Friends of mine booked this cruise, and I decided to join them with pretty low exceptions. I knew the Jewel was an older ship and had heard that NCL has something of a middling reputation in the industry. Sadly, this cruise failed to meet even low expectations. The ship was filthy with smudges on most of the glass and mirrors, and the service was truly horrible. With a few notable exceptions (including our capable cabin steward), the staff gave off the air that they simply couldn't be bothered. For example, the bartenders routinely ignored us while they engaged in personal conversations. One time, I asked a bartender at one of the outside bars for a spoon, and instead of providing one, he merely gestured toward the restaurant. We encountered this level of rudeness all week.

I'm on a strict gluten-free vegetarian diet, which I relayed to NCL when I booked the cruise. They had me fill out a 5-page form and assured me they could accommodate my diet. They did, but I really had to work for it. While, for example, I could special order a gluten free pizza (something I learned midway through the week), neither the regular pizza station nor room service could accommodate me. Instead, I had to call a special number and make arrangements to meet an attendant in the dining room, which was difficult during the lunch rush. Overall, the quality of the food and ingredients disappointed. The fruit was unripe; the vegetables wilted; and the sauces bland. Most of the food looked and tasted more like what you'd expect in a high school cafeteria than on a cruise ship. Our one meal at the Italian Restaurant (which cost extra) might have been the worst Italian meal I've ever had.

When I booked the cruise, there was a promotion under which I was supposed to get a $100 on-board credit. I remember thinking it wasn't much, but I could get a couple bottles of wine. The credit didn't appear on my account on the ship, and the customer service attendant--after keeping me waiting for 20 minutes--told me they had no record of it. I never got the credit. Read more