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.

Pin

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.

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.

1. Security. You’ll need your passports out so they can verify your identification before getting through actual security.
2. 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.
3. 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:

Pin

Pin

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

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.

Tip: If you would like to sit by the window for dinner, arrive early or make early dinner reservations. 

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

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

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.

Pin

Pin

Pin

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

Pin

Pin

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.

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.

Pin

Pin

Pin

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.

Fun fact: Cagney's and Le Bistro are next to each other. We confirmed they do not share the same galley.

Cagney’s Steakhouse Menu – Norwegian Joy

Le Bistro

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.

Pin

Pin

Pin

Pin

Pin

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:

• Ocean Blue
• Food Republic
• Q Smokehouse
• American Diner
• La Cucina
• Teppanyaki

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?

Norwegian Joy Activities and Entertainment

Pin

Pin

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.

Pin

Pin

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.

Pool Deck

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.

Aqua Park

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.

Go-Karts

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.

Casino

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.

Tip: Head to the casino for late-night snacks starting at 10:30 pm, located near the bar. We always thought the snacks here were better than the buffet.

The Beatles Story

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

Cost: Free

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.

Footloose

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.

Elements

Cost: Free | Reservations Needed

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.

Spa on Norwegian Joy

Pin

Pin

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.

Pin

Pin

• 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.

Pin

Pin

• 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

FAQ on Norwegian Joy

Where to Stay Near Manhattan Cruise Terminal?

Pin

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.

Tip: Ask for room on the first floor or one of the lower floors so you can use the stairs to come and go easily. You don't want to waste time waiting for the elevator when it is busy.

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