Joy vs Escape vs Getaway...your thoughts?

[zaylyn2590]

Hi. i've sailed on Carnival and RC and I'm looking at NCL for a Bermuda cruise from NY. I know there are a few ships that do that sailing. What are some of the key differences between the ships? I know its the Joy, Escape, and Getaway. I will have my 7 year old daughter with me. 

[dexddd]

Have not sailed Joy but it looks nice.  Sailed BA and hated it.  Sailed Escape to Bermuda and loved it. Of course you'll get different opinions but BA and GA too crowded imo.

[deweytrader]

All 3 are great, would give 1st place to the Joy for the observation lounge.  

[bkrickles1]

23 minutes ago, zaylyn2590 said:

Hi. i've sailed on Carnival and RC and I'm looking at NCL for a Bermuda cruise from NY. I know there are a few ships that do that sailing. What are some of the key differences between the ships? I know its the Joy, Escape, and Getaway. I will have my 7 year old daughter with me. 

I've sailed Joy and Escape and I'd give the edge to Escape for a warm weather sailing, especially if you're someone who likes to hang out on the sundecks. 

With that being said, Joy was great last year and we're sailing on her again this summer. 

[crow99]

I've sailed Getaway and Joy - really liked Joy, I'm on the Escape next - but of the three I'd vote Joy.

I enjoyed the shows in Q smokehouse, the Cavern Club and the Observation Lounge - think I've only done four ships but it's been my favourite!

[vacation44]

Been on all three and my favorite is the Joy while my husband prefers the Escape.  He likes their DBH better.   

[hallux]

1 hour ago, bkrickles1 said:

I've sailed Joy and Escape and I'd give the edge to Escape for a warm weather sailing, especially if you're someone who likes to hang out on the sundecks. 

With that being said, Joy was great last year and we're sailing on her again this summer. 

I'm inclined to agree.  Joy does have the Observation Lounge, but on a sunny itinerary I'm not sure it's a critical need.

 

Now that I think about it - WHEN is the OP planning to sail?  If in late fall/winter/early spring - Joy.  If late spring/summer/early fall - Escape.  Sailing out of NY can be cold, the OL would be a great venue to have in those cases.  Not so much a need for a summer sailing.

[bkrickles1]

8 minutes ago, hallux said:

I'm inclined to agree.  Joy does have the Observation Lounge, but on a sunny itinerary I'm not sure it's a critical need.

 

 

And I love the OL. Actually went there a lot on my Encore sailing out of Miami in 2020 as it has that great circular bar that was never crowded and had a couple of very fun bartenders.

That was a little gripe of mine on Joy. Loved the space, but it had only a walk up bar. Of course they had servers, but I like to sometimes sit at a bar and be a little social.

It was my go to bar on Encore for a pre dinner drink and on Joy I switched to the Mixx bar for that.

 

[thedoc29ca]

Have not been on the Joy.   Have been on Getaway and Escape 3 times each and enjoyed all of the cruises.   I’d say more similar than different.  
 

One consideration would be the amenities that your daughter might be able to do.   The  drop slides on all ships have a minimum 100lb weight requirement,  Joy’s Go-karts have a 48” minimum height to drive.  In this area I’d give an edge to the Getaway.  The ropes course, non drop slide and the rock wall on Getaway are all available if your daughter would like to try them.  

[graphicguy]

Breakaway/Getaway ships are where value meets modern cruising, IMHO.

 

They both have a soft spot in my heart as they were the first ships with a Waterfront, Ocean 678, more modern entertainment, etc.

 

Plus, they were the first ships I actually sailed in the Haven, getting a taste of what that was like (wonderful).

 

The downsides, because they allow smoking in the open areas of the casino, it tends to permeate throughout Decks 678.  The newer ships close off the smoking areas of the casino, alleviating that.  It would be great if they updated that.

 

It's been a year since I sailed either of them.  But, sailed the Breakaway last Fall. It was in great shape.  The -Away+ ships do have the Observation Lounge, which is a great venue.  Plus, their entertainment has been updated, too.

 

Some have updated Specialty Dining Venues, also.

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by graphicguy

[bkrickles1]

Also, I loved the entertainment on Joy. Especially the musical acts. There was so much live music and that's my thing on vacation and at home.

With that being said, Footloose was just ok, while Elements was really good.

On Escape, you have Choir of Man, which is the best show in the fleet (in my opinion) and I love the dueling pianos which is such great fun!

I've missed that, a little, on Joy.

Bottom line. All of my sailings on Joy, Escape and Encore were a blast!

76 days till Joy!!!!

[cruiseny4life]

I've sailed Getaway and Joy, not Escape. One of the major differences (to me) is that Joy does not have a thermal suite. This is almost a necessity for me, whether on a warm, Caribbean summer cruise or a chilly, spring Bermuda cruise. We did enjoy Joy, because it was in the western Caribbean, we were booked in Haven, and enjoyed the relaxing Haven Sundeck. If not for the sundeck, we would have been lost without the thermal suite.

 

Getaway has a lovely included noodle bar, whereas neither Escape or Joy have this. While the food isn't amazing, it is quite good and offers yummy dim sum, rice dishes, and pho-like soups. We love Shanghai's! Joy and Escape have the a la carte (or Free at Sea meal credit) Food Republic, which has similar dishes to Shanghai, but the value for money isn't great. I'd choose Shanghai over Food Republic every single day. 

 

Those are just two points, but as I haven't cruised Escape, I can't say much more. 

[thistimeplease]

Breakaway and Getaway are my 2 favorite ships.

[zaylyn2590]

it sounds like I can't go wrong with picking either of them lol

[Liljo22]

1 hour ago, zaylyn2590 said:

it sounds like I can't go wrong with picking either of them lol

You won't but it depends on what extra you want. 

 

Joy has the Observation lounge and go kart track that the other two do not have.  

Getaway has Syd Norman's which is a great show/venue.

Joy and Escape have the District Brewhouse if you like beer and live music.  

[hallux]

10 minutes ago, Liljo22 said:

Getaway has Syd Norman's which is a great show/venue.

Escape has The Pour House - which I mistakenly referred to as Syd Norman's because it had a tribute to Syd Norman as the person who the concept was based on...

[curlstravel]

Definitely Joy for the observation lounge.  We also love the outdoor Cavern bar. There is a tv at the bar where you can sing along  with the Beatles.  The bartender is awesome. Some nights there’s a huge crowd at the bar out on the deck and everyone sings and dances to the Beatles songs together.  We can’t wait to go back on the Joy. The mojito bar is alot of fun too.  They have entertainment in their bar too. We also love the whiskey bar. It’s in a room off by itself so it’s a nice quiet, cozy place to go and relax.

[bkrickles1]

27 minutes ago, curlstravel said:

Definitely Joy for the observation lounge.  We also love the outdoor Cavern bar. There is a tv at the bar where you can sing along  with the Beatles.  The bartender is awesome. Some nights there’s a huge crowd at the bar out on the deck and everyone sings and dances to the Beatles songs together.  We can’t wait to go back on the Joy. The mojito bar is alot of fun too.  They have entertainment in their bar too. We also love the whiskey bar. It’s in a room off by itself so it’s a nice quiet, cozy place to go and relax.

Love the outside Cavern bar! 

I like it for pre dinner drinks when we're sailing too. Beautiful sunset while sipping a cocktail. 

[Oceansaway17]

Escape for the wonderful thermal spa.

worth the money for week pass.

I loved the Bliss for observation lounge so Joy would a good choice and she is pretty ship too.

[hallux]

8 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

I loved the Bliss for observation lounge so Joy would a good choice and she is pretty ship too

Bliss has OL, Thermal Spa, Spice.  If someone finds all those venues important the Bliss is the best ship in the fleet.  Joy is missing the Thermal Spa but is still a nice ship.  Encore lacks Spice, Escape lacks the OL.  They each have their pros and cons, but the Bliss has the most pros from that list of venues.

[Oceansaway17]

On 5/10/2023 at 8:07 AM, hallux said:

Bliss has OL, Thermal Spa, Spice.  If someone finds all those venues important the Bliss is the best ship in the fleet.  Joy is missing the Thermal Spa but is still a nice ship.  Encore lacks Spice, Escape lacks the OL.  They each have their pros and cons, but the Bliss has the most pros from that list of venues.

Oh I did not realize Joy had no thermal spa. I knew about no solo rooms.

well then Escape is my choice still with Bliss 2nd

[Beamco]

You should never say never but I don't think I will ever sail on Getaway, Breakaway or Escape again! Solely because of the smoke from the casino spreading across all of the main activity areas on decks 6-7-8. If that does not bother you they are all great ships to vacation on. So far Bliss has been my favorite of all the Breakaway and + class.

[Liljo22]

What I find funny is that the negative reviews of the ships after the Escape were pretty overwhelming but now most list those ships as their favorite.  Its the regular cycle of  a new ship class.  Bunch of negative reviews of the Prima have people worried but by the time they move to a new class, I am sure people will be saying the Prima class ships are their favorite.