Teppanyaki Two Nights in a Row, Shrinking Shrimp, and the App That Left a Blind Man Standing in Line
Written By: Tom Ogg, Co-Founder and Co-Owner – Travel Professional NEWS
Part 3 of 3
We covered a brief ship overview and the various ports on this cruise. In this part of the review, we’ll take a look at the ship’s dining venues and features, and focus on what client type is a good fit for NCL. Once again, this review is written for travel agents, to explain the realities of a cruise on NCL’s Norwegian Joy and who represents a likely client.
Norwegian Joy Dining
Back when most cruise lines didn’t have specialty restaurants and featured at least one formal night during a 7-day cruise, NCL introduced “Freestyle Cruising.” This concept eliminated dress codes, dinner reservations, and the rigid formality of traditional cruising. It became popular overnight — NCL spotted a market for casual cruisers and ran with it.
Since the introduction of Freestyle Cruising, the overall dining experience has settled into what I’d call “reliably adequate” rather than the memorable meals of years past. On this cruise, thanks to my Latitudes loyalty rewards and “Free at Sea” specialty dining inclusions, I dined in specialty restaurants seven out of nine nights. I’ve been cruising NCL since the 1990s and have eaten my way through their specialty dining more times than I can count, so I’ve had plenty of opportunity to track the changes.
The most recent changes, presumably courtesy of new management, have tested the limits of what I’d call “fine dining.” My personal yardstick for a good meal comes down to three things: service, food quality, and food preparation. On service, NCL still shines — someone in a tux will reliably swing by to ask how your evening is going, like clockwork. On food quality, it’s clear NCL has trimmed the budget a bit further than before. And on food preparation… let’s just say there’s room for a comeback tour.
The Specialty Restaurant Reservations
The Norwegian Joy has a number of specialty restaurants, and here’s an honest look at the ones I tried. Fair warning: NCL no longer lets you pre-book reservations, everything now runs through their app once you’re onboard. Since I don’t use apps (legally blind travelers and touchscreens are not exactly best friends), I headed to the dining reservation desk instead, where I was greeted by a line of roughly 100 fellow optimists.
Naturally, I passed on that particular endurance event and tried again two days later. When I explained that I couldn’t use the app due to my vision, the response I got was a blank stare that suggested my words had been translated into a language nobody onboard spoke. It wasn’t the interaction I’d hoped for, and I left without reservations, or so I thought. NCL has since introduced a $5 no-show fee, which I suspect is less about accountability and more about squeezing a little extra revenue out of forgetful cruisers.
Here’s the twist: without any reservations at all, I was never once turned away from a specialty restaurant, and there were empty tables everywhere, every night. Given that the specialty dining fee runs around $60 a head, I can honestly say I never had a meal that felt worth that price tag on its own merits. That said, whether the specialty dining experience is worth it for you is a personal call, though NCL bundles it so cleverly with wifi, drink packages, and shore excursion discounts that skipping the upgrade takes real willpower.
The Specialty Restaurants
Over the years I’ve sampled nearly all of NCL’s specialty venues, but I’ll stick to reporting on what I actually experienced on this particular cruise.
Teppanyaki
I usually steer clear of shipboard teppanyaki, since it rarely lives up to the real thing. On the Joy, though, it was hands-down the best meal of the trip, good enough that I went back two nights in a row. It wasn’t just the table side theatrics; the shrimp were actually shrimp-sized (a genuinely refreshing concept), and the scallops, steak, and chicken followed suit. If you’re sailing the Joy, the Teppanyaki Grill is a safe bet for a satisfying night out.
Ocean Blue
Ocean Blue is the Joy’s seafood venue and has been a longtime favorite of mine across several sailings. This time, though, the portions and quality had shrunk noticeably. Case in point: I ordered the Seafood Platter with a shrimp appetizer out of nostalgia. On past sailings, that appetizer arrived with three generous shrimp and cocktail sauce. This time, it showed up looking more like a modest handful of bay shrimp doing its best impression of a real appetizer. The Fisherman’s Platter fared a little better, the shrimp and scallop were solid, though the calamari and fish were forgettable. On my second visit, I skipped the shrimp starter and went for the Pan-Seared Scallops instead, which were a safer choice. Here is a picture of that appetizer so you can see for yourself.
Le Bistro
I’ve been a fan of Le Bistro for over 25-years and always looked forward to it. The menu has slimmed down considerably since then, Dover Sole and Mediterranean Sea Bass are now the only seafood options that don’t carry an extra surcharge on top of the $60 specialty fee. I went twice, mostly for the escargot, which was every bit as good as I remembered. The Sole and Sea Bass, on the other hand, were perfectly fine, nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either.
Cagney’s Steak House
Cagney’s is best known for steak, but it does offer seafood too. I went with the Jumbo Shrimp Trio and a Grilled Jumbo Shrimp entrée. The appetizer shrimp were decent, and the shrimp skewer entrée was a bit underwhelming, though the asparagus and mushrooms more than made up for it.
There are several other specialty restaurants aboard, but this should give you a solid feel for the overall dining experience.
Who Is a Logical Client for Norwegian Joy?
The Anti-Schedule Cruiser: NCL’s signature “Freestyle Cruising” concept ditches set dining times and table assignments entirely. Perfect for anyone who wants to decide where and when to eat on a whim.
Casual Dressers: If packing a suit, tuxedo, or formal gown sounds like a chore, NCL is a great match. There are no mandatory formal nights — the vibe is “resort casual” through and through.
Solo Cruisers: NCL is an industry leader here. Their ships feature dedicated Studio Cabins (no dreaded single-supplement fee) plus a private Solo Lounge with hosted social hours for meeting fellow travelers.
Couples and Friends: The onboard atmosphere skews slightly older and more mature than Carnival, making it a great fit for couples, friend groups, or multigenerational families who want a mix of lively bars, comedy clubs, and quieter lounge spaces.
Value Hunters Who Drink or Shop: NCL’s “Free at Sea” promotion bundles perks like open bar, specialty dining credits, and shore excursion discounts into the base fare — ideal for travelers who were going to buy these add-ons anyway and like the all-inclusive feel.
Who Is Not an Ideal Client?
Foodies: Clients chasing genuine fine dining may find NCL more filling than fabulous unless “great food” for them means “lots of it.”
Ultra-Formal or Traditional Cruisers: NCL pioneered Freestyle Cruising precisely to move away from formal nights, assigned dining, and dress codes. Clients wanting white-glove elegance, ballroom dancing, or a buttoned-up ocean-liner feel will likely be happier on Cunard, Oceania, Princess or Holland America.
Clients Seeking True Luxury or Quiet Elegance: NCL is mainstream and contemporary rather than luxury. Travelers wanting a quieter, more refined, all-inclusive experience with fewer passengers and less hustle should look at Oceania, Regent, Silversea, or Viking instead.
Guests Who Dislike Crowds, Lines, or a “Busy Resort” Vibe: NCL’s larger ships (Breakaway and Encore classes) lean into high energy, bright, bustling, and full of bars, casino action, and activities. Clients craving serenity and small-ship intimacy may feel a bit overwhelmed.
Clients Who Dislike Upselling or Specialty Dining Pushes: The Freestyle Dining model comes with plenty of specialty restaurants that cost extra, plus a fair amount of onboard upsell (drink packages, dining, photos). Budget-conscious clients expecting a fully inclusive experience without add-on nudges may feel a bit nickel-and-dimed — worth setting expectations up front, or steering them toward a more inclusive line.
Guests Needing Extensive Accessibility Accommodations: NCL generally handles standard accessibility needs well, but clients with more complex medical or mobility requirements should be carefully matched to specific ship layouts and NCL’s accessibility policies, some older or smaller NCL ships have more limitations than newer ships from lines like Celebrity or Royal Caribbean.
Families with Very Young Children Needing Extensive Kids’ Programming: NCL’s kids’ clubs are solid but not as extensive as Disney Cruise Line or Royal Caribbean. Families prioritizing top-tier kids’ programming may be better served elsewhere.
Clients Sensitive to Noise or a Rowdy Atmosphere: NCL leans toward a party-friendly, high-energy crowd on certain itineraries (short Caribbean cruises especially). Older or more reserved travelers seeking calm may prefer a quieter line, or a specific NCL ship and itinerary known for a more relaxed crowd.
We hope you have enjoyed this 3-part Norwegian Joy review for travel advisors.