Last week, I got to celebrate the U.S. debut of the recently renovated Norwegian Joy cruise ship. My best friend from high school works for Avoya Travel, an innovative travel technology company that helps travelers better plan and book vacations. A group of the Avoya team was invited to check out the ship and my friend, Angela, invited me as her guest. We drove up to San Pedro for a one night sailing to experience the ship and check out all it has to offer. We packed in as much exploring of the ship as we possibly could in our one night adventure. The ship is beautiful and cruises year-round from the west coast to Alaska, the Mexican Riviera, and the Panama Canal from Miami and Los Angeles. We had an absolute blast! Check out all the highlights below.

Norwegian Joy Haven Suites

We heard about the amazing Haven Suites which were only being toured till 1PM so we made sure to check that out first. The Haven Suites are where it's at. It is basically its own private luxury ship within a ship. There are incredibly beautiful rooms with lots of room options, a private pool, bar, restaurant and lounge areas. If you are traveling with a family or group, I recommend these rooms for sure. They are very spacious and beautiful. Our balcony room was plenty nice as well if you’re looking for something more affordable.

Norwegian Joy Food & Drinks

Since our time was limited, I didn't try out all the food & drinks but I did get a sneak peak of a few spots that I enjoyed. We were invited to dine at one of the specialty dining spots, La Cucina. I had an excellent dinner of burrata with tomatoes and a shrimp + lobster ravioli. They also had several types of wine and was right across from a wine bar. We also ate at the complementary dining buffet. There were lots of options available for every meal. I really enjoyed their Indian food for lunch and their smoked salmon with egg and capers for breakfast. They offer regular dining service, the buffet and specialty dining. 

Also, new to me on a cruise is Starbucks! I was surprised to find my favorite drinks in their full size cafe plus they have this cute little cold brew pouring station by the pool. Win!

Norwegian Joy Experience

I haven’t been on a cruise ship for about 10 years now so things have changed quite a bit since then. I also have only ever been on Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Ships. This ship was very comparable. It was a little more on the luxurious side and the entertainment venues seemed slightly smaller than what I remember. There was plenty of entertainment and dining options. Our rooms were very comfortable and spacious. We really enjoyed our experience on the Norwegian Joy and highly recommend it for those looking to do a cruise. 

Norwegian Joy Entertainment & Activities 

There is an abundance of entertainment and activities on the Norwegian Joy. There are pools, a casino, an aqua park, laser tag, the galaxy pavilion with virtual reality activities and even a race track! There are also kids and teens clubs. I am really looking forward to taking the kiddos on a cruise one day. This specific ship seemed a little more geared to older kids but they do have a splash academy for young kids. We watched the musical Footloose and enjoyed live music around the ship. There is also a really nice day spa with all sorts of services. 

They had several bars and lounges. My favorites were the Observation lounge for its awesome views, the Waves Pool Bar for grabbing a drink by the pool, the Sugar Cane Mojito Bar for the music and the Social Club for late night dancing! We also had a fun time checking out The Cavern Club and their Beatles cover band. 

We really enjoyed our time Cruisin on the Norwegian Joy and I can't wait to take the family! Have you been on a cruise lately?! What was your favorite part? xo - Bri

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I experienced the Norwegian Joy as a guest with Avoya Travel and had a blast! This is not a sponsored post but I was hosted. All opinions are my own.