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Norwegian Cruise Line

MS Norwegian Jewel

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Reviewed by: Tom Burke
# previous cruises: 2
Date of Trip: August 8, 2005
Itinerary: Europe

Norwegian is new, large (93,000 tons) resort that's not too 'glitzy'. It offers a wide range of bars and restaurants, and cabin types.

We are unlikely to cruise on Norwegian Jewel again, because we've decided that we don't like the Freestyle Dining concept.

There are a multiplicity of bars, lounges and restaurants. Our favourite was probably the Spinnaker Lounge, up high (Deck 12) and right forward, with a superb view over the bow. There are other bars, including a cluster of several in a 'Bar Central' area on deck 6 - these included a Champagne bar, a whisky/beer bar, a cigar bar, and others. There is a walk-round promenade deck but there is no view forward at the bow - the promenade goes behind a steel screen at this point. There are also the usual open areas on decks 12, 13 and 14 - the pool & sun deck areas.

There are many restaurants, including teo main ones, some no-cost speciality ones (eg, Mama's Kitchen, italian), plus several 'cover-charge' speciality restaurants - french (Le Bistro), steak/seafood (Cagney's), and oriental.

NCL's approach to dining is 'Freestyle', which means there are no sittings for dinner and you do not have a regular table, or dining partners. You simply turn up and take a seat as it becomes available, at least in the main restaurants. You need to book for the speciality restaurants. Dining on the Saturday was very crowded - we queued over 20 minutes for a table. On Sunday we went to Le Bistro (we had to book on Saturday to achieve this). Food in both restaurants was excellent. Both featured plate service, not silver service.

Drinks were very expensive - wine started at around $30 a bottle and went a long way up from there, or a minimum of $6.50 a glass (size unstated) & up, up, up. Drinks in the bar weren't cheap either. And all bar bills had an 15% added for service. So our meal in Le Bistro cost us nearly $80 - $30 for cover charge and nearly $50 for a bottle of perfectly pleasant but 'nothing really special' Pinot Grigio, including the service. (Equivalent to a #5 to #6.50 bottle from Sainsburys I'd have thought)

We had an inside twin cabin. There was a third bed (a bunk) on the wall, and a slide-out bed underneath on of the main beds. So you could accomodate 4 people in the cabin, but it would be very crowded. There was good closet splace, the normal safe, and a good bathroom - the shower cubicle was especially good.

Our cabin was rather noisy. I think we were up against some 'ship systems trunking', and this was going all the time.

Not really our thing. We saw a 6-piece band playing in the Spinnaker Lounge for a while: a group of Filipinos, male musicians, female singers/dancers, who were good. But no-one seemed very interested. I know we weren't. Frankly, we'd have preferred to be able to sit quietly and enjoy the view forward.

This was a two-night shakedown cruise, Dover - Amsterdam & back, so it wasn't typical. We've been to Amsterdam before. Amsterdam Cruise Terminal was exceptional, however - just 10 minutes' walk from Central Station. And the no. 16 tram goes to the cruise terminal (it terminates there) so transport is easy.

Getting on the ship at Dover was a nightmare, however, thanks to severe parking problems at Dover Cruise Terminal on Saturday afternoon.

There was mixture of perhaps two-thirds Brits and one-third Germans (who had boarded the day before). The Brits seemed a cross-section, both middle-class and working-class people. Mostly it was couples; there were very few children on board.