http://tinyurl.com/cynyd

The more I look at JEWEL the more I am impressed. Yes, she is very colorful and some may even say "over the top". Personally I don't agree. Her colors are contemporary and eclectic, and her interiors look so unique and inviting. I think NCL did a great job with all the design improvements from the earlier Star Class ships, and it's nice to see the designers are thinking outside the box and being a bit daring. The swimming pools look vastly improved, and I also love all the wood veneers used in the cabins and corridors. They really evoke a rich look when set against the brighter carpet colors.

All in all another winner for NCL. I was on PRIDE OF AMERICA and LOVED her, and from what I see of JEWEL I can say the same thing about her. She will be high on my list of ships to sail.

It's just nice to see a cruise line coming out with ships that have unique decors. So many cruise lines are introducing "clones" that are just more of the same. NCL really seems to be evolving into a first rate cruise line. It's about time! They have been floundering for so long it's refreshing to see they have some direction, and good direction at that.

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NCL really seems to be evolving into a first rate cruise line. It's about time! They have been floundering for so long it's refreshing to see they have some direction, and good direction at that.

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I have been on the Dawn 3 times for visits, and everyone I spoke to who has taken it has had postive comments.

I have found a friendly crew, good food, and a comfortable ship based on the brief times I have spent.

I find the Jewel interiors to be more fun than the Dawn, less gaudy, less contrived, and more creative.

Tillberg did the interiors. Just like with the POA and the Dawn": when they come up with their own style it is great, when they copy a period theme it turns to contrived kitsch

[ 08-14-2005: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

[ 08-14-2005: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

There are many similarities, but I did not take to N Jewel so much as I did N Dawn.

One thing I thought very odd, is that the Blue Lagoon seems dedicated to 'Coffee', yet the Java Cafe is a deck below... it is almost as if the Java Cafe was going to be in that position originally?

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Originally posted by PamM:
I'm afraid however I spent the whole time comparing Jewel to Dawn and Jewel only won as far as the Atrium is concerned, and that The Great Outdoors looks straight over the stern without having the kids area below.. the kids area is nowhere near as good as on Dawn, and I did not like the fact that the Garden Cafe only gives views to starboard, whereas on Dawn it stretches the width of the ship.

There are many similarities, but I did not take to N Jewel so much as I did N Dawn.

One thing I thought very odd, is that the Blue Lagoon seems dedicated to 'Coffee', yet the Java Cafe is a deck below... it is almost as if the Java Cafe was going to be in that position originally?

Pam

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The carpets are quite whimsical and fun. For my personal taste (and only seeing both ships in pics), I vastly prefer the JEWEL over DAWN. Gone are the Asian influences that were so prevalent on NORWEGIAN STAR and to some extent on DAWN. What I see on JEWEL is a thoroughly modern and original design. Certainly it will not appeal to everyone, but you can't say it's not unique!

As a pool person, the double swimming pools on JEWEL are a big improvement IMO. Also, NCL has finally put the "surround" around the pool with a couple inches of water. RCI has done it for years and it's a nice way to get your feet wet without having to completely go in the pool. Sure beats just a "well", which is what NORWEGIAN STAR had, and I think DAWN as well. The gym/spa (another favorite place of mine), also seems greatly improved on JEWEL. Better location and larger looking. On STAR, the gym was rather dark and have no windows as I recall.

As far as the kids facilities ... maybe DAWN will become the more friendly "kids ship", with JEWEL appealing a bit more to adults? Fine with me, as the fewer kids the better (no offence Pam).

Blue Lagoon?? I know the location was changed (to enlarge it), but isn't it essentially still a fast food restaurant? Kind of like the Cadillac Cafe on PRIDE OF AMERICA. Hamburgers and such.

But I like the other parts of the Norwegian Jewel and of the Crystal Atrium, It's not such a 12 deck high, overloaded Lobby.

marco

[ 08-14-2005: Message edited by: marco g ]

[ 08-14-2005: Message edited by: marco g ]

[ 08-14-2005: Message edited by: marco g ]

The N. STAR/DAWN might be more kid's friendly, but I think N. JEWEL appeals to the same age-range. I don't think the older adults will like the bright colors in some public spaces and "playful" carpets.

NCL is showing great promise and these new ships are looking better and better. I am tempted to try the N. JEWEL next summer in the Meds...

[ 08-14-2005: Message edited by: Waynaro ]

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Originally posted by eroller:
As far as the kids facilities ... maybe DAWN will become the more friendly "kids ship", with JEWEL appealing a bit more to adults? Fine with me, as the fewer kids the better (no offence Pam).

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On such a ship, you will get children; the better the kids areas the less you have them around the rest of the ship. On Dawn they are away from everyone else out of sight. The kiddies pool on Jewel is part of the main pool area. I just got the impression Jewel was built on a far cheaper budget than Dawn.. the finishings on things overall.. not cabins, they are the same basically.

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Originally posted by PamM:

On such a ship, you will get children; the better the kids areas the less you have them around the rest of the ship. On Dawn they are away from everyone else out of sight. The kiddies pool on Jewel is part of the main pool area. I just got the impression Jewel was built on a far cheaper budget than Dawn.. the finishings on things overall.. not cabins, they are the same basically.

Pam

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Very true what you say about the kids facilities when there are a lot of kids onboard. None the less that is why I generally don't cruise during the Summer, Spring break, or holidays so it's a non-issue for me.

Interesting what you say about cost. To me, JEWEL looks like the much more expensive ship. All the furniture, etc. looks much more unique and custom built ... and of course that usually means more expensive. DAWN looked more like a clone of STAR to me (cheaper to build two), and I didn't find the furnishings on STAR to be anything unique or of great quality. In fact they looked a lot like NORWEGIAN SPIRIT and I felt they were more designed for the Asian market (and I think they were).

Anyway, it's all about perception. What looks cheap to some seems expensive to others. Some people think the Princess ships look so elegant and expensive. I don't. The decor looks more like a facade to me. Conversely, people may feel the decor on JEWEL looks cheap since it's so colorful and whimsical. I feel just the opposite.

I say the same thing about Carnival. People often say the ships look "cheap". Well, they may look it but they are not. All the extensive finish work (and there is a lot of it), the custom themed chairs, carpet, wall coverings, curtains, and even all those custom light fixtures cost big $$$. It would be much cheaper to build clones like Princess and use the same carpet pattern, curtains, and chairs over and over again.

I guess it all comes down to taste. JEWEL is more to my taste then DAWN and STAR .... at least from what I can see.

There is only one way to find out for sure .... I will have to take a cruise on her! I am quite interested to see how she stacks up against PRIDE OF AMERICA .... a ship I very much enjoyed and will again in October.

Anyhow you can now see all my pics too, Indexed on this page. I have also scanned some of the bits and pieces, leaflets, dailies etc.

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Originally posted by PamM:
Oh well Ernie, you'll haave to sail both of them I don't think Dawn looks much like Star from photos, but I'll doubt I will ever sail Star just to see. Dawn is the brighter of Jewel/Dawn, as she has lighter carpeting in the corridors.. and they [the hallways] are the same style as Jewel. I just could not stop comparing. The fitness center on Dawn has stern views, on Jewel it's only to port.

Anyhow you can now see all my pics too, Indexed on this page. I have also scanned some of the bits and pieces, leaflets, dailies etc.

Pam

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Thanks for the link Pam. You do an amazing job with your photos! I still think JEWEL looks the best out of the three.

For me to try JEWEL is pretty easy. It's only an hour flight down to Miami from Atlanta and you can pick up a 7-day cruise for pretty cheap these days. NCL is even offering a 1-day sailing on JEWEL but it's not worth it to me.

Like you, I won't go out of my way to sail on NORWEGIAN STAR. I think NCL has progressed a great deal since then.

Ernie

It took me forever to take pictures of the N. SEA and I had two weeks to do so

[ 08-14-2005: Message edited by: Waynaro ]

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Pam,
One question. What is the deal with that third bed in your cabin? Were you assigned a double but actually had three people? I've never seen three beds put together like that. Unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. Why didn't you have a cabin with a third "upper bunk"? Just curious.

Ernie

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OK, I know I'm not Pam! But we were on Norwegian Jewel for the first inaugural cruise. Our cabin (inside, #9077) had both types of extra bed: there was a roll-away tucked under one of the main beds, and we had a pullman-type bunk above one bed.

I have seen this arrangement before with cabins categorised as "3rd person occupancy available"; but this cabin is not in that band, being described as "third and/or fourth person occupancy available". I was expecting the arrangement Tom had [9077 has a + in in too] or 2 bunks, so we would utilise a bunk. Our cabin could not take a 4th person and therefore should have been categorised as the former, then I would have been forewarned.

We would have better off in an inside I think, but mother would not have that, in fact she was annoyed there were no balconies [these had all gone straight off.. I guess to all the TA's and UK NCL staff aboard] and her minimum was a 'picture window'. This turned into a porthole. I was waiting her gripes, but she never made comment. I had sussed this would probably be the case from matching cabin to ship picture; if I had told her prior to the trip, she'd have cancelled, getting there in the first place was like walking a silk thread.

I expect all the FF cabins marked on deck 4 are incorrectly described on the plans. None can have a picture window, and it would be interesting to know if any can take 4 people, or if they are all 3 berth. Do not book one of these, unless you are a twosome.

It is also mildly irritating that some of the deck 4 cabins can only be accessed from the forward stairwell, and some only from the midship stairwell, none from aft. What the plans also don't show, is that the 'space' between 4564 & 4568 is closed off with 2 bulkhead doors being a hull opening access area. The doors were open when in port or at anchor, but not otherwise. I would just say keep off deck 4. It's OK for 2 nights, but no longer.

Wayne, I did not get time, most photos were taken "on the run" between keeping my mother company & finding her when she got 'lost' & checking son was doing what he should be. I will never go with the 2 of them again. I never did anything for myself, but I knew it would be like that beforehand.

Some places I could not take, due to dining in course, or shows, even a flippin' Art Auction, but Bart has some lovely ones of those bits I missed There was a whole bunch of cabins open for viewing, inc the villas etc.. I left it to the last morning to run around them.. only to find the doors locked.. ah well.

Usually when you see a space between outside cabins on a lower deck, it means it's a gangway or provisioning entrance. On NORWEGIAN JEWEL, the same conditions exist between 4600 and 4598, as well as 5582/5584 and 5082/5084. All cabins to be avoided. It's also not right that NCL is advertising these cabins as "picture window". Being that JEWEL is a sister ship to DAWN, and on DAWN the cabins on Deck 4 are clearly marked as "porthole", I'm surprised they would make this mistake. Maybe they thought the shipyard would be able to install picture windows, then decided against it due to structural reasons? In any case, the brochure has to be changed.

I must say, I have never seen a "trundle" style bed under a bed before on any ship I have sailed. It's a totally new concept to me. I could never live with that but I do thank you for the heads up. Something to look out for the in the future.

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Originally posted by eroller:

I must say, I have never seen a "trundle" style bed under a bed before on any ship I have sailed. It's a totally new concept to me. I could never live with that but I do thank you for the heads up. Something to look out for the in the future.

Ernie

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Carnival has had trundle roll-aways on their DESTINY Class ships for years. This is not noted in their brochures, however.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

Carnival has had trundle roll-aways on their DESTINY Class ships for years. This is not noted in their brochures, however.

Rich

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I've seen roll-aways many times, and I know they are used often. On Carnival they are sitting in the corridor during the day (which I hate). I've never seen one that fits under an existing bed in the cabin. That is always where I put my luggage, and if there were another bed under my bed I would be quite pissed!

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Originally posted by PamM:

I expect all the FF cabins marked on deck 4 are incorrectly described on the plans. None can have a picture window, and it would be interesting to know if any can take 4 people, or if they are all 3 berth. Do not book one of these, unless you are a twosome.

Pam

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NCL has just announced that they are eliminating category FF, and all of those cabins on Deck 4 are now classified as cat. F.

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Originally posted by eroller:
Can you access the entire corridor (forward and mid) while at sea, or is it still split between the forward and midship staircase?..

4600 and 4598, as well as 5582/5584 and 5082/5084. All cabins to be avoided.

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No... 4500 - 4564 must use the fwd stairwell.
4568 upwards, must use the midship stairwell, there is no 'through route' from 4564 to 4568, that is closed off when at sea.

Between 4600 & 4598 there is no problem. That opening in the hull, was used as the tender station and is carpeted [the closed off one is not].. there is a bulkhead door to 4598, maybe 4600 too, I didn't notice that side, but the 4598 one was only closed whilst the tenders were operational and one could open and go through it anyway to get to one's cabin.. I did, as the 'blockage' was also open at that time.

On deck 5 there is no problem. [It even tells you on the midship signs, that to access fwd on deck 4, to go deck 5 and walk along]. Deck 4 is just the oddity, as the rest of the deck is crew accomodation.

Thanks for that Rich, nice to know they have changed it.. now perhaps my pile of "Inaugural Celebrations" Ship Guides might be worth 50p in future years LOL... These are specific to our trip, only an A3 shiny piece of paper folded into 3, leaving something around 11.75" x 5.5", but if anyone wants one msg me. [You can see it in the first 2 images here, but some have a 10% off voucher & smaller ship picture, in place of the ship image].