Just back from the Jewel

[newmexicoNita]

ok, we were sailing the Jewel last week and I will write a review when we get caught up on all we have to do, but did want to post a couple of things: Most are based on comments that have appeared on CC in the past few months;

 

1-drink availability: for us, it was not a huge problem. The pool bar, first afternoon was very short handed and it took forever to get a drink: the casino bar was always packed, as was the casino period. Other than that we never waited even a few minutes for a drink.

 

2-Hold on Credit card; this was a disussion a few weeks ago: we asked for the gentleman that checked us in and then, after boarding, the guest services: both said; absolutely no hold on a credit card, only debit cards.

 

3-Food quality: it was a mixed bag: for the most part we had no complaints. we ate in the MDR twice, Chin, Chins once and speialty dining 4 nights. We had a couple of thing that were really not appitizing: one was the game hen and I love game hen. They tasted like they had been boiled and had no flavor, and the blue cheese dressing, as in the past, isn't anything more than ranch dressing or it doesn't appear to be. I was also a little disappointed in the buffets,, but we are not huge buffet eaters. We enjoyed sitting out on the deck by the Great Outdoors and feeling the nice warm air, even if the food wasn't anything spectacular.

Chin Chins was better than it was last spring; so was O'Sheehans. Hubby did say the Chicken Pot pie in O'Sheehans wasn't tasty and the service was hit or miss. Of course the specialty dining rooms were good as always.

Someone mentioned the carmel sauce not being good; (this was a few weeks ago) I don't know what they call good? I thought it was as good as I have even tasted. We also noticed servings were very small, but that might be a good thing.

 

4-some have mentioned the ship is showing its age: well, I don't know about you but I know I am showing mine as well. Overall the ship is in great condition. there were a few knicks in the wash basin, other than that I didn't see anything that would jump out and say: hey, this looks old.

 

I guess that is basically it for now, I will do a review, as I said, when I get rested up. Right now, it is catch up time.

[emcelh]

Thanks for the information Nita. Glad you enjoyed your cruise. I wonder if the information you got about holds on credit cards was correct though. We got off the Gem a week ago yesterday. We used American Express for our onboard expenses. We checked our AX account online when we got home and there were some "pending charges" of odd amounts ($80, $60) over and above what what our final statement from the ship showed. I just assumed they were holds placed on the account. They've dropped off now. I had the same experience with a Carnival cruise last spring so I wasn't concerned.

[NMLady]

There IS a "hold" on credit cards -- $300 has always shown as pending on ours at start of cruise and sometimes during the cruise various other amounts are also pending as we put charges on our shipboard account. I check our credit card status online during our cruises and immediately after.

I think it is not called a hold but the result is the same. That amount is reserved for the cruise line so is not available as part of the spending limit.

Edited October 28, 2015 by NMLady

[newmexicoNita]

Thanks for the information Nita. Glad you enjoyed your cruise. I wonder if the information you got about holds on credit cards was correct though. We got off the Gem a week ago yesterday. We used American Express for our onboard expenses. We checked our AX account online when we got home and there were some "pending charges" of odd amounts ($80, $60) over and above what what our final statement from the ship showed. I just assumed they were holds placed on the account. They've dropped off now. I had the same experience with a Carnival cruise last spring so I wasn't concerned.

 

all I know is we asked both times and we checked with Am EX which is what we used as well. As it turned out we never even used our card as we had OBC and a couple of gift cards, but we did check just Monday out of curiosity.I don't know what else to say.

[janpo]

Looking forward to your review. We're sailing her in December.

[CRUZIN TOM]

Special diets on the Jewel. Just wanted to let everyone know, that on our cruise a week ago, my wife needed a wheat free diet for her meals. Similar to Gluten free. NCL was outstanding in arranging the meals, either in the specialty dining rooms or the Main dining room. All that is required is you contact Adrian in The main dining room 24 hours prior to what ever dining room you are eating and he will arrange your meals for you. If you need any type od gluten free items in the buffet, they would arrange that also, such as bread, muffins, French toast, waffles, and even cookies.

[triptolemus]

2-Hold on Credit card; this was a disussion a few weeks ago: we asked for the gentleman that checked us in and then, after boarding, the guest services: both said; absolutely no hold on a credit card, only debit cards.

 

There IS a "hold" on credit cards -- $300 has always shown as pending on ours at start of cruise and sometimes during the cruise various other amounts are also pending as we put charges on our shipboard account. I check our credit card status online during our cruises and immediately after.

I think it is not called a hold but the result is the same. That amount is reserved for the cruise line so is not available as part of the spending limit.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorization_hold

[teachtocruis]

Can't wait for the review! We are on during Thanksgiving. I would love to know about the entertainment. Especially the shows.

Thanks so much,

 

Keila

[Sand and Seas]

Looking forward to more of your review! We will be on the Jewel in about 6 weeks. Can you tell us more about Chin Chins and the specialty restaurants you tried? Thanks for sharing your thoughts:D

[newmexicoNita]

Looking forward to more of your review! We will be on the Jewel in about 6 weeks. Can you tell us more about Chin Chins and the specialty restaurants you tried? Thanks for sharing your thoughts:D

 

Just quickly: Chin Chin's used to be outstanding, since the Asian restaurant have no cover charge they are not as good as years ago, but we would have chosen to eat there a second time had we been on a longer cruise. We had a variety of foods though; none of us were unhappy except I got a noodle seafood dish that was more like a soup. Had I read the menu closer I would have known it. I really didn't care for it much, but what I absolutely loved was the lemon pepper ship dish: I think that is what it was called; it might have been one of the best things I had on the ship. The pot stickers were good as well. They also have a few entrees that are "pay for" we didn't try them.

 

More later, but we did eat in Le Bistro, Modernos and the Italian restaurant.