Bermuda Cruise from New York City [Podcast]

In this podcast episode, Doug Parker and guest Tommy Casabona discuss Tommy’s recent cruise on the Norwegian Joy. Tommy describes the smooth embarkation process from Pier 88 in New York City and his upgrade to a balcony stateroom.

He shares his positive experiences with the ship’s food options, entertainment, and casino. Despite some turbulence and a shortened stay in Bermuda, Tommy enjoyed exploring Horseshoe Bay Beach.

The episode also touches on the unique vibe of New York City sailings and the chaotic disembarkation process in the city.

This episode is brought to you by TripInsurance.com, giving you three levels of travel protection — Good, Better, and Best — a travel insurance policy for every budget.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or where you listen to your favorite podcast.

Timestamps:

• The introduction (00:00:00): Introduction to the podcast episode and advertisement for Noom personalized weight loss solution.
• Cruise Radio (00:01:11): Introduction to the cruise radio show and a brief advertisement for trip insurance.
• Interview with Tommy Casabona (00:02:07): Doug Parker introduces Tommy Casabona and discusses his recent cruise experience on the Norwegian Joy.
• Embarkation in New York City (00:02:30): Discussion about the embarkation process at Pier 88 in New York City and the experience of sailing away from New York.
• First Impressions of Norwegian Joy (00:05:02): Tommy’s first impressions of the Norwegian Joy, comparing it to other ships in the same class and discussing differences in design.
• Stateroom and Balcony Experience (00:07:00): Tommy’s experience with the stateroom, including an upgrade to a balcony stateroom, and opinions on the balcony space.
• Onboard Dining Experience (00:09:02): Discussion about the buffet, main dining room, and specialty dining experiences on board the Norwegian Joy.
• Entertainment and Shows (00:13:50): Opinions on the entertainment and shows on board, including a specific show called “Elements” and the variety of entertainment venues.
• Casino Experience (00:15:46): Tommy’s experience in the casino, including his winnings and a discussion about how points are earned in the casino.
• Smoking Situation in the Casino (00:18:05): Brief discussion about smoking in and around the casino on board the ship.
• The casino and ship layout (00:18:28): Discussion about smoking areas, the ship’s congestion, and the compartmentalized layout.
• Vibe Beach Club and thermal suites (00:19:42): Conversation about the Vibe Beach Club, the ship’s thermal suites, and the impact of weather on cruise plans.
• Exploring Bermuda (00:22:53): Experiences at Horseshoe Bay Beach, beach exploration, and observations about Bermuda’s cruising subculture.
• High seas and beach activities (00:24:48): Discussion about high seas, beach activities, and the color of Bermuda’s water.
• Local attractions and departure process (00:25:48): Conversation about local attractions, including a pirate ship and a prison, and experiences at the Manhattan cruise terminal during the departure process.
• Onboard activities and dining experiences (00:28:27): Onboard activities, including go-karting and dining experiences at the American Diner.
• Departure and travel tips (00:30:15) Discussion about the departure process, experiences with customs, and travel tips for sailing out of Manhattan.
• Ship’s layout, amenities, and comparison (00:34:13): Observations about the ship’s layout, amenities, and a comparison of the cruise experience with other cruise lines.
• Norwegian Gem (00:35:51) Discussion about the excitement around the Norwegian Gem coming to Jacksonville and the experience of being on the ship.