mking8288

@MrPhil101 - belated welcome for joining CC. It's Fleet Week in NYC, expect traffic to be a little heavier near MCT tomorrow (as I see you will be embarking) Are you on the (click) Roll Call & signed up for the M&G, they are a nice group and you should find it informative & getting to mingle. MDR (Savor & Taste) Deck 6 AFT should remain open for sit-down lunch until 1:30 pm, as long as you get in & seated, enjoy the pampering. Staterooms are typically ready after 1 pm - you should be boarding the gangway on Deck 7. The Local is the later option and wasn't crowded, for simplicity & convenience - plenty of tables (ask for regular top, not a high top unless you don't mind seating on those tall chair) with continuous service thru the afternoon & into evening. Either will help avoid the buffet & taking the elevators up to Deck 16. If you are only taking lighter carry-on luggage to embark, checking the rest - I recommend reporting to your muster station, before going to your stateroom, getting your guest key cards swiped by the crew is a mandatory requirement in lieu of the full scale emergency/evac drills at the assigned assembly stations. Disembarkation morning, we always eat in MDR since we are close to home and never in a rush - open until 8 to 8:30 am (Savor was open, Taste closed - many crew members reassigned to work luggage & other turnaround duties) Basically, everyone is asked to vacate the stateroom and if not eager to leave, can remain in most public area throughout the ship, except near atrium / guest services or near gangways - should be off no later than 9:45 to 10 am as they need to reach zero count, allowing the next embarkation to begin early boarding.

@NW Pacific I cannot give a broad answer about "any US port" and NCL providing testing at the Pier. But, I can vouch for NYC - Euro Fin partnering with NCL to do testing at the cruise terminal (MCT) for a fee - they're setup near the entrance. There was (is) apparently a need for it and folks willing to pay for the service, at whatever established rates (I believe the specific charge vary depending on the where & what, etc.) They looked pretty busy, don't they 😷

GG - hey there, sorry to tease you. How about checking your Delta flight options quick - next Sunday out of NYC, Joy to Bermuda with a planned stopover at Norfolk, VA ... not a rock bottom or cheap solo fare, but knowing your taste & preference and extra OBC/rebate options (AE). Looks like with a balcony guarantee, to be assigned and FAS, maybe a chance to get a free, large balcony or even aft balcony - Haven, lots of upgrades done, Spas gone but Club/mini-balconies remaining ... Super cheap ones at sailaway prices, of course will be there with the upgrading not completed processed. Bermuda TA is now easier. Although you prefer MIA or another FL port ... Joy is the only ship running out of NY this summer, demand is definitely going to be there and supply only going to get tighter. Total $1,863.43 STATEROOM 1 Guest Balcony $2,912 70% OFF Second Guest $1,419.60 FREE AT SEA Open Bar Selected Specialty Dining Selected Shore Excursions Included WiFi Included +MORE OFFERS 70% OFF Second Guest Included Subtotal $1,419.60 Gov. Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses $287.43 Open Bar Gratuities $138.60 Specialty Dining Gratuities $17.80 Total Due $1,863.4 P.S. We think alike, hahaha - Henry

$35 limit not enforced on Getaway and Joy as we're on both, March-April and May with Cagney's. Host/ess and servers know & aware of the current rules as those booklets with mini coupons were printed long ago. Had 20 oz. porterhouse & grilled seafood platter with no extra charges. Only "complaint" and it's minor, crab lump cake priced at $19 with $5 upcharge was just blah & not worth it, a subjective & personal opinion only. Everything else were fine & good, we used both Platinum & SD vouchers that're more generous, as most knew. P.S. We live 10 minutes from the nearest Outback Steakhouse chains - if one can show us having a similar lunch (or dinner) for 2 for $50 or less - kindly prepaid it for us and we'll cheerfully reimburse you via Google Pay.

Has been answered here on a different thread, but specific to the Joy - yes, more than a few passengers that disembarked on May 15th (sailed on May 8th) tested post-cruise, a number of them "reported" & shared on social media site (FB) afterward. NOT everyone caught or were exposed leaving the Joy, but it wasn't zero - which isn't and shouldn't be surprising. The private group's "admin" deleted the entire thread several days ago, asserting that discussion was off-topic, not interested in leaving a FB trail to be followed ... perhaps. Out of our group of 6 staying split into 2, all 3 in 1 tested positive at home but #3 not until 2 days later with mild symptoms - initial nasal swab negative. Only 1 out of 3 tested positive and on day 4 after returning home - nasal swab, negative twice & his PCP placed him on antiviral. Remaining 3 recovering at home, all self-isolated. Pre-cruise, all 6 tested both PCR and Antigen Rapid negative, 2 mornings prior to embarkation in NYC. For the 5/8/2022 sailing, the # of positive cases (with symptoms) after leaving the ship a week later could well be under 2% or 1% - all vaccinated & probably most boosted ... in theory; and, the vast majority, over 90% to 95% are fine. That's my analysis, not data driven and not proven or proven, simply basic assumptions - could be entirely off track. NCL not interested in asking, finding out or collecting data for testing positive post-cruise & after disembarkation, you are on your own afterward. This does raise interesting questions about those doing B2B and staying onboard, and whether some are slipping thru the onboard rapid testing done prior to the Joy's turnaround - a very small number/percentage. Crews are masking as required while working and working on passenger decks whereas masking is only optional for passengers, which appears more likely to be the silent spreader(s) ... and with metro NY area and Northeast region being tagged with highest positivity rates, as reported (which some believed are being obscured due to prevalence of home testing & under-reporting.) Before taking this off-topic and risk going against CC rules on un-related discussions, please be respectful and constructive, TIA. MCT - Pier 88 security line for step 1 of initial checking-in, pre-security ... no masks ... minimal to no social distancing, not practical.

Oh, yes - free laundry of course. We had to do two bags instead of just one (which is typical & normal for us on a 7 nighter ...) Couldn't get the same sized load to fit into the downsized paper bag - somehow, steward found 2 old (formerly regular) sized paper bag when asked, for our convenience ... of course. These specials are now $30 a bag (when offered to all as a "special"), thus we saved $60 in values. Now, about those complimentary WiFi minutes, we "lost" 60 free minutes each but ... under Free At Sea (first world problem except for those that don't travel with a mobile device, power it off and lock it up in the mini safe until they disembark) NCL get the honor of pioneering shrinkflation at sea ... like those incredible water carton(s). Just business.

@dexddd - for your convenience, of source ... to save you a little time to try to decide what's good to try. Here are more close-up food photos - finally extracted more from DW's SS Galaxy S21 - one of the friendly hostess at Food Republic, mask off just for photo (she'll very pleased that this is on CruiseCritic)

Yulp, Platinum or Sapphire will get you that 2nd. voucher in the booklet, good for La Cucina, Moderna, Q or the casual Food Republic - each person can order up to 4 items on the (digital) menu ... no surcharges or upcharges. It was a lot of food, 3 items per person is more than enough even for big eaters - 2 dining get you 8, 3 dining together get you 12 (a 4th person can probably just share the items ... they don't mind. If not enough, then order extra & put it on the onboard account - most likely not needed. They "should" be open on sea days, i.e. for your Prima T/A - should be a great dining experience & nice change, wash down the sushi rolls with a cold beer or warm sake 👴 All for your convenience. Otherwise, Cagney's would be a safe SD with the filet or the 20 oz. porterhouse (priced at $45, no extra charge with the voucher) We ate with a combo of Platinum/Sapphire vouchers and SD coupons, server put them on different "accounts" - before zeroing out our total for 2 with the dining package, was over $200 USD 😁 Can I say, we got our money's worth, "free" and our server was happily rewarded.

Feel better and get well soon, sending best wishes to you and others that test positive. As you know, Norwegian Joy wasn't our first back to cruise at sea - we felt reassured after our March Getaway. It's probably a combo of timing, the latest subvariant that's highly contagious and easily spread, and some of the relaxed measures all over, not just onboard the ship that caught up with us. We've managed to be very careful, cautious for over 2 years - fully vaxxed and boosted - and in addition to testing negative with Antigen Rapid, also negative with PCR results, 2 days prior to embarkation. We did not go anywhere else except to take the car service to MCT, masked up inside the cruise terminal, as much as we could. I would be very interested if contact tracing was possible but not going to happen, to see how & where, and possibly by who ... I would rule out that it happened in Bermuda. Reasonable to say, the virus slipped thru the cracks, somehow despite it all. Understood what you are saying about not cruising or sailing again for a while ... DW is taking a closer look and has her doubts too. Others in "my" group aren't so sure either. I am trying to keep an open mind, fair and reasonable, and want to gain some insights in various theories and assumptions, not rushing to conclusions and finger-pointing, etc. Two cruises on the calendar for us, this Fall and early 2023 (which is more iffy' since it's more challenging to predict events this Fall/early Winter and where this pandemic is going next. Pausing for a moment, if this is not good, imagine flying ... no, thanks. We'll drive instead, even if gasoline is going to be $6 USD a gallon soon ... ours get 40 mpg on the highway and it's not a hybrid. Not ready to give up and suspend cruising again - rolling up the sleeves for the next booster, we all should get it anyway, sooner or later - no matter what we do and don't, I believe ... P.S. Mild symptoms should ease up another day or two, for most anyway - get lots of rest, fluid, vitamins boosters. Take care.

Good evening, Sharon - I trust all is well with you ... we are probably going to need to give Bonnie a little extra boost to reassure others and her to not freak out. Did you meet other solo CC'ers last week ? Way too much taking place lately as in (link) here. Doing anything special for Fleet Week since you are right near/next to all the action on the Hudson. Was a night time incident in Spice H20, apparently on the 20th during the Glow Party ... here I was, wondering why they move the venue a week earlier indoors. Go to YT and search using these key words - a 7 minutes video should come up, learned it from someone else via social media ... Norwegian Joy cruise May 20, 2022 (AND) Spice H20 during the Glo Party

@coalman78 - While our suites were on Deck 10 Fwd/Mid - our niece was also on the Joy in late April - they were in a port side balcony ("BA") #1515* that slept 3. Liked the midship location, between the Sun Deck and Kids' Aqua Park - didn't hear deck chairs or anything else being moved around late night/early morning, or other noises coming from overhead. Vast majority of the balconies on Deck 15 are really not under the sun deck with loungers or chairs. Of course, it depends on your balcony's "precise" location and Joy's occupancy level for the week of your cruise are in play. You know the Joy has a very small pool area, between that and the hot tubs - noises aren't directly generated. Noisy and rowdy passengers can pop up anywhere and sometimes be heard running down the corridors, screaming and yelling as in DYKWIA. Can't do much about it ... did you read about the fight last week in Spice H2O during party time.

Embarkation from "our" week (May 8th) wasn't too horrible for us, invoking Platinum (pier agents apparently clueless about Sapphire & Diamond, receiving no written instructions with their briefing, not on their clipboards ...) once I realized suites were meaningless to them for any sort of priority ... after going thru that single line for screening, security, and then Bermuda document checkers - just as described by @UKstages who sailed earlier as Haven ... But, we did see some guests being directed to bypass the line on the right side, to go straight to the next available agent doing the Bermuda docs checking. There was another area for those with missing, incomplete or zero TA on hand to get help & sort out the options. It was a lot better in March cruising the Getaway, as destination was PC, GSC and Nassau, Bahamas - went thru the whole 9 yards in about 20 to 25 minutes, worst being the security & initial screening once inside the building. It was disorganized, chaotic and confusing and not the way things used to be ... snaking thru the lines to move up, inches away sometimes from others who aren't masking (since it's no longer required or enforceable, whatever ...) didn't help, that's my personal risk impression/informal assessment) If only the Asst GM and or Asst GS manager would do a little management by walking the talk, get inside the cruise terminal and see for himself/herself, observe and evaluate as to what was working and not so good - they'll have a better sense of the frustration and disappointment from a customer standpoint. Accessible passengers using wheelchairs & walkers apparently, were able to keep left & skip the lines too, although it also looked inconsistent I think, as @shof515 just wrote, it's those (usually set to) "down" escalators - 2 of them in the far end of the cruise terminal, taking disembarking passengers from the pier "level" down to the street level of the terminal where luggages are sorted & laid out in color/tagged sections for pickup. Express Walk-Off passengers, I think, as we only did that once in recent years, do not take those escalators down - they take a different and shorter route to exit the terminal directly (straight from the pier/embarkation level - 2/F ) on the outside, on the south side of the pier complex - as they are taking all their bags & luggages with them, not permitted to enter the building & go downstairs. They are long elevators but not particular steeper than average, difficult to hold and balance when folks got oversized 24" or 25" plus bags that they try to take downstairs themselves. There are pier agents standing on top and on the bottom of the elevators, managing the flow & holding up the lines as needed - just in case someone lost their balance and/or didn't hold on tightly to their heavier luggage, sending it flying down the moving escalator steps ... possibly hitting & injuring someone in front and below them. When things are backed up, it spilled outside to the pier's walking path as there is also a long line for waiting to get into the passenger elevators for the accessible and the escort pushing them. Better (bright & high intensity) lighting in that area, especially as it lead down to the luggage "hall" at the bottom of the stairs, would also help. This, is, an issue with the terminal operator and responsible for the systems & functions of the piers - and NCL has even less control over that. Even with priority disembarkation, once they get you off the gangway from the ship - their job is considered basically done ... turn around to take the next waiting guests off the ship, and/or time to hurry and get those waiting to embark to get onboard. This time, the post-cruise eSurveys has space to write comments in and asked for feedback on "others" - and I didn't even blink and just write it up - NCL getting more "poor" grades on their performance feedback, maybe - just maybe, the higher up will pay attention. Break the code of silence, lately - it's consistently in-con-sistent and not acceptable.

What's new, I trust you are getting better. Susan and I doing fine, all things considered - we ordered takeout food & drove to the restaurant to pick it up, worn her KN95 plus the hand wash routines, etc. - to get some fresh air & stretch our legs, sheltering in place for 10 days and haven't gone anywhere. Since we got a decent inventory of home self-test kits, swab ourselves this Sunday and, as expected & not surprised - 2 lines shown (C and T, pretty solid & easily visible) with Abbott's On Monday, my BIL on prescribed antiviral from his PCP, swab at home and his result came up negative, his symptoms showed up much later than us and only then, his rapid results turned positive (negative from Sunday's disembarkation and also when he went to see his PCP 2 days later) - he is feeling fine and no longer self-isolating and sleep on a spare, converted sofabed, resumed his outdoor walking exercise. We figured that, while not & let's see if ours are now negative - hey, could do a last minute Memorial weekend cruise if we find a good deal ... Oops, no can't do. Antigen Rapid test (by Roche's - 20 minutes to read results) is positive (a faint solid line across, visible ... thus, 2 lines & valid) Apparently, we are no longer considered contagious and under current CDC and NYC-DOH guidelines, can go about normal routines without masking (past 10 days) and unnecessary to repeat these Antigen rapid tests again. One of the twin nieces that're probably, almost definitely exposed & infected via household contacts by the sis-in-law was given time off from work, and her HR dept wanted her to test negative before clearing her to return to the office ... their corporate policy is much stricter than healthcare employers. BTW, I'm not sure if anyone from our CC Roll Call from the 8th. were active or also using that social media, as more than the 1/2 of those that signed up or registered for the CC Meet & Greet came from that private group, few & most never registered on CC or had a screen name/ID ... and probably will not be regulars on CC, which is really annoying - IMHO. Apparently, more than a handful belonging to that group self-reported that post-cruise or after going home, tested positive for C-19 and commented on a thread. One of the group "admin" for the group deleted the entire "conversation" as being off-topic & unrelated to a different topic with the group - fine, protected & safeguard privacies and perhaps not risking HIPAA since names were posted. Testing after disembarkation isn't going to affect NCL's numbers for the cruise, it's the pre-embarkation & while onboard data that NCL is very careful with. Interesting, isn't it - I know we have to be and are reminded to be careful about "C" discussions here on CC or else. It's questionable how truthful of a picture we are getting about current covid cases onboard cruise ships and it is a very delicate balance to maintain & juggle for NCL. Caution is the operative phrase and best advice to share & pass along.

Nowadays, these upgrades do not get, by and large, any further or additional discounts (and, I'm doubtful about still being able to get a discount by waiting until Day 2 or even Day 3 to upgrade ... which I myself had done previously on a 14 nights with NCL) will be given, offered or applied by the billing system ... unless the iCafe manager onboard can override and do it - s/he has some discretion & more so that Guest Services behind the counter in the atrium lobby. Doing that after boarding, to us, also meant that we can use any and all NR (non-refundable) OBC to "pay" for these upcharges ... which was fairly substantial for our last cruise (earlier this month) vs. doing it prepaid upfront or in advance (as it will usually result in an immediate charge to the credit card used/on file already) - of course, it's convenient. Just reading your newest post/comment - answer is, IMHO, without looking at your "Summary" from earlier, is that - typically - it meant that it has been added to the reservation already and charged, billed at that point. But, if there was a problem with the bank processing the ACH payment - it might, could've resulted in a reversal or simply not going thru ... and NCL's system then removing the package(s) affected. NCL might or might not have made a best effort to alert, inform & amend your summary page. There should be an itemized summary of what you've paid or been charged against your credit card for the 250 minutes on the 2nd. device, plus the 2-step upgrade to unlimited from NCL, look thru your email or amenity confirmations, etc. to see if you can find it. Dispute the charges with your credit card issuer about it, that should prompt NCL to look deep into their system, and, if you're charged for services not rendered, they should credit it back & reverse it against your account balance.

OP, did you see the iCafe (internet) manager while onboard for assistance with the 2nd. device ? I know it's now after the facts and really going to be pulling hair to sort things out. Or, did the iCafe person not able to look into it and help, or send you to Guest Services instead? Did Guest Services suggest, at any given time, to see the iCafe manager during her/his (posted) office hours at the desk? If the billing system failed for whatever reasons pre-cruise to add the 2nd. device/package ... rejected or whatever ... once you are onboard, I'm reasonably sure that the browser-based link will present choices to buy, add and upsell you & everyone, anybody else interested in spending more money onboard, internet access in this case.

I have yet to see and read about applying or getting credit to upgrade using free minutes to change to a social media package cruising NCL. Best to speak and ask the iCafe manager onboard, such option is not offered online ahead of a booked cruise.

@lx200gps Bonjour, how's Montreal these days ... gotta tell another BIL/SIL as they relocated to the States some 25 years ago. Back on subject - Marriott, especially RI, Townplace & Springhills, our preferred & first choice when traveling, love their suites - Weehawkins location is excellent, across the river. Lots of places on NJ side to eat, great view of Manhattan skyline & sunrise - local traffic along the waterfront and its recent development/growth are another story ...Commuter ferry is quick & easy, good choice & won't take you 2 hours to come across. MCT/Pier 88 porters are there from 7:30 to 8 onward, just drop your checked bags anytime and do your morning sightseeing. Ships should/normally be docked there by 6 to 7 am, if not sooner and when things are fairly smooth (since we just ran into the USCG insection routines earlier this month, nothing else should come up - unless there's a norovirus outbreak that require deep cleaning & maybe a public health inspection, let's not wish for one) - go back to finish the check-in between noon and 1 pm ... typically can be onboard in as little as 20 to 30 minutes, in better times. Taste & Savor MDR should be open for sit-down lunch until 1:30 pm or for a slightly faster meal, head over to The Local ... soup, wings & a quick bite. Depending on your assigned Muster Station, report their to swipe your Guest Key Cards first, crew members stationed there will check you off - then, make your way to the stateroom, suite, or whatever ... our luggage were outside in the hallway by 3 pm, unpack & relax ...then, get ready for the sailway down the river, etc. Our friends, also from NYC, we met initially via CC at a M&G several years ago, are also on this sailing of yours (as part of a group charter - I believe) - they are Sapphire and recently joined the Roll Call - which doesn't appear too active (fairly common nowadays ...) Time is short, but someone within that group - even with limited prior "organizing" experience, should take it up and quickly put together a request with the rest, and arrange for a Meet & Greet, be sure everyone that attend get to mingle, chat & not just sit there ... do some kind of icebreakers. Group event will set up the meeting space to allow for social distancing, and everyone can be reminded to bring a mask along and wear them - I highly recommend doing so, if not urging ... Pack some sanitizing wipes along with hand sanitizers - toss them into the checked luggage ... and, washy washy. I feel many are running to Covid fatigue and burning out, easing and letting the guards down ... maybe, just maybe this wave will start to fade soon, until then - keep the highly contagious & fast spreading variants from catching up.

Look here for link and answers and optionally, I highly recommend that CC'er join the Roll Call as last minute info, update, changes & alert are off hot-off-the-press and posted there ... Multiple posts here within the past few days ... not helping either, except to scatter the details and make it confusing

As of this date, there are no amenities listed, whatsoever, on NCL's official website under SC and SP "suites" - time stamped/dated PDF list are not necessary going to be honored onboard the Joy, regardless - as far as I am concerned. Not to mention that the extra annoyance with priority check-in at MCT/Pier 88 in NYC (priority luggage tags were still available and also color luggage tags, although it does NOT say priority on them) Anyone making a new booking for these staterooms are going to get, nothing, zero, few if not extra perks (I remember the old days, getting both bath robes AND slippers - NCL managed to take away the disposable slippers ... annoying) Apparently, it was important to bundle things better for the China/Asian market to make it more appealing, but not for the Americas ... priced accordingly, whatever that meant from onboard (Joy) conversation ~ 10 days ago. Why bother beating a dead horse, IMHO. We gave it our try, paid for and stay in two SP suites - that's enough. Cancelled the future ones on the Joy as we are better off staying in a regular balcony and booking another one next door (connecting ones are harder) - depending on the decks, a nearby Inside or Forward Oceanview is fine, even better - get a party of 4 to 5, even 6 adults the extra, 2nd. bathroom ... actually, we can easily jam 3 plus 4 or even 5 for a total of 7 to 8, if 2 of them can climb up and use the upper bunk/drop-down from ceiling pullman to sleep at night. There will be a balcony to share and use. Lastly, apply two sets of CruiseNext certificates (up to 4 is possible, if booking balconies at 6 months out or with a valid promotional offer) - more "free" WiFi minutes than the suite, more Specialty Dining allowance, doubled the Shorex credits, and, of course, 4 Open Bar (UBP) with 2 staterooms. The more you think about it, the more these suites do not appeal anymore for some of us and not values-added as a good buy. Not to mention, as NCLH stock holders - booking 2 staterooms will get us another $100 in NR OBC - $200 instead of $100 for a suite, on a 7 nights itinerary. If you do these thru a T/A - s/he might match and toss in more OBC. I just feel bad for those that booked these a while back, now beyond final payment and caught between the rocks and hard places. NCL and Joy's Guest Services - are you paying attention at all ... I helped kick the tin cans back over and the hot potato is on someone's lap. I absolutely understood this is business ... but, don't turn this into a no-win situation, just because you can.

NCL doesn't have an apparent problems obtaining Haven passengers exclusive priorities to speed thru cruise teminal in NYC (Pier 88/MCT) nowadays - same as pre-Covid days - whether it's document checking, security screening, and of course, the private check-in and escorted boarding. Hence, SP and SC suite passengers should too, but ... same port contractors doing it. Wait, maybe, someone isn't giving clear & specific written instructions and/or communicating to the NCL "agents" on the pier. The same agents that recognize Latitudes Platinum memberships and also Casino At Sea passengers or guests ... Maybe, the mess is a direct/indirect result of manpower shortage and staffing level ... we saw fewer stations opened & manned. NCL Guest Relations onboard acknowledged it, knew and heard from "us" and claimed to share/past it up their chain of command to address it - maybe, just maybe - we should - hopefully - soon see positive changes. Fingers crossed - maybe the next 1 or 2 Joy roll call will bring good news back. @lx200gps As far as SD reservations, you can book it onboard and there're plenty of availability on dates & times, especially the early ones (5:30 pm) even after Day 1. Getting there later than usual to try to avoid the crowd is a smart move, and if you show up at 12:45 or 1 pm - should be able to quickly get thru as the herd would all be packed like sardines in the Garden Cafe or buffet by then. More importantly, wear your fitted KN95 or KF94 masks indoors and whenever there's a crowd, ship's elevators and in the theater - use hand sanitizers if hand wash with soap & running water isn't possible.

Heads up - anyone sailing soon (not yet cruising) on the Joy in either SP or SC "suites" - please check and advise, confirm whether you still see your (modified/amended ??) included amenities - could well be my browser, but not seeing any reference to them anymore ... at least NOT when I tried a new Joy mock booking, to competitively compare prices against other stateroom combo. NCL couldn't possibly eliminated them entirely moving forward, right ?? But, wait a minute, yes - they can and with almost everything else taken off and dropped ... might as well also discontinue priority embarkation or disembarkation, etc. - don't provide bath ropes and slippers. By with an optional upcharge, a deluxe upgrade, for your convenience, of course ... Sorry, apologize for the attempted humor.

Yes, I take full responsibilities for doing this "mini-series" - purely not planned or intentional. Next round, just going to post food pictures & screenshots, nothing more; maybe, emoji - that's it. My sense is NCL are edging theirs higher, now that CDC rules are being amended. The next several sailing should reveal more - families with children & teens have been restless & kept out for 2 summers now - anything and everything go. NY has just 1 ship for the better half of June, entire July and beginning of August until the younger ones resume classroom learning. Not seeing bargain prices for Miami with BA, nothing dirty cheap and/or with solo deals - times've changed. See some deals now for GA out of Port Canaveral, solo priced, Open Bar, SD (for 1, one night) and WiFi - all inclusive under $1,250 plus DSC, airfare with DL on your own. Not bad at all. Get your Amex offers & NCLH OBC rebated - just roll the dices with risk of tropical weather & hurricane as things do warm up by August.

@njhorseman Thanks, Paul - useful and very helpful link - we are out of iHealth ourselves (would've given us 3 month extensions) got some Abbott ones (was 12 months thru next march - 3 more months, woohoo - if we don't use them before) ... not seeing Roche on the latest list yet, goin' to check before they expire this August. Got 4 more boxes / 8 free test kits coming via USPS, just shipping dated to delivery this week from Newark NJ warehouse/shipping point - let's see who made this free batch (apparently, they just processed & ship what's in stock)

On whether we would unquestionably book these "SP" Family "Suites" (Insides - 2BR/2BA w virtual Balcony) - short answer/conclusion that we've reached as a group of 6, is a simply "No" That is, we will NOT book them again or pay more for these - as much as we loved & enjoyed the extra space. Without going to a lengthy discussion, we are better off booking a "standard" or regular balcony, maybe 2 of them if there are 4 of us, maybe even for 5 adults - nobody has to climb to the upper bunk/pullman - it will cost about the same, if not less. We can apply a CruiseNext certificate to each (thus, DoubleUp essentially anytime without being restricted or while within a promo period) AND we can obtain NCLH stockholder's NR OBC for each of the stateroom, thus $200 OBC in total instead of just one or $100 OBC to the suite. Furthermore, better leverage on the "free" WiFi minutes (600 minutes with 4 guests, first 2 in each balcon x 2 = 4 allowance times 150 minutes = 600 airtime minutes worth of satellite data) and of course, the SD or Specialty Dining plan or allowance. SP (and, probably true for the "SC" for the most part) really give us no significant value-added perks or benefits - aside from the upscaled bath & bedroom products - not even a complimentary "carton" of Just Water each, based on the # of registered paying guests in each suite. Save the "treats" delivered twice a week by Room Service, that's a joke not worth the time. Lastly, did NCL just changed & eliminated the description of remaining SP (SC) perks, still included last month - because, I just checked now doing a mock booking - everything else left, now gone ??? oops ... not even priority disembarkation/embarkation (or, special luggage tags) or linens/bath products, bedding and bath robes/slippers. That's the near ultimate self-destruction, IMHO of a half-decent product, exclusive to the Joy. Anyone that booked it earlier, please fact-check and reconfirm, do a screenshot of what's included, just in case - and, don't hesitate to speak to/call/see Guest Services once onboard to let them know (as I could be misinformed ... ) Well, how about dropping the price further for new booking - it's almost no better than one of the larger Family Oceanviews that sleep 4, up to 5 in some but with one bathroom only. At least, the large windows is real & transparent, not virtual and sometimes offline ... Personally, we just cannot and won't recommend these "suites" not anymore. Instead, mix and match with 2 balconies, balcony and an oceanview (forward ones on select decks), balcony and an inside (for children & teens) - maybe, even two regular oceanviews - these variations are better deals ahead. The only advantage, they are classified as (still) being suites - 2 points per night as booked, while it last & remain unchanged for now. Advantages - use 2 CruiseNex (4 with DoubleUp promo) and $200 OBC possible if both regular staterooms are booked by 2 NCLH stock holders, 600 free WiFi minutes (for 2 rooms x 2 per room x 150 minutes each) and 2 sets of Specialty Dining offers - not to mention the Beverage offers for 4 adults instead of 2 (just b/c we aren't drinkers, others do ...) (P.S.) Of course, one can debate and take the stance the "current" pricing of these suite is unique to the Joy and appropriately set - supply & demand economics. Moving along, that explained - now that all bookings are subject to penalties for change/cancel - more than 75% remain vacant / unsold out of 31 SP ... on a given sailing.

@sassycruiser - Dear lord 😳 Get better and feel better, and you should - will - just like us, being vaxxed & boosted made a difference. DW had questioned me in having a portable SPO2 meter at home for 2+ years already, now she understood along with digital fever probe. Get extra Vitamins C and D into your systems, it helps with the supplements to help restore our body. We should be past our 10 days shortly and relieved later this week, as even 2 of us have been masked up indoors and nobody else around, doing & singing washy washy - extra cleaning & wiping down high-traffic contact surfaces ... running our HEPA filters on high (from the 9/11 days ... yulp) Excellent idea and best practices to self-isolate or quarantine, better safe than sorry later on. P.S. Felt bad that we never got a chance to mingle & greet fellow CC'ers at the onboard M&G ... perhaps, in the future on another cruise. It was the worst one that I've attended over the years.