Just returned from NCL Jewel 7/23

[shadsf]

We had a terrific trip! We returned on Sunday to find that Iberia Airlines (Spain's National airline) was on strike for two days and it was chaotic. we were able to fly to Madrid, and spent the night their (which was fun - we went out for Tapas at a street cafe) and got a return flight on Tuesday.

The ship, Norwegian Jewel is huge, new and beautiful. The food on board was excellent, portions were large, and great selection. our lobster tails were the best and biggest we remember on any cruise, we could hardly eat the second portion that we ordered! The state rooms were large and the bathrooms the biggest we've seen. The crew was very friendly. There were two comedians, a magic show, and two production shows, all good. The water was as calm as a lake the whole time, and the weather was hot.

The ports just were incredible, what a great itinerary. Thank goodness we hired private drivers because we were make the most of each stop in a relaxing way.

Barcelona - spent two nights in a great 2 bedroom aprtomento in a beautiful area with lots of cafes, restaurants and people walking. It wasn't near the Ramblas area where things are a bit crazier. We were two blocks from Segrada Familia, the famous unfinished Gauti church and could see it from our balcony. This is some church, so ornate and detailed its incredible. Las Ramblas was entertaining for walking with all types of street performers, outdoor shops, restaurants and stores. The Gotic are is a mid evil section with lots of tapas cafes and specialty stores, and narrow,narrow roads. Really cool. The kids liked this area. In Barcelona they eat lots of Prosciutto and Serrano ham. So all the cafe a paterias have all types of sandwiches with great hams and cheeses - at all hours. great for breakfast with espresso coffee (that's what we drank for 10 days).

Sicily was much better than expected. We hired a taxi off the ship, and got an elderly driver about 80 yrs old who spoke no English. But that was OK because he was so nice and he and I communicated somehow. He also drove slower which was OK. Teorama was so beautiful!! Our first ancient city on a cliff over the sea with tons of restaurants and shops and churches. We really loved it. Then our driver, Billajo, drove us down to a private beach area where he knew everybody and they greeted us so nice. There were beautiful restaurants on the beach and we had our first feast. Antipastos, pasta with pomodoro, and another with tiny clams in the shell, and great pizza, and mozzarella with tomato's and bread and wine. Delicious and beautiful.

The Naples was next. We had a private driver, named Roberto DiPalma who grew up in Amalfi. We toured the Amalfi coast, stopping in Positano, Amalfi, and lunch in a cliff side restaurant way off the beaten path in a beautiful town called Ravello. The views and the fresh food cant even be described. This was a little slice of heaven. I can't say enough about how beautiful this was, small ancient villages, with beautiful old churches (we lit cand-els everywhere for Bob), shops and restaurants. Roberto also took us to a cliff side hotel in Amalfi where he knows everyone. What a view!! Balconies everywhere, a pool on the cliff, and blue Marble all throughout the hotel. Everyone was very friendly everywhere we went.

Rome was next we also had a private driver named Guisepie and a private tour guide of the Vatican from Lucca. Both were young in their 20's. Thank goodness that we had both. The Vatican is so huge and beautiful. Luca took us right up to the front door and we avoided a huge line entirely to get in (this was interesting but how they do it I guess). It was amazing, and Lucca was really able to explain in a straight forward way what we were seeing and help us see the highlights because it is so huge that without the guide you might get lost. It was also nice that we had him just for the 4 of us versus a bus tour. The Sistine Chapel and St. Paul's Basilica - what can I say, just beautiful and incredible.

Then Guisppie took us to a great restaurant- - yes more antipasto, and pasta. They didn't remember to bring the pizza in Rome, I think because they couldn't believe how much food we ordered.Food and wine were very inexpensive too. It was so good.fter lunch we entered the antheon. visited the Trevi Fountain and explored, and vsitied the colluseum and ancient ruins. A great and full day.

Then Livorno where we had another great private driver named Giovanni Lucabella. We decided not to see the Pompeii or herculean ruins because we wanted to see the Leaning tower of Pisa and villages of the Tuscany country side. This was also beautiful. The Tower is really beautiful, accompanied by a huge cathedral of course and there were very few people there with us (about 9:30). Also lots of small shops. Then Giovanni drove us through incredible countryside, acres of Sunflower fields, and olives trees and grapes as we headed to the top of the highest mountain to spend time in another ancient town! This one was even more beautiful.... way off the tourist paths. More prosciutto and cheese sandwiches and creamy gellato! and this wasn't even lunch! Shops were gorgeous. We bought Alabastor gifts. Alabastor is a rock that they mine and sculpt in Tuscany, it is very pretty. what a great town on top of this mountain. Then Giuseppe said "this was just the start and it gets better! We drove through the Chianti grape region in the mountains to a really old town called San Gianmano. More of the same! Plus lots of cheap wine shops! These are real towns where people live, with old Lady's hanging laundry out windows, and men tending to balcony gardens. Our drivers always left us alone, told us what we would see, and where to meet them later-it was perfect.

Villafranche in the French Riviera was also beautiful. There were outdoor cheese stands (mind you it was about 100 degrees) and girls at the stands would offer free samples, and butcher stands, and narrow streets with flowers and restaurants and shops. We settled at a restaurant right on the waterfront, and had more pizza - it was very good! We also had the obligatory cheese plate, and goats cheeses on toasts, and pasta. Of course we had wine in every region! The french wine wasn't as good as the Spanish or Italian, but no complaints!

 

Overall a great ship, and great itinerary.

[Dorothy]

Thank you for your review. I was on The Jewel a couple months ago and it was nice to re-live the memories. It sounds like you had the cruise of a lifetime. We ate at a cliff side hotel/restaurant in Ravello, too. It was called the Garden Hotel and Restaurant. I wonder if it was the same. It sounds like it to me.

 

Thanks again. Glad you had a wonderful time.