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A great escape by
Monica Marton from Seattle, WA Sailing date: Jun 2012Pros: excursion arrangements were outstanding, very helpful and friendly personal. Cons: smoking all over the ship... including surrounding balconies or verandas... Overall experience was excellent.
I would recommend limitation of smoking areas also, I think it would be beneficial for non-smokers to be surrounded by non-smoker guests.
It is really annoying to get out on the balcony and inhale someone else smoke, more than to keep the stateroom balcony door closed so it would not get into the suite.
I would suggest the aft and starboard to be nonsmoking both alleys, balconies and verandas.
Probably the best idea would be for the cruise line to consider non-smoking policy. Ship Quality
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 3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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  Ported at Ballantyne, not Canada Place by
Don S from San Jose, CA Sailing date: May 2012Pros: Food, balcony stateroom, game room, group activities, waterslide Cons: We ported at Ballantynew Pier, instead of Canada Place. Orbitz said we'd port at Canada Place, Norweigen said that was never the plan, so somehow I feel misled. Also a 2 hour delay in boarding at L.A. A 45-minute wait for Taxi from Ballantybe Pier to Canada Place area. This was our first cruise experience. Overall, it seemed like a very good value, and we would do it again. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodReally liked the food. Only thing is, a little disappointed at the dessert selection for vegetarians. Also, a little disappointed there were not nachos served poolside, except for on the first day, perhaps due to weather (some wind on the 2nd and 3rd day, although a fair number of people were out by the pool). Stateroom QualityGreat. Only negative are that CRT TVs are pretty small. Ship Staff QualityVery friendly staff. Everyone acknowledged us all the time in passing, and our housekeeping staff often greeted us by name. Entertainment & ActivitiesI thought the nightly shows and music acts were very entertaining. Sometimes, during the morning and afternoon, we found ourselves a bit bored with the group activities offered, so just stayed in our stateroom, or decided to eat more at the buffet. 0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
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"Entertainment outstanding" by
A Traveler from Portland ME Sailing date: Apr 2012Pros: Entertainment Cons: Food The entertainment on this cruise was the best... lots to do and see. Most of their shows were fabulous. The Hypnotist and the Comedian were the best. The crew was very friendly. The Norwegian Private Island "Stirrup Cay". was very fun and relaxing. The water is beautiful and warm. Not enough time was allowed at Atlantis for the money spent on the excursion. The food was sub par. It was overcooked and the same in every common restaurant. Ship Quality
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Nice but not perfect for small kids by
A Traveler from New York, NY Sailing date: Mar 2012Pros: the flexibility Cons: the lack of family activities We took this vacation with our 2 year old and hoped for both relaxation and family time. Unfortunately, we hit bad weather and missed a beach day and were stuck inside the ship a lot because of high winds. This left us with not a lot to do since even taking a walk outside was difficult or impossible on many days. The paddling pool for toddlers is nice and enclosed, so we could use it regardless of the weather but small children are NOT WELCOME in the regular children's pool, which means families cannot swim together. The paddling pool is also often overrun with bigger kids when the large pools are busy and is not monitored at all by the ship's staff. The general pool area was extremely crowded during the few hours of sunshine we did have and finding seating was difficult. All three of us finally perched on one chair. The scheduled Nickelodeon activities are fun and the ship's staff in general are charming. I just wish that there were more options for families and for children's entertainment besides the daycare service. That's a nice perk but the whole idea was to spend time together as a family. It would be nice to have a climbing/play area for small kids where the parents are welcome to hang out too. The evening family disco time was a great idea but came off the schedule a few days into the cruise for some reason. Ship Quality
Dining/FoodThe buffet was generally great and the flexibility in dining options is terrific for families. The quality of the specialty restaurants was uneven. Stateroom Quality
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Children's ProgramsI am giving this a "poor" only because there weren't enough things for families to do together. It seemed to be a choice between leaving my toddler at the daycare area (which was good and a great perk but something I wanted to use only once in a while) or trying to keep him entertained inside the ship for days with nowhere really to go and not enough to do. 2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Good for families. by
A Traveler from Albany, NY Sailing date: Nov 2011Pros: food, entertainment, customer service Cons: too many kids, not much to do during at-sea days, small and noisy pool area This is a great cruise for families with kids, but I do not recommend it for singles or younger couples. Kids EVERYWHERE.
For a ship of this size, I would've expected a larger pool area and more than 4 hot tubs. There was a sign next to the small pool that said "adults only", but it was never enforced. Music blared through the PA system or by a DJ near the pool. If you wanted quiet, you had to go up 2 floors to the "quiet deck." I would have preferred a separate quiet pool area just for adults. There was also no indoor pool area, so there wasn't much to do on cooler days.
Unfortunately, we couldn't go to Great Stirrup Cay because of high surf, so we had an extra at sea day. The staff did what they could to entertain during the at sea days, but it was still boring. Florida and Nassau were fun though.
That being said, the food and shows were great, as were the staff. Ship QualityThe decor was a little cheesy, but everything was clean and laid out clearly. Norwegian is big on cleanliness; there are antibacterial wash stations everywhere and "washy washy" girls who spray your hands when you enter the buffet. Dining/FoodThe food was great, both at the buffet, dining rooms, and cover charge restaurants. I especially recommend Teppanyaki ($25) for an awesome hibachi show. Make your reservations as early as you can, as Teppanyaki fills up fast! Le Bistro ($20) was also delicious. The chocolate buffet was disappointing; a lot of the desserts seemed pre-packaged and not fresh. Breakfast room service was also disappointing, as you can only get breads and fruit, not hot food like eggs. Stateroom QualityI had an interior stateroom, which for the size, had everything I needed. Big comfy bed, nice sized closet, bathroom, the works. My tall travel companion had a difficult time using the toilet, as there wasn't much room. Ship Staff QualityAll staff we encountered were courteous and willing to help with anything we needed. Entertainment & ActivitiesThe evening shows were outstanding! There was a stand-up comedian, magician/comedian, and an acrobatic duo. The cruise dancers/singers were also great, and the cruise director and his staff did a funny skit on the last night. It was cute. During the day, activities were lean. 
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Nassau, BahamasDon't Miss: Visit Dolphin Cay at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island! So amazing! Port Canaveral, FloridaI went to Cocoa Beach, which I only recommend if it's warm enough to swim. The beach itself is gorgeous, but the surrounding town is not particularly interesting.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Good first cruise by
A Traveler from Ny, ny Sailing date: Oct 2011Pros: Entertainment Cons: Bad slots payouts overall good value for first cruise, met expectations for price point. Had non English speaking in laws for whom some activities would have been appreciated. Ship Quality
Dining/Foodfree style dining very convenient, wait staff sometimes uneven, monotonous after day 5. Stateroom Qualityokay for what I paid Ship Staff Qualityhousekeeping very good, fitness room and library good, food wait staff uneven Entertainment & ActivitiesEntertainment excellent, fitness classes uneven, casino slots payout seemingly very low
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Nassau, BahamasCommercial area near docks very touristy. Buys tour had heavy traffic
Port Canaveral, FloridaTypical beach town, cape canaveral your may be only unique experience.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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completely average by
Jen M from Philadelphia, PA Sailing date: Sep 2011Pros: service staff and specialty restaurants Cons: all incusive food/buffet Not recommended for the 20-30 age group, not much going on for us on the ship itself Ship QualityLoved our suite with balcony! The ship appeared new and was very clean! Dining/FoodThe buffet was terrible as was the all inclusive dining rooms, but the specialty restaurants were great. We loved the sushi and hibachi Stateroom Qualitysuite with balcony Ship Staff QualityThey were fabulous Entertainment & Activitiesnot much entertainment for our age group or nightlife as far as chillin at the bars around the pools
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Nassau, BahamasWe took a taxi to Atlanits and did the waterpark! We loved it, but you need to wear your flip flops, we made that mistake and burned the c... out of our feet. Be prepapred to be amazed at the slides, they are nothing like the states, they take it to the next level of fun!
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), Bahamasthe island leaves much to e desired, but is currently under construction. We didn't care too much because we spend the entire time in the water...it is beautifu!
Don't Miss: It is worth just spending time in the clear, blue water Port Canaveral, FloridaWe went to Universal adventure area with the Harry potter rides. We had fun there and were glad we did it! We love rollercoasters and they didn't dissappoint. The Hulk was a bit of a headache, but the rest were good. We ate at Mythos and it was so good, definitely recommend it!
Don't Miss: he Harry Potter ride in the castle 1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Nice Week!!! by
SLC in NJ from New Jersey Sailing date: Aug 2011Pros: You're on vacation Cons: An extra fee for almost everything A little tight around the pool, other wise space to move around.
Public areas could be a little cleaner, bottles floating in pool.
Ship QualitySeems to be well maintained Dining/FoodLe Bistro was very good, Teppanyaki was a poor value.
Otherwise all other included restaurants and eateries had great choices. Stateroom QualityHad inside cabin for 2 people, was enough, how long do you spend in it anyway. Ship Staff QualityAll put in lots of hours to make "things" happen. Entertainment & ActivitiesMost shows and entertainment were great. Children's ProgramsMy children used the teen center off and on.
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Nassau, BahamasWent to Blue Lagoon on Salt Cay, very quiet.
Of course a visit to Straw Market, a Nassau must!
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), BahamasGreat beach!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Good cruise...for Freestyle Dining fans by
Al R from Boston, MA Sailing date: Jul 2010Pros: Convenient to eat ANY time of day. Good cabin Steward. Nice itinerary Cons: Mediocre service. Cabins clean, but cleaning around rest of ship mediocre. The Norwegian Jewel cruise out of New York is decent. VERY convenient for people out of NY, NJ, and Connecticut. 90% of cruisers from those 3 states. Freestyle Dining...meaning can "drop in" to Blue Lagoon "comfort food" restaurant 24/7. Main restaurants open seating several hours daily for each meal breakfast, lunch, dinner...go any time. LOTS of people eat at Garden Cafe...high QUANTITY of food eaten. Mediocre QUALITY of food. Entertainment was good. Intinerary great. Good cruise director and staff. Next cruise I'll fly to Florida instead of driving to NY to cruise on the Jewel. Ship QualityDecent but not extraordinary. Due for a complete makeover in April 2011? They need to use a steam cleaner on the chairs in the Spinaker lounge! Elevators and some public areas smelly sometimes. Dining/FoodQuality mediocre. Quantiy huge. Variety of times GREAT. PRICE for MOST of the restaurants...a little high? To eat at Cagney's or Teppenyaki''s it's $25 per person...ADDED to cruise bill (didn't cruise prices used to include food?). Mama's is $10 surcharge (and no veal at this Italian restaurant). Tango's Mexican is $10, but worth it! Stateroom QualityWe had a "cheap" stateroom on Level 4. TV quality poor (little old CRT TV, with few stations!)...but otherwise we were pleased with size/storage of stateroom. Great shower. Comfortable bed. EXCELLENT steward! (Thank's Arvin and Frank!!!!!!) Ship Staff QualityCabin stewards great. Watched plates/cups rolling near pooldeck 3 hours for somebody to pick them up! Restaurant staff degree of "pleasantness" mixed. Some great. Others going through the motions doing their jobs....but not showing passion or happiness. Tips included in mandatory service fee added to EVERYBODY ($12pp per day). Less individual attention than on more "traditional" non-freestyle cruises. Entertainment & ActivitiesGood entertainment. Second City Improv troupe excellent...especially in the workshops they held! Singer good. Cirqe de Bijou headliners OUTSTANDING. Dancers and other singers fair. Good cruise director (Parker) and Assistant CD (Sinan) Children's Programs
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Nassau, BahamasSHOPPING. We didn't go to Atlantis, but would if we returned.
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), BahamasWONDERFUL snorkeling at this beach...BEAUTIFUL tropical fish near the "reef" off the island (bring a kickboard or vest!). NCL should provide more WATER/LEMONADE/ICE TEA for guests. Get an early tender ticket or you won't get a chair!
Port Canaveral, FloridaWe did the "public" bus to Coral Beach...not via Norwegian's excursion department. Bus goes to WalMart, the local mall, and beach. Just before boarding the bus to return to ship, got a CASE of water bottles at CVS...GREAT decision!
10 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
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Very nice, some "nickle&diming" food ok by
Dave G from Philadelphia region Sailing date: Mar 2010Pros: Ship was beautiful, service was good Cons: too much "nickle and diming", would rate food B-, kids program only decent
I am recommending the Norwegian "Jewel" as a ship - it was very nice and clean. I'm a little torn about recommending NCL as a cruise line, though.
The rooms (we had an outside balcony) did a great job of maximizing space (some even have a bunk bed that flips down from the ceiling). Our state room was very well laid out, perfectly maintained and well-appointed. Daily cleaning and turn down service was excellent. Cleaning staff addressed all of our requests - an extra blanket, remove the coffee pot, etc.
Some "nickel and diming", automatic 18% on all bar and spa treatments plus mandatory $12/day/person gratuity that goes in to the general pot for cleaning staff, etc).
Ship Quality
- Ship was new (2005).
- Kids program was only ok for our 9 year old
- No movie theater on board
- Hot tubs were always very crowded
- No bowling alley or rock wall like some other cruise lines Dining/FoodI would give the food a B- or C+ based upon:
Buffet - great selection, a bit of a madhouse at most times. Like most buffets, though, food was only so-so.
Restaurants -
food was pretty good, most service was pretty slow - we had to rush them at the end to make a show. Only 4 of the ~10 restaurant were free (2 of these 4 were buffets). The non free rranged from $10-25 per person 'upcharge' - kids eat for 1/2 price, even if they order off of the adult menu.
Steak at Cagney's steakhouse ($25 upcharge) only ok
-Wine prices didn't seem overly high
- In addition, some things that I feel should be included like SODA, are not free - sodas are either $1.95 each, or you buy a full week unlimited pass for like $6.50 / day (~$50 for a week). My guess is that some other lines include this (I know Disney does), but charge much higher upfront fares.
- Room service - very fast, 24 hours, but limited variety. Breakfast options are limited to continental only (no eggs, breakfast meat, etc)
Stateroom QualityAlready mentioned, but very well-kept, well-appointed, well laid out. Ship Staff QualityVery helpful, cheerful, no real issues.
Service at outside bars and some restaurants was pretty slow-had to really flag down a waiter to get a beer when sitting at one of the tables several times.
Entertainment & ActivitiesEntertainment was the best feature - always plenty of live music on the ship, unique activities such as pub crawl, chocolate lovers buffet.
No movie theater, or unique stuff such as a rock wall or bowling alley.
Shows in theater were excellent - Cirque du Solei type show, comedian, magician, music variety Children's ProgramsOnly average here - we only used this a couple of times with our 9 year old (can't speak for little kids or teens) - only a modest amount of physical room devoted to the kids area. We went over spring break, so it was pretty packed. Seemed like it was very well staffed. Included one or two dedicated hot tubs for kids only. 10 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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