Other Things You'll Want to Know - May 15, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• Norwegian Joy setting a record
• A passenger being medevaced from Carnival Dream when it was 66 miles off the Galveston coast Monday night. (Video below)

Details appeared in the May 15 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Norwegian Joy Reenters Service in Alaska

Norwegian Joy was originally built specifically for the Chinese market. When Norwegian Cruise Line decided to shrink their presence in China and move Norwegian Joy to the North American market, they invested $50 million in “Americanizing” it. The ship went to Singapore for three weeks and then crossed the Pacific for its first season in Alaska.

Norwegian Joy just completed its first seven-night cruise in Alaska to rave reviews, and it's now on its second.

Part of the reason for those rave reviews is that the ship's makeover was more than just changing the signage and menus from Chinese to English. Norwegian made major changes. For example, many Chinese passengers go on a cruise because they want to shop for foreign goods (especially luxury goods), but Americans, on the other hand, go on cruises for different dining experiences and to socialize, so space devoted to luxury shopping was converted to restaurants and bars. Likewise, you can say good-bye to the bumper cars because that space is now a teen club.

The complete story appeared in the May 14 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

One Degree of Separation from Kevin Bacon

Passengers will be dancing in the aisles when Norwegian Joy makes its North American debut in Alaska in May.

Norwegian Cruise Line says they have chosen the musical “Footloose” to be the headlining entertainment production on the ship this summer.

Details appeared in the February 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Built for China, Sailing in the US of A

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that next summer Norwegian Joy would be moving from China to Alaska to operate alongside Norwegian Bliss. After the Alaska season it will move down the coast to the Mexican Riviera.

According to Norwegian it sounds as if the tremendous demand in Alaska, coupled with the success of Norwegian Bliss, is behind the decision to reposition the ship. But we suspect conditions in the Chinese market have as much to do with it.

The complete story appeared in the July 18 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

There Was Joy in Shanghai Today

Norwegian Cruise Line (and their parent) took that first actual step into China today when Norwegian Joy was christened in Shanghai.

The 167,725-ton ship was christened by its godfather, Chinese entertainment personality Wang Leehorn. He was joined in a gang christening by a number of NCL and Chinese officials. The method was rather unusual.

The complete story appeared in the June 27 edition of Cruise News Daily.

The unusual method of christening Norwegian Joy started here.

But the christening ended up the same way

Photos courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - June 15, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Norwegian Joy's first sailing from Shanghai
• A puzzling way to cross the Atlantic

Details appeared in the June 15 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Does This Mean the Watches Run Really Fast?

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced that one of the unique features of Norwegian Joy, the go-cart race track, will be branded with Scuderia Ferrari Watches.

If you read between the lines in the announcement, they also told us a couple more things without really telling us.

The complete story appeared in the April 17 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Rendering courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

A Journey of Ten Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step - and a Backward Cruise

If you logged onto the Meyer website on Sunday afternoon you would have seen Norwegian Joy leaving the Papenburg yard on its way to Eemshaven at the other end of the River Ems, the first leg of its journey to Shanghai.

It moves with the speed of paint drying because the ship is so big (the largest class ever built in Germany at 168,800 gross tons), the river is so shallow, and the passages are so narrow. Not only that, but it sails backwards for better maneuverability.

Details appeared in the March 28 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - March 24, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• Norwegian Joy leaving the Meyer yard in Papenburg
• Carnival Elation receiving another perfect score
• AIDAvita going to Lloyd Werft for a major refit

Details appeared in the March 24 edition of Cruise News Daily.

It's Colorful

Look quickly, because once it's delivered you won't see Norwegian Joy again in the West for quite awhile.

Meyer Werft floated out the 168,800-ton Breakaway Plus ship at their Papenburg yard on Saturday, and once it's delivered on April 27, it will be sailing right to China for the foreseeable future.

The complete story appeared in the March 6 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Photos courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

Getting Ready to Sail

A quick peek into the covered building dock today at Meyer Werft at Papenburg shows that Norwegian Joy is nearing completion, as it should be. Meyer has tentatively scheduled float out for just about a month from now, and that means its trip down the Ems River is within a month after that.

Photo courtesy of Meyer Werft. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - November 21, 2016

CND subscribers also read about:

• Norwegian Cruise Line chose Chinese pop star Wang Leehom as godfather of Norwegian Joy which will be based in China.
• MV Werften chose MAN Diesel & Turbo to supply the engines for Star Cruises' two World-class ships. 

Details appeared in the November 21 edition of Cruise News Daily.

NCLH China President, David J. Herrera and Norwegian Joy Godfather, Wang Leehom

Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Where There's Smoke There's Joy

There was a small fire aboard Norwegian Joy in the Meyer shipyard (in Papenburg) on Wednesday. With it there was a lot of smoke.

Shipyard firefighters responded and were able to quickly extinguish the blaze. There were no injuries.

Details appeared in the September 29 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Norwegian Reveals Hull Art for Norwegian Joy

Since Norwegian Cruise Line stating covering the hulls of their ships with distinctive artwork, the details of the design have been eagerly anticipated, especially in the home port of each new ship.

The design usually has some connection to the home port or where the ship will sail, and the artist chosen to create the work has some connection to subject matter of the design.

Today, Norwegian Cruise Line released details of Norwegian Joy's hull art, and as the first ship NCL will dedicate to the market in China, the hull art was deep in symbolism for China.

Norwegian Joy's hull art was commissioned from Chinese artist Tan Ping.

The complete story appeared in the July 27 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Renderings are courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line. All rights reserved. Many not be copied or used without express permission.