Live from the NCL Jewel December 24-31, 2022 with YVRteacher and her Dad

[laudergayle]

21 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

I forgot to add that both my dad and I wish we had packed warmer clothes.  The last couple days were way cooler than the forecast predicted and we both needed warmer tops/something with long sleeves.

 

Back to work for me tomorrow!  Just made my lunch:

Well that looks like a “just cruised” lunch if I’ve ever seen one…lol.  Those veggies need some Ranch! P.s. LUV the stainless bento box.

Edited January 3, 2023 by laudergayle

[YVRteacher]

The ranch is under the carrots so it doesn’t leak onto the raspberries!

 

[mypleasure]

As always a fantastic live report. Love your Dad and the things he says (and does) that you amuse us all with every day. I am looking forward to next time. Thank you for doing this journal of the trips you go on.

 

[YVRteacher]

Thank you!

[YVRteacher]

My poor dad is so sick!  I just talked to him and encouraged him to drink plenty of fluids.  He said “ok I’ll have beer.”  I said water.  He said beer. He said he had half a glass of water this afternoon and I told him to have the other half tonight. 

[NikiPinkston]

So sorry to hear that! Hope he feels better soon.

[vacation44]

11 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

My poor dad is so sick!  I just talked to him and encouraged him to drink plenty of fluids.  He said “ok I’ll have beer.”  I said water.  He said beer. He said he had half a glass of water this afternoon and I told him to have the other half tonight. 

Hope he feels better today.    

 

Thank you, again, for your wonderful live thread and I cannot wait for the next one.   

[KP@Sea]

I’m so sorry to hear your dad is sick. Hopefully he’s on the mend soon. My mother is the same way about water, only she thinks coffee is an appropriate substitute. 

[mearsfansinboise]

On 12/25/2022 at 2:31 PM, YVRteacher said:

We left our hotel (Marriott San Diego Bayfront Suites) 

at 10:55 this morning and were at our suite on the Jewel at 11:08am.   Our hotel is right across the street from the pier. 

 

San Diego port operations are phenomenal.  The organization, the friendly staff and the easy process were all greatly appreciated.  There seemed to be one line for all the people who have propriety boarding (Haven, latitudes, Casino, assistance) and one line for others.  At the time we entered the port there was no line up at all.  My dad said it was our best boarding experience ever.  He is right!

 

We were escorted to our suite where we dropped off luggage then went to deck 14 and did a loop of each deck before having Haven lunch. My dad kept exclaiming how great the ship looks with her freshly varnished bannisters. It’s super clean everywhere! 

 Here is the Haven lunch menu for Day 1.  This is also the lunch menu for days 2-7.

 

I had crudités and a green salad while my dad enjoyed crab corn soup and shrimp scampi.  He didn’t eat all the pasta and our server said next time he would give my dad twice the shrimp and half the pasta.  This is perfect for dad!  My all-time favourite maître d, Kevon, took great care of us.  I’m so excited he’s here!  

After lunch we returned to our cabin to unpack.  Lots of storage but a broken closet in my room.  When we were done unpacking I said it was time for libations so we headed to the Pit Stop.  In a plot twist no one saw coming my first drink onboard was a green juice rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and lime to prevent scurvy.  It was garnished with tequila. 

 We stayed at the Pit Stop surveying the situation (any musical fans out there?) then waved to Steven.  More hugs! He called home today to talk to his 88 year old mom and she didn’t answer.  He called back and she said she was outside shovelling the driveway!

 

We had a 45 minute line up with only 3 people ahead of us at the Cruise Next desk.  That was ridiculous!  The manager refused to come out of her office to help people.  We did eventually book Sail  and Sustain, Wines Around the World (not my thing) and dinner with the officers.  NCL is still not doing behind the scenes tours but they did say they anticipate this Latitudes benefit will be reinstated in the new year.  I told her it was fine because really, how much laundry being folded can one watch?  On this ship the latitudes coupons are on photocopy paper instead of the old little booklets.

 

If you are on this cruise and you were at the sailaway party we were the ones with zero rhythm and zero dance skills!  The party was terrific and my dad turned to me and asked, “have you ever seen anything like this?”  Tahani saw us and ran to us to give us hugs and welcomes.  The Jewel is so, so special!

 

We were supposed to depart at 4:00pm and the captain came on the PA to inform us that the stores were still being loaded and we would be leaving late.  We left at 4:45, sailing west into the sunset before heading south to tequila, sun and beaches.

 

After two strong drinks I needed to walk so we did laps around deck 7 before heading to dinner.  We met Rumi just before dinner and it was wonderful to see him.  I had tears in my eyes I was so happy! He mentioned that there were supposed to be 2800 passengers on board but 250 missed flights due to weather so we have 2550 including 600 kids.  There’s a little old lady who overwinters at my dad’s senior home and Rumi always asks my dad about his girlfriend!

 

For crepe aficionados there is a crepe station and fabulous crepe maker in the Garden Cafe.  I had apple with whipped cream and M&Ms.  Someone saw my plate and said “wow.”

This is why I have salad for lunch!

 

Tonight was busy, busy, busy!  I have 4 favourite NCL lounge singers/musicians: Jim Badger, Taylor Kundolf, Leo Jostol and Alexa.  Guess who is on board?  It’s Leo!!!!

 

There was holiday trivia (we tied for the win with 19 points) followed by Christmas carols with Leo then the theatre.  The headliner who was supposed to be in Stardust Theatre tonight missed her flight (the comedian also had his flight cancelled so he will be joining the ship in PV) so we had Alex and Magdalena, world champion ballroom dancers from Poland.  They were good, but it was 45 minutes of the same twirling interspersed with video filler for costume changes.  My dad thought it was too risqué for a family cruise.

 

Tonight they had Jewel Tide Christmas Eve carolling (see what they did there?!) with management, housekeeping, entertainment staff and shop and spa staff in the Crystal Atrium. 

 Very fun, very Christmassy and very special.  At this point my dad couldn’t keep his eyes open so we headed back to the cabin.  

Unfortunately the room steward hadn’t made a bed for me so I tried to call housekeeping but no one answered.  I called our butler and the room steward came to make the bed.  He did a terrible job and it was super uncomfortable.  Look who is complaining now!  My dad is very happy and I have a complaint. (Written this next day, I explained how to make the sofa bed and he has fixed the bed set up.  All is well.)

 

We had a wonderful embarkation day/Christmas Eve.  There are Christmas trees in every lounge and restaurant, gingerbread houses at all restaurants, a huge gingerbread village in the atrium and lots of garlands, ornaments and lights throughout the ship.  Many people have door decorations on their cabins.

 

Searched the forum for "crepe" - lol - and happened upon your recent post.  Question - was the crepe station a daily thing and/or a certain time of day thing?  We didn't hit the Garden Cafe once on our last (2) sailings, but missed the crepes and refuse to miss out this time!

[YVRteacher]

They were available every evening in the Garden Cafe.  Enjoy your crepes and your cruise!