2023 on the Norwegian Joy

I sailed on the Norwegian Joy (with NCL) from April 1 to 8, 2023:

• 2023-04-01 🇨🇦 Canada (Toronto) ✈️ 🇺🇸 US (Miami)
• 2023-04-02 🌊 Sea day
• 2023-04-03 🇭🇳 Honduras (Roatán)
  • 28th country
• 2023-04-04 🇧🇿 Belize (Harvest Caye + Placencia)
  • 29th country
• 2023-04-05 🇲🇽 Mexico (Cozumel)
• 2023-04-06 🌊 Sea day
• 2023-04-07 🇧🇸 Bahamas (Great Stirrup Cay)
• 2023-04-08 🇺🇸 US (Miami) ✈️ 🇨🇦 Canada (Toronto)

Observations

Embarkation

• At the Norwegian Cruise Line terminal in Miami, a lot of luggage moves around: if not carrying a lot of luggage (i.e. just a carry-on), it helps to carry it up the gangway to reduce the risk of not seeing it for a long time!
• Post-pandemic cruising means less staff and so, staterooms might not become available until 3 or 4pm on embarkation; staff may funnel you into a restaurant to kill time (with carry-on luggage and all)
• Beer, wine and shots of liquor are the best bets: the cocktails always tasted watered-down if they know the customer has a drink package
  • they will also tax on the drinks before sail-away (since the ship lies in a jurisdiction where local laws tax the sale of alcohol)

The crowd

• Most people on the ship were Gen X-ers with their quasi-adult Gen-Z and Gen Alpha children
• Fewer boomers and millennials
• A greater variety of ethnicities onboard (than even in 2016) as everyone gradually gets a share of the wealth
  • Naturally, Americans still dominate the ship as it sails from and back to Miami

The onboard experience

• 150 minutes of "free internet" per week on the ship is doable but not desirable (use the internet minutes with purpose!)
• Entertainment with higher production values require advanced booking
• NCL ships have a wide variety of complimentary restaurants so try other spots aside from the main buffet
• NCL cruise ships are very chill with no one pressuring anyone to do anything, except maybe when you enter a store
• Magnetic hooks work on the walls of staterooms

Disembarkation

• Getting off the ship happened relatively quickly (within the hour)
  • new technology (e.g. facial recognition) speeds up the process
  • each person's check-out takes only a few seconds
• Shuttle buses to the airport await right outside the terminal

Other things

• Diamonds and tanzanite still get promoted like in the old days
  • a shift in demographics to a younger (less ostenatious) crowd might change this in future decades
• In the Caribbean, both the sun and the wind can get intense!