NCL Jade Review (March 12th - 19th)

[Lisalk12]

[Lisalk12]

Roatan:

We had priority tender tickets for our NCL excursion in Roatan. My husband had convinced me that we would all be able to snuba. The closer the time got the more nervous I became. The ticket had a health waiver and it said you must be able to swim. Which if I'm thrown into the pool I can make it to the side. And if I "swim" I keep my head above water. But my husband really wanted to do this. So after a breakfast at Cagney's we headed to the 4th floor. We waited in a long line (they were on the 15/16 round of tender tickets) that moved quickly to get on a tiny lifeboat (think of Captain Phillips) off the side of the Jade to get around to the pier. It appeared that they might be using three to keep the groups moving.

You can see the orange lifeboats dropping off. My tender ticket said to allow 30 minutes to travel but it was not that long but it sure was bumpy and some got a little wet on the trip over. When we got on the pier we shopped for awhile then sat at Monkey Lala and had sodas, beer, and DRINK #19 Bahama Mama (of liquid courage) and waited closer to time.

[Lisalk12]

When we thought we might be lining up we walked over in front of the NCL tent and sure enough they were ready for us. There we had a chance to stand and talk with an amazing couple from KC. We had met them yesterday during our Belize day and found that MaryAnn would be joining us today on this trip. We have tons in common and I really liked talking "shop" with her. After the wristband we followed our leader to a bus. The bus drive took some time as we had to travel from Coxen Hole to Gumbalimba Beach. When there our guide showed us the bathrooms then we followed to a little bench area. There our guide showed us the equipment that we would be using as well as hand signals that they would use when we were underwater. By this time I was so close to saying I will sit on the beach and watch you.

 

We were taken to a small shack and signed waivers again then we paid $3 for a locker to store our things. We had tons of things in a big bag. Not much will fit inside the small locker. I had to leave towels, bag, the boys glasses up on top of the lockers. This made me a little nervous. We met our water guide Therwin. He had such patience with me mostly but also with my youngest. We were fitted with flippers (should be tight or you will be playing fetch the flipper all afternoon), regulator, mask, and weight belt. We walked out in shallow water to test everything out. Now not wanting to scare my youngest son I wanted and let everyone else try first. My 9 year old had trouble trusting the process at first but grew very brave. Breathing on the regulator made me very claustrophobic. It wasn't going to happen. The guide kept trying to get me to not give up. Finally he said I could just do what I felt comfortable with. I could hang onto the raft (air tube)

and swim on top or whatever made me happy. So out we go. After about halfway through our trip Therwin asked if I wanted to take off the weight belt. That made it so much easier to float, hold my breath, and swim. Never used the regulator but really enjoyed the view.

[Lisalk12]

The water was very clear and we saw many fish and coral. My underwater camera was a little fuzzy but here are a few of the photos.

Ok in this photo at the bottom left you can kindof make out a large fish. Anyone have any idea what type it might of been?

 

The boys had a wonderful time when they were not playing fetch the flipper. Our guide took some photos for us also. It was the highlight of my husbands trip.

[Lisalk12]

After our time was up we went back on the beach and my things were still there!! We got our things together and thanked our amazing guide and headed back to the bathrooms. Next door they had a food and beverage area and an entrance to the nature park. They said we could stay and enjoy whatever we wanted for extra fee but because it was getting late we sat and waited on a bus to get back to the port. After about 5 minutes we were on a bus to the pier area. The roads were really bad as it appeared they were working on them and some areas were down to one lane. The bus seemed to need a little help going uphill but we all leaned in one direction to help it out. When we arrived back in the port area. My oldest wanted to go pickup a bottle of sand that he had saw at a shop so we headed that way. The pier appeared to be really busy now. We got his little trinket and we headed towards the boats. Oh no...the line!! It stretched the length of the port area! And it was 2:30 with the last tender at 3:00. You could tell they were moving people as quickly as possible. By 2:45 we were on a boat and on our way back to the Jade.

[Lisalk12]

Upon entering the room we were greeted with yummy treats and had a late lunch.

My DH and I went to the thermal spa for a short time then got ready for dinner.

[Lisalk12]

We are at Alizar again and had appetizers of tomato salad

Tomato soup

Mozzarella sticks

And chicken ceaser salad

For our main course the boys had

steak,

DH had pork

....

[Lisalk12]

And I had this Steak Diane

 

After dinner and of course ice cream we walked around the boat. I found our photos from the first night aboard. (Glad the camera made it). We stop for something to drink and I had Drink #20 Lemon Drop martini.

 

Walking by the stardust theater I noticed a sign for Dave Nester comedy show. It was to start in a couple of minutes so we slipped in. The place was packed but we managed to find a spot for the four of us. I really enjoyed his show. It was family friendly and had just enough jokes over the kids heads to keep adults entertained. During the show the boat really started moving a lot! The curtain on the stage was swaying back and forth. Don't know why I watched it but I shouldn't have. That was when I started to feel really bad and sea sickness got to me. So we went back to the room and hoped for calmer water SOON!!

[Lisalk12]

[Linda the Book Lover]

You are so awesome! A loud hoot and round of applause for you doing snuba. I am also a swim to the side of the pool person and I can't tread water:eek: I have snorkeled with a life vest and "baby board" holding on for dear life and even went helmet diving. It was terror but I was proud of myself for doing it. You are a great example of bravery for your children:)

[clarkg]

Great review, thanks for taking the time to post it. I love the pictures.

[Lisalk12]

Sea day:

Woke up and felt 100% better! Went off for breakfast before Cagney's could close. We had our usual eggs/bacon and the boys ate off the buffet. It was full of muffins, smoked salmon, fruits, cereals, yogurts, and assorted breads. After our tummies were full the boys headed off to play checkers (both sides of deck 13 by Cagney's had these LARGE checker boards that my boys enjoyed. While they played we roamed over to the bar that overlooked the pool. I decided that once again I would be brave and try a new Drink #21 spicy Bloody Mary. I really didn't think that I would like this one but SURPRISE it is now a favorite! My husband ordered them and asked for a spicy mix and spicy it was! Like take my breath away! But I really enjoyed it. We sat and watched the early morning activity at the pool area.

Our boys finished up and came up and said they were going to get ice cream at the buffet (which didn't have ice cream this early in the morning) So we sat and had another drink. For Drink #22 I went off my list and actually looked at the drink menu provided.

I settled on trying a Dale. It was ok but no Bloody Mary or Mango Meltdown.

[Lisalk12]

We walked the boys back to the room. On the way we stopped by the bridge observation area on deck 11.

The boys started watching a movie so we headed to talk with the reps at Cruise Next. We have bought cruise rewards before on past sailing and have used them to help offset deposit fees. We had the chance to sit down with Barbara and discuss the options offered.

At this time they were allowing the combination of two cruisenext certificates to be used at one time if you sail before the end of August. So my husband decided we needed to discuss this and meet Barbara again in a couple of hours. Bencar had been by the room and left us some treats.

[Lisalk12]

We went to a late lunch at the Buffet and the boys finally got their ice cream.

We stopped back by Barbara's desk in the atrium and waited till she was free to discuss our next cruise plans. While we waited we had Drinks #23 Dark and Stormy and

#24 Cherry Collins. We opted to combine two cruise rewards and book a June sailing on the Gem out of New York. This will be our 20th anniversary and getting to sail and visit New York will be the perfect way to celebrate. We had made appointments in the spa for my DH and oldest DS to get a shave and facial. I needed a pedicure and so my youngest decided he would go along with me. I might of created a monster! He loved the leg massage and massage chair. I enjoyed the Fire & Ice pedi and received service from Monique.

My DH loved the shave but my son was told corporate rules said he had to be 18. Yes, he is 14 but he has had a mustache since he was 10. He was fine with that... Maybe even a little happy about it and excused himself from the spa area.

[Lisalk12]

For dinner we wanted to try something new so we went to the Japanese Garden and tried out the new (to us this was new) complementary restaurant.

The food was okay but not great. My boys ate very little. We did buy two sushi rolls also.

The waitstaff was very careful and knowledgeable about my allergies. After dinner the boys went off to fill-up at the buffet and play checkers again. DH and I stopped for drink #25 vodka gimlet. We went and enjoyed the thermal spa until close.

[Lisalk12]

Sorry about the multi pictures. My phone is acting up. Let me try those last ones again.

[Lisalk12]

Sushi picture

[Lisalk12]

[AllyVit]

After fixing this my husband and I and kids went to the buffet and had a little bit of everything for dinner.

 

This was possibly my favorite part of the buffet. Lol

DRINK #3 White Zin. (Because we were in Texas waters the first three drinks cost between $0.74- $0.90 each. They also had a limited variety of product. I had asked for a Moscato and they said it would be available later.)

How were the drinks only this price? Is that on every cruise in Texas waters?

[Lisalk12]

AllyVit- We had a plan called Ultimate Beverage Plan or UBP which pays for drinks up to $15.00 each. But because we were in Texas waters we had to pay the state tax on each drink. That was where that cost came from. I believe all cruises leaving or entering Texas waters must pay a tax per drink while in that area.

[AllyVit]

Got ya! Great review, thanks! We leave on Saturday!

[Lisalk12]

AllyVit - You will have a wonderful time!!!

[Lisalk12]

Last Sea day:

Woke up at 3am sicker than a dog. Wasn't sure if it was due to food, sea sickness, or tummy virus. By 7:30 I had found sea sickness bands to put on and started to feel a little better. My DH and I had made 8:00 plans to get "top to toe" package at the spa. It wasn't gonna happen for me. So my husband went down and got a massage, hand & foot treatment and facial. They rescheduled mine for a later time hoping I would feel better. DH came back and said he really liked the treatment and that he changed my appointment to acupuncture because they thought it could help my tummy. So we went back down and 45 minutes and lots of little needles later I was a new person. Jessica helped my sea sickness and put three little seeds under bandages on my ear.

If I felt sick I simply pushed on those pressure points and presto I was better. She also gave my husband some temporary relief from a hamstring issue. (She said his would need follow up treatments to really get relief). We went down and grabbed a bite to eat and enjoyed the sunshine at the great outdoors. At 10:00-12:00 they offered a $10 special sale (held in the Jasmine Garden) on gift shop items. After looking around I decided to go back to the shops and get some gifts for family and friends back home. While we were doing this the Captain announced that due to fog we would be arriving at the port by midnight tonight instead of in the morning. The bad side of that is that some drink service would be limited, minibars were locked and the casino and shops would close by 8:00. The good side is we would have phone with data coverage tonight. My DH decided to go to an art action.

What??? We know nothing about art. But he really wanted to go so I walked around looking at all of these paintings. He decided that he liked one so he stayed for the auction and I went back to the room to check on boys and take a nap. When he came back to the room he said that "our" painting went for $8000 so it isn't ours now. Lol!! Oh well!

[Lisalk12]

We enjoyed one last snack from Bencar and watched a movie with the boys.

[Lisalk12]

For dinner the boys decided to go to the buffet while my husband and I went to Alizar. We had salad and empanadas for starters.

For entrées we had rice with shrimp and chicken parmesan.

We met up for our last ice cream dessert in the buffet. Then we went back to the room to pack our suitcases. On our last cruise I chose to pack and put our bags outside to be picked up. Then we were reunited with them at customs the next morning. This was nice until I realized I had packed my right shoe and had to wear one left ladies sandal and one right 8 year olds sandal through customs the next day. So this time I told everyone we would do the walk off with our luggage the next morning! We were ready for bed... And to start reading my 198 emails that had been delivered to my phone!

Edited March 30, 2016 by Lisalk12