Bliss vs Joy for Panama Canal?

[jetact]

We are going to book a cruise for the Panama Canal in 2024.  We see that both ships go from Miami or LA, is there any difference as both ships are breakaway class ship and similar in size. We are planning on booking a Haven room, any thoughts or preferences on which ship is better?
 

 We are going on the Bliss in august to Alaska as we need to use FCC and discount from cancelled cruises.

[Trimone]

We did it on the Joy, in Haven you have a massive lounge at the front, I wouldn’t book Haven, I would book a balcony and use upgrade advantage, there’s over a 100 rooms in the haven on joy since turning concierge suites into haven.

[hallux]

With a few exceptions I think the Bliss and Joy are VERY close to identical.  Public-space decor will be different, some venues will be different (I think Joy has the Galaxy Pavilion where the Bliss has the spa, or a larger spa).  I may be wrong but the Joy may have been the last NCL ship WITHOUT a segregated and sealed-off smoking area in the casino, which the Bliss DOES have.

 

8 hours ago, jetact said:

breakaway class ship

They're actually Breakaway-PLUS class ships, it does make a difference if you were to compare them to Breakaway-class ships such as Breakaway and Getaway.

 

I don't know about the Haven, but it'd probably be a coin-flip for me.  I usually sail solo, so the Studio cabins on Bliss would normally be a draw but for that itinerary I think I'd do a balcony so it wouldn't matter.

Edited February 15, 2022 by hallux

[debenson0723]

The Joy does not have a Thermal Spa (or studios).  I did the Panama Canal on the Bliss and with that many sea days, the spa was needed.  When going thru the actual canal, you shouldn't stay in one place. We had an aft balcony on deck 9, which was great. Spent the morning there, then moved to the Observation Lounge and also time on the waterfront.  The bow is open but it was too hot and humid out there for me.  

[cruising sister]

The Joy does have a separate sealed smoking room in the casino. 

[rick160158]

Been on both, and we found them to be identical 

[jetact]

8 hours ago, Trimone said:

We did it on the Joy, in Haven you have a massive lounge at the front, I wouldn’t book Haven, I would book a balcony and use upgrade advantage, there’s over a 100 rooms in the haven on joy since turning concierge suites into haven.

Thank you @Trimonefor the tip. I will look into a balcony as the room we chose was just over $19,000.  So would one balcony get you a better chance at an upgrade then another?

[Trimone]

On 2/15/2022 at 5:26 PM, jetact said:

Thank you @Trimonefor the tip. I will look into a balcony as the room we chose was just over $19,000.  So would one balcony get you a better chance at an upgrade then another?

Get the most attractive cabin below Haven prices, we had a concierge suite with a large angled balcony, about £3700. we bid poor for a H5 and got it, we saved a fortune 

[2+2]

The Joy was retrofitted for North American passenger after originally being designed for the Asian market. I have been on both ships.  I actually enjoyed the Bliss better.