 4.2 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type, most recent reviews.

Great way to see Bermuda

May 10th, 2024

While I know a lot of people like the various games, I miss the shows they used to have.

Traveler Type

Family (older children)

Mostly excellent, with a little room for improvement.

May 5th, 2024

Overall, it was a very enjoyable cruise with great food and entertainment and wonderful staff. However, embarkation was a bit frustrating, and the ship was absolutely packed, so patience with elevators and crowds was required.

2-3 cruises

Great Western Caribbean Cruise

May 2nd, 2024

Enjoy yourself, don't compare to other ships or cruise lines, you chose this ship, so explore and enjoy it all. The Joy is a great ship, with great staff, some amazing foods and lot's to do for those who like to go go go ... but also lot's of different spaces to hang out in if you want a more quiet vibe.

Pros and Cons

May 1st, 2024

Was ok beside the lack of shows and stub. Seemed like there was not much more then bar hoping and eat honestly. Had Bingo and stuff but thats minute stuff

Large Group

This was our first cruise and it won't be our last!!!

My family and myself enjoyed every moment on this cruise ship!!

1 cruise (first)

childres running wild

Not a first class ship, to big and no regulated children

It was a wonderful cruise with awesome experience for my family. Thank you

Awesome. Was a enjoyable experience for my family

Family (young children)

Good but not spectacular

Apr 25th, 2024

The cruise was ok. The not a laugh a minute like some cruises I have been on. The staff (besides the bartenders) didn't seem very friendly. Guest services was a pain - you had to go back multiple times to get something handled. Tried to get tickets for Element on the first night (tried before the cruise when they first came out) and were told it was sold out. Thats the only show on the ship.

Singles/Friends

Amazing Trip

Apr 24th, 2024

Loved this cruise. My grandchildren were first timers. They were amazed

Worse Cruise Ever

Out of over 30 lifetime cruises, this one is the worst. Dirty ship, bad food, limited activities although entertainment is good. No turndown service so cabin is always a mess, dirty when we got on the ship dirty when we got off. There are better choices. This is a nice ship short of staff and Freestyle means long lines for everything. The buffet has little variety that doesnt change daily, to go to the dining rooms outside of 5:30 you wait 25 min for a beeper and 45 minutes to be seated. You are always packed like sardines what ever you do on the ship.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Cruising the Norwegian Joy Review

Will you be cruising the Norwegian Joy soon? We took a 7-day cruise to Bermuda on this great ship. Read our Norwegian Joy Review.

We finally got to cruise on the Norwegian Joy. We had this same cruise to Bermuda itinerary booked for 2021 to celebrate a milestone birthday. Due to the pandemic, we canceled, and then it was ultimately canceled by Norwegian Cruise Line anyways.

Bermuda has been a travel destination we’ve wanted to visit for a while now.

The idea of sailing out of New York City (our former home) with that skyline in view and the Statue of Liberty convinced us.

How we never took a cruise out of our hometown of New York when we lived there (moons ago) is beyond us. Better late than never.

The Norwegian Joy ship is one of the most recent ships that made its debut in 2017. It was primarily going to sail in Asia.

However, in 2018, a year later, the ship was deployed back to the US. She underwent a refurbishment to add other amenities to the ship for the Western market, like a pool.

The ship resembles its sister ship, the Norwegian Bliss, with some differences. The Norwegian Joy was meant to take Alaskan voyages with its sister ship during the summer. But presently, it’s sailing to Bermuda and the Caribbean.

All that said, unlike our experience with our last disappointing NCL cruise, Norwegian Epic , we enjoyed the Norwegian Joy cruise ship. And we fell in love with Bermuda . We did skip getting off in Norfolk, VA.

It was also nice to be back on a Norwegian cruise ship. We have mostly sailed with the Norwegian Cruise Line, but we took a small break after the Epic. Our last cruise was on the Celebrity Equinox right before the pandemic.

While we love the Celebrity brand, the entertainment was lacking on the Equinox, and Norwegian has some of the best entertainment. See our reasons why we love Norwegian Cruise Line .

We were happy to be cruising again and taking a break from real life. It’s always fun planning and preparing for an upcoming cruise for us.

This Norwegian Joy review will cover our cruise ship experience and share Norwegian Joy pictures. From embarkation at the Manhattan cruise terminal, sail away, restaurants, entertainment on board, and more.

This is all based on our experience and opinions. We also give some helpful tips and what you can expect. We also included menus from some restaurants and freestyle dailies below.

Table of Contents

7-Night Norwegian Joy Bermuda Itinerary

Day 1 – New York, NY Day 2- Norfolk, VA Day 3 – Sea Day Day 4 – Bermuda (9:00 am arrival) Day 5 – Bermuda Day 6 – Bermuda (3:00 pm departure) Day 7 – Sea Day DAY 8 – New York, New York

News of Drydock The Norweigan Joy is set to go into drydock from January 6 to February 13, 2024. As part of the upgrade, the ship will feature a new Thermal Spa, replacing the current Galaxy Pavilion to make space for it. Additionally, more balcony cabins will be added by removing a section of the Observation Lounge. And, to make room for an expanded Vibe area, the Laser Tag will be removed.

Norwegian Joy Review

Embarkation at the New York Cruise Terminal

[Update: As of November 14, 2022, Bermuda is no longer requiring an approved travel authorization or a negative Covid test. Please note that this could be subject to change at any time.]

While Bermuda no longer requests a travel authorization or a negative covid test before embarkation. We continue to share our experience of our trip during our cruise in June 2022.

A few key things we needed for this Bermuda cruise on Norwegian Joy:

• Bermuda Travel Authorization
• Negative Covid Test (antigen up to 2 days before embarkation day)
• E-Documents (you can check-in online 21 days before cruise day)
• Download the NCL app

We were at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at 9 am. Our check-in was at 9:30 am. We should have been there earlier but chose to leave at 9 am. We took an Uber from our hotel nearby, handed a porter our luggage ( cruise luggage tags attached), and then took an elevator up to the second floor to start the check-in process.

Be prepared because you may be standing in line for 1-2 hours to get through security and check-in. Since we were going to Bermuda, there were three lines to get through.

• Security. You’ll need your passports out so they can verify your identification before getting through actual security.
• Document verification (here, you’ll get a group number). Have your Bermuda Travel Authorization, negative Covid test, and vaccination documents ready for them to verify. Once they see you have all your paperwork, they will place a green dot on your passport and send you off to the check-in line.
• Check-in. Have your e-documents ready to go. There is a check-in line and then a line for e-documents. We did online check-in, so we went on the line for e-documents. If you have Lattitudes priority, you may want to get in on that line. Honestly, they all looked as long. Here you’ll get your stateroom keys/cruise cards.

We were a little disappointed that online check-in didn’t make things faster. At least not in this port. Also, with the travel authorization needed from Bermuda, there was that extra line.

Once we were done, our group number was called to board the ship. A total of two hours from when we arrived. However, it was a long wait to embark, but it was a smooth process.

Read more cruise tips on what to do before and after embarkation day .

The NCL App

Download the NCL app before embarkation day or as you’re waiting in line at security… if you haven’t done so already. Sign in. You can start booking dinner reservations, check out the freestyle daily, and more on the app.

Muster Drill

As soon as you embark, they will have you go straight to your muster station to sign in. You will be asked if you watched the muster drill video they emailed you several times before cruise day. Sign in, and you can go about your day.

Going back to your muster station later in the afternoon is no longer necessary. They will announce instructions before sailing away.

You also won’t be able to escape the muster drill video because as soon as you turn on the TV in your stateroom, the video will be playing. There is no changing it until it is done playing.

Reservations

What to do after you check in with your muster station?

You should be able to make dining reservations for most specialty restaurants 90 days before cruise day . However, if you have not made reservations or need to make changes, do this as soon as you check-in at muster. At this time, you should also book all your shows, like Footloose and Elements.

• After signing in at muster, head on to deck 6.
• At Teppanyaki, you make dinner reservations.
• At Social Club, you make show reservations.

We miss the days we could show up early to the theater and get a seat for a show. We could do this with the comedy shows and had no issues.

Norwegian Joy Review Stateroom Cabin # 9900 Review

The sleek modern cabins are what we enjoy about the Breakaway class ships of Norwegian. We booked a mid-ship balcony, stateroom cabin # 9900, on the Norwegian Joy. The cabin exceeded our expectations.

You can watch a quick video tour of the cabin here.

It was roomy, with enough space for two. Clean and comfortable. It had 2 USB ports and 3 US electrical ports – so you can leave your power strip at home on this particular trip.

The only downside was the bed, it was hard as a rock. However, hubby had no issues with the bed, he slept great.

Now, the balcony was angled. We’ve never stayed in a cabin with an angled balcony. I’ll say it was pretty big and roomy compared to other balconies on other NCL ships. We had no issues with the balcony.

In this cabin, you’ll find:

• 2 USB ports on each side of the bed by the lighting
• 3 electrical ports (US)
• a hair dryer
• plenty of closet and shelving for two for a week
• an angled but roomy balcony
• a corner glass-enclosed shower (not a shower curtain, thankfully)
• of course, a toilet 😉

The cabin was located more forward, not far from the elevators and stairs. Usually, we like to stay away from elevators if it’s noisy, but we never hear noise from them. There are several cabins between cabin #9900 and the lobby entrance.

Being on the 9th floor, it was quick to take the stairs on floors 9, 7, and 6, where most restaurants, bars, theaters, casinos, and atrium are.

We would book this cabin again and recommend the location. If an angled balcony plan bothers you, then skip it.

We always used to book mini-suites on NCL ship; since then, the name has changed to Club Balcony suites. They are not actually “suites” but more of a Deluxe Balcony. We enjoyed the double sinks and full shower.

This time around, the balcony cabin was just fine for our needs. It was a very comfortable and clean space.

Cruise Essentials to Pack

Add these items to your cruise packing list. Don’t forget to pack these cruise items that will help enhance your cruise vacation. If you are wondering what you should leave at home , we have a list for that, too.

Sail Away from New York City

Sail away from New York City is one of our favorites to date. It’s a memorable cruise experience we hope to repeat in the future. We highly recommend cruising from New York City.

Seeing the New York City skyline come into full view on a beautiful clear day is such a cool and magical experience.

Followed by the sight of the Statue of Liberty and sailing under the Verazzano bridge. It’s a sail away that you won’t soon forget.

The fantastic views you get from a cruise ship are one of the many reasons to take a cruise .

Best spot for sail away?

There was a sail away party on the pool deck, which we skipped to enjoy a quieter sail away from the Waterfront.

From the port side of the Waterfront, you can get an amazing view of the New York City skyline, including the World Trade Center.

Then you can quickly cross over to the starboard side of the Waterfront to see the Statue of Liberty.

You can also go to the aft of deck 8 (same as the Waterfront) and get a full view of it.

If you don’t want to be outside, the Observation Area on deck 15 is another great spot. You’ll want to get there to snag a spot.

Norwegian Joy Restaurants and Dining

What restaurants are free on Norwegian Joy?

On the Norwegian Joy, there are a plethora of dining options. You have 3 main dining rooms, a pub, and a buffet, all included with your cruise fare .

Then they have 8 specialty dining restaurants for which you either have to pay a cover charge or a la carte.

Unlike the poor quality food we experienced on the Epic, we were delightfully impressed by the food in the restaurants on the Joy. We enjoyed trying everything throughout our cruise.

Except for the pizza.

Norwegian, if you’re reading this, what happened to the pizza? It used to be decent. It used to be our go-to snack when we felt like nothing else. But this pizza served on the Joy during our cruise was disgusting.

We cringed after the first bite. We thought I had grabbed a slice of vegan pizza (no offense to vegan cheese, we’ve had some delicious vegan cheese). However, the mozzarella on this pizza was pasty and disgusting… fake cheese.

Then later in the week, we mistakenly ordered the eggplant parmigiana in the main dining room. We had to send it back. It was the same cheese used for the pizza, and we couldn’t eat it. It was unfortunate because the eggplant itself was tender and tasty.

However, if the sun bothers you as it starts to set, sit far away from the windows.

Those sitting by the window look to admire the view and not have the shades brought down on them because of others complaining about the sun.

The buffet on the Norwegian Joy is hit-and-miss. We only went there for breakfast, lunch, and sometimes late-night snacks.

While we couldn’t rely on pizza, we could rely on Indian food for lunch. Some of the best Indian food is served in the buffet.

Sometimes there was a carving station, and the meat served here was always worth adding a serving to your plate.

The best lunch was the Caribbean-themed food served for lunch on the last day in Bermuda.

Breakfast was breakfast. You’ll find the same old at breakfast served as you do throughout the Norwegian ships. Always popular and long lines for the fresh-made omelets.

The fruit served at the buffet was always so sweet and delicious. We always had some every morning.

You’ll find soft-serve ice cream, hand-scooped ice cream, cakes, cookies, and other pastries for dessert. Standouts were the chocolate praline cake, coconut cheesecake, and rocky road ice cream.

Starbucks machines are also available in the buffet.

The Local is the 24-hour pub. The menu consisted of salads, wings, burgers, hot dogs, Reubens, nachos, pretzel balls, spinach dip, and other pub-like food items.

The food here is good. Not exceptionally good, but it hits the spot when you’re hungry. All these items go great with some beer.

We enjoyed the pretzel balls, nachos, and wings the most. The Ceasar salad is good when they don’t smother it with dressing or forget the parmesan cheese. The carrot cake isn’t bad.

A small arcade (separate from the Galaxy pavilion) is located in the corner of the Local.

Manhattan | Taste | Savor

There are three main dining rooms on the Norwegian Joy, the Manhattan on deck 8 being the biggest. We also thought the Manhattan dining room had the best service of all.

All 3 dining rooms share the same galley and kitchen. The food we ordered, 98% of it, was very good. We couldn’t believe the difference in quality and taste of the dishes compared to our last Norwegian cruise.

We hope that Norwegian continues on this track. Cause the food is important to us. What about you?

While some menu items were always available for dinner, some appetizers and the featured entrees of the day changed daily.

We enjoyed and ate the following dishes during our week on Norwegian Joy.

Norwegian Joy Dining Room Menus

Here are the dining room menus on the ship for the week. We missed a couple, but we hope it gives you an idea of what to expect.

Menu 1 Menu 2 Menu 3 Menu 4 Menu 5

Cagney’s Steakhouse

When we booked our cruise, we got the dining promo that included 2 specialty restaurants.

Cagney’s is one of the popular specialty restaurants on Norwegian ships. It is primarily a steakhouse. We had a reservation for the first night of the cruise.

The food at Cagney’s was good. However, if we were to compare it to the first time we ate at Cagney’s on Norwegian Getaway years ago, it’s not as amazing as it was then.

We did enjoy our main entrees, a rib eye, lamb chops, and the 7-layer chocolate cake for dessert should not be missed. The sides could be better. The truffle mashed potatoes are great.

Cagney’s Steakhouse Menu – Norwegian Joy

Undoubtedly, Le Bistro has to be one of the best restaurants on Norwegian Joy. This French restaurant impressed us and left us reminiscing for the next few days.

We’d pay out of pocket to eat here, even if we didn’t have the promo to use.

We enjoyed it just as much when we first tried Le Bistro on the Norwegian Pearl . This is our favorite restaurant on the Norwegian ships.

From start to finish, we loved every bite.

Since we recently had escargot back home, we ordered the amazing scallops.

Then we had the french onion soup, one of the best we have ever had; cheesy and flavorful, it tasted like they poured bottles of wine or sherry into the pot.

The filet mignon with foie gras was tender, and hubby truly enjoyed his veal chop.

Do not forget dessert as it was outstanding. Too excited for dessert, we forgot to take photos of the menu, but it has changed. There was no creme brulee and tart tartine on the menu. The desserts offered were fantastic.

We ordered the two recommended by the waiter: Marquise au Chocolate and île Flottante. They both blew me away. If you love chocolate mousse, you’ll love the chocolate dessert mentioned. If you normally love creme brulee, order the île Flottante.

The cost of this dinner would have been $147 if we didn’t have the Free at Sea specialty dining package given to us as a perk. But I have to say, I would have paid outright for this scrumptious meal.

It is a deal compared to eating out at our favorite French bistro at home.

Le Bistro Menu – Norwegian Joy (1) Le Bistro Menu – Norwegian Joy (2)

Other specialty restaurants on Norwegian Joy we did not try on this trip:

• Food Republic
• Q Smokehouse
• American Diner

Service on Norwegian Joy

The service on the Norwegian Joy ship was fantastic. The staff was so kind, helpful, and attentive everywhere we went. The managers would come by our table every night at the restaurants to ensure we were enjoying everything.

Our room steward was fantastic. So attentive and kind. We tipped him well at the end of our stay.

Now, the ship was only at 50% capacity, which may explain why the service was as good as it was. We felt a bit of personalized service on this cruise in particular.

We would love to hear from you and your experience with the service on the Norwegian Joy. Was the ship at full capacity for your sailing?

The Ins and Outs of Tipping On a Cruise

We tell you everything you need to know about cruise gratuities and cruise tipping, from what’s mandatory to when you should consider tipping extra.

Norwegian Joy Activities and Entertainment

There are plenty of things to do on the Norwegian Joy. From sunbathing, water slides, trivia, games, and go-karts. Norwegian keeps a busy itinerary on their ships, and you can do as much or as little as you desire.

While we did not participate in things like rock wall climbing, laser tag, and the game pavilion, they are available on the ship for your enjoyment.

You have to make reservations for a few of the shows. If you don’t, you can always go 15 minutes before the show starts and get on the standby line.

Shout out to the band Azucar and the DJ onboard for playing some great music.

How many pools does the Norwegian Joy have? Technically, 3 pools. One adult pool and a kiddie pool are open for everyone to use. Then there is a pool in the Haven Courtyard that you can enjoy if you’re lucky to stay there.

While we may have been at 50% capacity on this sailing, the pool area was packed on sea days. We can’t even imagine what it would be like at full capacity.

We love the Norwegian ships but is not enough pool space for the number of people on board.

Which Norwegian ship has an indoor pool? None of the Norwegian Ships have indoor pools, not counting the thermal spa pools. An indoor pool is one thing we miss when sailing Norwegian. We love the indoor pool area on Celebrity ships.

The pool deck on Norwegian Joy also had a pool area for kids. Many kids were running around. From what we witnessed, the kids monopolized the hot tubs more than the pool. You’ll want to hit Spice H20 to get in your adults-only hot tub time.

The pool area is lively and always has music or something going on. If you’re looking for a quiet spot, you may want to head to the Waterfront or Observation Deck.

There are two big water slides on Norwegian Joy: the Aqua Racer and the Ocean Loops. Then there is a small one in the kid’s aqua park.

This is a fun thing to do, the Ocean Loops is the scarier one as the tube hangs over the ocean. If you like a rush of adrenaline, definitely give it a try.

The lines were always short for both slides when they were open.

Cost: $15 pp | Reservations Required

There are Go-Karts on the Norwegian Joy cruise ship. It’s an additional cost. A fun experience at least once during your cruise adventures.

Hubby rode the Go-Karts on the afternoon we left Bermuda. He said it was fun but not as fast as the go-karts on land because they are controlled for safety. You get nine laps.

Does Norwegian Joy have a casino? Yes, there is a casino on deck 7 of Norwegian Joy.

One of the most noticeable things about the casino on the Norwegian Joy was the separate enclosed smoking area, which made such a difference to our lungs in the casino. Hopefully, this becomes a standard on all NCL ships.

This was a pretty big casino with plenty of slots and several tables. There was even a high rollers room – not that we went there.

We spent quite a bit of time in the casino after shows at night. However, we did not win anything big.

The Beatles Story

Update: The Beatles Story is no longer part of the Norwegian Joy entertainment line up.

The best show on the ship is the Beatles Story. You must attend this show if you love the Beatles and their music. They do a few different shows between the Joy Theater and the Cavern Club.

We first enjoyed this band on the Norwegian Pearl. We were excited to see that they were featured on Norwegian Joy, and we couldn’t wait to see them again.

Catch one of their shows at the theater, as there is plenty of room.

If you go to the Cavern Club to see them, go early. The Cavern Club is snug. One night we tried to see them there, but there was no seating available, and if you were standing, you most likely were blocking someone else’s view.

Cost: Free | Reservations Needed

One of the things we love about Norwegian’s Breakaway-Plus ships is the Broadway shows. We’ve seen a few amazing shows on the ships. So loving the movie Footloose, we were looking forward to seeing it on stage.

Well, it did not live up to the hype. The show was okay. We weren’t wowed by the performances.

And the show was longer than it needed to be… almost 2 hours. You get to the end, thinking you’re going to get this amazing dance scene to compensate for the wait, but nope.

We were disappointed.

Thankfully, Elements was not as long as Footloose, but it was overdone with all the dancing. This is just our opinion, but if they had cut out the dancing and given us the magic show with the acrobatic scenes, we would have enjoyed it more.

Without a doubt, Elements was a more entertaining show than Footloose.

We watched a late showing of Elements, but on the last night of the cruise, Elements was canceled the next night. Someone was sick, and the show could not go on.

So we got another special showing of the Beatles: Abbey Road, which was fun.

Levity Comedy Group

Cost: Free | Reservations Sometimes Needed

There were two comedians on the ship: Andy Beningo and Larry Omaha. You can see them at the social club and theater throughout the week.

We enjoyed Andy Beningo’s set the most. There was something more family-friendly about his set without having to be mean for the sake of laughs. He truly had us laughing.

We saw him at the social club and then at the 18+ show at the theater later in the week.

Fun Things to do on a Cruise

What are the things to do on a cruise? A cruise ship vacation is a destination in itself. You can spend the entirety of your cruise ship vacation just enjoying all a cruise ship has to offer, from free cruise activities to paid ones.

Spa on Norwegian Joy

On this cruise, we did not treat ourselves to any spa services. However, it is worth mentioning in this Norwegian Joy review because the spa on the Norwegian Joy is small. Inside the spa is a waiting area, a barber shop, a hair styling area, and a few pedicure chairs.

This ship does not have a thermal spa. If you like to cruise to enjoy the thermal spa on the ships, then the Norwegian Joy is not for you.

Observations on Norwegian Joy:

• The Norwegian Joy is a beautiful, sleek, and modern ship. We were so happy we finally were able to sail her. The staff were wonderful and worked hard at maintaining the ship.
• This NCL brand and the ship were built for all ages. You don’t feel like you have to give up on modern amenities and style for everyone to enjoy themselves. There is something for everyone.

• The Waterfront (deck 8) and the Observation Area (deck 15) are two of the best decks on Norwegian Joy and spaces on the ship for quiet time and great views.

• You’ll find afternoon snacks in the Observation Area served daily.
• No more towel animals. This is quite disappointing as it was one of those small things that brought an extra smile during our cruise vacation.
• There are hand washing stations outside the buffets. Purell stands can be found all around the ship and outside the dining restaurants.

• Starbucks is on board! It is not included in the free-at-sea Premium Beverage Package, so it’s an additional cost. Starbucks is included in the Premium Plus Package. Read the differences between the NCL Beverage Packages . You can find them at the buffet, the observation area, and the atrium. You can collect rewards but can not pay with your Starbucks app; you must use your stateroom card to pay. We had lattes one day, which added up to $17… however, we must say, the lattes were 10 times better than Starbucks on land.
• Pool towels were not provided in the staterooms as in the past. You sign them out on your way off the ship to explore for the day at port.
• On day 4, they have the $29 special laundry bag. You have until day 5 to leave it for your cabin steward.
• The washy-washy staff at the buffet are always happy and singing at the buffet entrance reminding you to wash and disinfect your hands.
• There is a themed party every night at Spice H20.
• Spice H20 is the adult area of the ship, and it was always packed on sea days with sunbathers.
• We celebrated my birthday on the cruise. If you let them know when you book, they will leave a card in your stateroom to take to a restaurant of your choice. Hand it to the Maître d’ and the waiter will bring a cake and sing happy birthday at dessert. The cake was surprisingly delicious.

– Don’t Miss: Cruise vs All-Inclusive Resort: What’s the Difference? –

Norwegian Joy Freestyle Dailies

Below are the freestyle dailies for Norwegian Joy during our trip. Note that the newsletters were created for the week we cruised and any times, shows, activities, and information listed can and will change at any time.

We share them so you can get an idea of what to expect and plan your reservations.

Freestyle Daily – Day 1 Freestyle Daily – Day 2 Freestyle Daily – Day 3 Freestyle Daily – Day 4 Freestyle Daily – Day 5 Freestyle Daily – Day 6 Freestyle Daily – Day 7

Book a Norwegian Joy Cruise

FAQ on Norwegian Joy

Is the norwegian joy a new ship.

The Norwegian Joy debuted in 2017 and then refurbished in 2018. It is one of the newer NCL ships.

Why was Norwegian Joy refurbished?

The Norwegian Joy was at first built for the Asian market. After a year, the ship was redeployed and refurbished for the Western Market. A pool was one of the many things that were added to the Norwegian joy.

What class ship is Norwegian Joy?

The Norwegian Joy is a Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship.

Is bottled water free on Norwegian cruise ships?

No, bottled water is not free on the Norwegian Cruise Line. However, it is included as part of the Premium Plus Beverage Package.

Where to Stay Near Manhattan Cruise Terminal?

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan Central Park

We were only in NYC for a night before our cruise, so we chose to stay nearby. We booked the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, on 58th St, just down the block from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal,

The location of this hotel is ideal, especially if you’re only staying for a night or two. It’s also within walking distance from top city sites.

A 10-minute walk took us to Time Squares. We even strolled down to Rockefeller Center, Radio City Musical Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Columbus Circle, and much more.

The hotel staff was friendly. The room was clean and modern. Breakfast was included, and it was nothing special, but we got to have some coffee, eggs, and pastries before we departed the morning of embarkation day.

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott | 538 W 58th St, New York | Google Map It

122 Quick & Helpful Cruise Tips

We’ve gathered 122 of our top cruise tips and cruise hacks to help make your planning process smoother and your cruising experience even more fabulous.

Do you have a Norwegian Joy cruise booked?

We hope this Norwegian Joy review helps you plan your future cruise vacation. We loved sailing on the Joy and would book another trip on this cruise ship.

Don’t miss these other cruise ship reviews:

• Cruising the Norwegian Encore
• Cruising the Celebrity Solstice Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Pearl Review
• Cruising the Celebrity Equinox Review
• Cruising the Norwegian Epic Review
• Cruising Norwegian Getaway and Staying in the Haven

Quick Cruise Planning Guide

Where to book a cruise? We like to shop around before booking by going directly to the cruise line and checking out the deals on GoToSea , CruiseDirect.com , Costco Travel , and Cruise Compete . Ultimately, the best advice is to find a travel agent you can trust to help you book a cruise.

Hotels for pre-cruise and post-cruise stays We always use Booking.com or Hotels.com to book international accommodations and Expedia or Hotels.com for US accommodations. Airbnb or Vrbo for vacation rentals.

Can I book my own shore excursions? Yes, you’ll save money booking your own excursions and not with the cruise ship. We like to use Viator or WithLocals . Don’t forget to read up on our tips for booking .

Car Rentals We like to rent a car at cruise ports and for the freedom to explore on our own when the destination makes sense. We also sometimes rent cars during our pre-cruise stay or on embarkation day.

Should I book cruise insurance? Yes! Cruise insurance is essential. We always book with a third party rather than the cruise line. Compare pricing on Insuremytrip.com .

Packing for a Cruise? Don’t miss our essential cruise packing list .

Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.

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10 Comments

I thoroughly read this as I pondered whether I would go on a cruise in the future. Can’t wait for more about this cruise! I want to know how Bermuda was. This is so helpful for anyone who is contemplating going on the Norwegian Joy. You didn’t miss anything! I liked that you included all the menus. I saw all those vegetarian options. So food-wise maybe I could do a cruise. That pool deck though did look crowded and the pool itself looked small in the picture. Was it kind of small or just the angle of the picture? The resort I recently went to had so many kids taking over the pool areas that if I ever do a resort trip, I’m going to search out adults only, if that exists. I love that this leaves from NYC, you’re really making me think, hmm maybe I should! I’m glad you enjoyed this one and the food minus that disgusting sounding pizza. I ate some hotel pizza in London and it was bad but at least edible. Yours sounded ungodly. But glad it overall was great!

Thanks so much for your comment! I do hope you do get to cruise one day. There are always vegetarian options on cruises. The pool is always crowded on the ships, sadly. The Norwegian Joy has two pools for everyone to enjoy, aside from the Haven pool. Never enough pool space. The funny thing is that the pools themselves aren’t usually crowded, it’s the deck areas around the pool that are.

Adult-only resorts and cruises totally exist! Virgin Voyages is an adult-only cruise line. When we traveled to DR last year, we stayed at the adult-only side of the hotel – it was so nice! We try to always cruise on off-shoulder seasons when kids are in school. This time it wasn’t so bad because it was still the beginning of June before the NYC schools were over. So honestly this is the most kids we’ve encountered on a cruise so far and they used the hot tubs more than the pool lol.

Oh yeah, the pizza on the Joy on this trip was disgusting. Normally, hubby will eat anything with cheese and bread, and he couldn’t even eat it. Although I did see other cruisers eating it and really didn’t understand how.

Good article. But you are complaining about the “Pizza”? When you have the Local or O’sheehans, why would you care about pizza?!Lol

You may enjoy the wings and burgers as a snack, but some of us enjoy pizza. My best friend and her family just got off the Joy yesterday and complained about the pizza.

Yes, there is always something else to eat on a cruise, which is why the terrible cheese pizza didn’t break our cruise vacation. We had a fantastic cruise.

However, when they start cheapening on supplies like the cheese they use on pizza, it affects the pizza and every other dish that uses that cheese on the cruise ship, like that eggplant parmigiana I couldn’t eat because the cheese was not actually cheese.

So, yeah, I didn’t like the pizza but it was more about the quality of cheese that was being used. It wasn’t real cheese at all.

Hi, thanks for posting this review. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it since we’re on the Norwegian Joy next month. Did NCL offer an internet discount while you were on the ship? Just wondering if I should get it before boarding or not. Thanks!

Hi Karena – During the week we sailed, I did not see any promotions for Wifi offered besides the regular rate – that doesn’t mean you won’t see any during your sailing. You do have the option to upgrade from the NCL app when you’re on the ship.

I wish they had a daily rate because I would have taken advantage of that on sea days. We used our 150 minutes each to check texts and emails while at sea. At the port, we used our phones since we have an unlimited international data plan with t-mobile. I will say that I didn’t see many promotions this time, besides the laundry mid-week and massages by the pool at the port.

I can’t believe the utter nightmare my family and I endured during our Norwegian Joy cruise from August 20 to 30, 2023. It was beyond horrendous, and we had a whopping nine rooms on that ship!

Firstly, let me tell you about the infuriating situation with my Aunt. She was placed on the 8th floor, where there are two restaurants flanking the hallway. And what does this brilliant cruise line do? They insist on keeping the hall doors closed! My Aunt is handicapped and had to rent a scooter to move around the ship. But guess what? She could hardly use it because of these stupid doors, not to mention the cramped space on that floor. They expected her to get off the scooter, put a door stopper, remember to remove it, and then continue. If doors couldn’t be left open, why in the world did they put her there? They should’ve thought this through before assigning rooms!

Next, let’s talk about the casino. I’ve been on countless cruises, and I’ve never been slapped with a 3% convenience fee for charging to my room in the casino. It’s outrageous!

Then, there were plumbing nightmares. Toilets, sinks, showers – they all clogged up! I called guest services, they said they’d send someone, and only the toilet got fixed. Sink and shower? Forget it! We had to inform our room cleaner, who managed to fix the sink but left the shower a mess.

But wait, there’s more! Every time we docked at a port, it was like a circus. Exiting and entering the ship turned into a chaotic ordeal. At the private island in the Bahamas, we had to ferry back and forth, and the lines were excruciatingly long. And the kicker? We had to stay an extra night in the Bahamas because they canceled the Bermuda trip due to bad weather. So, we missed out on the casino again, through no fault of our own.

And then, when we finally reached Great Stirrup Cay, the weather was atrocious with heavy rain. As if this whole trip wasn’t miserable enough!

We were told Miami would be added to the itinerary instead of Bermuda due to the weather. But that didn’t sit well with most passengers, considering we’re from the US and could drive there anytime!

When we docked in Miami, it was a complete disaster. Long lines, no clear instructions, scorching heat with no water in sight. My granddaughter, just a year and ten months old, was exhausted, agitated, and dehydrated. Tempers flared, and fights broke out.

We all complained to guest services, but they had no acceptable answers, just asked us to take a case number and contact corporate.

Finally, on the 8th day in Miami, I spoke to the manager at guest services about my persistent shower issue. And guess what? It was still not fixed. I’d reported it numerous times, so I took pictures and a video as proof.

Sure, they compensated us for the itinerary change, but that’s nowhere near sufficient for the sheer agony we endured, especially after all the additional issues that cropped up. This whole experience has been an absolute nightmare, and I’m far from satisfied with how they’ve handled it.

Oh wow, sorry to hear that you had a terrible cruise. So many factors can come into play and really ruin a vacation. Thank you for sharing your experience so others can be aware of what’s going on.

We were on Norwegian Joy for our cruise to Bermuda! And we are scheduled on the Joy for Panama Canal cruise from Miami to LA in January! Excited!

That’s awesome! Been dying to do the Panamal Canal route. Have a great cruise! We had the Joy scheduled next year with family but had to cancel due to itinerary changes. Hope to be able to get on her again at some point to check out the changes after refurbishment.

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7 Night Bermuda - New York (Nyc/Nyc)

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered freestyle cruising with a variety of specialty dining restaurants, entertainment and onboard activities, including go-kart racing!

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Take in the incredible art scene of New York City, expand your cultural horizons in the city’s diverse neighborhoods and marvel at the architectural wonders.

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"LIVE" from Norwegian Joy - April 28, 2024 NYC to Bermuda

By Radio , April 26 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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" And another from Radio! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Cruise Reports page . When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review "

Radio was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points.

Welcome to "LIVE" from Norwegian Joy

Hello everyone, and good day. The Sea is Calling.

Tomorrow I will be driving up to Elizabeth, NJ for a pre-cruise hotel stay. The next morning (Sunday) I will head to

Manhattan Cruise Terminal (711 12th Ave, NYC.) to board Norwegian Joy. The last time I sailed with Norwegian was

in 2016 (Norwegian Escape from Miami).

Norwegian Joy was the first Breakaway Plus class ship built for the Asian market in 2017.

It didn’t last long though, as she was redeployed to North America after an extensive refurbishment (USD 50m)

to redesign her public spaces in 2019.

We will be sailing to one of my favorite ports of call, Bermuda, where we will be docked at Heritage Wharf Pier at the Royal Naval Dockyard. I haven’t been to Bermuda in a few years and can’t wait to return.

The forecast for next week should be mostly sunny and clear with temps in the mid-70s (f).

Norwegian Joy recently completed a 3-week drydock in January 2024 to expand the Vibe area (where the Laser Tag area used to be on Deck 20), and the Expanded Thermal Suite was added (Where the Galaxy Pavilion was on Deck 16.)

I have been following many reports that have suggested that the new StarLink Wi-Fi (Added in Jan 2024) has been touch and go, but I will be putting it to the test for a few days. You will be viewing the ship through my eyes, and I will provide you with my thoughts onboard.

Some friends and family will be joining me on this cruise, and it should be a lot of fun. I look forward to entering The Passenger Terminal at Pier 88 on Sunday just before boarding Norwegian Joy.

There will be much more coming in just a few days . . . Thanks for tuning in.

Norwegian Joy "LIVE" - April 28, 2024

Image Credit © 2024 Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.©

Norwegian Joy at Sea

JOY Raceway

Starbucks on DECK 6 and DECK 15

VIBE Beach Club on DECKS 19-20

Our Itinerary

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• Apr 26 Radio changed the title to "LIVE" from Norwegian Joy - April 28, 2024 NYC to Bermuda

I will definitely be following along as we will be on the June 2, 2024 sailing.    Bermuda is also one of our favorite ports and we are looking forward to experiencing it with extended family this time around.   

If you can, can you please post the dailies.   

Have a wonderful time!

Norwegian Joy Bermuda Staycation

We just disembarked on Sunday and had wonderful time. Enjoy you cruise!!

BirdTravels

Have a wonderful cruise. We are on the Joy next month. Looking forward to hear about your adventures. 

It's almost time . . .

Looking forward to your review.  We met you many years ago, I think on the Gem.  We gave you a tour of the Haven.

Have a great cruise.  I can't wait for all the info as we'll be on her in a few weeks.

goldmom: Looking forward to your review.  We met you many years ago, I think on the Gem.  We gave you a tour of the Haven

Wow, yes you did 🙂  Thank you, and thanks for tuning in!

A Radio adventure - fantastic!   I always followed your reviews when you sailed on Royal.  We were recently on the Getaway and can't wait to see your comments about the Joy.  

Have a great trip.  

Glad to see another review from Radio.

I followed all your reviews and they are always detailed with great pictures and videos. AND tons of information about the ship and cruising. Keep cruising and those reviews coming! 🙂

Sailing in June to Bermuda on the Joy.  Been a while (10+ years) since I've been there.

Never been on the Joy, so looking forward to your review.

Just as an FYI, internet on Bermuda was good last time I was there.  Hoping it's just as good (if not better) now.  

I have T-Mobile, which covers me in Bermuda.  

You'll be coked there for 3 days, so if the ship's internet isn't good, the Bermuda signal should help you along.

Had used Starlink on the Epic.  It was quite good, but that was a Mediterranean cruise.

Haven't been on the Joy since late 2022 and have a few upcoming cruises booked. 

Two requests,  if you get a chance,  please/ty.

 The observation lounge doors weren't automatic then, quite a challenge for pax using mobility aids; needed to wait and hope someone appeared for access. 

 Pic of new smoking enclosure on pool deck.

Guessing it's similar to Baway/Getaway. 

Thanks and enJOY!

We will be following closely.

We just booked Gem for May 3rd.

Looking forward to your review.

Are any of you or your crew in the vibe? It’s been 2 months post refurb and still haven’t seen anything concrete/official from NCL about vibe cabana rentals.  Any insight is appreciated!  thanks

@Radio I'm looking forward to your review.  I will be on the Joy next year for our Panama Canal cruise.  I notice you are from Perry Hall....I grew up around Silver Spring and went to college at UMBC (go Retrievers!)

2 hours ago, JamesIowa said: Looking forward to your review. Are any of you or your crew in the vibe? It’s been 2 months post refurb and still haven’t seen anything concrete/official from NCL about vibe cabana rentals.  Any insight is appreciated!  thanks

I have been trying also for information on the Vibe cabanas to no avail.  We want to trade our vibe passes in for a cabana.  If my cruise is before yours,  I will report back.

Hello everyone, I made it to Elizabeth, NJ in one piece. It took me about 3 hrs to get here from Maryland. I had to watch news when I arrived, but I was up in time for a light dinner. Today is a “Radio Rest Day”

It should only take about 30 min to drive to Pier 88 tomorrow. My check-in time is 12-1230. The forecast for tomorrow is partly cloudy (but no rain) and 78f.

Norwegian Joy (to Manhattan), Anthem of the Seas (to Bayonne), and MSC Meraviglia (to Brooklyn) are all heading up to this area and should arrive early tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow is Cruise Day!

I am happy that there are two Starbucks Kiosks on Norwegian Joy.

Pier 88 in Manhattan

Norwegian Joy Itinerary

Cruise Ships sailing from Brooklyn, Bayonne, and Manhattan tomorrow.

They are on their way. . .

3 hours ago, CruisnDeb said: @Radio I'm looking forward to your review.  I will be on the Joy next year for our Panama Canal cruise.  I notice you are from Perry Hall....I grew up around Silver Spring and went to college at UMBC (go Retrievers!)

It's a small world, CruisnDeb  😊

Hello everyone. Today is  DAY 1 of "LIVE" from Norwegian Joy.

I had a good sleep last night in the hotel. I stayed at Embassy Suites (On International Blvd) in Elizabeth. This hotel is very close to Newark Liberty International. The hotel was clean, and the food was good. (They have coffee 24hrs/day)

I will be leaving here soon to drive to Pier 88 and board Norwegian Joy. I should arrive at the Pier around 12-12:30. I am hoping the traffic won't be too bad.

Oh, by the way . . . Today is  CRUISE DAY

See you on board.

Embassy Suites Hotel

I set up a Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle for Monday

What day is it?

How was the parking situation?  Did you park at the pier?  I'm considering driving in for our cruise next month, but don't want to get there and not be able to get parking.

Watching the Joy sail away now.  She is passing right next to another cruise ship in the Hudson going the other way.  Don't see that often.  Couldn't tell what ship it is.

The ship going up the Hudson is the Anthem of the Seas. Since RCCL and Celebrity docks in Bayonne, they will routinely go up do a circle around the Statue of Liberty and then go out to sea. 

1 minute ago, Mike A said: The ship going up is the Anthem of the Seas. Since RCCL and Celebrity docks in Bayonne, they will routinely go up do a circle around the Statue of Liberty and then go out to sea. 

Thanks for the explanation.  I never knew that! I was surprised when I saw it was a RCCL ship as I knew they docked in NJ.

46 minutes ago, Mike A said: The ship going up the Hudson is the Anthem of the Seas. Since RCCL and Celebrity docks in Bayonne, they will routinely go up do a circle around the Statue of Liberty and then go out to sea. 

Thank you for this info.  I wondered if they were getting into port very late.  Since I’m guessing you’ve watched ships on the harbor a lot, can you tell me which side of the ship will pass the Statue of Liberty?  I’m assuming port side?   I’m wondering where we should position ourselves for sail away.  

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