Does the Jewel feel outdated?

[Cruise_More_Often]

and I hope they do not unless it is worn and needs a face lift. I love the Jewel décor and colors.

I agree with you. I sure hope they didn't change the décor and colors. She is such a beautiful ship, from the top down.

[brunolvr]

I agree with you. I sure hope they didn't change the décor and colors. She is such a beautiful ship, from the top down.

 

Are there any specific pictures you would like me to take and post after we get back from our cruise on the Jewel? We'll be back home on June 7th.

[Susie51]

Brunolvr, pics would be great! Atrium, Spinnaker Lounge, buffet, and a balcony room if possible would be nice photos to see. I'm sorry I offended anyone by my décor comment. I'm not a fan of pinks and oranges. I truly love the Jewel. Spinnaker Lounge is a favorite. The theater has great seats. I like the layout of the buffet: lots of food and soup choices, several made to order omelet stations, and soft serve ice cream. Thank you. I'm looking forward to your post.

[Cruise_More_Often]

Are there any specific pictures you would like me to take and post after we get back from our cruise on the Jewel? We'll be back home on June 7th.

Thank you, Sandy. I would love to see if any changes have been made to the Haven Suites (not that we'll be able to afford to cruise in one again :(). We've cruised in 14006 and 14008, and I have photos of 14006 online (link at bottom of my signature) in the 2009 Canada/New England album, if you'd like to compare.

 

Also, find out whether the Jewel still has the Concierge Lounge that is located where the Pearl has the Deluxe Owner's Suites. The view from there would be pretty nice in Alaska.

 

Reading this thread is making me want to go back to Alaska again, real bad.

[brunolvr]

Thank you, Sandy. I would love to see if any changes have been made to the Haven Suites (not that we'll be able to afford to cruise in one again :(). We've cruised in 14006 and 14008, and I have photos of 14006 online (link at bottom of my signature) in the 2009 Canada/New England album, if you'd like to compare.

 

Also, find out whether the Jewel still has the Concierge Lounge that is located where the Pearl has the Deluxe Owner's Suites. The view from there would be pretty nice in Alaska.

 

Reading this thread is making me want to go back to Alaska again, real bad.

 

Okay, Adele. We're in Haven Suite #14512 so I will have plenty of pictures of that plus the Haven Courtyard (and all over the ship). Both my daughter and I take pictures of just about everything.

 

Have you looked at the Jewel's new deck plans on NCL.com? It still shows the Concierge Lounge.

 

We have been on the Pearl 4 times and love her so I'm hoping we'll love the Jewel just as much. I think we like the Pearl so much because of her excellent crew and staff -- everyone has been so nice and friendly and accommodating to us on the Pearl.

[Cruise_More_Often]

Okay, Adele. We're in Haven Suite #14512 so I will have plenty of pictures of that plus the Haven Courtyard (and all over the ship). Both my daughter and I take pictures of just about everything.

 

Have you looked at the Jewel's new deck plans on NCL.com? It still shows the Concierge Lounge.

 

We have been on the Pearl 4 times and love her so I'm hoping we'll love the Jewel just as much. I think we like the Pearl so much because of her excellent crew and staff -- everyone has been so nice and friendly and accommodating to us on the Pearl.

Aha, it's now called the "Villas Private Lounge," which is a lot less confusing.

 

We've only been on the Pearl once, and it was for a one-night sailing between Vancouver and Seattle, and we were cruising with three Cruise Critic buddies we had met on the Star, so I really know nothing about it. The Jewel I love!

[DevCruise]

Is it me or is it sad that we're concerned about the age/outdatedness of a ship built in 2005? That's not even 10 years old. :eek:

 

These ships are designed to sail for 20+ years. Are we really at the point that ships should be hauled off to the scrappers after a year or two because they're old? :(

[Scott2.0]

Is it me or is it sad that we're concerned about the age/outdatedness of a ship built in 2005? That's not even 10 years old. :eek:

 

These ships are designed to sail for 20+ years. Are we really at the point that ships should be hauled off to the scrappers after a year or two because they're old? :(

 

I'm not so sure that it's the ship's age as much as the decor. Some of the pics make it look like it was designed by a blind clown. The more neutral palate of the current ships seems more current and timeless at the same time. I guess we'll have to see if some jerk asks about the Getaway feeling dated in 9 years. :p

[triptolemus]

I'm not so sure that it's the ship's age as much as the decor. Some of the pics make it look like it was designed by a blind clown. The more neutral palate of the current ships seems more current and timeless at the same time. I guess we'll have to see if some jerk asks about the Getaway feeling dated in 9 years. :p

 

Hey Scott - did you see some of the pics taken today of the Jewel? They're posted on page 11 of the "dry dock" thread...

[Scott2.0]

Hey Scott - did you see some of the pics taken today of the Jewel? They're posted on page 11 of the "dry dock" thread...

 

I did. It looks beautiful. My post was mostly tongue-in-cheek. The pink, blue and orange staterooms still throw me but I'm sure they'll be updated at one point.

[triptolemus]

I did. It looks beautiful. My post was mostly tongue-in-cheek. The pink, blue and orange staterooms still throw me but I'm sure they'll be updated at one point.

 

Yeah, I know you were tongue-in-cheek there. But I don't recall much pink in the staterooms! :eek: For a good dose of pink on the Jewel though... the chairs in the atrium... oy vey! And it appears the chairs are still there. Every time my wife and I walked by them, we were always a little shocked.

[Scott2.0]

Yeah, I know you were tongue-in-cheek there. But I don't recall much pink in the staterooms! :eek: For a good dose of pink on the Jewel though... the chairs in the atrium... oy vey! And it appears the chairs are still there. Every time my wife and I walked by them, we were always a little shocked.

 

Blind clown. Blind clown. LOL! :)

[meatball_nyc]

Oy vey and blind clown. Love it.

 

 

Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

Every Day at Sea is a Great Day

Edited May 18, 2014 by meatball_nyc

[brunolvr]

Thank you, Sandy. I would love to see if any changes have been made to the Haven Suites (not that we'll be able to afford to cruise in one again :(). We've cruised in 14006 and 14008, and I have photos of 14006 online (link at bottom of my signature) in the 2009 Canada/New England album, if you'd like to compare.

 

Also, find out whether the Jewel still has the Concierge Lounge that is located where the Pearl has the Deluxe Owner's Suites. The view from there would be pretty nice in Alaska.

 

Reading this thread is making me want to go back to Alaska again, real bad.

 

Hi, Adele. Did you see "Fishbait17" comment on the Concierge Lounge:

 

"Latest news. Concierge / Haven lounge on deck 15 is closed. According to virginia, they are putting at least one new DOS up there, like Pearl, Jade, Gem. Shame, it may take away much space for GV forward facing balcony. Apparently it was supposed to be worked on during drydock, but not much got done."

 

Not good news to me! :confused:

[bobg529]

I don't know if you've ever been to one of the big land based casinos in Vegas or Atlantic City. Let's say the Borgata for arguments sake. Now that casino has everything. Huge hotel side, extremely opulent, multiple restaurant venues with every kind of food imaginable, tremendous casino that offers every gambling option, entertainment options with legitimate star quality acts, the best spa you could,ever desire, etc, etc. the place is basically a land locked cruise ship, much like the Breakaway, or the Epic. Now these are both wonderful venues offering a fabulous experience. But they are not truly cruise ships. They're more like apartment blocks stuck on top of a hull. On the newer ones you can't even manage a full promenade around the decks. Sometimes if you don't venture out to the pool which is typically too small and overrun by screaming little darlings that seem to resemble roaches scurrying all over the deck, :eek: you needn't even breath the sea air!

 

The Jewel class ships are the last of the true cruise ships that NCL will produce. They are big enough to offer most of what the crowd wants to have, while still letting you know that you are at sea. Don't get me wrong, big and beautiful and glitzy is a lot of fun sometimes, but sometimes a classic ship has a different kind of feel, one that's preferable a a different grade of passengers. In the end YOU must decide what trip is right for you, and be grateful that at least for the time being you still have choices.:cool:

[Barb Nahoumi]

Give me the Jewel, the Pearl, the Sun, not one of the Vegas style mega boats. But that's me. I want smaller, soothing, relaxing, more personal. But to each his/her own. That's why there are so many different type ships to choose from....and cruise lines. And how old is old in a ship? None of these ships are that old.

 

Me too, as long as the ship is clean, well maintained with an efficient crew, good food ,service, and has the itinerary I want. In my opinion, the Jewel class ships are perfect for me.

[EasyPeasy]

I was on the Jewel in March and absolutely loved her. I was concerned with her looking a little dated, but I really didn't feel that way at all. I would love to sail on her again soon.

 

P.S. Another Arizonian here - I'm in Peoria! :D

[Vyhanek]

I think you're going to be pleasantly surprised.

 

I think most seasoned cruisers get on the Epic and have higher expectations. I know the Epic was my least favorite ship....ever. I felt like they squeezed all the deck space off, I didn't like seeing people eating from the buffet right on the pool deck right were they are teaching an aerobics class.

 

I like that the Jewel has open spaces and quiet cozy nooks. It was built before the cruise lines squeezed every available inch of space to make room for additional cabins.

 

The only thing I think you might be disappointed in is the decor. I think it is a bit old ladyish. Perhaps the decor will be modernized with the dry dock. The newer ships have really fun, hip, funky decor. The Jewel has more gilded, baroque, old fashioned fancy sort of decor. I wouldn't let that bother me though!

 

I can tell you Cagney's on the Jewel is so much higher class than on the Epic. Cagney's not eh Epic didn't feel like a high end steak house at all. Again, the issue is squeezing people in. There wasn't the intimate feel that Cagney's on the Jewel has.

[negn]

I sailed on the Jewel in late April. I found the decor to be gaudy compared to other ships. The Bliss lounge reminded me of a brothel with the beds etc. That said I dont care about decor. The staff was great and I found the food much better than expected, actually better than any of the previous 13 NCL cruises.

Only complaint was the small lounging area around the pool. The slide took up a lot of deck space and lounges were packed together like sardines. There were a lot of other spaces less crowded if you don't care about being next to the pool

[triptolemus]

I sailed on the Jewel in late April. I found the decor to be gaudy compared to other ships. The Bliss lounge reminded me of a brothel with the beds etc.

 

There is no Bliss lounge on the Jewel...

[Barb Nahoumi]

There is no Bliss lounge on the Jewel...

 

That's on the Pearl.