The Hidden Secrets of Norwegian Joy

[Canbylancer]

Thank you for your post, I have been looking for info on the Mexican Rivera cruise on the Joy.  I am going on the Joy in March.  Do you or anyone have any MDR and Local dining menus for each night?  I did see the theme or special at the Local in the dailies.  

[3kidsncats]

On 12/29/2019 at 7:58 AM, wilmingtech said:

These 1st Two menus are from Skyline.  Skyline is the bar in the casino.  They have machines taking up most of the bar top and it is right across from the glassed in area for the smokers.  Wasnt really smokey but someone who is sensitive to smoke might think so.  Didnt seem like a place condusive to hanging out unless you were playing the machines on the bar top.  Note that all the menus in the bars look exactly the same.

Thank you so much Sean!  All of the menus and info you posted is super helpful.  You filled in exactly the places I needed 🙂. I am bummed we aren’t in the Haven this time — will definitely be missing those excellent Haven bartenders and ingredients.  I know the Haven bar also has a much more extensive selection of bitters to work with, as we chatted at length about that with Shah (Haven bartender)  on our last cruise.

[SteamboatCruiser]

23 hours ago, kenzie said:

$25 minimum is a Joke, could never pay passline higher than $10. Was the table played at all, is it possible to ask for minimum to be dropped if no-one is playing at such high levels. 

There were 5 or 6 people playing at that time.  We never went back again, so I do not know if they will lower the limits.  

[parmus]

It appears that there is a smaller public sundeck with hot tub on the 19th deck (with the Haven and Vibe Beach Club). Can anyone confirm how crowded it was and if it was just a small area?

[parmus]

On 12/29/2019 at 12:52 PM, hallux said:

I've had two polar opposite experiences boarding in San Pedro.  The first time I breezed right on through security and check-in, boarding the ship within 30 minutes of arriving at the port on the transfer from the airport (around 11 AM arrival at the port).  The second time was a 2+ hour wait to even get to the security tent (the line looked similar to that posted earlier in the thread) but then breezed right through once through security.  On the second experience - there WAS a separate entrance for folks needing assistance and they were being shuffled in there even when they weren't letting anyone else through.

 

Both of those were for the Bliss, the second time was a long wait due to a CG inspection on the ship.  The folks at San Pedro DO know how to board these ships.

Thank you for your experiences.  We were able to select our arrival time on our check in information.   Not sure what that means exactly but maybe it will help us get through any lines more easily if there isnt a handicap assistance line for security or check in since we selected an early time.  

[wilmingtech]

16 hours ago, Canbylancer said:

Thank you for your post, I have been looking for info on the Mexican Rivera cruise on the Joy.  I am going on the Joy in March.  Do you or anyone have any MDR and Local dining menus for each night?  I did see the theme or special at the Local in the dailies.  

We did not eat any meals in the MDR so I did not get any pictures of the Menu.

 

Bird Travels has 2 great reviews though that have this info.  One here on the Joy - 

 

The other is more recent from Bird Travels on the Encore that has most of the menus. 

 

Each sailing will be slightly different.  They will have specials in the MDR and The Local each day (They were different in each venue) and this will change cruise to cruise dependent on inventory and what the chef decides.

 

 

[wilmingtech]

4 hours ago, parmus said:

It appears that there is a smaller public sundeck with hot tub on the 19th deck (with the Haven and Vibe Beach Club). Can anyone confirm how crowded it was and if it was just a small area?

We were in the Haven.  There were 2 Hot (warm) Tubs, and plenty of space up there to hang out.  On the busiest days it was half full.  I believe vibe was slightly larger than half the size of the Haven area (Only one side of the ship instead of two and I believe one hot tub) but hardly anyone in the vibe from what I could tell on the port day (You could see the entire vibe area from above)

 

It was too chilly on Sea Days to lay out for most which is what kept it empty most of the week.  We used this Haven area at the end of the Port days as well as sea days and there may have been 10 people total on the port days on this space.

[wilmingtech]

3 hours ago, parmus said:

Thank you for your experiences.  We were able to select our arrival time on our check in information.   Not sure what that means exactly but maybe it will help us get through any lines more easily if there isnt a handicap assistance line for security or check in since we selected an early time.  

The check in time is for NCL to try and manage peoples arrival time only.  It has nothing to do with when you can and cannot board.

 

My recommendation is to arrive by 10-1030 and on a good day you will be on the ship by 1230-1pm.  And go straight to the MDR for lunch it will be mostly empty.

 

The Buffet was a nut house completely full of people with their bags waiting for rooms to become available.

[kenzie]

On my last cruises on Royal Princess and Allure of the Seas they had a UK outlet which was 210v, please can someone check if there is an outlet in a Balcony on the Joy, if not no point in bringing my Dyson Airwrap and will need to buy a US hair curler. 

Thank you for your anticipated help. 

 

 

[hallux]

Most cruise ships seem to have a mix of US and European outlets.  Here's a cabin tour video, queued up to where you can see the outlets near the desk.  There looks to be a European outlet in there.  This is not my video, it's simply one I found when I searched for a cabin tour video.

 

 

Edited December 31, 2019 by hallux

[kenzie]

17 hours ago, hallux said:

Most cruise ships seem to have a mix of US and European outlets.  Here's a cabin tour video, queued up to where you can see the outlets near the desk.  There looks to be a European outlet in there.  This is not my video, it's simply one I found when I searched for a cabin tour video.

 

 

Thanks - it’s a UK Outlet I am trying to see if they have - UK outlets are different voltage and the newer ships built for RCL and Princess included one in the cabins - our electrical hair appliances will not work without this voltage and a step up adapter is unsuitable and dangerous for high watt appliances such as those - I wanted to bring my Dyson Airwrap but it will only work with 220 voltage 

[0ssie]

3 hours ago, kenzie said:

Thanks - it’s a UK Outlet I am trying to see if they have - UK outlets are different voltage and the newer ships built for RCL and Princess included one in the cabins - our electrical hair appliances will not work without this voltage and a step up adapter is unsuitable and dangerous for high watt appliances such as those - I wanted to bring my Dyson Airwrap but it will only work with 220 voltage 

There are US and EU outlets so just need an EU adapter.  This is from NCL FAQ

Edited January 1, 2020 by 0ssie

[tlm48]

On 12/21/2019 at 6:03 PM, 3kidsncats said:

If you get to any non Haven bars, and think to photograph the menu, that would be awesome.  Mostly interested in the bar specific cocktails, not the spirits and wine part of the menu.  The two bars I’m having the most trouble finding are the Skyline, and A-List, although I’ll very happily peruse any you happen to get, since I’ll know it is current.  I want to include the “special to this bar” drinks on the pub crawl schedule I’m doing 🙂

When are you cruising? Before February 2nd? This sounds like something I would love! Please share!

[kenzie]

On 1/1/2020 at 1:51 PM, 0ssie said:

There are US and EU outlets so just need an EU adapter.  This is from NCL FAQ

That is very conflicting information- does it mean there are both 110v and 220 v outlets - are they dual voltage, do I just plug in and hope for the best - set a fire or break my $500 hairdryer !!!!!!

[augustonchick]

On 12/21/2019 at 4:03 PM, 2+2 said:

Let me know if you happen to run into a place to get a complimentary  latte or cappuccino. I am not in Haven. I have no problem going to Starbucks, but if there is a good alternative secret , why not.

I watched a video yesterday that showed an automated Starbucks coffee machine in the buffet area. Used the room card for payment. Most likely similar to Haven machine, but for a fee. Of course i cant find it now..

[0ssie]

12 hours ago, kenzie said:

That is very conflicting information- does it mean there are both 110v and 220 v outlets - are they dual voltage, do I just plug in and hope for the best - set a fire or break my $500 hairdryer !!!!!!

I would think the US outlets are 110v and the EU 220v. There's always a risk with appliances like hairdryers though even if it is correct voltage.

Edited January 5, 2020 by 0ssie

[Trimone]

They are quite funny about taking appliances on board even with PAT test, woman near me lost her kettle and iron? 

[kenzie]

42 minutes ago, Trimone said:

They are quite funny about taking appliances on board even with PAT test, woman near me lost her kettle and iron? 

I have cruised over 30 times and there are no issues bringing hair appliances onboard - obviously irons and kettles are on the banned list. 

[3kidsncats]

16 hours ago, tlm48 said:

When are you cruising? Before February 2nd? This sounds like something I would love! Please share!

We board today 🙂. I plan on doing a short review of the venues in the crawl, and will post the schedule as a sample (it would need to be adjusted for other itineraries).

[tlm48]

49 minutes ago, 3kidsncats said:

We board today 🙂. I plan on doing a short review of the venues in the crawl, and will post the schedule as a sample (it would need to be adjusted for other itineraries).

Have a fantastic cruise!

That would be great thank you we will be on Joy in February. And want to do the pub crawl as well.

Also if you remember could you let me know which deck we exit off of for ports, and if there is a meeting place near there for groups going on non-ship tours.

[hogie23]

On 12/29/2019 at 12:22 PM, SteamboatCruiser said:

I just got off the Joy a week ago today.  My husband wanted to teach my daughter and her boyfriend how to play craps.  The minimum bet was set at $25.  Needless to say, there were no lessons happening at that price.  

 Wow that is disappointing. My husband loves playing craps and looking forward to teaching our 18 year old but not at $25. We cruise in March so we will see if it changes.

[kenzie]

2 hours ago, hogie23 said:

 Wow that is disappointing. My husband loves playing craps and looking forward to teaching our 18 year old but not at $25. We cruise in March so we will see if it changes.

I agree - we are on on 17th Jan, was watching You Tube video to learn how to play but would want a min of no bigger than $10, surely NCL wants players, not just high rollers. Its suppost to be a fun cruise not serious gambling, guess I will have to wait for my trip to Las Vegas in March

[justjan2]

Any idea where NFL games would be shown? I will be on Joy during the NFL Conference Championship games.  Thanks,

[Joelocal]

Bannana Pudding at the Q.  It its worth it.

[Viajera7]

I was at the same Christmas cruise as you wilmingtech. Some answers to the questions on this thread. The Joy has 2 Starbucks; one by the Atrium and one in the Observation Lounge but the Garden Cafe has a Starbucks coffee station (machine) where you can get coffee for a fee. You have to use your card for it. 

The casino has a smoking section surrounded by glass. I don't smoke but I thought that the machines there were better that in the other areas.

The late night comedy show lines were not bad. I went twice and I found a seat. They do not compare with the Breakaway lines that were so long the 2 times that I was there last year.