Coming November 15, 2009...

Norwegian Jewel sparkles with her exclusive Garden and Courtyard Villas - the biggest, most luxurious suites ever to hit the high seas. And that's just the beginning. Norwegian Jewel is like a giant, floating luxury resort with swimming pools, hot tubs, casino, plus tons of other things to you can choose from. And since we herald your indecisiveness, check out our 12 different restaurants where there's something for everyone.

The choice is yours. With Freestyle Cruising, you travel a world of dining options all in one week. From elegant French bistros and Italian Trattorias to sushi and tapas bars, and more, there’s a different dining option for almost every night of your cruise. With up to 10 different restaurants, each featuring a diverse an ever-changing menu, you’ll always find exactly what you’re in the mood for. And there is no fixed seating. Imagine restaurants open from 5:30 am to midnight so that you can choose from an early dinner before the show or a later romantic dinner for the two of you. And of course there’s always the option of 24-hour room service. You’re free to dine where, when and with whom you choose. Just as it should be on your vacation.

You’re about to be pampered. By adding additional crewmembers to every ship in NCL fleet are able to offer exceptional service. With almost one crewmember per stateroom, you can be assured you’ll be very well taken care of when you cruise with NCL.

Do everything, or nothing at all. For those who prefer to be active, their new LifeStyle Program features adventurous Shore Excursions, art auctions, health and wellness programs, cooking demonstrations – all kinds of activities aimed at challenging your mind as well as your body. Or you can simply relax and enjoy not having a schedule to follow. They pick the ports, but the rest of the day is your call.

Enjoy every day of your vacation. Because they streamlined the whole process of disembarkation, you can now relax, have breakfast and enjoy more of your final morning on board without having to rush.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Mandara Spa Menu
NCL is proud to announce its fleetwide agreement with Mandara Spa, a leading operator of exotic resort spas in the world. The name 'Mandara' comes from an ancient Sanskrit legend about the gods' quest to find the elixir of immortality and eternal youth. Mandara spa, originating in Bali, has embraced the legend. With over 45 land and sea-based spas worldwide and on Norwegian Cruise Line has developed unique and exotic spa treatments to reflect the beauty, spirit and traditions of Bali.

Kid's Crew Program
Every exciting moment is filled with age-appropriate entertainment in mind. For kids from age 2-12, they offer everything from arts and crafts to pajama parties. Teen’s Crew, for age 13-17, has options like pool parties, a teen disco, a video arcade and much more. Now, you can enjoy a hot-stone massage, a yoga class or a cocktail by the pool while they’re having the time of their lives. But don’t think of Kid’s Crew as babysitting – there’s very little sitting involved. This program is active, energetic, educational and, most importantly, fun. Whether your kids are at their elaborate children’s facilities, taking a dip in one of their pools, or doing any other activity, they will be under the constant supervision of their carefully chosen staff of youth counselors from leading universities and organizations. Each team counselor attends a special training course on safety, communication skills and confidence-building. Norwegian Cruise Lines do not offer individual baby sitting.

Internet Cafe
Be sure to give your friends and family back home email address or you can give them your personalized Cruise-email™ (located on your cruise ticket) so you can stay in touch throughout your cruise.

Casino at Sea
Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Sun, and the Spirit, the Jewel, and will be on all new ships as they come into service. Players that register and use their players card, earn CAS points (SEABUCKS) that can be used, once they reach a minimum of 25 SEABUCKS, toward the payment of their onboard folio accounts or can be accumulated toward the payment of a future cruise.

 

Chin Chin Asian Restaurant

Located on Deck 7

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Le Bistro Restaurant

Located on Deck 6

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Azura Main Restaurant

Located on Deck 6

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Tango's Tapas Latin Restaurant

Located on Deck 8

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Teppanyaki

Located on Deck 7

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Spinnaker Lounge

Located on Deck 13

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Java Cafe

Located on Deck 7

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FYZZ Cabaret Lounge and Bar

Located on Deck 7

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Shakers Martini and Cocktail Bar

Located on Deck 6

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The Atrium

Located on Deck 7

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Internet Café

Located on Deck 7

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Jewel Club Casino

Located on Deck 6

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Sapphire Pool

Located on Deck 12

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Basketball/Volleyball/Tennis Court

Located on Deck 13

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Kid's PC World Library

Located on Deck 12

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Kid's Cinema

Located on Deck 12

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Karaoke Room

Located on Deck 7

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The Galleria Shops

Located on Deck 7

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The Chapel

Located on Deck 13

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The Library, Reading, & Writing Room

Located on Deck 12

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Relaxation Room

Located on Deck 12

 

Happy Fourth of July!

 

 

 

 

 

Abide With Me: Hymn # 1

I'm sure that many would think that this is a semi-odd choice for all-time favorite hymn.

My dad was a Congregational (now United Church of Christ) minister so I was pretty regular in church attendance in my younger years.

Some Sunday evenings, he would preach on a circuit and I'd go with him to some of these tiny churches.  The people there, mostly older folks, liked the old hymns best - Fanny Crosby and so on.

So, some of my "favorite hymns" are going to be those that I sang when I was out with my Dad.  Fond memories from long ago.

In 1986 I was finally diagnosed with Cushing's after struggling with doctors and trying to get them to test for about 5 years.  I was going to go into the NIH (National Institutes of Health) in Bethesda, MD for final testing and then-experimental pituitary surgery.

I was terrified and sure that I wouldn't survive the surgery.

Somehow, I found a 3-tape set of Readers Digest Hymns and songs of Inspiration and ordered that. The set came just before I went to NIH and I had it with me.

At NIH I set up a daily "routine" of sorts and listening to these tapes was a very important part of my day and helped me get through the ordeal of more testing, surgery, post-op and more.

When I had my kidney cancer surgery, the tapes were long broken, but I had replaced all the songs - this time on my iPod.

Abide With Me was on this tape set and it remains a favorite to this day.  Whenever we have an opportunity in church to pick a favorite, my hand always shoots up and I request page 700.  When someone in one of my handbell groups moves away, we always sign a hymnbook and give it to them.  I sign page 700.

I think that many people would probably think that this hymn is depressing.  Maybe it is but to me it signifies times in my life when I thought I might die and I was so comforted by the sentiments here.

This hymn is often associated with funeral services and has given hope and comfort to so many over the years - me included.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

~John 15:7

Abide With Me

Words: Henry F. Lyte, 1847.

Music: Eventide, William H. Monk, 1861. Mrs. Monk described the setting:

    This tune was written at a time of great sorrow—when together we watched, as we did daily, the glories of the setting sun. As the last golden ray faded, he took some paper and penciled that tune which has gone all over the earth.

Lyte was inspired to write this hymn as he was dying of tuberculosis; he finished it the Sunday he gave his farewell sermon in the parish he served so many years. The next day, he left for Italy to regain his health. He didn’t make it, though—he died in Nice, France, three weeks after writing these words. Here is an excerpt from his farewell sermon:

    O brethren, I stand here among you today, as alive from the dead, if I may hope to impress it upon you, and induce you to prepare for that solemn hour which must come to all, by a timely acquaintance with the death of Christ.

For over a century, the bells of his church at All Saints in Lower Brixham, Devonshire, have rung out “Abide with Me” daily. The hymn was sung at the wedding of King George VI, at the wedding of his daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II, and at the funeral of Nobel peace prize winner Mother Teresa of Calcutta in1997.

 

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell’st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Upcoming Series on Hymns

A while ago, when I was still playing at being Interim Assistant Director of Music - whew, that's a mouthful! - I was asked about possibly writing a monthly blog post about something musical.

I thought for a while about what I could write about and came up with a few ideas.

I'm no longer in that position but I figured I could still write about my ideas, at least some of them.

The first topic I'm going to hit is hymns.

At the beginning, they're probably going to be posted in 3 places, depending on their meaning to me.

Hymns that have a lot of meaning to me will get posted on O'Connor O'Riginals and O'Connor Music Studio

Hymns that I used to help me through Cushing's and/or kidney cancer surgery will be posted also on Cushing's and Cancer.

Hymns that are just historical in nature will only be on O'Connor Music Studio

My first post, helpful to me in all areas of my life will be posted on all three blogs.  Sorry about the cross-posting!

Stay tuned later today for Abide With Me.

Wonderful Words of Life...

I'm acquiring the title of an old hymn for this next post.

After I was finished with the long diagnostic process, surgery and several post-op visits to NIH, I was asked to give the scripture reading at my church. The man who did the sermon that week was the survivor of a horrific accident where he and his family were hit by a van while waiting at an airport.

I thought I had written down the verse carefully. I practiced and practiced, I don't like speaking in front of a crowd but I said I would. When I got to church, the verse was different. Maybe I wrote it down wrong, maybe someone changed it. Whatever. This one was meant to be.

This verse has come to have so much meaning in my life. When I saw at a book called A Musician's Book of Psalms I had to look.  Each day had a different psalm.

On my birthday, there was "my" psalm so I had to buy this book!

Psalm 116 (New International Version)

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, save me!"

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

10 I believed; therefore I said,
"I am greatly afflicted."

11 And in my dismay I said,
"All men are liars."

12 How can I repay the LORD
for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant;
you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.

I carry a print out of this everywhere I go because I find it very soothing. "when I was in great need, he saved me." This print out is in a plastic page saver.

On the other side there is an article I found after my kidney cancer. I first read this in Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul and is posted several places online.

The Best Day Of My Life
by Gregory M Lousignont

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know.

Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me.

I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!

 

When I'm feeling down, depressed or low, reading my 2 special pages can help me more than anything else.