Cruiserbarbie

On the Jade for Oct 23-Nov 12 Med cruise. Yes to the 730 & 930. First day, our ship departed Venice 6pm, so don't recall if time of show was still 730.

I used http://www.holiday-weather.com as we did your trip starting Oct 23 and the weather was almost exactly as holiday-weather indicated. Or fodors.com under destinations has an avg historical weather and you can put in your exact weeks and get an avg

The new menus and concepts will be available on most of Norwegian's fleet by July 31, and onboard Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Sky and Pride of America by early 2015.

I too was on the Jade mid Oct - mid Nov, and was not aware menus were new and according to this NCL press release of July 21, they were not.

I think if you would like more comments you might want to repost and have a clearer topic/subject. Just saying.

NCL will generally be sending you about 6-8 docs/info on all the info you need. There is the earliest time you can board and then the required amount of time you must be on board for security purposes/ship regs. And then if you don't complete the on line checkin, there is yet another time you need to be at the port. NCL 1-800-327-7030, or you TA or write ncl.com.

We just got off the Jade with our first cruise beginning in Venice, ending in Civita and then we continued on for another 12 days ending again in Civita.

So boarding time for us in Rome was different for those who were boarding for just that portion of the cruise.

We were on that trip and our cabin was on the starboard side one balcony down from the top one. Thanks.

Food---really depends on you. We ate at buffet almost every day for breakfast and lunch. Had dinner there most nights even though had reservations in Grand Pacific (MDR). BBQs were good and Garden Café buffet special nights were great.

Disembarcation: Ship arrives 5am, easy walk off program can get off 615-930 This means any luggage you can manage yourself. Pax were already lined up at 615 but unforeseen problems did not allow the exit process until 650. It was drizzly and wet. Situations that caused great delays: we carry 1 airline bin size carryon each. 99.9% of other pax had extremely large roller bags. So extremely large roller bags and some had more than one plus smaller bags on top of those, and slippery gangway and drizzly, you had for a nightmare. You then still had to get yourself the short distance to the complimentary bus BUT there is no assistance as that is the purpose of early walk off. You walk off easy with your bags. You have to do it yourself.

So that situation and time it takes depends on your luggage. If you wait for the luggage to be delivered to the luggage pick up tent, I believe that is after 930. Luggage pickup is colored coded and timed.

So getting off ship depends on your luggage and then how are you getting to airport also depends on luggage and if you can take a cab or NCL shuttle which I believe does not begin until after 10am. We stayed in Rome for a few days after the ship docked so took the train in.

Airport security: actually made note that it took us an hour to get through all the security process. We flew Delta so had to go to T5 which required a shuttle bus at the airport and left every 15-20minutes to T5. At the terminal our passports were checked and sticker put on it. Then we had Delta counter checkin, then security screening. My Delta notification said to be there 3 hours before for an international flight.

Most important thing to know: are you your flight's priority member and are you an NCL silver, gold or platinum member as there are special lines for those (although I "assumed" I was and went on those lines). When they were empty the Reps called folks from the other line also.

I had same questions about those very ports. Just off the Jade on Wed.

Livorno: NCL had shuttle buses for $12 per person RT. Cabs were 25E one way. Both went to train station. Port authorities did not allow walking from ship to port gate so you had to take either the bus or cab. For us trying to get to Cinque Terre on the 743 train, we had to take the cab as the first bus did not leave the ship until 730.

Barcelona: you can walk from the terminal to the city center which we have done a couple of times. NCL provides a bus for 5E each one way. You can catch the public bus for 3E outside the terminal. Exit the terminal, head left and pass all the shuttle buses and the public bus will be at the end. It leaves much more frequently than the NCL bus.

Public bus drops you off at the Chris Columbus statue at the beginning of La Rambla while the NCL bus drops you off at the maritime terminal.

Valencia: NCL had free shuttle buses to take you from the ship to the port gate. Port authorities do not allow you to walk from the ship to the port and it is too far anyway. At the port gate take the #4 city bus for I believe 1.5E and pay onboard. It can't be missed cause everyone is heading for the #4. NCL also had buses to take you to the city center but can't recall how much they were. Both dropped you off at the plaza in front of the cathedrale.

Toulon: only day out of 19 on board the ship and 7 additional days on land that it rained off and on all day. Ship docked outside Le Seyne Sur Mer a pleasant small town with a Tuesday market. We walked from the port area to the bus stop and took the bus into Le Seyne. Head left from the ferry dock into the center of town to find the market. Very small and quaint. For 2E you can take the ferry from Le Seyne to Toulon.

NCL provides complimentary water ferry service from the pier where the ship docks outside Le Seyne to Toulon.

Just got off the Jade on Wed and now back in Austin. Posted my info on the port but here goes:

Can't say there is no elevator but did not see any or any indication of one. Train comes to track 3 so there will be stairs. You must buy a city bus ticket at the train station for the city bus that is located to the right outside the train station. It is 80cents. This bus will take you to the port gate where the Jade had complimentary bus shuttles to the ship as the port authority does not allow you to walk to the ship. All was very easy.

We stayed on for a 2nd leg of the cruise but virtually no interaction between those disembarking and those of us staying on for another cruise.

Problem disembarking was that the ship docked at 5am, you can disembark beginning at 615 and shuttle is available but city bus does not begin until 8am and there were no licensed cabs at the port gate on Wed when we disembarked. We took a gypsy cab.

Just got off the Jade on Wed. We keep the drapes on the balcony door open so the light from the ship is just enough to light the room. I don't know what a tea light is but I bring one of those lights that go on automatically when you enter the room. In our bathroom there was an ashtray shelf in the toilet area and I put it on there. Wide enough to be secure and this way did not have to turn on the bright bathroom light. It turned on as soon as I entered the bathroom and light enough to see what I was doing but not glaring enough to sort of wake me up or light up the entire room as the bathroom light would have done.

We just got off the Jade on Wed after 19 days. We did the Adriatic so only Naples and Rome apply.

Naples was easy. Ship docked right in front of Castel Nuovo. Need to buy bus tics at newspaper stands before boarding the bus/tram and one is almost right across from the port exit. Tram goes to train station.

Rome's port if Civitavecchia and no where near Rome. At Civitavecchia train station, buy an 80cent bus ticket. Bus will be right outside the station to the right and you will need a ticket. This city bus will take you to the port gate. At the port gate the Jade will have complimentary shuttle bus to take you to the ship. Where the Jade docks at the port you are not allowed to walk. We were at Civitavecchia last year on a smaller ship and docked at a different location, so this docking location is specific to the Jade or ships of her size.

Show were great, library is well stocked, breakfast and lunch room is plentiful at La Cucina with nice long tables for your group, Deck 11 has view of the bridge, go to Officers Talk as the info from the Capt, chief engineer and hotel director is very interesting.

Used fodors.com for avg weather info and it was spot on. Nov 1 reduced smoking to very few areas and not in room or balcony and really enjoyed the food.

Enjoy!

Leaving tomorrow for Jade Adriatic/Med cruise on Oct 25. We are 65 & 70.

2nd trip on Jade. I just made reservations for a table for 2 at 530 seating in MDR and they had 6:30 as well.

We sail NCL, RCCL and as live close to Galveston, Carnival. We also took Carnival transatlantic and it was great.

So make a dinner reservations and not a coffee drinker but you can check NCL amenities for balcony extras. Balcony & above get robes which we love. As of Nov 1 there will be more restrictions on smokers if that is any issue.

Thanks Cherie, your answer is exactly what I needed to know, and in just a few words.

I guess I should qualify. For non-Americans, Halloween is Oct 31 and kids go trick or treating and even adults dress in costumes and go trick or treating with the kids or go to their own Halloween party.

So I was just wondering if I needed to bring a costume for any event the Jade might be having to celebrate Halloween?

Leaving Sat for 19 days Adriatic/Med cruise on the Jade. Will they have any event I would need a Halloween costume for?

Just FYI and I could be wrong but if you plan to use the computer on board you will need to pay for computer usage which is expensive. If you are bringing it to use at ports that have free WIFI, then it would be OK to bring it. I found places in every port for 5E for an hour, I do that.

Actually I thought it was the other way around--you were put at a large table and had to request a table for 2. We cruise Sat from Venice on the Jade and just put in a request for table for 2. We do lose the reservation if we are 15 minutes late.

You know when you screw up sometimes you say, shi_, shi_, sh_. Well for your trip you need to think ship (time), ship (time), ship time or you will be saying shi_, shi_, shi_ as the ship sails without you.

we always use www.squaremouth.com. Our insurance needs are based on our trip (1 week caribbean vs 21 day Med), how much we are paying and what credit card I am paying with. It takes you step by step and is very helpful.

Had 3 experiences: in Italy for 2 months, broke a tooth, I got DDS from the embassy, called the insurance co. collect to let them know, went to the DDS, paid the DDS and made note of the exchange rate, submitted my bill upon our return and got paid immediately.

bought travel insurance as we paid for a 10th anniversary wedding trip for son & dil. As work could be an issue, paid for that. Unfortunately my dad died 3 days before they were to leave and grandparents were covered anyway. Had to provide some proof of death and insurance co paid the cost of the cruise.

third situation: hubby does the insurance. checked it all out for 1 week Caribbean cruise in early Feb but when he went to buy rate went up as he turned 70 when he went to buy it. As they ask you birthdate he felt they should have quoted him the higher rate when he was investigating.

Another time went to buy insurance and checked our credit card. turns out we did not need to buy all the insurance we were going to as most of it was covered by the card.

I believe Travel & Leisure list top travel agents for specific trips. Cost you nothing to get their expertise or why do it alone- call NCL.

On NOS March 2, pool patrol enforced the rule.

We were there on the March 2 cruise. RCCL built the cruise port so area is nice, clean, new, attractive. Deals? If buying gems or liquor know the price before you leave the US.

We wandered around the "city". Not really much of a place. I did love the tourist police in their uniforms of white shirt, dark pants, badges. Made it very appealing to go and ask directions. Found people very friendly once we got away from the hawkers outside the port gates.

The least attractive city but probably the most in need of tourist dollars.

We did not leave early but had made inquiries. Yes you notify/ask the ship but it is making sure there is a customs agent available to process you into the country.

We were on the same cruise, deck 9. No balcony problems or any in the cabin. Just want to say that I believe as of January, NAV has no smoking policy on balconies in particular. You used to be able to smoke there but no more which I like. You can only smoke in 2 spots. I know one was by the pool on one side heading toward the Solarium and the other was on the other side of the ship on a lower deck but don't remember where. Too bad you didn't mention this to Guest Services to handle and you might have been able to enjoy the balcony.

Everything is interactive on the TV. I don't remember the exact menu except for lobster tail an prime rib on day 6. Seven days of menu are listed so as soon as you are on board can find out then adjust your reservations as needed. At the restaurant the menu has a little blurb about various spices.

I checked the menu before we left from one of these threads and checked off the items I really hoped to try and they were all very good.