A Jewel of a Christmas..kind of review

[JJAuckland]

Hi everyone. So today is the day that I set off on my Christmas cruise voyage. After 380 days I am finally packed (no, honestly, it didn’t take me that long to pack.....) and ready for friends to pick me up and drive me to the airport. Sydney here I come! Staying in Darling Harbour tonight before embarking on the Norwegian Jewel tomorrow. Normally this time of year I am baking Christmas cookies and wrapping presents and so it’s a bit strange to be “running away to sea almost” and leaving family behind . Also leaving behind the final rush at work and crazy people on the roads, all frazzled and wanting to be places yeaterday! I am looking forward to experiencing Christmas on a ship. . Lots of relaxing on the balcony with many pretty coloured cocktails. I will try to take photos (photography is not my friend and I sometimes get teased for the photos of the inside of my handbag or the surprise videos I have taken instead)...so I apologise now for any “out of focus shots” (see above, many pretty coloured cocktails) which may appear. If there is anything anyone would like to know or see from the ship please let me know! Cheers Julie

 

[JJAuckland]

[Pauser]

Have a great time! We love the Jewel.

[Nelsj099]

Julie, are you traveling solo? See you tomorrow! 

[JJAuckland]

Hi Nelsj099 yes I am travelling solo this trip.  See you all tomorrow after muster drill

[JJAuckland]

So am now through immigration and am relaxing with a gin (I am ignoring the fact that it is still morning... as I am on holiday, right??)

[herdingdogmom]

Have a wonderful cruise.  We sail in March and are wondering which app the Jewel is using after the dry dock :  still iConcierge or the newer Cruise Norwegian app.

[Knikkers]

Can I please point out that I'm one of the family members you are running away FROM this Christmas / New Year period 'jjauckland'.  I'm trusting all the other Cruise Critique-ians on the Norwegian Jewel setting sail tomorrow ... to take the bestest care of you!  Please - if you are on this cruise, and see a disorientated Kiwi trying to research blog content, juggle cocktails, camera's and looking like she really is in need of a photography lesson ... save her from herself (yes - she did really take a mysterious photo - which ended up being diagnosed as the inside of her handbag!!!).  Travel safe my sister and have a blast cruis'n without me! xox

[K_e_short]

Thank you for the post. I"m cruising on the Jewel to Alaska in July.

 

I'd love some updated pics. The ones on this site aren't updated. 

[rsachek]

Hi Julie! If you could post a couple photos of your cabin, that would be outstanding. I have been searching high and low for post-drydock cabin decor.

[vette]

Hi Julie,  we are on the Jewel on Jan. 5th. We will probably be passing each other in the terminal.  Please post some pictures of the new features of the ship, and maybe some of the ports you will be visiting.

 

Have fun and save the ship for us.  I will be watching her pull into Sydney on the Sydney web cam in a couple of hours.

 

Vette

[JJAuckland]

Good morning! So I arrived in Sydney last night after a bit of delay on the plane..(engine issues, something you really don’t want to hear). Ah well, bring on more bubbly . The weather in Sydney was not the best so I didn’t venture far and wide. Not so keen on lightning ! 

Hotel is nice (Novotel, Darling Harbour) but away from the ship so it will be taxi for me today. 

I will take photos of the room (balcony for this sailing) and around the ship for everyone as I always love it when I see them from other people and I am hoping my photography skills improve ...let me know..ha ha.

my younger sissy kindly printed off colour luggage tags (orange) for me....but when I went to put them on the bag this morning for some reason the ship/room details hadn’t printed...so it’s back to the back up black n white one. Last year when we all went to Europe she made us all bright orange ribbons so that is firmly in place!

biarding it starting at midday so I am getting excited! 

[shadowmeboy]

Have fun!

[GUT2407]

We sure enjoyed Jewel, if your cruise is as good as ours you will come home H.A.P.P.Y.

[Knikkers]

Sissy has just sent you a copy of the aforementioned luggage tag that you requested to be printed.  It has no cabin details!  Are you attempting to divert blame for when you are unable to locate your cabin - because you are off imbibing in Bahama Mama cocktails, or socialising and totally forget which end of the ship you are sleeping in ... or could it be that you have already tee'd up 'sharing or cohabitation arrangements' and you are avoiding giving me an explanation of who he is?  Happy travels oh wicked one - love younger sissy x

[Muckyduckway]

Have a wonderful trip, will be enjoying the cocktails vicariously :)

[LinnieRed]

Not sure what I’m going to enjoy more, the trip adventure or your sisters commentary 😂😂😂😂! 

[curleyjane]

Have a Wonderful Cruise!

[Jldevlin]

21 hours ago, LinnieRed said:

Not sure what I’m going to enjoy more, the trip adventure or your sisters commentary 😂😂😂😂! 

Yeah I am going to be coming back to this one to see what sissy has to add lol ...

[smillerholmes]

Definitely following for the sister talk!  Have fun the Jewel was our first cruise/ship/long vacation.

[JJAuckland]

Hi there

sorry for not coming back sooner but I have somehow lost all my data (lost/used up.... same thing). Not sure how THAT happened but I’m sure there will be comments... and by that I mean you sissy!!

So I shared a cab down to the port with a lady and her son who were waiting for a taxi too (Woo hoo) and boarding was so smooth. Arrived at port about 11.10am and was on board before midday. Happy happy washy washy.  I headed to the main dining room for lunch after picking up a raffle ticket for a spa prize (as you do).

[JJAuckland]

I had popcorn shrimp and the shrimp burger. OMG the pretzel bun was amazing and has now taken over from the crepe as my favourite food so far! 

Was eated next to a couple who were having an argument.....why.... first day.... this so far has become a theme ... not sure if it’s because I am on my own or that people are a bit frazzled this time of year... I smiled and drank my way through lunch!

[JJAuckland]

Photos of Bahama mama which became my drink on day one and two.....

[GUT2407]

Bringing back memories big time, but then I’ve onky been home a few days

[JJAuckland]

While enjoying my third BM (not that I was counting. Or being judged ... I did notice a few weird looks but maybe I was dressed oddly or they didn’t like my singing or dancing with the

music....at leat I think there was music)

 announced cabins were ready on my deck 9 ....

woo hoo.. let’s get rid of the bag . I will take better photos of bathroom but room is great. Couch is like a park bench seat... so hard!!