bjtravelnews

We were on the Escape a few years ago to Bermuda. It's a beautiful ship. No Observation Lounge or race cars, But they do have the amazing grotto in Spice H2O. Also - don't miss the Choir of Man show. It is amazing!

We took our carry-ons with us, I don't remember anyone mentioning a place where they could be stored. You will board on deck 7. To avoid the crowds in the buffet, walk down one flight and go to Taste or Savor. Great to have a nice sit-down lunch to relax before sail away (which is now 6, rather than 4).

Currently, the adult fare for a one day pass is $19.00, two days 31,50 and three days $44.00. The best way to get the passes is to go to the Visitor's Information Center in the Dockyard. When you get off the ship. turn right down the sidewalks (where the taxis and minibuses are waiting). Straight ahead is an octagonal glass walled building. That's the Visitor's Center. They can also answer any questions you may have. Here is the link to the information about transportation on the island: https://www.gov.bm/bus-fares. IMO, you don't need more than a two day pass. Remember that NCL has their own free ferry to St. George (the running times are listed in your Freestyle Daily.) Just a reminder that the only direct route between St. George and the dockyard is the ferry. Otherwise you must take a bus to Hamilton and transfer in town to one of the buses that go to the dockyard. Buses run about every 20 to 30 minutes, so it's not that long of a wait.

The perks for rooms on the Joy may change. When the ship goes into refurbishment, rumors are that they will be putting in rooms along the side areas of the Observation Lounge that will be a special category. Not Haven, but higher than suite class. No one on the ship would confirm this, however.

We did have some rough sailing on the second sea day and then again on the last full day. There were storms around and the Saturday the rain was so heavy we couldn't even see beyond the balcony. Definitely take some Dramamine if there is any chance of sea sickness. Ginger candies are also a good bet. I have also heard some people recommend green apples and sucking on lemons. We are lucky that no matter how rough the seas, we don't get sick. But others in our group had problems. Have a safe and relaxing trip!

Sorry - I thought I kept them, but can't find them. If I do, I will post.

We had some rough seas on the 2nd day. A few people in our group went down to the medical center to get the seasickness pills. They had sea bands, but they weren't helping. We went through pretty rough storms on Saturday and the ocean was even rougher. It always seems that the trip back is alot worse, but I think the ship is moving faster because we only take one day to get home versus two days to get to Bermuda. Have a great trip. Hopefully the rain will stay away!

Just off the Norwegian Joy, RT NYC/Bermuda, departing June 18, 2023. Getting onto the ship seemed to be a much easier process this year. We boarded on deck 7 and headed down to deck 6 to get some lunch at Savor. Food was served quickly and was pretty good. Nice to have those first drinks, too! There is no formal muster drill since everyone was required to watch the safety video as part of the online check in (and several emails prior to sailing to watch it again). We simply had to report to our assigned muster station and have our card scanned. I am going to separate my comments into the good and bad, starting with the ship itself. We love the casual atmosphere of Norwegian. Despite the large number of people on board, the public spaces rarely felt so crowded that we couldn't find a seat somewhere. The Waterfront on deck 8 is amazing. Great views and very quiet during the day. District Brew House is one of our favorite places on the ship. We never seen a huge crowd there (maybe because it's tucked away in a corner). Overall, all the staff was extremely nice and polite. However, I could sense an underlying current that some were stressed due to serving the large number of passengers (we were close to a sell out). We never had a bad meal on the ship. If anything negative could be said, I would say that we get too much food at the sit-down restaurants. I would love to have the option of smaller portions to avoid wasting so much food. We ate at Ocean Blue and Cagney's Steakhouse. Food was excellent at both, as was the service. There were times that service was a bit slow at Taste and Savor, but the food was good. Same for the Local. The Local is also a really great place for a sit-down breakfast. There was a great variety of food in the buffet and it was always good. There was sometimes a wait to get into the Manhattan Room, but it wasn't a long wait. I think this has more to do with under-staffing rather than the number of people dining. We had a balcony cabin. Although the these rooms seem to be smaller than other cruise line balcony cabins, it was adequate space for the two of us. On the other hand, our friends had 3 females in a balcony cabin and it was very tight. Shampoo and soap are now in dispensers in the shower. I miss having the individual bottles, but I understand the waste and extra cost associated with that. Forewarning - the cruise line also has done away with the other extras, like lotion and the small amenity boxes. Our top favorite place on the ship is the Observation Lounge in the front of the ship, with two-story floor to ceiling windows looking out the front of the ship. There is a bar here (servers also walk around taking drink orders) and a Starbucks (extra cost, even for those with the beverage package). At times, there was food served inside the main space and also along the sides leading into the main space. On our last year's cruise on the Joy, the Observation Lounge was relatively empty. The word must have gotten out because it was much more crowded this time. There is always seating available on each side of the ship, leading into the main section of the Lounge. Bermuda, as always, was beautiful. This was our seventh trip to the island. The people are very friendly and helpful if you need directions. Norwegian has its own ferry to St. George, but there are also public ferries going to both St. George and Hamilton. The buses are also very easy to navigate. We rarely take shore excursion except for the sunset cruises. I highly recommend a one or two day transportation pass so you don't have to deal with the complicated system of fares by zone. The passes are good for both the ferries and buses. We lucked out with weather. It was beautiful and there was only a spritz of rain here and there. For several weeks prior, we were watching the Joy from the Port Bermuda webcam and it was raining all the time. People in Bermuda said it was the most rain they have gotten in over 100 years. In fact, the huge amount of rain was causing issues with draining and sewage. We are not beach people and have done Horseshoe Bay several times. So we took the NCL ferry to St. George on Wednesday. Thursday we took the public ferry to Hamilton, shopped a bit, then took a bus to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo. From there, we got on the bus again to stop at the Swizzle Inn for a late lunch. This is quite the experience and we go back every year. We then took the bus to St. George and then the NCL ferry back to the Dockyard. A heads up for anyone who needs to know - there is no bus service from St. George to the Dockyard. You must take a bus to Hamilton. From there, you can transfer to one of the buses that goes to the Dockyard or pick up the public ferry. Friday we stuck around the Dockyard, went to the National Museum (the fort), saw the dolphins at Dolphin Quest (part of the admission to the fort, but interaction is an extra cost) and explored the Commissioner's House. Great views from here. We were required to be back on the ship at 2:30 for a 3:00 sail away. We always try to be back early to avoid the long lines. This year for the first time, we saw pier runners - those stragglers who don't get to the pier until we are ready to leave. There were several small groups watching on deck 8 and cheering the stragglers on to "run." Now for the not-so-good: Normally, rooms would be ready sometime between 2 and 3. It's quite obvious that NCL has cut staff to the bare bones. Our rooms were not available until after 4 PM! Rooms on the higher floors were available first. I was also disappointed that sail away was moved from 4 PM to 6 PM. That meant that many people were eating dinner while the ship was pulling out of port and sailing out of the harbor. As always, the Garden Buffet was chaotic and very busy. Despite the spaciousness, it almost always felt very crowded. We have learned to find tables all the way back (at the front of the ship) as there seems to be more open seating there. We didn't even try to see the shows (we've seen Footloose and Elements previously, so not a priority for us). But the shows were sold old almost immediately Dinners in the Specialty Restaurants were over the top. However, I am very disappointed in the lack of passenger respect for the dress code. Ocean Blue is one of the places where guests are asked to dress more formally (upscale business attire). We even got a reminder phone call in the room about the dress requirements. I was disappointed to see men and women in shorts and very casual clothing. Same for the Steakhouse. I think it takes away from the special experience of these dining venues. Elevators were often crowded and there were teens who were playing the game of pushing all the buttons to make them stop at every floor. They also were running up and down the stairs to push the buttons on the floors outside the elevators. We took the stairs whenever we could. Everyone in our group had the same complaint about the pool area. Chair hogs getting up early, putting their stuff on the the lounge chairs by the pool, then going to breakfast. Even through the day, they would leave to do something else and keep their chairs "reserved" for when they came back. The attendants at the towel exchange said it no one returns in 30 minutes, another passenger is allowed to remove the items from the chair. They were not going to enforce the rule. Considering how much people were drinking on the ship, this sounds like a potential for serious confrontation. Too bad there isn't a way to reserve chairs for a two hour period - NCL could make a lot of money on that. The tiny pools were always crowded. Some people literally got into the pool and stayed there the entire day, having drinks brought to them. One of my friends complained about not being able to even get into the pool. Someone reminded her that those people who lined the edges were drinking all day and not getting out - so good chance the pool was also their bathroom! (Some of the people in our group paid for the Vibe Beach Club passes just to avoid these issues and said it was well worth the extra cost.) I was with a group of friends and family (we had 22 cabins). The biggest gripe for everyone was the smoking. Despite the no smoking policy, people were smoking all over the ship on the outside decks. Staff did not appear to stop anyone. People were smoking on the balconies. The people in the cabin next to us were smoking marijuana on their balcony so often that it became hard for us to sit on our balcony. Friends said they had the same problem. We used to Norwegian app to stay in touch with everyone. While a great option without having to use internet, there were times when it didn't seem to work and we constantly had to reconnect to the ship's wifi. I was told the Joy will be heading for some refurbishment in Jan/Feb of next year. The ship is starting to show age and these are badly needed. We arrived back in NY much earlier than previous years. By 5:00 am we were already docked. In past years, we were able to get up just before 5 and see the lighted bridge and the beautiful NYC skyline as we pulled into the harbor. I believe the crew needs the extra time once we are docked because the ship is so short-staffed. Bermuda - not many negative comments here. However, I was greatly disappointed in the Dockyard. The stores used to be open late to allow ship passengers to shop. Everything was closed by 5:00. Snorkel Park Beach used to be open the entire time until late at night. The hours are now very limited. I heard that they have opened a sister venue at Tobacco Bay, so I am guessing that's where they now concentrate their efforts. Snorkel Park Beach was open during the day on Friday, which is nice for those who want to have some beach time, but don't want to leave the Dockyard. We walked into the Fun Golf. This place is heavily advertised on the ship and on the signs in the Dockyard. Perhaps at one time it was a nice place. However, it is now a bit run down and could use some renovations and updates. There were some people golfing when we visited, but not many. And most of those there were sitting on the benches and drinking. At one time there was much more here. Now, everything in that area looks like it either had been abandoned or was close to being abandoned. Overall comments: We love Norwegian Cruise Line and it's casual atmosphere. It's great being able to eat when and where we want, as opposed to a set dining time with the same group of people every night. While most passengers were polite, there were some very rude people. This was especially prevalent on the elevators where some passengers would immediately hit the close door button, even though they were the only one on the elevator. For Bermuda - it's our favorite cruise destination out of NYC. We love having almost three days on the island. Despite having been there, now for the 7th time, we always find something new. This year, we walked beyond the main tourist area in St. George and found a beautiful park. There is so much to do on the island and we love how safe it is and easy to get around on public transportation. We missed not stopping in Norfolk. We were lucky to have experienced that stop last year and were disappointed it has been dropped from the itinerary (sadly, NCL should have returned the port fees we paid for Norfolk). One comment about the Meet and Greet. I started a roll call well over a year before sailing. It wasn't real active, but there were 24 people signed up for the Meet and Greet. Only two other people showed up. It was embarrassing to me because the crew puts a lot of effort into the time and space. I also bring a lot of gifts to hand out. Most of them went to the crew. PLEASE - if you sign up for a meet and greet, attend! We will be back again next year on the Joy, same itinerary. If anyone has any questions about the ship or things to do in Bermuda

Hello everyone, Sailing on the Joy June 18th from NY. For those of you who have recently sailed, can you tell me what dining areas were open for lunch on embarkation day? Also is the ship back to full muster drills, or just reporting to muster station to have card scanned? TIA!

Sailing on the Joy in June of 2024. What are the chances the transformations will be completed by that time? Really love this ship! I hope they don't take too much space from the Observation Lounge. Was on the Prima and that OL is way too small! I was very disappointed in the space there.

There are plenty of taxis and private mini vans in the parking lot by the beach entrance. We have never had a problem getting transportation back to the dockyard.

When we were there last year, someone in the craft shop was selling a limited supply of rum cakes. I remember it was hard to find them that year, no matter where we went.

So sorry to hear this! We are on the June 18th cruise and will really miss not being able to see Elements. (saw it last year and it's a great show)

Great review! I totally agree with you on the size of the buffet and lack of seating at Indulge. On my sailing the ship was only about 2/3 full. And it was still very crowded, to the point there were times it was difficult to find a seat in the buffet area. Several time I walked out of Indulge because there was no place to sit. Having sailing on several different NCL ships. I found the layout a bit confusing. It wasn't until about day 3 that I felt I could find my way around pretty easily. The ship was over-the-top beautiful. However, I had major issues with how many things were extra cost. Even the mini golf was extra $! Families with teens would probably end up spending a huge amount of extra money to keep the kiddos from getting bored,

We went to the BUEI last June for the first time and LOVED it! The public place is called the Ocean Discovery Center. The tram was not running (only operates one day a week, thinking Tuesdays?). While the website says it's a short distance from Hamilton ferry or bus station, it was much longer than expected. There is a bus stop just after the entrance and we ended taking the public bus back to Hamilton instead of walking. We spent about two hours there. Lots of exhibits and a fun "Bermuda Triangle" movie ride (extra cost). However, it may be too intense for very young children. I think to appreciate the exhibits you have to be interested in the intrigue of the Bermuda Triangle (great area in the exhibits with speculative reasons for the mishaps) as well as ecology of the oceans. Thus, while it seems to appeal to children (lots of school groups go here for field trips), it can be boring. If you have any specific questions about the Ocean Discovery Center, post back and I will try to answer them.

When at Warwick Long Bay and facing the ocean, which direction do you walk (left or right) to get to Horsehoe Bay? TIA!

The only time I would recommend Snorkel Park Beach is on the day of embarkation, Since you are close to the ship. you don't have to worry so much about getting stuck in traffic on the way back to the ship and missing departure. Families with children like this place because it's close and there is a lot to do there (at extra cost). If you decide to go, absolutely wear water shoes with a decent protective sole. In addition to broken glass, there is very sharp coral lining the ocean floor,

Having been to Bermuda 5 times over the past years, I would never consider renting anything for use on the roads - Twizzy or mopeds. First, you are not used to driving on the other side of the road. Then, you will encounter impatient drivers with cars and other vehicles who will try to pass you on narrow, winding roads. I have read instances where a Twizzy (an electric vehicle) runs out of battery power and people get stuck because they can't find a charging station. Best to stick with public transportation,

You are so right! For the past 5 years, we have used Island Tour Center when we dock in Bermuda. The excursions are cheaper than those offered by the cruise line, Plus, the cruise line is quick to cancel for varied reasons, We have never had an issue with cancellation of excursions through the Island Tour Center, Plus we are supporting the local people rather than putting more money into the pockets of the cruise line.

I have not used them personally. However, I have used the public bus to get to the caves. We did the aquarium/zoo in the morning and the caves in the afternoon. Walked across the street from the caves and up the hill to have dinner and drinks at the Swizzle Inn. You see so much of the island taking public buses. The only thing you won't get is the narration that some tour companies provide. BTW - public transportation on Bermuda is very easy and safe!

A little help please! I am considering an Alaska cruise. Considering the cost of the air fare, pre night hotel and land portion to extend the cruise, this will likely be a one time vacation. Thus, I want to make the most of the vacation. Considering Princess since they seem to be the best choice for Alaska (of course - if this isn't right, please chime in!). There are so many options my head is spinning. For all those who have been to Alaska, what ports do you consider to be the most important? It looks like only one cruise goes to Icy Straight? Is this worth seeing? For land portion, what are the don't miss places? Sorry - I know much of this is subjective. But I want to go into this with as much info as possible since I likely will only do this once. THANKS so much for all your thoughts. I am at a total loss here!

The taxis and mini vans will take you to the parking lot at the bottom of the hill, It is a short walk to the beach from there.

Don't forget NCL operates its own ferry between the Dockyard and St. George's. Check your FreeStyle Daily for the schedule.

TransBridge is currently not running the pier service to either Bayonne or Manhattan. Not enough interest yet. Last I checked, they were going to reconsider that decision sometime in June. I live close to Allentown and have driven to Bayonne. It really is an easy drive - much easier than trying to drive into Manhattan.

Thanks for the updated information! I am incredibly greatful for all the information and prompt response to my questions. I am the ultimate planner (can you tell?!)