Getting Nervous-Jade

[BarleyJack]

Hi all, let me start off by saying that I'm not a new cruiser, but will be new to both NCL and cruising the Med.

 

We have booked a 10 day trip on the Jade for 4/2013, from Rome to Greece, Turkey, Egypt and back. So excited, this itinerary is perfect for us as it includes a lot of our dream destinations.

 

So earlier today at work, I was talking with a co-worker about our plans (she is a former travel agent) and she has put the fear of God in me about cruising NCL. She said that as a TA, she had more complaints from her customers about NCL than any other cruise line. Complaints about collapsing beds, bad food and how Freestyle dining made it difficult/impossible to find a place to eat. She did however say that she never booked anyone on Jade, so she had no knowledge of that particular ship. She really was trying to be helpful.

 

But now I'm nervous. This is a dream vacation for us, it will be our first time in Europe. Can anyone talk me down a bit, or is there any validity to my coworker's concerns? We've only cruised with Carnival before-twice, and had a good time on both ships. I researched the Jade myself and it seems that more people like it than not.

 

I would appreciate honest objectivity. Please please please know that I am not slamming NCL, after all, I booked a trip with them lol. I'm just worried after that talk with my co worker.

[ColinIllinois]

You'll be just fine. There's probably a reason she is a "former travel agent". :D

[Pokeraddict]

Hi all, let me start off by saying that I'm not a new cruiser, but will be new to both NCL and cruising the Med.

 

We have booked a 10 day trip on the Jade for 4/2013, from Rome to Greece, Turkey, Egypt and back. So excited, this itinerary is perfect for us as it includes a lot of our dream destinations.

 

So earlier today at work, I was talking with a co-worker about our plans (she is a former travel agent) and she has put the fear of God in me about cruising NCL. She said that as a TA, she had more complaints from her customers about NCL than any other cruise line. Complaints about collapsing beds, bad food and how Freestyle dining made it difficult/impossible to find a place to eat. She did however say that she never booked anyone on Jade, so she had no knowledge of that particular ship. She really was trying to be helpful.

 

But now I'm nervous. This is a dream vacation for us, it will be our first time in Europe. Can anyone talk me down a bit, or is there any validity to my coworker's concerns? We've only cruised with Carnival before-twice, and had a good time on both ships. I researched the Jade myself and it seems that more people like it than not.

 

I would appreciate honest objectivity. Please please please know that I am not slamming NCL, after all, I booked a trip with them lol. I'm just worried after that talk with my co worker.

 

Really! (she is a former travel agent) wonder why.

 

You better hurry and cancel before you lose your deposit.

[Pokeraddict]

If your looking for negativity maybe you should have posted this question on the other cruise line boards.

[BarleyJack]

You'll be just fine. There's probably a reason she is a "former travel agent". :D

 

Thanks Colin, I appreciate that, really :)

 

If your looking for negativity maybe you should have posted this question on the other cruise line boards.

 

Umm, not looking for negativity actually. Just the opposite. Thanks for your comment though!

[Demonyte]

From what I've read in the past, most travel agents say things like that because they get better commissions from other lines and therefore NCL isn't their personal favourite that they'd like to sell to ppl. :rolleyes:

 

In the middle of my next two cruises I'm gonna be on the platinum level of the loyality program and I must say that even with NCL there are some downsides but my first ever cruise was on Jade and I loved it - couldn't have hoped for better way to get in to cruising. :D

[satchiesmom]

I had an agent tell me once that the only line she would never cruise again was NCL. I've booked my first cruise on NCL (with a different agent :D) and am not nervous about it at all. All cruiselines have their pluses and minuses, even a different cruise on the same line/same ship can have huge differences. Go and enjoy your dream trip, then come back and tell us all about it!

 

Susan

[www3traveler]

You will be fine. I am about to leave on my 17th and 18th cruise with Norwegian. I have yet to have a serious problem with anything. Freestyle dining just means that you can eat in any restaurant of your choosing when you want. Om some mornings, the buffet gets a little busy. You DO NOT have an assigned table or an assigned time. I have not been on The Jade, but I have 3 other Jewel Class ships, you will have a wonderful time. I wish that I could join you on this cruise.

[AttilaTheFun]

I would recommend reading some member reviews of the Jade. According to Cruise Critic's system, "76% of people loved it!" so I would say that's pretty good.

 

Doing a quick scan, there's a good variety of ratings, but just take the reviews with a grain of salt because sometimes you get the feeling that some people won't be satisfied by anything!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/getreviews.cfm?action=ship&ShipID=438

 

My experience with 2 NCL cruises has been fantastic. I was on the Gem last September (sister ship to Jade) and it was a great experience and I didn't have any issues with beds, food, or Freestyle cruising. In fact, I have 2 more NCL cruises booked!

 

In my experience, you will always run into a few people who have nothing but negative things to say. For example, my parents met a guy at church who said that NCL served the exact same menu every night for dinner - something I know is definitely NOT true. Where people get some misinformation is beyond me.

 

Calm down, manage your expectations, and most importantly - enjoy yourself! For Europe cruises especially, it's all about the ports and wonderful places you'll visit. I have no doubt you'll enjoy the Jade and NCL!

[Mysticks1]

I am booked on the Jade for a Med/Holy Land cruise in April. I have no reservations at all even though this is our first with NCL. I went to the reviews sections and read reviews and am convinced that we will have a great cruise.

I have also been told by a travel agent that the commission amount for NCL is lower than other lines so that might be the reason the TA was steering clients away from them.

[Cootie12]

It's all what you make of the trip - my two first cruises were with Royal Caribbean in 2002 and 2003. The second cruise was so horrific with a drug addict next store literally breaking lamps and other glass items, punching holes through the walls and putting the electricity out in my bathroom that I swore I would never do another cruise again. It took me till 2010 to book another cruise. NCL it was and I did another one this year and going again in October 2012. Would not go any other cruiseline after the experience with RCCL. They did nothing for us - did not move us - gave us nothing - I wrote a letter when I returned home and got a letter back that had to have been a form letter "that they had no control over underage drinking". I love NCL - Nothing to complain about.

 

Have a good cruise - think positive. It is what you make it!!;)

[johnsak123]

Personally I think your co worker is a jerk. Why ruin your first cruise on NCL with negativity. I have crusied many times with NCL and no it is not perfect but what is. The worst thing that happened to me(thank GOD) was having to wait to get a table for dinner. It was a Xmas cruise and we went prime time to eat. We got a buzzer and a free drink coupon and sat at the bar. Other than that the second worst thing was losing in the casino. :) The third was not getting to go to GSC because of the rough seas.

All in all not tragic. I hope the new years cruise of 2012-2012 goes off with out a hitch

ENJOY!!

[xenagurl]

I was on the Jade twice in the span of a few months and I'll be back again in Fall. Great ship, great crew and you'll have a great time.

 

"Nice" co-worker. :rolleyes: I'd just go into it with an open mind and plan on having a good time. I'm sure you will. :)

[pris993]

We are booked on the Jade for 2013. We have cruised NCL 10 years ago. At that time it was similar to other lines. We usually cruise Princess, HAL, Celebrity and Cunard. Since it has changed with freestyle.

 

We have done the itinerary you are doing 4 times before on other lines. Doing the same on the Jade next year, including stops in Israel.

 

Mediterranean and eastern Mediterranean cruises are more about the ports than the ship, first of all. Very port intensive cruises.

 

I have read good things about the Jade. So we decided to book it. Price was a lot better too.

 

Do I think the Jade will be the same as other lines, no. We may like it, may not. We did a similar trip on the new Celebrity ship a few years ago, it was okay, we thought the PR on the ship was more hype than anything. Was it a bad cruise, no. We had a good time, just would not go again.

 

Saying all this, because I think you will be fine.

[che5904]

OP I've never been on the Jade but the 2 NCL cruises I have been on have been the vacation of a lifetime.

 

I'm sure you have probably spent time on the Carnival boards and like threads on this board, you have probably seen many negatives that left you with the feeling that "gee I must have lucked out since I loved my cruises":rolleyes:.

 

Negativity can come from many places included active or past travel agents.

 

The bed on both of our cruises were heavenly, slept like a baby and not once did they collapse.

 

If you go to any land based restaurant then welcome to freestyle dining because thats exactly how it works. Impossible to find a place to eat? Well maybe if you hit the buffet at lunch time, but even then you are free to take your plate somewhere else (out to the pool deck, back to your cabin etc). If you go to the MDR at dinner and it's a long wait, no problem walk to the other one. I've never had more than a 10 minute wait but maybe I don't eat at a popular time. Specialty restaurants you make reservations for, so I can't see finding a place to eat applying to that either.

 

Whether or not your co-worker is mean spirited, did have more complaints or for some reason just does not like NCL. I'm sure, she as well, had positive feedback and it's too bad she did not choose to share that with you.

[dos equis]

My first NCL cruise was a 14-night repositioning Med cruise on the Jade and I absolutely loved it. You will have an AMAZING time. It will be the trip of a lifetime. Don't forget to keep a journal while you're traveling to all those incredible places... I still re-read mine every now and then for inspiration.

[Mooder]

I don't know how objective I am since I am a loyal NCL cruiser, but I say you have nothing to worry about. We sailed the same itinerary in November and had an amazing wonderful cruise. The Jade became my favorite ship in terms of how well it is run, the quality of the food and entertainment. Relax and have a wonderful time!!!

 

My advice is to join your roll call, do your research and hire (or join a group in your roll call that has hired) the best guides you can. You want to get the most you can out of these wonderful destinations!

[drb247]

Hi all, let me start off by saying that I'm not a new cruiser, but will be new to both NCL and cruising the Med.

 

We have booked a 10 day trip on the Jade for 4/2013, from Rome to Greece, Turkey, Egypt and back. So excited, this itinerary is perfect for us as it includes a lot of our dream destinations.

 

So earlier today at work, I was talking with a co-worker about our plans (she is a former travel agent) and she has put the fear of God in me about cruising NCL. She said that as a TA, she had more complaints from her customers about NCL than any other cruise line. Complaints about collapsing beds, bad food and how Freestyle dining made it difficult/impossible to find a place to eat. She did however say that she never booked anyone on Jade, so she had no knowledge of that particular ship. She really was trying to be helpful.

 

But now I'm nervous. This is a dream vacation for us, it will be our first time in Europe. Can anyone talk me down a bit, or is there any validity to my coworker's concerns? We've only cruised with Carnival before-twice, and had a good time on both ships. I researched the Jade myself and it seems that more people like it than not.

 

I would appreciate honest objectivity. Please please please know that I am not slamming NCL, after all, I booked a trip with them lol. I'm just worried after that talk with my co worker.

 

I have been on the Jade 4 times (one of which was same itiniery as yourself) and have not experienced any of these problems. The food could be better, but it certainly could not be called bad. Maximum I have ever had to queue for a restaurant is 5 minutes.... normally I just walk straight in.

[Dot Wonder]

Hi all, let me start off by saying that I'm not a new cruiser, but will be new to both NCL and cruising the Med.

 

We have booked a 10 day trip on the Jade for 4/2013, from Rome to Greece, Turkey, Egypt and back. So excited, this itinerary is perfect for us as it includes a lot of our dream destinations.

 

So earlier today at work, I was talking with a co-worker about our plans (she is a former travel agent) and she has put the fear of God in me about cruising NCL. She said that as a TA, she had more complaints from her customers about NCL than any other cruise line. Complaints about collapsing beds, bad food and how Freestyle dining made it difficult/impossible to find a place to eat. She did however say that she never booked anyone on Jade, so she had no knowledge of that particular ship. She really was trying to be helpful.

 

 

 

But now I'm nervous. This is a dream vacation for us, it will be our first time in Europe. Can anyone talk me down a bit, or is there any validity to my coworker's concerns? We've only cruised with Carnival before-twice, and had a good time on both ships. I researched the Jade myself and it seems that more people like it than not.

 

I would appreciate honest objectivity. Please please please know that I am not slamming NCL, after all, I booked a trip with them lol. I'm just worried after that talk with my co worker.

 

 

I've been on 2 NCL cruises and 11 other cruises on other lines. I like NCL for its laid back atmosphere. My staterooms have always been VERY clean and everything in good working order. Great attendants too!

 

I was on the Spirit in January, and while it was showing its age, the crew worked hard to keep it clean

 

I never had a problem finding a spot in a restaurant to eat. We did go to the specialty restaurants about 1/2 the time, and never w/ a reservation. We only had to use the pager once to wait for a table, and it went off 5 minutes later (barely time to grab a drink in a bar!). The food is not gourmet, but we always enjoyed what we ordered.

 

i wouldn't worry at all

[BarleyJack]

Thank you all for the encouraging words! I feel better. I admit that I have a tendency to get worked up, I need to work on that. I'm sure we'll have an awesome time! I can't wait to see the pyramids, the coliseum, the Vatican and the Parthenon. And throw a coin in the trevi fountain. And eat (real) carbonara. And authentic gelato. I'm a dork LOL. Thanks again everyone :D:D

[Mooder]

Thank you all for the encouraging words! I feel better. I admit that I have a tendency to get worked up, I need to work on that. I'm sure we'll have an awesome time! I can't wait to see the pyramids, the coliseum, the Vatican and the Parthenon. And throw a coin in the trevi fountain. And eat (real) carbonara. And authentic gelato. I'm a dork LOL. Thanks again everyone :D:D

 

You are not a dork. All of those experiences are thrilling!

[dutchess43]

To the Op DH swore he would never cruise on NCL(2003) because he did not like free style dining. Well guess what I went on the Jewel(my second NCL cruise) this past Feb with my DD & GS I loved it so much & raved about the cruise that DH & I are sailing this fall on the Gem. There have been so many changes since 2003 for the better especially with a great CEO Kevin Sheehan at the helm. Don't worry just enjoy your cruise.

[DMH15]

Please rest easy. Most mainstream cruise lines are more alike than different. In the olden days of cruising there were not many dining choices. The buffet or dining room. You had early or late seating times and you would go in every day/night and have the same waiter and same tablemates. Ugh. For me. I like variety. I do not injoy the same old, same old. But some people love having that same waiter who brings them their iced tea with two lemons and 14 ice cubes. That described my first cruise on the NCL Norway back in 1986.

 

Now, stay with me. Here's where NCL jumped ship, so to speak. FREESTYLE. What so many of us on the CC NCL Board love some loathe! That's the person who complains about having to wait 20 minutes at one of the various NCL restaurants. The'd rather be at their same old, same old. In the MDR. I'd rather experience something different every night. Wouldn't you?

 

I have also been on Celebrity, Royal and Carnival. I will have fun on any line, any ship. But NCL is my favorite. Great crews, great suite perks and have met many great people on those NCL ships!

 

Please, go... Have an open mind. And enjoy!!!

[TheCaveman]

Hi all, let me start off by saying that I'm not a new cruiser, but will be new to both NCL and cruising the Med.

 

We have booked a 10 day trip on the Jade for 4/2013, from Rome to Greece, Turkey, Egypt and back. So excited, this itinerary is perfect for us as it includes a lot of our dream destinations.

 

So earlier today at work, I was talking with a co-worker about our plans (she is a former travel agent) and she has put the fear of God in me about cruising NCL. She said that as a TA, she had more complaints from her customers about NCL than any other cruise line. Complaints about collapsing beds, bad food and how Freestyle dining made it difficult/impossible to find a place to eat. She did however say that she never booked anyone on Jade, so she had no knowledge of that particular ship. She really was trying to be helpful.

 

But now I'm nervous. This is a dream vacation for us, it will be our first time in Europe. Can anyone talk me down a bit, or is there any validity to my coworker's concerns? We've only cruised with Carnival before-twice, and had a good time on both ships. I researched the Jade myself and it seems that more people like it than not.

 

I would appreciate honest objectivity. Please please please know that I am not slamming NCL, after all, I booked a trip with them lol. I'm just worried after that talk with my co worker.

 

HI,

 

I've been on a 9 day cruise on Jade to Canary Islands this year. Ship is absolutely fantastic! It's a medium size, which I think is perfect. It was easy to get around. Food, up to your taste, but I think it was very good. I've cruised before with Carnival only and at the beginning I didn't know what to think about the Freestyle thing, but after this cruise on Jade I absolutely love it. There was no collapsing beds or anything like that.

One thing, there is not enough space to sit at the buffet area, and it was getting really crowded during breakfast. But, nothing stops you from going for breakfast to the dinning room :)

After cruising twice with Carnival, you will see some difference between them and NCL, but you will have a great time anyway :) As to your itinerary, I'm actually planning similar, Greece & Turkey, end of April, beginning of May next year :)

[jdvmd]

How could you have a bad time with such an incredible itinerary?!!! You will have a wondertime adventure. Put aside the negative thoughts and start planning. You are going to appreciate not having to lug all the formal wear etc. on a cruise and not having to make it back to the ship for a 6 p.m. dining room time.