Jewel questions

[thefish]

This will be our first time on the Jewel and our first time out of NOLA. We have a 1:10 flight departure. Does anyone see any problems in making this flight on debarkation day?

 

I have read that there will be a coffee maker in the balcony rooms. What is the brand of coffee used. Is it possible to bring our own coffee and use 4 cup filters in these coffee makers?

 

I can only see one elevator serving the Tsar dining room. How difficult will it be for someone in a wheelchair to access this dining room and does anyone have any suggestions on how to get to the Tsar from the 10th deck.

 

Thanks

Duane

[mjkacmom]

There were no coffee makers on the Jewel 3 years ago (balcony).

[VideoTech]

You should have no problem making a 1:10 pm flight. Ship docks early in the morning (usually around 6 am) and disembarkation, barring any port problems, usually starts around 8am. The airport is about 20 to 30 minutes from the cruise port.

 

You can take any elevator to Deck 7 or Deck 6 and use the hallways to get to the Tsar MDR. When you reach the MDR entrance on Deck 6, you are actually one level above the dining room floor. If I remember correctly, for wheelchair access there is one elevator in the aft bank of elevators that goes down one more floor to reach the dining room floor level. I think it's the left most one as you face that bank of elevators, but you'll need to double check.

Edited November 19, 2013 by VideoTech

[Alvarado]

The above post is correct about access to the diningroom you come in on the main level and have to get the seaters attention which is never a problem. Consider special needs at sea if a scooter would give your disabled person to have more freedom. I loved mine and it made all the difference in what I could do and where I could go.

[trish99]

We just got off the Jewel, had a kettle in the room, balcony deck 8 (although our friends had a 4 cup coffeemaker in their's, balcony, deck 10, I think). We brought a drip coffeemaker--the kind you set over the cup with the cone filter and pour boiling water through--and brought our own coffee. Worked great.

 

I second the note about easily making a 1:00 flight.

[gatorsfam]

I can only see one elevator serving the Tsar dining room. How difficult will it be for someone in a wheelchair to access this dining room and does anyone have any suggestions on how to get to the Tsar from the 10th deck.

 

Thanks

Duane

 

Easy to get there on the elevators. The aft elevators (4 of them) are the least used it seems... For wheelchair access, go down to deck 6 to access the MDR - getting off at deck 7 will be an exciting ride down the stairs which you will want to avoid.

[thefish]

Thanks for the responses.

 

Alvarado - My wife can walk short distances but on trips I bring a collapsible companion chair. We prefer a handicap cabin but sometimes, as on this cruise, we have a regular cabin. We have not rented a scooter for a cruise but this sounds interesting. I don't know if a scooter will fit into our balcony room. Can you leave it outside? If you do rent a scooter how do you pick it up and return it? How easy is it getting taxi transportation in the ports the Jewel visits?

 

Thanks again - Duane

[thefish]

Ignore the question about leaving a scooter outside your cabin, even if you are near an open public area. NCL states that scooters must be stored in the cabin. I have read one post where the steward took the cushions off the couch and stored the bottom of the couch under the bed making room for the scooter. I don't know if this would be possible on the Jewel. Also the door width might be a problem. The narrowest scooter I saw for rent is 21" wide.

Edited November 19, 2013 by dafish

[trish99]

We were wondering how people stored their scooters. On the first week we were on the Jewel, there were a LOT of scooters. I can't imagine that there were enough accessible cabins to accommodate them all.

[realtorlady42]

Easy to get there on the elevators. The aft elevators (4 of them) are the least used it seems... For wheelchair access, go down to deck 6 to access the MDR - getting off at deck 7 will be an exciting ride down the stairs which you will want to avoid.

 

Glad to hear this..we are in an Aft Balcony on the Jewel in January...good to know the elevators will be fairly quick.

 

We will be on the 8th floor..does the aft elevator come out right at Tsars?

Also is there ty[ically much of a wait for Tsars? We typically dine around 5-6:00

[VideoTech]

Glad to hear this..we are in an Aft Balcony on the Jewel in January...good to know the elevators will be fairly quick.[/Quote]

 

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that...a the main dinner hour, they're usually somewhat slow because they always seem to be full!

 

We will be on the 8th floor..does the aft elevator come out right at Tsars? Also is there ty[ically much of a wait for Tsars? We typically dine around 5-6:00

 

The aft elevators come out right at the upper entrance of the Tsar MDR. There is a flight of steps down to the dining room floor from the entrance. As mentioned above, there is one elevator that goes down to the dining room floor for wheelchair/Scooter access.

 

MDR waits vary greatly. There can be a line at the prime dinner hour...7pm...but they're very efficient in the MDR and they know how to turn the room over quickly!

[realtorlady42]

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that...a the main dinner hour, they're usually somewhat slow because they always seem to be full!

 

 

 

The aft elevators come out right at the upper entrance of the Tsar MDR. There is a flight of steps down to the dining room floor from the entrance. As mentioned above, there is one elevator that goes down to the dining room floor for wheelchair/Scooter access.

 

MDR waits vary greatly. There can be a line at the prime dinner hour...7pm...but they're very efficient in the MDR and they know how to turn the room over quickly!

 

Thank you...what floor number does the elevator come out on for Tsars...if it is only 2 or 3 flights of stairs we will plan to walk it rather than wait for elevators. We will probably dine there for most of our dinners and our sea day lunches

[Monalis]

One other thing you may want to check before renting a scooter is how many of your ports are going to be tenders... We are going on the Jewel on Dec 1st and for some reason we are tendering at Cozumel as well as Grand Cayman.. So 2 out of 3 of our ports will be tenders. They normally will not allow scooters on the tenders.

 

From what I have seen, when you rent a scooter they have it in your room waiting for you when you board.

 

As for catching your flight, it should not be a problem barring any problems with disembarkation or weather. You'll have plenty of time.

[thefish]

One other thing you may want to check before renting a scooter is how many of your ports are going to be tenders... We are going on the Jewel on Dec 1st and for some reason we are tendering at Cozumel as well as Grand Cayman.. So 2 out of 3 of our ports will be tenders. They normally will not allow scooters on the tenders.

 

From what I have seen, when you rent a scooter they have it in your room waiting for you when you board.

 

As for catching your flight, it should not be a problem barring any problems with disembarkation or weather. You'll have plenty of time.

 

Thanks Monalis (and others)

I've been checking on the scooter rental and I could call the rental company and get specific information pertaining to the Jewel but I decided against it. We will still need to bring our collapsible wheelchair and this and the scooter will make things a little too comfy in the cabin. I would like for her to have the scooter for her freedom of movement but I would rather save up the money for a good travel scooter that I know she will "need" in the near future. Being retired saving money is like having a job. Your pay is the money that you don't have to spend. Fixing things, mowing your lawn and cleaning your house instead of having someone else do it. I found that I can live on a lot less money than when I was working.

 

That being said I still have a couple of questions about the Jewel. We usually have dinner close to 5pm so this would be outside the prime dining hour. When do they start sitting in the main dining rooms? Our first experience many years ago with NCL freestyle dining was a disaster. They had just started it on our cruise and it was total chaos. Because of the lack of employees to clean the rooms (made waiters out of them) our room was not cleaned and beds made for several days. Also the newly designated waiters had no clue as to what they were doing.

 

Also for those that fly into NOLA, is there a problem at the airport or the cruise port in getting a cab? Is there a long wait? I asked this on the port boards and have not received an answer.

 

thanks Duane

[Alvarado]

It helps to have a handicapped room. The scooters are delivered to your room and you just leave it there when you disembark. A lot depends on how heavy a scooter you need I had a big one and we got it through the door to our suite which was a regular suite cabin because there were no handicapped suites left. You can also investigae a scooter of your own. You would have to do some searching but they have a small one that breaks into light pieces, a scoot along? sorry I don't remember. I would have gotten one but I need a wheelchair at the airport and couldn't manage the weight when I travel by myself. I really wouldn't cruise without one anymore I like to get out and about and then there is the Casino.

[coldferret]

.

 

Also for those that fly into NOLA, is there a problem at the airport or the cruise port in getting a cab? Is there a long wait? I asked this on the port boards and have not received an answer.

 

thanks Duane

 

We flew into NOLA in Oct and there was a roped off "taxi line" that you got into. The cabs were lined up and you got one in order. Depending on how many people are arriving at the same time.. I don't think we waited more than 5-10 minutes. The cruise port was very busy but we opted to walk out so can't help you there

[terrydtx]

Thanks Monalis (and others)

 

 

That being said I still have a couple of questions about the Jewel. We usually have dinner close to 5pm so this would be outside the prime dining hour. When do they start sitting in the main dining rooms? Our first experience many years ago with NCL freestyle dining was a disaster. They had just started it on our cruise and it was total chaos. Because of the lack of employees to clean the rooms (made waiters out of them) our room was not cleaned and beds made for several days. Also the newly designated waiters had no clue as to what they were doing.

 

Also for those that fly into NOLA, is there a problem at the airport or the cruise port in getting a cab? Is there a long wait? I asked this on the port boards and have not received an answer.

 

thanks Duane

 

NOLA is full of cabs because of the huge tourist attraction of downtown, you should have no problems getting one. You could check with NCL because I think they offer transfers for sale from the airport and back from the cruise terminal.

[roger001]

We had a coffee maker when on the Jewel a little over a year ago. Yes, we take our own brand of coffee and some 4 cup filters. If you room doesn't have a coffee maker, ask your room steward for one. He/she can probably round one up for you.

[realtorlady42]

You will find thsi a very different experience than your last on NCL.

Cabins are cleaned and made up on a timely basis.

Dining room service is good.

We too are early diners and rarely have to wait more than a few minutes and usually are seated right away.

Ths staff are very good to excellent.

[terrydtx]

And if the wait for the MDR is very long, you often get a voucher for a free glass of champagne, something we never got while waiting for any time dining on HAL. :D

 

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[thefish]

Thanks a lot guys.

1. will not worry about our flight connection at 1:10 pm. Should have plenty of time and no use worrying about the weather.

2. Would be nice to have a scooter for my wife but we are together all the time and I can still push when needed. Save the money for the spa.

3. Will bring our own coffee and 4cup filters and ask for a 4 cup maker if not in our room. Will make do.

4. Will be taking taxi from airport and pier.

5. Will find that elevator to the Tsar dining room.

 

But I do have a new question. We will be staying 3 nights in NOLA so I will be doing laundry on the Jewel. What day of the cruise do they have their wash special. I believe it's $25 a bag. I've become quite good at getting a lot of stuff in the cruise laundry bags.

 

Thanks

Duane

[trish99]

They actually had it twice on our cruise. Wednesday and Thursday, I think. Also, we did 2 bags and they honored the price for each bag.

 

 

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