MariTenor1

I have a feeling that the issues we had with the kids program are limited to off-season sailings. Since you are going during spring break, there should be enough kids for all the kids activities.

 

We still had a wonderful cruise!

 

Happy sailing!

Turned out there were 700 kids on board, but my son only went to the kids program once. I don't think he enjoyed the activities on NCL as much as he does on RCCL.

We have always cruised on RCL (although the last one was 5 years ago) and decided to try NCL this time. We were very disappointed: our balcony cabin was considerably smaller than a balcony on a similar sized Royal ship, food was very bland, ship layout very choppy (of course it would have to be to fit in all the extra pay restaurants). We may be disappointed when we go back to RCL now too....we'll have to book another and see. Cruising just may not be our thing anymore with all the downward trends.

mpcaruth: Thanks for the great review. We have always sailed on RCCL, but with son being in Jr. High now we needed to coordinate our cruise with spring break....so NCL it will be for us next month. I was happy to read your comparisons and must admit I still have some concerns. But, after the crazy winter we've had here, I'm sure any cruise will be fine.

Thanks for the info about not being able to take our luggage on the streetcars. It looks like a cab for us then. Although not a lot...$21 for the cab vs. $5.25 for the streetcar...that's a couple less drinks for me. ;)

Thanks for the great review. The next month is going to seem to go by so slowly until we get onboard!

There is a stop at the Julia terminal and at the upriver end of the Erato street terminal. Choose the one you need based on which terminal your sailing is leaving from.

I'm sailing NCL so I believe I'm at the Julia Street terminal. Thanks for your help!

Is there a stop near the cruise terminal if I take the streetcar?

Is there a stop near the cruise terminal if I take the streetcar?

Loving the review! can't wait for more.....less than 7 weeks and I'll be there!

@Lakecliff: were the Michael Kors bags at the shopping at the port?

Enjoying your review and pics....can't wait for more!

Congrats on the great upgrade. I can only dream that the upgrade fairy would visit us for our first NCL cruise on Jewel in March. Looking forward to hearing more about your cruise!

Staticfire-

I'd love to read your review. We leave in 2 weeks for Belize and are interested in the Altun Ha excursion. We're on the Caribbean Princess.

What did you think?

I'm curious as well. We don't go for a couple of months, but after hearing about Rychedelic's experience, I certainly don't want to do that excursion!

Congratulations on the new grandbaby! That will surely brighten up any day.:D

Do you recall what time they started disembarking?

Exactly Kim....out of the snow and cold! Our son is a little older than your daughter so I'm not sure how many of the character programs he'll want to go to. That will probably help with some of the scheduling problems. As always, any cruise is better than no cruise. I have no doubt we'll enjoy!

Kim: Thanks so much for your fabulous review. Since our weather wasn't allowing us out...I got time to play catch-up! I'm still looking forward to our first NCL cruise in March, I must confess I'm a bit disappointed in hearing about the slowness in the dining rooms. We are some of the few who actually like set dining times and getting to know our tablemates, but thought it would be nice to not have to rush back from ports in order to get ready for dinner. But it sounds like I'm going to have to plan on coming back and getting ready early if I ever plan on making it to a show on time! It's spring break here during our cruise and I'm sure it is in a lot of other places as well, so I certainly hope they are better prepared! But hey...it's still a cruise and it gets us out if the awful weather we're having.

Kim: Thank you so much for the fabulous review! My husband, son and I are taking our first NCL cruise (although not our first cruise) in March on Jewel and I am finding your thoughts and pictures to be priceless! Can't wait to read more.

Our experience with Princess, Royal Carribean and NCL is the same ....

 

NONE of them are flexible and will allow a child even days away from a different age group to join the preferred age group... for ANY reason.

I had my son moved up on Royal. They had him go to his age the first day and they watched him to see if he could handle it. There only stipulation once we moved him up was that he had to stay there. He couldn't fluctuate depending on the activity.

Great photos!! Clearly a good time was had by all!

We only ordered 2 pics because they were soooooooooooo expensive.

 

Pic 1 is just John and I.

pic 2 is John, I, our kids, my mom and dad and Capt Lars.

Beautiful pics....great looking family!

Since my son has been 3 we always let him read the dailies at night and decide which events he wants to go to. Our only limit was that he attend formal night with us (we were always on RCCL) and have pics taken.

Have fun - we are going the following week!

Chuck: Enjoy your cruise as well!

Thank you so much for your review. We will be newbie NCL cruisers on Jewel in March and our son will be 12. You're info is very helpful!

Loving you review and photos Shay! It really has me looking forward to our cruise now!

@NWPacific. Thanks for the info about the iron!

Shay...loving the review. Having cruised with our son since he was 9 months old, I can relate. We learned early on that afternoon naps were a must!

@Terry. We have our first cruise on NCL on Jewel out of NOLA in March. I'll look forward to your review!

Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We are taking our first NCL cruise on Jewel in March, 2014 with our son who is the same age. We're really looking forward to it now!