Here’s the lowdown on Norwegian Jewel, the lead vessel of NCL’s Jewel-class cruise ships.

Norwegian Jewel has been in service since 2005. But despite being an older-class ship, a recent refurbishment has kept Jewel feeling contemporary and stylish. The ship has a capacity for 2376 passengers, with ample space for them to roam across 12 passenger-accessible decks, 13 lounges and bars and three swimming pools. I embarked on Jewel’s first visit to Asia for three years. Here, we break down all you need to know about eating, staying and playing onboard.

Accommodation

I shared the balcony stateroom with my partner (which sleeps up to four with a pull-out bed). For the duration of the nine-day cruise, the room never felt too small, providing a comfortable oasis to unwind in after a day of exploring the ports. In keeping with NCL’s Scandinavian origins, the rooms are well-appointed with cool, neutral tones and accented with the ship’s signature cobalt blue. The cabins make the most of the compact space with thoughtful design details, like the space-saving sliding shower door and ample storage in the wardrobe and drawers.

There are plenty more room options for those looking for a more luxurious stay. The Club Balcony Mini-Suite offers a bit more space to kick back in, and the Haven Penthouse Suite graduates to separate living rooms and bedrooms. Families and groups can stay in The Haven two- or three-bedroom villa, which sleeps six and eight people respectively.

Helpful to know: There are USB ports for charging, but the plugs are for American outlets.

Food and drink

There are 16 dining options onboard, divided into free and specialty dining. Specialty dining is available for an additional cost, or as part of a dining package before sailing. Overall, the onboard dining is one of Jewel’s strengths, with an extensive range of cuisine and impressive quality. Here’s the rundown of the restaurants you’ll find onboard.

You can also review sample menus online.

Free Dining Inclusions

Azura Main Dining Room

Azura becomes the heart of the vessel come dinner time. The expansive dining room is dressed in deep, moody blues and modern, pared-back décor. The three-course menu changes each night, making the most of seasonal produce restocked at each port. Azura’s menu offers a few courses from specialty restaurants (sometimes at a fee), meaning guests can access an eclectic range of quality dishes, even on the basic dining plans. I had an unforgettable baked ziti – which surpassed the onboard Italian specialty restaurant in flavour. The service here is formal but friendly. Make sure to book a table in advance!

The Garden Cafe

The buffet at the Garden Cafe is bustling from breakfast to dinner. It’s a fantastic casual dining option come dinnertime, where you’ll be able to find an impressive range of cuisines. There’s an Asian-style wok noodle bar, a pasta station and an expansive salad bar, perfect for those making an effort to eat healthy.

O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill

Striking the balance between formal and casual dining is O’Sheehans Neighbourhood Bar and Grill. Head here for classic pub fare like hotdogs, burgers, fish and chips and the like, with a range of international beer on tap. The grill is reminiscent of an Irish Pub, with comfy booths and karaoke tunes. Perfect if you’re looking for a laidback meal or to get social.

Chin Chin

Chin Chin’s Asian-inspired menu features Japanese, Thai and Chinese cuisine with classics like dumplings, spring rolls, and fried noodles. With a colourful, fun interior, a relaxed vibe and a sake bar, Chin Chin is a great spot to spend an evening dining onboard.

Tsar’s Palace

Tsar’s has a more upscale ‘banquet’ feel. It’s open for breakfast and serves contemporary classics come dinner.

Specialty restaurants

Guests can dine at a specialty restaurant for a fee, or with a dining plan purchased before sailing. With an onboard dining credit, you can generally select at least three courses, with your choice of starter, soup or salad, main and dessert. It’s strongly recommended to make a reservation for dinner seating.

Le Bistro

This is easily one of the ship’s most sought-after dining options, and for good reason. This French-inspired restaurant adds a touch of sophistication with an intimate and moodily lit interior. The menu features sumptuous dishes with rich flavours, such as pan-seared bay scallops and escargot. This restaurant is perfect for a romantic date night, and Magnum’s Champagne Bar just outside is the perfect spot to set the tone with a precursory drink.

Cagney’s Steakhouse

Cagney’s Steakhouse ranked as my personal favourite. Evocative of an upscale American steakhouse, you’ll want to bring your appetite with you. The high-quality and expertly cooked steaks are accompanied by an excellent array of starters, soups and sides.

La Cucina

This Italian restaurant is a crowd favourite. Head here for authentic Italian dishes, from belly-warming risottos to classic pizzas and flavoursome pasta. The interior is cosy yet elegant, dressed in stone to evoke the surroundings of a Tuscan villa. Expect hearty plates of pasta, pizzas and fresh salads that will transport you into the Mediterranean hills while at sea.

Moderno Churrascaria

Although you may be tempted to fill up on the fantastic array of salads and sides at the salad bar, you’ll want to leave room for the 12 different types of meat that are constantly on rotation at this upscale Brazilian barbeque. Servers come round to your table to top up your plate until you can’t eat anymore. Highlights included the exclusive fruity Caipirinha cocktails and the sugar and cinnamon-coated pineapple that makes the rounds for dessert.

Teppanyaki

The onboard Teppanyaki combines fun and flavour. The key ingredient is the talented chefs, who delight diners as they slice, dice and juggle the food in front of you before serving up. It’s a great option if you’re looking to eat clean and healthy, as the meal is primarily grilled meat and veggies. The chef is very entertaining, and it’s a great way to mingle with other cruise passengers.

Entertainment, facilities and activities

There are planned activities onboard throughout the days and evenings. A printed schedule is delivered to your room each evening, outlining all of the options for the following day. The schedule is jam-packed, with everything from art auctions and drink tastings to shuffleboard and casino tournaments. There are plenty of opportunities to mingle with other passengers, whether you want to do a fitness class by the pool or listen to live music, which is always playing somewhere onboard.

The stardust theatre sits at the heart of the ship, where passengers can gather to witness casual comedy sets or high-production shows.  The 2023/24 season’s Le Cirque Bijou was a particular standout, a Cirque du Soleil-style aerial and acrobatic performance that mesmerised and delighted the audience.

Spa

Mandara Spa located at the ship’s forward is the crown jewel of Norwegian Jewel. With some of the best vistas in the whole ship, you can watch the ocean as you sweat it out in a sauna or soak in a hot tub. The steam room infused with eucalyptus is especially restorative, The spa is separated into men’s and women’s areas, with a common area in the middle. A range of massages are on offer, as well as beauty treatments, acupuncture and even botox. There is also a hair salon next door.

Pool

There are two outdoor pools, multiple hot tubs and plenty of sun lounges. There’s a kids’ pool for little ones and a private deck for adults who want to top up their tan.

Other facilities

There is a well-equipped gym where you can admire the ocean while you get your sweat on, a library, card room, casino, photo studio and onboard shopping.

Shore excursions

A list of shore excursions is delivered to your room the evening before arriving in port. You can book excursions either through the NCL app or at the dedicated shore excursion desk. Being Norwegian Jewel’s first return to Asia in three years, there were a few teething issues with shore excursions, as well as the organisation of transport for passengers wishing to explore independently. However, a few highlights included the rural life tour of Nha Trang, Vietnam and the visit to Mari Mari Cultural Village in Kota Kinabalu. There was a good range of choices for shore excursions to every style of traveller, whether you  a lazy beach day, adventure into caves or get off the beaten track and experience a slice of rural life.