Jewel class cruise ships
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PROFILE AND REVIEW
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE'S JEWEL CLASS |
Norwegian Jewel
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Norwegian Cruise Line's Jewel class consists of Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem.
The Jewel class are medium-size cruise ships (93,000 gross tons) providing a relaxed resort-like cruise experience. They have many - - but not all - - of the features of NCL's larger ships. Each ship has two main dining rooms and an array of specialty restaurants as well as alternative casual dining venues. There are also such standard features as a large theater, a spa, shops pools and sports facilities. Each has several bars including a large observation lounge in the forward part of the ship. Family-
friendly, the Jewel class ships also have a children's area and programs for children of different ages.
The Jewel class also have a separate area, known as “The Haven” for guests staying in the suites. It features its own exclusive courtyard area. However, unlike the Havens on NCL's larger ships, the Havens on the Jewel class do not have their own dedicated restaurant. Instead, suite guests have exclusive access to the Cagney's specialty restaurant for breakfast and lunch.
While the Jewel class ships have outdoor promenades that wrap 360 degrees around the ship, there is no outdoor restaurant seating or bars on the promenade. The Jewel class also do not have the more spectacular features of the larger ships such as Go-cart racing. Befitting their smaller size, the NCL-branded features that the Jewel class have are generally smaller in scale than their equivalents on the Epic and Breakaway classes. The Jewel class also do not have solo cabins as on Norwegian Epic and as on most of the Breakaway class.
Although they are relatively smaller than the Breakaway class, there still are a lot of people on these ships - - approximately 2,500 double occupancy. Since many cabins can accommodate more than two people, there are often more than that number on a given cruise.
The Jewel class feature NCL's Freestyle cruising. The idea is that it is up to the guest to decide what and when to do things during the cruise. This concept comes into play primarily with regard to dining. Unlike the traditional cruise ship system, there are no fixed-time seatings and no assigned tables in the dining rooms. Instead, guests can dine whenever they like (as long as the restaurant is open). Generally, this system works pretty well except at peak hours when there can be lines and waiting periods in the
main dining rooms. As above, there are a number of specialty restaurants and alternative venues. However, it is best to make reservations at the specialty restaurants, especially at peak hours.
Built at Germany's Meyer Werft shipyard, the Jewel class ships entered service between 2005 and 2007. They are an enlarged version of the design used for Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star. However, there are significant differences in the layout of the public areas between the Jewel class and their predecessors.
There are also some differences between the ships in the Jewel class. However, as the ships have undergone refurbishments, these differences have been disappearing. This is particularly so for Norwegian Jade, which originally entered service as Pride of Hawaii for NCL's ill-starred NCL America operation. She was brought into the main NCL fleet in 2008 and re-named. Reminders of the days when she cruised the Hawaiian islands have by now all but disappeared.
The Jewel class ships are quite powerful capable of doing more than 25 knots. This helps to ensure they will keep to their scheduled itineraries despite the weather. It is also helpful in getting ill passengers to shore side medical facilities as soon as possible. Equipped with two azipods and a series of bow thrusters, the Jewel class are also very maneuverable.
The Jewel class are medium-size cruise ships (93,000 gross tons) providing a relaxed resort-like cruise experience. They have many - - but not all - - of the features of NCL's larger ships. Each ship has two main dining rooms and an array of specialty restaurants as well as alternative casual dining venues. There are also such standard features as a large theater, a spa, shops pools and sports facilities. Each has several bars including a large observation lounge in the forward part of the ship. Family-
friendly, the Jewel class ships also have a children's area and programs for children of different ages.
The Jewel class also have a separate area, known as “The Haven” for guests staying in the suites. It features its own exclusive courtyard area. However, unlike the Havens on NCL's larger ships, the Havens on the Jewel class do not have their own dedicated restaurant. Instead, suite guests have exclusive access to the Cagney's specialty restaurant for breakfast and lunch.
While the Jewel class ships have outdoor promenades that wrap 360 degrees around the ship, there is no outdoor restaurant seating or bars on the promenade. The Jewel class also do not have the more spectacular features of the larger ships such as Go-cart racing. Befitting their smaller size, the NCL-branded features that the Jewel class have are generally smaller in scale than their equivalents on the Epic and Breakaway classes. The Jewel class also do not have solo cabins as on Norwegian Epic and as on most of the Breakaway class.
Although they are relatively smaller than the Breakaway class, there still are a lot of people on these ships - - approximately 2,500 double occupancy. Since many cabins can accommodate more than two people, there are often more than that number on a given cruise.
The Jewel class feature NCL's Freestyle cruising. The idea is that it is up to the guest to decide what and when to do things during the cruise. This concept comes into play primarily with regard to dining. Unlike the traditional cruise ship system, there are no fixed-time seatings and no assigned tables in the dining rooms. Instead, guests can dine whenever they like (as long as the restaurant is open). Generally, this system works pretty well except at peak hours when there can be lines and waiting periods in the
main dining rooms. As above, there are a number of specialty restaurants and alternative venues. However, it is best to make reservations at the specialty restaurants, especially at peak hours.
Built at Germany's Meyer Werft shipyard, the Jewel class ships entered service between 2005 and 2007. They are an enlarged version of the design used for Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star. However, there are significant differences in the layout of the public areas between the Jewel class and their predecessors.
There are also some differences between the ships in the Jewel class. However, as the ships have undergone refurbishments, these differences have been disappearing. This is particularly so for Norwegian Jade, which originally entered service as Pride of Hawaii for NCL's ill-starred NCL America operation. She was brought into the main NCL fleet in 2008 and re-named. Reminders of the days when she cruised the Hawaiian islands have by now all but disappeared.
The Jewel class ships are quite powerful capable of doing more than 25 knots. This helps to ensure they will keep to their scheduled itineraries despite the weather. It is also helpful in getting ill passengers to shore side medical facilities as soon as possible. Equipped with two azipods and a series of bow thrusters, the Jewel class are also very maneuverable.
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Cruise ship class profile and review - - Norwegian Cruise Line - - Jewel class