Norwegian Jewel Review 2005

[dameofspace]

I have submitted my review twice and a month later I still do not see it being displayed. So I have decided to post it here.

My husband and I have taken a one night Inaugural Voyage on Norwegian Jewel in November, 2005. This was our seventh cruise, and first on NCL. Previously we cruised with Carnival, RCCL, Princess and Celebrity. I have to begin by saying that I had no expectations for this cruise and this was just a way to sample the NCL and decide if we ever want to spend more than one day on their ships.

Embarkation: Ship was leaving from the Miami port. Embarkation was much disorganized; there was a two hours line to get on the ship. There were many agents but they were slow and inefficient. At one point all computers froze and it took NCL agents 20 minutes just to reboot. After the lengthy process of waiting to get on the ship, we were greeted by 4 members of the crew onboard and two jars of sanitizing liquid. They insisted that every one sanitize their hands and move on.

No champagne, no cold towels, no people to help you with luggage and take you to your cabin.

Cabin: We had a midrange balcony cabin, as we always do on all ships. NCL’s cabins are less then small, they are tiny. I cannot imagine having this cabin for 4 (2 adults and 2 kids). The two of us could not go in the same direction at the same time in this cabin. Balcony was tiny, bathroom was minuscule. You pretty much had to keep bathroom door open to move around the bathroom. There was an empty mini fridge and a safe in the cabin. No robes, no beach bags, no ice, no sweets, no ashtrays. Everything was bare to the minimum.

Décor: I have to say a few words about the décor of the rooms and the ship in general. It looked like either a paint truck had an accident on this ship or the color designer was totally blind. All doors, carpets, and few walls and cafés were bright greenish aqua. Cabin had a mix of purple, maroon, aqua, red, orange and yellow all over it. Casino floor and ceiling was red, blue, yellow, and green squares, walls were aqua and orange, and slots and tables red and green. You could not stay in the casino for more then 20 seconds without getting dizzy spells just from the colors. Pool deck had all colors mixed together – orange, green, blue, aqua, yellow, pink, magenta, purple. Theater is bright aqua with bright orange and yellow. All cafes, bars and public lounges are in terrible colors that do not match together. I know and love modern, and this was not it. It was horrific.

Also there is nothing on this ship to take your breath away, no great lobby, no marble, no columns, no crystal, no glass elevators, no huge flower arrangements, no great galleries, no sculptures. Basically, there is nothing to write home about.

Shops: The gallery shops had very poor selection; there were only a few cosmetic products, very small jewelry stand, and few t-shirts. There is no flower shop and no gift shop that we could find.

Restaurants: I was pleasantly surprised by the number and variety of restaurants. Cover charges are minimal and choices are very good. There are French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese restaurants in addition to two main restaurants and a buffet, also a grill and pizzeria. For an Inaugural Dinner there was a choice of oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, forest mushroom soup, fillet mignon, prime rib, salmon, crawfish, chocolate mouse, and Crème Brûlée.

We went to a main Tsar’s restaurant because we wanted to get an idea of regular dining on NCL. It was creatively decorated and there was no line. The waiter came with menus including a water menu. We asked for water with lemon and ordered our meal. We got one glass of water each, and were not able to get more throughout the dinner. We asked three waiters for refill and still did not get it. No one came to take our wine order. The meal was fine, but there was nothing special about it. No decorations, no special presentations, and no gourmet tastes. I have ordered cappuccino but it took so long to make it that we left without coffee.

We also had snack and breakfast at the buffet and it was ok. There were no variety, and no delicatessens, but you could get a bread and cold cuts, pizza, stew, coleslaw and coffee for snack; and omelet, cereal, cold cuts, coffee and fruits for breakfast.

Service: Service is poor in every area on this ship. Pool towels are not picked up in a timely manner, no wine service at dinner, no wine service at the theater, no h'oderves at midnight. No service whatsoever at the buffet. It also takes about 20 minutes to get a $10 martini at the piano lounge.

Entertainment: It was the best surprise on this trip. Main production was spectacular - very talented cast of dancers, singers and gymnasts, good production, and decorations. We enjoyed the show and there was a standing ovation from audience at the end.

The rest of the entertainment was from average to mediocre. The stand up comedian was what we could expect on NCL, we walked out after 10 minutes of listening to his blabber. Musicians and singers on the pool deck were voiceless and talentless. Group that was playing by main reception area in the middle of the ship was terrible. The singer could not carry a tune in any song. Piano bar was empty so pianist never got near the piano. Pianist near the casino played for 15 minutes and then turn on a recording for 25 minutes, then played again for another 15 minutes. There was so called adult dance party at midnight in the lounge. It turned out to be loud rap music. There was karaoke and a 70th music after that at the club. All music on the ship was themed disco and 70th. So there was no variety, no talent, and no choices of entertainment.

In addition: There is a library, beauty salon, fitness room, and a spa that we have not used due to a short trip.

Overall: If it is your first cruise or if you can get NCL really cheap – go for it, you can always do better next time. If you like to be pampered, or just be taken care of – go with another cruise line. Everything on this ship was 3 stars. If you usually stay at 2-3 stars hotels and go to diners to eat – this is the ship for you. If you like 5 stars service on land, do not take NCL, whatever you save on tickets is not worth the disappointment.

My question has been answered by this one day cruise. I will not take any trips with NCL. My favorite cruise line is Celebrity, and RCCL comes close second.

[Planer's Edge]

Sorry you came away with such a bad impression of NCL. I hope you do give a more normal NCL cruise (7 day) a chance in the future and not base everything on a 1 night dinner/dance cruise.

 

PE<---knows other people on this same exact 1 nighter that had a great time... :cool:

[mafig]

I, for one, would never take a one day cruise. How can you experience the ship?

 

I was on the Jewel for 7 days and had a great time. I truly expected the decor to be over the top and garish; however, in person it was quite lovely.

 

Our embarkation was fine, we were on the ship in 15 minutes. We have also cruised on Carnival, RCCL, Princess and Celebrity and you have. You must remember that only Celebrity has those embarkation perks you spoke of. Carnival, RCCL and Princess do not give you cold towels, champagne or help with carry on luggage either.

[mafig]

I just re-read your review. I think you must have missed the Galleria shops (toward the back of deck 7). There was a huge jewelry selection, as well as lots of other merchandise (perfume, liquor, clothing, candy, etc.)

 

I think that you need to experience a longer cruise to get the true flavor of NCL. I remember the reviews of Queen Mary, Radiance of the Seas, Golden Princess were horrible when they first came out and offered only one or two day cruises.

[dameofspace]

Do not take me wrong, we never have a bad time on the cruise. Any day on the cruise is a time nice spend and a much better day then in the office. However, my review reflects my opinion and true observation of the cruise. And by the way, cold towels, robes, and champagne are not perks – it is service. Service - which you get or do not get. And for NCL it is a 7 letter word meaning of which they do not know. As I said, if you enjoy wine from the box or beer, and pizza is your favorite food, and on vacation you like to stay at Motel 6 – it is your cruise. If you like better and finer things in life – go for Celebrity or Radisson. The bottom line is that you lose out on a cheap cruise and do not get maximum enjoyment from your trip. Especially if it is your only vacation a year – you’d better do something nice for yourself. NCL is not my cup of tea and I want to let other people with tastes similar to mine know information from the first hands. Next week I am going on 7 days cruise on Caribbean Princess, and I just booked 2 cruises for next year – Celebrity Millennium, and RCCL Freedom of the Seas. Reviews will follow.

[Dorothy]

This is a very negative review, which is at least honest. It would not be normal to read only good reviews. Everyone has their own opinion. Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy yourself. I have yet to experience the Jewel. Not until June.

 

I must agree that a one night cruise is not enough to base an entire opinion of the cruiseline on. Celebrity and RCCL are my favorites too, but I had a rude awakening when I took a quick 3 night cruise on one of RCCL's cruise ships. I discovered they do not go the full nine yards when it is a short cruise. Everything was skimped on. So, perhaps, like RCCL it depends on the length of the cruise to have the very best that the cruiseline has to offer.

[dameofspace]

No, I did not miss the Galleria shops - my review is about Galleria shops. And you cannot compare selection there with any other cruise line. They have one jewelry stand in the middle of the shop; they also have swarowski crystal shop, and a small stand with cosmetics that does not reflect on any of the trends, popular scents, and European cosmetic. And again, my review is not a discussion – it is an opinion. You do not have to trade points with me. My review is a very accurate description of my trip on this ship. And no thank you, I have to decline your invitation to go for 7 days on NCL. When I am on vacation I like to be pampered and enjoy good service.

[newmexicoNita]

I have submitted my review twice and a month later I still do not see it being displayed. So I have decided to post it here.

My husband and I have taken a one night Inaugural Voyage on Norwegian Jewel in November, 2005. This was our seventh cruise, and first on NCL. Previously we cruised with Carnival, RCCL, Princess and Celebrity. I have to begin by saying that I had no expectations for this cruise and this was just a way to sample the NCL and decide if we ever want to spend more than one day on their ships.

Embarkation: Ship was leaving from the Miami port. Embarkation was much disorganized; there was a two hours line to get on the ship. There were many agents but they were slow and inefficient. At one point all computers froze and it took NCL agents 20 minutes just to reboot. After the lengthy process of waiting to get on the ship, we were greeted by 4 members of the crew onboard and two jars of sanitizing liquid. They insisted that every one sanitize their hands and move on.

No champagne, no cold towels, no people to help you with luggage and take you to your cabin.

Cabin: We had a midrange balcony cabin, as we always do on all ships. NCL’s cabins are less then small, they are tiny. I cannot imagine having this cabin for 4 (2 adults and 2 kids). The two of us could not go in the same direction at the same time in this cabin. Balcony was tiny, bathroom was minuscule. You pretty much had to keep bathroom door open to move around the bathroom. There was an empty mini fridge and a safe in the cabin. No robes, no beach bags, no ice, no sweets, no ashtrays. Everything was bare to the minimum.

Décor: I have to say a few words about the décor of the rooms and the ship in general. It looked like either a paint truck had an accident on this ship or the color designer was totally blind. All doors, carpets, and few walls and cafés were bright greenish aqua. Cabin had a mix of purple, maroon, aqua, red, orange and yellow all over it. Casino floor and ceiling was red, blue, yellow, and green squares, walls were aqua and orange, and slots and tables red and green. You could not stay in the casino for more then 20 seconds without getting dizzy spells just from the colors. Pool deck had all colors mixed together – orange, green, blue, aqua, yellow, pink, magenta, purple. Theater is bright aqua with bright orange and yellow. All cafes, bars and public lounges are in terrible colors that do not match together. I know and love modern, and this was not it. It was horrific.

Also there is nothing on this ship to take your breath away, no great lobby, no marble, no columns, no crystal, no glass elevators, no huge flower arrangements, no great galleries, no sculptures. Basically, there is nothing to write home about.

Shops: The gallery shops had very poor selection; there were only a few cosmetic products, very small jewelry stand, and few t-shirts. There is no flower shop and no gift shop that we could find.

Restaurants: I was pleasantly surprised by the number and variety of restaurants. Cover charges are minimal and choices are very good. There are French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese restaurants in addition to two main restaurants and a buffet, also a grill and pizzeria. For an Inaugural Dinner there was a choice of oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, forest mushroom soup, fillet mignon, prime rib, salmon, crawfish, chocolate mouse, and Crème Brûlée.

We went to a main Tsar’s restaurant because we wanted to get an idea of regular dining on NCL. It was creatively decorated and there was no line. The waiter came with menus including a water menu. We asked for water with lemon and ordered our meal. We got one glass of water each, and were not able to get more throughout the dinner. We asked three waiters for refill and still did not get it. No one came to take our wine order. The meal was fine, but there was nothing special about it. No decorations, no special presentations, and no gourmet tastes. I have ordered cappuccino but it took so long to make it that we left without coffee.

We also had snack and breakfast at the buffet and it was ok. There were no variety, and no delicatessens, but you could get a bread and cold cuts, pizza, stew, coleslaw and coffee for snack; and omelet, cereal, cold cuts, coffee and fruits for breakfast.

Service: Service is poor in every area on this ship. Pool towels are not picked up in a timely manner, no wine service at dinner, no wine service at the theater, no h'oderves at midnight. No service whatsoever at the buffet. It also takes about 20 minutes to get a $10 martini at the piano lounge.

Entertainment: It was the best surprise on this trip. Main production was spectacular - very talented cast of dancers, singers and gymnasts, good production, and decorations. We enjoyed the show and there was a standing ovation from audience at the end.

The rest of the entertainment was from average to mediocre. The stand up comedian was what we could expect on NCL, we walked out after 10 minutes of listening to his blabber. Musicians and singers on the pool deck were voiceless and talentless. Group that was playing by main reception area in the middle of the ship was terrible. The singer could not carry a tune in any song. Piano bar was empty so pianist never got near the piano. Pianist near the casino played for 15 minutes and then turn on a recording for 25 minutes, then played again for another 15 minutes. There was so called adult dance party at midnight in the lounge. It turned out to be loud rap music. There was karaoke and a 70th music after that at the club. All music on the ship was themed disco and 70th. So there was no variety, no talent, and no choices of entertainment.

In addition: There is a library, beauty salon, fitness room, and a spa that we have not used due to a short trip.

Overall: If it is your first cruise or if you can get NCL really cheap – go for it, you can always do better next time. If you like to be pampered, or just be taken care of – go with another cruise line. Everything on this ship was 3 stars. If you usually stay at 2-3 stars hotels and go to diners to eat – this is the ship for you. If you like 5 stars service on land, do not take NCL, whatever you save on tickets is not worth the disappointment.

My question has been answered by this one day cruise. I will not take any trips with NCL. My favorite cruise line is Celebrity, and RCCL comes close second.

it is very interesting to see a review that differs from others as there are always 2 sides to be told. What one person loves another doesn't. I do have to add a couple of things; 1-there is absolutely no way to judge any ship when deciding on a 1 night escape; 2-I have to disagree with you on the size of the cabins: if you check you will find Celebrity and NCL (newer ships) are exactly the same sq feet in the balcony cabins . We have done both and compared the sq footage. I will say, the Jewel doesn't have the best layout I have seen. I have only cruised RCI inside and standard outside. We have found their cabins to be smaller or they appeared to be to us. We all know Carnival has the largest cabins even if the ships are lacking in other ways.

 

This is not meant to discredit your review, just to challenge a few of your opinions. NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

I, for one, would never take a one day cruise. How can you experience the ship?

 

I was on the Jewel for 7 days and had a great time. I truly expected the decor to be over the top and garish; however, in person it was quite lovely.

 

Our embarkation was fine, we were on the ship in 15 minutes. We have also cruised on Carnival, RCCL, Princess and Celebrity and you have. You must remember that only Celebrity has those embarkation perks you spoke of. Carnival, RCCL and Princess do not give you cold towels, champagne or help with carry on luggage either.

I agree with you especially on the decor. Prior to sailing I was appalled at what was appearing on the net. I thought it made my least favorite line look classy but even DH, who has never gotten excited about decor anyplace especially on a ship is still talking about how well it was done. This isn't to say I would want my house decorated the way the Jewel is, but certainly the artists knew how to use color to its best. NMnita

[newmexicoNita]

This is a very negative review, which is at least honest. It would not be normal to read only good reviews. Everyone has their own opinion. Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy yourself. I have yet to experience the Jewel. Not until June.

 

I must agree that a one night cruise is not enough to base an entire opinion of the cruiseline on. Celebrity and RCCL are my favorites too, but I had a rude awakening when I took a quick 3 night cruise on one of RCCL's cruise ships. I discovered they do not go the full nine yards when it is a short cruise. Everything was skimped on. So, perhaps, like RCCL it depends on the length of the cruise to have the very best that the cruiseline has to offer.

Dorothy, you are so right. That is my point exactly. This is the first negative review posted about the Jewel. there have been a couple that had both positive and negative points, but not even a single professional critic has written much other than glowing comments. I don't care for 4 day cruises as I beleive they are less polished than longer ones. Of course the usually thoughts come to mind when a person posts a negative the first time on any thread and this is what the contributor did. Again I think many have been waiting for the first less than glowing review and now we have it. NMNita

[dameofspace]

I do enjoy 10 and 14 days cruise. However, I have been on a 3 and 4 days cruises and these were my favorites. They were on Regency Cruises and Crown Cruises, both companies are no longer in service. They were small ships with excellent service, marvelous entertainment, magnificent food and wine. They had famous comedians working as cruise directors, they had famous chefs make dinners for you, and they knew how to pamper you. By the end of first day, cruise director and his staff knew everyone on board by their names. By the end of first meal your waiter knew your tastes and preferences and carried it on throughout the cruise. I know what you mean by 3 days RCCL disasters, but what can you expect when you pay less than a $100 a night? Again, quality over quantity.

Most of the time though, one day is enough to know if it suites you or not.

[Planer's Edge]

And again, my review is not a discussion – it is an opinion. You do not have to trade points with me. My review is a very accurate description of my trip on this ship.

 

I guess she told us!!!!! This discussion is NOW over. :eek:

 

PE<---believes he might be spoiled on a Raddison ship if he wanted to only cruise once every 2 or 3 years... :rolleyes:

[Planer's Edge]

double post :confused:

[Liv4cruzin]

I, too, am sorry to hear of your disappointing experience on the Jewel. Unfortunately, a 1-nighter isn't enough time to make your best attributes known. I can see how the colorful decor might turn some people off. It was more Carnival-like than anything. But being very color stimulated myself (& especially a purple lover), I loved it. As often happens, ship decor & ambience can vary significantly within the same cruise line (ie, the HAL ships of the early 2000's). And the Galleria shopping area was certainly a different concept. (My big beef was that on the 11/5 "cruisette" that we didn't go far enough out to be able to buy duty free liquor.) My other surprise, that the D.R. menu that one night was quite good. I (& the group of 15 others traveling w/ me) had no service issue problems. So, hopefully, it's spotty at the worst. I hear the Cirque Bijou show is fantastic; which unfortunately they didn't present that night. It had been quite a few years since I had sailed w/ NCL (preferring HAL or Crystal of late). That small taste left me feeling that I was willing to give the Jewel & NCL another try soon. But certainly, not for everyone.

[dameofspace]

I am surprised that everyone took my review as negative and very negative, and my experience as disappointing. The experience was not a disappointment, the ship was. I reviewed this ship as a 3 star - so you cannot call it a very negative. And I point out that production show and dinner selections at the restaurants were excellent. Also, I see many people compare NCL to Carnival and later looses in that comparison. This is simply not true. Carnival has large cabins, excellent entertainment and you are never bored on the ship. Moreover, they have so much entertainment you always have to choose between the two or three venues. I think Carnival is for younger crowd and for families with young kids, because they have an excellent kid’s program, however it is a very nice cruise line and we enjoyed it 10-12 years ago.

Also, please keep in mind, this was not just a one day trip - it was an inaugural voyage. So I think they meant to go for a kill. And dinner menus shows you that they overdid themselves. I doubt they have these items on a regular every day menus. So I am pretty sure that if that what they show on their advertisement inaugural voyage, then I would be bored stiff on their regular cruise.

[mafig]

Just so you know...

 

You will not be getting pre-boarding champagne, help with your carryon, or cold towels on the Caribbean Princess. If you are in a balcony cabin (not mini suite), you'll be in some of the smallest cabins at sea (also a tiny bathroom). Also, I don't believe you get a bathrobe either, unless you're in a mini suite (or if you tip your cabin steward extra). Don't get me wrong, I'm booked on the Caribbean Princess, but after being on 7 days on the Norwegian Jewel, I'm considering cancelling and going on the Jewel again.

[alonzo14]

Thank you for your review you are entitled to your opinion. I do think that more than one day gives you more of an opportunity to know the ship overall. Even on a cruise one night can vary or you can have a so so meal. Yes, I think it's best you find a smaller ship and line. You wnat to be happy with the money you have to spend on a cruise. I hope your next experience is better. I'll be on the Jewel myself on Sunday.

[Stillfloatin']

After reading this review, am I concerned about my upcoming Jewel cruise? :eek: Heck no. After reading all the glowing reviews from previous cruisers who spent more than one night, I have every expectation of a fantastic cruise. Of course, all I've ever cruised is Carnival and NCL, so my tastes are probably more egalitarian than the poster's. But that fits my pocketbook just fine, thank you very much. Though champagne and towels would be nice, I'm perfectly happy to find my cabin, fix myself a drink (from my pre-ordered bar setup) and sit on my balcony and take in the awesome idea of an entire week of pleasure ahead.:D

[sjbdtz]

I reviewed this ship as a 3 star - so you cannot call it a very negative. Also, please keep in mind, this was not just a one day trip - it was an inaugural voyage. So I think they meant to go for a kill. And dinner menus shows you that they overdid themselves. I doubt they have these items on a regular every day menus. So I am pretty sure that if that what they show on their advertisement inaugural voyage, then I would be bored stiff on their regular cruise.

 

1. The inaugural voyage was August 5th from Dover, through the Meditteranean and back to Dover.

 

2. The second voyage was the Baltic Capitals (I was on this trip for 12 days)

 

3. I literally eat filet mignon almost every night because it's one of the least fatty meats and therefore the healthiest, I drive a luxury car, live in a luxury penthouse, and typically live very well.

 

4. I found the Jewel to be just that.... a Jewel. Absolutely 4 to 5 star service, depending on where & what I was doing.

 

5. There is absolutely NO WAY to accurately judge a ship by 1 night. The problem with a 1 night cruise is that everything is skewed. For example, everyone tries to eat at the same time, bogging down the kitchens & wait staff.

 

6. The galleria has a gift shop, tuck shop, jewellery shop (where I bought a beautiful Rado watch for my DP), snack shop, and duty-free liquor store in approximately 5000 square feet of retail space. In addition, there is at least one more shop in the Crystal Atrium (where the breathtaking multi-coloured crystal ceiling is).

 

7. I'm wondering just how much space you need. We comfortably had 3 adults in an inside cabin for 12 days. The bathrooms have full-sized showers, and there is adequate space to manoeuvre as long as a person is less than about 400lbs.

 

8. You'd be surprised at the menus, they were excellent every day of our trip. You make the assumption that the excellent menu was an attempt to overdo [sic] themselves. If you did some research, you'd see that the menus are typically creative and with 10 restaurants from which to choose, one's appetite & cravings can usually be satisfied.

 

9. I'm not sure how one could be bored stiff on the Jewel. Between the theatre, and the shows, and the entertainment, and the pool decks, and the spa, and the library, and the casino, and the restaurants, and the games room, and the galleria, and the bars, and the planned entertainment, and the trivia contests and other get-togethers, there's not enough time to get bored. I'm suspecting that you maybe you were blinded by the bright colours and missed all of the amenities.

 

10. I found the colours to be vibrant and creative. No, there was no marble or crystal chandeliers, but this isn't 1920 and we weren't on the Titanic either. If that's all you're seeking, then I believe the Queen Mary 2 is still doing transatlantics.

 

11. Sanitizing liquid on embarkation vs. Norwalk virus for the cruise. Hmmm...I'll opt for the sanitizing liquid on embarkation. When we embarked, we were directed toward our cabin (no, we weren't escorted, but we're not stupid...we knew that 10513 was on deck 10 and pressing the elevator button wasn't difficult).

 

12. I was under the impression that the cabins were non-smoking. That would explain the absence of ashtrays. I believe the only interior smoking spaces are Bar Central, the Casino, and the port side of Spinnaker Lounge.

 

13. You mentioned there were "no h'oderves at midnight". While we received hors d'oeuvres (means "result of labor") due to VIP treatment, we also noted late-night snacks in the casino every night.

14. The Chocoholic Buffet, an NCL signature is offered on every trip. Did you go to it? No? Is that because you can't do EVERYTHING on a one-night trip?

Your review was annoying because you claim to have the unequivocal truth on how people "with your taste" will see the Jewel.

That's just not true. Your review covers your PERCEPTIONS of a one-night cruise, which is not comparable to a full cruise in any way, shape or form.

If your review simply said "This is what I think", as opposed to "This is what IS", then I wouldn't have replied at all.

Bah.

[newmexicoNita]

After reading this review' date=' am I concerned about my upcoming Jewel cruise? :eek: Heck no. After reading all the glowing reviews from previous cruisers who spent more than one night, I have every expectation of a fantastic cruise. Of course, all I've ever cruised is Carnival and NCL, so my tastes are probably more egalitarian than the poster's. But that fits my pocketbook just fine, thank you very much. Though champagne and towels would be nice, I'm perfectly happy to find my cabin, fix myself a drink (from my pre-ordered bar setup) and sit on my balcony and take in the awesome idea of an entire week of pleasure ahead.:D[/quote']Believe me you will love the Jewel. Of course there is always room for improvement, but anyone that can come across with a review life we all just read probably would not like anything that may be considered middle of the line. Actually we have sailed all but one mass marketed line and never found a ship any nicer, a crew any friendlier or an experience any more rewarding than we found on the Jewel and yet there was one person in our CC group that was hard pressed to say anything very positive. it happens. Have a wonderful time. NMnita

[Stillfloatin']

Believe me you will love the Jewel. Of course there is always room for improvement, but anyone that can come across with a review life we all just read probably would not like anything that may be considered middle of the line. Actually we have sailed all but one mass marketed line and never found a ship any nicer, a crew any friendlier or an experience any more rewarding than we found on the Jewel and yet there was one person in our CC group that was hard pressed to say anything very positive. it happens. Have a wonderful time. NMnita

 

Thanks Nita, I can hardly wait! Maybe you could answer a question for me? I noticed that sjbtdz was under the impression that cabins are smoke free? Does that mean we can't smoke on our balconies either? If so, that would be new to NCL.

[newmexicoNita]

Thanks Nita' date=' I can hardly wait! Maybe you could answer a question for me? I noticed that sjbtdz was under the impression that cabins are smoke free? Does that mean we can't smoke on our balconies either? If so, that would be new to NCL.[/quote']If they are smoke free it is news to me. He was on the ship when it was brand new and of course he may have been in a cabin that had never been smoked in. I have always thought NCL does a great job of controlling the smoke odor, but to my knowledge none of the cabins are smoke free. We had one couple on our cruise who were non smokers, loved the ship but had one complaint: the smoke in the casino. I am an occassional smoker and it even bothered me a tiny bit. NMnita

[marilynd]

I agree that you really can't judge a ship by a one day cruise. Even the 4 day cruise that I took on RCCL I hope doesn't represent what a longer cruise would be. I was disappointed on several levels, with the food and the good service I received was limited to the waiters in the diningroom only.

 

I'm sorry dameofspace that you did not enjoy your cruise on NCL. Judging it by one day is just not enough.

 

I booked a Grand Suite on RCCL and paid what I would have for a similiar suite on NCL. With that I received very few special perks. No special embarkation for suites. No Concierge or Butler service. No Concierge lounge on that RCCL ship. What I did have was a larger room and larger balcony. There were robes in the closet and we did get treats on two of the nights of the voyage. The bathroom,for being a suite ,was tiny. Still I am not judging RCCL from that voyage alone because I know that the ship we were was one of the older and smaller of the cruisline. I know that some ships do have more perks. And with a longer cruise there may have been more of a royal treatment for the suite guests.

 

I have also booked the Cat 12 (top) suite on Carnival. The perks with that category suite were a big zip. We did get to go past others in line on embarkation day, but we were not escorted to our suite. Again large suite, but tiny little bathroom. No nightly treats or any special treatment at all. I hated the party atmosphere of Carnival. The food was not as good as NCL and I had tablemates that would not talk with us at the table. That is why I love freestyle dining. I get to choose who I eat with.

 

I have been on the Jewel twice now and I am in love with it. Sure the decor is bright and a bit overstated, but it does blend and show great taste. I love the way the carpets are custom to the decor in Tango and Blue Lagoon. Tsar's palace is beautiful. What a great grand staircase to the diningroom.

There were some nights when I was glad that I knew that the fish on the carpets swam to the forward of the ship !!. I have received the best in service in every aspect of the ship, from the room stewards, wait staff, bar staff, casino staff, butler, concierge. I was spoiled to the max.

 

Give NCL another try on the Jewel. The best of the best crew are on that ship.

 

Marilyn

[Stillfloatin']

Thanks Nita, that's what I thought too. And Marilyn, you've got me excited all over again about our upcoming cruise. Thanks for your input.

[micheleg]

We're not worried either and can't wait until our April Transatlantic cruise on the Jewel.

 

We just got off the Celebrity Zenith after a 4 night Thanksgiving cruise. Short cruises (especially one nighters) are always different from longer cruises and we did lower our expectations. We typically don't sail anything shorter than 11 days. It was horrible (in almost every aspect)..no escort to our cabin, no cold towels, no lobster, no hot food at dinner, buffet presentation lousy, I could go on...and I'm a huge Celebrity fan. But..we chalked it up to a short sailing, holiday, and lots of first time cruisers...we were happy to get home and I never say that.

 

Also..just to be honest..we were bored to tears on our last 14 day Celebrity Infinity cruise...the ship was like a sailing mortuary (food and service were outstanding, shows and cruise entertainment stunk it up).

 

We had friends sailing with us on the Zenith that were on the Jewel one nighter and they loved the ship, dining venues, and everything about it...so yes...everyone does have their own opinion. They assured us that it's going to be a fabulous venue for our wedding and honeymoon.

 

Different strokes for different folks....that's why ya gotta love these boards!

 

Happy Cruising All!

Michele