Jewel Questions?

[robindina]

Leaving on the Jewel in 10 days for the Caribbean :) Few questions:

 

I keep seeing posts about afternoon snacks in your room? Are these complimentary and do you just arrange it with your room steward (or whatever they are called)?

 

What shows are there?

 

Is it best to carry on your luggage or check it?

 

Dress up or Not Night: Do a lot of people actually dress up and is this only at certain restaurants?

 

What is a must do when we get on the ship? Where should we go? The hubby and I have never been on a cruise so very interested in the sights :)

 

Any other advice about the Jewel or just cruising in general will be greatly appreciated :)

[garycarla]

Snacks are in suites.

 

Most people will check their heavy bags, and carry on something smaller with "must have" important stuff.

 

Very small percent dress up.

 

When you board, walk around a bit, then go have a quiet lunch in main dining room.

 

And, best advice I can give. Scroll down through postings from the past week and you will find answers to questions you did not know you had.

[roger001]

The Jewel, like several other similar NCL ships, have two areas that we really like. It has the Spinnaker bar/observation lounge, deck 13 forward, a great (usually uncrowded) place for a few quiet drinks or sometimes some music. And there is the Great Outdoors, an open area grill/mini buffet area. It is rear of deck 12 at the back of the buffet. We really like it for custom omelets for breakfast. Also, the Jewel has one of the best buffets in my opinion. There is a bridge observation room all the way forward on deck 11, port side. We board early when possible, go up to the pool deck, deck 12, eat from a small grill items area there and people watch while having an adult beverage. As previously mentioned, just walk around, explore, and enjoy. It's all yours. Hope you enjoy cruising as much as we do. Enjoy the crew and staff. They are a great group of very hard working folks.

[Floridanamaw]

The Great Outdoors as a limited breakfast bar but we used it more than the big buffet because there was hardly anyone using it. Also, O'Sheehan's on deck 8 serves a good sit down breakfast. It is a limited menu but the food was good and less crowded. We also ate supper there several times.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[GORDONCHICK]

The only luggage you can carry on must be the size of a regular carry on for flying because it has to fit through the scanners, which are the same as in the airports. Always carry on medications and any thing necessary in the appropriate sized bag.

 

Snacks are provided in suites only, but you are welcome to go to the buffet and take back to your cabin what ever you can carry.

[garycarla]

The only luggage you can carry on must be the size of a regular carry on for flying because it has to fit through the scanners, which are the same as in the airports. ....

 

 

Sorry - but this is just not true. We have seen (and done it ourselves) put large suitcases through the scanner. It is not the same as airports.

[rvsullivan]

You can drag your suitcases through the check in lines with you. If they don't fit the scanners, you can then go back and start over at the beginning. Assuming you do get them through the scanners, you will then be allowed to drag them on the ship with you, and take care of them until your cabin is ready. Perhaps around 1-2 pm. Why bother, check them with the porters for a few bucks and be done with it.

Every port has their own scanners and no one can tell you what size scanner is at every port.

[morrisretired]

We were on a repositioning cruise 09/25 to 10/11 from Los Angeles thru the Panama Canal to Bayport (Houston.) We always check our bags with the porters when you get to the port, and use a carryon bag for our medicine, passports, important papers, etc. Your checked baggage usually makes it to your room within a few hours. It would be hard to carry big suitcases thru the check in line, up escalators, thru crowded hallways, trying to eat somewhere with them, then to your cabin, etc. You have to have a suite for your butler to bring snacks to your room. The balcony cabins and up have coffee makers in your room. If you need a snack in your room order from the room service menu. They only charge for this service is in the early morning hours. You can order a $5 pizza and get it delivered anywhere on the ship. We always went to O'Sheehan's when we wanted a light meal or snack. Great service and fast. We enjoyed all the shows on our cruise, which were much better than our past cruises. The dress code is pretty lax on this anytime dining cruise. I don't remember them having any "formal nights" on any of the 16 nights. At Tsar's you have to wear long pants (jeans acceptable) at the evening meal, but you can wear shorts at Azula (same menus.) I brought 3 pair of slacks - and never wore them! On vacation and enjoyed not having to dress up every night. There were people that dressed up, though. Usually for pictures. Most people ate early on our cruise. We (8 in our group) usually ate around 8 pm and only had to wait a couple of times. They give you a pager and coupons for a glass of champagne at a bar close by. Usually got a table (both times) within 15 minutes or less. (I think most people ate early because it was crowded then, to get the free drinks.) We ate breakfast and lunch most days at Tsar's. The buffets were always crowded and your food got cold on the tray looking for a vacant table. They serve food around the pool area, but again you have to find a table here or back in the buffet area or at the outdoors at back of the ship. Most people camp at the tables after eating. If this is your first cruise get your diagram of the ship and go exploring. Drop your carryon bag at your cabin. Your room steward will probably be near your room to welcome you aboard. If you board before 2 pm, you can go eat at Tsar's, which won't be as crowded as the buffet. There are giveaways at various places (spa, casino, shops, etc.), just look at the flyers they hand out. There is always something going on, but you can't make all of them. Don't wear yourself out the first day or two. You can just relax, too. Ben Kitchen is the Cruise Director and he does a great job. You will see him everywhere - and he always asks how you like the cruise. Ben is an Aussie - kind of hard to understand sometimes -but don't hold that against him. Steven Jacobsen is the hotel director and you also see him all over the ship, checking on things. He would welcome us back to the ship when we returned from our shore excursions. They had cold towels, cold drinks, and cookies waiting for everyone. This was our 10th cruise - and a first for this kind of service! Messiah Ritzinger was the food and beverage director. He was also all over the ship checking on everything, too. You will get to know these three men! One other person to mention, is the washy-washy man you meet entering the buffet. This man loves his job! He also sang a song and played guitar at the Jewel employee talent show. A lot of future entertainers working at other jobs! We only ate at the free restaurants, except one night our son took us to the Moderno? (Brazilian Steak House) for my birthday. It was ok, but not worth the extra charge and tip, in my opinion. We did see some of the same evening menus in Tsar's and Azula on this 16 night cruise, but always found something we liked. The embarkation at Los Angeles was fast and easy! There were some people that carried their luggage off at the end of the cruise, which would be easier (downhill) than brining it onboard. We always let them take it the night before and pick it up just before going thru customs. The disembarkation at Bayport was slow and disorganized, though. Maybe because it was the first ship of the year in to the Bayport cruise terminal? Hope they improve on this problem! The cruisers that got a porter to take their bags, did make it thru customs faster than those of us taking our own luggage. The porters had a shorter line to go thru than the rest of us. I will use them the next time here! If brining liquor back you have to pay the usual federal tax - plus a tax now charged by Texas. So, that bottle purchased in a port really isn't that cheap any more. One other note, your luggage is x-rayed coming back into the United States. One couple had packed silverware from the ship, and customs was waiting for them to claim their luggage. They were hauled off! I hope this answers your questions - with some extra stuff added in.

[hawk1972]

The paragraph is your friend. :)

[garycarla]

We were on a repositioning cruise 09/25 to 10/11 from Los Angeles thru the Panama Canal to Bayport (Houston.)

 

We always check our bags with the porters when you get to the port, and use a carryon bag for our medicine, passports, important papers, etc. Your checked baggage usually makes it to your room within a few hours. It would be hard to carry big suitcases thru the check in line, up escalators, thru crowded hallways, trying to eat somewhere with them, then to your cabin, etc.

 

You have to have a suite for your butler to bring snacks to your room. The balcony cabins and up have coffee makers in your room. If you need a snack in your room order from the room service menu. They only charge for this service is in the early morning hours. You can order a $5 pizza and get it delivered anywhere on the ship.

 

We always went to O'Sheehan's when we wanted a light meal or snack. Great service and fast.

 

We enjoyed all the shows on our cruise, which were much better than our past cruises.

 

The dress code is pretty lax on this anytime dining cruise. I don't remember them having any "formal nights" on any of the 16 nights. At Tsar's you have to wear long pants (jeans acceptable) at the evening meal, but you can wear shorts at Azula (same menus.) I brought 3 pair of slacks - and never wore them! On vacation and enjoyed not having to dress up every night. There were people that dressed up, though. Usually for pictures.

 

Most people ate early on our cruise. We (8 in our group) usually ate around 8 pm and only had to wait a couple of times. They give you a pager and coupons for a glass of champagne at a bar close by. Usually got a table (both times) within 15 minutes or less. (I think most people ate early because it was crowded then, to get the free drinks.)

 

We ate breakfast and lunch most days at Tsar's. The buffets were always crowded and your food got cold on the tray looking for a vacant table. They serve food around the pool area, but again you have to find a table here or back in the buffet area or at the outdoors at back of the ship. Most people camp at the tables after eating.

 

If this is your first cruise get your diagram of the ship and go exploring. Drop your carryon bag at your cabin. Your room steward will probably be near your room to welcome you aboard.

 

If you board before 2 pm, you can go eat at Tsar's, which won't be as crowded as the buffet. There are giveaways at various places (spa, casino, shops, etc.), just look at the flyers they hand out.

 

There is always something going on, but you can't make all of them. Don't wear yourself out the first day or two. You can just relax, too. Ben Kitchen is the Cruise Director and he does a great job. You will see him everywhere - and he always asks how you like the cruise. Ben is an Aussie - kind of hard to understand sometimes -but don't hold that against him.

 

Steven Jacobsen is the hotel director and you also see him all over the ship, checking on things. He would welcome us back to the ship when we returned from our shore excursions. They had cold towels, cold drinks, and cookies waiting for everyone.

 

This was our 10th cruise - and a first for this kind of service! Messiah Ritzinger was the food and beverage director. He was also all over the ship checking on everything, too. You will get to know these three men! One other person to mention, is the washy-washy man you meet entering the buffet. This man loves his job! He also sang a song and played guitar at the Jewel employee talent show. A lot of future entertainers working at other jobs! We only ate at the free restaurants, except one night our son took us to the Moderno? (Brazilian Steak House) for my birthday. It was ok, but not worth the extra charge and tip, in my opinion. We did see some of the same evening menus in Tsar's and Azula on this 16 night cruise, but always found something we liked.

 

The embarkation at Los Angeles was fast and easy! There were some people that carried their luggage off at the end of the cruise, which would be easier (downhill) than brining it onboard. We always let them take it the night before and pick it up just before going thru customs. The disembarkation at Bayport was slow and disorganized, though. Maybe because it was the first ship of the year in to the Bayport cruise terminal? Hope they improve on this problem! The cruisers that got a porter to take their bags, did make it thru customs faster than those of us taking our own luggage. The porters had a shorter line to go thru than the rest of us. I will use them the next time here!

 

If brining liquor back you have to pay the usual federal tax - plus a tax now charged by Texas. So, that bottle purchased in a port really isn't that cheap any more. One other note, your luggage is x-rayed coming back into the United States. One couple had packed silverware from the ship, and customs was waiting for them to claim their luggage. They were hauled off!

 

I hope this answers your questions - with some extra stuff added in.

 

Some good advice for newbies.

[robindina]

Wow Thanks for all the great advice...I think we will definitely be checking our bags. Tsars before 2 Check. The hubby and I are night owls so we eat dinner late, so sounds like no crowd

[shealea]

I've sailed on the Jewel twice. I think you will really like this ship!!

 

We enjoyed eating at Tsar's once we got onboard. I think they only serve till 2 pm. It's very quiet there, and much less hectic than the buffet on embarkation day.

 

At the pool deck there is a fun sailaway party. The band plays and there is fun dancing. Good food. It's fun!!

 

In early evening, just past the Buffet, they serve made-to-order crepes. I think it starts at 5. maybe till 8?

 

We liked O'Sheehans. It's located on the deck just above the atrium. It's a sit-down pub style restaurant. Good food, and pretty quick service. Love that it's open 24 hours a day.

 

Check out the Great Outdoors. They serve a small buffet style there at times in the day. We often got breakfast there as it was super quick. We absolutely loved eating outside at the Great Outdoors. It's our favorite spot on the Jewel

 

We really like the fresh fruit from room service.

 

Not too many people dress up for dinner on the Dress Up Or Not nights. I didn't see anyone dressed really fancy in gowns and tuxes. I saw quite a few women in plain, pretty cocktail dresses. But mostly, women wore slacks and a nice top. Men in pants and polo-type shirt. A few in nice jeans, but not many.

 

They take photos in the atrium on I think 2 evenings. So, there were women in pretty dresses and men in slacks and shirt getting photos done. You might consider doing that. We did and the pics turned out really nice. And compared to studio pics, the price seemed good for us. There is also a regular photo studio onboard the Jewel. The sample pictures that were shown for this were beautiful. We never used that.

 

The evening shows are very good, and I would try to see them all. If JP is still there --- He is outstanding, so don't miss him. He did the main evening show, and then one afternoon he did another show, showing how some of his tricks are done. Very good.

 

I went to a presentation by some of the crew for a Q & A session. It was sure interesting to hear their stories.

 

We got a kick out of watching the Deal or No Deal Games. We never bought in to play, but it was sure fun to watch!

 

If you are going to get room service late at night, try to get your call in before midnight. It's a $3 charge after that.

 

Just some of my thoughts........ And things you didn't even ask about!!!! HA! Whoops.........Can't stop talking about my wonderful Jewel cruise! ha!

 

Have a wonderful cruise!!!!!

[Rudyard]

Sorry - but this is just not true. We have seen (and done it ourselves) put large suitcases through the scanner. It is not the same as airports.

 

They may be bigger elsewhere, but the ones at Jewel's current home port in Houston are about the same size as the ones at the airport. Maybe a bit bigger, but wouldn't take a large suitcase.

[JRnPJ]

Shealea do you know how much the Deal or No Deal is? Also how much is Bingo on NCL?

[Susie51]

We sail on Jewel Nov. 29 and have cruised on her before. I like the layout of the ship and the direction of the "swimming" fish on the carpet lets you know if you are walking aft or forward.

[tanyaheart]

Leaving on the Jewel in 10 days for the Caribbean :) Few questions:

 

I keep seeing posts about afternoon snacks in your room? Are these complimentary and do you just arrange it with your room steward (or whatever they are called)?

 

What shows are there?

 

Is it best to carry on your luggage or check it?

 

Dress up or Not Night: Do a lot of people actually dress up and is this only at certain restaurants?

 

What is a must do when we get on the ship? Where should we go? The hubby and I have never been on a cruise so very interested in the sights :)

 

Any other advice about the Jewel or just cruising in general will be greatly appreciated :)

 

You are going to love it! Cruising is the best vacation in the world!!!

 

If you think that you might have any sea sickness, you can go to your doctor and get a prescription for Transderm Scōp patch. I've never cruised without it. Practice good hand washing and try not to use the public restrooms. I always start taking Airborne a few weeks before cruise and while on the cruise.

Natural Motion Sickness Remedy

 

 

Ginger – (a.k.a. Zingiber officinale), is a fairly common remedy for motion sickness and nausea. It can be taken in many forms to be helpful. Try chewing on ginger candies (make your own!) or even eating ginger cookies. Slowly sipping ginger tea or all natural ginger soda may quell nausea. Ginger tablets or capsules can help, and work best if taken about an hour before traveling. (If you are pregnant or taking blood thinners you should consult your trusted health care provider before taking ginger.)

 

NCL has a White Hot Party, so pack your white attire!

[Susie51]

How was disembarkation/embarkation on Nov. 8 at Bayport for the Jewel?

[JMHAM1]

Love the Jewel. The Great Outdoors is one of the things that I love! Nice to sit out there for breakfast and we could always find seats even when the inside buffet was full.

 

There are made to order omlettes and also crepes in the buffet area. Make sure you get some of the pretzel rolls! I don't think I noticed them until NCL cruise #3! :eek:

 

 

 

We enjoy having lunch in the MDR on embarkation day. So relaxing to eat there after the hectic morning on getting aboard. Cagney's if you are in a suite!

 

 

I thought the Jewel had some of the nicest crew that we have come across. The Jewel is one of my faves! Just be sure you check out the dailies so you don't miss anything. Enjoy!!

[FF Woman]

Pretzel rolls are so good. They also are served in breadstick form. I love those for a snack.

 

Another thing that I didn't discover until our last time on the Jewel was the crepe station in buffet in the evening. We generally eat in the MDR or a specialty restaurant for supper but one evening my DH wasn't feeling like eating so I wandered on up to the buffet later on and discovered the crepes. They make them to order with the filling of your choice and are a nice treat.

[Susie51]

I didn't know about the crepes. Thanks for sharing.