Norwegian Jewel Review
Norwegian Jewel Cabin 5104 - a great choice
Rating by category
Additional details
We love to cruise with Norwegian because of the relaxed, casual approach the line takes for dining except for the nice restaurants on board. This cruise was our first visit to Australia and it fit nicely into our plans to make the most of our travel with an after cruise flight over to Auckland, New Zealand and a second cruise from Sydney to New Caledonia and Fiji.
Check-in was quick and efficient. We arrived at the Overseas Passenger Terminal via Uber from the Sydney Airport at 1130am. We curb-checked our bags with the ship's porters and proceeded without delay through security and check-in then boarded.
Cabin 5104 was a great choice. We were delighted to find that debarkation/embarkation at the docking ports of Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, and Burnie was from deck 5; we were just 10 cabins away from the queuing area. The cabin was comfortable but being located below the food preparation area of the Azura Dining Room, we could hear some heavy rolling noise between 9pm and 1130pm.
Cabin Review
Mid-Ship Oceanview Picture Window
Pros -The cabin was roomy enough for two and we found it to be comfortable. The corridor was quiet since it was not a walk-through to anywhere else. The mid-ship location was excellent and it was convenient to the embarkation/disembarkation area at ports where the ship docked - only 10 cabins from the queuing area.
Cons - We could hear some heavy rolling noise between 9pm and 1130pm due to its location below the Azura Dining Room food preparation area.
Port Reviews
Melbourne
The $15 A myki explorer travel package seemed a bit high price for the bus and tram service that we used from the cruise terminal to the CBD. But we also used the tram to go to St. Kilda to see the fairy penguins after sunset and the convenience of returning by tram to the cruise terminal entrance was worthwhile. There didn't seem to be any taxis nearby the St. Kilda pier about 1030pm when we headed back to the ship. We didn't use the package discounts to Melbourne museums and venues.
Sydney (Australia)
Check-in was quick and efficient at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. We curb-checked our bags with the ship's porters and proceeded without delay through security and check-in then boarded.
Adelaide
The good weather made for a pleasant walk through the Cruise Terminal car park to the Outer Harbor Rail Station. Otherwise the walk would be unpleasant since it is not covered and is fully exposed to weather conditions.
We arranged our own excursion to Cleland Wildlife Park, via Uber, and enjoyed a great time and walk among the kangaroos and saw koalas, dingoes, birds, reptiles, and a Tasmanian Devil.
Kangaroo Island
Due to rain moving in, we did not venture beyond the Hog Bay beach and Penneshaw Pier. We saw dolphins splashing about near the pier and as the ship's tenders approached the pier.
Hobart
The ship docked on a Saturday and the harbor area was lively with good opportunity for people watching in the Parliament House Lawns and Salamanca Market.
Burnie
The port is an industrial area with a sawmill. We couldn't see the town for the mountain of wood chips and mill. We arrived on a Sunday and bus service from the port was limited.
Eden (Australia)
Not much to see here. The weather was rainy and windy so that the ship's tender would have been a rough trip. We stayed aboard ship and admired the green port area and unusual looking evergreen trees.