Norwegian Joy - Western Caribbean from Miami
Norwegian Joy brings Breakaway Plus-class innovation to a classic 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary from Miami. Visit Roatan, Harvest Caye, Costa Maya, and Cozumel with two relaxing sea days, enjoying the ship's go-kart track, laser tag arena, and Galaxy Pavilion virtual reality complex.
Price Range
$$
Mid-Range
*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
6 ports and 2 sea days over 7 Nights.
- Day 1Miami, FL port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Miami, FL
United StatesDepart Day 2 · At sea
- Day 3Roatán port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Roatán
HondurasPort - Day 4
Harvest Caye
BelizePortNorwegian built this 75-acre island off southern Belize precisely to avoid Belize City's long tender ride - ships tie up at a pier and you walk ashore. What is there is a resort day: a large freshwater pool with a swim-up bar, a saltwater lagoon, a zip line, a ropes course and a shopping village, on Norwegian ships only. Food and drink are for sale rather than included.
- The saltwater lagoon and the freshwater pool
- Zip line over the water and the ropes course
- The butterfly house and wildlife exhibit
- Boat-and-bus excursions to Placencia and the southern Maya sites
- Getting ashore
- Ships dock at Harvest Caye itself; mainland Belize excursions leave by boat to Placencia or Independence, adding 20-30 minutes each way.
- Best months
- Dec-Apr is the dry season; Jun-Oct is wet and hot, with hurricane risk peaking Aug-Oct
- Day 5Costa Maya port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Costa Maya
MexicoPort - Day 6Cozumel port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Cozumel
MexicoPort Day 7 · At sea
- Day 8Miami, 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