norwegian joy panama canal cruise

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NCL Joy 14-day Panama Canal Review (12/4 - 12/18)

By bundtkate , December 23, 2022 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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So while the experience is still fresh-ish, I wanted to take some time to share my thoughts on my husband's and my very first NCL cruise. I'm terminally wordy so this will be long. Apologies in advance.

To give some background, we are in our mid to late 30s and have primarily sailed RCI in the past with one trip on MSC in the era of empty ships (Feb 2021). We originally booked an aft-facing balcony, but I stalked prices obsessively and was able to score an upgrade to an HI for just $47 more. I expect this will never happen to me again. We got married on this cruise so we were traveling with friends and family not in the Haven which means we spent a fair bit of time out and about with them so I think we got a good feel for the ship as a whole, not just the Haven. Finally, before I dive in, I'll take a page out of @Sthrngary 's book and specifically mention that we're all different and my opinions may not at all reflect your experience. My goal is to share some thoughts about a potentially less-cruised itinerary from a demographic not often found on these longer cruises (we were among the few that had to get back to work after disembarkation) in the hopes of helping others decide whether this cruise is something they'd like to try.

Embarkation

This cruise unfortunately did not get off to a good start. Embarkation at Port Canaveral was a disaster, though I'm not sure anyone is really to blame for it. Everything was going smoothly at first. We found our way to the Haven line hidden way off to the side and were almost to the front when everything. Just. Stopped. Computer problems, apparently. Thankfully, we had made it into the terminal or we wouldn't have had any idea what was up. They only made announcements inside. My husband and I were relaying updates to the rest of our party via text as announcements were made. At this time, my folks were still trying to find the Priority Access line. I think it was the line to the left of the Haven line because there were Priority Access signs when we made it past security, but we figured that out too late to make a difference and no one at the port had any idea. My mom even said one NCL employee said they weren't offering Priority Access at that port and that they had to get in the general boarding line. They ended up boarding with everyone else despite paying extra for Priority Access because no one knew where to send them. After probably 30 minutes or so of standing there with the front of the line right in front of me, it starts moving again and we go through security. Next, we make our first mistake and go to the left of the Haven check-in sign when we should have gone to the right . I thought it was a bit suspect because we were given a boarding card and seated in an area that very clearly had no snacks. All of the helpful people here had made it very clear there would be snacks in the Haven pre-boarding lounge. I asked the lady near the Haven sign if we were in the right place and she just tells me to sit down because my husband already has a boarding card and we only need one. Here is where I made my second mistake and didn't repeat that we were in the Haven. Someone advised in a thread here specifically about boarding in Port Canaveral that you had to keep telling everyone that you were in the Haven loudly and repeatedly. Having done this sooner would have saved me 20 minutes or so. I'm sorry, helpful Cruise Critic poster. I should have listened to you. We were in the wrong place and as soon as I was just a bit more emphatic about it, we were checked in, heading upstairs, and being escorted onboard. Oops.  

We stayed in 14736 and overall the room was fantastic. I have a list of minor gripes below, but none of them would keep me from booking this stateroom again. This is an HI suite with a slightly angled balcony so you have enough space on the left for a lounger. There is an unreasonable amount of storage in these staterooms. We were on a 14-day cruise with our wedding attire in addition to normal clothes and the two of us fit everything in the closet between the hanging space and drawers. I can't fathom what the rest of the drawers are for. World cruises I guess? Either way, lots of storage. The bed is huge and comfy. The small couch (or large chair, depending on your perspective) was actually wide enough for my other half and I to both sit there and read. This stateroom is all the way forward, which I actually liked. I always knew which direction to go. It's a small hike to the forward elevator banks, but once there it was just a quick trip up or down to most everything I wanted to see. Few floors up to the Haven itself or quick trip down to the theater or my favorite non-Haven bar (District Brewhouse on 8). Also, it shares a wall with what I expect is a bridge officer cabin since you can see the bridge wing from your balcony on the same deck so that's one silent neighbor guaranteed. Despite being below the observation lounge and being something of a late riser, I was never bothered by noise at all. Minor Gripes There were a few design choices I found kind of odd. First, the bed was so tall I actually had to hop to sit on it (I'm about 5'4"). The ceiling in the shower was also so low that my husband (5'11") was very nearly too tall for it. The curtains on the balcony windows didn't overlap the walls at all so there was always a shaft of light peeking through. The mirror in the makeup area was so high that I couldn't use it to put on makeup while sitting on the stool. The magnifying mirror was well above where my face ended up. There were also a few maintenance issues with the room. None bothersome enough for me to risk being asked to move, but I found them surprising given the premium usually paid for Haven. Entertainment

This is one of the things I felt was a bit lacking on this cruise. There wasn't anything going on after 10pm besides whatever theme party was scheduled for that evening and even that shut down at 11. I'm not reading into this too much because most folks on this cruise genuinely were in their cabins by 10. Keeping things going for us few stragglers would have been a bit silly making this less a criticism and more just an FYI for any night owls considering this itinerary.

The good : Dylan Mendelson (I think I spelled that right) is a comedian who came on halfway through and was hilarious. The other 3 we saw were less so, though not bad by any means. The Nashville Tenors performed this cruise and did the best rendition of Queen's "Somebody to Love" that I've ever seen. The live music generally wasn't all my style, but was universally well done with one exception ... The bad : I know this won't be a popular take, but I was not a fan of the Beatles tribute on this cruise. Some of their songs were great, but others were so profoundly off-key and unpolished I ended up only seeing them once. I was thinking maybe they had to pull out some less practiced tunes because it was a longer cruise, but either way it was pretty awful in parts. The meh : Elements was not what I was hoping for. It was okay, but the ads around the ship made it look like this Cirque du Soleil style show and it wasn't really at that level. Some of the acrobatics were still very impressive and the dancing was great, but it was brought down by mediocre magic and this weird segment where the dancers wore flippers and made bloop noises that made me wonder if someone had spiked my drink. Ports

I had some pretty bum luck with excursions (not NCL's fault), but the ports we visited were still pretty great. If I have one complaint it's that a lot of stops were rather short making it tough to explore unless you woke up super early (e.g. 7am-2pm), but we had enough time to see some sights everywhere for the most part. Cartagena

Cartagena is the one place I felt we didn't have nearly enough time. It was a short stop to begin with and there was some sort of problem with the ship that limited top speed and made it even shorter -- we arrived late and had to leave early to make our slot for the canal transit. I had booked a third-party excursion that ended up canceled as a result (not enough time). We decided to pay to take a shuttle to the old town not realizing that it was some variety of holiday and that everyone was off work. Traffic was an absolute nightmare which means we basically got to the old town, got out and spun around once, then got back on the shuttle back to the port. We saw some sights while driving, but didn't really get to explore. My aunt and uncle were on an NCL excursion and afraid they might miss the ship. They got back well after all aboard and weren't sure if they'd wait with the mechanical issues + canal scheduling mandates even though their tour skipped about half of what they were meant to see. We all did get to see some sights from our respective vehicles and it looked like a cool port, but we saw so little it's tough for me to say. Bit of a bummer. Puerto Quetzal

This is where we got married so we got to see some scenery as we drove to our venue and from the venue itself, but mostly my husband and I were doing the whole wedding thing. The volcano apparently erupted the day before and closed a bunch of roads so we were lucky this port was a late arrival (noon). It was really hazy that day, but seeing the smoke from the volcano was pretty darned cool. Our driver said it was a good omen to have a volcano erupt before your wedding. He might have been lying, but I'll take it. I don't know what the rules are on CC about mentioning destinations in port so I won't name names, but I can wholeheartedly recommend our venue. It was more beautiful that I ever would have guessed from the pictures. Just absolutely perfect. We may return for a land trip and stay there some day.

Also a quick note that the crew in the Haven went above and beyond for us in this port. Our butler found us at breakfast to ask if we wanted to have our whole party escorted off the ship in the service elevators, even though only we were in the Haven. They allowed everyone to wait in the Haven lounge for the ship to clear and took all of us off first even before the rest of the Haven guests so we could all get off together and get to the venue quickly. Our stateroom was also decorated when we got back and they had left a bottle of prosecco and a huge cake. We'd already had 2 desserts that day so I'm afraid we didn't put much of a dent in the cake, but it was delicious. Our butler made sure there were enough glasses, plates and utensils in our suite so we could share with our whole party. It was way beyond anything I'd ever have expected.

Canal Transit

This is where being in the Haven really paid off. The Observation lounge, the bow, the waterfront ... every ounce of outdoor space in the main part of the ship was packed in the morning. Meanwhile the Horizon Lounge had a good amount of space and the Haven Library was completely empty with a possibly even better view due to the higher vantage point. We spent a good chunk of the morning here. then wandered to the more cleared out public spaces later in the day. If you ever do a transit and aren't in the Haven, a tip: Do NOT go to the bow first thing. Everyone seemed to wake up super early to get a spot on the bow, then later when we were going through the next set of locks? Empty. Perhaps there was a reason the first set of locks was better/more interesting, but I don't know what it was. Panama City

This was an overnight because we had to wait until low tide so the Joy would fit under the bridge and reach the dock. We were eating dinner outside at the Haven restaurant when we passed under the bridge and even the crew came out to watch how close it was. It seemed like you could have touched it from a few decks up. There some great views of the city from the ship when we arrived around 10pm and there was even a shuttle to the old town after the ship cleared. We didn't end up disembarking until the next morning. No excursion here so we got a taxi into the old town and explored on foot. The old town is beautiful, but still being fixed up and it is possible to wander near rougher parts of the city. If you do, you'll find helpful law enforcement to let you know it might be best to turn back. We stopped for coffee while were there (delicious) then took another taxi to the large park/rainforest near downtown. It was a small entrance fee per person with the option of a guided tour. We just walked a few trials on our own. We saw coatis, leaf cutter ants, some hummingbirds, and quite a few little lizards! There are also some scenic overlooks, but one of our party is mobility impaired so we stuck to the flatter trials. I don't think we could have spent the whole day there, but definitely worth a visit. Acapulco

Surprisingly my favorite of the Mexican ports. We booked an NCL excursion largely due to the state department warnings about the area and those warnings had my hopes for the port pretty low. It does look a bit rough around the edges, but I never felt unsafe. Continuing my excursion bad luck, the catamaran our bay cruise was meant to be on broke down so we were on a two deck party boat that had seen better days. Despite this, the cruise around the bay was absolutely wonderful. We saw some really amazing architecture, had some surprisingly tasty flautas, too many free tiny beers, plus we even saw a whale once! To bring the bad luck back, one of the buses broke down after dropping us off, apparently, so since we were among the last off the boat we had to wait for a bit and the tour operators drove us back to the port, probably in their own cars. It was a bit toasty while we were waiting, even for a gal from South Texas, but all in all a great excursion I'd highly recommend in a port I found pleasantly surprising.

Puerto Vallarta

This port and the next were back-to-back. We didn't have an excursion booked and I was not feeling great this AM (thankfully short-lived) so we just took a walk along a close beach. We found a cool pool/river thing that flowed down from the city into the ocean. I don't know if it was a tide pool or a stream or what, but it was nice and cold with tiny fish and we walked in it for a while. The beach was right by pier 1 where Emerald Princess was docked. We were at pier 4. There was a free shuttle that went between the piers, but it waited to fill up so it we just walked and honestly weren't that fare behind it, but could be nice for those with mobility issues. After a few hours of wandering we were back on the ship. If you want a beach day, I'd highly recommend just taking this walk. I understand all of Vallarta's beaches are public and this one was plenty nice and super close. If you want to see the city, though, you'd need to take an excursion or taxi. It didn't look like much else was within walking distance. Cabo San Lucas

My bad excursion luck reared its head again here. I had managed to get a spot on an NCL whale watching excursion after the Haven concierge got us on the waitlist, but the tour provider's boat apparently broke down so it was canceled. End of the day, this may have been good luck in disguise. There were plenty of tour providers right as you get off the tender and we managed to find a whale watching excursion that cost less for the both of us than NCL was charging for one. It was in a really small boat -- the kind you might have gone fishing in as a child if you grew up in the midwest like me -- but our guide was great and I really enjoyed the tour. Not only did we see tons of whales (we got really lucky with one group that hung out around the boats for a  long while), our guide took us by the arch, the pacific window, lover's beach, and pelican rock. They offered to drop us off at the beach, but with a short time in port (last tender at 2pm) we decided to just go back to the ship. Food

Ah, the real meat and potatoes (sorry, I'll show myself out ...). Food ranged widely from absolutely amazing to pretty awful. We went to Le Bistro twice, Cagney's once, and Food Republic twice. We also ate lunch/snacks at The Local a few times, ate at least one of each meal at the Haven restaurant, and ate at the MDR with our traveling party a few times. I've ended up writing this over the course of several days so my memory of what I ate is fading a bit, but I'll do my best to mention it to the best of my recollection.

This was our first specialty meal and it was pretty darned good, though I was not prepared for just how much food you get for your free at sea meal. I ordered sides but didn't really touch them. I even ordered the 5oz filet in anticipation of it being too much food and that did not help enough. If I had a do-over, I'd skip the sides entirely to avoid waste. I got steak tartar (good, but better in the Haven), french onion soup (amazing, but huge), a 5oz filet, and the cheesecake. Only gripe I had was that NCL seems very convinced that you don't mean it when you order steak very rare. It usually came on the cool side of medium rare at best and nothing we said when ordering after this seemed to change that.

We did a big formal dinner with everyone here the day after our wedding and enjoyed it so much we came back again on our last day. The scallops were tiny, but I considered that a feature and they were delicious besides. My husband got the one truly rare steak we managed to get onboard here, topped with foie gras which made it even better than Cagney's. I got to try some and it was amazing. I got the duck which is lovely, but the real star he was the dessert. I am an absolute fiend for custard and the floating island was amazing. I strongly considered coming back another time and actually paying for just dessert. Highly recommended. On the slightly negative side, we discovered that we probably don't like chestnuts. The Bavarian cream my husband ordered was a mistake. You may love it, but just fair warning that chestnut is a really weird flavor that may not be to your liking. None of us were fans.

Food Republic

We are big sushi fans and we found that 4 sushi rolls split between us was a decent meal easily supplemented by a late night snack so we were able to eat here twice by only using one credit per go. There weren't many standouts, but all the rolls we tried would have ranked amongst the better sushi we've had on land. The two exceptions were the salmon belly (not worth it) and the yellowtail roll (should have got this twice, but we sadly tried it only on our second visit).

The wings were a bit hit or miss, but when they were good they were really good. The Ruben was also a highlight, but I strongly recommend extra dressing on the side. It usually needs a bit extra.

This one was a real struggle. It's not just that the specialty dining and the Haven restaurant were better, the MDR was actively bad. I got a pasta dish of some sort that was okay, but the meat dishes I got were dry, the soups were universally over salted, a dish that claimed to have Moroccan spices didn't have any spices so far as I could tell. I am picky about food so I've never been blown away by MDR food, but I usually find it tolerable at worst. This was bad enough that I honestly don't think I could cruise NCL without the Haven or enough specialty meals to cover the whole cruise. I was really grateful for free at sea meals since it let us eat dinner with our group without going to the MDR. After a few tries, we decided it was better to apologize profusely for ditching them and eat literally anywhere else.

The Haven Restaurant

The food in the Haven was predictably amazing. Everything we ate was beyond delicious. I asked for a lobster tail with my crab cakes and the waitress asked how many, which I'm sure is no big deal to Haven regulars but it made me feel pretty darned fancy. The crab cakes, steak tartar, french toast, and banana banoffee lunch dessert were our favorite dishes by far but everything we tried was so good. Because this was a 14-day cruise, the Haven restaurant did start offering daily specials the second week. We didn't end up trying any because we didn't eat there often enough to tire of the set menu, but since I've read complaints about it getting old beyond 7 days, I figured it would be nice for folks to see NCL apparently gets this and is exploring options for longer cruises. Oh and the coffee! Best I've had at sea by far. It's still not as good as what we make at home, but it's STRONG and that's the most important thing to me. I still ordered my lattes with 2 espresso shots, but there were days 1 was enough and even the machine coffee in the Horizon Lounge was better than any coffee I've had on a cruise before. Only weird thing is that you can't just order a cup of coffee from the restaurant and, say, take it to the Horizon lounge in the afternoon. They clear a table up and seat you, which felt like a bit much for an afternoon cup of coffee. Conclusion

Despite that fact that I know I sound like a giant complaint machine at points in this review, this was overall a wonderful cruise and the good well outweighed the bad. The Haven was amazing and I would love try it again on our own so we have the opportunity to really enjoy it. Given normal prices I'm not sure when I'll manage that, but I will definitely be trying. The crew everywhere was great, the itinerary was fascinating and NCL really went out of their way to make our wedding special. What I'm not sure of is whether I'd sail NCL outside of the Haven. The standard product fell well short of RCI, in my opinion, and there were a lot of little frustrations I haven't encountered on other lines that makes me feel like I'd probably just go RCI if Haven isn't in the cards. A well-worn example of these frustrations is the drink package not including bottled water or specialty coffee when it does on most other lines. There was also a bar on one side of The Waterfront with no blender so you couldn't get frozen drinks without going somewhere else. The forward elevator banks aren't all called together so people would always call both sets making them stop on empty floors all the time. The photographers were constantly blocking major thoroughfares with photo ops using backgrounds that could have be set up somewhere less in the way. I get they were doing this on purpose for visibility so folks would get photos taken, but I am sure there's somewhere that's both visible and not in the way. That said, none of this was enough to negatively impact our vacation to any meaningful extent. I also know how different the same line can be across ships and itineraries so I think I may end up trying a more standard 7-day on a ship like the Prima or even another Breakaway+ class (I know they Joy is a bit unique) to see if we like it better. This experience also got me genuinely curious about ships within the ship which has me looking at MSC in Yacht Club for our next ocean cruise. The Yacht Club inside rooms are super affordable so maybe a way to get a Haven-like experience on the cheaper. I am definitely thrilled to have had the opportunity to try NCL in style and while I'm not sure when and how we'll be back, I expect we will give NCL another go before too long. Thank Yous  

I also wanted to extend some specific thank yous to @Sthrngary , @Sailing12Away , @CDR Benson , and others in Gary's Haven thread that really helped me plan and ensure we had the best vacation possible. I wouldn't have loved this trip half as much without y'all's help. Also whoever mentioned being loud about being in the Haven at Port Canaveral because that was defs a pro tip -- please forgive my awful memory keeping me from tagging you. This community is really fantastic and NCL cruisers are lucky to have y'all. Thank you!

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Sailing12Away

Glad you had a great trip. We'll be doing a PC transit but in the opposite direction in about 60 days, so looking forward to being back on board.

In the Mexico ports of call, did you pay US cash for the last minute excursions, they took credit cards, you brought some pesos with you....? Right now we have nothing booked for Acapulco and just a short 1 hr tour in Cabo. Was hoping it would be easy to catch a water taxi across from the tender area to head to the brewery over there on our own. Just not sure what is best to take with us on land to pay for stuff.

36 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said: In the Mexico ports of call, did you pay US cash for the last minute excursions, they took credit cards, you brought some pesos with you....? Right now we have nothing booked for Acapulco and just a short 1 hr tour in Cabo. Was hoping it would be easy to catch a water taxi across from the tender area to head to the brewery over there on our own

We paid in USD cash in every port with no problem. You shouldn't have any problem with the water taxi. Everyone outside the tender pier seemed to offer everything from whale watching to glass bottom boats to a water taxi and many things in between.

NorthernJoey

Thank you, great review bundtkate. We will be having the same Joy PC cruise (Miami-LA) in January. 

For Cabo our plan is to buy a whale tour from the pier, not NCL.  You wrote that the boat was small. How many was on this tour and do you remember the duration?

7 minutes ago, NorthernJoey said: How many was on this tour and do you remember the duration?

Only 4 on ours, plus the guide. It was advertised as 1.5 hours long and ended up being just about at that mark.

Thank you for this review and congratulations on your wedding!!

Yes, thank you and congratulations !!!

Cruise5life

Cool review. Thanks.  I’ll be doing this from LA to Mia in 2 weeks.  Just gonna wing it on excursions.    

16 hours ago, bundtkate said: So while the experience is still fresh-ish, I wanted to take some time to share my thoughts on my husband's and my very first NCL cruise.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and many congratulations on your wedding (and what a great spot to pick)!

8 hours ago, NorthernJoey said: For Cabo our plan is to buy a whale tour from the pier, not NCL.  You wrote that the boat was small.

Another possibility is to book a private whale watching tour in advance, from a group like Whale Watch Cabo.  Ten people max in a boat, and you can pick a boat with a cover (rather than a zodiac), which really does help in the sun.   We toured with them some years ago, in January (peak whale watching season).  It was a fabulous experience.

http://www.whalewatchcabo.com/

(photos by turtles06)

On 12/23/2022 at 3:56 PM, bundtkate said: So while the experience is still fresh-ish, I wanted to take some time to share my thoughts on my husband's and my very first NCL cruise. I'm terminally wordy so this will be long. Apologies in advance.   To give some background, we are in our mid to late 30s and have primarily sailed RCI in the past with one trip on MSC in the era of empty ships (Feb 2021). We originally booked an aft-facing balcony, but I stalked prices obsessively and was able to score an upgrade to an HI for just $47 more. I expect this will never happen to me again. We got married on this cruise so we were traveling with friends and family not in the Haven which means we spent a fair bit of time out and about with them so I think we got a good feel for the ship as a whole, not just the Haven. Finally, before I dive in, I'll take a page out of @Sthrngary 's book and specifically mention that we're all different and my opinions may not at all reflect your experience. My goal is to share some thoughts about a potentially less-cruised itinerary from a demographic not often found on these longer cruises (we were among the few that had to get back to work after disembarkation) in the hopes of helping others decide whether this cruise is something they'd like to try. Embarkation   This cruise unfortunately did not get off to a good start. Embarkation at Port Canaveral was a disaster, though I'm not sure anyone is really to blame for it. Everything was going smoothly at first. We found our way to the Haven line hidden way off to the side and were almost to the front when everything. Just. Stopped. Computer problems, apparently. Thankfully, we had made it into the terminal or we wouldn't have had any idea what was up. They only made announcements inside. My husband and I were relaying updates to the rest of our party via text as announcements were made. At this time, my folks were still trying to find the Priority Access line. I think it was the line to the left of the Haven line because there were Priority Access signs when we made it past security, but we figured that out too late to make a difference and no one at the port had any idea. My mom even said one NCL employee said they weren't offering Priority Access at that port and that they had to get in the general boarding line. They ended up boarding with everyone else despite paying extra for Priority Access because no one knew where to send them. After probably 30 minutes or so of standing there with the front of the line right in front of me, it starts moving again and we go through security. Next, we make our first mistake and go to the left of the Haven check-in sign when we should have gone to the right . I thought it was a bit suspect because we were given a boarding card and seated in an area that very clearly had no snacks. All of the helpful people here had made it very clear there would be snacks in the Haven pre-boarding lounge. I asked the lady near the Haven sign if we were in the right place and she just tells me to sit down because my husband already has a boarding card and we only need one. Here is where I made my second mistake and didn't repeat that we were in the Haven. Someone advised in a thread here specifically about boarding in Port Canaveral that you had to keep telling everyone that you were in the Haven loudly and repeatedly. Having done this sooner would have saved me 20 minutes or so. I'm sorry, helpful Cruise Critic poster. I should have listened to you. We were in the wrong place and as soon as I was just a bit more emphatic about it, we were checked in, heading upstairs, and being escorted onboard. Oops.   Stateroom   We stayed in 14736 and overall the room was fantastic. I have a list of minor gripes below, but none of them would keep me from booking this stateroom again. This is an HI suite with a slightly angled balcony so you have enough space on the left for a lounger. There is an unreasonable amount of storage in these staterooms. We were on a 14-day cruise with our wedding attire in addition to normal clothes and the two of us fit everything in the closet between the hanging space and drawers. I can't fathom what the rest of the drawers are for. World cruises I guess? Either way, lots of storage. The bed is huge and comfy. The small couch (or large chair, depending on your perspective) was actually wide enough for my other half and I to both sit there and read. This stateroom is all the way forward, which I actually liked. I always knew which direction to go. It's a small hike to the forward elevator banks, but once there it was just a quick trip up or down to most everything I wanted to see. Few floors up to the Haven itself or quick trip down to the theater or my favorite non-Haven bar (District Brewhouse on 8). Also, it shares a wall with what I expect is a bridge officer cabin since you can see the bridge wing from your balcony on the same deck so that's one silent neighbor guaranteed. Despite being below the observation lounge and being something of a late riser, I was never bothered by noise at all. Minor Gripes There were a few design choices I found kind of odd. First, the bed was so tall I actually had to hop to sit on it (I'm about 5'4"). The ceiling in the shower was also so low that my husband (5'11") was very nearly too tall for it. The curtains on the balcony windows didn't overlap the walls at all so there was always a shaft of light peeking through. The mirror in the makeup area was so high that I couldn't use it to put on makeup while sitting on the stool. The magnifying mirror was well above where my face ended up. There were also a few maintenance issues with the room. None bothersome enough for me to risk being asked to move, but I found them surprising given the premium usually paid for Haven. Entertainment   This is one of the things I felt was a bit lacking on this cruise. There wasn't anything going on after 10pm besides whatever theme party was scheduled for that evening and even that shut down at 11. I'm not reading into this too much because most folks on this cruise genuinely were in their cabins by 10. Keeping things going for us few stragglers would have been a bit silly making this less a criticism and more just an FYI for any night owls considering this itinerary.   The good : Dylan Mendelson (I think I spelled that right) is a comedian who came on halfway through and was hilarious. The other 3 we saw were less so, though not bad by any means. The Nashville Tenors performed this cruise and did the best rendition of Queen's "Somebody to Love" that I've ever seen. The live music generally wasn't all my style, but was universally well done with one exception ... The bad : I know this won't be a popular take, but I was not a fan of the Beatles tribute on this cruise. Some of their songs were great, but others were so profoundly off-key and unpolished I ended up only seeing them once. I was thinking maybe they had to pull out some less practiced tunes because it was a longer cruise, but either way it was pretty awful in parts. The meh : Elements was not what I was hoping for. It was okay, but the ads around the ship made it look like this Cirque du Soleil style show and it wasn't really at that level. Some of the acrobatics were still very impressive and the dancing was great, but it was brought down by mediocre magic and this weird segment where the dancers wore flippers and made bloop noises that made me wonder if someone had spiked my drink. Ports I had some pretty bum luck with excursions (not NCL's fault), but the ports we visited were still pretty great. If I have one complaint it's that a lot of stops were rather short making it tough to explore unless you woke up super early (e.g. 7am-2pm), but we had enough time to see some sights everywhere for the most part. Cartagena   Cartagena is the one place I felt we didn't have nearly enough time. It was a short stop to begin with and there was some sort of problem with the ship that limited top speed and made it even shorter -- we arrived late and had to leave early to make our slot for the canal transit. I had booked a third-party excursion that ended up canceled as a result (not enough time). We decided to pay to take a shuttle to the old town not realizing that it was some variety of holiday and that everyone was off work. Traffic was an absolute nightmare which means we basically got to the old town, got out and spun around once, then got back on the shuttle back to the port. We saw some sights while driving, but didn't really get to explore. My aunt and uncle were on an NCL excursion and afraid they might miss the ship. They got back well after all aboard and weren't sure if they'd wait with the mechanical issues + canal scheduling mandates even though their tour skipped about half of what they were meant to see. We all did get to see some sights from our respective vehicles and it looked like a cool port, but we saw so little it's tough for me to say. Bit of a bummer. Puerto Quetzal   This is where we got married so we got to see some scenery as we drove to our venue and from the venue itself, but mostly my husband and I were doing the whole wedding thing. The volcano apparently erupted the day before and closed a bunch of roads so we were lucky this port was a late arrival (noon). It was really hazy that day, but seeing the smoke from the volcano was pretty darned cool. Our driver said it was a good omen to have a volcano erupt before your wedding. He might have been lying, but I'll take it. I don't know what the rules are on CC about mentioning destinations in port so I won't name names, but I can wholeheartedly recommend our venue. It was more beautiful that I ever would have guessed from the pictures. Just absolutely perfect. We may return for a land trip and stay there some day.   Also a quick note that the crew in the Haven went above and beyond for us in this port. Our butler found us at breakfast to ask if we wanted to have our whole party escorted off the ship in the service elevators, even though only we were in the Haven. They allowed everyone to wait in the Haven lounge for the ship to clear and took all of us off first even before the rest of the Haven guests so we could all get off together and get to the venue quickly. Our stateroom was also decorated when we got back and they had left a bottle of prosecco and a huge cake. We'd already had 2 desserts that day so I'm afraid we didn't put much of a dent in the cake, but it was delicious. Our butler made sure there were enough glasses, plates and utensils in our suite so we could share with our whole party. It was way beyond anything I'd ever have expected.   Canal Transit   This is where being in the Haven really paid off. The Observation lounge, the bow, the waterfront ... every ounce of outdoor space in the main part of the ship was packed in the morning. Meanwhile the Horizon Lounge had a good amount of space and the Haven Library was completely empty with a possibly even better view due to the higher vantage point. We spent a good chunk of the morning here. then wandered to the more cleared out public spaces later in the day. If you ever do a transit and aren't in the Haven, a tip: Do NOT go to the bow first thing. Everyone seemed to wake up super early to get a spot on the bow, then later when we were going through the next set of locks? Empty. Perhaps there was a reason the first set of locks was better/more interesting, but I don't know what it was. Panama City   This was an overnight because we had to wait until low tide so the Joy would fit under the bridge and reach the dock. We were eating dinner outside at the Haven restaurant when we passed under the bridge and even the crew came out to watch how close it was. It seemed like you could have touched it from a few decks up. There some great views of the city from the ship when we arrived around 10pm and there was even a shuttle to the old town after the ship cleared. We didn't end up disembarking until the next morning. No excursion here so we got a taxi into the old town and explored on foot. The old town is beautiful, but still being fixed up and it is possible to wander near rougher parts of the city. If you do, you'll find helpful law enforcement to let you know it might be best to turn back. We stopped for coffee while were there (delicious) then took another taxi to the large park/rainforest near downtown. It was a small entrance fee per person with the option of a guided tour. We just walked a few trials on our own. We saw coatis, leaf cutter ants, some hummingbirds, and quite a few little lizards! There are also some scenic overlooks, but one of our party is mobility impaired so we stuck to the flatter trials. I don't think we could have spent the whole day there, but definitely worth a visit. Acapulco   Surprisingly my favorite of the Mexican ports. We booked an NCL excursion largely due to the state department warnings about the area and those warnings had my hopes for the port pretty low. It does look a bit rough around the edges, but I never felt unsafe. Continuing my excursion bad luck, the catamaran our bay cruise was meant to be on broke down so we were on a two deck party boat that had seen better days. Despite this, the cruise around the bay was absolutely wonderful. We saw some really amazing architecture, had some surprisingly tasty flautas, too many free tiny beers, plus we even saw a whale once! To bring the bad luck back, one of the buses broke down after dropping us off, apparently, so since we were among the last off the boat we had to wait for a bit and the tour operators drove us back to the port, probably in their own cars. It was a bit toasty while we were waiting, even for a gal from South Texas, but all in all a great excursion I'd highly recommend in a port I found pleasantly surprising.   Puerto Vallarta   This port and the next were back-to-back. We didn't have an excursion booked and I was not feeling great this AM (thankfully short-lived) so we just took a walk along a close beach. We found a cool pool/river thing that flowed down from the city into the ocean. I don't know if it was a tide pool or a stream or what, but it was nice and cold with tiny fish and we walked in it for a while. The beach was right by pier 1 where Emerald Princess was docked. We were at pier 4. There was a free shuttle that went between the piers, but it waited to fill up so it we just walked and honestly weren't that fare behind it, but could be nice for those with mobility issues. After a few hours of wandering we were back on the ship. If you want a beach day, I'd highly recommend just taking this walk. I understand all of Vallarta's beaches are public and this one was plenty nice and super close. If you want to see the city, though, you'd need to take an excursion or taxi. It didn't look like much else was within walking distance. Cabo San Lucas   My bad excursion luck reared its head again here. I had managed to get a spot on an NCL whale watching excursion after the Haven concierge got us on the waitlist, but the tour provider's boat apparently broke down so it was canceled. End of the day, this may have been good luck in disguise. There were plenty of tour providers right as you get off the tender and we managed to find a whale watching excursion that cost less for the both of us than NCL was charging for one. It was in a really small boat -- the kind you might have gone fishing in as a child if you grew up in the midwest like me -- but our guide was great and I really enjoyed the tour. Not only did we see tons of whales (we got really lucky with one group that hung out around the boats for a  long while), our guide took us by the arch, the pacific window, lover's beach, and pelican rock. They offered to drop us off at the beach, but with a short time in port (last tender at 2pm) we decided to just go back to the ship. Food   Ah, the real meat and potatoes (sorry, I'll show myself out ...). Food ranged widely from absolutely amazing to pretty awful. We went to Le Bistro twice, Cagney's once, and Food Republic twice. We also ate lunch/snacks at The Local a few times, ate at least one of each meal at the Haven restaurant, and ate at the MDR with our traveling party a few times. I've ended up writing this over the course of several days so my memory of what I ate is fading a bit, but I'll do my best to mention it to the best of my recollection.   Cagney's   This was our first specialty meal and it was pretty darned good, though I was not prepared for just how much food you get for your free at sea meal. I ordered sides but didn't really touch them. I even ordered the 5oz filet in anticipation of it being too much food and that did not help enough. If I had a do-over, I'd skip the sides entirely to avoid waste. I got steak tartar (good, but better in the Haven), french onion soup (amazing, but huge), a 5oz filet, and the cheesecake. Only gripe I had was that NCL seems very convinced that you don't mean it when you order steak very rare. It usually came on the cool side of medium rare at best and nothing we said when ordering after this seemed to change that.   Le Bistro   We did a big formal dinner with everyone here the day after our wedding and enjoyed it so much we came back again on our last day. The scallops were tiny, but I considered that a feature and they were delicious besides. My husband got the one truly rare steak we managed to get onboard here, topped with foie gras which made it even better than Cagney's. I got to try some and it was amazing. I got the duck which is lovely, but the real star he was the dessert. I am an absolute fiend for custard and the floating island was amazing. I strongly considered coming back another time and actually paying for just dessert. Highly recommended. On the slightly negative side, we discovered that we probably don't like chestnuts. The Bavarian cream my husband ordered was a mistake. You may love it, but just fair warning that chestnut is a really weird flavor that may not be to your liking. None of us were fans.   Food Republic   We are big sushi fans and we found that 4 sushi rolls split between us was a decent meal easily supplemented by a late night snack so we were able to eat here twice by only using one credit per go. There weren't many standouts, but all the rolls we tried would have ranked amongst the better sushi we've had on land. The two exceptions were the salmon belly (not worth it) and the yellowtail roll (should have got this twice, but we sadly tried it only on our second visit).   The Local   The wings were a bit hit or miss, but when they were good they were really good. The Ruben was also a highlight, but I strongly recommend extra dressing on the side. It usually needs a bit extra.   MDR   This one was a real struggle. It's not just that the specialty dining and the Haven restaurant were better, the MDR was actively bad. I got a pasta dish of some sort that was okay, but the meat dishes I got were dry, the soups were universally over salted, a dish that claimed to have Moroccan spices didn't have any spices so far as I could tell. I am picky about food so I've never been blown away by MDR food, but I usually find it tolerable at worst. This was bad enough that I honestly don't think I could cruise NCL without the Haven or enough specialty meals to cover the whole cruise. I was really grateful for free at sea meals since it let us eat dinner with our group without going to the MDR. After a few tries, we decided it was better to apologize profusely for ditching them and eat literally anywhere else.   The Haven Restaurant   The food in the Haven was predictably amazing. Everything we ate was beyond delicious. I asked for a lobster tail with my crab cakes and the waitress asked how many, which I'm sure is no big deal to Haven regulars but it made me feel pretty darned fancy. The crab cakes, steak tartar, french toast, and banana banoffee lunch dessert were our favorite dishes by far but everything we tried was so good. Because this was a 14-day cruise, the Haven restaurant did start offering daily specials the second week. We didn't end up trying any because we didn't eat there often enough to tire of the set menu, but since I've read complaints about it getting old beyond 7 days, I figured it would be nice for folks to see NCL apparently gets this and is exploring options for longer cruises. Oh and the coffee! Best I've had at sea by far. It's still not as good as what we make at home, but it's STRONG and that's the most important thing to me. I still ordered my lattes with 2 espresso shots, but there were days 1 was enough and even the machine coffee in the Horizon Lounge was better than any coffee I've had on a cruise before. Only weird thing is that you can't just order a cup of coffee from the restaurant and, say, take it to the Horizon lounge in the afternoon. They clear a table up and seat you, which felt like a bit much for an afternoon cup of coffee. Conclusion   Despite that fact that I know I sound like a giant complaint machine at points in this review, this was overall a wonderful cruise and the good well outweighed the bad. The Haven was amazing and I would love try it again on our own so we have the opportunity to really enjoy it. Given normal prices I'm not sure when I'll manage that, but I will definitely be trying. The crew everywhere was great, the itinerary was fascinating and NCL really went out of their way to make our wedding special. What I'm not sure of is whether I'd sail NCL outside of the Haven. The standard product fell well short of RCI, in my opinion, and there were a lot of little frustrations I haven't encountered on other lines that makes me feel like I'd probably just go RCI if Haven isn't in the cards. A well-worn example of these frustrations is the drink package not including bottled water or specialty coffee when it does on most other lines. There was also a bar on one side of The Waterfront with no blender so you couldn't get frozen drinks without going somewhere else. The forward elevator banks aren't all called together so people would always call both sets making them stop on empty floors all the time. The photographers were constantly blocking major thoroughfares with photo ops using backgrounds that could have be set up somewhere less in the way. I get they were doing this on purpose for visibility so folks would get photos taken, but I am sure there's somewhere that's both visible and not in the way. That said, none of this was enough to negatively impact our vacation to any meaningful extent. I also know how different the same line can be across ships and itineraries so I think I may end up trying a more standard 7-day on a ship like the Prima or even another Breakaway+ class (I know they Joy is a bit unique) to see if we like it better. This experience also got me genuinely curious about ships within the ship which has me looking at MSC in Yacht Club for our next ocean cruise. The Yacht Club inside rooms are super affordable so maybe a way to get a Haven-like experience on the cheaper. I am definitely thrilled to have had the opportunity to try NCL in style and while I'm not sure when and how we'll be back, I expect we will give NCL another go before too long. Thank Yous   I also wanted to extend some specific thank yous to @Sthrngary , @Sailing12Away , @CDR Benson , and others in Gary's Haven thread that really helped me plan and ensure we had the best vacation possible. I wouldn't have loved this trip half as much without y'all's help. Also whoever mentioned being loud about being in the Haven at Port Canaveral because that was defs a pro tip -- please forgive my awful memory keeping me from tagging you. This community is really fantastic and NCL cruisers are lucky to have y'all. Thank you!

Great review!

we will be in the same cabin 14736 Jan 21st - 

44 minutes ago, joedel said: we will be in the same cabin 14736 Jan 21st

You will love it! Because we were traveling with others, we didn't spend too much time there, but it was a gorgeous cabin. If you have any questions about it, too, feel free to ask. We do have pics, but between the post-cruise ick (not COVID, thankfully) and the holidays I just haven't got around to organizing them yet.

Thanks, I appreciate hearing from a different demographic for the Panama Canal sailings. We are in our 40s, but also enjoy some nightlife at least through midnight, so appreciate that info.  We have a FCC and are debating on the PC sailings. It's always been on our list. We also really like the Breakaway Plus class ships, particularly for a longer cruise, so Joy or Bliss seem to be our options for 2024. 

10 hours ago, weltek said: We have a FCC and are debating on the PC sailings. It's always been on our list.

I would still recommend it despite the slight negative of minimal nightlife. It was an amazing itinerary and visited a few places I don't think ships stop at outside of canal transits. Another reason is that the lack of late night activities is a bit less of a negative on this itinerary because most port stops are get in early and leave early. Each of the Mexican ports arrived around 7am and left 2-3pm. Catagena was the same. Panama City was an overnight, but arrival was pretty late (10pm) and we left at I think 3pm the next day? Maybe earlier? The only genuine exception was Puerto Quetzal with a 12pm arrival and pretty late (8pm, I think?) departure. Early arrivals mean early excursions and early departures mean it's tough to see much unless you disembark early so it ends up making sense to cut the days short, even if that's not normally your habit. We noticed things calming down earlier than expected, especially during the several sea days to start the cruise, but I think the itinerary saved it from bugging us more.

On 12/28/2022 at 9:56 AM, weltek said: Thanks, I appreciate hearing from a different demographic for the Panama Canal sailings. We are in our 40s, but also enjoy some nightlife at least through midnight, so appreciate that info.  We have a FCC and are debating on the PC sailings. It's always been on our list. We also really like the Breakaway Plus class ships, particularly for a longer cruise, so Joy or Bliss seem to be our options for 2024. 

We're in our 40's too and taking our PC trip in <60 days. Current itinerary has every other day as a sea day (just about), so we're booked in a Haven room and I'll be getting lots of vitamin D and relaxing and unwinding in. As with our last trip to Canada on the Joy, I'll try and use my free internet minutes to give updates and check-in here as we go.

Thanks so much for the detailed review, BundtKate. This helps our Haven trip planning immensely!

Dr. Cocktail

Thanks for your great review!

We've been in the YC and Haven many times - I still prefer the Haven .....

Totally insane question - we're also booked in an HI on the Joy - do they still supply hard bars of soap or is it all the pump stuff?

8 minutes ago, Dr. Cocktail said: do they still supply hard bars of soap or is it all the pump stuff?

I am pretty sure it's just the pump stuff. There's a non-zero chance there was bar soap I instantly forgot about because I'm not a fan and alternatives existed, but trying to visualize the bathroom, I don't think that was the case.

40 minutes ago, bundtkate said: I am pretty sure it's just the pump stuff. There's a non-zero chance there was bar soap I instantly forgot about because I'm not a fan and alternatives existed, but trying to visualize the bathroom, I don't think that was the case.

Many thanks!  I prefer the pump stuff but my partner likes a bar - go figure. The First World sort o' question that CC is perfect for!  I will make sure to raid the maid cart in the hotel the day before!

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Engineered specifically for Chinese passengers, Norwegian Joy bucks a lot of the line's traditions and replaces them with more demographic-appropriate fare. For example, O'Sheehan's Pub, though well-loved by Western patrons, has been replaced by the Joy Tea Room, and the main pool deck has been redesigned to focus more on wellness than splashability.

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23-day Cruise   on   Norwegian Joy

Panama canal: mexico & bahamas, from   orlando (port canaveral), florida.

• 05:30 PM Embark
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• 06:00 AM - 02:00 PM
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This is the place to shuttle from one exciting port to the next. Visit nearby Kennedy Space Centre for a day of inspiring and educational exhibits. Amuse yourself at any one of the world-class theme parks. Or spend the day watching for alligators from an airboat.

All our cruises to the Bahamas feature a whole day visit to Great Stirrup Cay, our idyllic island paradise reserved just for our guests. Stroll along soft, white-sand beaches and enjoy the many activities we have to offer. Snorkel and see underwater delights, kayak in crystal-clear water, then get revved up on a WaveRunner® adventure. The fun is endless here. Grab a bite at our new 8,500- square foot beach buffet and simply relax in your private beachfront cabana. This tropical paradise is just for you. Take advantage.

Find Your Endless Summer

Great Stirrup Cay is our sun-drenched private island paradise reserved just for Norwegian Cruise Line guests.

The island is yours for the day, so relax by walking along the expanded white sand beaches or, if you get a little adventurous, get up close and personal with the wildlife in Stingray Encounter.

250-Acre Island Oasis

Snorkeling in crystal-clear water beside a school of tropical fish is just one of the dozens of Great Stirrup Cay activities to do on the 250-acre island oasis.

Enjoy your favorite cocktail followed by a complimentary midday beach-side BBQ as calm ocean breezes blow through your hair.

The old walled city of Cartagena reflects a turbulent history of conquistadors and pirates. Climb "las murallas" for an unforgettable view of the harbor. Shop for emeralds and leather goods along the cobblestone streets of this enchanting city.

Experience one of the world's best short cuts! Journey 40 miles through the Panama Canal for an unforgettable experience. Witness first-hand one of the world's manmade short cuts that has changed travel and the transport of goods worldwide.

A vibrant metropolis, historic city and your gateway to tropical adventures - Panama City has it all and it's all waiting for you to discover. Founded in 1519, Panama City is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement on the Americas' Pacific Coast. Lose yourself in the region's dramatic past whilst touring historic sites intertwined amongst the buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere. Visit the world-famous Panama Canal or feel a world away lounging on a pristine beach or hiking amongst lush rainforest that's home to an assortment of colourful flora and fauna.

Just a few miles from Puerto Caldera is Puntarenas, where stunning beaches, an array of wildlife, and streets lined with restaurants, bars and cafés await. Carara National Park is a must for nature lovers and features ancestral trees and secondary forests, perfect for spotting wildlife such as crocodiles and 400-plus species of birds, including colourful scarlet macaws. Or, switch gears and party with the locals at Jaco, about 30 miles south. There, find sun, fun and sand with plenty of bars and places to grab a bite.

This port city was constructed in 1984 to help connect nearby cities. Travellers often venture out to Antigua, a 90-minute trek to where 17th century colonial facades beckons and Guatemalan history comes alive.

As one of Mexico's oldest coastal tourist destinations, Acapulco has much to offer both tourist and traveller. Shop, swim or simply take a siesta on the beach. But be sure not to miss the legendary La Quebrada cliff divers.

Smaller and more subdued than Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta has retained a good deal of its small village charm along with 26 miles of spectacular beaches along the Banderas Bay. Stroll the cobblestone streets to the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Or peruse the many local wares for sale at the open-air markets.

Cabo's signature landmark is El Arco ("The Arch"), a rock formation at the tip of "Land's End." The jewel of the Baja Peninsula is famous for its world-class sportfishing, as well as its high-end resorts and exclusive gated communities that line an area simply called "the Corridor."

Check out the scene at Venice Beach. Spot a celebrity or two on Rodeo Drive. Take a walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Explore the La Brea Tar Pits or Getty Centre. Find out more and book now.

Come see why so many people end up leaving their hearts in this city by the Bay. It's a place where little cable cars rise up steep hills to reveal magnificent vistas and winding streets meander past candy-coloured Victorian homes. With so many sights you may want to plan a few extra days to take it all in.

Roam the spacious lawns of stunning Butchart Gardens with its exotic flora, unusual topiary and exquisite fountains. Explore historic Bastion Square, the treasures of Chinatown and the many sights and sounds to be found along the boardwalk of the Inner Harbour.

Seattle sits on the slip of land between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, with the Olympic and Cascade Mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop for this oh-so cosmopolitan city. Soar up the futuristic Space Needle and experience the views atop this stunning landmark created for the 1962 World's Fair.

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Norwegian Joy Overview

The innovative Norwegian Joy cruise ship offers tasty buffet options, choice cuts of Angus beef, delicious pasta, French cuisine, grills, on-the-go choices, a variety of casual cafés and other exciting culinary pleasures on board. Race your friends on Norwegian Joy's iconic electric go-kart track, or take a day at the AquaPark; and that's just where the fun starts! World-class entertainment is also on board, featuring ELEMENTS, a triple threat performance that captures the essences of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Whether you're in it for all the activities, or simply looking for a place to relax, Norwegian Joy has it all.

• Passenger Capacity: 3,852 (double occupancy)
• Year Built: 2017
• Last Refurbished: 2024

• Mandara Spa & Salon Located on Deck 16, this rejuvenating, invigorating and relaxing haven is the best place to nourish your body and soul with a luxurious massage, revitalizing skin treatment, mani-pedi and other full-service salon-style treatments. You will thank yourself later for this heavenly pampering session.  

• The Waterfront Connect with the ocean like never before on Norwegian Joy's quarter-mile oceanfront promenade as you bask in the world around you while enjoying signature dishes from specialty dining venues. It is one thing to enjoy nature, and another thing to relish in the simplest things we hardly embrace. Take in this great panorama for a lifetime of memories.  

• Race Track Challenge friends and family to a thrilling race right on the two-level race track, which is the first ever at sea.  

• Aqua Park Race down the thrilling Aqua Racer, slide down the exciting Ocean Loop, or both multiple times!  

• Mini Golf Challenge friends and family to a game on this 5-hole mini golf course, which has obstacles designed for all skill levels.  

• Splash Academy The kids will have an amazing time in the Splash Academy, where they will participate in creative play, sports and more. The kids will have a blast in their own area and the adults will enjoy some much needed alone time.  

• Elements This dazzling show has a little bit of everything! It has mesmerizing magic, flying, exciting music and dance. Plus, it was inspired by the four elements of Earth, Air, Water & Fire. Elements is a visual delight that you don't want to miss.  

• Ocean Blue This specialty restaurant serves the freshest seafood at sea! Whether you choose to dine inside or oceanside on The Waterfront, you are guaranteed to enjoy fresh, locally-sourced seafood prepared in delicious and flavorful ways.  

• Teppanyaki Don't miss out on this authentic Japanese restaurant! Gather round a lively shared table and watch as the skilled chef slides, chops, and grills steak, seafood and chicken right before your eyes.  

• American Diner Craving some classic diner food? Thankfully the American Diner on Norwegian Joy is there to satisfy your craving! Choose from a diverse menu of classic comfort foods, including burgers, fried chicken, pot pies and more!  

• The Haven The Haven is truly a hidden gem on Norwegian Joy. Located at the top of the ship, The Haven features Norwegian's most luxurious accommodations, complete with a 24-hour butler service, concierge service, private sundeck and exclusive restaurant.  

• Concierge Ideal for guests who enjoy the finer things in life, the concierge staterooms feature elegant touches, spacious and luxurious accommodations, concierge service and private dining.  

• Mini-Suite Perfect for families or a couple looking for a bit more room, the mini-suites feature luxurious accents and enough to space to make lifelong memories.  

• Balcony You've never had this kind of view before, floor-to-ceiling doors will open to your very own private balcony where you can enjoy the sea breeze rustling through your hair. The staterooms themselves will have stylish and sophisticated elements to make your cruise comfortable and elegant.  

• Oceanview You'll enjoy a comfortable and stylish stateroom with plenty of natural light!  

• Inside The most affordable option still has plenty of style and sophistication. Let the waves gently rock you to sleep each night.  

Norwegian Joy Cruise Destinations

Travel the world on Norwegian cruises! This fantastic cruise line boasts over 120 different ports of call, located in countries all over the world. Norwegian Cruise Line is always breaking new ground in their itinerary offerings. You can choose from over 145 different itineraries, each of which has been carefully chosen to present the destination in a unique and exciting way. Kick back on the beautiful beaches of the Bahamas. Become a culinary expert in the Mediterranean. Golf on professional links in Bermuda. Explore the wonders of South America. Enjoy the colors of New England in the fall. Or even sail the Panama Canal!

The scenic beauty of an Alaska cruise will brighten your spirit—from breaching whales to snow-capped peaks.

Tropical treats lie ahead: snorkeling, sunbathing, soothing breezes and more on a Bahamas cruise.

Luxurious tropical days can be spent on the white-sand beaches or on the links during your Bermuda cruise.

Colonial. Clam Chowder. Colorful Vistas. Cruise to Canada and New England for all of this and more.

Eastern Caribbean

Magnificent days at the beach, tasty fare, and sun-soaked excursions lie awaiting you in the Eastern Caribbean.

Mexican Riviera

Culinary excellence, romance, and some shipwreck adventures—Mexico cruising.

Panama Canal

Experience the overwhelming sight of the Panama Canal and its surrounding attractions for your next cruise.

Western Caribbean

Mayan ruins will astound you and Jamaican fare will delight you on a cruise to the Western Caribbean.

Norwegian Joy Departure Ports

Looking for a getaway without the need to fly far, then Norwegian has options for you. The cruise line has ships leaving from New York, Boston, Miami, New Orleans and Seattle. If you do want to travel abroad they have ships in Europe leaving from ports like Venice, Barcelona and Copenhagen. Isn’t it time for you to cruise with Norwegian. Check out all of their itineraries on our site and then call us to discuss the best vacation option for you with our expert cruise consultants. 

The possibilities are endless when cruising to or from the City of Angels. Let your inner rock star shine as you explore the many wonders of Los Angeles, California.

In Miami, you’ll enjoy a small taste of the tropical weather many of you will experience during your cruise, and you’ll see why Miami is one of the most popular places to live in America.

Take in the incredible art scene of New York City, expand your cultural horizons in the city’s diverse neighborhoods and marvel at the architectural wonders.

The seafood is fresh, the sun is shining and there’s a whole lot to do, so get out there and explore the city before, during and after your cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Quebec City, Quebec

It’s easy to be wowed by Quebec City as Old World Europe is mixed with North American cultures alongside breathtaking landscapes and the flowing Saint Lawrence River.

On a cruise from San Francisco you can experience all that the ‘City by the Bay’ has to offer, from its artistic, forward-looking culture to the beautiful coastline.

Known as The Emerald City, Seattle is a beautiful, luscious city with incredible views of the Cascade Mountains and Elliott Bay. The city is full of activities for both water lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Norwegian Joy Deck Plans

Deck eleven, deck twelve, deck thirteen, deck fourteen, deck fifteen, deck sixteen, deck seventeen, deck eighteen, deck ninteen, deck twenty, norwegian joy staterooms.

Balcony (BT)

Balcony (bb).

Enjoy easy access to all the delicious dining and exciting activities on board from your stateroom that includes two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and additional bedding for up to 2 guests.

Balcony (BF)

Balcony (bx), balcony (bc).

Enjoy easy access to all the outdoor fun on the top decks. Your stateroom includes two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and some feature additional bedding for up to 2 guests.

Balcony (B4)

Ideal for the whole family, these staterooms include two lower beds, with additional bedding for up to two guests.

Balcony (BA)

Balcony (MC)

Located mid-ship with easy access to everything, these Mini-Suites feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, sofa bed, some feature additional bedding for 1, and a private balcony.

Balcony (CC)

Located mid-ship with easy access to everything, these Villas feature two lower beds that convert to a queen size bed, a double sofa bed, and private balcony.

Balcony (B8)

Perfect for families or groups, these staterooms offer adjoining stateroom options and include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and additional bedding for up to 2 guests.

Balcony (CF)

Perfect if you want to bring the kids, these Family cabins include two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a living area with double sofa bed and bathtub.

Balcony (B1)

These staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and are aft-facing, so the view from your private balcony is amazing.

Balcony (B6)

These staterooms offer incredible views from the large balcony, two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and additional bedding to sleep one or two more.

These staterooms offer incredible views from the private balcony. Some include additional bedding for one.

Balcony (BD)

Inside (IT)

Inside (ix), inside (i1).

An affordable family option, these staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed and two pullman beds.

Inside (I4)

Inside (ia), inside (ic).

These staterooms include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Inside (IF)

These staterooms include two lower beds. Some connect.

Inside (IB)

Inside (id).

Oceanview (OT)

Oceanview (o8).

Located mid-ship and connecting with another oceanview stateroom, you will have easy access to everything and room to spread out. These staterooms feature a large picture window and two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Oceanview (OX)

Located mid-ship, you will have easy access to everything. These staterooms feature a large picture window and two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Oceanview (O1)

Perfect for families, these staterooms are near the kids' area and include two single beds that convert to a queen, a bathtub and additional bedding that can accommodate three guests. Sleeps up to five.

Oceanview (O4)

Oceanview (o5), oceanview (oa).

Perfect for families, these staterooms include two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed, a bathtub, and additional bedding.

Oceanview (OB)

These staterooms feature a large picture awindow and two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

These staterooms feature a large picture window and two single beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Enjoy a private balcony with amazing views from these Mini-Suites which feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed.

Featuring a king-size bed, sofa bed and some include an additional pullman bed. With a private balcony, these Mini-suites also offer amazing views.

Featuring two lower beds that convert, a Murphy bed and private balcony.

Located forward or mid-ship , these Mini-Suites feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, sofa bed, some feature additional bedding for up to two, and a private balcony.

Located in The Haven, these Suites offer amazing ocean views, a wet bar and spacious balconies. They include a king-size bed, two bathrooms and additional bedding.

Perfect for groups for families together, these staterooms connect to another mini-suite or balcony stateroom. Located mid-ship with easy access to everything, these Mini-Suites feature two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, sofa bed, some feature additional bedding for 1, and a private balcony. Some connect with M8, others with B8.

Perfect for the family, these Villas are located in The Haven and feature two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed, the other with a double sofa bed, plus additional bedding and two bathrooms.

Perfect for the family, these Villas have a convenient mid-ship location and feature a separate bedroom, double sofabed and Murphy bed. Hang out with the gang and enjoy the view from your own private balcony.

Take in breathtaking forward-facing views. These Penthouses have access to The Haven and feature a king-size bed plus dining and sitting areas.

These Family Mini-Suites include a pullman bed, single sofa bed and bathtub. Hang out with the gang and enjoy the view from your own private balcony.

These Penthouses are located in The Haven and include a king-size bed and single sofabed, plus a private balcony with a fantastic view.

These Penthouses have access to The Haven and offer a king-size bed and additional bedding for three, as well as living and dining areas. With a convenient mid-ship location, they offer a fantastic view from the private balcony.

These Penthouses located in The Haven feature a king-size bed and additional bedding to accommodate up to three guests. Admire the spectacular ever-changing views from the balcony.

With access to The Haven, these Penthouses feature a king-size bed plus dining and sitting areas. They offer unforgettable aft-facing views.

With enough room for the entire family, these spacious suites offer amazing forward-facing views and are close to the action of the upper decks. These suites feature a king-size bed and have access to The Haven.

With forward facing views and connecting to a balcony stateroom these staterooms are the best way to experience the luxury and amenities of The Haven and bring the whole family along in an adjoining balcony stateroom.

Photo Gallery for Norwegian Joy Cruise Ship

Before you experience “Freestyle Cruising” with Norwegian check out this photo gallery which features many of their ships, specialty dining options and innovative staterooms. 

Aerial view of Norwegian Joy

Go Carts aboard Norwegian Joy

Pool Deck aboard Norwegian Joy

Casino aboard Norwegian Joy

XD Theater aboard Norwegian Joy

Top 10 Norwegian Joy Cruises

• Norwegian Joy 7 Night Bermuda - New York (NYC/NYC) Departing From New York, New York (May 2024 - Aug 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 10 Night Eastern Caribbean - New York (NYC/NYC) Departing From New York, New York (Aug 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 5 Night Bermuda - New York (NYC/NYC) Departing From New York, New York (Aug 2024 - Oct 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 8 Night Canada & New England - New York (NYC/QUE) Departing From New York, New York (Sep 2024 - Sep 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 7 Night Canada & New England - Other (QUE/NYC) Departing From Quebec City, Quebec (Sep 2024 - Sep 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 4 Night Bermuda - New York (NYC/NYC) Departing From New York, New York (Oct 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 3 Night BAHAMAS - SHORT (MIA/MIA) Departing From Miami, Florida (Oct 2024 - Nov 2024)
• Norwegian Joy 7 Night Western Caribbean - Miami (MIA/MIA) Departing From Miami, Florida (Oct 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Norwegian Joy 15 Night Panama Canal - Miami (MIA/LAX) Departing From Miami, Florida (Nov 2024 - Mar 2025)
• Norwegian Joy 7 Night Mexican Riviera - Los Angeles (LAX/LAX) Departing From Los Angeles, California (Dec 2024 - Apr 2025)

Learn More About Norwegian Cruise Line

Accessibility

Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's handicap accessible cruises and accommodations for guests with special needs or disabilities, including service animals, Braille and special rooms.

Savor Freestyle dining aboard Norwegian Cruise Line, including the specialty restaurants like Ocean Blue, Cagney's, Le Bistro, Moderno Churrascaria, The Haven Restaurant, the main dining rooms and several pubs, bars, grills and cafes.

Entertainment

Enjoy Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard entertainment, including Broadway productions, comedy clubs, dueling pianos and much more.

Onboard Activities

Engage in Norwegian Cruise Line's onboard activities, including water parks, casinos, dance clubs, arcades, ropes courses, sports courts, duty-free shops and more.

Service & Awards

Learn how Norwegian Cruise Line takes care of your every need with an extensive list of onboard services. Plus, view Norwegian Cruise Line's awards.

Spa & Fitness

Participate in Norwegian Cruise Line's fitness centers, training programs and relax at spa treatments, including massages, body wraps, acupuncture, facials and more to relax and soothe.

Special Events

Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's special themed cruises, including popular rock music themed cruises through a partnership with Sixthman.

Learn about Norwegian Cruise Line's staterooms, including suites, mini-suites, balconies, oceanviews, interiors and solo-traveler Studio rooms.

Youth Programs

Learn about Norwegian's Splash Academy youth programs and cruising with children of all ages.

Cruise Type

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Watch the Norwegian Joy Transit the Panama Canal

• October 23, 2019

The Norwegian Joy has made her inaugural transit of the famed Panama Canal as the 2017-built ship was in the Canal on October 22.

It is the first of six transits for the ship this season, including two partial tranists, part of 29 transits from neo-panamax vessels scheduled for the 2019-2020 season, according to a statement.

The season kicked off earlier this month as the Island Princess was the first cruise ship through the Panama Canal to mark the start of the 2019-2020 season.

The Norwegian Joy is a sister ship to the 2018-built Norwegian Bliss, and both vessels are the largest cruise ships to have sailed through the Panama Canal at 333 meters long and with a beam of over 41 meters.

Following her debut in Alaska this summer, the Joy is offering Mexican Riviera and Panama Canal voyages during the winter 2019-2020. 

Ten more vessels will make their first Panama Canal transits this season, including the Norwegian Dawn, Ponant’s Le Dumont D’uwille, P&O’s Ventura, the Carnival Glory, Scenic Eclipse, Flying Clipper, Seven Seas Splendor, Hanseatic Inspiration, Hanseatic Nature and the Greg Mortimer.

El Norwegian Joy de @CruiseNorwegian cuenta con circuito de carreras, simulador de realidad de virtual que incluye la famosa película Star Wars y muchas otras amenidades. Para esta temporada, se espera un total de 29 tránsitos de cruceros neopanamax por el Canal de #Panamá . pic.twitter.com/mT5JaZ1OhK — Canal de Panamá (@canaldepanama) October 22, 2019

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Norwegian Joy - December 6, 2023

Click For Interactive Map

December 6, 2023

December 6 - 16, 2023

Norwegian Joy

Norwegian Cruise Line

10 Night Panama Canal - Eastbound

from Panama City, Panama

The December 6, 2023 cruise on the Norwegian Joy departs from Panama City, Panama. On this 10 Night Panama Canal - Eastbound sailing, the ship will visit a total of 8 different cruise port destinations, including its departure port. The Norwegian Joy sets sail on a Wednesday (December 6, 2023) and returns on a Saturday (December 16, 2023).

The Norwegian Joy was built in 2017 and is amoung Norwegian's 19 ships in it's fleet. The Norwegian Joy is included in the cruise line's Breakaway Plus Class. In the cruise ship stats below you'll find the Norwegian Joy vs all other Norwegian ships.

All Itineraries

Panama City

Founded in 1519 by Pedro Arias de Avila, Panama City flourished in early colonial times as the Pacific port of transshipment of Andean riches to Spain. Construction of the Panama Canal brought assured prosperity, and American sanitary measures and disease control made Panama a clean and healthful tropical city. The city has a reputation as a drug transshipment point between South America and the United States.

Founded in 1519 by Pedro Arias de Avila, Panama City flourished in early colonial times as the Pacific port of transshipment of Andean riches to Spain. Construction of the Panama Canal brought assured...

Panama Canal Transit

Spend an unforgettable day cruising the Panama Canal, a fifty-one-mile waterway through the rainforest that is one of the world's engineering masterpieces. The ship glides down the canal with inches to spare, through locks that raise and lower it like a toy. Along the way it crosses enormous Gatun Lake, and the amazing Gaillard Cut, blasted out of a solid mountainside.

Spend an unforgettable day cruising the Panama Canal, a fifty-one-mile waterway through the rainforest that is one of the world's engineering masterpieces. The ship glides down the canal with inches...

Puerto Limon

The second-largest city in Costa Rica, Puerto Limon will leave you with a lifetime of memories. Soak in the distinct Caribbean flavor of the city's world-famous Carnivale de Limon. See the wonder of the sea turtle nesting grounds in Tortugero. Delight in the dolphins at Manzanillo National Park. Or, if ultimate relaxation is your goal, sprawl luxuriously on any of the area's lavish sand beaches.

The second-largest city in Costa Rica, Puerto Limon will leave you with a lifetime of memories. Soak in the distinct Caribbean flavor of the city's world-famous Carnivale de Limon. See the wonder of...

Take advantage of the many on board activites during your day at sea. Explore the Norwegian Joy Deck Maps and make sure to view our list of Ship Venues and Features. You'll have more than enough to fill your day!

George Town

George Town is the capital of the Cayman Islands, and is situated directly on Grand Cayman. Once a center of turtle fishing, the area is now a popular tourist destination. Snorkeling and diving are especially popular, and the opportunity to swim with and feed the giant, graceful stingrays should not be missed. Don't worry--it is said that no one has ever been stung.

George Town is the capital of the Cayman Islands, and is situated directly on Grand Cayman. Once a center of turtle fishing, the area is now a popular tourist destination. Snorkeling and diving are...

Sitting just off the gorgeous Yucatan coast, Cozumel revels in its mythic white-sand beaches and world-class coral reefs. Yet Cozumel is also the last stronghold of the Mayas, who settled the island in 300 A.D. Residents still speak Maya, and sometimes wear traditional Mayan clothing. Nearby stand the great pyramids and temples of their ancestors.

Sitting just off the gorgeous Yucatan coast, Cozumel revels in its mythic white-sand beaches and world-class coral reefs. Yet Cozumel is also the last stronghold of the Mayas, who settled the island...

Costa Maya is located on the Mayan Riviera, so named because was the home of the Mayans. Lush jungle vegetation is juxtaposed with beautiful beaches that have recently become the destination for scuba divers and snorkelers wishing to explore the untouched coral reef. or take a drive through the jungle and see an amazing combination of birds and mammals, like the wild deer and jaguars, spider monkeys, monkeys, and even alligators.

Costa Maya is located on the Mayan Riviera, so named because was the home of the Mayans. Lush jungle vegetation is juxtaposed with beautiful beaches that have recently become the destination for...

Harvest Caye

Located approximately 35 miles north of Honduras in the Caribbean, Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands group. Plenty of great snorkeling and diving is found at the coral reefs off Roatan's coast.

Explore all that Miami has to offer, from the magnificent Port of Miami, to the world famous Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, historic Coconut Grove, and trendy South Beach. Other attractions include the Miami Seaquarium , Miami MetroZoo, and sports teams the Dolphins, Heat and Marlins. No wonder so many celebrities, such as Gloria Estefan, Madonna and Ricky Martin, call Miami home.

Explore all that Miami has to offer, from the magnificent Port of Miami, to the world famous Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, historic Coconut Grove, and trendy South Beach. Other attractions...

The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship

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Thinking of booking a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line ? You have a lot of choices. The Miami-based line operates vessels in almost every corner of the world, with a wide range of itineraries in many destinations.

You’ll find Norwegian ships everywhere, from the Caribbean and the Bahamas to Europe, Asia and Australia. The line is also a big player in Hawaii.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter.

In addition, Norwegian is particularly known for cruises to Bermuda out of Boston and New York City, and it offers Canada and New England cruises regularly. It also operates some Panama Canal sailings and trips from the West Coast of the U.S. to the Mexican Riviera.

In North America, Norwegian ships sail from a relatively wide range of home ports, including Boston; New York City; Miami and Tampa; San Juan, Puerto Rico; New Orleans; San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco; Seattle; Honolulu; Vancouver, British Columbia; Quebec City and Quebec in Canada; and Seward, Alaska.

Here is a look at the best destinations you can visit on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian Cruise Line

Some of Norwegian’s most exciting itineraries are in Europe, where the line is a significant player. It offers a wide range of itineraries in the Mediterranean and across northern Europe.

Norwegian will typically deploy around half of its 19 ships to the continent from spring to fall, making Europe its biggest focus for more than half the year. Norwegian also sometimes offers Europe cruises in the winter — albeit typically with just one ship.

Norwegian’s Mediterranean sailings provide the chance to see such iconic destinations as Barcelona in Spain; and Florence, Rome and Naples in Italy in a single cruise. Or, you can sign up for a Mediterranean cruise that focuses on the Greek Islands.

In northern Europe, Norwegian will take you to such famed Baltic cities as Stockholm; Tallinn, Estonia; and Helsinki in a single sailing.

In past years, such Baltic trips have also included a multiday call at St. Petersburg, Russia — traditionally the highlight of any Baltic sailings. However, like all major cruise lines, Norwegian pulled St. Petersburg from Baltic itineraries for 2022 and 2023 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As of the publishing of this guide, Norwegian had opened bookings for all of its Baltic sailing through late 2025, and St. Petersburg remains off the schedule for all of them. The line hasn’t said when it might return to St. Petersburg.

For those looking to explore northern Europe, Norwegian also offers itineraries that zero in on Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Norwegian’s Europe voyages range widely in length from just three nights to a whopping 19 nights.

Among the longest sailings that Norwegian offers that include calls in Europe are one-way trips between Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens), and Dubai. Typically lasting 18 or 19 nights, these will often include stops in Israel and sometimes Greece, as well as visits to Egypt, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

In Northern Europe, Norwegian ships mostly sail out of Amsterdam, Stockholm, Copenhagen, England’s Southampton and Reykjavík in Iceland.

In the Mediterranean, the line’s hubs are Barcelona, Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Venice in Italy, Piraeus (the port for Athens) in Greece, and Istanbul.

Related: Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Norwegian ships

The Caribbean and the Bahamas

The Caribbean and the Bahamas have always been a big area of operations for Norwegian. In fact, for a long time, the regions were so much the focus that the line included “Caribbean” in its name. Up until 1987, Norwegian was known as Norwegian Caribbean Line.

These days, Norwegian usually keeps just two of its 19 vessels in the Caribbean and the Bahamas year-round (in recent years, the year-round ships have been Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Escape, both sailing to the Caribbean and the Bahamas from Florida ports). However, it really ramps things up in the region in the winter, when it deploys a large portion of its ships to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Norwegian currently has 15 of its 19 ships scheduled to sail to the Caribbean and the Bahamas for at least part of 2024 — including its newest and most advanced ship, the 3,219-passenger Norwegian Viva.

Related: I’ve sailed on nearly every Norwegian ship. Here are my first impressions of Norwegian Prima

Norwegian offers a broad range of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from more than half a dozen home ports. If you’re looking for something short, the line has you covered in the form of lots of quick, three- and four-night trips from Miami to the Bahamas.

It also offers an abundance of seven-night sailings to Caribbean and Bahamian ports, as well as a handful of longer trips in the region that range from nine to 14 nights.

At the core of the line’s Caribbean and Bahamas program are its seven-night sailings, which break down into three broad categories:

• Eastern Caribbean voyages
• Western Caribbean voyages
• Southern Caribbean voyages

A typical seven-night Norwegian sailing to the Eastern Caribbean includes stops in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas.

Norwegian’s seven Western Caribbean voyages will typically include a visit to Roatan, Honduras; Harvest Caye, Belize; and Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico.

The line’s Southern Caribbean itineraries will often bring visits to Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Lucia and St. Kitts. They typically begin and end in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

When sailing to the Caribbean, Norwegian ships generally sail out of Miami, Port Canaveral and Tampa in Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The line also offers Caribbean sailings out of New Orleans, New York City and, occasionally, Panama City, Panama.

Related: The ultimate guide to Norwegian’s Latitudes Reward loyalty program

Norwegian is the undisputed leader in Hawaii cruises. Most cruise lines that offer sailings to Hawaii only offer a limited number of such trips during a few months each year. Norwegian, by contrast, offers sailings around the Hawaiian Islands out of Honolulu every week of the year — the only cruise line in the world to do so.

Norwegian’s Hawaii voyages are also more intensely focused on Hawaii than the Hawaii trips offered by most other lines. This is because Norwegian offers its Hawaii cruises on one of the only cruise ships in the world that meets the regulatory requirements allowing it to spend all its time in the destination.

Norwegian’s Hawaii trips take place on Norwegian’s 2,186-passenger Pride of America, which has the rare distinction of being both U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed. By law, only such a vessel can cruise full-time in Hawaii without regularly traveling long distances to foreign ports.

An iconic presence in Hawaii, Pride of America has been permanently dedicated to the archipelago since its debut in 2005. It offers a repeating seven-night itinerary that begins each Saturday in Honolulu and brings the chance to visit four different Hawaiian islands on a single seven-night trip.

Beginning and ending on the island of Oahu, the itinerary includes two days each on the islands of Maui, Kauai and Hawaii. The two-day visit to Maui involves an overnight stay at the port of Kahului.

The two-day visit to Kauai involves an overnight stay at the port of Nawiliwili. The two-day visit to Hawaii is split between a call at Hilo and a call at Kona.

Related: The 8 classes of Norwegian ships, explained

Norwegian isn’t the biggest player in Alaska cruises. The giants of cruising to Alaska are Princess Cruises and Holland America , which are sister lines that control a large percentage of the market.

Still, Norwegian typically sends three to five vessels to Alaska every summer, and its big, activity-filled ships are a popular pick with families looking to visit the destination.

The Alaska cruise season is a short one, lasting roughly from May to early October.

For 2024, Norwegian plans to deploy four ships to the Alaska market for the full season:

• Norwegian Encore : Norwegian’s biggest vessel will operate seven-night voyages to Alaska round trip out of Seattle. It will call at the Alaska towns of Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, plus Victoria, British Columbia. It will also visit Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park for glacier viewing.
• Norwegian Sun: This ship will operate a mix of nine- to 11-night sailings to Alaska out of Seattle. The list of port calls varies based on the length of the trips.
• Norwegian Bliss : The 4,002-passenger vessel will operate seven-night voyages to Alaska round trip out of Seattle. On most sailings, it will call at Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan and Icy Strait Point in Alaska, plus Victoria, British Columbia. It will also visit Alaska’s Endicott Arm for glacier viewing. Some sailings at the start and end of the season substitute a visit to Skagway and Glacier Bay National Park for the stops in Sitka and Icy Strait Point, and drop the visit to Endicott Arm.
• Norwegian Jewel. The 2,376-passenger ship will operate one-way voyages to Alaska between Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seward, Alaska. The trips typically include stops in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, plus a visit to either Glacier Bay National Park or Icy Strait Point.

In recent years, the 2,018-passenger Norwegian Spirit also has spent its summers sailing in Alaska, but its Alaska voyages for 2024 were canceled as a result of the vessel being chartered to another company.

The appeal of the one-way sailings on Norwegian Jewel is that they can be combined with Norwegian-organized land tours of Alaska lasting from three to six days to create 10- to 13-night “cruisetours.”

The land tour portion of such trips brings visits to such well-known interior Alaska locations as Denali National Park and the town of Fairbanks.

Related: The ultimate Alaska cruise guide  

Norwegian usually deploys two ships on Bermuda runs every year — one out of New York City and one out of Boston.

In both cases, the sailings offered are mostly seven nights in length and include a two-night stay in Bermuda.

For 2024, Norwegian will devote one of its biggest and newest ships, the 3,802-passenger Norwegian Joy, to Bermuda. It will run out of New York. The line’s 2,394-passenger Norwegian Gem will sail to Bermuda out of Boston.

In addition, the line’s 3,969-passenger Norwegian Getaway will operate a handful of sailings to Bermuda out of New York during the early part of 2024, and the 3,963-passenger Norwegian Breakaway will operate a few sailings to Bermuda out of New York toward the end of 2024.

The line’s relatively new Norwegian Prima will operate a single Bermuda sailing out of New York at the end of 2024.

While most of Norwegian’s Bermuda sailings are seven nights in length, the line also sometimes offers a few shorter four- and five-night Bermuda sailings and, occasionally, a longer, nine-night Bermuda sailing.

Note that the shorter Bermuda sailings can offer very little time in the country, sometimes as few as nine hours.

Bottom line

Norwegian offers a wide range of itineraries in destinations around the world, from the Caribbean to Asia. However, you’ll find the most choices among Norwegian itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe.

The line is also well-known for voyages around Hawaii and to Bermuda. Its Hawaii sailings, in particular, are something of a rarity in the industry.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

SPONSORED:  With states reopening, enjoying a meal from a restaurant no longer just means curbside pickup.

And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

These are the best credit cards for dining out, taking out, and ordering in to maximize every meal purchase.

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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