Great itinerary! Far superior than the Norwegian Pearl and Star.

Norwegian Jewel Cruise Review to South Pacific - Australia

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 136

Overall rating:

4.7 out of 5
Verified Review
Norwegian Jewel

14 Night Australia & New Zealand (Sydney Roundtrip)

Sail date: February 14, 2020

Ship: Norwegian Jewel

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9038

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 4 years ago

Review summary

It want to specifically thank Chris Festerman, our cruise rep., for giving us great advice on this specific cruise, especially on the warning of rough waters when crossing the Tasman sea. Also, his recommendation on taking the Jewel surely paid off. The cruise was great!

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5
We did not participate in the activities even though they were readily available

Entertainment

We were either too tired after our shore excursion or just simply wanted to relax and spend time with our onboard friends we met.

Children's Programs

Our child did not accompany us on this trip

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
The staff were extremely meticulous in scrubbing the walls and floors, including the daily wash of our cabin doors and knobs....even the corridors!

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5
Our cabin was very clean. The steward did an excellent job in maintaining the cabin. The toilet area was a little cramped due to the dividing/sliding door. If this door is removed, it would be more comfortable.

Ship tip

Always sail with a private balcony so that you can have a private moment while watching the sceneries and open ocean.

Ports of call

Sydney, Australia

5 out of 5
This is a very walkable port. All services, transportation, and restaurants are located within a 15 to 20 minute walk. We arrived to Sydney three days prior to the cruise. The ferries and hop on/off bus were used. We liked to walk. Therefore we walked to the Sydney tower and completed walking tour from the tower down St. George street ending at the port.

Burnie, Tasmania, Australia

5 out of 5
We took a shore excursion to the Wings Animal Sanctuary where we had an interaction with meerkats and a tasmanian devil. Great place to visit! Our tour also include a scenic drive through the local mountains and pastures. Great scenery!!

Melbourne, Australia

5 out of 5
We hired a private driver for 13 hours and were able to see the zoo, Penguin parade, Moonlit Sanctuary where we took photos with a koala and fed the kangaroos. We also visits Phillips Island/Churchill Park. During the day, it rained heavily sporadically. Nevertheless, it was quite an adventure! Great excursion!

Cruise Doubtful Sound

5 out of 5
The ship sailed through the sound. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Cruise Dusky Sound

5 out of 5
The ship sailed through the sound. Great voyage!

Cruise Milford Sound

5 out of 5
Spectacular sceneries as the ship cruised through the calm waters.

Port Chalmers (Dunedin), New Zealand

5 out of 5
Great port. We had a private driver who drove us around the island and stopped and specific viewpoints. This is a must-see port. One must definitely spend some time driving through the mountains and pastures.

Akaroa, New Zealand

5 out of 5
We had reservations for a bus trip to ChristChurch. However, due to strong currents, the operation of the tenders were delayed. Although the ship stay was extended by two hours, were did not want to take the chance in going to ChristChurch with a possible risk of returning late. Instead, we spend some time in Akaroa, a quaint village. This was a blessing. We were able to take our time in the coffee shops, shopping area, and soaked in the sun by the beach. A truly, amazing village.

Wellington, New Zealand

4 out of 5
After seeing Sydney, Wellington would appear inferior. However, the city is very walkable. We visited the museum and rode the cable car up the mountain and enjoyed the scenic views. One note on the hop/on bus. The bus map only lists the stops but does not have the street names. It was difficult to find the bus stops without the street names. Also, the time schedules of the bus arrival appeared inaccurate. For example, were arrived at one bus top on time and found out that the bus only stayed a few seconds before leaving. On another instant, the bus did not arrived on time so we ended up walking. Otherwise, were were able to visit the different parts of the city

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
It was very smooth and quick. Well-organized! We were off the shop by 9:15 am
Was this review helpful? 68

Be the first to comment

Other reviews of this sailing