[2] In July 2013, NCL announced that it was confirming the order for the second ship, reportedly at an estimated cost of approximately €700 million.

[27] During her time homeported in China, Norwegian Joy primarily sailed four-to-five-day voyages from Shanghai to various ports in Japan.

She moved to Tianjin for a brief period in the summer, performing the same length of voyages that also visited various ports in Japan.

[33] In the summer of 2020, she was scheduled to return to Seattle to operate Alaska cruises,[34] though the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the season.

[35][36] In fall 2020, she is scheduled to cruise five-to-seven-day voyages from Miami to the Caribbean,[37] before debuting in New York City in April 2021 to sail to Bermuda and the Maritimes.

[38] In October 2015, NCL announced that the ship would be deployed to China, with new accommodations, dining options, and onboard features specifically designed to cater to the Chinese market.

[25][39] Of them, they include a lower guest capacity of 250 fewer passengers and fewer staterooms overall, more connecting cabins and family-oriented suites, an expanded casino, an expanded boutiques space, more restaurants amounting to a total of 29, and a two-level electric go-kart race track.

[39] In July 2016, Norwegian announced it had commissioned Chinese artist, Tan Ping, to design the ship's hull art, which is inspired by the phoenix.

The propulsion system is two ABB Azipod XO units with total power of 40 MW, which allows service speed of 22.5 kts.