Jewel Memories: April 21, 2012 Sailing!

Do you think the Jewel and Gem sister ships are in competition with each other?

Leaving from the same port, only one day apart, the Jewel and Gem have similar itineraries and almost identical deck plans. I wonder which ship brings in the most money each week and if there is a friendly competition between the siblings. Although I promised to sail Gem each year, the price of the Jewel was far less. Robbie, the nickname of the mermaid in the Gem bridge viewing room certainly would not mind, would she? Having sailed Gem last August and Jewel last Thanksgiving, the Jewel mini-suite price won over bringing another charm for Robbie’s good luck tower. Besides, Mr. coka had never sailed the Jewel before and did not mind sailing with the older gal. After losing 50 dollars in 1 minute on the goldfish slot machines with the mermaids in the Jewel casino, I think the Gem’s mermaid was irked at me for selecting the Jewel. By the end, I found it so not the case!

Lemme tell ya! Planning the drive to the port was sheer terror…

We had hand written directions large enough to read while in the car. We had a Lowrance GPS in case we also found ourselves lost in the woods or lost at sea. We had the iPad map with directions pre-computed. Where we live, most roads consist of one or two lanes and we do not even have a traffic light. Oh my God, the Tappan Zee Bridge or the George Washington Bridge? We debated who would drive into Manhattan. “You are younger.” “Your eyes are better.” “It’s your car.” “You had the high speed police chase automobile training in your career.” “I‘m still recuperating from surgery.” “Hey, I‘m paying your way. I could have paid far less (a lie) if I left you at home.” Once we arrived at 711 12th Avenue and were safely secured in a parking spot at the pier for only 245 dollars, we looked at each other and concluded overall, the drive in was Easy Peasy! Now, if you want seriously sheer driving terror, try navigating your way around Boston!

Embarkation:

Although I am a platinum latitudes dinosaur under the old original system, I decided not to be a platinum pita on this sailing like I was on the Star in February. Our check in guy was very sweet but forgot to give us our check in number which is usually a low one. We did the priority check in and he was so charmed by our humor, our laughter, our smiles, I can see why he forgot. Our embarkation photo showed how happy we were to be alive and in the terminal! Before we sat down in the seats we were given number 23. No worry about that. The numbers get called close together and after number 7, it jumps to 21. On this sailing, the numbers were called so close together that if you get a high number, no matter, you will be onboard within minutes later.

Guarantee Mini Suite = A Guaranteed Good Time!

So here is my scoop on the balcony versus mini suite debate often found on cruise critic. A guarantee in any category means you will definitely get the category cabin selected or perhaps higher. Since location on the starboard side or port side is of no matter to us, we saved even more dollars by going with the guarantee option. Knock on wood, we do not get sea sick, and whether far forward or far aft, we would ride the turbulent waves mama all the way down or all the way back if need be!

Having ended up in stateroom 11502, which is the second public stateroom down from the bridge viewing room, we loved the location! Although you feel the movement more forward or more aft on cruise ships, we enjoyed seeing the bridge guys do their thing when coming to and leaving from ports. We could see them from our balcony and view the port side maneuvering down below. Walking two or three steps forward outside the stateroom door, we were IN the bridge viewing room as the curtains are usually open (with exception of returning to the New York harbor).

On a side note, Captain Idar rocks! He was on the bridge whenever we looked. He was in control. His main concern is always passenger safety. A man of few words, he bleeds saltwater. We felt extremely safe with him all throughout the ride down as he maneuvered through the giant Atlantic swells. “It is vhat it is” he said over the intercom with such conviction that one dared not complain at all. A man in charge. A man in control. Quit your whining. Leave the reception desk alone. “Ve do not control de vether,” I like that Captain Idar! But I digress. This section is about the mini suite cabin.

Some cruise critics think a mini suite is just a glorified balcony. I disagree. When it comes to the Jewel class and the Dawn class ships, a mini suite is something to consider. Although one does not have the full suite benefits, one does have a lot more space throughout the week when sailing a mini suite. The bathrooms and the set up in both might look the same but the mini suite bath tub/shower combination makes the bathroom length longer than just the balcony shower. Being tall, I like having my knees not hit the wall when I am “sitting down” in the bathroom. The mini suite couches are much longer than the balcony couches. The mini suite counter top is longer and has room for two chairs where the balcony counter only has a space for one chair.

If you look at the decks that hold the mini suite balconies, the balconies are bigger as they jut out more than the balconies below them do. The hallway entrance is wider. The only negative experienced when staying in a mini suite is the closet too close to the bed as one person can really be there at one time. Even so, my husband loved this set up because he could sit on the bed and easily select his wardrobe. Everything was right there for him. He also liked the refrigerator being right at the balcony doorway. Having shorter legs than me, he did mention having to watch his feet when he climbed into the tub to not stub his toe on the side. For me, I just stepped right over no problem and I really appreciated being able to rest my foot on the side tub area to shave my legs.

When pulled, the curtain in the mini suite can divide the sleeping area from the couch living area. A little secret…at least in this stateroom…I pulled out the couch to take a picture of it turned into a bed and found extra pillows, mattress toppers, and a foam topper. So I asked my steward if he could set it up for me so I could sleep looking out the window to the sea. In my opinion only…the couch was more comfortable than the bed. We left it set up the last two days and hubby enjoyed sitting on it better than using the chairs or watching television from the bed. Lastly, our new day bed came in really handy pulled out during packing time.

OH…another difference from the balcony stateroom…when the couch is pulled out all the way, one can still walk easily through the sliding balcony doors. The regular balcony…not so easy. There, you have my scoop on the mini suites. We easily could stay in other categories lower and higher no problem as well. For us, it depends on the price difference between a balcony and mini suite at time of booking, and if we want to bump into each other or not.

Bedazzled, Bewitched, and Bumbling Mr. Coka!

He was bedazzled by Ruth Hagger, the famous concierge, and she was very gracious and kind to us. She gave the best information. In my opinion she sized us up pretty well and made recommendations what to do while in port. We happened to see her many places all though out the ship and she always stopped to say hello and to check in with us. Not bad for only being a platinum member not staying in a full suite. She certainly made us feel special. I can understand after sailing a ship with her as the concierge why many cruise critics sing her praises.

He was bewitched by Hypnotist Brenda Kaye without even being on stage in any of her shows with audience participation. We too saw her throughout the cruise and she too stopped to talk with us. Did she cast a spell on mr. coka? Anytime he talked to her he started talking like he was hypnotized or in a trance. After seeing the male hypnotist’s show on the Jewel back in November, I figured anything was possible. Her shows were completely different than the other guy (I can not remember his name) and it was extreme fun, in good taste, and the audience certainly got their entertainment value on this sailing.

I find it amazing that so many people can be hypnotized. I always went to her shows late after she did her hypnotizing because I am a believer and I also get scared at that kind of stuff. Call me quirky, but I do not want to have someone clap their hands while I am at work and I suddenly start barking like a dog…Regardless, the hypnotist shows are an excellent addition to the Norwegian entertainment program; they are a HOOT as long as it is not happening to me, I highly recommend not missing them!

After three cups of Norwegian coffee, Mr. coka was always bumbling.

One Thousand Kudos To The Staff Who Work With The Kids Onboard!

Were there kids onboard? Yes, but I had to look for them. Having only heard a few years ago about Nickelodeon, I must admit not wanting to sail the Jewel because I thought it was a ship only for kids and for funny looking characters to walk around all day long to harass me. Sort of like Freaky Freddy’s character on Carnival. When I heard Nick was going to be on the Gem, I too thought, well, cross it off my list. I only sailed Jewel again last Thanksgiving week based upon the reviews of other cruise critics that one does not really see Nickelodeon unless you attend their activities. This was so true! Do not NOT sail a Norwegian ship just because Nickelodeon is onboard. One really does not see them unless attending their scheduled events. On this sailing, I learned Nick is tons of fun!

So what made me wonder whether or not I was missing out on never bearing a child? Let me tell you, it is not because I am 48 and in a funky stage of life. It was because of all the FUN things I witnessed the cruise staff doing with the little kids onboard! Some were related to Nickelodeon and other things were not. Not really sure, all I know is that the Jewel staff providing entertainment to the kids onboard deserve a standing ovation. I may not have attended all events for 100% of the time, but below are some examples of what I saw and witnessed with my own eyes:

1. In the Fyzz Lounge…little kids engaged in drawing and coloring large pieces of material…they were kerchiefs I think…each were unique to their own personality…in the end…a fashion show for the girls or a parade walk for the boys where each proudly displayed their artistry while fun music played in the background. The staff was astute and attentive to each child’s needs. They noticed who needed encouragement, who needed praise, and they knew ALL kids needed their individual moment in the spotlight to shine. What an esteem booster and what a moment for the parents in attendance.

2. On the private island…Nick Live Beachside. I watched a large group of kids divide into two teams where there was a Captain on each. The goal was to win the most pies in the face. There was strategy, teamwork, and best of all, learning how to laugh at oneself. I fell in love with the concept because one puts a pie in their own face. For years we have seen people putting a pie in someone else’s face and I always found that disrespectful and inappropriate. Doing it to oneself builds character I concluded after watching. Another competition was teams putting on pants that had sponges attached to the rear. Little tykes had to sit in a bucket of water, soak up as much liquid, run a bit and then squeeze the sponges with their hands putting as much liquid into another bucket. All the kids loved it and I found myself wishing for an adult version of it.

3. Family Circus Show: Picture this…kids of all ages on stage during the last day at sea putting on a circus performance to a full house audience. All were dressed to the nines and all had perfected spinning plates…or not! How did this happen? I had to ask because this was one of the most surprising and funny things I have seen taking place onboard a Norwegian ship. Kids say and do the darnedest things and the host of the show had me laughing out loud as well. Come to find out, the kids all week practiced their skills and learned tricks to perform on stage. OMG…I said again…this is So Much Fun can we do it too?!

So. I have no idea if it was Nickelodeon, Hilario Productions Cirque Du Jour, or the Kids Crew Staff…All I conclude is the cruise staff working with the kids onboard the Jewel are outstanding!

Triple My Luck…I Won A Necklace, 550 Dollars, And The Hotel Director!

Norwegian has a lot of prize giveaways and they are really good! The embarkation day spa raffle held at 5pm did not disappoint. Tour the spa, enter a raffle, and show up in the gymnasium for the spa giveaways. They gave away awesome treatments and the port shopping consultant was there to say hello. For showing my enthusiastic dance moves way in the back, he threw me a Caribbean topaz necklace. I wore it for the rest of the week.

Cursed in the Jewel casino, I begrudgingly went to Atlantis casino in Nassau port. If anything, I looked forward to not hearing mr. coka say over and over how bad he wanted to go there and play. After a four dollar per person shared van ride over the bridge, I watched mr. coka lose most of his retirement check. Gone in 60 minutes. Heartbroken, he was, to say the least. “Let’s go look at the yachts outside…the light of day will make me feel better for sure” he suggested. Suddenly, a particular slot machine called out to me just like cruise critic OceanDreams says they do. It does not really talk to you…a machine just pulls you in as you automatically connect to it unknowingly. A ten cent machine. A cheap thrill. Why not, although I should not have.

So I put in 50 dollars and hit maximum bet just like my father taught me. No win and I had 41 dollars left. Whaaaaaat? Cheap my arse, this ten cent machine maximum bet was nine dollars per pull! I spin again and ka-ching, I had 70 dollars. Two pulls and I walk away with my original fifty. Ka-ching! Okay, now I’ll quit at 100. Ka-ching! Okay, now I’ll quit at 150. Sweating, cheering, and giggling, up it went, down some, up some more, then down a bit. “Why yes, pretty lady bar server, I’ll take a free drink!“ I ka chinged ka chinged even more! Veins pulsating, I went to grab a cigarette from my purse. Wait. I do not smoke anymore. I better get out of here. Okay, 550 is good! I’m done mr. coka, you can try the machine now.

Putting in his last 50, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, and nothing came up. He selected a lesser bet with his remaining 5 dollars…Nada some more…

“I want to go home!” Mr. coka said after losing and then viewing the gorgeous yachts we did not own and walking through cute boutiques at Atlantis. I asked “home home?” for further clarification. No, back to the ship home. Ahhhhhhhh! Mark this moment in time! The first time mr. coka calls a Norwegian ship home! In the end, he did not even save 4 dollars for the return van ride to the pier. Let’s just say the suggestion that he better start his walk back to the ship and I would meet him there did not go over very well. Neither did my added comment, “It is vhat it is,” (accent included).

His Atlantis highlight was meeting smartly dressed police officer, Superintendent Johnson, who we met while walking through the boutiques at Atlantis. Not only did we feel safe on Norwegian Jewel, we felt safe walking around there. Still not sure who has the better pension, we left knowing who to ask for in case we got into any trouble. We now had a new friend’s name we could mention.

Returning “home” to the Jewel we had a notice in our cabin that we won the hotel director in the dine-with-an-officer-lottery. Could the day get any better? I have never won a hotel director before in a lottery. If interested, you need to watch the Freestyle Daily as they advertise it. Advertised minimally, it usually appears on the first day or second day’s daily. You can win a Captain, an Engineer, a Food and Beverage Director, or other officers who enjoy the weekly event in the main dining room. There was only one disappointment. I could take my necklace back home, I could take my 550 home, but I could not take HD Hugo with me. If you win an officer, you only get to dine with them.

Not Paying Extra! LOL

We ate most meals in the smaller, mid ship Azura main dining room. Mr. coka likes the portion control of the dining room meals because we both take too much on our plates when at the buffet. We were never in a hurry to go anywhere and we enjoyed sitting, ordering, and being waited upon. Besides, Azura also just happened to be closer to wherever we were when wanting to eat. All meals were very good and Mr. coka’s favorite was the prime rib and baked potato.

I have the most difficult time talking Mr. coka into eating at any of the specialty restaurants even when offering to charge to it my account. He was not interested on the Gem, not on the Star, and not on the Jewel as well. He was not even tempted by the scrumptious looking meats on spickets or hooks or whatever they are called parading by us to the new churascarria restaurant called Moderno onboard. Oh my god, I am married to one of those guys! The one that says he is not paying extra! Good thing I have had my lion’s share of dining in specialty restaurants during Norwegian cruises “sans monsieur coka!” Speaking of French, he is not even fond of Le Bistro and does not see what the big deal is all about. Et il est ma joie de vivre? How do you say what the heck in French?

Mr. coka’s edit because I am reading this to him before posting: “With all the good food in the main dining rooms, why pay extra? Plus, I do not like sitting for hours eating when in the main dining rooms we can eat and leave.”

Beef Stroganoff, Marinated Chicken, Barbecue Ribs, Strawberry Cree-mees, and Fruhschoppen!

Without taking any notes on this sailing, below is what I remember the most as I surely am thinking about them the most two weeks after sailing:

The beef stroganoff: I like noodles, I like beef, and I love how Norwegian makes their beef stroganoff. I ordered it on a previous cruise after hearing about a cruise critic hating it. This dish is not easy to make after having tried back home. Fortunately, the Jewel Food and Beverage Director, who used to be an Executive Chef on Norwegian ships, explained to me how to make it. F and B Director Neil Allem is AWESOME! He was so kind to take time out to actually explain the ingredients and the fine details of preparing it. The most memorable meal I ever ate on any Norwegian ship was one that Neil Allem prepared himself while on a Pearl sailing. If my almost 30 years with mr. coka does not work out, I’m a gonna go lookin for this guy. He sure can cook!

The marinated chicken and the barbecue ribs: We can not walk past the marinated chicken in the buffet without being drawn into eating some! There were a few times we were heading to lunch in Tsars and never made it because we spotted the chicken. The same goes for the barbecued ribs by the pool and at the private island. The marinating and the grilling are phenomenal according to us!

Ice Cream Alert: Everyone knows Norwegian has the vanilla and chocolate and mixed soft serve ice cream machines on their ships. The Jewel has an independent strawberry one in it own location. Easy to miss, one can walk by it without noticing. If you head toward the Outdoor Café aft, way past the buffet area, keep looking to the right. Placed within a small wall space, there it stood…all alone…until we found it. Vanilla schmanilla! I can not count the times I went up there to that strawberry machine! Although they had waffle cones and little plastic cups, I brought a soup bowl from the buffet line when I went. The best part was not only the flavor…it also included the texture…the smoothness…and the longevity of the “frozen-ness.”

Fruschoppen!: Never noticed the Jewel showband was playing poolside during a big German/Austrian Beer Fest party on the sixth day at sea. All I noticed was the ethnic food on display at the pool buffet. OH MY!…Weiner Schnitzel…German potato salad…pickled beets…meatballs…all BETTER than my mother-in-law’s and she is born and raised in Munich, Germany! Her dumplings are better but Oh, what a treat this was for us! Actually, more of a treat for me because my husband had this all his life. I only got it a few times a year at special meals until my beloved mother in law reached the age where she could quit cooking and could get away with it! Thank you Norwegian Jewel for this special event and I hope such options are continued in the future.

Hip Hop Pop or Pop Hip N Drop?!

Something is new onboard! Newer and even more fun dance classes during the daytime! Boston Chris from the cruise staff was a lot of fun and he made everyone taking part feel comfortable. Held in Fyzz Lounge, he taught a couple of hip hop classes and his version of Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance. There was also a Beyonce dance class but I already know that one and did not attend. Even so, I used these classes as part of my burn calories routine so I could eat more strawberry ice cream. No matter to me that my right hip popped. I would get the left one in sync at the next class.

They even had salsa, cha cha, merengue, and a country line dance as well. I so appreciated the times they were held. It varied from 11am, 2pm, or later afternoon. Not everyone can stay up for late night dancing and I always thought it would be fun to provide dancing during the day. The dance classes are a perfect fit. Everyone of all ages can attend and everyone had a great time. Fun to watch as well, according to mr. coka. If you think hip hop is easy, it is not. Some of the ballroom dance group onboard this week found the hip hop challenging as did I. I sweat a lot during the classes and both hips are STILL feeling it! I am so glad Boston Chris found his way out of Boston to NYC and onto a Norwegian ship!

My Big Fat White Hot Flash Party:

Oh my God. I almost did not go. The signature Norwegian white hot party IS hot and so was I getting dressed for it. It took a lot to get there. My white hot shorts that used to be my fat shorts are now my tight shorts. They were hard to button. I changed into a black dress and planned to go in mourning at the death of my figure. Staring in the full length mirror, I saw Mr. coka’s sleeping reflection and thought about joining him. No, no, coka, you can NOT miss the white hot party. You were at the first one in Norwegian history and have attended all on your cruises since. Keep trying. So I changed again into white capris and a white tank top. I could see my belly sticking out. I tried another outfit and felt more even more defeated. A hot flash came on so I cooled it down with leftover wine in the fridge by chugging it.

The more I chugged the better I looked. I squeezed back into the shorts and did some knee bends to loosen up the waistband which also limbered up my legs. Okay now, although the party has been going on for an hour now, I looked in the mirror one last time at my figure and repeated, “It is vhat it is.” No matter that I missed the Cruise Director Dan the Man in his angel wings, the fun group dances, the glow stick giveaways, or the hot Jewel dancers gyrating on the tables. By the time I arrived, there was more room on the dance floor for me. A little secret to share…passengers tend to leave once the cruise staff leaves…but the fun really takes place on the dance floor after that.

On this sailing, we had people of all ages dancing the night away. A giant circle was formed and passengers on their own took turns dancing in the middle. The great dancers got lots of hoots and hollers and cheers. The ahem, older dancers, got even more. Guess which category I fell into. Slowly, I am evolving into the little old lady on the dance floor who refuses to give up. Leaving around 1:30am, I was happy with two solid hours of non stop dancing and two solid hours of entertaining the security guard assigned to watch the dance floor that night.

Happy Birthday Mr. Coka! He Is 63 Years Young!

And he never thought he would live past 56. When we booked a few weeks prior to sailing, the NCL representative asked if we were celebrating anything special while onboard. When told yes, she offered one of three cake choices. He picked the sugar free one for diabetics, hence the reason for the longevity. At embarkation, we had a card in the room directing us to show our server any night we wished to celebrate it. He picked Friday, prime rib night, in the mid ship dining room, with an ice cream topper. We remembered we had it due to the arrival of a signed birthday card from the Captain that appeared in our door mail slot earlier that morning. A nice touch, I think Norwegian does this now as a treat for passengers. At least I have read on cruise critic this happening to others lately.

I so wanted to treat him to the spa’s “Shave of All Shaves” for men for his big day. Having booked it earlier, and telling him too early, he canceled it within the 24 hour time frame without penalty. He thinks spa treatments are for pansies and he said he preferred a load of topsoil to fix up one his driveways back home instead. “Reaaaaally,” I replied. So why does he keep using my Elemis Body Lotion, my La Therapie eye cream, and my Bliss lemon and sage bubble bath?

Luisito, Franklin, Ednorman, And The Rest... We Miss Them All! Which Means We Miss Norwegian!

Our cabin steward Luisito, Franklin, the Blue Lagoon server, and Ednorman, are our vacation heroes. Although NCL, um, I mean Norwegian, is getting rid of STYLE (service, teamwork, and yes, leading to excellence) and implementing vacation hero, we think these three guys are unsung heroes that need to be praised. Why? They went about their jobs, providing the best service, giving all their effort every day, not expecting anything in return, and are sincerely good guys! They are GENUINE. This is not to mean others onboard are not. They are a reflection of what we hope other passengers experience during sailings with their stewards and with their servers. Combined, we have been servers, housekeepers, social directors, trainers, police officers, and higher ups in our organizations ourselves, as well as sailing on other four other cruise lines. We think we know what we are talking about when we both agree Norwegian is the best valued cruise line, with the best entertainment, and the with BEST officers, staff, and crew anyone could hope for.

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If anyone has questions, feel free to ask away! We will do our best to answer them!

coka

Great reading , we love the Jewel. Thanks for the great review

Always love your reviews, Coka, so glad you had a great vacation!

Coka, I always love reading your poets! Very enjoyable!!!

Great review Coka! We only missed sailing with each other by a month or so -- I leave on the Jewel on 5/19!

It's official!

Only Coka can write cruise reviews from now on.

They are the best. Highly entertaining and informative.

Thank you Coka for the review.

Coka, your reviews always ROCK!:) You go girl!:D

Awesome review, Coka, as always. We sailed on the Jewel at the end of March and had a great time (even though we missed Hugo, who was on vacation). We really love this ship! Ruth came on board on Monday in Pt. Canaveral to replace Ryan while he goes on vacation. Both Ryan and Ruth are great concierges!

Did you happen to notice if there were Zumba classes? There were three the week I was on board (Monday, Thursday and Friday morning in Spinnaker's), and it was a blast! I really hope the instructor (a member of the cruise director's staff) had enough participation to continue the classes, she was so enthusiastic about them.

Thanks. We'll be on the Jewel in a couple of weeks. Have loved every NCL cruise.

Great review :) I will be on the Jewel in October and added the Strawberry ice cream to my list of "things not to miss".

Loved your review! It is vhat it is!

As always, a stellar review, Coka!

Your description of the mini-suite is perfect in my opinion. I think they're a great space, especially for a longer cruise!

You've got me looking forward to our "shorty" cruise in a couple of weeks aboard the Sky!

Thanks, Coka, for sharing yet another humorous review! I get to live vicariously on a cruise ship, pump my arm when you win a jackpot and drool when you share the menus.

Now I want to sail this ship too, I love German food and go there every few years to get a 'fix'. What a windfall if I could go on a cruise and have 'ein grosses Essen' at the same time!! :)

Guess I will have to keep on dreaming.... keep sharing your impressions!

Hi coka,

I have been going back and forth, back and forth over which ship: Pearl or Jewel, (or other) to take for our summer cruise. I have made a few inquiries on the boards, trying to get a feel for the onboard "vibe", but didn't have a clear picture.

I went to the NCL board this morning, looking for some kind of sign to sway me one way or the other, and there was your review!!! I think we love many of the same things about cruising and so when you told about what touches were special for you, it spoke to just what I was hoping to find.

Thank you for taking the time to share your cruise experience with us. I consider reading your reviews to be mini vicarious-vacations:D

It really means a lot to me.Thanks!

Thanks for the comments on my review everyone. I was going for an Andy Rooney (may he in rest in peace) flair. I miss him!

Moonjelly, the Jewel has an excellent vibe to her! On this sailing I did not attend any of the main shows (as I had seen them only a few months prior). Even so, the other venues were fantastic. The fantastic band, NEXT STAGE is onboard her too! I love this band and not only is Lanie a mesmerizing singer who engages her audience, the band players are awesome musicians. At rock night (another not to miss...get there early for good seating), one of the passengers onboard, a new friend of the band, was announced as the drummer from Jefferson Starship. He played with them and I think one of the ship engineers played guitar with them a few songs as well. Other nights the band played a beatles set in the crystal atrium, and of course played different themes. They even do a "bandaoke" where passengers can sing with them.

Not only did the Jewel showcase Next Stage, but also allowed for the Caribbean band to shine as well. REAL VIBES is my new favorite Caribbean band and they too played at other times. Their female singer reminded me of Fantasia Barrino. Another not to miss venue is when they do a Tribute to the Divas night. OH, how could I forget this...For the first time in a very long time...I actually danced on the beach at the private island to Real Vibes! The passengers on this sailing really made the dancing on this day a hoot to take part in! When I read Real Vibes was playing on the beach, we made sure to get a spot nearby. Fortunately, the spot we found was also near the buffet, the bar, and the bathrooms! Secret Tip: This favorite spot is in front of the last bar on the right when facing beach. Set up a bit on the hill, one has a great view of the entire beach as well. We also scored the loungers on the end. So, if you are looking for "Vibe"...then you will find it with real vibes. Not sure how they will play on the Alaska Run but I am sure they will not disappoint if they are there!

Sauer-Kraut, I asked about the fruschoppen...they were trying it for the first time to see how it would turn out. I hoped they liked the turn out as much I enjoyed eating it! We met a large family sailing for their parent's 60th anniversary. Actually, never really saw the family...just talked a lot all week with the godfather...and he LOVED the beerfest part of the fruschoppen! I guess they served various types of German and Austrian beers.

Welove2cruise232, There were so many passengers sailing the Jewel that week just because Hugo was the Hotel Director. What a wonderful reflection of the love passengers have for him! There was no zumba and I find it a rarity on Norwegian. I will take a guess as to why... zumba is a trademark and I think there are certain regulations...I dunno...there must be a reason out there why! They did have Boot Camp exercise classes and other exercises like TRX along with the regular stretch, yoga, and pilates for a fee.

UteFan! I sincerely hope you have a wonderful cruise! Some day...some day...I am going to meet you! Preferably on a cruise in August...wink wink! Ute and I share a birthday!

Cubechick, my husband has now sailed in an inside, oceanview, balcony, penthouse suite, and mini-suite. He said for the price...the mini suite was the best for him. It does not beat our love for the forward penthouse balcony...but we can not do that all the time. He does not yet know about the haven and I hope he never sees them. Everyone raves about them here on the boards! I have been in them twice yet never cruised with a courtyard. I fear what they say...once you do it, it is hard to go back! I took some pictures of the mini suite and will try to download them so they do not come out sideways. Wish I had your camera skills!

coka

Hi Coka,

What a fantastic review! Every time I read Mr. Coka has joined you, I tell Bob about it, hoping to inspire him to our next cruise. Like you, I go quite often solo so it's very special when hubby is along.

We just got back from a wonderful Jade repo from Barcelona to Venice. Loved the ports, great weather, seas like a lake, fantastic crew onboard. Denis Prguda and his team couldn't have been better. Bob told Denis his style reminds him of Hugo's.;):)

Happy belated birthday to Mr. Coka! Sounds like this time you managed to fit it all in including all the dancing.:D

They had the German brunch on Jade, too, in the Great Outdoors. Alan Lee and the band played all the oom-pah music and a few guests were dancing the polka. We've enjoyed it previously on several ships but this time the food selection was even better. The beer lovers were happy, too.

Glad to hear Next Stage is onboard. You had a special treat with the jam sessions. Is Fire & Ice still on the Jewel?

What's up next? We're heading to Vietnam/Cambodia on Avalon's new 16 cabin river boat (plus land to Angkor Wat) this fall. But we're looking at Jewel Jan. 20th. I've about convinced Bob to do the 12 nights. "Dolphins" reminds me every wk that he's holding a spot on the triva squad for me.;)

After reading your review, I'm about ready to pull the trigger.;):D

Hi SnorklinBarb! I am glad you had a great Jade cruise. I have always wondered about flying over to Europe to take a cruise and always concluded that if I fly over to Europe I can get so much more out of being on land far longer than stopping in a port for a day. Perhaps I am wrong, but that is my thinking on it. I would like to try one of the European river cruises some day. A friend of mine (The New Yorker) has done some Viking ones and loved it.

OH...Fire and Ice was not onboard the Jewel this week. Not sure what ship assigned or if they were on break from Jewel.

coka

Here is the mini suite balcony. All others loaded sideways. Will try to fix and post them.

The chair on the left has an extra long backing...it turned into a full recliner/lounger.

coka

Mini suite hallway

Size of mini suite couch when pulled out. Steward made it up for the evening to sleep on and he put the pillows perpendicular to the mirror.

coka

Argh!

Beds at Night time

Storage

Last one. What it looked like during the day. I know I could have uploaded five at a time so sorry for the individual multiple postings!

coka

Must ask...might you be sailing Jewel on 2/3/2013? Missus and I would love to meet you both!