Joy "non-Haven" Penthouse suites!

[uneamie]

We booked a Non-Haven Penthouse suite based on an old tour on YouTube. Warning ....check the dates on these YouTube video reviews before making your choices based on them. This one was 3 years old. Cruise lines have a habit of changing things without notice or giving obviouse disclosure that an amenity is no longer available.  The video tour from a TA listed all these great extras you get with the non-haven Penthouse which made it worth booking. Now I discover that this "Penthouse" has very few original amentites left because they took them away.  Now I have to decide if paying over 1K extra is worth having a "bigger room and balcony" for that seems to essentially be the only difference between this and a Club Balcony suite which is a lot cheaper. We are going to be 3 adults so the extra room may be better but my goodness...they need to lower the price if they are going to take away so many things. Not to mention that the word "Penthouse" sounds like a number of steps above a regular balcony and so I think it seems very misleading considering. Maybe they need to rename them "Premium Balcony suites".  I can cancel this at this point and book a Club balcony! Decisions, decisions! 

[vacation44]

Yes, this change was made, if memory serves me correct, around November 2021.    We had booked one a month prior, then "poof", all of the amenities were taken away.   I was not happy at all.   There are a few threads on the topic.   

 

We ended up upgrading ourselves to a Haven Penthouse suite for the cruise when the prices dropped dramatically but did stay in one of the non-Haven suites later on a different cruise.    The non-Haven suites are really nice cabins and I think they are in a great location.   With three adults in your cabin, I would keep it.  

[scooter6139]

Yes, is it a good idea to do up-to-date research on any cruise you would want to take.  Joy took away the rest of the slight bonuses to these cabins about two years ago or so.  Unlike the Jewel class, the "suites" on the Joy have nothing special except size, location, and feel.  

 

We too also upgraded from the SC we had booked to first an HI then bid to an HE.  

 

IMHO, I wish NCL would make all "suites" the exact same across the fleet so a passenger would know what to expect, no matter what the ship.  I don't mind if they keep the "suite" name as a differentiation, as long as all suites get the same perks.  

[mking8288]

@uneamie  Forget about those 3 years old video, better yet, ignore any Joy related videos on Youtube from 2022 (last year) with the "SC" and/or "SP" categories.  ALL, all of the perks or extras once offered to market them are gone, taken away, as in "discontinued"  IMHO, for 3 adults, you are better off booking 2 regular (connecting ones ??) balconies, unless the extra bathroom space/tub & double sink are important to you - that'll get you 2 bathrooms.  If there are 2 or more Platinum members, split up and you can get a little more out of the "freebies" including dining.  

 

Prices asked of the SC "suite" are not worth the extra cost ... or, go for broke & skip ahead to Haven.  Wanna be frugal, book a large/angled balcony or club "suite" plus an Inside across/nearby ... check out the deck plans carefully, use the money saved to buy plenty of Specialty Dining & treat yourself and others to Starbucks, etc.   

 

We booked two (2) SP Family Inside Suites last May b/c the asking price was good and cheap enough, and we had the use of an extra bathroom, and it was spacious, bigger than many of the Haven suites on the Joy - midship & mid deck locations, easy access to everywhere.  Zero needs for concierge and butler services for us, just nice to stretch out with 3 TV's for 3 adults with the decent size living room.  

 

It looks like they aren't even offering priority embarkation and disembarkation.  Second time around, we booked a nice balcony on Deck 15 with easy access to the Observation Lounge, that was nice and our go to place for afternoon coffee & snacks.  

 

Just our two cents, FWIW. 

[uneamie]

2 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

@uneamie  Forget about those 3 years old video, better yet, ignore any Joy related videos on Youtube from 2022 (last year) with the "SC" and/or "SP" categories.  ALL, all of the perks or extras once offered to market them are gone, taken away, as in "discontinued"  IMHO, for 3 adults, you are better off booking 2 regular (connecting ones ??) balconies, unless the extra bathroom space/tub & double sink are important to you - that'll get you 2 bathrooms.  If there are 2 or more Platinum members, split up and you can get a little more out of the "freebies" including dining.  

 

Prices asked of the SC "suite" are not worth the extra cost ... or, go for broke & skip ahead to Haven.  Wanna be frugal, book a large/angled balcony or club "suite" plus an Inside across/nearby ... check out the deck plans carefully, use the money saved to buy plenty of Specialty Dining & treat yourself and others to Starbucks, etc.   

 

We booked two (2) SP Family Inside Suites last May b/c the asking price was good and cheap enough, and we had the use of an extra bathroom, and it was spacious, bigger than many of the Haven suites on the Joy - midship & mid deck locations, easy access to everywhere.  Zero needs for concierge and butler services for us, just nice to stretch out with 3 TV's for 3 adults with the decent size living room.  

 

It looks like they aren't even offering priority embarkation and disembarkation.  Second time around, we booked a nice balcony on Deck 15 with easy access to the Observation Lounge, that was nice and our go to place for afternoon coffee & snacks.  

 

Just our two cents, FWIW. 

Thanks for the suggestions...all of which would be good if our third person was not my disabled brother who has cerebral palsy. He needs to be in our room. I just find it hard to digest that they cost so much for sooo little when they used to give at least enough to make it worth it. I could chance booking a Club balcony which really is no bigger other than the bathroom and then hope they offer an upgrade for the Penthouse. There aren't too many of them so it may be likely that they will get all booked up. We may just take the Penthouse and except the loss of the few perks I was looking forward too.....(breakfast and lunch in the specialy restaurants) is one of them. Great perk. 

[Trivan]

Hi, I'll be going on our first NCL cruise in Aug in a 2 bedroom.  What amenity have been removed?  We booked this trip based upon some of the videos we watched.

[mking8288]

@Trivan  The "SC" and "SP" are unique codes for the Joy only, AFAIK, and marketed with "extra" or enhanced amenities, but losing them or getting it dropped by NCL.  Do you have a list of what was supposed to be included when you book this last August - a lot has changed since late 2021 and early/mid 2022 (we're last on her in Sept, not in a 2 BR inside family suite but just 2 of us in a nice balcony)   I stand corrected, but I believe priority embarkation & disembarkation is gone (the pier contracted worker with NCL name tags were absolutely clueless & couldn't care less when we asked about that for our 2nd. party ... we're Sapphire (doubled "status") & didn't matter either.  You might get priority luggage tags mailed, might not - as well as color coded priority luggage tag for disembarkation - that is NOT priority disembarkation and zero escort to the gangway.  You can speak to Guest Services onboard and/or CruiseLast (Next)-Latitudes about it and see if they will do anything.  

 

We had upgraded linens, pillowcases & better toiletry items, had to ask for slippers & bathrobes.  The deluxe Nespresso maker should be continued & restocked daily, but no complimentary cartons of Flow waters or whatever.  We had "treats" (laughable, IMHO) delivered twice over 6 nights, barely enough for 2 - get a plate & a cover, you can find everything upstairs in the buffet, fresher & more variety and bring it down yourself.  Butler & concierge services for dining & show reservations taken away or discontinued, you might get re-directed to CruiseLast for assistance ... a welcome abroad letter was in the "suite" signed, digitally from the concierge but never seen his face nor heard, nothing from his "team"  In all fairness, they're overwhelmed already with all the Haven guests & ship wasn't even sailing above 80% in September - don't expect or count on getting their attention ... dining, just go to the restaurant desk or kiosk, or book it yourself on Day 1, plenty of time slots usually open up.  If you have a tender port on the itinerary, might be worthwhile to ask CruiseNext if your "suite" status will get you to skip to the front of the line, answer might or might not ... 

 

Did two Semi-Live review last year on the Joy, refer to them for pictures & lively chats about our onboard encounters.   It's right below, click on the underlined links.  There is absolutely nothing in the current marketing & promo description for the Joy to explain or describe any additional perks, I'm afraid they aren't going to extend or "grandfather" anything from 2022 as originally booked.  

 

2 BR-FIS is nice and "spacious" at 550 sq.ft. - comparable to the Haven 2 BR Suite, minus the fancy decorations.  Pack and bring some from home, personalize & make it yours for the week ... silk flowers will do, M&M's and fresh fruits from the buffet, and placemats for the square dining table.  

 

Who knows except NCL as she's going to dry dock again, maybe ... maybe, things will be for the better, one can hope & dream.  

[Trivan]

@mking8288 Thank you for the information. I'm still learning all the codes 🙂  I guess they are for non-Haven rooms.  We did book into a Haven 2-bedroom. 

Really, if the only thing I get for booking in the Haven is a seat by the pool or observation deck without waiting or endlessly searching for a chair, it will be worth the cost.

[mking8288]

@Trivan If you are booked into Haven 2BR Villa ... those are fine and you (are paying for and) are getting the "premium" bundled care as priced.  what I was/am referring to, are the non-Haven suites (Penthouse Suite w Balcony and the Family (Inside) Suite w only a virtual Balcony & 2 bedrooms also, sleep up to 6 as a family, not as "nice" if all adults (as in ... who gets the "master bedroom's king bed" and who's sleep in the LR sofa and who's getting the upper & lower bunk in the smaller bedroom & walk-in shower only.  Enjoy & happy cruising !  

[dexddd]

Maybe call them mini-suites?  That can't be confusing.

[uneamie]

2 hours ago, dexddd said:

Maybe call them mini-suites?  That can't be confusing.

They are already calling the "Club Balcony's"  a mini suite. The Penthouse suite is way bigger. I think if they want to call it a Penthouse then they need to add a few more amenities to make it worth it. I love that it is bigger and for us with 3 adults, one who is disabled, it will be much better than the Club Balcony which other than the bath, is no bigger than a regular balcony. I just don't think it's worth 1K more....seems a bit overpriced for what you get. 

[vacation44]

1 hour ago, uneamie said:

They are already calling the "Club Balcony's"  a mini suite. The Penthouse suite is way bigger. I think if they want to call it a Penthouse then they need to add a few more amenities to make it worth it. I love that it is bigger and for us with 3 adults, one who is disabled, it will be much better than the Club Balcony which other than the bath, is no bigger than a regular balcony. I just don't think it's worth 1K more....seems a bit overpriced for what you get. 

When did you book this cruise?   I ask since when I booked, all the perks were included.   After communication with NCL, I did receive $200 OBC which I got to keep after we upgraded ourselves to a Haven category.  

[phillygwm]

18 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Prices asked of the SC "suite" are not worth the extra cost ... or, go for broke & skip ahead to Haven.  Wanna be frugal, book a large/angled balcony or club "suite" plus an Inside across/nearby ... check out the deck plans carefully, use the money saved to buy plenty of Specialty Dining & treat yourself and others to Starbucks, etc.   

------

It looks like they aren't even offering priority embarkation and disembarkation.  Second time around, we booked a nice balcony on Deck 15 with easy access to the Observation Lounge, that was nice and our go to place for afternoon coffee & snacks.  

 

Agree completely.  I like the Club Balcony as long as it's a modest premium over regular balcony (the bathroom is nicer and there are a few perks but not worth a whole lot more.)  I'm usually on the upper decks but went down to 8 for my next cruise; it's near most of my favorite bars and restaurants and it's usually a bit cheaper than the upper decks.  We'll see how the experience compares.

 

I've always wanted to splurge on Haven but the issue is my friends tend to be more...um...frugal.  Someday!

[vacation44]

12 minutes ago, phillygwm said:

Agree completely.  I like the Club Balcony as long as it's a modest premium over regular balcony (the bathroom is nicer and there are a few perks but not worth a whole lot more.)  I'm usually on the upper decks but went down to 8 for my next cruise; it's near most of my favorite bars and restaurants and it's usually a bit cheaper than the upper decks.  We'll see how the experience compares.

 

I've always wanted to splurge on Haven but the issue is my friends tend to be more...um...frugal.  Someday!

We have stayed in the club balcony suites on Deck 8 on both the Escape and Getaway and were really happy with the location.   Especially on the Escape since they have the DBH.     We do have one booked again on the Encore (angled balcony) and I am positive we will be very happy again.   I am sure you will also love the location.

[scooter6139]

I found these old Joy Amenity pages, unsure if they still do them.  Can compare at least from 6/9/21 and 2/22/22 to wee what they HAD (no idea on what they HAVE NOW).

 

 

Joy Cabin amenities 2021.pdf

Edited June 6, 2023 by scooter6139

[uneamie]

5 hours ago, vacation44 said:

When did you book this cruise?   I ask since when I booked, all the perks were included.   After communication with NCL, I did receive $200 OBC which I got to keep after we upgraded ourselves to a Haven category.  

I had the Penthouse Suite on hold for a few days and today I made the deposit. Everyone here is saying that those amenities are not included anymore. Maybe they were still available when you booked and then they took them away before your actual cruise so they are appeasing you by giving you the $200 credit. 

[vacation44]

2 hours ago, uneamie said:

I had the Penthouse Suite on hold for a few days and today I made the deposit. Everyone here is saying that those amenities are not included anymore. Maybe they were still available when you booked and then they took them away before your actual cruise so they are appeasing you by giving you the $200 credit. 

Yes, they were included when I booked.  But since some future passengers book a few years in advance,  I thought there was a chance your reservation was prior to November 2021.

[uneamie]

5 hours ago, vacation44 said:

Yes, they were included when I booked.  But since some future passengers book a few years in advance,  I thought there was a chance your reservation was prior to November 2021.

Unfortunately no....I am not all that upset about it. We just thought it would be great to have the concierge service for our reservations.....I mean did they have to take away ALL the amenities? They certainly didn't lower the price after doing that.