1st time cruise and many questions

[Lizzy6101]

Our family of 15 - 8 adults and 7 kids ages 3-15 will be first time cruising on NCL Jewel from NYC in July 2011!! We have booked some of the cabins and I would like experienced NCL cruisers opinion.......BC 9652; BC9654; OA 8616 Are they great cabins, locations, size, storage, etc? I did two with balcony so we can enjoy the view....are they very small. Do we have to reserve table for dinner for this size party each night? Is it ok and safe for the 8-15 ages to eat by themselves. We are excited but anxious and worried that the Jewel doesn't have the big things like Oasis, Allure,etc and might be disappointing for first timers. NEED ADVISE and reassurnce as it is a lot of $$$

[Mike M]

Congratulations on your family cruise.

The balconies are not large. They will comfortably hold 3 to 4 people at a time.

The balcony cabins you've booked are triple occupancy cabins. They have a pull out love seat/sofa. They are in a good location. You have cabins above and below so the noise level will be minimal. If you have a more than three people in the cabin you should look at a quad cabin such as 9642.

If all 15 of you would like to eat at the same time then you definitely need reservations so all of you can be seated at the same time. There are no tables for 15 but you would be seated at two or three tables next to each other.

It is safe for the kids to eat by themselves but depending on the venue it would be a good thing to have an adult with them. The younger kids the more an adult should be with them. The buffet and Blue Lagoon are great places for kids.

I know you're family will have a great time.

Take care,
Mike

[cruisemama]

Hi lizzy
You and your family will have a great time we love NCL's freestyle cruising.
When our daughters were younger they loved the kid's program kept them
busy all day and even in the evenings with things like pajama parties. When they
were 12 and 15 we let them eat in blue lagoon and lido deck buffet without us.
We always hooked up for dinner in dining rooms at night. We had regular check-in
times if they weren't in the kid's program. They made a lot of friends.
The most we ever saw at a table was ten so you may need to book tables ahead
if you want to eat all together.

Happy sailing we leave May 8 for Alaska on The NCL Star.