Joy Speedway: The winding two-story go-kart track, where you can race your friends at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, is situated on the top deck and is a focal point of the ship. When we tried it, the race was fun and fast without being intimidating or scary — a key factor that keeps this activity suitable for the entire family. Try it at night for an extra-dramatic effect.
The Observation Lounge: As on its sister ships, Bliss and Encore, the Observation Lounge on Joy is a showstopper. Flooded with light from windows that span the entire height of the deck, and furnished with ultra-comfortable leather loungers and overstuffed couches, this is the place to scenery-gaze. In a ship that offers so many (literal) bells and whistles, the relative quiet of this space is a godsend.
Marquee Entertainment: Whether you’re craving Broadway-caliber productions, a fun cover band (Beatles look- and sound-alikes at The Cavern Club), or more abstract, Cirque de Soleil-like performances with dancing, feathery costumes, and acrobatics, the variety and quality of the performances onboard is notable. As on many larger cruise ships, you will also find a fair number of singing solo pianists and vocals-and-guitar duos in the bars and public spaces, but the focus here is all on the splashy shows.