Norwegian Joy Review
First Time "Solo" Cruising doing "Haven Lite"
Rating by category
Additional details
Overview: This was my first “Solo” Cruise on any cruise brand in over 25 cruises and 42 years. My first cruise was 42 years ago for my Honeymoon. It was on the NCL SS Norway. At the time, the largest cruise ship in the world. This is also the first time in a very long time that I have cruised was NOT in either the Haven, Celebrity Retreat or MSC Yacht Club. I am known as “Mr. Haven” on the Cruisecritic.com NCL Boards, because I write about it the Haven so much. My threads are detailed and long. This cruise I am calling “Haven Lite”. When you are a “Solo” cruiser, you must pay double to stay in the Haven. That was a too much for my blood. Let’s start the review with, “I had a GREAT Time and it truly surprised me!”
Embarkment and Strategy:
Flights: I always fly in the day before a cruise. ALWAYS. This cruise was no exception. I traveled for business for my entire life, so I am a lifetime Platinum Elite member for Delta. This means I am always upgraded and know exactly how to handle flight delay with reduced stress. There were weather issues this week, so I was perfectly suited to handle it and helped others through the stress.
Cabin Review
Mid-ship Mini-Suite with Balcony
Stateroom (7 out of 10): Cabin Club Balcony Suite (MC). The amenities was two nice snacks throughout the week. Just a little something. One complementary bag of laundry that my wife will appreciate. The suite was kind of small but perfect for me. King-sized bed, enough electrical outlets including USB by the bed. Enough storage for two including hanging clothes on a casual cruise week. The balcony was a bit small yet accommodated two chairs and a small table very well. The Bathroom was nice however the tub/shower has a very high side making it difficult to get in and out of when taking a shower. You must hold onto the bar above the shower to be safe. The soaps and shampoo were ok. Bring your own from home. The cabin came with a bottle of Sparking Wine which I gave to a honeymoon couple. Really bad stuff that wine. I had my room steward take all the “For Sale” Stuff out of the mini fridge so I could have room for other things I brought into the room. For the money, great room.
Port Reviews
Harvest Caye
The purpose of this cruise was the ship, not the ports. However, I love Harvest Caye so I took a long walk. My last Joy Cruise, my family did the Beach Villas and loved them.