Menu
During the first week of October, 2022, our travel advisor, Jason Mace, attended a week-long Seminar at Sea on the Norwegian Joy. He shares his experience with us here.
It was 4:00 am, my bags were packed and I was ready to disembark my first Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) voyage aboard the Joy. Usually, I would be in my cabin fast asleep with the alarm set for a long debarkation process in the next few hours. Instead, I was sitting in the front of the ship in the incredible Observation Lounge reflecting on my amazing experience over the past week. How time goes so fast when you are having fun.
On most ships, the front view is reserved for VIP cabins with an amazing view. NCL blew me out of the water with this space called the Observation Lounge. It was an indoor area with floor to ceiling glass that allowed me to take in the most incredible view. Imagine, the sun is starting to rise, I can see the New York City skyline in the distance as we pass under the bridges and by the Statue of Liberty on our way back into port. Breathtaking!
The Observation Lounge is an area open to everyone. It was a place I could go 24 hours a day to grab a coffee or light snack and watch the ocean pass by and to just sit and relax. There was the opportunity to surf the net, sit and make new friends, or even play a table game like Scrabble.
I really enjoy watching the ship pull into port just as much as I like watching the ship pull out of port. I have a million pictures of other cruise ships pulling into various ports. By building the open area at the front of the ship for people to enjoy the view of the sea, NCL has created a completely difference experience on the Joy.
In this post, I thought I would also share a few other things that I loved about the NCL Joy.
There are so many dining choices and you are allowed to dine in two specialty restaurants for free. The hardest part was choosing which ones to experience. What made my vacation was that I didn’t have to dress up to go to any of them. Who wants to dress up while on vacation? Not me! I found myself enjoying an amazing ribeye steak sitting at the table wearing a T-shirt and casual pants. Wow!
Every cruise ship has shows, but NCL had Broadway-style Entertainment like Footloose. Make sure to reserve your tickets to the show as they fill up fast
The entire concept of ‘do what you want, when you want’ took me by surprise. Everything was running all the time and I could choose where I wanted to go and when without a worry. Who wants to dine at the same time every night? Perhaps tonight I would like to dine early and enjoy a movie on the big screen. The choice is yours!
The Joy had so much to offer. From waterslides, to an interactive video game area called Galaxy Pavilion, to two floors of go karts and much more. The Joy had something for everyone.
I loved visiting the casino on the ship. Most times I can only stay for an hour at a time because the smoke is so heavy. The WOW factor on this ship was that they had a smoke free casino and it wasn’t just a sign that said “no smoking” or a corded off area. There was actually a separate smoking area.
The NCL difference! With everything being paid for in advance, I could relax and enjoy knowing that I wouldn’t have to worry about getting off the ship with a huge bill. The beverage package makes a world of a difference.
A blog is supposed to be short. In an effort to not write a novel, I leave you with this thought: “For some, a cruise-ship is a method of transportation to get from port to port, for others the ship is the vacation and where it goes is a bonus”.
I challenge you to see if you can find a spot on your next ship that is your forever place!
The NCL Joy opened up my eyes to a new style of cruising and I highly recommend that you check out the observation lounge for yourself one day. Prima! Viva! The to-do list just got bigger!
Contact me today to book an NCL cruise – you won’t be disappointed!
Check out our recent posts: Removal of all Covid-19 Restrictions in Canada, Cruising for Seniors, Three Kid-Friendly All-Inclusive Resorts We Recommend
Vacations for Canadians
102 Lovers Lane, Ancaster, ON, L9G 1G7
289-812-2355
TICO #50027364
