Joy March 19-26 2022 review/recap

[hallux]

I was on the same cruise @Sthrngary, and he's free to link his 'live' thread for those that didn't read it (I haven't read his, I may duplicate some items).  This is my first time doing one of these, and I actually didn't take notes, I may miss some details.

I'll do a post for each day once I cover pre-cruise.

Pre-cruise

Booking:  I booked on March 6, 2022, booking a balcony and using two CND's.  I booked on the NCL site directly, no PCC or TA involved.

 

Pre-cruise testing.  eMed (the link provided by NCL for the rapid antigen tests) only offers packs of 6 kits.  I was traveling alone so I contacted them and I was given a link to https://store.optum.com where the same kits can be ordered in packs of 2.  I got them within 3 days.  I sat down around 5 PM on Thursday (March 17) for my test and had a negative result by 5:30.  When signing up for the Navica account be aware that even though there is no box to enter a middle name they WILL warn you that if your ID or travel documents include it you should include it in the profile.

 

Getting there: I can't get many direct flights to MIA from my home airport (I think there was ONE).  I booked a flight for the day before the cruise.  I chose Southwest as I've rarely had trouble with them and I know what I'm getting as far as the plane.  Fares were competitive when baggage fees were considered on the other carriers. No issues on my first flight, second flight was held on the ground in Baltimore (before boarding) due to air traffic in Florida.  I had planned on having dinner at my hotel, this was going to make it quite late as my flight was originally scheduled to arrive around 6:30.

 

Miami Airport: I'll have more on my feelings about Southwest at MIA when I cover the last day.  To say the least - things on arrival were a bit confusing.  Once we crow-sourced where we had to go for baggage claim, I then had to wait in the stuffy garage for the hotel shuttle.

 

Hotel: I booked the Hilton Garden Inn Airport West for the pre-cruise night.  It was a good balance of rate, amenities (I was looking for a restaurant for the aforementioned arrival dinner), location, etc.  I have a Hilton account from some previous work travel, it may have gotten me a discount.  The site did NOT mention cruise port shuttle service so I figured an Uber ride in to my rate comparisons.  The hotel turned out to offer shuttle service to the cruise port for $14 per adult, starting at 10:30.  I checked in earlier in the day and registered for the digital room key.  It was ready by the time I arrived (especially since I was early), so I just walked in like I owned the place, found the elevator and went right to my room, no stop at the front desk.

Edited March 27, 2022 by hallux
Added some

[mafig]

Looking forward to more .......😍

[hallux]

Embarkation day 

I woke up, had a leisurely time getting ready for the day.  Went down for breakfast. After eating I went back to my room to collect my bags and when I tried to open my door the app said I'd checked out and the key was no longer available (!!!).  A refresh of the app and this corrected itself so I was able to get my stuff.

 

Uber to the port: My driver arrived 15 minutes early.  After confirming we were looking for each other, he loaded my large bag into his Highlander and we set off for the terminal. I had booked the trip for 9:30 as my check-in for the cruise was 10 AM.  I was at the terminal by 9:30, but with the line that had already collected I didn't enter the lobby until 10 AM.

 

Cruise terminal:  What a nice building!  Once I was in the downstairs lobby there was a 20 minute wait in line for ID, vaccine and negative test checks, then on up to the check-in desks.  A short wait there, had my picture taken (again?  why can't they use the one I gave during online check-in?), gave me my key card and boarding group number then sent me to the embarkation lounge.  It was here that the course of my trip changed!  While waiting a group of 3 women, a woman and her two adult nieces, sat across from me (I'm a guy). We engaged in some conversation, they were originally supposed to be on the Escape.  We had some great conversation, then moved on to our own boarding groups as they got called.

 

Boarding groups called, boarded the ship, all typical for a cruise, and organized.  I went and had lunch, by then the rooms were opening up so I went and found my room but the door had been propped open still so I didn't leave anything and went to explore more.  I've sailed the Bliss twice, so the layout of the Joy is fairly familiar to me.

 

My room:  I was in 14252, I chose this room.  This is my second Breakaway+ balcony room, and one I'd book again, or a similar one.  It's the very last on the "bump-out" on the port side before the angled balcony.  It's a bed-by-the-balcony room, and the balcony on this room was deeper than the balcony I had on the Bliss (not on the bump-out).

 

After this I went on deck for sail-away (where I ran into the 3 women from the embarkation lounge) and then down to dinner around 6 or 6:30 in one of the MDRs.  Shrimp Fettuccini Alfredo was the meal of choice, it was good.

 

Then on to the theater for the welcome aboard show where we met Jerry, the CD, and got a taste of the the Beatles Revolution.

 

I think it was at this point that I ran into my embarkation lounge friends AGAIN and I was invited by them to join them for dinner the next night, which turned into dinner with them for the rest of the cruise!

Edited March 27, 2022 by hallux

[hallux]

Day 2, sea day

I'm generally up around 7 or 8, shower, breakfast in the buffet.

 

I did a couple trivia events (including with my new friends), hung out at/in the pool on my own after lunch.  I can say I'm now HOOKED on salt-water pools.  LOVED this pool!  I could just float, though I have some buoyancy assist of my own.  Yes, I was part of the beach-ball batting-around in the pool.  The pool is deep, nearly 7 feet, but that's not an issue as it actually took effort to keep my feet DOWN at times.

 

Dinner with my new friends.  I suggested the breaded Haddock as I'd had it on the Bliss and it was amazing, they agreed after trying it.  I had something else from the daily special side as that caught my eye.

 

We went on to see Carl Guerra, one of the comedians.  He was GREAT in the all-ages show.  Before the show we were chatting with the people behind us - two women and a man.  The women were traveling together and had met the man in the embarkation lounge.  Sound familiar?

 

I forget what we did after this, we may have gone to the Observation Lounge to chat for a bit before bed.

[hallux]

Day 3: Roatán, Honduras

I didn't book an excursion here.  In hindsight, I probably should have.  There were a half-dozen shops and a couple bars at the end of the pier and that's about all that was available if you didn't have an excursion booked.  I got off, did some shopping that I had to do and got back on board.  My new friends had a private excursion booked, and I was happy to let them do their own thing as it was their vacation too.

 

I returned to the ship, had lunch went to the pool again, cleaned up and then did dinner and Footloose with the group.  After that we moved on to The Cavern Club and saw the Beatles Revolution do their Cavern Club Years set.  We had to stand in the back, beyond the back end of the bar, in the hall to the crew access door, it was PACKED.

 

Day 4: Harvest Caye, Belize

Since day 3 was light, bonus in this post.

 

I did the Monkey River Eco Tour, without my ship-board friends.  This was an 8:15 AM 'call' at the marina, I was in the first boat out.  Our guide still lives in the village at the mouth of the river (so he claims).  He was knowledgeable of the area history, the local vegetation, animal species in the river.  In the middle of the excursion we debarked that boat and his scout did a GREAT job finding us some monkeys in the trees.  They also found a boa constrictor hanging out on a sapling.  I had no problem getting near it, it was a small snake and he wouldn't have gotten around me!

 

I did some shopping on the island, then back on board for lunch then lounging at/in the pool before another dinner with my new friends.  We milled about for a while before heading off to see Carl Guerra's adult comedy show.  This was good, maybe not quite as good as the all-ages show.  At that point it was time for some sleep!

[hallux]

Day 5: SURPRISE, sea day

I say it that way because it was supposed to be Costa Maya, but the seas were a little rougher than they were comfortable with for debarkation operations to the pier.  I didn't have anything booked on shore anyway.  The seas were rough enough that they hung 'airsick' bags on the stair rails.  I'm not sure anyone needed them, I certainly didn't but of my (now 5) cruises this was the second-roughest.

 

After lunch I ended up on the sun deck with the 3 ladies, under the Aqua Racer slide.  After a couple hours there and in the pool, we went to our rooms to get ready for dinner, then on to see Scott Henry's adult comedy show.  He was GREAT!

Edited March 27, 2022 by hallux

[hallux]

I messed up - We did Cagney's for dinner on day 4 but I can't edit the post now.  It was an 8:00 reservation, so we did some activities around the ship before heading back for dinner.  Jumbo crab cake (with an up-charge), filet and OMG caramel butterscotch cheesecake that lives up to the name.

[hallux]

Day 6: Cozumel

We made this port.  The other 3 had an excursion booked through the ship that I also ended up going on.  We did the chocolate, tequila and bee excursion that was also a tour of the island.  When the free-at-sea excursion discount was factored in it was a STEAL of an excursion.  Once that was done, the girls' aunt went back to the ship and the 3 of us set off to find some 'local' food.  We found a place called the No Name Bar that was right on the water and had some local fare that was good.

 

We went back to the ship after having lunch and shopping at the mall on the way back.  We wasted enough time that it was time to clean up, do some afternoon trivia and move on to Le Bistro for another great dinner.  Can't go to Le Bistro and NOT get the French Onion soup (if you like such soup), I then had the Dover Sole and topped it off with the Marquise Au Chocolat that was all VERY good.

[hallux]

We also saw The Beatles Revolution: Sgt Pepper's set on day 5.  They were EXCELLENT again, packed the room and had the room singing the chorus' of the songs with them.

[hallux]

Day 7: Sea day

The final day of the cruise.  This was an overcast day and it was spent mostly inside.  Sudoku, trivia, spot the difference in the Atrium.  Lunch at The Local (BEST. BURGER. ON. THE. SHIP, and it's FREE!), hang out in the OL during the afternoon, Friends trivia, Crowd trivia.

 

Final dinner in the Manhattan Room (where I ate every night with the ladies except for embarkation day and when we did specialty dining).  They have a tradition where they go around the table and say what their favorite thing about the vacation was.  Being the kind gentleman that I am, I said meeting them and getting to spend the week with them was the highlight.

 

After dinner we went to see Elements, which incorporated the magicians (I didn't see their show) and was overall quite good.

 

We did a group picture of the 4 of us, then their aunt went to bed while the 2 sisters and I closed down the Cavern Club at the farewell Karaoke Blast.  After some time milling about, I bid farewell to them and went to bed as I had a post-cruise excursion booked.

Edited March 27, 2022 by hallux

[Sthrngary]

2 hours ago, hallux said:

I was on the same cruise @Sthrngary,

No, this is GREAT two folks, same cruise.  It is all yours.  Fun to do.  Be well.

 

Cruise well

[hallux]

Debarkation day 😞

After an AMAZING time at sea and in ports, it was time to get off the ship.  I had a 6 PM flight so I booked an excursion into the Everglades.  8 AM meet in Q, a walk up the crew stairs and then off the ship (and the CD was there to bid us farewell!).  I took my bag off myself, walked right out of the terminal with no visit to customs.  I found my bus for the excursion, which took us to an airboat tour company for a ride out in the Everglades where we saw a couple alligators, turtles and lots of fish in the water.

 

The tour dropped me off at MIA at 1 PM, too early to check my bag for my flight.  I find out later that Southwest had just started operating from the section of terminal where they are.  Outside of security near concourses F, G and H had VERY little in the way of food options, and once through security in concourse G they're even WORSE.

 

Departing MIA was on-time, arrival to BWI was on-time.  Once we boarded the plane at BWI they found a 'maintenance item' to be addressed or at least documented prior to departure.  45 minute delay on the ground and then off to home. Arrival to home airport was appropriately delayed, my ride (thanks, mom and dad!) got me home around 12:30 AM.

[hallux]

RECAP:

COVID protocols: What COVID?  Other than masking in certain places on excursions, everything was normal for passengers.  I didn't see many people skipping the hand wash stations entering the buffet (can we get a hand for the 'washy, washy' crew member on the port side?  he was GREAT, very entertaining!) and people seemed generally respectful of using the provided tools for dishing out food.  The only other sign of the virus was the crew members always wearing masks, unless they were performing or running an event.

 

The ship:  As I noted - I've been on the Bliss before.  The Joy is nearly identical.  The OL was just as beautiful.  I feel like the Cavern Club was laid out better than on the Bliss (despite being too small for the crowd the intended band gathers, but I get the intent of the ambiance to match the club in Liverpool).  A few other venues had some different decor, and there was still a very Asian-inspired feel about some places on the ship (the ship was originally designed for and deployed in Asia).  Everything was clean and seemed well-maintained.  Someone told me there were 4,000 on the ship, but that must have included the crew, and we had 700 'Escapees' from the cancelled Escape cruise that was scheduled for the same week.  I feel like this is a 'sweet spot' for me for ship size, I would not go bigger as another line seems to be on a mission to do.

 

The crew: I'll start with Jerry, the Cruise Director.  I'd definitely sail with him again!  He was from Mexico.  He was personable and seemed willing to have a quick chat if he wasn't on his way someplace.  The rest of the entertainment staff were also good and seemed to really be enjoying themselves (which I realize is kind of their job).  Everyone else I interacted with (even just passing in a hall) was kind and happy.  My cabin steward was amazing, which was reflected in his tip.  2 showers a day and every time a new bath mat was placed in the room, he made up my room in a timely manner every morning and turned it down every evening.  There was even one time I opened my door to see his back as it passed the wall next to it and he knew EXACTLY where he was and addressed me by name without even looking!

 

Entertainment: Arvin and Emily (a duo that played in various venues) were good.  I tried to go to a performance by The Booster (the 'house band') but I couldn't get through more than a song or two, I guess Siglo on the Bliss has me spoiled.  I tried to get through a Freddie Mercury tribute set by Manuel, a solo piano performer, but couldn't get through more than 2 songs.

 

I booked this as a solo, it didn't stay that way for long.  I overall had a GREAT time!

 

Any questions, feel free to ask!

 

EDIT: I forgot to add - we DID have some issues with the NCL app on-board at various times during the week.  There were also some things that showed at one time/place in the 'what's happening' section and a different time or place on the actual FSD.  THAT could have been handled better, but I'm not sure who's to blame for it - the CD or IT...

Edited March 27, 2022 by hallux

[RunBikeCruiseDC]

I thought there was a Noodle place on the Joy?  We're booked on the ship in April and I didn't see it listed in the dining selections.  I think the Breakaway and Getaway had a noodle bar in/near the casino???

[hallux]

1 minute ago, RunBikeCruiseDC said:

I thought there was a Noodle place on the Joy?

Dining options listed on the FSD I just grabbed are as follow:

Manhattan (MDR)

Taste (MDR)

Savor (MDR)

Garden Cafe (buffet)

The Local

Cagney's (specialty)

Le Bistro (specialty)

La Cucina (specialty)

Ocean Blue (specialty)

Q Texas Smokehouse (specialty)

Teppanyaki (specialty)

Food Republic (specialty)

American Diner (specialty)

 

You can see the deck plans on NCL's site to get an idea of what each is.  I didn't dine at all of the venues so you may not see some in the info I posted for my review.

[RunBikeCruiseDC]

Thanks.  I watched a walk thru, seems the Joy has glass enclosed smoking section in the casino.  maybe that's where the Noodle bar used to be?

[hallux]

1 minute ago, RunBikeCruiseDC said:

Thanks.  I watched a walk thru, seems the Joy has glass enclosed smoking section in the casino.  maybe that's where the Noodle bar used to be?

No, the glass-enclosed casino section is a feature of the last 3 ships in this class of ship (Breakaway+, the Joy, Bliss and Encore).  I believe it was that way when it was deployed in Asia.  As I noted - there were some areas that seemed VERY Asian-inspired still, they didn't do a complete redesign to bring the ship to the US.

[worktocruise610]

Any chance you have a list of officers? Going in May, I know they can change, just curious. Thanks

[hallux]

4 minutes ago, worktocruise610 said:

Any chance you have a list of officers? Going in May, I know they can change, just curious. Thanks

I don't have full names, this is just from the day 2 FSD - 

GM - Ricardo

F&B Mgr - Gilbert

Restaurant Mgr - Ana

Asst. F&B Mgr - Tyson

Guest Services Mgr - Etienne

Asst. GM - Hannah

CD - Jerry

Executive Housekeeper - Cherry

Executive Chef - Roger

Beverage Manager - Haide

 

Maybe Gary grabbed a pic of the screen with this info and put it in his thread?  There might have been a bridge officer leaving, the Captain and a bunch of officers were having dinner in Le Bistro when we were there.

[worktocruise610]

@hallux thanks so much! Always like to see if there will be anyone I know 😊