SpongeBob Spotted On Norwegian Jewel

Exclusive Family Entertainment

Norwegian Jewel & Epic

I've just received an inside tip that SpongeBob, of Nickelodeon fame, was spotted this month on Norwegian Jewel.  The photo above, from an insider at Norwegian Cruise Line, confirms this.  SpongeBob is seen relaxing in the sun on Norwegian Jewel.   Doesn't he look nice and relaxed?   

No SpongeBob isn't on Spring Break.   In fact, starting in April on Norwegian Jewel and this Summer on Norwegian Epic, Nickelodeon and Norwegian Cruise Line have teamed up to create one-of-a-kind family cruise vacations... introducing Nickelodeon at Sea, exclusively on Norwegian Cruise line.

This program was announced in January, 2010... Nickelodeon At Sea

Slimmed - Courtesy NCL

Experience a whole new level of imaginative activities and entertainment specifically designed for everyone in the family from kids to teens to adults.

• Catch a show starring everyone's favorite Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and more.
• Splash and play with new poolside activities and games.
• Meet your favorite Nickelodeon stars with character breakfasts and other fun meet and greets throughout the ship.
• Enjoy exciting trips ashore designed specifically for families.

Itineraries:   Norwegian Jewel  (New York R/T)    Norwegian Epic  (Miami - East/West Caribbean)

 A cruise vacation is fun for the whole family.   With the addition of Nickelodeon at Sea, NCL adds another dimension to Freestyle Cruising®.  Several cruise lines have added characters on board their ships over the years.   This has always been a hit with the young crowd, so we are certain this will also be a success.

Click on one of the ships above to plan a family vacation on one of these ships, book your vacation, and send me your pictures of SpongeBob with your family.  We'll post your pictures in a future column.

Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B)

If you aren't familiar with NCL's Freestyle Cruising®,  search my blog for other articles.  Hint:  Right now there's a sale in progress:  NCL Spring Sales Event (through April 19th)

Norwegian Epic Freestyle Choices

Norwegian EPIC 

Freestyle Dining

 21 Dining Options - 11 Complimentary 

Norwegian Freestyle Cruising is all about choice.  When Norwegian EPIC debuts this summer, Norwegian Cruise Line will take Freestyle Dining to a new level.   It was announced that the ship will feature an extensive number of complimentary Freestyle dining options - 11 out of 21 total - that are included in the cruise fare. The additional 10 dining options will have a nominal cover charge.

Our first introduction to Freestyle Dining was on Norwegian Sun's inaugural voyage in September, 2001.   That was the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship that was actually designed for the emerging Freestyle Dining program.     In the decade since, the line continued to evolve the program, adding choices and making the program easier for guests to decide when and what to eat.

What is Freestyle Dining?   Simply put, it's no set dining times, no assigned tables, a relaxed dress code and more restaurants than days in the week on every ship, so you can enjoy whatever you're hungry for, whenever you're hungry.

Norwegian Cruise Line expanded the restaurant choices on all ships to include everything from tapas to teppanyaki. Your selection ranged from as many as nine (now 11) fantastic dining options included in your cruise fare to a savory array of specialty restaurants created for those extra-special nights out. What are you hungry for? 

Manhattan Room

Those that will be free of charge are:

 

· Taste, the atrium restaurant serving traditional and contemporary cuisine;
· Manhattan Room, reminiscent of an elegant supper club complete with music, dancing and entertainment;
· O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, serving American favorites and comfort food, 24 hours;
· Garden Café, Norwegian's signature action station casual restaurant;
· Great Outdoors, the pool-side grill;
· Spice H20, serving Latin and Asian-influenced cuisine in the adults-only complex;
· Atrium Cafe and Wine Bar;
· Studio Lounge, serving snacks and light fare;
· Epic Club, the elegant, exclusive eatery available to Norwegian Epic's Suite and Villa guests;
· Courtyard Grill, the more casual, outdoor area of the Epic Grill, open for breakfast and lunch; and
· 24-hour room service.

“It’s important for our guests to know that Freestyle Cruising on Norwegian Epic will offer the ultimate in freedom and flexibility, especially when it comes to dining,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “With that flexibility comes a wide-range of complimentary dining venues and options.”

In addition, Norwegian also announced the cover charges for Norwegian Epic’s specialty dining and entertainment venues (the choice is up to you - the most expensive is $25 per person unless you get really hungry at one of the al a carte choices).

Cover charges for Norwegian Epic's specialty dining/entertainment venues:

· La Cucina, Tuscan-style eatery serving regional Italian specialties, $10 per person;
· Cirque Dreams & Dinner, two shows nightly including a three-course meal, $15 for general seating/$20 per person for preferred seating;
· Shanghai’s, Norwegian Epic’s new Chinese restaurant serving a delicious mix of Chinese dishes and noodle bar specialties, $15 per person;
· Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, a la carte pricing;
· Wasabi, expansive sushi and sake bar, a la carte pricing;
· Le Bistro, Norwegian’s elegant bistro serving classic French cuisine with an American flair, $20 per person;
· Moderno Churrascaria, expansive salad bar and choice of a variety of meats served by tableside passadors, $18 per person;

Teppanyaki

· Cagney’s Steakhouse, the line’s signature American steakhouse, $25 per person;
· Teppanyaki, the largest signature Japanese experiential restaurant at sea, $25 per person; and
· Pizza delivery, $5, available 24 hours around the ship.

We are happy to see some of our favorites, like Cagney's Steakhouse and Teppanyaki, and are excited with the new choices such as Cirque Dreams & Dinner.

"With our specialty restaurants, some guests may choose to dine in one of these venues just once or twice during their cruise to celebrate a special occasion," added Sheehan. "At the same time, others may want to sample a different specialty restaurant each evening to experience a new type of cuisine. That’s the great thing about Freestyle Cruising–the choice is up to our guests to decide how they want to customize their trip.”

Related Posts:

Norwegian Epic Sneak Peak

Norwegian Epic Open for Booking

Nickelodeon At Sea 

Norwegian EPIC Itineraries Unveiled 

More EPIC Itineraries Unveiled

Studios for Solo Travelers on Norwegian EPIC

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Cagney's Steakhouse

 

 

NCL Freestyle Dining - Secret Announcement

NCL Freestyle Cruising®
Shh! Program Changes Coming Soon

I've spoken about Freestyle Dining in several past articles. You can search this blog to read them if you need additional details. As a quick refresher, guests have several dining options which range from the traditional dining room setting to specialty restaurants that offer a more intimite setting with personalized attention and additional cost.

The other aspect of Freestyle Dining is the ability to select the time that you wish to dine. As you might imagine you don't always get your first choice since you are competing with your fellow passengers for that time slot. Currently it is possible to make reservations but only 24 - 48 hours in advance. For those that truly want to make last minute decisions, you can check availability with the various restaurants or on some ships, you can check a status board to determine what choices are currently available (much like you would do at an amusement park).

Having cruised for over 25 years, I'm used to the traditional dining where I request either early or late seating and the table size. Usually, I request early seating and a large table size so that I have the opportunity to meet new people.

In 2001, when aboard the Norwegian Sun for it's inaugural, I was dragged kicking and screaming into the new world of Freestyle Dining. To be honest, I didn't like it. But to be fair, the program was in its infancy. It has grown up quite a bit since that time. I still prefer traditional dining, but there are times when Freestyle Dining has worked out very well for our evening plans.

It seems you either love Freestlye or hate it. Those that are used to traditional dining may be like me, kicking and screaming about the new dining methods. There are others that will object to the extra cost. They will ask, isn't food included in the price of the cruise? Why do I have to pay an additional charge to go to the steakhouse, for example?

My answer, to all that ask, is "you have a choice". In fact on most NCL ships you have around 13 choices or so. All I can suggest is try it some time and see if you like it.

Norwegian Cruise Line took a risk when they broke from the traditional dinner pattern and it has paid off for them. Other cruise lines have added additional dining options. You know what they say about imitation...

NCL is about to make yet another tweak to their Freestyle Dining program. The change is in response to passenger suggestions over the years. Remember those comment cards that you fill out every cruise? This change proves that NCL does listen to their passengers and are willing to try different things.

The change that is about to be implemented will be welcomed by all those past guests that have made the suggestion. NCL has not officially announced the program, but they have leaked advance notice to their elite agencies. I cannot share the information publicly, but I can provide details if you send me an email or give me a call. Watch this column for the official announcement - I expect it within the next couple of weeks.

Note: As of August 27th, NCL has still not publicly announced this program change. There are some technical aspects of the program that still need to be resolved before it can be implemented. Stay tuned for further updates.

For the inside scoop - call or email me

Norwegian Epic Sneak Peak

THE NEXT GENERATION OF FREESTYLE DINING IS HERE

A few days ago, I announced the ability to begin booking on Norwegian Epic. Now, I'm offering you a sneak peek at this new ship.

Click on the banner or on the link to learn more about Norwegian Cruise Line and while you are there, once again, click on the banner to go to a customized website that provides an insider's look at this engineering wonder.

This is not just another new ship. This is a step forward. This is cruising re-imagined, with a ship unlike any other. This is world-class entertainment that is way beyond your expectations. A wide array of accommodations, with different levels of suites and staterooms having keycard-only access to private lounges, exclusive pool decks and the spa. And every oceanview stateroom is a Balcony Stateroom. Plus, discover the most diverse collection of restaurant choices ever assembled at sea. This is Norwegian Epic – the most spectacularly innovative ship in NCL's fleet or, quite frankly, any other.

Be one of the first to experience the Norwegian Epic.

NCL One Day Sale - Extended thru March 27th

Have you been in a cave for the winter? Have you missed the entire wave season? It's not too late - the deals just keep on coming. But most of them will be ending March 31st.

My inbox is filling up with offers and I'm posting the information here and on my Facebook Page as soon as I can.

Here is the latest one from Norwegian Cruise Line:

2-for-1 cruises. Save from $450 to $2,000* for a limited time only.

Private Preview Sale

WEDNESDAY, March 25, 2009

Open to the Public

THURSDAY, March 26, 2009 (Extended thru 3/27)

Now is the perfect time to plan that dream vacation to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska or Bermuda at a price you can afford. For one day only, NCL is giving you this special 2-for-1 cruise offer:

• 5- to 14-Day Europe: Insides from $799 NOW $349* per person

• 7-Day Alaska: Insides from $1,329 NOW $379* per person

• 7-Day Bermuda: Insides from $1,399 NOW $499* per person

• 7-Day Hawai‘i: Insides from $2,879 NOW $599* per person

Are you familiar with NCL Freestyle Cruising? If not, check out some of my past blog posts which provide behind the scenes look at the specialty dining, such as Cagney's Steakhouse (my favorite) and the wonderful spa offerings.

*Offer valid through March 26, 2009. Starting from rates listed above are Guarantee rates which apply to 1st-2nd guests only. 3rd-8th guests cannot be booked on Guarantee rates. Reservations booked at regular fares can accommodate 3rd-8th bookings. With all bookings made under Guarantee rates, stateroom assignment is subject to NCL's discretion and can be assigned at any time up to day of sailing. Savings are based on Brochure rates. Fares are cruise only in U.S. dollars, per person, based on double occupancy. Offer is for new individual bookings only. Call me for full details and restrictions.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Garden Cafe & Other Dining

Regardless of the cruise we are on, it seems that we eat many meals in the buffet. Garden Cafe is the buffet dining venue on Norwegian Dawn.

We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the Garden Cafe several times during the cruise. Made to order omelets and waffles are available during breakfast hours along with a good selection of typical foods. For lunch and dinner there is a wide selection of hot and cold entrees including made to order pasta. Don't forget about the dessert selections including ice cream, sherbets, cookies, and sugar-free items.

NCL didn't forget about the kids when designing the Garden Cafe. They have their own private kid-sized section with their own buffet line. It is stocked with kid-friendly favorites.

Bimini Grill, located poolside at the Oasis Pool, is a great place to grab a burger, grilled chicken, hot dog, and fries. The advantage over Garden Cafe is that you don't have to adhere to any dress code. After you are done with your burger and fries, stop by at Sprinkles Ice Cream Bar which saves you a trip to the Garden Cafe.

We aren't sushi or tapas fans, so we didn't try Salsa Tapas Bar or the Sushi and Sashimi Bar during our cruise. Both of these venues were pretty busy each night, so it would appear that those that eat there were enjoying the food.

For those that want main dining room service, there are two choices onboard the Dawn: Aqua Main Dining Room and Venetian Main Dining Room. We didn't eat at either of this on this cruise, but have eaten at them in the past. A couple things to note are the menu doesn't change during the cruise and both of the main dining rooms have the identical menu. You'd want to be sure to include other dining choices during your cruise or you would most likely be disappointed.

We also didn't eat at Bamboo - A Taste of Asia since we opted for Teppanyaki instead. The menu did look appealing but we simply didn't have enough time to eat everywhere.

We did have one disappointment one evening. That was at Blue Lagoon. We had eaten there on Norwegian Pearl and enjoyed the meal. This time I ordered Fish 'n Chips and was looking forward to it (based on my past experiences). It was perhaps the worst fish that I've ever eaten. It seemed to be overcooked or simply a poor quality of fish. I looked around at others that had ordered it and they too had similar looking fish, so I didn't bother to send it back. On a positive note, the tomato basil soup was excellent. So my advice to you would be to check to see what people have ordered before placing your order.

If all of the choices I've described in the various posts aren't enough for you, there's always room service. We were never in our cabin long enough so I'm unable to report on that option.

I hope that you've enjoyed the information about the Norwegian Dawn Bermuda cruise. In my next post, I'll cover any miscellaneous items and disembarkation.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Le Bistro French Restaurant

One restaurant that we didn't actually try was Le Bistro French Restaurant. When you walk through the doors of this French restaurant, you might believe that you are in a charming French hotel. The walls are decorated with the art of Monet, Van Gogh, Matise, and Renoir.

The menu consists of modern classical and contemporary French gourmet dishes. As you would expect, there is an extensive selection of fine French wines to complement your meal.

While we didn't personally experience the Norwegian Dawn's interpretation of French Cuisine, several passengers that we spoke to did and thoroughly enjoyed the meal and experience.

Again, there is an additonal charge for Le Bistro French Restaurant and you'll want to make reservations so that you won't be disappointed that you are unable to dine there.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Impressions Italian Restaurant

Our final night aboard the Norwegian Dawn, we made a reservation for Impressions Italian Restaurant which is located on Deck 6. We met another couple who had dinner with us earlier in the cruise and invited them to join us.

The menu is traditional Italian which includes pasta dishes, seven different sauces to choose from, steak, veal, chicken, and other dishes. Crispy fresh salads, pizza, and authentic Italian desserts complete the offerings.

Our waiter was very accommodating. Our son couldn't make up his mind between the veal parmigiana and the Italian steak - so the waiter brought both of them. He did finish both of them so needless to say he enjoyed his meal.

The other couple that joined us for dinner were celebrating their wedding anniversary. The wait staff sang to them and brought an anniversary cake. It was a very lovely evening.

As with the other freestyle dining options, there is an extra charge. I'd recommend adding Impressions to your list of restaurants to try assuming that you enjoy Italian food.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Freestyle Dining

I've talked about Freestyle Dining before, but in case you have forgotten, NCL is the only cruise line that offers up to 13 different restaurants on board a single ship. You can dine where you want and select from Steak, sushi, Teppanyaki, tapas, French, Mediterranean, Asian Fusion, Italian, Tex-Mex, buffets, pizza.

In addition, you can dine when you want from 5:30 PM to midnight with seating until 10:00 PM. You have the option to decide last minute or make reservations 24 hours in advance. Certain cabin categories allow you to make reservations further in advance.

When we boarded the Norwegian Dawn, we made our dinner reservations for Monday night at Teppanyaki. This is a Japanese style restaurant where your food is prepared in front of you. If you like restaurants like Benihana, you'll love Teppanyaki. Let's take a closer look...

You'll be seated at a table for 10 with a large cooking area surrounding you. The waitress takes your drink order and brings you a salad. While you are eating your salad you decide what you want to eat. Choose from Chicken, Jumbo Shrimp, Filet Mignon, Lobster, Calamari, Scallops or various combinations of these items.

Next you'll be given your cup of soup along with various dipping sauces for your meal. The fun is about to begin as the chefs enter the room. Knives and other cooking utensils are tapped on the cooking service or twirled as the show unfolds before your eyes. The chef begins by making a vegetable appetizer for the entire table. Items like onions, squash, carrots, peppers are sliced and cooked. He divides the food into individual servings and moves onto the next dish.

More acrobatics as he makes fried rice with scrambled eggs and all the trimmings. Of course he doesn't simply crack the egg, anyone can do that. How about catching the egg in his chefs hat and then cracking it open after that. Who knows what your chef might do to entertain you. Every dinner could be entirely different. They thrive on your involvement and really seem to enjoy their "work".

After verifying each dinner entree order, the main cooking begins. Our table had a mixture of chicken, shrimp, steak, and lobster. Each meal is cooked to order as you continue eating the vegetables and fried rice. If you had a combination meal, such as shrimp and steak, the chef will prepare part of your meal and place it on your plate while continuing to cook the rest of the food.

When everyone has received their complete meal, the chef bids farewell with some flare as before, to the applause of an appreciative audience. The waitress reappears to clean up and to settle your bill (there is an extra gratuity for this freestyle venue). Since you have been entertained, I would say that they earn the gratuity in this case.

We enjoyed our meal at Teppanyaki. The choice is yours on your cruise. Since, as NCL says, you are free to whatever - that includes dining with whom you want, where you want, and when you want (obviously within limits).

Next time, I'll start discussing the various attractions we visited in Bermuda.

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Evening Activities

Evenings aboard the Norwegian Dawn typically included dinner at one of the Freestyle Dining choices and entertainment. The first night, there was a Welcome Aboard Show in the Stardust Showroom. The main attraction for this show was the Jean Ann Ryan Company with music provided by the Norwegian Dawn Showband. Since photography was not allowed during the show, close your eyes and imagine you are seeing singers and dancers perform live onstage.

Since we had eaten at the Welcome Aboard BBQ, we didn't go to one of the restaraunts the first night. We did join romantics and photographers out on deck for a glimpse of the setting sun. As the saying goes, "red skies at night, sailors delight". Tomorrow would be a beautiful day if the saying held true. As the sun sunk lower from the sky into the sea, we bid our goodbyes to New York (or at least that's what we thought).

While we were waiting for the show to begin , the Captain interrupted to announce that our ship was turning back to New York due to a medical emergency onboard. One of the passengers had been injured and required medical attention. Since the next two days were sea days, this would not impact the overall cruise schedule.

For those that wanted to dance the night away, Spinnaker Lounge was the site of the Welcome Aboard Party: Dancing Through the Decades. The Cruise Director Staff and Sound Bytes hosted this dance party featuring the greatest dance hits from the 50's to today.

On Tuesday night the lounge was the site for 70's Night Disco Groove party. Members from Second City Comedy Troop were also onboard and Thursday and Friday the Spinnaker Lounge was turned into a comedy theatre for their show. Music could be heard throughout the ship. The venues also included Gatsby's Lounge, Grand Attrium, Dazzles Lounge, and Pearly King's Pub.

There was something for every music taste throughout the cruise. You could even be one of the "stars" at the Family Karaoke which was held in Dazzles Lounge a few times during the week.

Dawn Club Casino opened about an hour after we left New York and remained open the first night until the ship returned to New York to have the Coast Guard transport the injured passenger. The highlight event in the casino was on Monday night for Monte Carlo Night. This event was hosted by the entertaining Gazillionare (the Cruise Director) along with the Freestyle Showgirls and Monte Carlo Night Tumblers. The casino was open except while we were in port.

Although Norwegian Dawn doesn't have a formal dress code during the cruise, some people dressed up on Monday night and had their picture taken with Captain Trygve Vorren. There were opportunities other nights for pictures if you were so inclined. In fact, even if you didn't want your picture taken, you probably had more than your share throughout the cruise.

In my next post, I'll talk about a couple of the Freestyle Dining options that we did during this cruise. These events only scratched the surface of the evening's choices. As NCL said in the Freestyle Daily, "everything is hotter when the sun goes down".

NCL Dawn Bermuda - Sea Days

The sun shines into your cabin, you stretch, and decide to get out of bed. There is no rush after all since this is a sea day. As NCL's commercials say "You are free to whatever".

There are no set dining times, so you can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner any time you want (or skip any of the meals completely). I'll discuss the various dining venues in other posts.

For the morning people ... There are various fitness activities planned for the first sea day including Early Morning Stretch, Fab Abs, Pathway to Yoga, and of course, your own workout in the fitness center. For the competitive families, there's the Father & Son Baketball Tourney with the Sport Staff or Tiny Tots Baseball.

Pehaps you want to learn more about Bermuda and the things to do. If so, don't miss the Shore Excursion Presentation and/or the NCL "U" - Destination Bermuda.

If you are into gaming, there's Free Gaming Lessons in the morning and a Blackjack Tournament and a No Limit Texas Hold'Em Tournament in the afternoon or you can just try your luck in the Casino. Of course, don't forget about Bingo and Ships Lotto.

In the afternoon ... partake in one of the enrichment activities including an Art Auction, and NCL "U" sessions - Italian Wine Tasting, The Art of Making Sushi and Sake Tasting, Humor: Second City Before They Were Stars, Martini Tasting, or Beers of Europe Tasting. The "tasting" sessions have a $15 fee. There are several spa and fitness seminars to chose from.

There are more sports tournaments: Teen Hockey Tourney, Teen Soccer Tourney, Adult Only Volleyball Tourney, and Open Sports Play with the Sports Staff. You can even play Goofy Golf Putting with the Cruise Director's Staff.

The Cruise Director's Staff hosts various activities including Shuffleboard Tournament, Weakest Link Game Show, Win Lose or Draw, and Wii Tennis Tournament.

There's musical entertainment, movies, trivia, and much more to choose from. Or you can simply camp out on a lounge chair by the pool or read a good book in your favorite hide-away onboard the Dawn.

This is just a sample of the many activities onbord the NCL Dawn. You shouldn't be bored - there is something for everyone. So, go ahead and do whatever.