Jewel Review, 5/29 out of NYC

[searlie]

We returned from our cruise on the Jewel Saturday, 6/5 and I've been meaning to write a review so here goes...I hope it is not too unorganized! Any questions, please feel free to ask.

Departed NYC on Saturday, 5/29. Traveled with my husband, daughter (18) and son (12). Embarkation was pretty painless. We got to the pier about 11:00 (had a car service bring us from Long Island) -- We were all given numbers on a card which was a bit deceiving because since we were one of the first ones there, we thought we'd board first, but we were number 32 (either 31 or 32) and were not one of the first that's for sure. I am not sure what the system was.

However, by about 1:30 we were sitting, eating, and having our first tropical drink on the ship! We were definitely in cruise mode and very excited at that point. We sat at The Great Outdoors area by the Garden Cafe. We took pictures of the city landmarks and Coast Guard ships around us...it was so cool. This was our kids first cruise and they absolutely loved it!

We were on Deck 5 - my husband and I had cabin 5586 and the kids were down the hall a bit in 5596. We didn't purchase the second cabin until a week or so before our cruise -- it was definitely worth it. Gave us all more space and the kids loved having their own room. We were all together most of the time and if not, kept in touch with post-its or phone calls. I debated bringing walkie-talkies but was glad that I didn't bother with them. The ship was very clean and well-maintained.

My kids ages were kind of in-between. Son felt too old for the the 10 to 12 but they wouldn't let him into the 13 to 17 since I already registered him as being 12. It wasn't a problem, he made friends and had a ball on the sports deck most of the time playing basketball, soccer, and dodge ball. He also had fun at the arcade a few times but that can add up. Daughter hung out with us which was just fine with me! One of my favorite parts of the vacation was having my family all together without the usual distractions of cell phones, their friends, etc.

We went to the various game shows, contests, and shows -- they were all just wonderful!! No complaints...we had fun and were entertained at each one of them. Karaoke was funny the first couple of times but that got old to us after a while. Really loved the Band on the Run Show, Cirque, and Second City was hysterical...the juggler was good as well. Very talented people! The staff talent show the last night was very entertaining -- loved "the fountains"!

During the cruise, the Nickelodeon entertainment seemed to go over very well for the young children...we just watched from our deck chairs. We never did see any of the characters.

Speaking of deck chairs by the pool, if you want one in a good spot you need to get out there very early!! People are told not to reserve chairs but, of course, everyone does. I was out there at 6:30 one day and chairs were already getting filled with items and people.

I think our favorite night was the country line dancing with Parker (Parker Cristan) leading the way. He was the best cruise director I have ever met, we loved him!! He was funny, talented, engaging, energetic...everything you'd want in a cruise director! Apparently, this was his first cruise with NCL...you would never know it, he did such an awesome job. Also, Sinan, his assistant was hysterical! The whole staff was wonderful.

The country night was a lot of fun and then it moved to a calypso/reggae type party on the pool deck with dances, a congo line, and all that fun stuff. My hubby was back in the room already at that point but the kids and I had a ball!

Our weather was amazing...mostly 2 to 4 foot waves (unnoticeable) -- perhaps 4 to 7 on the way south, but that was not felt either. The worse thing we encountered was some heavy fog coming back to NY -- didn't bother anybody else in my family but the sound of the fog horn every few minutes freaked me out a bit!

I don't like elevators so I took the stairs a lot of the time -- I figured that exercise could balance all of the eating and drinking! My family took the elevators more often and the times I did do it, we never had to wait long. Only on disembarkation day was there a wait.

Our first port was Port Canaveral, FL -- this was fun for us because we have family there so we spent the day with them. The next stop was Great Stirrup Cay -- fun day although the weather wasn't great, but wasn't horrible. A bit of rain and cloudy skies. My son loved snorkeling and I even gave it a try for the first time, very cool! My husband snorkeled also...daughter headed back to the ship, the island wasn't her thing. Nassau Bahamas was the next day -- we just went in for some shopping. It was very hot and we were happy to get back on the ship which felt like our home at this point! After that, we had our two sea days which were fun and relaxing.

We only ate at the buffet and the main restaurants (Azure and Tsars) -- they were delicious enough for us so we didn't pay feel the need to pay extra for the specialty restaurants. The help in all of the restaurants was very attentive and friendly. We really like the freestyle dining...eat when you want and with who you want. The only extra spending we did was on a couple of the pictures the photographer took and a little bit of time in the casino for my husband and daughter. Speaking of the casino, they are right on top of you if they even think you are under 18. My daughter looks very young and one of the employees came over to ask her age saying she thought she was 14!

The disembarkation wasn't fun...we went down pretty early, around 8 a.m. and had to wait in a long line before they said we could start exiting the ship -- we did it ourselves with our luggage instead of the color-coding options. Looking back, the line didn't really take that long, but it sure felt like it at the time. As we left, Parker was saying good-bye to everybody and he even remembered my son's name! That was very cool. Customs went quickly for us and the agent was friendly. I really have no complaints, this was one of the best family vacations we have had and we hope to be able to cruise again soon -- on NCL! :D

[*Luv2Cruz*]

Thanks for the review and glad ya liked it. I'm putting together a CC Group on the Jewel for the same time next year and can't wait to go!:D

[Cruiser1978]

Your review increased my excitement for my cruise on the Jewel in two weeks. Thank you!

[searlie]

I am excited for both of you that you get to go!! My kids already keep asking to go again next year -- fun fun, great ship! Enjoy!! :)