Norwegian Jewel Review

First Time NCL - Jewel during President Week

Review for the Bahamas Cruise on Norwegian Jewel
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SusieQusie
2-5 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Feb 2012
Cabin: Aft-Facing Balcony

Hey all -- It's Sunday morning and we've been home less than 24 hours. I'm writing this NOW because I know if I don't do it right away, it might just get away from me. I know how I devoured other's reviews before I sailed, so I thought it was only fair I take some time and get down my thoughts.

My husband and I sailed on the February 18 Jewel cruise out of NYC. Yes, it was Presidents' Week and probably not the week I would choose if my work at a school didn't necessitate it...but what the heck. This was our first NCL cruise, having been on Celebrity (years ago -- I barely remember it), Princess and Carnival. My husband and I are both in our early 50's, and we were sailing on our own (as in without our 2 college age children) for the first time. I'll do this in what I feel are logical categories:

Embarkation: Because I'm a punctuality nut (yes, I was the first person at our Meet & Greet) we got to the cruise terminal very early. We were picked-up at home at 8:15 a.m. and were inside the terminal building by 9:00 a.m. Every person we had contact with along the way was extremely helpful and friendly. When we were standing outside the building, in the middle of all of our luggage, a woman (with a NCL nametag) walked out of the building and glanced at us. We must have looked a little confused because she came over to ask if we needed help. She then went back in the building, got a gentleman to take our luggage and directed us inside. There were maybe 8 or 10 other people there already (waiting for both the Jewel and the 1-night Gem cruise.) I was trying to pay attention to the time so I could be as helpful as possible here, but it's a little fuzzy at this point. I think we waited there (reading, playing with our cell phones, people watching) until about 10:30 a.m., at which point they called us over to go through the first security point. We were one of the first through the line. Then we checked in with our passport and got our boarding number, which was #5. We were directed to sit in another area of chairs with our fellow Jewel passengers. We hung out and I took that time to go over to the table and make reservations at LeBistro for that night. They gave us $5 per person off the meal, which I had heard they would do. Not sure how long we waited there, but after awhile they started boarding, and #5 was in the 3rd group called and we were on board by 11:30 a.m. For us, the embarkation process was great. Better and less stressful than either Princess or Carnival. (Full disclosure: on the last 2 cruises we were part of a group of 8, so that might have had something to do with why this embarkation for 2 was so much easier. Not sure.) Grade: A

Cabin Review

Aft-Facing Balcony

Cabin B1

NCL Jewel

Cabin 8134

Aft-facing balcony

Great location on ship

Cabin and balcony are small, but I think that's the ship itself

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