I've done a number of TA cruises in either direction but never done one with no ports of call or with NCL.
Does that worry me, not at all! I love being on the ship just relaxing either on my balcony, or up on deck watching the world go by. Pottering about doing classes I'd never get to do at home. Like beginners bridge, Black Jack or poker in the casino (I wouldn't dare play at the tables for real as I've no idea how to play seriously)
I'll be looking out for dancing of any kind and partaking in anything culinary based.
I take a stack of books (might read all or none of them depending on the company of fellow cruisers I meet)
I like being a bar fly at night time ( I've occasionally been spotted embibing earlier in the day too!) Maybe either side of dinner or a show, but on NCL Dawn recently I found the entertainers in the bars were really good too.
I'm not one for hot tubs or spas but I do Try to walk 4 or 5 miles around the prom deck each morning.
As for sea sickness I'm very lucky, even on a fairly brutal 9 day crossing over the Behrens sea from Vladivostok to Anchorage I was fine, well, until I stood on dry land where my head and feet seemed to lose co-ordination for a while which made me a teeny bit nauseous.
Weather will initially be cold to very cold in February depending on wind direction. Here in UK we've had an unusually wet and stormy winter so hope we've seen the back of that.
I'm guessing the Captain on NCL Joy will try to set a course that gets us South as quickly as possible into warmer weather hopefully by about day 3. Don't bank on that and pack lots of layers and a woolly hat, scarf and gloves just in case!
As for the refurbishment, NCL have already announced that the thermal spa won't be ready to open on our sailing, the normal spa will still be there along with hot tubs and pools on upper Decks. On the plus side the American diner has been made complimentary and if you are lucky enough to be a Haven club passenger then I believe life on the "ship within a ship " is fabulous.
I am travelling on my own so will be heading for the solo travellers club on day 1. On my inaugural solo cruise on NCL Dawn in October I loved meeting some wonderful people, even though we were a relatively small group we looked out for each other and had a lot of fun together.
So if other solo travellers are reading this I look forward to meeting you all there.
It'll soon be time to check in and I must remember to reapply for my ESTA, it's a shame they are no longer renewable my current one expires 31st January 😥
Amanda
