This was our second cruise on NCL and we have cruised many times out of New Orleans (our home port) on CCL and RCL.
We (wife and I) have been on over twenty cruises and have never had a bad time.
Getting on the Jewel was very fast, get to the pier around 10:45 or 11 and you will be on board around 11:30. Don't forget if you are a latitudes member there is a special quicker line for you. Parking is $112 in the outside lot called the whale lot.