NCL Joy coming to West Coast year round

[YVRBassElectric]

I wonder what will happen to all the Chinese speaking staff they specifically hired and trained for the Joy.

I imagine many will staff the Spirit on the seasonal cruises to China but I can't help but think many will be out of a job

Only 80% of crew were Mandarian speaking, they would have to speak English also, so I am sure there will be jobs for the ones who want them. I noticed a few crew from China on the Bliss.

[suffield12]

Have to say I’m happy with this. Our family were starting to think NCL were getting stale with everything centred around the Caribbean but now having multiple/better choices in Europe, west coast states and Asia is pretty exciting

 

 

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[Notnewtoit]

<Forgive me; copying from other thread, probably more appropriate here...>

 

Does Joy add capacity in the summer Alaska market (adding to Bliss and Jewel), or does Jewel stay in the Aussie market year round - cancelling her 2019 Alaska itineraries I wonder?

[buggins0402]

The Spirit reposition cruises are really high up on my list. I'd love to see Africa by cruise ship.

 

I will love to see the itineraries. CPT to Singapore on O has been on my dream list, but the pricing is too rich for our checkbook.

[BostonGal35]

sounds like it will be Joy, Bliss and Jewel in Alaska. Since Joy is larger than Pearl capacity will increase.

[Notnewtoit]

sounds like it will be Joy, Bliss and Jewel in Alaska. Since Joy is larger than Pearl capacity will increase.

 

Good point yes TY! Pearl goes away...

[Linda the Book Lover]

I wondered about the Jewel as well since the Pearl (one of my personal favorites) will be going to Europe in the summer. Now that the news is out, watch many begin to ask about prices etc.

[tmgrry]

holy crap that is a lot of money to spend on a brand new ship.

given the large Asian population on teh west coast, why not try it out as is, aside from making menus in english, etc.

 

Kudos to NCL for being willing to change course so early in the game and make a large investment to reposition the Joy. They could have been stubborn and left it in China to be underutilized.

[SeahawkSiren]

This is such exciting news for the west coast! :hearteyes:

 

We loved the Bliss so much that we were getting ready to book the Bliss again next year to the Mexican Riviera but I think now we will wait and book the Joy instead.

 

I also love seeing that the Joy will go to Icy Strait Point in Alaska where I have never been. So I guess I will have to book another Alaska cruise too!

 

The NCL Jade through the Suez Canal/Indian Ocean itinerary looks really amazing too!

 

Aaahhh, so many cruises, and not enough vacation days from work to take all of them. :loudcry:

[LAFFNVEGAS]

While I am so thrilled to have a NCL ship on the West Coast instead of the few sailings they originally had set for the Bliss, I cannot help but feel they made many mistakes with Asia and not giving it a few other options. Why not open it up for sales to North America? Why not open up the itineraries in SE Asia with more options for Japan. Princess sells out the Diamond Princess 6 months in advance for their sailings around Japan. I know because I was on the Diamond last year and spent 2 weeks in Japan Not sure if they had some kind of agreement with China which was and will be returning October 2019. I would have gone NCL if the Joy would have been opened up to North American passengers with some good itineraries. So why they did not allow world wide reservations and why they could not have changed up the itineraries??

Oh Well I guess that is water under the bridge now but just my person opinion while they are spending the money to make a Bliss twin I do think they need new Hull Art, possibly get Wyland to do a Dolphin themed Hull. Don't get me wrong I think the art work on the Joy is nice but only if she stayed in Asia.

 

Looking froward to seeing the new updated itineraries I can start to see if I can fit in a Mexico cruise in early 2020 ;)

[Cruiser Bruiser]

Seems the China Market demand isn’t as robust as originally thought. Will be interesting to see how other cruise lines respond.

 

Princess already responded by removing its purpose-built-for-China Majestic Princess mostly out of China. So it is definitely a demand issue.

 

As I posted elsewhere, there are no studio cabins on Joy. I hope "virtually identical" means that the family-inside mini-suites will be converted into studios.

[eroller]

So does NCL still own by Star Cruises? If so, my guess is that they're pretty much in competition with themselves now that they have their own Breakaway ship....

 

 

NCL never owned Star Cruises. It was the other way around. Star Cruises has since sold off its majority interest in NCLH although they still own a smaller percent of the company.

[eroller]

Regarding JOY, I'm guessing we will see a redesigned main pool area with bars added, the removal of the large enclosed aft game center and in its place a much enlarged spa. Also the large interior family suites will make way for NCL's single Studio Complex. I can also imagine the large casino will be reduced in size, and some retail, dining, and entertainment changes. I bet the hull art is changed as well, as that is very China specific ... although they never changed the hull art on Norwegian Sky (former Pride of Aloha) after she left Hawaii.

 

I would say NCL made a pretty big blunder specializing the ship so much for China. Now they have to spend $50 million on a brand new ship to make her appealing to a different market. They certainly miscalculated as to how quickly the China market would mature. Just a month ago they were touting how China has improved and there were no plans to redeploy JOY. Fake news? LOL

[Steff79]

They wrote in the press announcement about the galaxy pavilion, so that will stay. Is that the big Game Center or has the joy two of them?

[dexddd]

Regarding JOY, I'm guessing we will see a redesigned main pool area with bars added, the removal of the large enclosed aft game center and in its place a much enlarged spa. Also the large interior family suites will make way for NCL's single Studio Complex. I can also imagine the large casino will be reduced in size, and some retail, dining, and entertainment changes. I bet the hull art is changed as well, as that is very China specific ... although they never changed the hull art on Norwegian Sky (former Pride of Aloha) after she left Hawaii.

 

I would say NCL made a pretty big blunder specializing the ship so much for China. Now they have to spend $50 million on a brand new ship to make her appealing to a different market. They certainly miscalculated as to how quickly the China market would mature. Just a month ago they were touting how China has improved and there were no plans to redeploy JOY. Fake news? LOL

 

I had read an article about a year ago where the projected China cruise base was 6 times larger than US. Guess that isn't quite right.

[Seanote]

Only 80% of crew were Mandarian speaking, they would have to speak English also, so I am sure there will be jobs for the ones who want them. I noticed a few crew from China on the Bliss.

That’s going to be awkward trying to staff the Spirit with a Chinese crew on a seasonal basis. Sure they can redeploy some of the Joy’s crew to other ships, but to have to coordinate and swap out crews for a seasonal deployment would be a logistical nightmare.

[cruiseshipfan18]

I just hope they don’t change the hull art on the Joy because in my opinion it’s very beautiful!

 

 

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[Budget Queen]

.

 

I would say NCL made a pretty big blunder specializing the ship so much for China. Now they have to spend $50 million on a brand new ship to make her appealing to a different market. They certainly miscalculated as to how quickly the China market would mature. Just a month ago they were touting how China has improved and there were no plans to redeploy JOY. Fake news? LOL

 

"They"- is funded by revenue, and higher cruise fares. I'd greatly prefer, minimal changes and lower cruise costs. :)

[timf2001]

NCL has posted the revised deck plans:

 

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/joy/deck-plans

 

The staterooms are largely unchanged with the exception of a number of cabins removed from Deck 15 to expand the Observation Lounge to the same size as Bliss. This means they will be offering the Concierge level of suites in between Mini-Suites and The Haven, and no Studios.

 

The dining venues have been changed to match the Bliss. There is no Ocean Blue as that space is the photo gallery, and the American Diner appears to be staying in lieu of Margaritaville.

 

The Galaxy Pavilion remains intact, meaning the spa will be significantly smaller than other ships. They have added an enlarged fitness center one level up in the place of the noodle bar restaurant.

 

They do not appear to be adding or enlarging the pool.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

"They"- is funded by revenue, and higher cruise fares. I'd greatly prefer, minimal changes and lower cruise costs. :)

Me too, I personally thought the prices for the Bliss Mexico were way over priced but NCL thought they could get away with it since it was such a short amount of time that Bliss was doing the Mexico cruises. Now that they will have Joy being a bit more permanent on the West Coast I am hoping to see the prices be more realistic to what a 7 day Mexico cruise should be.

Carnival is coming out with their new BIG ship that will home port on the West Coast as well with drastically lower prices. NCL will have to bring the prices down to compete.

[david_sobe]

Regarding JOY, I'm guessing we will see a redesigned main pool area with bars added, the removal of the large enclosed aft game center and in its place a much enlarged spa. Also the large interior family suites will make way for NCL's single Studio Complex. I can also imagine the large casino will be reduced in size, and some retail, dining, and entertainment changes. I bet the hull art is changed as well, as that is very China specific ... although they never changed the hull art on Norwegian Sky (former Pride of Aloha) after she left Hawaii.

 

I would say NCL made a pretty big blunder specializing the ship so much for China. Now they have to spend $50 million on a brand new ship to make her appealing to a different market. They certainly miscalculated as to how quickly the China market would mature. Just a month ago they were touting how China has improved and there were no plans to redeploy JOY. Fake news? LOL

 

 

You are correct as usual Ernie. When NCL announced a new mega ship for China I was in shock. I was surprised they thought it would work. Boy did it not take long to "jump ship" (no pun intended).

I would have no interest in sailing an odd ship like Joy unless the price was excellent. Maybe Epic will no longer be the step child of the NCL fleet :o

Big gamble that did not pay off :rolleyes:

[Linda the Book Lover]

Me too, I personally thought the prices for the Bliss Mexico were way over priced but NCL thought they could get away with it since it was such a short amount of time that Bliss was doing the Mexico cruises. Now that they will have Joy being a bit more permanent on the West Coast I am hoping to see the prices be more realistic to what a 7 day Mexico cruise should be.

Carnival is coming out with their new BIG ship that will home port on the West Coast as well with drastically lower prices. NCL will have to bring the prices down to compete.

 

I am hoping the prices go down some as well. I am also interested in seeing what will open up for coastal offerings. I sure would love some short cruise options like Carnival has available which is what my DD and I have to sail when she has that time available.

[CruisinMaterial]

Odd. The deck plans show a family hot tub in Spice H2O. Isn't this usually an 18 plus venue? Shame they won't be putting the studios onto Joy. Was looking forward to sampling her but if they're gutting the Mandarin / Chinese feel to the ship, then I may as well sail on the Bliss. :confused:

[Alegeeter]

NCL has posted the revised deck plans:

 

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/joy/deck-plans

 

The staterooms are largely unchanged with the exception of a number of cabins removed from Deck 15 to expand the Observation Lounge to the same size as Bliss. This means they will be offering the Concierge level of suites in between Mini-Suites and The Haven, and no Studios.

 

The dining venues have been changed to match the Bliss. There is no Ocean Blue as that space is the photo gallery, and the American Diner appears to be staying in lieu of Margaritaville.

 

The Galaxy Pavilion remains intact, meaning the spa will be significantly smaller than other ships. They have added an enlarged fitness center one level up in the place of the noodle bar restaurant.

 

They do not appear to be adding or enlarging the pool.

 

And no O'Sheehans/Local style 24hour restaurant on Deck 7

[shof515]

Regarding JOY, I'm guessing we will see a redesigned main pool area with bars added, the removal of the large enclosed aft game center and in its place a much enlarged spa. Also the large interior family suites will make way for NCL's single Studio Complex. I can also imagine the large casino will be reduced in size, and some retail, dining, and entertainment changes. I bet the hull art is changed as well, as that is very China specific ... although they never changed the hull art on Norwegian Sky (former Pride of Aloha) after she left Hawaii.

 

I would say NCL made a pretty big blunder specializing the ship so much for China. Now they have to spend $50 million on a brand new ship to make her appealing to a different market. They certainly miscalculated as to how quickly the China market would mature. Just a month ago they were touting how China has improved and there were no plans to redeploy JOY. Fake news? LOL

They do not appear to be adding or enlarging the pool.

 

in order to do any kind of this work, the ship needs to be dry docked. It looks like all of the changes they are doing is mostly just cosmetic and is something that can be done at port/sea. The ship is only about a year old, too early for dry dock. I wont be surprised to see a big major drydock plan in the next 5 years when the ship is due for it.