Booked first cruise on NCL

[BubMunkeyBles]

Booked my first NCL cruise for next November and am pretty excited. I chose it because we really wanted a longer southern itinerary out of Florida to be able to skip to flight to San Juan this go around (financially breaks even when taking into account flights etc).

 

I am weirdly having second thoughts which is annoying because I know we will have a great time.

 

I'm worried that my Mom will go crazy with no access to Coke products since it seems NCL doesn't let people bring on their own at all? She drinks probably 6 diet coke's a day and doesn't do Pepsi. Seems minor I'm sure but it's in the back of my head.

 

Can someone explain the dress code thing? I read some restaurants have dress codes while others don't? Which do? We will be on the Jade. I think we're going to do the 5 meal plan so we can check out all the specialty dining. After cruising a lot with Celebrity I'm excited for more moderately priced specialty dining. :D

[Nola26]

Awesome and congratulations. We have had wonderful experiences with NCL.

 

Coke vs. Pepsi, just level with Mom. She can get her fix at the ports or find other things to enjoy on the trip.

 

I'm not a veteran of the Specialty experiences on NCL, so I'll allow someone else to help with that and address the attire question. I will address your moderately priced comment. Did you select Specialty as a perk? If so you will just pay tax and service charge.

[dporter]

Booked my first NCL cruise for next November and am pretty excited. I chose it because we really wanted a longer southern itinerary out of Florida to be able to skip to flight to San Juan this go around (financially breaks even when taking into account flights etc).

 

I am weirdly having second thoughts which is annoying because I know we will have a great time.

 

I'm worried that my Mom will go crazy with no access to Coke products since it seems NCL doesn't let people bring on their own at all? She drinks probably 6 diet coke's a day and doesn't do Pepsi. Seems minor I'm sure but it's in the back of my head.

 

Can someone explain the dress code thing? I read some restaurants have dress codes while others don't? Which do? We will be on the Jade. I think we're going to do the 5 meal plan so we can check out all the specialty dining. After cruising a lot with Celebrity I'm excited for more moderately priced specialty dining. :D

 

There isn't really a strict dress code. Sometimes the main dining room, Grand Pacific is the name I think, will not allow shorts at dinner. Although I noticed it isn't always followed. The other main dining room, Alizar, didn't have that stipulation.

 

I did notice that most people going into Le Bistro, one of the specialty restaurants tended to have nicer clothes on, like business casual. Jasmine Garden is a free option that we didn't try until the last day, we wish we would have done it sooner. Only sushi was an up charge.

 

As far as the coke addiction, there are many that are very particular to one brand or another, I look at as a week of detox from soda and make other choices. Of course, that doesn't work for everyone.

 

Enjoy your trip, the Jade will be going into dry dock in March 2017 and be almost completely refurbished. We will be on the 2nd to last cruise prior to dry dock.

[fshagan]

We loved the Jade when we sailed her. Very easy to navigate around and just the right size ship for us.

 

There really isn't a dress code for normal people. They have to post one because sure as shootin' some person will show up in underwear and a tank top or their pajamas if they don't. Someone covered the "no shorts" in one of the main dining rooms, but even that is not that strictly enforced. They also don't allow swimming suits in the restaurants.

 

There is no formal night. None. There is a "dress up or not" night where the photographers are available to take pictures of you and the captain in the atrium (the photographers are out most nights anyway). You can dress up if you like. Or not. No one cares. That really gets to some people, because they either want to see everyone dressed up, or want to act like they are on Downton Abbey, or want to be noticed, or want to feel like they are part of a grand tradition, or .... whatever.

 

The French restaurant has some kind of dress code ... but even it is relaxed compared to "formal nights" on other lines. I believe Le Bristro still requires collars on shirts for men and no shorts, but that can be a polo shirt and jeans.

[sanger727]

We are traveling on the jade in Jan. As far as dress code, there are 2 main dining rooms. One will be the more formal and one will be the more casual one. Just about anything goes in the casual one besides tank tops (for men) and bathing suits, think the more formal one is along the lines of pants and a collared shirt. Also the French restaurant has the same dress code as the more formal dining room, the rest are casual. There will be a couple 'dress up or not' nights where you can dress up, or can stick w casual, up to you.

 

Agree with you about the specialty restaurant pricing on celebrity being crazy.

 

For your mom, there will be free lemonade, iced tea, coffee, hot tea, water, and juice. There are also plenty of other soda options.... surely in her life she has found something else she enjoys drinking besides Diet Coke. If you guys got the drink package w your booking then there will plenty of things to drink. She can always get a Diet Coke in port.

 

 

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Edited December 13, 2016 by sanger727

[Eleteace]

Heya, this post may be useful to you http://cruisingisntjustforoldpeople.co.uk/2016/12/04/8-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-cruising-with-ncl/ I won't bore you all by writing it out again.

 

But I love love love NCL, I'm sure you'll have a fabulous time. Bit annoying about the Coke thing but it is a fantastic opportunity to try some new things, they have tons of very yummy drinks.

 

 

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[Eleteace]

We loved the Jade when we sailed her. Very easy to navigate around and just the right size ship for us.

 

 

 

There really isn't a dress code for normal people. They have to post one because sure as shootin' some person will show up in underwear and a tank top or their pajamas if they don't. Someone covered the "no shorts" in one of the main dining rooms, but even that is not that strictly enforced. They also don't allow swimming suits in the restaurants.

 

 

 

There is no formal night. None. There is a "dress up or not" night where the photographers are available to take pictures of you and the captain in the atrium (the photographers are out most nights anyway). You can dress up if you like. Or not. No one cares. That really gets to some people, because they either want to see everyone dressed up, or want to act like they are on Downton Abbey, or want to be noticed, or want to feel like they are part of a grand tradition, or .... whatever.

 

 

 

The French restaurant has some kind of dress code ... but even it is relaxed compared to "formal nights" on other lines. I believe Le Bristro still requires collars on shirts for men and no shorts, but that can be a polo shirt and jeans.

 

 

Love love love this comment about downtown abbey :') one of my favourite things about NCL is the lack of dress code and the people just seem a lot friendlier and down to earth...

 

I went on a Cunard cruise recently where a man said that if another man took off his jacket at dinner it would ruin his cruise!! (Non of these people on NCL though thankfully :') )

 

 

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[BubMunkeyBles]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm pretty excited but am weird trying new things sometimes. Definitely excited to not have to to get dressed up to eat in dining rooms every night, especially on a longer cruise.

 

My Mom is probably going to be living off Pellegrino. Honestly I'm probably more worried about it than she is.

[WineKnit]

Booked my first NCL cruise for next November and am pretty excited. I chose it because we really wanted a longer southern itinerary out of Florida to be able to skip to flight to San Juan this go around (financially breaks even when taking into account flights etc).

 

I am weirdly having second thoughts which is annoying because I know we will have a great time.

 

I'm worried that my Mom will go crazy with no access to Coke products since it seems NCL doesn't let people bring on their own at all? She drinks probably 6 diet coke's a day and doesn't do Pepsi. Seems minor I'm sure but it's in the back of my head.

 

Can someone explain the dress code thing? I read some restaurants have dress codes while others don't? Which do? We will be on the Jade. I think we're going to do the 5 meal plan so we can check out all the specialty dining. After cruising a lot with Celebrity I'm excited for more moderately priced specialty dining. :D

I totally understand. I am booked on the Epic in March and am dreading the lack of access to Diet Coke.

[luckyinpa]

I'm worried that my Mom will go crazy with no access to Coke products since it seems NCL doesn't let people bring on their own at all? She drinks probably 6 diet coke's a day and doesn't do Pepsi. Seems minor I'm sure but it's in the back of my head.

 

Can someone explain the dress code thing? I read some restaurants have dress codes while others don't? Which do? We will be on the Jade. I think we're going to do the 5 meal plan so we can check out all the specialty dining. After cruising a lot with Celebrity I'm excited for more moderately priced specialty dining. :D

 

my friend is a coke addict....on day 3 she said 'get me a pepsi'

 

she missed the carbonated beverage. but she did buy a can of coke in nassau

 

on BA ocean blue and le bistro are pants required but MDR had a lot of shorts in there. i was shocked. but the daily never said MDR is pants only. i swear the ncl site said that though.

[bbixler18]

BA has three MDRs.....Taste and Savor allow shorts for dinner. The larger MDR located aft, Manhattan Room, does not allow shorts. You may be able to get away with shorts in Manhattan on your first night but after that I've seen many people turned away. All 3 MDRs serve the same menu.

Edited December 23, 2016 by bbixler18

[Linda the Book Lover]

We sailed on the Jade recently and I lived in capri pants and tops at dinner. One night I actually wore full length pants and a top..I was dressed up in my opinion. My DH like me decided eons ago that a vacation meant being comfortable and we have enjoyed NCL very much.

 

We loved Le Bistro eating there twice. The downside is I am very sensitive to cigarette smoke and the bar area where we chose to meet friends before Le Bistro is smoky due to the casino and not the cigar bar (we guessed they had better ventilation-not sure). My eyes turned bright red and I coughed quite a bit after just a short wait. The next time we had drinks somewhere else and just walked over and checked into Le Bistro. We thought the food was good.

 

We did not care for the set-up in Cagney's for dinner. It was fine for breakfast and lunch but very noisey at dinner. The DH is the steak eater and he felt the meal was better on the other ships. We also ate here twice as well after convincing my DH to try again.

 

Food is subjective and I do have a warm spot in my heart for Le Bistro.

[BirdTravels]

Booked my first NCL cruise for next November and am pretty excited. I chose it because we really wanted a longer southern itinerary out of Florida to be able to skip to flight to San Juan this go around (financially breaks even when taking into account flights etc).

 

I am weirdly having second thoughts which is annoying because I know we will have a great time.

 

I'm worried that my Mom will go crazy with no access to Coke products since it seems NCL doesn't let people bring on their own at all? She drinks probably 6 diet coke's a day and doesn't do Pepsi. Seems minor I'm sure but it's in the back of my head.

 

Can someone explain the dress code thing? I read some restaurants have dress codes while others don't? Which do? We will be on the Jade. I think we're going to do the 5 meal plan so we can check out all the specialty dining. After cruising a lot with Celebrity I'm excited for more moderately priced specialty dining. :D

 

Welcome to the MCL family. You will really enjoy the Jade. AND,,, the Jade will have just completed a dry dock so, based on other NCL Esge dry docks, she will be clean and new.

 

NCL asks that you do not wear shots in the Le Bistro French restaurant and the Aft main dining room. Capris ok. Short shots not so much. Shorts would be allowed in all other dining venues. Most folks do dress up a little for dinner.

 

Yes,,,, there are those of us who enjoy our coke products and relegate ourselves to Diet Pepsi for a cruise. Alway grab some real coke while ashore. The sacrifices to go on a cruise!

[luckyinpa]

last week i counted at least 6 people in shorts in MDR. they enforced pants in ocean blue for me but apparently you can do shorts in MDR.

 

you have to assume the daily is the bible. this is printed everyday and there's nothing about MDR on the dailies. so id say shorts are OK.

[BirdTravels]

last week i counted at least 6 people in shorts in MDR. they enforced pants in ocean blue for me but apparently you can do shorts in MDR. you have to assume the daily is the bible. this is printed everyday and there's nothing about MDR on the dailies. so id say shorts are OK.

 

Well,,,, the OP asked about the Jade which has different rules than the Breakaway. So,,,, b careful about giving "advice" based on a completely different ship.