Bliss vs Joy...

[tanyaewa]

Have we had anyone do a comparison yet?

similarities? differences?

doing Bliss in October and considering Joy for spring but would love to know how they differ...

[tallnthensome]

Birdtravels did a nice review on her Alaskan sailing on the Joy. I’ve done the Bliss and am booked on the Joy. Biggest difference, if any, is the Galaxy pavilion is on the Joy in place of the Thermal Spa you would find on the Bliss. Most people want the thermal spa area and are disappointed that the Joy does not have one. 

[LaCal]

Also the Joy has the American Diner which the Bliss does not 

[valleyvillage]

The Joy does not have the Los Lobos Mexican restaurant or Coco's.

[jimdee3636]

If it matters to you, the Joy does not have the 90 or so one-person "studio" cabins that the Bliss has. (I was in one such cabin a few months ago on the Bliss and it met all my needs at a reasonable price).

[Skipper305]

Joy has Concierge cabins not found on the Bliss. Larger cabin, exclusive dining for breakfast and lunch, early boarding and access to a concierge.

Edited August 19, 2019 by Skipper305

[BirdTravels]

The ships, in general, are similar. We sailed on the Bliss to Alaska last year and just finished a Joy to Alaska.

 

While there are a lot of comments about the Thermal Suite, in reality, on every ship, a very very very small number of passengers actually have a Thermal Suite pass. (We actually have a thermal suite pass on every cruise,,, except the Joy,,,, so we are one of the very very very few people that truly missed the spa). 

 

On the Joy, the Maltings and Mojito bars are a lot bigger than the Bliss (and any other -away class ship) which was nice. 

 

On the Joy, Le Bistro is situated next to Cagney's making it a large restaurant with waterfront seating. This is nicer than the Bliss where Le Bistro was moved to Deck 17 in an odd shaped space (to make room for Cocos on Deck 6). 

 

For us, Cocos on the Bliss was an over priced ice cream parlor. We're good with buffet ice cream and crepes.  So the lack of a Cocos on the Joy was no loss for us. It must generate revenue because it is making an appearance on the Encore. 

 

We like Los Lobos (which many don't) so the lack of that restaurant on the Joy was a loss. 

 

American Diner vs. Margaritaville is a toss-up. We don't dine at either.  

 

The smoking casino is better situated and a lot smaller on the Joy,,,, which is fine for us. 

[tanyaewa]

Thanks so much everyone.  I have previously  done a lot of reasearch on both ships - Bliss because we are travelling on her in Oct and I LOVE the idea of what NCL has created. And watched the Joy because I was fascinated about how they built her for a specific market and then backtracked so quickly to revamp her.  I just needed a good side by side comparison.

I have found what I consider an incredible value for 5pax (we will bring my mom along I hope) in a 2br concierge suite on the Joy.  I think there may be sufficient differences to warrant sailing on such a similar ship again so soon if we can take advantage of the very unique stateroom.  We have done a similar coastal itinerary with my Mom on Princess for the past 2 years.  This will REALLY shake it up