Bringing the JOY with as live-ish a review as the lousy wi-fi will allow: Bermuda 7/9-7/16!

[KKB]

1 hour ago, bkrickles1 said:

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting all of this while you're busy enjoying your cruise on Joy!!

We sail Joy in 10 days and your posts have us super excited!

Referencing another thread, I'm happy to see that there is some form of breakfast available every day from 5am until 11:30am. 

The buffet closing at 9:30pm seems to have a few people upset too, so is the Local jammed after that time? Just wondering, as I never saw it crowded after 10pm on any of my 3 prior NCL sailings, including Joy last summer.

It looks like there is just as much entertainment as we've always experienced, so that's a good thing too. I love all of the music options as that's my go to in the evenings.

Continued enjoyment for you and yours and I look forward to anything else you post!!

We noticed an uptick in crowds at Local after the buffet closed so if we were eating there, we tried to go a bit before the buffet closed (unless we went LATE)

[Dorhead1230]

Day 4 (First Bermuda Day)—Time off the ship, kids’ splash area, dinner, aerial act

 

We did not rush off the ship yesterday because we didn’t make any big plans. We didn’t feel like doing the aquarium, museum and zoo this trip because although he couldn’t possibly remember it, we did take LM there last time we came. We also have a tendency to do zoos and aquariums a lot of places we go, so not this trip. I also knew he’d only make it through a limited amount of trekking around in this heat and humidity. We ended up deciding a ferry ride would probably make him happy, so we took the ferry over to Hamilton, just wandered up and down Front Street for a while, in a store or two, and then we did something we have rarely done in the past, which is eat lunch off the ship. In the olden days, DH and I would just go do whatever for however long and then eat whenever we returned to the ship, but the LM demands feeding lol, so we went to the Hog Penny.

 

It was too hot to eat anything heavy, and DH wasn’t even feeling like eating, so DM and I ordered salads, while LM had cheeseburger sliders and fries from the kids’ menu. Everything was good, and it was even better to just relax in the A/C for a while! My salad was their version of a Cobb, hold the tomatoes—greens, cranberries, goat cheese, bacon, and avocado, with a vinaigrette. My mom’s was arugula with candied pecans, apples, shredded cheese, and lemon vinaigrette (didn’t take a picture). The service was good, the bathrooms were clean, and they gave LM the coolest little thing to play with—these thin wax strings that could be bent and twisted into all different shapes. Be sure to check your bill if you eat off the ship; the gratuity was already added. No issue at all with this, just a heads up as it may be common practice here.

 

We headed back toward the ferry and could see it would be quite full. We headed straight to the upper deck when we boarded and sat under the shaded part. The breeze was good once we were moving and LM enjoyed the better view from outside.

This is relevant to nothing but it’s my favorite name ever for a barber shop. 😆

 

apologies again for upside down photos 🤦🏻‍♀️ Hog Penny Pub photos are below:

 

I spent the first 3 days telling LM he could go to the kids’ splash area once we got to Bermuda. I assumed it would be pretty empty on the port days, and I was right. We headed there once we got back on the ship, and he and four other kids had it all to themselves. I didn’t bring my phone because it isn’t waterproof so I didn’t take pictures (I will if I walk by there with my phone another time), but the little kids’ slide on this ship is a legit water slide. It must start from about 10 feet up, and it’s a tube with a water runway at the end. The Getaway didn’t have anything like that, so I was surprised. I had a minor heart attack when LM just started charging up the steps for it until I realized it is staffed with a crew member to make sure they’re sitting properly and sliding one at a time. I thought he would do it once and get scared, but lo and behold, little daredevil loved it and went down so many times I lost count. There’s also a bunch of squirters, a climbing tube net thing, a bucket the kids can reach through and dump from an upper walkway, and the crown jewel of the area—a gigantic bucket that gradually fills and then dumps itself in a flood once it gets to a certain point 🌊. Yes, I am a person who finds it hilarious if someone doesn’t know that’s coming. The other part of my diabolical scheme was bringing him there on the later side of the opening time for the slide, so that he wouldn’t have a fit when it was time to leave, because the crew member just said they were closed and that was that.

 

Dinner was at Taste. We got there around 7:15-7:30 and didn’t have to wait at all. We had a nice meal. The service was good and we didn’t wait too long for anything. DH and I both had the corn and crab chowder and liked it; even though I find most of the food on the ships to be too salty, it wasn’t too bad. I had the potstickers also, which were fine (more or less what you could buy frozen to make at home). DH also had a Caesar salad (which is always fine), and DM had the ravioli with lobster cream sauce (she did say it was a little too strongly fishy with the lobster stock). I had the pork belly entree, which was my favorite from our Getaway cruise, and was quite good again. The skin side this time was so crisped I couldn’t cut it. It could be completely removed and eaten like a pork rind lol…I didn’t eat that whole part, though. The slaw was a little overdressed for my taste this time, but overall still a good dish. DH had the chicken cordon bleu, which he gave a meh to, but he’s like that—not easily impressed at all. DM ordered the rotisserie chicken from the classic menu and said it was her favorite meal of the cruise so far. I asked for chicken fingers with mac and cheese for LM and said they could hold the fries. They brought him everything so he had his own little buffet. I had been talking up the carrot cake from this particular dinner menu because I think it’s very tasty, especially by NCL dessert standards. Of course, neither DM nor DH liked it lol. Proving once again how subjective food is! LM asked for vanilla ice cream and a cookie for dessert and was very happy with his choices!

corn and crab chowder and pot stickers 

ravioli appetizer

kids’ mac and cheese

kids’ chicken fingers

chicken cordon bleu

rotisserie chicken

Hawaiian pork belly

carrot cake

Night 4 full MDR menu

 

We headed to the theater for what I assume is a fly-on act called Travelers Duo Clichè. They are a duo aerial act that did routines on a trapeze, silks, straps, and a bungee. We figured at least it was something LM could come watch with us. The music and pace of the show are definitely slower (not like upbeat circus Flying Wallenda type stuff), but it was a good show. The duo is crazy talented and had a few impressive moves in their routines. I’m not sure how long their contract will be, though, as I know some of the fly-ons are on pretty short contracts. They announced before the show that photos and videos were encouraged, but I didn’t want to be a jerk with a glowing phone out too much, so I just took a few shots during their encore.

 

DH and I headed to the casino after I put LM to bed, but only for a little while because we planned to get up early. They also made announcements that they were closing at maybe 12-12:30. At first I thought maybe Bermuda changed the law about ship casinos again, but then I realized it was probably because the Captain had announced earlier that there would be possible disruptions to the ship’s internet, TV, phones, etc. due to system maintenance coming from NCL corporate between 3-6AM. I can’t imagine it would be too good for a casino to have system problems, so maybe that is why they closed early.

[UKstages]

42 minutes ago, Dorhead1230 said:

my favorite name ever for a barber shop

clever indeed, but I don’t think you’d ever find me in mr. todd’s tonsorial parlor.

 

“he trod a path that few have trod, did sweeney todd.”

 

with that name, do they have any customers at all?  
 

i can’t imagine so; my best guess is that they’re running on a razor thin margin.

Edited July 13, 2023 by UKstages

[Maplemoose]

That entertainment schedule is just what I want. Is it available anywhere besides the box office? Thanks for all your work! 

[bkrickles1]

37 minutes ago, Maplemoose said:

That entertainment schedule is just what I want. Is it available anywhere besides the box office? Thanks for all your work! 

I've always gotten it at the Social/Headliners immediately after boarding. 

[UKstages]

it’s also typically available at guest services.

[FlGoodShips]

3 hours ago, Dorhead1230 said:

Day 4 (First Bermuda Day)—Time off the ship, kids’ splash area, dinner, aerial act

 

We did not rush off the ship yesterday because we didn’t make any big plans. We didn’t feel like doing the aquarium, museum and zoo this trip because although he couldn’t possibly remember it, we did take LM there last time we came. We also have a tendency to do zoos and aquariums a lot of places we go, so not this trip. I also knew he’d only make it through a limited amount of trekking around in this heat and humidity. We ended up deciding a ferry ride would probably make him happy, so we took the ferry over to Hamilton, just wandered up and down Front Street for a while, in a store or two, and then we did something we have rarely done in the past, which is eat lunch off the ship. In the olden days, DH and I would just go do whatever for however long and then eat whenever we returned to the ship, but the LM demands feeding lol, so we went to the Hog Penny.

 

It was too hot to eat anything heavy, and DH wasn’t even feeling like eating, so DM and I ordered salads, while LM had cheeseburger sliders and fries from the kids’ menu. Everything was good, and it was even better to just relax in the A/C for a while! My salad was their version of a Cobb, hold the tomatoes—greens, cranberries, goat cheese, bacon, and avocado, with a vinaigrette. My mom’s was arugula with candied pecans, apples, shredded cheese, and lemon vinaigrette (didn’t take a picture). The service was good, the bathrooms were clean, and they gave LM the coolest little thing to play with—these thin wax strings that could be bent and twisted into all different shapes. Be sure to check your bill if you eat off the ship; the gratuity was already added. No issue at all with this, just a heads up as it may be common practice here.

 

We headed back toward the ferry and could see it would be quite full. We headed straight to the upper deck when we boarded and sat under the shaded part. The breeze was good once we were moving and LM enjoyed the better view from outside.

This is relevant to nothing but it’s my favorite name ever for a barber shop. 😆

 

apologies again for upside down photos 🤦🏻‍♀️ Hog Penny Pub photos are below:

 

I spent the first 3 days telling LM he could go to the kids’ splash area once we got to Bermuda. I assumed it would be pretty empty on the port days, and I was right. We headed there once we got back on the ship, and he and four other kids had it all to themselves. I didn’t bring my phone because it isn’t waterproof so I didn’t take pictures (I will if I walk by there with my phone another time), but the little kids’ slide on this ship is a legit water slide. It must start from about 10 feet up, and it’s a tube with a water runway at the end. The Getaway didn’t have anything like that, so I was surprised. I had a minor heart attack when LM just started charging up the steps for it until I realized it is staffed with a crew member to make sure they’re sitting properly and sliding one at a time. I thought he would do it once and get scared, but lo and behold, little daredevil loved it and went down so many times I lost count. There’s also a bunch of squirters, a climbing tube net thing, a bucket the kids can reach through and dump from an upper walkway, and the crown jewel of the area—a gigantic bucket that gradually fills and then dumps itself in a flood once it gets to a certain point 🌊. Yes, I am a person who finds it hilarious if someone doesn’t know that’s coming. The other part of my diabolical scheme was bringing him there on the later side of the opening time for the slide, so that he wouldn’t have a fit when it was time to leave, because the crew member just said they were closed and that was that.

 

Dinner was at Taste. We got there around 7:15-7:30 and didn’t have to wait at all. We had a nice meal. The service was good and we didn’t wait too long for anything. DH and I both had the corn and crab chowder and liked it; even though I find most of the food on the ships to be too salty, it wasn’t too bad. I had the potstickers also, which were fine (more or less what you could buy frozen to make at home). DH also had a Caesar salad (which is always fine), and DM had the ravioli with lobster cream sauce (she did say it was a little too strongly fishy with the lobster stock). I had the pork belly entree, which was my favorite from our Getaway cruise, and was quite good again. The skin side this time was so crisped I couldn’t cut it. It could be completely removed and eaten like a pork rind lol…I didn’t eat that whole part, though. The slaw was a little overdressed for my taste this time, but overall still a good dish. DH had the chicken cordon bleu, which he gave a meh to, but he’s like that—not easily impressed at all. DM ordered the rotisserie chicken from the classic menu and said it was her favorite meal of the cruise so far. I asked for chicken fingers with mac and cheese for LM and said they could hold the fries. They brought him everything so he had his own little buffet. I had been talking up the carrot cake from this particular dinner menu because I think it’s very tasty, especially by NCL dessert standards. Of course, neither DM nor DH liked it lol. Proving once again how subjective food is! LM asked for vanilla ice cream and a cookie for dessert and was very happy with his choices!

corn and crab chowder and pot stickers 

ravioli appetizer

kids’ mac and cheese

kids’ chicken fingers

chicken cordon bleu

rotisserie chicken

Hawaiian pork belly

carrot cake

Night 4 full MDR menu

 

We headed to the theater for what I assume is a fly-on act called Travelers Duo Clichè. They are a duo aerial act that did routines on a trapeze, silks, straps, and a bungee. We figured at least it was something LM could come watch with us. The music and pace of the show are definitely slower (not like upbeat circus Flying Wallenda type stuff), but it was a good show. The duo is crazy talented and had a few impressive moves in their routines. I’m not sure how long their contract will be, though, as I know some of the fly-ons are on pretty short contracts. They announced before the show that photos and videos were encouraged, but I didn’t want to be a jerk with a glowing phone out too much, so I just took a few shots during their encore.

 

DH and I headed to the casino after I put LM to bed, but only for a little while because we planned to get up early. They also made announcements that they were closing at maybe 12-12:30. At first I thought maybe Bermuda changed the law about ship casinos again, but then I realized it was probably because the Captain had announced earlier that there would be possible disruptions to the ship’s internet, TV, phones, etc. due to system maintenance coming from NCL corporate between 3-6AM. I can’t imagine it would be too good for a casino to have system problems, so maybe that is why they closed early.

When you are in Observation Lounge (afternoons) you have to try the Pastelitos...Yummmmy.

Varies...cheese, guava, etc.

Best pastry I have ever had.

[Dorhead1230]

7 hours ago, UKstages said:

clever indeed, but I don’t think you’d ever find me in mr. todd’s tonsorial parlor.

 

“he trod a path that few have trod, did sweeney todd.”

 

with that name, do they have any customers at all?  
 

i can’t imagine so; my best guess is that they’re running on a razor thin margin.

You’re my hero.

[Dorhead1230]

4 hours ago, FlGoodShips said:

When you are in Observation Lounge (afternoons) you have to try the Pastelitos...Yummmmy.

Varies...cheese, guava, etc.

Best pastry I have ever had.

Oh I’ll have to look for those! Been missing out on my OL time while we’re in Bermuda!

[Dorhead1230]

@bkrickles1 regarding The Local, we have only gone once late night, on Wednesday night maybe at about 12:30. It was crowded, but not 100% packed out. We did not have to wait. Not sure about other nights/sea day nights!

[cruiseny4life]

7 hours ago, Dorhead1230 said:

@bkrickles1 regarding The Local, we have only gone once late night, on Wednesday night maybe at about 12:30. It was crowded, but not 100% packed out. We did not have to wait. Not sure about other nights/sea day nights!

You have a child and are awake at 12:30 in the morning? I seriously don't know how parents do it. No kids here, couple of not old yet guys, and we're asleep by 10. Even on cruises! Live that good life for us! 

[vacation44]

15 hours ago, Dorhead1230 said:

We ended up deciding a ferry ride would probably make him happy, so we took the ferry over to Hamilton, just wandered up and down Front Street for a while, in a store or two, and then we did something we have rarely done in the past, which is eat lunch off the ship. In the olden days, DH and I would just go do whatever for however long and then eat whenever we returned to the ship, but the LM demands feeding lol, so we went to the Hog Penny.

 

 

Did you take the paid ferry to Hamilton from the Dockyards?     

 

We usually are opposed to paying for food outside the ship, but when we are on the Joy next June, I think we are going to spring for lunch at the Swizzler Inn as we will be a group that includes young adult children and nephews and their significant others and some of them will be looking for food as your LM.

[brookie848]

15 hours ago, Dorhead1230 said:

 

 

 

 

There's a restaurant we go to on our Ocean City, MD vacation that gives these out with kids meals. My niece and nephew will then play with them for the rest of the week. They are a great alternative to the typical crayons/coloring sheet.

 

I'm enjoying your review!

[bkrickles1]

8 hours ago, Dorhead1230 said:

@bkrickles1 regarding The Local, we have only gone once late night, on Wednesday night maybe at about 12:30. It was crowded, but not 100% packed out. We did not have to wait. Not sure about other nights/sea day nights!

Thanks! 

I rarely do any late night eating anymore as I'm getting old and can barely keep my eyes open past 11pm.

When I sail in 9 days, I'll be with my niece and nephew plus a couple of other 35 year olds, so maybe I'll get drawn into some late night drinking and eating. Lmao!!

It's good to know that even though the buffet is closing at 9:30pm, there is still a very viable option that is not getting overwhelmed with people.

Thanks again!

[Dorhead1230]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

You have a child and are awake at 12:30 in the morning? I seriously don't know how parents do it. No kids here, couple of not old yet guys, and we're asleep by 10. Even on cruises! Live that good life for us! 

LOL. I’m not much of a sleeper most of the time. Last night I think I went to sleep at 2:30 and then got up around 7:40 this morning. No one else was up and ready, so I was drinking a peach Bellini alone in the atrium at 8:45 😅

[Dorhead1230]

2 hours ago, vacation44 said:

Did you take the paid ferry to Hamilton from the Dockyards?     

 

We usually are opposed to paying for food outside the ship, but when we are on the Joy next June, I think we are going to spring for lunch at the Swizzler Inn as we will be a group that includes young adult children and nephews and their significant others and some of them will be looking for food as your LM.

We did do the pay ferry. The free NCL one is only to St. George’s, which we didn’t do this trip. Kids under 5 are free, so it was I think $26 or $27 total round-trip for DH, DM and me. If you’re going to use the ferries and buses a bunch of times, a transportation pass for a day or two makes more sense, but we knew we would only be doing the one round-trip.

 

The only two times we ate off the ship here were several years ago when we came with my BIL, SIL, and young nieces and nephew (I was also pregnant then and needed the break) and then this time. Definitely can’t get through that long without a food stop when there’s kids with you!

[CDR Benson]

29 minutes ago, Dorhead1230 said:

LOL. I’m not much of a sleeper most of the time. Last night I think I went to sleep at 2:30 and then got up around 7:40 this morning. No one else was up and ready, so I was drinking a peach Bellini alone in the atrium at 8:45 😅

 

I'm a night owl myself---too many nights spent on the mid-watch, I guess---and so is the Good Mrs. Benson.  We enjoyed walking the ship in the still of the wee hours.  There's nothing like the serenity of gazing out the windows of the Horizon Observation Lounge at a calm sea with the faint glow of the running lights of the ships around us, and no other sounds but the rushing of the bow wave.

 

And there was always a waiter to keep our glasses full.

 

 

 

 

[js]

On 7/13/2023 at 10:41 AM, Dorhead1230 said:

Entertainment line-up for the week from the Box Office:

 

THANK YOU so much! I so appreciate your taking the time to post while you are on vacation!

I hope you are having an amazing trip!

 

[mking8288]

25 minutes ago, js said:

THANK YOU so much! I so appreciate your taking the time to post while you are on vacation!

(and ...) you are having an amazing trip!

Ditto, here.  Well, approaching 1 p.m. local/ship time and all abroad time soon - are you going to be on deck to look for pier runners and watch for them to get "cheered" - it's already day 6, time flies when you are enjoying.  I'm sure you are looking forward to sailing home to a heat wave with all that creature comfort onboard.  

 

The paper slip reminders about entertainment & dining is a good idea, since the Norwegian App is still not ready for prime time across the board with the "promised" functionality, are you able to access & see the digital version of the Freestyle Daily on the app (we couldn't, recently) and/or see the Specialty Dining menu on the app ??  Curious mind wanted to ask & know, thanks & much appreciated ... comment later, post-cruise & please be careful about "metering" those remaining & unused WiFi minutes onboard.  

 

Per Windy app, seeing a smooth homeward bound sailing later & overnight, fairly calm & smooth sea state, tomorrow with a bit of tailwind, light to moderate choppy - outdoors & waterfront should be fine all the way in.  

[cruiseny4life]

44 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Ditto, here.  Well, approaching 1 p.m. local/ship time and all abroad time soon - are you going to be on deck to look for pier runners and watch for them to get "cheered" - it's already day 6, time flies when you are enjoying.  I'm sure you are looking forward to sailing home to a heat wave with all that creature comfort onboard.  

I just hope our @Dorhead1230 is not one of the pier runners! Gosh, I wouldn't wish that stress on anyone. I can only imagine trying to run my flabby belly back to the ship with a couple thousand of my new cheerleaders cheering me on. 

[mccoy132]

59 minutes ago, mking8288 said:

Ditto, here.  Well, approaching 1 p.m. local/ship time and all abroad time soon - are you going to be on deck to look for pier runners and watch for them to get "cheered" - it's already day 6, time flies when you are enjoying.  I'm sure you are looking forward to sailing home to a heat wave with all that creature comfort onboard.  

 

The paper slip reminders about entertainment & dining is a good idea, since the Norwegian App is still not ready for prime time across the board with the "promised" functionality, are you able to access & see the digital version of the Freestyle Daily on the app (we couldn't, recently) and/or see the Specialty Dining menu on the app ??  Curious mind wanted to ask & know, thanks & much appreciated ... comment later, post-cruise & please be careful about "metering" those remaining & unused WiFi minutes onboard.  

 

Per Windy app, seeing a smooth homeward bound sailing later & overnight, fairly calm & smooth sea state, tomorrow with a bit of tailwind, light to moderate choppy - outdoors & waterfront should be fine all the way in.  

Hi, when I was on the Joy last week, I was able to see the digital version of the Freestyle Daily every day.  I think they updated the app with the day's Daily by around 6am - 7am.  I don't recall seeing the Specialty Dining menu on the app but that wasn't a focus of the cruise for me.

[mking8288]

@cruiseny4life - Nay, I think LM and her are probably going to be out on their balcony to watch the action outside on the pier shortly (quite a few on their balconies "watching").  Spirt of St. George just returned a short while ago - watching the Port Bermuda live streaming video feeds - most of them headed directly back up onboard the ship, probably for a late lunch.  But, quite a few of them headed away from the ship, walking alongside the pier & maybe rushing over to Clocktower Mall for some last minute shopping ??? ( I dunno )   From the Joy's live webcam, over the bow of the ship, it is low tide at Dockyard - perhaps, maybe she isn't going to set sail exactly at 3 p.m. (that's less than 30 minutes from now) and folks know they "still" have time to enjoy the extra time - casually strolling back now, not in a hurry.  

 

It's nice to see Dockyard is once again busy & well, we saw the pirate boat docked there in late April (she was gone & "missing" last year, folks fearing that it's out of business) - as the boat with its live music & bar, free WiFi (very popular for off-duty crews ashore to hangout there during their short time-off).  Bermuda's tourism continued to "bomb" us with marketing emails on a routine & regular basis, announcing that the island is open & looking forward to see us, and to welcome & hope to see us returning again soon ... who can forget that $45 pre-authorization fee p/p plus the mandatory C19 testing routine last year.  

 

 

 

@ 14:45 - solo pier runner (light top, dark color shorts) made it back - ran at a good pace toward the terminal for the gangway.   "Powerful" the pilot boat already moved into position for escort, port side just ahead of ship's bow.  Looks like a ship security officer is standing "guard" outside the terminal building waiting ...  Looks like they are still waiting @ 14:55

Edited July 14, 2023 by mking8288

[vacation44]

Also currently watching the live feed from Bermuda!

 

@Dorhead1230, thank you, again, for sharing your trip with us.   

[bluesea777]

@mking8288 the cast off time is actually 3.00pm, so there's 5 mins to go.

 

Summit is at 4.00pm.

 

 

[bluesea777]

2 runners @ 2.59pm