This is a very low key cruise which might be good for singles because of the large concentration of singles aboard or for people who do not really want to get off this ship. Aside from scenery, the cruise stops did not have much to offer. The cruise excursions were overpriced. The food on the ship was mediocre at best and disappointing. I really liked the music, especially the Latin music band and most of the entertainment. I enjoyed meeting my lovely fellow passengers but I will not be cruising with NCL again.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
Embarkation was the worst I have ever experienced in over 60 cruises. The cruise terminal was overcrowded, the check in desks were grossly understaffed and once on board the rooms were not ready. We were forced to wait on deck with our carry on luggage for over three hours. A truly awful experience.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
The buffet was also disappointing. The food was high carb, high fat cheap food. There were few if any high quality items. For example, there was no selection of cheeses, no strawberries or blueberries, no smoked salmon. The main dining rooms were better for all meals but there were very few fish offerings, there was no lobster night or filet mignon night. Lobster and filet were available for a paid supplement in the main dining room. Many of the main dining room waiters were robotic. There was very little interaction with the patrons. They were just going through the motions. It was not the fun dining experience I have had in the past.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
The activities were also low energy and uninspired. Virtually every activity was either trivia or some type of game show which required payment of a fee. It was too cold for the pool which was quite small anyway. The fitness center was nice with a number of treadmills, free weights and a small selection of machines. A lot of space on the Norwegian Joy is consumed by the race car speedway which is oriented towards children and was not operational during this cruise. There were only 10 children on the ship.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
There were some excellent musicians on the ship and a welcome variety of music. Unfortunately, no dance floor except the stage surrounding the musician podium. The comedians were entertaining and "Elements" was a well produced professional show which most passengers enjoyed. In contrast, the NCL produced Broadway revue was simplistic and uninspired with the feel of a grade school talent show which did not adequately showcase the voices of the performers which were very good.
Service and Staff
2 out of 5
Our cabin steward. was excellent but overworked. She cleaned cabins, delivered suitcases, collected suitcases and performed multiple other tasks. She had no time for any type of personal interaction. The waiters were efficient but for the most part not sociable. There was no sense of joy among the staff on the JOY. On the rare occasion when a waiter did engage in some social interaction, it was obvious and notable because it was a rare occurrence.
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
The ship was clean and well maintained. Most of the daily activities took place in the Atrium where guests were relegated to sitting on folding chairs in the middle of the main lobby... a poor set up. I kept looking for the dance floor ... there was none except an area on the open deck which could not be used in the cold, wet weather on this trip. The ship was chopped up into multiple small bars and for pay restaurants.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The cabin was fine for 2 average/small people. It would be a bit cramped for larger folks. The location was very good. It was fairly close to the elevator and was quiet. The bathroom shower was compact, fine for us but would not work for larger individuals.
Ship tip
There were many single travelers on the JOY so it might be a good option if you are traveling alone. If you expect and enjoy any degree of sophistication in your travel, I would suggest you choose a different cruise line. I have not sailed on NCL for many years and was really shocked to see how the device and cruise experience has declined since my last cruise with NCL.
Boston is a wonderful city and should have been a great stop but we did not get there until after 3pm and most attractions close at 5. It was mostly a wasted day. This is one of the best stops on the cruise and we needed a full day.
Long lines but overall a very smooth process considering the number of people on the ship. Disembarking earlier is faster than later. Our luggage was waiting for us in the designated area and then we had a 20 minute wait for a taxi but everything moved smoothly and was well organized.
Thank you for your detailed review. Sadly, cruising has taken a “deep dive” since they re-opened post-pandemic. 60 + cruises is impressive & sounds amazing!! Happy cruising
😎⚓️🤩❣️‼️
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
