The Norwegian Joy cruise ship is the 12th ship constructed by the German shipbuilding company Meyer Werft for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), a US-based shipping company.
The keel-laying ceremony for the ship took place in April 2016, and the ship embarked on its maiden voyage in June 2017.
Recommended White Papers
Recommended Buyers Guides
The ship underwent a $50m refurbishment by marine outfitter MJM Marine in 2019, which added an extended go-kart track and new dining and bar venues.
In July 2023, NCL announced new enhancements to the cruise ship. The new and expanded amenities aboard Norwegian Joy were unveiled in March 2024.
Norwegian Joy is the sister ship of the Norwegian Escape cruise ship and the second in the Breakaway PLUS class of cruise ships.
Norwegian Joy cruise ship specifications
Norwegian Joy is 325.9m long and 41.4m wide and has a gross tonnage of 167,725t. The ship’s name and logo are printed in Chinese on the ship’s hull.
The 333m-long ship offers accommodation for 3,804 guests and 1,821 crew members across 20 decks.
Design and accommodation onboard Norwegian Joy ship
The cruise ship features a luxury complex named the Haven on deck 18, with private access.
The Haven complex features personal butler service, priority access to entertainment and dining, an enclosed courtyard, an observation deck offering a 180° view, gourmet canapes and premium beverages, along with 74 suites.
Norwegian Joy includes 21 bars and lounges, as well as 16 complimentary and speciality dining options.
A new accommodation category, the first at sea concierge level, is also available aboard the vessel. The staterooms feature larger balconies with en-suite amenities and a private bar, as well as a dedicated concierge service.
Other accommodation facilities include mini-suites, family suites, balcony staterooms, club balcony suites, ocean view and interior staterooms.
Entertainment facilities
The top deck provides a two-level competitive racetrack, the first ever to be featured on a cruise ship. The venue also offers an open-air laser tag course.
Galaxy Pavilion on Norwegian Joy offers interactive video walls and hovercraft bumper cars. It also features three interactive dark ride simulators, which provide real-time 3D graphics, 360° surround sound, and multi-sensory special effects.
The pavilion also features a Star Wars™ Battle Pod™ video game, six Xbox console stations and state-of-the-art virtual optic experiences, and two multi-storey, high-speed Double Aqua Loop slides. A park with a pool and chaise lounges is also available aboard the vessel while another venue, called the Kids’ Aqua Park, is available for the kids on board.
It also offers the Joy Casino offers a range of casino games for guests. A mini-golf course is also available for players of all levels.
The ship offers high-speed Wi-Fi and boasts the fleet’s largest retail area, which includes duty-free shops and high-end international brands.
Dining options include The Manhattan Room, Savour, Taste, Garden Cafe, and a 24-hour eatery called The Local Bar & Grill. The ship also offers a range of speciality dining options, including Italian, Japanese, French and other cuisines.
Norwegian Joy enhancement details
The enhancements made to the cruise ship in 2024 included a brand-new Thermal Suite that replaced the ship’s virtual-reality complex, the Galaxy Pavilion.
The newly expanded Thermal Suite at the Mandara Spa and Salon is now the largest among the Breakaway-Plus class ships.
The design of the Thermal suite includes a centralised layout, an entrance corridor with waterfalls, and sculptures. It also includes a separate lounge area featuring a sauna, ice room, and aromatic steam room.
In addition, the Thermal Suite comprises a new Biostation with IV Drip Therapy, four-senses loungers, and a Kneipp haptic foot therapy.
The enhancement included redesigning the Observation Lounge to create 24 new balcony staterooms. It features the recategorisation of 40 new spa balcony staterooms that provides direct access to the Mandara Spa and the Thermal Suite.
Furthermore, The Haven by Norwegian Premier Owner’s Suites were expanded to three bedrooms. The two suites feature three and a half bathrooms, a fully renovated living room, and a master bedroom and outdoor balcony furniture. It also includes a new dining room that faces The Haven Horizon Lounge.
The existing Laser Tag arena on deck 20 was replaced with the expanded adults-only Vibe Beach Club as part of the recent upgrades.
The adults-only Vibe Beach Club features a layout similar to the Vibe Beach Club on the Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss, including new private luxury cabanas.
Norwegian Joy also features a new quarter-mile oceanfront promenade that offers stunning ocean views and creates a connection between guests and the sea.
Norwegian Joy propulsion and power capabilities
Norwegian Joy is powered by five MAN diesel engines and two ABB Azipod XO electric propulsion systems. The engines are equipped with five exhaust-emission treatment units known as scrubbers, which ensure eco-friendly cruising by reducing SOₓ emissions by up to 99%.
The vessel is equipped with cold-ironing capabilities, allowing it to generate its own power to provide heat, air conditioning, lighting and hot water even while in port.
Contractors involved
Almaco Group, a specialist in accommodation and catering system solutions, was responsible for designing, supplying, and installing all catering-related equipment for the galleys, bars, buffets, pantries, provision stores, and refrigeration machinery on the Norwegian Joy. It secured the contract in June 2017.
In June 2017, Ant Financial Services Group’s Alipay received a contract to introduce its payment solution on the Norwegian Joy ship.
NCL selected MJM Marine as the outfitting contractor for the ship’s refurbishment in February 2019.
