First time cruisers on NCL!

[Carmic]

We just booked our first cruise with NCL on the Jewel.:) Tell me all about the Jewel. What the cruiseline doesn't tell you and all those hidden secrets.

 

Thanks,

Carol

[chrisbd1]

Well we liked the Jewel so much, we took her again 5 months later. When are you sailing? If it's after June 1st, Freestyle 2.0 will be in effect.

 

From NCL's site:

 

Guests on Norwegian Jade's March 30 12-day Classic Mediterranean cruise will be the first to experience the Freestyle 2.0 initiatives. Additional ships will launch Freestyle 2.0 within the following weeks, with fleet-wide roll out implemented by June 1, 2008. More specific details of the enhancements include:

• Freestyle Dining:
  • A "bubbly welcome" - a welcome aboard glass of bubbly for everyone;
    
  • New menus with expanded choices in every restaurant;
    
  • Lobster Galore - Lobster in the main restaurant twice per cruise and in every specialty restaurant every night of the cruise;
    
  • Steak & Eggs Breakfast Feast in Teppanyaki restaurant with unlimited Bloody Mary's and mimosas;
    
  • Lavazza coffee in all Java Cafes and top suites;
    
  • A signature specialty dish in every restaurant, including the following:
    • Le Bistro: Côte de Boeuf, a 32-ounce premium gold angus rib eye steak; Plateau de Fruits de Mar, a cold seafood platter including mussels, lobster tail, shrimp and raw oysters on the half shell; and Cardinal of the Seas, a braised Maine lobster;
      
    • Italian: Osso Buco, Lobster Ravioli;
      
    • Cagney's: Maine Lobster, 32oz Porterhouse, Surf & Turf, Alaskan King Crab Legs;
      
    • Tex-Mex: Jumbo Tiger Prawns;
      
    • Asian: Szechuan Stir-fried Maine Lobster;
      
    • Action Station: Chocolate Fountains;

    [*]The action station restaurants will also receive plasma menu boards, a world-class salad bar, soft serve ice cream machines, and improved service and nighttime ambiance with tablecloths and candlelight;

    [*]A new and expanded room service menu.

  [*]Stateroom Experience:

  • Elemis bathroom amenities;
    
  • Memory foam mattress toppers;
    
  • Pillow upgrade and addition of Euro pillows to all beds;
    
  • Upgraded linens;
    • All beds will receive a top sheet.

    [*]Expanded mini-bar options and item customization option;

    [*]Upgraded room service menus.

  [*]Balcony and Mini Suites, all of the above plus:

  • Bathrobes;
    
  • Customized Fruit Menu;
    
  • Fresh-baked cookie at turn down on last night of cruise;
    
  • Escort to stateroom on embarkation day;
    
  • Special color keycard;
    
  • Priority Restaurant Reservation and Reception hotlines.

  [*]Suites and Villas, all of the above plus:

  • NCL branded bedding collection;
    • Upgraded mattress, linens and feather pillows.

    [*]Upgraded sofa bed;

    [*]MP3 Player connections;

    [*]Pillow Menu;

    [*]Plush Bathrobes;

    [*]Customized Fruit Menu;

    [*]Customized Canapé Menu;

    [*]Turndown cookie last night of cruise;

    [*]Personal escort to stateroom on embarkation;

    [*]Bottle (or Half Bottle depending on category of suite) of Moet Chandon White Star Champagne upon embarkation;

    [*]Priority Restaurant Reservation and Reception Hotlines;

    [*]Special color keycard for ship-wide recognition;

    [*]VIP Breakfast & Lunch in Cagney's;

    [*]Private Breakfast & Lunch with action station set-up in Courtyard for Villa Guests;

    [*]Dedicated Butler in Courtyard.

  [*]On-board activities:

  • An enhanced educational, entertainment and lifestyle program - NCL "U" - offering a range of new classes in:
    • Humor hosted by Second City;
      
    • Food, wine and spirits;
      
    • Destination education;
      
    • Digital technology.

    [*]Library transformed into a coffee shop atmosphere with:

    • Implementation of honor system for book borrowing;
      
    • Complimentary coffee and tea;
      
    • Plasma screens (muted) broadcasting news.

    [*]Enhanced nightlife with new party experiences, such as:

    • NCL's White Hot Party;
      
    • NCL's Monte Carlo night.

    [*]An enhanced Pool Deck experience:

    • Entertainment taken upscale;
      
    • Relaxing ambient music;
      
    • Drink flags on all deck chairs;
      
    • Pool of indulgence - Evian sprits, cold towels, etc.;
      
    • Quiet zones and times.

    [*]Exciting sports deck programming;

    [*]X-box game consoles in video arcades;

    [*]Expanded and increased flexibility of Kids Crew hours;

    [*]Enhanced Teen Centers to include:

    • X-box game consoles;
      
    • Nintendo Wii;
      
    • Table games such as foosball, billiards and air hockey

[BeachBumMama]

I've read some great things about the Jewel but I haven't been on her... yet. Lot's of info to be found here and depending when you're sailing you'll get the enhancement of NCL's new Freestyle 2.0 which should make it even better. Just wanted to say 'Have a great time'!:D

[newmexicoNita]

I can't think of much bad to say about the jewel. We loved her, we did think the cabins were a bit small, but the nice bathrooms make up for this. some were disappointed in the lack of an open atrium; I don't know what that is all about? Maybe it is just me, but as long as the lobby area is pretty and it is, I could care less about 2 or 3 or more open areas just so I can look up or down. lol

 

Secrets,

 

1-make sure, especially if it is still free, you try Mama's Kitchen. 2-even with a coffee maker in your cabin you may want to try juice or something via room service in the morning. You can fill out the form, leave it on your door before bed and you have an instant wake-up call as they call just before delivering your orrder. What a great way to wake up!!!!!3-stay away from the grumpies that want to complain, it will just bring you down. 2-be sure an see the Jean Ryan company at least once. 4-don't expect to win in the casino, but it is a little better than some we have seen and fun. 5-treat the crew with respect and you will be amazed at how nice they can be and accommodating. We loved everyone we met. 5-join the roll call; instant friends and great information.

 

thats it, have a great cruise.

 

Nita

[sstamm]

We really enjoyed the Jewel- it is a beautiful ship. It looks much better in person than in pictures, IMO.

 

I second the comment about morning room service. The coffee maker in the cabin in really a hot pot and instant coffee- to me that does not really qualify as coffee!!:rolleyes: But the room service was great-- good coffee, the fruit plate was delicious- cantaloupe, honeydew melon, watermelon, orange slices- all perfectly ripe. I was very impressed. We put the thing on the door at night and they always called a few minutes before it was delivered. It was always very close to the time I requested, if not exactly on it. My 11 yr old son, after the first day, had his whole breakfast delivered- fruit, muffin, cereal and hot chocolate. He thought it was great to eat on the balcony and not fight any crowds. I think our first day home he was really disappointed not to have his breakfast delivered to his room!!

 

You may have read this elsewhere, but in the cabin hallways, the fish on the carpet swim toward the front of the ship. I read it beforehand, and thought it was cute, but then I was surprised how many times we actually used that to make sure we headed in the right direction. Our cabin was midship, so depending on where we were headed, we went different ways.

 

Have a great time!

[newmexicoNita]

We really enjoyed the Jewel- it is a beautiful ship. It looks much better in person than in pictures, IMO.

 

I second the comment about morning room service. The coffee maker in the cabin in really a hot pot and instant coffee- to me that does not really qualify as coffee!!:rolleyes: But the room service was great-- good coffee, the fruit plate was delicious- cantaloupe, honeydew melon, watermelon, orange slices- all perfectly ripe. I was very impressed. We put the thing on the door at night and they always called a few minutes before it was delivered. It was always very close to the time I requested, if not exactly on it. My 11 yr old son, after the first day, had his whole breakfast delivered- fruit, muffin, cereal and hot chocolate. He thought it was great to eat on the balcony and not fight any crowds. I think our first day home he was really disappointed not to have his breakfast delivered to his room!!

 

You may have read this elsewhere, but in the cabin hallways, the fish on the carpet swim toward the front of the ship. I read it beforehand, and thought it was cute, but then I was surprised how many times we actually used that to make sure we headed in the right direction. Our cabin was midship, so depending on where we were headed, we went different ways.

 

Have a great time!

i forgot about the Fish swim forward, it was fun and very helpful. That was another thing we loved about the ship.

[Carmic]

Thanks for all the tips. We will be sailing May 5th, so we won't be enjoying the Freestyle 2.0. Will just have to book another cruise.:)

 

I think I read you needed reservations for Mama's Kitchen. Did you have any trouble getting one......when would be a good time to call and make a reservation?

 

I think we will really enjoy cruising on a different line. We always like to try out new things. The one thing the Jewel has is a free laundry room.....I don't intend to use it, but you never know when you might need it. Really anxious to try out the Freestyle dining, too.

 

Carol

[newmexicoNita]

Thanks for all the tips. We will be sailing May 5th, so we won't be enjoying the Freestyle 2.0. Will just have to book another cruise.:)

 

I think I read you needed reservations for Mama's Kitchen. Did you have any trouble getting one......when would be a good time to call and make a reservation?

 

I think we will really enjoy cruising on a different line. We always like to try out new things. The one thing the Jewel has is a free laundry room.....I don't intend to use it, but you never know when you might need it. Really anxious to try out the Freestyle dining, too.

 

Carol

The best time to get reservations for places like Mama's is early in the cruise and before 7pm. I would suggest you make them soon after you board for maybe, the second night. Good luck and enjoy

[garycarla]

The Jewel is a big and wonderful ship. Love her.

 

Check out this list of helpful hints for sailing with NCL. Click Here

[tiggerfan616]

You will love the Jewel, my DH and I took our 1st cruise on her in Jan and had a great time. Beautiful ship, very friendly staff. Say hi to Paulo at the pool bar for me, tell him the crazy Heineken girl from NJ said hello.

You will need a reservation at Mama's but there is no cover, food was quite good.

 

Enjoy your trip, I'm jealous, wish we were on her now.