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Trying to decide between The Joy and The Encore...

graceinga

By graceinga,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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42 minutes ago, graceinga said:

The itinerary doesn't matter to us, we rarely leave the ship anymore.   These ships seem to be quite similar.  Are there any differences other than entertainment that I might be overlooking? 

@Graceinga, I am on the Joy for the second cruise at the end of November 2021.  I was originally on the Encore and got cancelled.  The Joy does have some difference.  It was originally designed for the Asian market 2017.  For what every reason, NCL decided to bring it to the US market and give it a $50 million dollar renovation.  

 

The most noticeable difference is no "Thermal Spa". Then there is the odd placement of the main pool because there were some Asian Gardens their originally.  The Encores race track is a bit bigger.  The Joy has a few more suites in the Haven.  Yes, they Encore has Kinky Boots and the Joy has Footloose.

My main reason for choosing the Joy was the cost for my suite was far less then the Encore at the time.  

 

Just like you, after I knew what was different and it any of it would make a difference to me, I want for the Joy.  On to the Itinerary.  I fully understand your comment about you don't care about the ports.  I get you.  I was on this cruises Itinerary on the NCL Getaway in November 2019.  I found some excursions I liked and one I wished I took.  

 

We are chill people and this cruise we are taking our adult children as a belated wedding anniversary cruise.  My favorite things to do on ports like these are Over the Water Bungalows, Beach Cabana's and Beach villa's especially on the NCL Private Island. Throw in a massage and my life is perfect. 

 

I hope I help a little bit.  

 

Cruise well

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11 minutes ago, Old & Retired said:

Haven better on the Encore.  Encore has a thermal spa.  It is very nice.  Encore has Onda instead of La Cucina. Otherwise, pretty similar.

Is the Haven Better or have less suites?  If Better, please elaborate.  Thank you.

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13 hours ago, Old & Retired said:

The Haven area on the Encore is bigger and offers much better views out the front.  Far superior to the Joy Haven area.

 

13 hours ago, Old & Retired said:

The Haven area on the Encore is bigger and offers much better views out the front.  Far superior to the Joy Haven area.

 

13 hours ago, Old & Retired said:

The Haven area on the Encore is bigger and offers much better views out the front.  Far superior to the Joy Haven area.

@Old & RetiredThank you very much.  I thought that the Observation Deck in the Haven was exactly the same because it was a sister ship.  However they did have to fix what is now the Library which was a high-roller casino when in Asia market. The Haven Area also was a surprise to me when you said it was smaller.  I thought is was very close except when they redid some cabins making them Haven Cabins, they opened the area up to more guests.  

 

I want you to know how much I appreciate your feedback.  Nothing and I mean nothing is as important as a person that actually has had the experience.  That is why I love CruiseCritic.com.  Much appreciated.

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  • 2 weeks later...
BirdTravels "Live from...." Rare

BirdTravels

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On 9/15/2021 at 3:37 PM, The Traveling Man said:

The absence of a thermal spa on the Joy is a major difference.

This is always a fascinating statement. On a "normal" pre-pandemic cruise, maybe a couple of hundred out of the 4500 passengers actually use the Thermal Suite. So, it does not matter to the 4300 other passengers on the ship. Yet, it becomes a major defect in the Joy. NCL made a conscious decision not to put the Thermal Suite in during the $50M dry dock.

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11 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

This is always a fascinating statement. On a "normal" pre-pandemic cruise, maybe a couple of hundred out of the 4500 passengers actually use the Thermal Suite. So, it does not matter to the 4300 other passengers on the ship. Yet, it becomes a major defect in the Joy. NCL made a conscious decision not to put the Thermal Suite in during the $50M dry dock.

You are right.  I really think that most folks simply want the newest ship.  I can understand that.  When you look at the Joy, Bliss and Encore they are more alike then different.  We are all so bored during covid (I know I am) that we will drill down to the tiniest details to make a ship we choose the best choice.

 

Weather it is the size of the go cart track, thermal spa, number of cabins in the Haven or location of the main pool in the pool deck.  We just want other to feel the way we do.  The good news is, that means we all are going to cruise.  So as I have said so many times.....

 

Cruise well everyone. 

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The Traveling Man

The Traveling Man

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12 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

This is always a fascinating statement. On a "normal" pre-pandemic cruise, maybe a couple of hundred out of the 4500 passengers actually use the Thermal Suite. So, it does not matter to the 4300 other passengers on the ship. Yet, it becomes a major defect in the Joy. NCL made a conscious decision not to put the Thermal Suite in during the $50M dry dock.

I would expect that more than 200 use the spa, but nevertheless my point is that there is a significant difference in the design of the two ships.  Perhaps only a couple of hundred people per cruise make use of the race track on ships which have it, but likewise there is a major difference between those ships and other “similar” ships which lack it.  Things like a spa, race track, etc., though perhaps used only by a minority of passengers, do in fact constitute major differences between one ship and another.

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mjh2w1

mjh2w1

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The deck plans on the NCL site as well as CruiseDeckplans.com show the Vibe Beach Club is much larger on the Encore than on the Joy.  They took away the part of that deck area that was open to the public on the Encore.  This most likely creates more passes available on the Encore, if that's something you're interested in.

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