Review of Norwegian Jewel February 15 - 24, 2008 from Miami to Southern Caribbean:

[cliffd64]

For those who wish a quick summary, my 14 year-old daughter and I had a fabulous time aboard the Jewel and it's ports of call! Details below:

 

Getting There

 

We flew into Ft. Lauderdale the night before (Valentine's Day) and stayed at the Ft Lauderdale Airport Ramada Inn which I strongly believe used to be a Holiday Inn a few years ago when we stayed there before traveling on the Wind for a Western Caribbean trip. I instantly recognized the hotel and grounds when we arrived via the shuttle, and while the name had changed, it was essential the same, being a good place to crash for the night before heading to the port.

 

We woke up in the morning, had our free buffet breakfast, and arranged for a shuttle from the hotel to the pier with the concierge at the hotel. The shuttle for two of us (and it was just us two) was $65 total, compared to a $75 cab ride. The traffic was heavy heading into Miami because of the International Boat Show that began on Friday so we had arranged to leave the hotel at 9:30 AM and we arrived at the pier at about 10:45 AM.

 

Embarkation

 

This was my second embarkation from terminal D in 60 days, and it was just as smooth as in December. They opened the doors at about 11 AM, and by 11:10 we were through port security and heading up to the registration area. This was our first cruise as Platinum level latitudes members, and while we were entitled to wait in the VIP area, there was really no one ahead of us, we chose to go through the regular latitudes line and by 11:17 we had our card keys and were situated at the waiting area for latitudes members. The sign posted there informed us that boarding would commence at 11:30, and sure enough, we were moving up the gangplank by 11:30. By 11:40, we had made successfully a reservation for Teppanyaki at 6:30 PM at the reservation desk in Tango's and we proceeded to go get ready to enjoy a nice sit down lunch in Tsar's Palace.

 

Crew

 

The crew on the Jewel is very pleasant, and you can always count on a smile and greeting when you pass them on the ship. With a very few exceptions, the service I received in restaurants was very quick and efficient. Bar service was excellent, as was service in the spa and other areas of the ship. The cruise director's staff was pleasant and entertaining as well. Jimmy, the cruise director, was also excellent although it was clear he was still recovering from his bout with appendicitis on Antigua... The casino staff was also very good. Alex Forbes, the concierge is great! The Jean Ann Ryan company and Second City folks are all wonderful.

 

Restaurants, Reservations, and Food

 

First off, before anyone asks, Freestyle 2.0 has not yet spread to the Jewel, but it will by April 6. That being said, the improvements to the menus and food are not yet there that are expected with the new Freestyle 2.0. We ate at several of the specialty restaurants, and also in the main dining room called Tsar's palace. We never did try Azura, mainly because we preferred Tsar's when we did do the main dining room(s). We did have a few lunches and breakfasts in the buffet as well. Le Bistro, Tango's, Teppanyaki, and Mama's Cuchina were all great just as specialty restaurants should be. We chose those restaurants for the nights where the main dining room menu was not as strong. Usually the embarkation night is a fairly weak main dining room night, as is Caribbean night. You can ask to see the menus for all week at the reservation desk(s) (there is usually someone manning a desk in Tango's as well as a desk in the Garden Cafe) to aid in your planning which nights to dine in a specialty restaurant. Blue Lagoon was very different in a nice way from what I had experienced aboard the Dawn and Spirit. In the Blue Lagoon on the Dawn and Spirit, the restaurant is in a major hallway and tends to be a hangout for teens and others since you can seat yourself. However on the Jewel, the Blue Lagoon is located opposite Tango's on Deck 8, and you are required to be seated by the hostess, so there is never a shortage of tables occupied by lounging guests. So if you are in need of a quick snack at any time, you can usually grab something there. The main dining room of Tsar's Palace was very nice. Except for one particular waiter, we always had very quick and efficient and pleasant service in this restaurant. We ate at what would be considered peak times usually, and except for a 15 minute wait on Formal Night, we never had to wait to be seated. The Garden Cafe was set up very nicely in my opinion, and when we did use it for breakfast and the occasional lunch, we were able to find lots of delicious items to enjoy. Food in the main dining rooms is still pre-2.0 so you need to examine the menus closely on some evenings and it helps to ask your waiter what is recommended to get the best out of some of the menus. We asked a few times and were never steered wrong. As for reservations, we had acccess to Alex the concierge (who is FANTASTIC by the way!) and therefore could make reservations for any night we wished at any time, so if you are not Gold or Platinum level latitudes, your mileage may vary. Teppanyaki and Mama's were the hardest to get into for the general population because Teppanyaki has only 32 seats per seating (4 seatings/night) , and Mama's is FREE (hence the demand). Specials for the specialty restaurants were offered between 9 PM and 10 PM usually. Chocoholics buffet was held at night in the Garden Cafe... pure chaos, but delicious.

 

Entertainment

 

My daughter and I attended EVERY show in the Stardust lounge at night. The Jean Ann Ryan shows were great, with a special recommendation to see Cirque Bijou - it was out of this world. The comedy juggling team of Team Root-Berry was also a highlight (although they have now left the Jewel while it was in Barbados.). Jane Powell was great as usual and the crew show was very entertaining. The comedian was not up to the rest of the entertainment in the Stardust Lounge... He was pretty dull in fact, and his jokes were taken directly from Comedy Central's Jokes of the Day which I receive in e-mail. Nice enough fellow, just not so great. We had to struggle to stay awake in his show. Jimmy the cruise director was funnier. Musical entertainment aboard the ship was good, and I highly recommend seeing the Ironics if you are on the Jewel.. they are really great. Lots of activities both day and night to keep you busy!

 

B]Fellow Passengers[/b]

 

It was reported that the average age was about 51 (or 56 depending who you believe) even with the large number of children and teens aboard during this vacation week. We met several nice families both within and without the cruise critic group aboard the ship. Had two meetings with the cruise critic folks, and all of them were great! Had an informal drinks/meet and great on friday after boarding, and a more formal get-together with the crew on Saturday morning. Everyone was wonderful. Most of the young adults and teens were extremely polite and well-behaved on this cruise... no issues to report at all.

 

Ports of call

 

My daughter and I enjoyed all the ports. That being said, there is a trick here that you must employ if you want to enjoy any port of call. Do NOT expect to walk off the ship and walk 100 yards in any direction and be "wowed" in any of these ports. To get the most out of these places, you will have to get away from the port either in a taxi or locally arranged tour or via a ships excursion. These places are not all like St. Thomas, but they all have great things to offer if you get away from the dock! I really pity those people who just stroll off the ship and expect the port area to be some sort of Disneyland or Paradise, they miss out on SO much.

 

Samana, D.R.

 

This is the port I heard the most unjustified complaints about. There are lots of nice things to see and do in Samana, but don't expect to ride the tender to shore and be dropped off in Paradise. Take an excursion. You will see a much different place if you get away from the tender dock. My daughter and I went to Caya Levantado on a ships excursion and it was beautiful! 10 minute boat ride to a great beach with great food (not free, but good!) ... it was well worth the meager excursion price.

 

Tortola

 

Again, heard people complaining that there was nothing in the port... Well, this is one of the more beautiful places in the virgin Islands if you take the time to a) do your homework, and b) get away from the port! I took my daughter to Virgin Gorda to The Baths on a catamaran snorkel tour, and it was very beautiful! If you haven't been there, make sure you plan to see it next time you are in Tortola. NY Times rated it one of the 25 best travel must-sees!

 

Antigua

 

To see the beauty and history of Antigua, once again, get out of the dock area! There are literally tons of things to see and do in Antigua, from their 365 beaches (one for every day) to Nelson's Dockyard, and the tropical forest at Wallings! We went to Wallings for a tropical forest hike which was breathtaking both literally and figuratively.\

 

Barbados

 

The richest of all the islands we went to, didnt hear any complainers here. However, to fully appreciate the island I recommend getting out and seeing the countryside there! Lots to do there. This time my daughter and I snorkled with Sea Torutles and a shipwreck. Great day!

 

St. Lucia

 

St. Lucia has so much to offer, but get off the freakin pier people! There is a drive-through volcano, lush tropical forests, beautiful beaches, all minutes from the pier. If you can't find anything to see and do here, you are hopeless. We traveled to the rain forest and rode an aerial tram thorugh the middle and top of the forest! Great tour, with lots of photo ops!

 

Disembarkation

 

One word: Perfect.

 

So, to sum it up... we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

[BeachBumMama]

Glad to see you enjoyed your cruise, welcome home, even though I'm sure you're probably still dreaming of being on the ship again.:)

[bcs819]

thanks for the great reviw - we will be on her Friday. Can you tell me which nights you recommended going to the main dining room? I have a coupon for a specialty restaurant the first night and was going to do Mama's the second night to get it in early as it's so popular. Recommendations from there?

[riddle]

Thanks for the wonderful review. It was nice to hear down-to-earth comments and not any nit picking.

 

Can you tell me anything about the casino, free drinks in the casino, ice cream stations, chicken wings in Blue Lagoon? Weird questions I know but something we would like to know more about.

 

Is April 6 definite for 2.0? We leave April 11 and that would be fantastic!

[cliffd64]

thanks for the great reviw - we will be on her Friday. Can you tell me which nights you recommended going to the main dining room? I have a coupon for a specialty restaurant the first night and was going to do Mama's the second night to get it in early as it's so popular. Recommendations from there?

 

Well, the second night in is the best menu I tyhink, with the Seafood Extravaganza and the Beef Wellington....

 

Also, the 40th Anniversary dinner night is one not to miss, as it is very good as well...

[cliffd64]

Thanks for the wonderful review. It was nice to hear down-to-earth comments and not any nit picking.

 

Can you tell me anything about the casino, free drinks in the casino, ice cream stations, chicken wings in Blue Lagoon? Weird questions I know but something we would like to know more about.

 

Is April 6 definite for 2.0? We leave April 11 and that would be fantastic!

 

Sometimes, when the house seemed to be killing us, there were free drinks offered by the pit boss... that happened at least twice...

 

There are ice cream stations all around in the Garden Cafe.

 

Buffalo wings are readily available in Blue Lagoon... order a double order (or more) if you really like wings.

 

April 6th is a definite, it came right from the cruise director and hotel manager at our cruise critic gathering. There are consultants on board right now going through the changes with the staff and chefs etc.

 

BTW... the GEM is the testing platform for Freestyle 2.0 but even the Gem is not fully deployed with 2.0.

[snorklinbarb]

Hi Cliff,

Really enjoyed your very informative review. Congrats on going as Platinum status. Did you have dinner in Le Bistro as part of that?

 

I read that they will be revamping the Latitudes program for freestyle 2.0. Did you pick up any info on that?

[cliffd64]

Hi Cliff' date='

Really enjoyed your very informative review. Congrats on going as Platinum status. Did you have dinner in Le Bistro as part of that?

 

I read that they will be revamping the Latitudes program for freestyle 2.0. Did you pick up any info on that?[/quote']

 

Yes, we had dinner in Le Bistro along with complimentary wine as part of our perks.

 

No word yet on any Latitudes changes as part of 2.0 ... this seems to be a difficult challenge and may be the last thing that is done.

[Diana68]

Hi Cliff!

Love the review! I had a great time with you and Rebbecca, she is a great kid.:D

For those of you that don't know, Cliff has a wonderful voice,...much better than the lady in the expensive shoes that won the star seeker on our sailing. :rolleyes: :p

Sooo true about the ports! There is a lot to see in these ports, but you need to plan out your day!

 

Can you tell me which nights you recommended going to the main dining room?

My favorite menu is Monday night, prime rib. I would go to the main restaurant then.