Quick embarkation review on Jade Sept 26

[dhanakorn]

I just want to give a quick embarkation review on Jade Sept 26 cruise. 
 

I picked late 3:30pm embarkation time so I can spend the morning exploring Athens. Taxi from the downtown to Port takes around 20min and costs 12.50euro. Gave my luggages to the porter and headed to the testing area. Please have the QR code from TrustOne ready (you got the QR code when you registered during the web Check-In). If you don’t QR code, you can register on site. The testing was very quick — they did very gentle swap and didn’t go too deep inside your nose. Then it’s the most nervous part of this trip — waiting to know if I’ll get to board the ship or head to the quarantine. They told me it’d take about 30min but I think I only waited for 15min. Time goes slowly when you have to wait with uncertainty. There’s free wifi in the waiting area. If you’re negative, you get the pink wristband the you can go inside the cruise terminal for check-in. 

[dhanakorn]

You still need to go to the assigned muster station, even though you already watch the safety video. I think it’s just to make sure you know where the assigned location is. They keep announcing that around 80 people are still missing from checking in at muster station. 
 

One more thing, when I boarded the ship I asked if we could go out to the city since the sail time is at 11pm. The security guy said yes but make sure you get back to the ship before 10:30pm. I thought we couldn’t leave the ship after we board but he said you’re allowed to go out just keep the pink wristband and bring passport. NCL Jade docks at Terminal C (Gate E12), there’s nothing around here and is quite far away from the Piraeus town center. There’s no taxi stand but I think you can catch the taxi that comes to dropped passengers off. 
 

Now I’m a little concern about finding a taxi on debarkation day. 

 

[dhanakorn]

The testing area before entering the terminal building. 


The cruise terminal 

View of Terminal C area from the ship. There’s nothing around the terminal area. 

[dhanakorn]

Pool deck is quite busy. 


Nice warm weather today. 

Sunset view from the Great Outdoors. 

[meatball_nyc]

Looks beautiful!!

 

Bon Voyage and Cheers!

 

 

[Muckyduckway]

This is great, thank you. Hope to hear more if the Wi-Fi cooperates and you feel so inclined 😉

If you notice, what are the gym hours?

[debenson0723]

Thank you for this information.  We board in 35 days so any updates you can provide are appreciated.  Have a wonderful cruise.

[dhanakorn]

9 hours ago, Muckyduckway said:

This is great, thank you. Hope to hear more if the Wi-Fi cooperates and you feel so inclined 😉

If you notice, what are the gym hours?

Gym opens 6am to 11pm, no reservation required. 

[Muckyduckway]

Brilliant, thanks.

 

 

[ocdb8r]

14 hours ago, dhanakorn said:

Now I’m a little concern about finding a taxi on debarkation day. 

 

I wouldn't be concerned - the Taxis seem to know exactly when the ships will have disembarkation.  We were on the Apex in June (which I think used the next terminal past the Jade) and there was a swarm of taxis available when we got off.  We had pre-booked a van as we were a large group; happy to share the WhatsApp contact details (just shoot me a PM) if you are interested.

[Longstockingpippi1]

21 hours ago, dhanakorn said:

Now I’m a little concern about finding a taxi on debarkation day. 

I just came home from a land based Athens/ Crete trip. The Athens suburban railroad stops near cruise port and will take you to city center or airport. 

[dhanakorn]

I’m not a dining room guy so I eat all the meals at the Garden Cafe. No more washy washy girls to give you the hand sanitizer but you’ll asked to wash your hands at the washing station. Then you’ll be given a plate and utensils. 

 

Drinks are prefilled in a glass. 

 

You can go to each station and ask which one you like and the crew will put the food on your plate. 

 

No “fresh milk” in the morning. You can get a carton of milk. 

 

Food of the buffet line is scaled back but still edible. No crepe or real ice cream (only soft serve) although I think they cut those back a few years ago. Food is not a strong point on NCL. 

[dhanakorn]

We dock next to the Apex today in Rhodes. 

[dhanakorn]

We arrived at Rhodes early morning. You can watch the sunrise while waiting for the ship to dock. 
 

 

This’d be a good spot to enjoy breakfast while watching the sun starts to rise. 

[dhanakorn]

We docked at some kind of industrial port in Heraklion yesterday. You’re not allowed to walk inside the terminal area. The Daily says there’ll be a free bus to take you from the ship to the gate. I took an excursion tour so I don’t know where the free bus will drop you off. If the bus drops you off right outside the gate, then there’s nothing around there and the downtown area is still very far away if you want to walk. 

 

Heraklion is a little disappointment. I took the Knossos and Heraklion city tour. In Crete, I very much prefer Chania over Heraklion. If I come again I’d try to get a beach excursion. Sea water is very clear with turquoise color. 

 

 

 

Small beach area near downtown Heraklion. 

[Muckyduckway]

I'm very much enjoying your updates, some helpful details that haven't cropped up before.

And your photos are great, really drawing me in.

Starting to feel like we're really going!

If you get a chance, could you include the daily themes in the buffet and the specials of the day at O'Sheehans?  It's not important, but helps with planning ahead for where we'll eat each day.

[Rob-Bob]

Brings back the memories of the 7/25 sailing.  The buffet was very underwhelming.  We usually like it, especially for breakfast, but ate more at the sit down restaurants on this trip.  Ports are beautiful, enjoy.

[dhanakorn]

While food is not a strong point on NCL, the entertainment is superb. Blazing Boots last night was amazing! You can hardly disappoint with fantastic full production show on NCL. 

 

This’s a sample of main dining menu from last night. Food is highly subjective but I usually can’t find anything worth sitting 2 hours in main dining room. 

[dhanakorn]

2 minutes ago, Muckyduckway said:

I'm very much enjoying your updates, some helpful details that haven't cropped up before.

And your photos are great, really drawing me in.

Starting to feel like we're really going!

If you get a chance, could you include the daily themes in the buffet and the specials of the day at O'Sheehans?  It's not important, but helps with planning ahead for where we'll eat each day.

Day 1 - no theme

Day 2 - seafood (nothing special except seafood casserole and mussel in curry sauce). NCL cut back the shrimps on buffet line a few years ago. 

Day 3 - mexican 

 

O'Sheehans has special of the day? I didn’t know that, will have to check it out. 

[dhanakorn]

The technical stop in Turkey is not to be missed. The ship entered  the bay in front of Marmaris and did 360 degree turn and left. This’s unannounced. You can watch beautiful sunset from here. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Please keep posting!! Going on this cruise in 19 days!  

 

If you are thirsty late at night and head up to the buffet can you get yourself some water? 

[dhanakorn]

4 hours ago, GatorMomInNC said:

Please keep posting!! Going on this cruise in 19 days!  

 

If you are thirsty late at night and head up to the buffet can you get yourself some water? 

Buffet room closed around 9 or 10pm. But you can always go to O’Sheehan for water, drinks and late night snacks. It’s open 24hrs. 

[dhanakorn]

Some body mentioned on another thread that the price of laundry bag is now $29 (from $19). I managed to fill the whole bag up so I think it’s still worth the price. 
 

 

[dhanakorn]

20 hours ago, dhanakorn said:

Day 1 - no theme

Day 2 - seafood (nothing special except seafood casserole and mussel in curry sauce). NCL cut back the shrimps on buffet line a few years ago. 

Day 3 - mexican 

 

O'Sheehans has special of the day? I didn’t know that, will have to check it out. 

O’Sheehans does have special of the day. Yesterday was meatloaf.

[dhanakorn]

Mykonos is a tender port. We arrived early morning, got to the port just in time for the sunrise. You need to get a tender ticket the day before if you want to leave early but after tender ticket group 2, they let all the groups board the tender boat.