Joy 5/26 - 6/2 Short Review

[Sheffben79]

4 hours ago, megan400 said:

Hi! I'm heading out on the Joy from NYC on 6/30 for the 7 night cruise to Bermuda. I haven't been on a cruise for around 3 years and wanted to ask a few questions...

Do they still have the key cards that you carry with you all the time? Used to need for the bars/etc. 

Are they enforcing the 'no saving chairs' rule at all?

Any idea if you can link individual credit cards per person versus per room?

How was the check-in?

Thanks!

Megan

Hi 

We are not Platinum, just regular cruisers but only second time with NCL.  We found the embarkation process to be terrible.  We arrived at the port just after 1pm and it took 90mins to collect our passes and board the ship.  The queues were not long, there was just hardly anybody working the desks and Platinum/Haven guests were given priority over everybody else in our lines.

I think many of the staff finished their shift or went on a break at 2pm as at one point there were only two people working the desks.  Not what we are used to but it soon becomes a distant memory when you finally get onboard. 

As the post above says most activities open except the usual shops, casino and speedway.

I was able to set a different credit card to my partner during the online check in process.

Key cards are still in use throughout the ship.

 

One thing we were not aware of before we boarded was the additional taxes incurred whilst in New York, think a further 8.5% or so was added to your account with every purchase - even if you had the drinks package.

 

Hope that helps.

 

[megan400]

Thanks for letting me know! I had something similar happen to me for checking in when I was going out from Miami. I had gotten there on the later side and thought i had missed the ship as there was only a couple of people at the desks and nobody waiting. Seems that people board on the earlier side. This time I only have to walk about 10 blocks to the ship, so I am able to have a more flexible boarding experience.

[kismet618]

3 hours ago, Sheffben79 said:

Hi 

We are not Platinum, just regular cruisers but only second time with NCL.  We found the embarkation process to be terrible.  We arrived at the port just after 1pm and it took 90mins to collect our passes and board the ship.  The queues were not long, there was just hardly anybody working the desks and Platinum/Haven guests were given priority over everybody else in our lines.

I think many of the staff finished their shift or went on a break at 2pm as at one point there were only two people working the desks.  Not what we are used to but it soon becomes a distant memory when you finally get onboard. 

As the post above says most activities open except the usual shops, casino and speedway.

I was able to set a different credit card to my partner during the online check in process.

Key cards are still in use throughout the ship.

 

One thing we were not aware of before we boarded was the additional taxes incurred whilst in New York, think a further 8.5% or so was added to your account with every purchase - even if you had the drinks package.

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

[kismet618]

The tax while in port is not unique to NCL or NYC.  Any US embarkation port charges local sales tax while in port.  We have experienced this in Miami, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico as well.

[Sheffben79]

58 minutes ago, kismet618 said:

The tax while in port is not unique to NCL or NYC.  Any US embarkation port charges local sales tax while in port.  We have experienced this in Miami, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico as well.

Yeah it's not so common this side of the Atlantic but I think it is moving more that way now, especially with some of the Med ports.  Its the first time I'd really noticed it, cant remember seeing them in LA last year.  They don't really add up to much so not much of a worry, it was just a word of caution for anyone unaware.

[megan400]

how was the internet?  Did you get the unlimited wi-fi package? Did wi-fi work by the pool?

[Sheffben79]

14 hours ago, megan400 said:

how was the internet?  Did you get the unlimited wi-fi package? Did wi-fi work by the pool?

We had the unlimited wifi and thought it was great.  I was able to work for a few hours on sea days with no issues.  I struggled whilst in Prima a couple of years ago with the basic 150mins package so was impressed this time.

I only really used it for work the observation lounge so cant comment on the pool area specifically.  But our phones seemed to work fine all throughout the ship.

I'd get the package again next time we cruise.