We selected this cruise because it was part of a tour package that peaked our interest. We started our vacation with a two night stay in Las Vegas.We then traveled via a tour bus through Death Valley to Los Angeles. We were not impressed with Death Valley. After spending one night in Los Angeles we boarded the Norwegian Jewel. Everything about the cruise from embarkation to disembarkation went exceedingly well. No stress. Our balcony room was perfect and our state room attendent made sure we had everything we needed. The entertainment was superb and all the staff onboard the ship were friendly, informative, and helpful. We loved the free style dining and the food was generally excellant. The buffet food was sometimes not as warm as I would like it, but the quality was good. The ship was clean and we enjoyed the decor. The Freestyle Daily was delivered nightly to our room and we were able to plan our next day around the various activities. We have never cruised before; therefore, we cannot compare it to other cruises. The cruise exceeded our expectations.