Norwegian Joy deck plans

Norwegian Joy (2017-built, initially named "Norwegian Bliss", last refurbished in 2024 January-February) is the second of all four Breakaway Plus-class NCL cruise ships - together with the sisterships Norwegian Escape (2015), Norwegian Bliss (2018), Norwegian Encore (2019). The ship was ordered in 2014. Its construction (under the name Norwegian Bliss) started on Sept 16, 2015. On Oct 12, 2015, was announced that the vessel will be renamed and designed specifically for the Chinese market, The new name "Norwegian Joy" (in Chinese glyphs 喜悦号 / Xi Yue Hao) was officially announced on February 29, 2016 (leap year). The characters for "Joy" mean "Inner Joy".

In 2019, NCL Joy was drydock refurbished to become virtually identical to sistership Norwegian Bliss - NCL's most successful liner ever. The ship will be relocated from China to the USA. The refurb project will be managed by MJM Marine (part of MJM Group (Northern Ireland UK). The company specializes in cruise ship refurbishment and interior design services. The planned works will involve around 1400 people and 40+ onboard venues and areas. Following the refit, NCL Joy starts Alaskan cruises from homeport Seattle WA, then will be repositioned for Mexican Riviera cruise from homeport Los Angeles CA.

Norwegian Joy cruise ship deck plan shows a total of 1926 staterooms (in 42 categories, 15 types) for 3804 passengers (max capacity is 4622) served by 1820 crew-staff. The boat has 20 decks (16 passenger-accessible, 11 with cabins), 29 dining options (9 complimentary), 22 lounges and bars, 3 swimming pools, 5 waterslides, 9 jacuzzies, 16 elevators.

Follows a review of NCL Joy's new features (venues, facilities and innovations):

• The ship is specifically designed for the Chinese cruising market. Its interior decor, amenities, entertainment programs and cuisine is tailored for China, providing top-luxury and stylish travel vacation experiences.
• This is the world's first cruise vessel purpose-built for China.
• Norwegian Joy features NCL fleet's highest crew-to-passenger ratio. In comparison to NCL Escape, the ship carries 250 fewer passengers. The missing cabins space was given to the Casino area and also to the shopping areas.
• The ship has a Haven VVIP Casino (private high-stakes gambling room).
• Two new Observation Deck areas are part of both The Haven and Concierge Suite deck levels. These fore-located open-air areas offer 180-degree panoramic sea views.
• The ship's top deck has a 2-level, family-friendly go-kart racetrack (a first at sea facility). The electric go-karting track was designed and built by the German company RiMO Supply and the Dutch company Bolidt.
• There are also located an open-air laser tag (large-size touch screen for kids).
• On deck 16, the Galaxy Pavilion complex offers virtual reality and ultra gaming experiences. Among its features are interactive video walls, hovercraft bumper cars, professional Formula 1 car simulator (real race car converted into a 3-screen simulator), other interactive simulators (space ship-, flight-, car racing) all with 3D graphics, surround sound and special effects, six Xbox game stations. There are also Star Wars movie-based space simulators (Star Wars Battle Pods), three dark ride simulators (with programmed roller coasters, hang gliding, plank walking between buildings, etc), Oculus (virtual reality game).
• The NCL Joy ship has 2 water slides. The "Double Aqua Loop" is a free fall slide with 2 loops, of which one extends out over the ship's side and the other has a transparent loop stretching down to the below deck. The high-speed Aqua Racer waterslide allows side-by-side racing competitions and features 360+ ft (110 m) long twisting and turning tubes.
• Forward on the ship's top deck is located the Serenity Park (outdoor relaxation complex) with live plants, large video screen, swimming pool, sunbathing area with chaise lounges. The park's area is also used for open-air classes (like Yoga and Tai-Chi).
• The onboard shopping options include an upscale duty-free shopping arcade, which is NCL fleet's largest. The list of onboard shops includes luxury store brands selling fashion, jewelry, cosmetics, electronics.

Other features include several karaoke rooms, a traditional tea room, new Concierge Suite cabins (part of a separate complex located above The Haven), an exclusive Concierge Lounge & Bar, Interior cabins with virtual balconies, plenty of adjoining cabins (convenient for larger families (reflecting the China's multiple generation travel tendency).

Norwegian Joy drydock refurbishment 2024 review

The ship's 3-week drydock refurbishment in 2024 (January 22nd through February 12th, at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport) will result in new venues, an expanded spa, 24x new staterooms, and redesigned Premier Owner's Suites (to become 3-Bedroom Haven Suites).

The 24 new balcony staterooms occupy a space that was part of the Observation Lounge. The category of 40 other staterooms was changed to "spa balcony", allowing their occupants free and direct access to Mandara Spa & Salon (deck 16) which will be fitted with a Thermal Suite. The new Thermal Suite (the largest among the Breakaway-Plus sisterships) will take the space of the VR gaming complex Galaxy Pavilion. Norwegian Joy's Thermal Suite groups a Sauna Room, an Ice Room, an Aroma Steam Room, as well as a separate Spa Lounge (relaxation area with tiled heated loungers and 4-senses loungers), a Biostation (for intravenous therapy/body treatment), new foot hydrotherapy (using products by Kneipp GmbH).

The two redesigned Owner Suites are (each) with 3x bedrooms, 3x full bathrooms, 1x half bath, a separate dining room (bow-facing/overlooking the Haven Horizon Lounge), their living rooms and master bedrooms are redesigned and their terraces received new outdoor furniture.

Vibe Beach Club (deck 20) will be enlarged by taking the space of the Laser Tag Arena. Like on the sisterships Bliss and Encore, Joy's expanded Vibe Beach Club will have private cabanas.

The drydock will also include general maintenance works, technical overhauls, hull cleaning/repainting.

NCL Joy dining (new restaurants)

The NCL Joy ship has 29 restaurants, some of which are at a surcharge (including a Korean steakhouse and a Japanese restaurant for shabu-shabu food).

• (new) "Sakura and Hibiscus" is the ship's Korean restaurant, also offering Korean barbecue specialties.
• (new) "Neptune's" (seafood restaurant) also has a buffet (fresh seafood) section, offering chilled/raw food on ice, plus a separate a la carte priced menu.
• (new) "American Diner" serves comfort food (incl burgers, fried chicken, meatloaf, pot pies).
• (new) "Grand Tea Room" serves premium leaf teas from China, complemented by snacks (incl finger sandwiches).
• (new) "The Bake Shop" (onboard bakery) sells Japanese mocha sweets, cupcakes, chocolate pralines, macarons.
• (new) "La Cave" is a premium spirit and wine bar.
• Complimentary is the MDRs (main dining rooms) named "Savor" and "Taste". They also serve traditional Chinese cuisine. The complimentary "Garden Cafe" buffet restaurant is organized as food pavilions/stations and offers both Chinese and Western menu items.
• "Manhattan Room" offers a huge Chinese cuisine selection complemented by Western food classics (including prime steak and seafood).

Other popular and well-known NCL restaurants are the "Food Republic" (first introduced on NCL Escape), Teppanyaki (hibachi restaurant), "Noodle Bar" (noodles and dim sum), "Cagney's Steakhouse", "La Cucina" (Italian restaurant) and "Le Bistro" (French restaurant).