The
‘Norwegian Jewel’ Makes Waves
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By P W Mooney
Norwegian
Cruise Lines has a new jewel in its crown—the Norwegian Jewel.
In November, after a series of pre-inaugural cruises in Europe
and North Atlantic waters, the 93,502-ton vessel was christened
by Melania Trump, wife of the Donald at the Port of Miami. Jewel
is now operating her winter season of Eastern and Western Caribbean
cruises.
The
fourth purpose-built ship for freestyle cruising, the 2,376
passenger Norwegian Jewel is a sister to the Norwegian Dawn
and the Norwegian Star but as with each new ship, she
boasts a lot of new innovations to brag about. I was invited
on a short cruise out of New York earlier this fall to assess
what NCL’s newest vessel was like. Here’s a quick rundown.
What’s
new? First there’s the ten Courtyard villas to complement
the two Garden Villas found on the Dawn and Spirit. The villas
make up the largest, most innovative suite complex at sea. They
are so well orchestrated one could remain there for most of
a cruise. There’s a concierge lounge with dedicated butler service,
a private courtyard and sundeck, hot tubs, small swimming pool,
and a small workout center. Villa guests can even dine there
without ever stepping foot into the rest of the ship as butlers
serve continental breakfast, canapés and drinks before dinner
and can also arrange for dinner to be served. A concierge is
also on hand to handle all arrangements both on and off the
ship. This little world within a larger one allows guests to
remain private during their cruise if they wish. "Norwegian
Jewel is truly setting a new standard for cruise accommodations
across the industry . . . she is the first ship in the industry
to offer this exclusive class of accommodations," says
NCL President and CEO Colin Veitch.
There
are 76 more cabins on the Jewel than that of her sister Dawn
and 32 categories of staterooms. Bathrooms are also more spacious.
With families in mind, the Jewel also features the most versatile,
family-friendly accommodations afloat with interconnecting staterooms
to accommodate small or large groups. In addition the Jewel
features many new family-oriented amenities and activities.
Like
her sisters, Norwegian Jewel offers a wide range of dining venues
but exclusive on the Jewel is Tango’s, a contemporary Latin
restaurant serving spicy tapas and Tex-Mex; and a three restaurants-in-one
Asian spot named ChinChin.
Another
new concept for NCL is the Bar Central that features a martini
bar, a champagne and wine bar, and a beer and whisky pub—all
connected but with three distinct personalities.
And
if you are a cell phone addict, a new communications system
via MTN was installed to allow users to place calls while cruising
in foreign waters. Calls will be charged about a $1.50 a minute
and will appear on the user’s phone-service provider.
What’s
she like? Now that we have gone through a list of some
of the ship’s innovations, the next question is “what’s the
ship like?” Well, NCL ‘s Jewel is sure to please many a cruiser
from those used to five-star service to those wanting a relaxed
setting with lots to do. The ever constant theme of freestyle
cruising—doing what you want to do, dining where, when and with
whom you want, and enjoying the ship’s amenities in a manner
to your liking—makes sense. But let’s cover the various areas:
The
dining scene. NCL boasts about its new freestyle dining
and keeps improving the concept along the way. Now, in addition
to having a choice of ten different dining places, there are
17 giant electronic screens placed in the public areas that
give information on the restaurants, on table availability,
and soon the waiting time to get a table and the menus for the
day. And shortly, guests will be able also to book the restaurant
of choice from their interactive TV in their cabin when the
new communications system is in place. Another innovation is
the use of beepers that are given to dining guests who do not
want to wait for their reserved table that is not yet free.
When the table becomes available, they can be paged anywhere
on board.
Ten
different dining venues certainly give one a dining choice.
I ate one night at the signature Le Bistro which serves an à
la carte menu of both Mediterranean and classic French cuisine
in a spacious, semiformal setting with posters of French icons
adorning the walls. There I had my favorite dish of escargots
in garlic butter, followed by a delicious salmon served with
a creamy sorrel sauce. Dinner ended with a tangy Tart au Citron.
($10 charge per person to dine here)
Another
evening it was Cagney’s Steak House, decorated in the manner
of an upscale eatery reminiscent of the 1930’s and offering
a choice of Angus certified beef, a variety of other meats and
seafood dishes. My entrée choice was a filet mignon served with
béarnaise sauce that had been preceded by a yummy Oysters Rockefeller
casserole and followed by a very rich dessert named Sinful Chocolate
Obsession. ($15 charge per person for dining here)
One
day I had lunch at Chin-Chin—an Asian fusion spot where diners
can opt for the delicious Shabu Shabu— so called because the
ingredients are “swished swished” back and forth in a pot of
boiling aromatic broth—prepared for them at their table. Or
the Sushi Bar, as I did, and sample mouthwatering sushi or sashimi
dishes. Also within this dining venue was the Teppanyaki Room
where diners, who have a choice of one of three different menus,
sit around a station as the chef prepares the food over a two-hour
period. (Various fees apply for dining at Chin-Chin)
The
two main dining rooms—the Azura and the Tsar’s Palace—are on
Deck 6. Azura has a more modern design with interpretations
of pop art rendered in backlit glass around the restaurant.
The Tsar’s Palace harks back to the days when Russia was ruled
by the Tsars. White and gold ceilings, green marbled pillars
and 24-carat-gold-coated chandeliers adorn this restaurant.
Both rooms serve international fare as well as low-fat dishes
and the menus change daily. On cruises of a week’s duration
or longer, a dinner menu is offered one night that consists
of dishes and prized recipes served to famous White House guests
by former White House Chef Henry Haller, who cooked for five
presidents—Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan.
In
the informal Garden Café with an outside extension called the
Great Outdoors, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner casual-style,
the well-spaced serving stations offer both hot and cold foods.
Children have a special dining area in one corner called Kid’s
Café with pint-sized chairs and tables offering buffet fare
from a low-serving counter. I ate breakfast and lunch here and
found the selections adequate though the sitting area can be
crowded at peak times and somewhat noisy.
Other
dining venues include the Blue Lagoon, a 24-hour-open comfort-food
eatery; and Mama’s Italian Kitchen serving up Italian favorites
casual style in a setting resembling a rustic farmhouse kitchen.
Room service is also available around the clock. No fees are
charged for eating at these dining venues. However, as in all
the restaurants on board, there is a fee for wines and sodas.
About
the accommodations. My cabin on Deck 10 was a minisuite,
decorated in a rich
cherrywood
finish with comfortable furnishings and a sitting area. A sliding
glass door opened on to a nice balcony that contained two chairs
and a small table. There is ample storage space in the cabin
for two persons. The bathroom featured a divider separating
the toilet from the basin and tub, and toiletries. There was
a coffee maker as well as a mini refrigerator, safe, hair dryer,
and an interactive TV. A bowl of fruit awaited our arrival.
Now
the Garden and Courtyard Villas complex on Decks 14 and 15 are
something else. The Garden Villas are each 4,390 square feet
in area and contain a spacious living room, dining room and
three separate bedrooms, each with bath—in the master bedroom
the bath contains a whirlpool tub and separate shower. The ten
new 573-sq.ft Courtyard Villas share a private courtyard that
has a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and small workout area. Positioned
high atop the ship, the villas also share a private sundeck
with large two-person sun beds and hammocks. Like the Garden
Villas, guests have a dedicated 24-hour butler service and access
to the exclusive Concierge Lounge where they can enjoy drinks
and canapés or the services of the resident concierge for other
cruise requests.
Families
are especially welcome with cabins offering connecting accommodations
Not only in the Garden and Courtyard villas, but hundreds of
staterooms that can interconnect to create a two, three, four
or five bedroom area, suitable accommodations for small and
large family groups.
For
passengers with disabilities, there are 27 wheel-chair-accessible
cabins in different categories. All cabins feature a lowered
wash basin, collapsible shower stools mounted on the shower
wall, and toilets with collapsible arm guards. For the hearing
impaired, there is a vibrating alarm clock, a door beacon which
flashes when someone knocks on the door, television with closed-caption
decoders, and a flashing-light fire alarm. All staterooms include
permanently lit emergency lights. For vision impaired guests,
the ship accommodates seeing-eye dogs and all staterooms and
elevators have Braille text.
Recreation:
The workout center was impressive. I thought the space and the
equipment in the Body Waves Fitness Center were better than
average—Lifecycle treadmills, bicycles, and elliptical machines,
each with its own TV, provide a good cardiovascular workout
and no matter what machine you use, there is a wonderful vista
of the sea. There is also a small area with a sprung wooden
floor to work out with a trainer, steam and sauna rooms for
aerobics. A jet-current exercise pool, an indoor pool, whirlpool
and hydrotherapy pool complement the workout area.
Nearby
is the Bora Bora Health Spa run by Madara Spa, a leading operator
of land-based resort spas. The Spa features 20 treatment rooms,
three of which accommodate couples, and offers a mélange of
Western and Asian beauty treatments. Unisex hair care and pedicure/manicure
services are also provided in the spa complex.
Outside
on the Pool Deck there are two pools located midship in addition
to four hot tubs and bungee-jumping apparatus. Children also
have their own pool with a giant slide and hot tub, and there
is a splash area at one end.
Other
sport facilities include a full size basketball court with bleachers—the
NCL Stadium—as well as a giant chess set on Deck 13 starboard,
a shuffle board, and a small golf putting area.
In
a major effort to attract more families, Jewel offers an array
of amenities for the whole family. For the younger set, the
Splashdown Kid’s Club is center of the ship’s Kid’s Crew program
for youths two to 17 that is available year round when the ship
is at sea. Divided into three age groups: Junior Sailors (2
- 5), First Mates (6 - 8), Navigators (9 - 12), and Teens (13
- 17), age-appropriate activities free of charge are provided
under the supervision of trained counselors. There is also an
Underground Teen’s Club where teens can hang out and a Video
Arcade for teens and adults. “The facilities on board for youths
and teens are a high priority for NCL” says Veitch, who himself
is the proud parent of two children. In addition to youth activities
planned on board, family excursions can be arranged when the
ship is in port that can be both recreational and educational,
such as a visit to a local museum or historic site or snorkeling
off a private beach.
The
public areas. The public areas are nicely furnished
and the thin wood veneer paneling offers a rich background.
In addition to the Bar Central complex, Norwegian Jewel features
the Sky High Bar, a beer garden designed to replicate a hot
air balloon with sandbags, ropes and a rattan front. Fyzz Lounge
offers live cabaret and dancing all night long. Near Fyzz are
three Karaoke rooms with large screens and the equipment to
make one’s vocal debut. Another spot for before-dinner drinks
or after- dinner dancing is the Spinnaker Lounge offering great
ocean views atop the vessel.
The
Java Café in the Atrium area is a popular place serving a wide
variety of coffees and teas, which run about $2.50 a cup plus
15 percent gratuity.
In
the Stardust Auditorium, a vast cavernous theater where a choice
of entertainment is presented, there was a hilarious performance,
when I stopped in one evening, by the Chicago-based Second City
ensemble who performed a special comedy revue of satirical skits
of daily life’s problems. This new addition is a refreshing
alternative to the usual Vegas-style shows presented on ships.
Second City will present their comedy skits on the weekly Caribbean
sailings, when they will also conduct both adult and children’s
workshops on the important principles of improv.
And
if you are wondering, yes, there is gambling on board. The Jewel
Club Casino welcomes both the inexperienced and the professional
for poker, roulette, black jack and craps or try your luck at
one of the $1 to $100 slot machines.
There
is an Internet Center on Deck 7 and the ship is wired throughout
for Wi-Fi capability. Laptops can be rented at the Photo Gallery
where guests can also print photos from their digital cameras.
And a lovely library done in soft hues of yellow and beige with
a nice selection of reading materials on Deck 12 provided a
quiet place to catch up on one’s reading. A nice Chapel on Deck
13 accommodates 24 persons and can be the venue for small wedding
ceremonies or vow renewals, which NCL likes to promote with
its Wedding and Romance package offers.
I
checked out, as I always do, the medical facilities. Well equipped
with latest medical technology, it has four patient rooms. Two
NCL-employed physicians and three nurses are on duty at all
times and they are aptly prepared to handle medical emergencies.
In extreme cases, patients can be helicoptered or tendered to
a land-based facility.
Overall
assessment. A thoroughly enjoyable ship and a great
place for family groups. It offers a variety of offerings certain
to amuse children and even teens and stave off boredom. Staterooms
are well designed with enough storage space for two people but
if you can swing it, go for the top-of-the-line garden and courtyard
villas. That’s an experience in itself—and a vacation within
a vacation if privacy and personalized service is what you crave.
The
personnel on board were friendly and service oriented. Many
of the hotel staff were from Eastern Europe and eager to serve
us.
I
have some grumbles about the lack of fresh flowers and plants
in most of the public rooms or restaurants—just artificial look-alikes.
The outdoor pools can be crowded and noisy on sunny days and
deter serious swimmers. And I also found the prevalence of smoke
in the public areas annoying. Perhaps one day NCL will clamp
down on smoking. Smoking is not allowed in dining areas but
it is in public lounges and bars and in cabins. A sign in our
cabin positioned by the bed tells guests not to smoke in bed.
Sort of ironic I thought if one considers the threat of fire.
Extra
charges. There are a lot of charges on board that are
not included in your cruise fare, such as alcoholic beverages,
sodas, spa treatments, boutique purchases, special coffees.
And if you wish a daily miniature newspaper of your choice delivered
to your cabin that will cost you $3.95 a day, or more depending
on the request.
With
regard to gratuities for the hotel staff, it is not encouraged
by NCL on its ships as those providing a service are expected
to go the extra mile. But if a passenger wishes to tip the services
of a crew member, the company allows them to accept cash gratuities
entirely at the discretion of the guest. However, bar tenders
usually get a 15 percent tip when drinks are purchased; and
guests using concierge and butlers services in the villa suites
are encouraged to consider offering a gratuity commensurate
with the services rendered.
Itineraries.
Norwegian Jewel has begun her regularly scheduled, seven-day
itineraries out of Miami to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Eastern Caribbean sailings call in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St.
John's, Antigua; St. Thomas, USVI and NCL's Private Island,
Great Stirrup Cay. Western Caribbean itineraries will call at
Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Georgetown,
Grand Cayman and Roatan, Honduras. Norwegian Jewel will feature
these itineraries each Sunday now through April 23, 2006. From
there she will reposition to Europe on a 17-day southern Atlantic
crossing to Barcelona where she will be sailing Mediterranean,
Egypt and Greek Isles itineraries.
Ship
Statistics
Profile
of Colin Veitch, NCL president and CEO
Photo
Gallery
