Jewel Review

[Spanky My]

Just off the Jewel on 2-7-15 ! The Bayport dock is in the middle of nowhere! My advise take supper Shuttle not a cab. I talked to folks who took a cab and for two ran between 65-75 Dollars ONE WAY!

 

Embark and Debark was realitively good as it took about 45 minutes to 1 hour for each.

 

Weather was cool the first night and day...but warmed up by the time we got to Cozumel. In cozumel we went to Nachi com com and all inclusive beach resort. The food was very good and all you care to drink.

 

We then went to Belize and once again good weather and we went with Splash wave tours to do Shark Alley /Caye Cauker/and another Marine reserve for snorkelling.

 

Next day off to Roatan and took a 6 hour Bodden go where you want as a guided trip. We covered pretty much the whole Island plus got in some sun and snorkelling to boot . Not a cloud in the sky in Roatan.

 

As to the Jewel,The ship had a couple of spots in need of repair but overall in VERY GOOD condition. The Crew was excellent and extremely friendly.

 

As to the food we ate in the Buffet,Tsars Place ,Azura and O'Sheehan"s Bar and Grill. All were pretty good and we did not feel a need to eat at any Speacialty Restraunts .

 

Entertainment was VERY GOOD in the Stardust lounge as with a FEW of the lounges as well!

 

Our room was near midship on the 10th deck with a Balcony and we thought it had a good design especially the Bathroom.

 

Overall a very nice cruise with no real complaints. If you have any questions ask NOW before our memory fades...... :)

[lexanna02]

Thanks for the information! We leave on the Jewel on March 28, so we'll put your tips to good use!

 

Can you tell me if they have half & half creamer on the Jewel?

 

DH & I don't drink, so is Nachi Cocum still a good deal?

 

We've done the Victor Bodden tour in Roatan twice and loved it both times!

 

We're really looking forward to sailing on the beautiful Jewel! Were there any particular bands / singers you would recommend? We love to sit and enjoy some good music in the evenings!

 

Thanks again!

[Spanky My]

Yes to the Half and Half in the Buffet... Nachi co com was 55 dollars each.....The food was good and it was a quiet beach but if you do not drink it maybe too expensive . Plus the cab ride was $ 18 each way as well. Not sure I would do it for that price without an "open bar" for4-5 hours....

 

As to entertainment in the lounges A Guy/one man singer named Randon was really good I thought. Especially his Neil Diamond Tribute. New Seasons for the Bob Marley Tribute in the spinnaker lounge was good.

 

Personally We thought the group Cover stories ,the gal singing was off key and would not spend much time there.

 

Overall We thought the shows in the Stardust Theatre were all pretty good. Hope you have a great time...... If you have any other questions be happy to help if I can....

[NMLady]

Just off the Jewel on 2-7-15 ! The Bayport dock is in the middle of nowhere! My advise take supper Shuttle not a cab. I talked to folks who took a cab and for two ran between 65-75 Dollars ONE WAY!

 

Embark and Debark was realitively good as it took about 45 minutes to 1 hour for each. ...

 

Overall a very nice cruise with no real complaints. If you have any questions ask NOW before our memory fades...... :)

 

We are doing the cruise in April. How much was the Super Shuttle? Was it a van or regular car? We prefer car. Did you reserve ahead of time?

I presume you flew in same day and took shuttle directly to port from airport.

We are flying in previous day and staying in port area hotel in Seabrook so would need shuttle from airport to our Seabrook hotel. Do they do that?

[FF Woman]

I agree about Cover Stories. We tried to listen to her sing on two different occasions and left. She just wasn't a very good singer IMO. I was kind of surprised NCL had booked her.

 

We heard New Seasons in the Fizz Lounge and he was very good. He even came around and shook our hands and thanked us for coming after they were finished.

 

And there were a couple of Karaoke singers on our cruise that were as good as the pros. We really enjoyed listening to them.

 

All in all, NCL has good entertainment all over the ship.

[lexanna02]

Thanks for the awesome tips everyone! We'll put them to good use next month!

[Spanky My]

We stayed the Night before the cruise at Best Western Seabrook suites plus. It was cheaper to take a cab there from Houston Hobby than Super Shuttle! The Taxi cost us 56 dollars. The Hotel had a shuttle for NO CHARGE to the cruise port. On our return to Houston hobby it was a VAN from Super Shuttle and it cost $52 dollars for two people and we had NO reservations . We just went up to all the vans and told them where we wanted to go .

 

If you have any more questions ask away....

[mbkcs]

I have to agree on the Cover Story singer. She had a nice tone to her voice, but her range was really limited. So anything that was a bit high, she was pitchy. Not pleasant.

The New Seasons band leader, Wilbur, was a very nice young man. The entire band is from Guyana. I really enjoyed them regardless if they were singing Reggae or Jimmy Buffet.

The show band was awesome. I loved the trumpet player, the sax player and the trombone player/singer. Karaoke was fun, though the sing off was disappointing. I was hoping it would be a judged competition rather than an Applause competition. It was pretty awkward to hear only my husband and a couple other people applaud for me. As already stated, their were some wonderful voices singing in there.

[NMLady]

We stayed the Night before the cruise at Best Western Seabrook suites plus. It was cheaper to take a cab there from Houston Hobby than Super Shuttle! The Taxi cost us 56 dollars. The Hotel had a shuttle for NO CHARGE to the cruise port. On our return to Houston hobby it was a VAN from Super Shuttle and it cost $52 dollars for two people and we had NO reservations . We just went up to all the vans and told them where we wanted to go .

 

If you have any more questions ask away....

 

Thanks so much for the info. We are also staying at Best Western Seabrook and taking their free shuttle to port. We'd planned on taxi to hotel so am glad to know it is a good option for us. We'll watch for a super shuttle van at port for return. Hubby can manage to get in van, it's just harder for him.

 

Question about Best Western. Evidently they have no restaurant for dinner. How does that work out? Their site says they have grocery/convenience store. Do you just get something to nuke in the suite's microwave or did you take a taxi to a restaurant?

[Spanky My]

There is a Subway sandwich shop within walking distance as well as a convienant store. Their shuttle will also take you anywhere you want within 10 miles of the Hotel. Ask them where a good place to eat is and have them take you and give them a time to pick you up.

[NMLady]

There is a Subway sandwich shop within walking distance as well as a convienant store. Their shuttle will also take you anywhere you want within 10 miles of the Hotel. Ask them where a good place to eat is and have them take you and give them a time to pick you up.

 

With my husband's mobility problems, a comfortable walking distance is just a few hundred feet so it is good to know that they will shuttle us to a restaurant.

 

We love the Jewel. We were on her for a ta with British island ports as well and we wish this cruise were longer. We'd love to stay aboard for the Panama Canal transit (we've done two) but expense and Dr appts prevent that.

 

Our cruise was before the Jewel's dry dock so we're looking forward to trying O'Sheehans a few times. Heard it has a more extensive menu than the former Blue Lagoon. As Platinum members we'll definitely be eating at Le Bistro, one of our favourites when we were on the Star.

I know people rave about Moderno but since we've eaten at a real churrascurio in Rio de Janeiro we can't imagine eating at a shipboard one.

 

Even though i'll spend some time in the casino, sea days will probably find me reading in the Spinnaker lounge. I love the quiet and those wonderful view windows high above the sea. I really missed that on the Star. Eating lunch, somtimes breakfast, in The Great Outdoors is also something I'm looking forward to.

 

Is there anything else I should be sure not to miss?

[NMLady]

We stayed the Night before the cruise at Best Western Seabrook suites plus. It was cheaper to take a cab there from Houston Hobby than Super Shuttle! The Taxi cost us 56 dollars. The Hotel had a shuttle for NO CHARGE to the cruise port. On our return to Houston hobby it was a VAN from Super Shuttle and it cost $52 dollars for two people and we had NO reservations . We just went up to all the vans and told them where we wanted to go .

 

If you have any more questions ask away....

 

Do you know if either the taxi or the shuttle would accept a credit card for the fare? That would save on the cash we're bringing -- or would give us more for the casino. :)

Edited February 11, 2015 by NMLady

[Spanky My]

Not sure about credit card on taxi but I would imagine both would. I know you can reserve Super shuttle online and pay for it in advance .

[NMLady]

Not sure about credit card on taxi but I would imagine both would. I know you can reserve Super shuttle online and pay for it in advance .

 

Thanks. I think for our port to airport transfer we might reserve Super shuttle just to make sure we get one.

 

How was the service in O'Sheehan's? They had Blue Lagoon on Jewel last time we cruised on her. I was looking at O'Sheehan's menu in another thread and it looks like a good place for breakfast, and for lunch on sea days since it is closer to our forward cabin than the buffet or MDR are.

Edited February 12, 2015 by NMLady

[Spanky My]

We ate there a few times and they are open 24 hrs. Service was good as was the food. Good place to go espeically to get away from the crowds. Service was very good when we went.

[NMLady]

We ate there a few times and they are open 24 hrs. Service was good as was the food. Good place to go espeically to get away from the crowds. Service was very good when we went.

 

Glad to hear that. Eating there will be easier for us because of location than other venues.

We are looking forward to trying the meat loaf and their chicken pot pie.

Edited February 13, 2015 by NMLady

[herewego]

Leaving in just over two weeks ~ yea!! So I have a couple of questions I am happy to have someone who can answers them ;)

 

On the hotel ~

We are coming into George Bush from Seattle and have the option of staying by the airport and then paying to get to the port the next day (or use NCL deal) or taxi to the place you stayed and then shuttle over. It will cost around $80 to get there but the shuttle sounds great. A Walmart was mentioned, would they shuttle us there to pick up water and pop to take on board? Also, what time does the shuttle leave for the port?

 

On the ship ~

What did you consider the two don't miss entertainment shows?

 

Thanks for your help!

[jamesh6]

Do you know if the Jewel provides the "Luggage Valet" service? Also does it provide shuttle service to either airport at disembarkation? Thanks.

Edited February 13, 2015 by jamesh6

[kumar247]

Glad to hear that. Eating there will be easier for us because of location than other venues.

We are looking forward to trying the meat loaf and their chicken pot pie.

 

Just a quick warning, the desserts at O'Sheehans are quite large. I would highly recommend splitting them with someone else. I struggled to finish mine, but due to the way I was raised mopped it into my mouth and left feeling like a bloated whale.

 

This holds especially true for the cheesecake, brownie, and the apple pie. Highly recommend sharing/splitting desserts at O'Sheehans.

[NMLady]

Do you know if the Jewel provides the "Luggage Valet" service? Also does it provide shuttle service to either airport at disembarkation? Thanks.

 

I think you mean the Bags program. I don't think so, but I sure would love it if they did. We've used the Bags program before and loved the convenience but very few ports let it be offered.

Somewhere else I read NCL offers transfer to airport (don't know which one) for $35 p/p.

 

Just a quick warning, the desserts at O'Sheehans are quite large. I would highly recommend splitting them with someone else. I struggled to finish mine, but due to the way I was raised mopped it into my mouth and left feeling like a bloated whale.

 

This holds especially true for the cheesecake, brownie, and the apple pie. Highly recommend sharing/splitting desserts at O'Sheehans.

 

Thanks for that heads up. Hubby and I will remember to just order one -- or take it back to the room for later. We've done that before.

Edited February 13, 2015 by NMLady

[divamimi312]

Thanks for the information! We leave on the Jewel on March 28, so we'll put your tips to good use!

 

Can you tell me if they have half & half creamer on the Jewel?

 

DH & I don't drink, so is Nachi Cocum still a good deal?

 

We've done the Victor Bodden tour in Roatan twice and loved it both times!

 

We're really looking forward to sailing on the beautiful Jewel! Were there any particular bands / singers you would recommend? We love to sit and enjoy some good music in the evenings!

 

Thanks again!

 

I've been to Nachi 3 times and to Passion Island 2 times. I would pick Nachi every time. They limit (or did limit) the beach to just 100 people a day. That, alone, is worth my 55 bucks!

[divamimi312]

Glad to hear that. Eating there will be easier for us because of location than other venues.

We are looking forward to trying the meat loaf and their chicken pot pie.

 

We are just back from the Jewel on 2/7. My take on the food:

 

Tsar's we hit up instead of the buffet while in still in port for lunch. Wash delish and service great.

 

Asure we ate a few times and we had no complaints. I had tried a stipsteak roast that wasn't very good, it was tough. All in all though food was good.

 

Buffet always had something for us to eat or snack on.

 

Moderno, meat was overcooked and service was slow. Great mashed potatoes.

 

O'Sheehan's, first night the chicken wings were good but I heard other complaints later that they weren't. We went one port day after a late show and I tried the chicken pot pie everyone raved about. I love chicken pot pie! I thought this one had an odd flavor and the crust was just a cooked puff pastry on top. Would not have it again. Hubby had a rueben that was good.

 

Desserts and fruit were always excellent.

 

Cagney's, not as good as I remembered from Sky in '08,but was still good. Filet was perfectly cooked and the staff and service impeccable.

[divamimi312]

Leaving in just over two weeks ~ yea!! So I have a couple of questions I am happy to have someone who can answers them ;)

 

 

On the ship ~

What did you consider the two don't miss entertainment shows?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Cirque Bisou on Thursday night is a do not miss if you like any Cirque style show. The show and music were fantastic.

 

A new comic started on our cruise (departed 1/31/15) who was very funny and there was a comic magician that was good.

[Spanky My]

My wife had both the meatloaf and the chicken pot pie at O'Sheehan's and thought they were very good. So each to their own as to what is good or not.

[Spanky My]

As to shows The le cirque Bijou was good as was Jean Piere Parent,Duo De Dejija Vu and comedy with Don Friesen were all good hows in our view.