Beautifully done, large ship with lots of options
Norwegian Joy Cruise Review to Coastal - West Coast
Norwegian Joy Inagural
Sail date: April 26, 2019
Ship: Norwegian Joy
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 14810
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
This is beautifully recently renovated for the US market ship with lots of things to do for all ages. The virtual reality area had lots of games and things to do as well as an F1 simulator. The food was excellent across all venues and service was warm and with a smile albeit a little slow in certain venues while they worked out the new ship kinks. The Observation Lounge is a great place in Alaska to view wildlife and scenery and lots of seating along with Starbucks and a bar. This is a large ship and while it can be a challenge to find people as there is no central area that people stroll through, each of the venues is very well done and uniquely themed. One tip if you are in a hallway of cabins, the fish in the carpeting always swim toward the front of the ship, so if you aren't sure which way you are going, just look down and see which way the fish are swimming.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Q Texas Smokehouse
I was a little skeptical about trying Q as my husband is amazing on the grill and smoker at home but I have to say that I was VERY impressed. All of the food we tried (we ate family style) was excellent and the big standout was the brisket, mac n cheese and grits. Good brisket is hard to do and this was moist and just the right amount of smoke. The band that played as we were finishing was very good and the smoked peach margarita was outstanding!!
Skyline Bar
Very cool little bar off the casino with amazing video screens which are 4 panels and show each of the members of the band for the song/video being shown which made for a pretty cool viewing experience. The is not a lot of seating at this bar, so either get their early to enjoy the videos or there is plenty of standing room.
Food Republic
Make reservations as soon as possible to enjoy the picturesque views and great food. All pricing is a la carte and you order off ipads. The sushi rolls are very good and in-line with what you would find at your local sushi bar at home as far as size and quality. Overall great place for a quick snack or full meal and if you can't get a table, see if the sushi bar is available.
American Diner
Super cute authentic diner with an inside as well as pool deck adjacent seating. The service was a little slow, but that was likely as it was a newly out of drydock and working out the flow of the kitchen, but everyone still had a smile on their face. Great options for casual lunch or dinner.
Onboard Activities
Entertainment
Social Comedy & Night Club
The two comedians on our sailing were excellent and super funny and great at working the audience as well as interacting with passengers when they weren't performing. The venue was very comfortable and doubles as the disco late night. The bar area is tucked away off to the side which makes it easier to order.
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
This is a great ship for families with kids of all ages
Ports of call
Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia
San Pedro (Los Angeles), California