Norwegian Joy - Eastern Caribbean from Miami
A short 5-night Eastern Caribbean getaway on Norwegian Joy from Miami, combining NCL's private island with a day on the Dominican Republic's north coast.
Price Range
$
Budget
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Norwegian Cruise Line before booking.
Ship Details — Norwegian Joy
View full Norwegian Joy details
Year Built
2017
Tonnage
167,725 GT
Passengers
3,804
Crew
1,821
Decks
20
Class
Breakaway Plus
Itinerary & Route Map
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Where this cruise calls, day by day
4 ports and 2 sea days over 5 Nights.
- Day 1Miami, FL port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Miami, FL
United StatesDepart - Day 2
Great Stirrup Cay
BahamasPortNorwegian's Berry Islands beach is the oldest of the private-island calls - the line has used it since 1977. It was a tender operation for decades, which made short calls miserable, until a two-ship pier opened at the end of 2025 and ships began tying up. Bertram's Cove is the main swimming beach. The buffet lunch is included; cabanas, the Silver Cove villas, watersports rentals and the spa are not.
- Bertram's Cove, the main beach
- The included beach barbecue buffet
- Snorkel gear, kayaks and floats for rent (extra cost)
- Private cabanas and the Silver Cove lagoon villas (extra cost)
- Getting ashore
- Ships dock at the pier that opened in December 2025 - older trip reports describing a tender ride no longer apply.
- Best months
- Nov-Apr for calm seas and reliable calls; summer is hotter with afternoon storms
Day 3 · At sea
- Day 4Puerto Plata port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Puerto Plata
Dominican RepublicPort Day 5 · At sea
- Day 6Miami, FL port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Miami, FL
United StatesArrive
Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Norwegian Joy
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Norwegian Joy sailing. Distilled from 333 traveler threads, passenger reviews and travel blogs.
Norwegian Joy is a 2017 Breakaway-Plus mega-ship with an unusual backstory: it was originally built and outfitted for the Chinese cruise market, then pulled to North America in 2018 and refurbished to mirror its sister ship, Norwegian Bliss. A second major refurbishment in early 2024 modernized it further, adding cabins, expanding the Vibe Beach Club to two levels and installing what reviewers call the best Thermal Suite at sea. The result is a ship that looks nearly new and carries the familiar Breakaway-Plus thrills, but with a slightly quirky heritage layout.
What People Love
- The 2024 refurbishment left the ship looking nearly new, with fresh furnishings and a generally well-maintained feel for a 2017-built vessel
- The new Thermal Suite added in 2024 is widely called the best at sea, surpassing even NCL's newer Prima and Viva
- The expanded two-level Vibe Beach Club is a standout adults-only retreat that many reviewers say is worth paying for every time
Common Complaints
- The 2024 refurbishment added 24 cabins, increasing passenger load to over 4,300 on some sailings and worsening crowding
- Reviewers report the ship feels crowded at pools, restaurants and elevators, with only two elevator banks instead of three
- Food draws heavy criticism in recent member reviews, with the buffet and main dining rooms called bland, repetitive and sometimes cold