Norweign Jewel Review December, 4, 2005

[alonzo14]

I just returned from the jewel this past Sunday. My review is strictly for information and is just my humble opinion. Also food is very subjective so it is only something to go by.

 

Sunday: We arrived at the pier around 10: 20a.m Boarding started at 11:30a.m. We were in our cabin by 11;45a.m. We had a mini-suite on deck 11. It was nicer than I even anticatpted. There was fresh fruit in a bowl and fresh flowers which stayed fresh all week long. The shower pressure was good. it was nice having a full tub. We did have to ask for robes as there was none in the cabin closet when we arrived, but they were promptly given. We usually tip our stewards the first or second day of the cruise to show our appreciation and as a down payment on the excellent service we recieve during the week. It was really appreciated. The stewards were working on cabins from 6:00a.m. until 10:00p.m. at night. We had excellent service from our senoir steward Eddie and his assistant Andrea. We no more than left our cabin in the morning or evening and it was made up or turned down. We ate in cagney's. It was delicious. I had Maine lobster for the first time and it was great!!!! We made reservations at the desk in the Crystal Court for for entire week after we ate lunch in the Tzar's Palace on Embarkation. That evening there was a juggler and comedian Romano Frediand. He was terrific!! Go see him!! He's a great guy too.

 

Monday: Ate in Azura main dining room. It was optioanl formal night. lobster was being served. I didn't have it as I had had a big Maine Lobster the night before. However I wished I had as the entree i ordered was so so. They were busy so i didn't ask for another entree. We attended the repeaters cocktail party with the Captain. They had to have two parties there were so many repeaters. The hsow was Ban on the run. Excellent singers and dancers.!!

 

Tuesday: Dinner was in le bistro. Good service and food. Chef's dinner was served in the dining rooms. We didn't attend the show as it was a magic act and we aren't fond of magic. Today we were in San Juan. We left port about 45 minutes late.

 

Wednesday: We arrived early in Antigua. Took a private tour with Lawrence of Antigua. Good tour. Hit the highlights of Antigua. Turner Beach was lovely, but not good for swimming as it dropped off quickly from the beach. Beach chairs were 10.00 a piece for rent and there were vendors selling things. A simple no would suffice. The cab dirvers were also aggressive. This is my only complaint abbout this port. Had a carribean dinner the Tsar's Palace. It was very good. he show was the second City Troupe from Chigaco. They were also excellent.

 

Thursday: Arrived in St. Thomas. took a ship's excursion over to Trunk bay on St. John. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It is perfect for swimming. And it has an underwater snorkeling trail that is marked. Clean white sand on the bottom and very clear. No seedweed or anything. Had dinner in Chin Chin. This was great! Very good service. A Itialian Dinner was served in the dining rooms. You can get the week's menu's at the desk in Crystal court where you reserve the restaurants. We didn't attend the show which was Eric Reid a star singer in the Jean Ann Ryan shows.

 

Friday: We ate in mam's Kitchen. it was better than I expected. Service was good. Freestyle Dinner served in the dining rooms. The show was Cirque Bijou. This was the best show of all. Go see it!

[Grandpp]

Hello. It was nice to meet at the cruise critic meeting; we had a good turnout. At the latitudes party, we won the drawing for dinner and wine at a specialty restaurant and chose Cagney's. My DH said it was the best filet mignon he had ever eaten. We were seated at the last table in the corner in front of the painting of "dead cowboys." I thought one of them resembled my grandfather. This became a trend (we always seemed to get seated in the corner table in whatever restaurant but it was cozy!).

We spent a lot of time in the casino and won and lost. Usually saw Norma there (NJR) and she seemed to be having a ball! The last night a woman asked my husband to move from his perch in front of a Wheel of Fortune and shortly afterwards she won $400. Wish it was us! Only thing I didn't like about the minisuite was the bathtub was a bit awkward (high sides and very narrow and the rail ran at an odd angle to help get out of the tub). It made a very large shower though with HOT water and great water pressure. The staff everywhere was friendly and very nice. I liked the Ironics best but didn't think the entertainment and bands were as good as 60210 and comedians on the Spirit last Oct. Of course, that is just personal preference and no reflection on their great talent. I found that coffee and tea was very good in the dining rooms and room service but not too strong in the Garden Buffet. The Buffet did have good chocolate chip cookies but that's about all I ate there. They had a "mini" Chocoholic buffet at 1:30 on Monday in the casino with no lines and delicious chocolate stuff--especially brownies. We shared a table in Azura one night with a wonderful German couple who had won this cruise on a "Spin to Win" on their last cruise. Enjoyed the ports. We had a great view Starboard of San Juan forts at night. Antigua Miller's Beach Bar-BQ was great and love that Waladdi (spelling?) beer. St. Thomas - cigarettes $15.95 a carton (about half the price in Md.). Champagne Sail & Snorkel was very relaxing with a friendly crew from US. They served "painkiller" drinks, champagne and cheese and snacks. They thought of everything! I didn't snorkel--just enjoyed the sail. Currents were apparently a little rough for those who did snorkel. Skipper recommended if you have time try the walk-in snorkeling at Magens Bay Beach. Great Stirrup Cay was fun and great hamburgers and margaritas! We had the best weather ever on this cruise. Sorry its over but have to get ready for Christmas now.

 

Sorry, Alonzo, to horn in on your review but it saved me posting elsewhere. I had received such good information from everyone on CC before the cruise, I wanted to share.

 

Theresa

[Grandpp]

I made a mistake in my last message. I meant to say I found the coffee and tea in the Garden Buffet too strong for my taste. Had to water it down. I usually had a pot delivered to my cabin and carried around my coffee mug. The tea and coffee in Azura and Tsars Palace was always good (b, l or dinner). They also had wonderful peach cobbler in Tsars Palace on Tuesday lunch. I had a coke card and made much use of it. The wait staff always quickly and politely poured me a glass when I flashed my card on my lanyard.

 

I picked up a new phrase from some ladies in the hot tub. I now call my husband "my bloke."

[sassycruiser]

Thanks for the review of the Champagne Snorkel and Sail. I have booked this for our trip on 1/1/06 and didn't get any feedback when I posted for reviews. I feel much better about booking it.

 

Thanks for all the info!

[alonzo14]

Theresa: It was great meeting you too. I'm sure any information you share here will be appreciated. I agree about the coffee in the Garden Cafe. Dining room was fine though. The bathtub in the minsuite was narrower than normal, but it was great to have one to soak in. Also the garden cafe had a 24 hour ice cream machine which was great. Ice Cream was very good. They had Chocolate, Vanilla or both. The stations were an improvement too. Only lines were at the made to order to order omlete and waffle stations.

[Grandpp]

I forgot to mention how much we enjoyed the Great Outdoors area aft end of the Garden Cafe. They had a guitar/singer around sunset. He played a little John Denver, Roy Orbison, etc. One other thing. Although the minisuites and balconies were sold out according to NCL website, my neighbor in the next suite told me she got a phone call 2 weeks before cruise asking if she wanted the minisuite. Guess someone cancelled. I didn't ask her any nosy questions about how much it cost. Just wanted to let folks know it does happen, but never has to me. I use a travel agent who is a friend but only after I have researched exactly what price I want to pay. She always sends us wine and fruit bowl which this time meant we had 2 fruit bowls. The fridge was a nice size in the minisuite and held my few sodas and water I brought.

[cruisin0504]

Sunset in the Great Outdoors sounds wonderful - thanks for sharing the info.......

[alonzo14]

Yes the Great Outdoors is great on a nice day looking out at the ship's wake.

The refrigerators on NCL ships or at least the new ones seem to keep things nice and cold.

I love the hairdryers too!!! I want one like the one we had on the Jewel.

[momofqno]

alonzo14

 

I have a silly question.....

About the fridge....

Are they the small dorm style fridges???

I like to make my own tea and was hoping to put a smallish pitcher in there????

 

Thanks for your review!

Stacey

[kruzkupple]

In our cabin (5071) it was a built-in fridge at eye level, to the left of the clothes closet. I'd say it was about 18" high and maybe 11" deep, with two shelves plus space in the door for bottles, etc. We found it adequate for our needs. Whether or not you could squeeze a pitcher in would depend on its size.

 

Jack

[alonzo14]

Don't think you could get a small pitcher in there. There are two shelves. They can accomaodate 20oz. drinks. We had a minsuite and ours was located uner the t.v set just bsides the make-up vanity desk.

[mbisson]

We had a BA cabin on deck 10. The shelves in the refrigerators are removable, but even with them out the depth into the fridge is less than that of two 16 oz pop bottles placed one in front of the other. We had a small (somewhat flat) tupperware pitcher we brought along and it did fit.

 

-Monte

[Missilecop]

We were in 8016 and the refrigerator is small. My GF tried to put a plate with cheese cake in it, not gonna happen. We did get a bottle of water in the door.