Norwegian Joy 2024 Review + Cruise News [Podcast]

In this episode of Cruise Radio, Doug Parker and Richard Sims discuss this week’s cruise news.

Chris Gray Faust, Executive Editor of Cruise Critic, joins us to discuss her recent sailing on Norwegian Joy and the ship’s recent refurbishment. The refurbishment saw the addition of cabins for solo travelers and a revamped thermal suite.

They explore the ship’s unique features, including the absence of a solo lounge and the focus on balcony cabins. The episode also covers the addition of cold plunge pools, updates to the pool deck, and the Vibe Beach Club.

They considered the cruise line’s entertainment strategy shift and onboard theme parties’ success.

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

Timestamps:

• Carnival Corporation’s Changes (00:01:03): Carnival Corporation’s decision to shut down P&O Australia’s division and its impact on Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet expansion.
• Cruise Tourism Impact on Juneau (00:07:15): Discussion of the limitations on cruise ship visits to Juneau, Alaska, and the local response to managing increasing tourist numbers.
• Royal Caribbean Ship Delay (00:11:08): Explanation of the delay in a Royal Caribbean ship’s arrival at port due to high winds and the resulting impact on passenger embarkation and disembarkation.
• Gastrointestinal Illness on Flight (00:12:45): Incident of passengers experiencing illness on a flight, possibly originating from a cruise ship, and the response to the situation.
• Listener Question on Canceled Cruise (00:15:31): Richard’s opinion on the recent story of a canceled cruise and whether Carnival should refund the affected passenger’s money.
• Carnival Cruise Cancellation (00:17:21): Discuss a personal cancellation of a cruise vacation and its potential reasons.
• Carnival’s Response (00:18:18): Debate over whether Carnival should take responsibility and the potential impact on future cruise cancellations.

Norwegian Joy Interview

• Norwegian Joy Refurbishment (00:20:56): Discuss the refurbishment and multiple iterations of Norwegian Joy, including changes made for different markets.
• Chinese Cruise Market (00:24:06): Exploration of the factors that led to the shift in demand for cruise ships from China to other regions.
• Future Renovations (00:25:51): Speculation on the potential trend of adding more cabins and accommodations in ship renovations due to increasing demand.
• Solo Staterooms and Demographics (00:27:22): Insights on the design of solo staterooms and the changing demographics of cruise travelers.
• Observation Lounge and Virtual Reality Area (00:28:14): Details about the transformation of the observation area and the conversion of the virtual reality area into a thermal suite.
• Thermal Suite Experience (00:29:22): Description of the enhanced thermal suite experience on the Norwegian Joy, including spacious and well-designed facilities.
• Spa Innovations (00:31:41): Exploration of innovative spa features, such as the four senses chair, and their reception among spa enthusiasts.
• The cold plunge and thermal suite (00:32:35): Discussion about the popularity of cold plunges in the fitness and health community and the inclusion of cold plunge pools and snow rooms in the thermal suite on the cruise ship.
• Pool deck and Lido pool (00:34:38) Description of the pool deck layout and the limited pool space on the ship, including the separate pools for adults and kids.
• Spice H2O and Vibe Beach Club (00:36:46): Details about the 39-person hot tub at Spice H2O, the 18+ area with a bar and theme parties, and the expanded Vibe Beach Club, including the fee and the atmosphere.
• The Haven area (00:39:55): Changes in the Haven area, including new suites and the experience of priority access for shows and activities.
• Onboard entertainment (00:42:51): Discuss the changes in onboard entertainment, the absence of Broadway shows, and the impact on the overall entertainment experience.
• Theme parties and nightlife (00:44:56): Review of the glow party and other theme parties, the energy from the 20-something crowd, and the role of the DJ in making the theme parties successful.
• Final thoughts on the refurbishment (00:46:32): Summary of the refurbishment of Norwegian Joy, including the addition of the thermal suite and Vibe Beach Club and a caution regarding the traditional cruise experience.