drpclarke

I've gone on Carnival (ugh) and Royal Caribbean...so you know where I am coming from in this brief review of the cruise of Norwegian Jade, week of June 18 2023. CABIN - we opted for inner cabin - I love how dark it gets and I will sleep so well. Surprisingly spacious compared to other cruise lines..plenty of storage space, and the bd was high enough for me to shove suitcases underneath. Bathroom was bigger, too...my experience has been that bathrooms are small enough so that you can sit on the toilet, wash your feet in the shower, and brush your teeth all at the same time. That was not the case with this cruise and how wonderful it was to have some space! SPACE ON THE SHIP -I've been on cruises in which I feel like I'm part of a cattle drive...people everywhere. Not the case with this cruise, and it's my understanding it was nearly sold out. There was no major crowding, and there were always deck chairs available (and there is a LOT of deck space on this ship!) ACTIVITIES - I can't offer much here as I spent the days in port and didn't do much with activities... MEALS - buffet food is well, buffet...and I appreciate the diversity in that there were always Indian, Asian, and British dishes available. Salad bar not comprehensive but did have rotating items offered. Large variety. Asian restaurant (Jasmine Grill) was complimentary and offered OKAY food. Cagney's (not complimentary) can make some amazing steaks. Side dishes were okay but the steaks were great! EMBARKATION - smooth, but long. NCL had their ducks in a row, just customs took forever. DEBARKATION - ridiculously smooth. Ran AHEAD of time...we weren't supposed to get off the boat until 8:45 but they called our group at 8:15. SERVICE - here's where it gets interesting. Those working in housekeeping, dining, etc. as servers, cleaners, etc....all very pleasant and smiled and were on top of their game. Other employees, like working in guest services or wearing a uniform - not nearly as pleasant. Got the impression that those who made more money cared less. CLEANLINESS - this ship was the CLEANEST I've been on, EVER. I can't say it enough. EVER. We'll be going on NCL again! Let me know if you have questions about the Jade. Rachel

YVRTeacher, we are on the Jade. This are great hints...thank you! (and mmm...a mojito bar!!) Rachel

Thanks, ColeThornton!

Hello all! Going on Jade in a few weeks...have seen some reviews,mostly about the ports. Tell me the good, bad, ugly about the boat itself and what is offered. Thanks! Rachel

Hello fellow cruisers! It has been so long since I've done a Mediterranean Cruise, and I've never done an NCL cruise...only Royal Caribbean and (gasp) Carnival. What helpful tips do you have? Digging through my memory - I'm thinking I need a surge protector so I'm able to plug everything in that is needed. Anything else? It's been so long and I'm embarrassed to ask this because I used to know all of the little "things" that were needed. Thanks! Rachel

Hello cruisers! Getting ready to pack for my cruise, (7 days Greece/Turkey on the Jade) and would like to keep things as minimal as possible.. so, if I was to get laundry done on the cruise, how much does it cost and how long does it take (and what's the chance of not getting the right stuff back?) Trying to decide if the lesser evil is to bring more stuff or do laundry on the ship. Thanks! Rachel

Hello fellow cruisers! Going on Jade in a few weeks and just heard about the priority pass from another cruiser. I looked into it, and gosh, it doesn't look like it's worth $179, so I wonder if I am missing something. I did a search on the boards about it, but the most recent thread re: priority pass was from 2020. What has been your experience with this? This is for the Greece/Turkey cruise. Thanks! Rachel

Sigh. My son is going on a cruise in a week and a half. He has paid for the ticket/cabin/etc. for himself and his grandma, as a gift to her. :0) My mom has a tendency to back out of things, and sure enough, she started laying the groundwork today...her knees hurt, etc. This is pretty typical; I had just hoped she would not do this with a cruise given to her as a gift. I know we can CANCEL the reservation - and get no money back. My question is...can we send someone in her PLACE, such as my husband?? Thanks all!