We sailed on the Jewel on 9/5/15 from Seattle to Alaska & back. We had one of the Haven suites (14014) and really loved the suite and all the perks that come with staying in the Haven. The suite was large (2 big rooms), comfortable, quiet, and our room steward kept it in immaculate condition. The ship was larger than our previous cruises on Norwegian, but the layout was very similar, so we didn't get lost. The ship seemed to be kept in nice condition, and I didn't see any noticeable signs of wear.

Even though we avoided the buffet, I still caught a flu/respiratory bug that got worse on the last day. There seemed to be lots of passengers coughing & sneezing, so I could have caught it anywhere. However, since this is the second time I've gotten sick on a Norwegian cruise, I seriously doubt we will ever sail on Norwegian again--or ANY large cruise ship for that matter. It just seems that cruise ships are giant germ buckets, just like airplanes. So no more.

I will NOT recommend the Marriott Waterfront Hotel to stay pre-cruise, even though it's right across the street from the port. The 2 nights prior to the cruise were $400/night, and we did NOT get the water view we paid for. then we were told that the same room would cost $140 for Saturday night--after we embarked. That's just plain robbery. Shame on Marriott. Read more