6 PM departure time from NYC - Bermuda

[dcipjr]

Hi folks,

 

Wondering whether anyone has found out behind why the Joy is departing NYC at 6 PM instead of 4 PM, as they used to?

 

For me, 4 PM was always perfect. 6 PM is sort of clashing with dinnertime and reservations, so I find the timing a bit odd. 

 

It's a very minor thing to quibble about—and I'm not really complaining—but I'm interested if anyone has found out the rationale for the schedule change?

[shof515]

not unique to the Joy, in October the Norwegian Escape will be doing the Bermuda cruises out of NYC with a 6pm departure time.. the departure time changed when they removed Norfolk, VA from the itinerary 

 

[All-ready2cruise]

Things change, I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you can get on the ship the same time, which we  usually seem to, it should be fine.  Right?

On the Escape next month it departs at 5, the one in Nov. on the Pearl is 5:30, no problem. 

Variety is the spice of life. 

[dbrown84]

Yeah, but I may go thru blackjack withdrawal waiting the extra two hours for the casino to open 😂🤣😋

[vacation44]

2 hours ago, dcipjr said:

Hi folks,

 

Wondering whether anyone has found out behind why the Joy is departing NYC at 6 PM instead of 4 PM, as they used to?

 

For me, 4 PM was always perfect. 6 PM is sort of clashing with dinnertime and reservations, so I find the timing a bit odd. 

 

It's a very minor thing to quibble about—and I'm not really complaining—but I'm interested if anyone has found out the rationale for the schedule change?

I get it.......I would rather leave 4:00 p.m also on our next Bermuda sailing.   

[www3traveler]

More than likely-- late departure same as late arrival-- extra strong currents in the Hudson River from the ebb and flow of the tides.  Some ships (like The Joy) need the tides to be low so they can clear the Bridge.  Another issue could be waiting out fog.

Edited May 22, 2023 by www3traveler
changed wording

[tomk3212]

Agree with www3traveler; check the tide tables for NY harbor for that day.  I'd be willing to bet that Joy's sailing time is a 'slack' tide time whereas 4pm (1600) the tide might be at its height.

 

We were on Breakaway once & were late getting to NY & had to wait at the Verrazano for the tide to ease up before proceeding upriver.

[JGmf]

5 hours ago, www3traveler said:

More than likely-- late departure same as late arrival-- extra strong currents in the Hudson River from the ebb and flow of the tides.  Some ships (like The Joy) need the tides to be low so they can clear the Bridge.  Another issue could be waiting out fog.

 

Our April 23 sailing out of NYC was supposed to depart at 4pm.  Having sailed out of NYC many, many times, my wife and I figured we'd be in the hot tub in the Vibe on the starboard side to see the Statue of Liberty during sail away.  Perfect plan.  Hot tub bubbling, drinks flowing...ship not moving.  All pruned-up and still waiting, we gave up around 5:30pm when the announcement came regarding a delay past 6pm b/c of current/tides.

 

Oh well...next time.

[curlstravel]

8 hours ago, dcipjr said:

Hi folks,

 

Wondering whether anyone has found out behind why the Joy is departing NYC at 6 PM instead of 4 PM, as they used to?

 

For me, 4 PM was always perfect. 6 PM is sort of clashing with dinnertime and reservations, so I find the timing a bit odd. 

 

It's a very minor thing to quibble about—and I'm not really complaining—but I'm interested if anyone has found out the rationale for the schedule change?

If you are on the Joy now go to the outdoor Cavern bar. If Nestor is the bar tender on your cruise you will love him.  Best bar tender ever !!!

[meatball_nyc]

4 hours ago, curlstravel said:

go to the outdoor Cavern bar. If Nestor is the bar tender on your cruise you will love him.  Best bar tender ever !!!

 

We will be sailing on the Joy from nyc to BDA in July 

. Will definitely look out for Nestor at the waterfront Cavern bar. Thank you!

 

P.S. Not happy with the 6:00pm departure either. It is what it is.

Edited May 23, 2023 by meatball_nyc

[mking8288]

On an upcoming cruise, I just discovered that our departure time has been (re)set to 5:30 pm out of NY too ... Oh well, hi @meatball_nyc - agreed with your sentiment "It is what it is" as long she is going to sail (and, no stormy weather or choppy seas ahead, etc.)

 

Just think for a moment, call that a early-bird dinner on the Hudson at Taste, Savor or Manhattan MDR (it could be Cagney's, Ocean Blue, La Cucina, etc. as one desired) minus the virtual candlelight (NCL used to do this for supper time) as the ship head south toward SOL and VZB bound, hopefully as scheduled. 

 

I do wonder, if the extended port time also has to do with the logistical challenges of provisioning - we saw quite a # of loaded trailers waiting on the pier last month ... and, we didn't actually leave Pier 88 until 8:15 p.m (scheduled was for 7:30 p.m. since it was a long TA, 15 nights) 

 

NCL ships have plenty of slack in the schedule to make up for delays & lost time en route to BDA and other ports, generally speaking - not uncommon for inbound ships to coast up the coastal water at a leisurely 12 knots all evening into the early morning pre-dawn arrivals.   

[dcipjr]

7 hours ago, mking8288 said:

I do wonder, if the extended port time also has to do with the logistical challenges of provisioning - we saw quite a # of loaded trailers waiting on the pier last month ... and, we didn't actually leave Pier 88 until 8:15 p.m (scheduled was for 7:30 p.m. since it was a long TA, 15 nights) 

This seems the most likely explanation. 
 

I doubt that the schedule change is due to tides, because the tide times aren’t that consistent from week to week. I’ve been cruising to Bermuda from New York since 2012, over 10 years now, and departure was always 4 PM—and it’s not as though the moon is suddenly doing something differently now. 

Tides might affect an individual voyage’s schedule, but probably not all of them.
 

I asked myself whether it’s positive from a a revenue standpoint to keep the ship in port longer, but I’m guessing NCL wants the ship out at sea as soon as possible. Get the casino and those shops open. 
 

It probably has to deal with pilot availability or provisioning—more likely the latter. 
 

When we were on the Jewel out of San Diego a few months ago, we were quite late for departure, because lots of bags and provisions were still being loaded well past our scheduled departure time.
 

It may be unrealistic given staffing challenges for NCL to make a 4 PM departure. 
 

The additional 2 hours may also help people that are flying in same-day, since we know airlines have been an issue recently.

[ashkay16]

I too will be on the Joy to bermuda 7/30 . Departure is listed at 6:00 pm . Did same cruise last July on the Joy and departed at 4:00 pm .  They did remove Norfolk port from this years cruise so could be as simple as more time to load ship and they probably slow it down heading to Bermuda as it is now a straight shot there . 

[bkrickles1]

My July 23rd sailing on Joy to Bermuda still lists departure as 4pm.

[NoobCroozer]

Try leaving at 11pm, which is what we did on the cruise prior to yours (Joy/Bermuda). Lost half a day. The ship just repositioned, which is the reason for our late departure.

[shof515]

41 minutes ago, NoobCroozer said:

Try leaving at 11pm, which is what we did on the cruise prior to yours (Joy/Bermuda). Lost half a day. The ship just repositioned, which is the reason for our late departure.

the actual reason for the late departure is because the prima had to leave the terminal first and then the joy pulled in to begin boarding for that cruise

 

the ship repositioning had no real effect, it was a berth availability issue 

[NoobCroozer]

25 minutes ago, shof515 said:

the actual reason for the late departure is because the prima had to leave the terminal first and then the joy pulled in to begin boarding for that cruise

 

the ship repositioning had no real effect, it was a berth availability issue 

Forgot about that, you are correct, thanks.......

[www3traveler]

The Port Authority has the responsibility of loading luggage and provisions.  They are probably just as unstaffed as everywhere else.

[vadersprincess12]

And they make more money because you get charged tax on drinks that are bought in port.

[uneamie]

May 7th Prima to Bermuda did not leave till 6 or so either. I was disappointed since I got a portside cabin just so we could see NYC skyline on sailaway but we had dinner reservations at 5:30...bummer! 

[nferr]

On 5/23/2023 at 9:26 PM, vadersprincess12 said:

And they make more money because you get charged tax on drinks that are bought in port.

 

Who makes more money? NCL has to pay the tax to NY. Yeah, NY makes a little bit of tax revenue.

[EZJR]

How long does it take to leave dock until we pass Statue of Liberty? Thanks

 

[shof515]

45 minutes ago, EZJR said:

How long does it take to leave dock until we pass Statue of Liberty? Thanks

 

around 30 minutes or so

[dcipjr]

On 5/26/2023 at 7:50 PM, EZJR said:

How long does it take to leave dock until we pass Statue of Liberty? Thanks

 

30 minutes to the Statue, 50 minutes to the Verrazano Bridge. 

[BirdTravels]

On 5/23/2023 at 9:26 PM, vadersprincess12 said:

And they make more money because you get charged tax on drinks that are bought in port.

So,,, how do you "make money" when you are collecting taxes that go directly to the Government????? You do understand that they are collecting taxes for the local governments. 

Edited May 28, 2023 by BirdTravels