All about the Norwegian Joy

The Norwegian Joy was built in 2017. It was renovated in 2024. It's considered a large size ship. Coming in at 1,094 ft long and 136 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 3 football fields, as wide as 2.6 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 15-story building. The Joy will undergo some renovations in Jan 2024. They'll remove the Galaxy Pavilion virtual reality arcade and Laser Tag and add a Thermal Suite and expanded Vibe Beach Club.

Norwegian Joy Overview

• Ship and Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Norwegian Joy Size and Passengers

The Joy can hold 3,802 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Joy has a space ratio of 44. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average.

The Joy is one of four Breakaway Plus-class ships currently sailing with Norwegian. The Joy is very similar to its sister-ships; Escape, Bliss and Encore, although each ship may have some differences.

Norwegian Joy Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Norwegian Joy. You have 13 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 4 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 9 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 31% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.

Norwegian Joy Bars and Drinks

Norwegian Joy has 14 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail. It also has 2 other bars that are available for select guests.

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Norwegian also serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Norwegian Joy

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Norwegian Joy has a total of 3 pools and 9 hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only. 1 of the pools and 4 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Norwegian Joy Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Joy. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Cruise Costs

Norwegian is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Norwegian Joy Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Norwegian ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a More at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the More at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.

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