DougandMatt

On 6/25/2023 at 4:39 PM, Korimako said:

You can get the local train to Soulac-sur Mer( I assume that's where you mentioned as being nearby - 'sur-LA-Mer simply means 'by the sea'.) which will take 6 minutes, or the local bus which will take 12 minutes.

Soulac sur Mer is a typical French seaside holiday town, but whether much will be open in October out of season, I wouldn't know.

Or you could take the ferry across the Gironde to Royan which is a reasonably sized town and spend a day wandering, exploring and relaxing where very few of your fellow cruisers will be.

Has anyone successfully gone from the cruise port to the ferry port?   Does NCL have a shuttle to the ferry port?   Websites say it is at least a 75 minute walk and doesn't appear to be any taxi's.   That is likely 75 minutes each way and wouldn't be out of the question since we are in port for 12 hours but would like to plan and see if this is doable or worth it at all.   

I admit I hadn't cruised for a few years and it seems like things have changed.   I also haven't cruised on such a large ship before so this is different for us.   We aren't big party/dance/pool people but we like our dining and our entertainment for the evening.    Before we always ate early 5:30/6:30 and then went to the theater every night for the show (rotated of course from comedians, magicians, dancers, shows).   Seems like that is all different with some free and some paid for shows.   Everything with reservations.   

Can anyone tell me specifically on the NCL Getaway is there a set rotation of which nights will have Million Dollar Quartet and which nights will have Burn the Floor.  Will they be an early and late show the night they doing them or only one show?   What time is the early show and what time the late show.    It is odd we have to reserve all the dining now but have no idea how this will play out with needing to make entertainment reservations.   

Not  a wine drinker so will skip the Illusionarium for that show but is Cirque Show worth it in the Illusionarium?    Do they have comedians every night in the Comedy Club?   Syd Normans appears pretty difficult to get in with no reservations possible.   We can't really show up early if we are eating dinner early.

I think I liked the old way better but looking forward to seeing what a big ship offers too and will reserve my real opinion until after the trip.   

If the sailing changes entertainment we are in Europe Southampton to Lisbon leaving August 8th if that matters.   

Any advice specifically for entertainment.    Also some what related...Do people still post dailies for past cruises??

Hello everyone, anyone going to be on board?   My spouse and our 16 year old daughter will be sailing.   I can't believe a ship this large not having any other family on board.  

A couple of questions for the Free at Sea Dining and Reservations.    The reservations only allow a table of 2, 4, 6, 8.   What if you have three people?  Do you reserve a table for 4?   I called and asked representative and she told me all the table for 3 people were taken then so I would have to wait to reserve on board otherwise a table for 3 would be available to book.   I told her this is absurd and I didn't believe her as ALL reservations for ALL restaurants on every night says 2, 4, 6, or 8 and NEVER is there 3, 5, 7.   I told her to reserve the table for four thinking three people can sit there.   I'm now worried as the reservation is specialty and we will be paying at least some A la Carte for my daughter.   Are they going to charge the 4th person?   I can't cancel when I get on board less than 24 hours as the reservation is for the first night and there isn't 24 hour time to cancel this.  

So that leads to my second question.   Ultimately I would be fine my daughter and spouse does the 2 person dining and I can eat on my own but of course the crazy it MUST be passenger 1 and 2 only as listed.   Has anyone just changed the order of passengers on booking for this crazy rule?    I know we can buy her a "two night" specialty dining which is my last option and why we booked a table for 4.   

The phone reservation lady was so horrible when I called to get answers and I would figure I would get the truth out of past cruisers here.    She told me on the phone that "ala carte" pricing wasn't even available in specialty restaurants and you had to buy a package.   Do we really have to wait until getting on board to get the truth?      Any advice or past experiences are appreciated. 

1) So my 8 year old pretty much ate Pizza for every meal. I too had it a few times and it was really good as long as you got one of the fresh ones but they seemed to be making them all the time and fresh ones coming out. Most of the Pizza in the Kids Café were old so just go for the fresh ones at the buffet. Never ordered the $5 pizzas as my kids were in bed anytime that they stopped the Pizzas at the Buffet. My son ordered a Pizza at Tsar's Palace Dining Room which was just as good. My 6 year old pretty much ordered "pasta" with a butter sauce at the Pasta Buffet. Just ask for butter sauce and they will make it.

2) Another Tip if you want cookies they put them out in back of the Garden Café only from 10:00-11:00 PM so stock up or else just order them room service for free anytime.

3) The Kids Club "Splash Academy" was GREAT! Very friendly staff especially the British Girl that sits at the front and "Jaws". My 6 and 8 were in the same "class". On Carnival last year they didn't want to participate much but this year I could hardly keep them away. Every night they had themes with the room even decorated and staff in costumes. One night was Spy Night, one night was Pirate Night, another Survivor Night, etc. We only had 200 kids on board so it wasn't packed. Thanksgiving week they say they have 700+ kids.

4) We didn't do any NCL Excursions but I WOULD definitely do an NCL one if you are in Jamaica. Just not a safe place much at all and especially don't take the kids!!! We were offered drugs and sex up and down the streets. I was prepared for it and just kept walking but we didn't stay long and got back on board. NCL really needs to cut this port. Of course I understand they may make more money as people NEED to use them to be safe.

5) Loved our Cayman Islands Excursion with Acquarius. Mario had Pizza, Fruit Punch and spent the entire day on his boat snorkeling, starfish beach, and the Stingrays. The best part is that we left our camera on the Jewel because he takes all the pictures and posts them to the web when we got home. I will say our 4 hour trip with him turned into 7 hours as other Ships were late in port and we had to wait for them. But we went to his boat and just hung out. We barely made it back to our last tender. I would do it again though. $50 per person including the kids. We stuck with shopping in Cozumel and felt very safe with kids on the (main streets).

I hope this helps!!

Just off the Jewel yesterday and my kids ate the syrup everyday without complaint. I had it a few times and seemed fine. Now my real complaint is about the waffle station and how two waffle makers just can't keep up at times. Many lines form in different places with people cutting in the line taking directly from the waffle maker while others wait at the waffle station where they are supposed to be delievered. Omelet stations did pretty good with usually three people waiting at each but the waffles just didn't cut it.

You pretty much have to get someones attention to get some pancakes as they keep them under the counter in a warmer and only put out around 6-8 at a time which is gobbled up immediately until you ask for more.

I just got off the ship yesterday in NOLA (burr it was cold) but our trip was great. I just wanted to pass on one tip that a few may find useful. The "Kids Café" is open most of the time and has Macaroni and Cheese that is really good. Also has Orange Juice 24 hours a day. I think only people with kids really new about this little "Jewel". Anyone can go to it and it is right at the front door near "Washy/Washy Boy". You will understand this later when you board.

The other "Jewel" we found were the Chocolate Brownie Sundays served until 5 PM in the "Blue Lagoon". A lot of people don't know much about Blue Lagoon but our cabin was on Deck 8 next to it. (Upstairs from the Atrium).

I can try to answer any other questions people have. Keep in mind we went budget with kids (inside cabin/no NCL Shore excursions).

I just got off the Jewel yesterday and must say Deck 12 needs completely refurbished. Now don't get me wrong it was all clean and is a great ship. Unfortunately it was my first impression as most of the ship was closed when we got on it we stayed for a couple of hours in the Garden Café and Pool area and it just looked old and worn. The fake Bougainvillea flowers in the Garden Café was the worst décor on the entire ship.

On a positive note I thought everything from Deck 11 down was great. They did a great job on all the different lounges/public places really otherwise. The atrium was done very well although this was the first ship I had been on where they didn't have a grand atrium with staircases and elevators up to the sky. They kept it simple yet very functional and very crowded with a usable space.

I would definitely go on the Jewel again but would be nice to see a Deck 12/13 re-do.