Cruise Reviews

Baltic cruise
Reviewed By: Looney, Cork , Ireland on 7th Jul 2008
Cruise Line: NCL Cruises Times cruised before: 1-2
Cruise Ship: Norwegian Jewel Sailed: June, 2008
Destination: Baltic Age: 26-35
We have just returned from the batlic cruise on board the norwegian Jewel. This was our first time with NCL having previously cruised with Royal carribean and island cruises.
Embarkation looked very tedious, Big long queues at check in but luckily we had a 7 year old with us which enabled us to skip the queueing process by going to the latitudes desk.
The balcony cabin was very bright, airy and clean with plenty of storage. It was a treat having the balcony (first timer).
There were a good choice of restaurants on board however stay away from the garden cafe at all costs. Firstly it resembles a cattle mart, not enough tables for the throngs grabbing food. When you did eventually get a table usually miles away by the time you collected the food and got back to the table it was stone cold.
We paid the additional charge for the japanese, chinese and italian restaurants. Food in these were very good. We only paid half price for these restaurants cause we ate between 5.30 and 6.30.
The food and service in Tzars and Azura was good but the food was never piping hot. The blue lagoon's chicken wings were excellent.
This ship does have a problem with boiling water though, as everytime we wanted to make tea the water was lukewarm at best. It always seemed a chore to the staff when at night we looked for english breakfast tea, we eventually just made tea in the cabin.
The Jean anne Ryan company shows were excellent, 3 shows performed. The other acts were only average.
The comedian Lenny Windsor was shocking on stage, he did do better a few nights later in the spinaker lounge, thus showing where he should stick to portraing his act. The magician was only ok. There was 2 brothers known as the whyte brothers doing a beetles tribute act. This was excellent. The main problem with the entertainment was it lacked structure. Nothing flowed, it was all start stop, they tried to build up bingo like it was the best thing since sliced bread but they couln't even do that right, LETS GET READY CAUSE ITS BINGO TIME sounded so lame!, NCL seriously need to get some hosts with some personality!
The excursions were over priced. We only done 3, 2 in St Petersburg and 1 in Stockholm. The 2 in russia worked out at about $100 each, the one in stockholm was a complete rip off, $92 each for a 3 hour tour incorporating an ice bar which resembles any meet cold room I've been in.
Basically in all the ports (except russia) there are open top tour buses which would do the job just fine, you can hop on and hop off.
All in all Royal carribean wins hands down, Island would beat them too for they're entertainment.
Quality of Food3
Very good in the restaurants you pay an additional charge for. Tzars, Azura and the blue lagoon were good but stay away from the garden cafe at all cost.
Entertainment1
Jean Anne Ryan companies 3 shows were excellent, guest artists average with some of them doubling up other nights.
Shore Excursions1
Overpriced, Ice bar was a rip off so was the river cruise in st petersburg
Staff5
Our cabin stewarts were excellent as were the bar staff who remember you names and drinks.
Children's Facilities5
We had a 7 year old in our group who loved the kids club, they had everything from pyjama parties to birthday parties and even going to the shows in the theatre together.
Onboard Activities1
There wasn't much to do really, The third last day we got a really hot day and the pool deck was full, however there were no activities planned round the pool, not even piped music.
Cabins5
Good size, plenty of storage, balcony was essential.
Overall Rating2
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Opinion: Agree Comment by Caz, Luton (10 Jul 08 13:33) about this REVIEW.
We though generally the food was rubbish on this cruise unless you wanted to pay out for the specialist restaurants. The entertainment was very low standard compared to other cruise lines. Very little going on in the day,all the deck sports equipement was either broken or missing and the card room didn't even have a pack of cards available.The bingo cost was very high compared to the amounts paid out(someone was making a lot of money) Same menu in Tzars and Azura that not a choice.
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Opinion: Disagree Comment by Carr, Bodmin (08 Jul 08 11:58) about this REVIEW.
Which excursions did you do in St Petersburg? We have booked the Ice Bar for Stockholm (oh dear!!) as we'd always fancied visiting one! Did you need much currency on board for tips etc?
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Opinion: Disagree Comment by Looney, watergrasshill (10 Jul 08 15:59) about a COMMENT by Carr (08 Jul 08 11:58)
The first day in St. Petersburg we done a bus tour, panoramic st. petersburg, the second day it was the cruise up the neva river. The cruise up the river would have done as the bus drove around the city first before dropping us at the river boat. The ice bar tour is good as you get to walk around the castle before the ice bar, all I'm saying is the ice bar itself was a let down, Good to have seen it though.
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