Best and Worst of the Norwegian Joy Cruise Ship - Norwegian Joy Review

[@Madmags007]

My wife and I were on the Joy 2 years ago and loved it. We are going again April 14th out of New York to Bermuda. The food is fantastic and the huge hot tub in the Spice H2O area is awesome. Thanks for the videos!

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

So glad you enjoyed the ship! We've liked the NCL ships we've been on so far. The complimentary food with NCL is certainly a step above some other lines!

[@daricedennis2464]

Just came back from 7 day cruise. Returned on July 21st. Agree with internet issue and the shortage of staff at bars. The food was phenomenal. Buffet was amazing. Thanks for your views on this particular ship. We will be going next year just not sure which NCL ship we will choose.

[@cutekiller1420]

I’m so excited I’m going on the Norwegian joy on my birthday May 5th 🎉🎉 love your videos thank you for all the insight 🙏🏻💕

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

That's so exciting!! Have an absolutely magical birthday and happy cruising!

[@cheribelz5869]

We just did our first cruise and it was on the Norwegian Joy. We also had internet problems as well. The poolside area did have good bar coverage while we were there. Shout out to our favorite bartender Gede from Indonesia. The food was fantastic and so was the staff. Guest services was helpful . You were right about the lack of shows. They had canceled footloose and they do need more options for kids under 3. My granddaughter who is 4 loved the time she spent with aqua play staff. My adult kids with their kids loved the observation lounge. I'd also like to thank our room steward Royal who was so helpful. We had a great time.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Wonderful to hear you enjoyed the cruise! We also found that individual members of the crew made the cruise especially memorable for us. It is testament to the quality of customer service mindset at the individual level on Norwegian crusies. Just hope they can expand that to their connectivity and entertainment soon!

[@debbieschultz7409]

We went on Norwegian Joy May 2023. It was amazing. No complaints at all!

[@lorigrimaldi194]

I loved the Joy when it sailed to Bermuda in 2022. I especially loved the Observation Lounge.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

The Observation lounge is something we miss on every other cruise line. It's such a wonderful part of the NCL ships!

[@teresamotz]

My husband and I sailed the Joy to Bermuda in Aug 2022 for our belated 25th anniversary (delayed twice due to covid). While aboard we decided that our kids would enjoy cruising also! So, this August we'll be experiencing the Joy with our 4 young adult and teenage kids (plus one of their girlfriends). We're hoping they love the cruise life (fingers crossed). I know they'll love the vast amounts of food! Two of our favorite activities are the 80's dance party and hanging out in the Brewhouse! Thanks for your videos - you guys are great!

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

That sounds like it's going to be a fantastic time! Wishing you a very happy cruise! That brewhouse was one of my favorite hangouts as well! -J

[@TraveleneConArlene]

Thanks for your review. We just sailed on RCL to Bermuda- WiFi/app chat was awful as well. FYI- you’ll encounter similar issues regarding activities for toddlers. Cruises in general begin offering clubs for kids 3 yr and older who are potty trained. I understand your frustration, but I’m sure it’s due to a safety concern and/or liability.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Totally agree with the toddler activities. We just wish the area he was allowed in had more/better hours. Bummed to hear the WiFi was still bad too!

[@brettparnell8254]

Great video. I'm doing this itinerary in a few weeks. I hear they just installed starlink during the dry dock, so hopefully the internet issue is resolved. I keep going back to NCL for the solo programming, open main dining, free at sea, and the quality of the specialty dining. (I have 1 meal for free at sea, 2 for the free at sea plus upgrade, and 2 for being a platinum status member, so this upcoming cruise will have way too much food)

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Oh, very good to know about Starlink. Hopefully it improves the situation bc EVERYONE was complaining about the internet. Have a wonderful trip!

[@dawnr8811]

Going in June on Joy 🎉 thx for the review Definitely bringing my yeti, I heard you can get 2 drinks at a time lol instead of waiting in line again 😎

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Nice! Have a wonderful cruise! And you definitely can order two at a time. We take advantage of that whenever the lines get long for sure!

[@dalemaki7603]

I dont like to be pressured when i shop If they would just leave me alone I would spend money. We are going on the joy in November.😄

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Totally agree with this! Haha. Have a fantastic cruise!

[@darrenchichester9777]

Great info! I'm treating some family to a cruise on NCL JOY later this year in October out of Miami into the Western Caribbean. I live in Bermuda, thanks for visiting! I'm curious about the wifi issues you encountered as I will be working remotely off and on. Half-way across the Atlantic flights will tend to lose wi-fi and the movies shut down often. Was the wifi bad during at sea days only or did it not improve once you were in port at King's Wharf here in Bermy ?

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

How wonderful - we took our family on this cruise too and really created some great memories! The wi-fi was bad pretty much the entire cruise, BUT we have heard that the Joy switched to Starlink during it's refurb a few months ago so hopefully it's much better now!

[@autumns4021]

I just returned from the Bermuda cruise on The Joy. The internet was spotty the entire time for us. Bermuda was beautiful. Must be wonderful to live there.

[@susansommer1463]

Did you find your cruise ship crowded? Did you have trouble finding a place to sit on deck or in observation lounge?

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Yes, I'd say it did often feel crowded, especially in those 2 places. To get a spot by the pool (on good weather days) and in the front of the lounge, you needed to get there early. Non-prime spots were usually available though.

[@philbuben4688]

Our experience was miserable, the Joy isn't disabled handicap friendly. The staff was the only saving grace, above and beyond service. I can't believe the ADA hasn't clamped down on the Joy. As disabled I would be pushed and shoved at the buffet, absolutely no staff assistance 😞

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

That's heartbreaking to hear. Thank you for sharing that experience, though we wholeheartedly wish it hadn't happened. Like you. We found the crew on board to be the best part of the trip and hope that the ship's quality of service in general can follow their example in the future.

[@marissazinsser]

We had a group of 21 people and EVERY thing got screwed up. The keys to the room, the dinner packages, the added amenities we purchased before we left. The customer service was atrocious. They had no way of resolving any of our issues while on the ship or even prior. Our rep, Cory, kept telling us that things were going to be fine once we got on the ship and that couldn't have been further from the truth. The staff at the dining hall and cleaning service were fantastic and so helpful - however Norweigan's customer service in general was horrific. If you could imagine how much money we spent bringing 21 people on the ship to have customer service hang up on my mother (the one coordinating the trip) after spending 3 hours trying to fix the things that THEY screwed up. Also the kids HATED the Splash Academy and we couldn't leave them more than twice because they disliked it so much. Very disappointed and not worth the money.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

That's all very good insight. Sorry to hear the customer service reps weren't able to resolve the issues. We also experienced some issues with accounts and balances getting mixed up between family members and different staterooms. Were there any specific things about Splash Academy that are worth mentioning? It's not something we hear too much about in the way of reviews.

[@tonyc7090]

We loved the Joy so much last July that we booked it again this June 2nd:-) We like the Vibe beach club, Observation lounge, the staff, Whiskey bar, casino, restaurants....

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Only a couple more days! Have a great trip!

[@tonyc7090]

@@ThisHappyPlaceTravel Thanks!

[@nancykerstetter1952]

We were on the joy last week. I found that the staffing was much better. I don’t gamble so the casino doesn’t interest me. Multiple bartenders at each bar. I am sorry that NCL stopped the. Broadway shows. I did not see the main show . The ship was really crowded which we expected as school is out . Food was excellent. Staff was phenomenal. Did not use internet. Stayed off the grid. Really loved that. The Beatles show was really good. Observation lounge is the best.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Glad to hear the staffing has improved! I'm wondering if they adjust staff levels seasonally. We're also not interested in gambling so generally stay clear of the casino but do love a good show. Hopefully they bring back some quality theater productions.

[@IAMvlagattuta]

Well I will be sailing for my first time on the Norwegian Joy in the next 2 weeks. So thanks for the info!!

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

You're very welcome! Have a great cruise!

[@ClaraWsfreedom]

The washy washy song. If you know you know 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 yes the entertainment was lacking agreed

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

That song....it haunts me. 😆

[@autumns4021]

Happy Happy 😊

[@doc2w534]

We’ve loved every NCL ship for food. Their quick service options are so good and puts Disney and Royal to shame. Encore was by far our fav for speciality dining options. We are looking forward to La Cucina on Joy as their menu was better for us than Onda. I wish Joy also had Los Lobos.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

There is definitely something to be said for the NCL dining. We even found their complimentary options to be top notch compared to other cruise lines!

[@theonboardtraveler5313]

Who was their internet provider? I sailed the joy last year, and I agree the internet was bad. But I heard they recently upgraded to starlink, which is much better.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

We're not sure who the provider was at the time off the top of our heads. We've also heard about the Starlink upgrade though and are curious to hear if it's improved!

[@barbara.schulman334]

Going on a fall foliage trip out of Quebec. Was it a long wait for anytime dining?

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

That sounds lovely! We never really noticed much of a wait for the complimentary options on board. The Local would get very busy around lunch time, but otherwise people seemed to get seated rather quickly. Have a great cruise!

[@ABC-sy5xn]

Not much has changed . Currently on the Joy, yep internet minutes disappeared even after log out. Lots of sales events and similar shows everyday. Live Country music at the Texas BBQ is great idea except the music is so loud that you can’t have any conversation when they are playing. It’s not just this one, seems like people running the sound control for any music shows are deaf.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Sorry to hear some of those problems still persist. Seems to be just something to expect when sailing on the Joy. Regardless, it's vacation! Find your happy place and bask in it! 🌞 🛳 🍸

[@deswoods815]

What restaurants do you recommend the most? I have two speciality credits and it seems like alot of options.

[@israelvargas7537]

Deff do tappenyaki it’s a hibachi grill

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

We really love Food Republic, but adore Mexican and Asian food so it's perfect for us. Teppanyaki was also nice and fun. Plus, we heard very good things about Ocean Blue as well.

[@tmartinson]

Definitely Cagneys is the best in my opinion!

[@israelvargas7537]

I was on the joy on march 1st it was okay my first cruise was the Mariner of the seas and the food on the joy was 5.0/10

[@koda1310]

Internet was better this past week agreed about lack of entertainment and understaffed

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Glad to hear some things are improving! Thanks for the update. Hope you had a wonderful cruise!

[@katpic9470]

What activities did u expect for a baby under 2 on the cruise other then waterpark area ?

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

The surprise for us was that Guppies on this ship does not offer the same services or available hours as the Escape, and far from the activities available for young cruisers on other cruise lines. Even when dining we found the experience to not be particular accommodating to families with young children. We do have to give credit to the individual crew members though. They were wonderful toward our Son and made him smile any chance they got!

[@katpic9470]

Thank you for the info..

[@PurplePenguin09200]

We’re on the joy now and we can definitely agree that the entertainment and staff is lacking. It’s a shame. We were on the Escape almost a year ago and this cruise put a bad taste in our mouths

[@PurplePenguin09200]

It’s a beautiful ship don’t get me wrong, it just has its little quirks

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

Well first of all glad to hear you're out in search of your next happy place! Sorry it may not be the ship necessarily 😉. But we felt the same way. Beautiful ship and the crew we did interact with were lovely, but it just felt light in entertainment options and understaffed in certain places.

[@himalayapatel2052]

How’s the internet?

[@PurplePenguin09200]

@@himalayapatel2052 the internet for the most part was good! Only had an issue when we were in port for a few hours, but other than that, I major issues with it

[@doc2w534]

Pulling the big shows from their ships was a big mistake. We are sailing Joy to Alaska for a long itinerary and I’m not happy there won’t be any big entertainment but I’m hoping the long port days will wear me out so I won’t mind low key nights. We loved Choir of Man and Kinky Boots and can’t wait to see the entertainment for Aqua.

[@jessica-jc1up]

Honestly, you two had some terrible luck on both of your cruises, which was unfortunate and I think led to you having less than stellar cruises. Your first cruise was right after the COVID shutdown ended, and on your second cruise you had a very young baby, the entertainment crew injured themselves and if I recall there were also weather issues that cut short your time in port? That's TERRIBLE luck, plus the challenge of cruising with a baby. While I don't disagree with (some) of your criticisms of Norwegian, I really like them. I hope you are able to take another cruise when your child is older where a bunch of stuff doesn't go wrong - I'm sure you will have more fun! And if not, Norwegian just might not be for you, and that's okay.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

We do have to give the Norwrgian Encore crew some credit. They were figuring things out again after the pandemic and actually did a fantastic job all considered. But there were some obvious issues they couldn't over come. There were some redeeming things on the Joy too, but they usually weren't related to the logistics of the operation on the ship. You're right though, definitely some bad luck. With time we may find ourselves on Norwegian again!

[@user-mw1ge8mi3r]

Did you guys stay in an inside cabin, and if so were you happy with it? thanks

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

We haven't yet, but that's a plan for a future cruise. We like being able to see outside but the lower cost of interior rooms can make longer cruises so much more doable!

[@deswoods815]

Thanks for the reviews of the Joy. I'm sailing on the Joy on the 28th. Ive done three Carnival cruises and wanted to do NCL to "upgrade" my experience and it sounds like it's some of the same issues such as pushy sales. But even looking at the breakfast options in the buffet from your sea day video, looks like the food is far better.

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

I really hope you enjoy the food as much as we did. Have a great time!

[@kevinschafer2713]

We were just on the Joy last week for a 7 day cruise. I don't recall a single sales announcement on the main speakers.

[@ChrisChamberlain-rf2ty]

Nope food sucks

[@joetrupiano1482]

The ship is too big

[@ThisHappyPlaceTravel]

It's definitely not small.