Suntanz

We took an Uber there and back in May. Very easy and very reasonably priced. No need for a tour.

I used Park Port Canaveral in May. Everything went very smooth & a lot cheaper than parking at the pier.

Its pretty easy to find. I'm not sure what terminal I came out of, but there was a sign to where shuttles were. There were also people outside answering questions.

I agree that the American Diner should either be free or just get rid of it. On the cruises I have been on, there is rarely anyone in there. If you want a burger you can go to either the buffet or O'Sheehans/The Local. 

I'm no expert, but seems like there is so much more they can do with that space. 

Very nice review. I took my kids (in their low 20's) on the Joy last year and we loved it. We went on Getaway in May this year and even though we noticed a big difference in service from last year, it was not a big deal to us.

It is a problem when people are putting towels on chairs at 6:30 am. We didn't have that problem on the Getaway, but getting chairs on the Joy was more difficult as I didn't have the Vibe pass.

Its nice to see a positive review every so often.

2 hours ago, RB9643 said:

 

Do you cruise basically for the beaches? If so, have you tried Bermuda? If not, New England/Canada is a great cruise out of New York.

 

 

Yes, I went to Bermuda last summer. I did enjoy it. I do enjoy the beaches, but do like to explore some too.

Ok, I know this is going to sound silly, but I have been on 9 cruises and all have been to Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. I really enjoy the different beaches and the price makes these islands very affordable as I live on the East Coast. I do really enjoy the cruising experience and some ports I do excursions and some I just take a cab to a beach.

My questions is am I missing something? I would love to cruise Hawaii but just getting there increases the price significantly, not to mention its a more expensive cruise. I also have considered Europe, but again, flying there increases the price, plus I would most likely have to do excursions at most if not all ports.

Any help would be great.

Went to Great Stirrup Cay on NCL in May. We loved it. Relaxing day. Nice beach with plenty of chairs. Also enjoyed the free food and drinks.

Puerta Plata was just ok. We just walked around port area.

St. Thomas was very nice. Did a snorkel excursion thru the ship. The excursion was just ok.

As far as NCL, been on a Royal, Carnival and Celebrity. I have to say I really think the bang for your buck is really good on NCL.

From my cruise in June, I would rank as follows:

1) Cagneys- great meal. Everything we ate was great, service was great also.

2) Moderno- Tried to get into the Teppanyaki, but couldn't so went to Moderno. Really enjoyed it, the meat is really good plus great salad bar.

3) Shangai Noodle Bar- Be prepared to wait for a table or get there early. Food was good. Small portions so order a couple of a few things.

4) Taste/Savor- Most meals were really good. 

5) Buffet- I didn't eat any dinners there but breakfast and lunch were good.

I wasn't impressed with the food at O'Sheehans. Convenient if you want something quick or late night but nothing was that great.

I did not eat at Ocean Blue, Teppanyaki or le Bistro.

Does anyone actually go to the American Diner on the ship? I never see anyone in there. To me, its the biggest waste of space on a ship.

I was recently on the Getaway. No crab legs or lobster in dining rooms. They did have lobster tails as part of the surf and turf at Cagneys for an upcharge.

The HAaen dining room had surf & turf though.

I was on the Getaway the week before you. I agree with a lot of what you said. I did enjoy Moderno though. The wait staff was great and as you said the salad bar was excellent. I also enjoyed the meats. 

The pool situation is poor. I was shocked with it, but I don't use the pool much anyway. Its a lot of people just sitting in the pool holding a drink.

The pool deck has minimal chairs in the sun, you need to go up a deck and there is ample chairs to sit in the sun.

I actually enjoyed the buffet. Like you said, its a buffet. 

I thought the comedians were great on our sailing, plus the magician/comedian.

I had sailed the Joy one year prior & you can see food/service is not as good, but I still enjoyed the Getaway. I was on vacation, so not much bothered me.

No limit on drinks. Drink away!

I did the same thing for my 20 year old last year. We just got all his drinks as you are allowed two per person with the drink package.

Thanks for sharing.

I am going to give Park Port Canaveral a try. Has anyone used them? Good or bad experience?

What is the process when you get off your ship?

9 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

As a fellow "Long Islander", I agree with much of what you're saying except for one thing (and I know this kind of goes against the New Yorker creed).

I preface this by saying that I'm certainly not afraid/opposed to confrontation, but I don't feel a passenger should ever move someone's "personal" belongings or directly confront them for any infraction.

I don't believe passengers should be enforcing rules and it could lead to unintended circumstances.

I've personally witnessed 2 all out brawls on cruises, so I know how the combination of sun and drinking can alter the part of the brain in charge of common sense. Lmao!

All cruise ships are run similarly to the military. There's a chain of command.

If someone is committing an infraction that bothers you so much that you can't ignore it, then go to a crew member and address it. If that crew member is unable or unwilling to remedy the situation, then go up the chain of command.

If your gripe is true and justified, you'll get to someone, eventually, that will help.

Personally, I've been on a decent amount of cruises, and I've never observed an infraction that was so egregious that I felt the need to confront someone or that I needed to report to the crew.

I've never stayed in the Haven, Vibe or any other exclusive space on a cruise ship and I don't find it hard to not only deal with some of the crazies, but thoroughly enjoy the entire experience.

I'm sailing Joy in July and expect it to be another fabulous cruise.

Just the opinion of a fellow "Long Islander".

Great points Bkrickles. As a former Long Islander, I agree.

49 minutes ago, MoCruiseFan said:

Chair Hog - Someone who got up earlier than you did when chairs were still available and enjoyed the use of said chair while you tried to come up with any number of excuses why people who got to the pool before you should have left a chair for late risers and because they didn't you try to justify moving their personal belongings and taking their chair.

Pretty much sums up the issue...

Actually I get up early & could have my choice of chairs, but if I will not use them for a couple of hours, I don't put my stuff on it. Its not an excuse, its just common courtesy. If you want to sit in the chair, go ahead. I just think people get too selfish when they put their stuff down & don't use the chair.

47 minutes ago, MoCruiseFan said:

 

 

#2: So if I grab a chair and put my stuff in it, then at some point I get into the pool and enjoy relaxing in it I have to get out of the pool at least once an hour, go to my chair and make sure that you and the NCL crew see me there then go back into the pool or you have the right to move my stuff.  Go ahead, touch my personal belongings and see what happens.  BTW none of that "gets people"  peopel simply CHOOSE to get angry or whatever,

So if you are going to be in the pool for a couple of hours, why do you need a chair?

There are also two different type of chair hogs:

1) If you are sitting there and saving a couple of chairs for family who are not there 

2) no one around the chairs and just towels on the chairs.

I think its the 2nd one that gets people ( as well as me) upset. I like the flag idea. Maybe a one hour warning, which is plenty if someone wants to swim, walk or get something to eat.

15 minutes is quick. I honesty think an hour is good. Maybe someone wants to hit the buffet or take a walk, swim or something. After an hour & no one there, the stuff should be removed. Like someone else said though, I would prefer not to be the one to remove the towel or book.

26 minutes ago, Rusty Shacklefjord said:

You could move the stuff and sit in the chair? 

I'm on vacation. The last thing I want to do is have an argument with another passenger.

59 minutes ago, ngrund said:

One answer is to implement some sort of chair check in system-every chair could have an assigned number, and you need to see a staff member first to check you in-

 

There has to be a way and this is a good suggestion.

I get up early & like to walk around the pool area, especially since its near the buffet. Its ridiculous that towels are on chairs by 7:00 and no one around. That's when the staff can start removing towels. 

I love to cruise, but I have to admit, the Chair Hogs are one of the worst things about cruising. Wish there was something that could be done. I don't know the answer though.

Maybe this has been brought up before, but I have two kids in my room. One sleeps on the couch & the other the fold down bed from the wall. On the Joy this past summer, the cabin steward came in after dinner & made up those beds. Any idea if they will do that now or will they just do it on the one visit in the afternoon?

Great review. Enjoyed your honest opinion on the good and bad. I sailed the Joy last August it was great. I'm concerned about the cutbacks as I sail the Getaway in May.

We used Restless Native. I would recommend them.