I had a great cruise on the NCL Joy. I am a big fan of NCL and this cruise solidified my loyalty even more. Bermuda is such a beautiful island. I look forward to cruising there again on any NCL ship heading there.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was so smooth especially since we did not have to deal with any COVID testing. I arrived for my 1100-1130 check-in at 1100. I was checked in quickly and was soon waiting to board with Group 25. I'd say I waited maybe 20 minutes before I was able to board the Norwegian Joy.
I was on the ship by 1145 or so. I have no complaints about thencheck-in process.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food was fantastic. I generally ate breakfast in the buffet each day. The scrambled eggs were tasty, the bacon was fairly crispy, and the sausage links were good. I did not have a handmade omelette, but there was always a line to get one, so I'd have to believe people liked them.
I really liked the layout of the buffet as well. The other NCL ships I've cruised always had the buffet at the stern, the Joy's is in the bow. I really liked sitting at looking out over the bow of the ship while enjoying a meal and coffee.
Maltings Whiskey Bar
5 out of 5
I wish I could give this venue 50 stars. Loving the bartender, and her assistant Jamie, were great. I was in this bar a few times a day. If Lorvina says she is making a drink for you, trust her judgement. She makes a perfect Old Fashioned in many different forms. She always is smiling even when the bar is busy. Sign up for her MacCallan Tasting event. It is well worth the $20 charge.
Sugarcane Mojito Bar
5 out of 5
This bar is in a great location on Deck 8 right by the center stairs. Rodney makes a great Mojito and was my favorite bartender on NCL Escape two years ago. It was great to see him on the Joy. The bar played live music and alway had a good crowd.
Teppanyaki
5 out of 5
What a fun time this venue provides. It's very lively and active. The food was awesome and the show that the chefs put on was great.
Cagney's Steakhouse
5 out of 5
I had a great experience at Cagney's. The food was perfect. My seating was 8:45 pm and it seemed like things were winding down because it didn't appear too busy. I ordered at Porterhouse, medium, and it was just right. The staff was very attentive and prompt in getting the food delivered and clearing away plates, etc.
The Local Bar & Grill
5 out of 5
I love the convenience and location of The Local. It's great for simple bar food and has a great view for all the action happening in The Atrium. I liked to sit at the railing while watching a game show or presentation.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
I went on both watersides and they were a lot of fun. The floor drop slide looks terrifying, and it is while you are waiting for thay floor to drop, but is worth the scare.
The inner tube slide gets going pretty fast and the tubes a brightly colored inside with different patterns.
The race track was so much fun. My only complaint was the old man an my group who was way overmatched by this ride. He could barely climb the stairs up the the track area and then struggled driving the car. We would all get stuck in traffic jams behind him because he could not negotiate the turns without a crew member coming out to straighten his race car. If you get a good group, this track is pretty fast with lots of tight turns.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
I watched a bunch of the events they do in the Atrium. They are always a good time and the hosts were all good at keeping the games fun.
I watched Elements and liked it. I really liked the acrobatic parts of the show. Watching them hang on the straps and perform was mesmerizing.
The DJs were both good.
I discovered I liked Merengue music after watching Azucar Duo perform. I could not understand a word they sang, but the beats were great.
The bands that played poolside were all good.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
I found the staff and service in all aspects to be top notch. I could not pass a crew member without getting greeted.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
They Joy has a bit of a different layout than the other NCL ships I've cruised. I really liked this ship though. Once I figured things out, I found it easy to navigate. It is a beautiful ship and very clean.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
I liked this cabin. I was on the port side just off the aft elevator lobby and staircase. It was easy to get to the stairs and I was close to all the action of 6,7,8. It was quiet too even though it was above the action on Deck 8. The bathroom and show were standard sized and that was just fine.
The Royal Navy Dockyard is a great location to base a Bermuda cruise. There is lots to do within walking distance of the cruise ships. The ferries all have stops there and the busses and taxi are close. We rented scooters from Oleander and explored the island. We also took the NCL Ferry over to St. George and walked that area.
I found disembarking very easy. I always do self-assist. We waited in the hallway of the Manhattan Room for about 10 minutes before things started moving. After that, we simply walked up, had our card scanned, and walked down the gangway. Customs was a breeze and I was on the streets of NYC quickly.
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