Live Cruising Review Turkey/Greek Islands NCL Jade 7/31/22 -8/7/22

[OldTymeCruiser]

Been there done that with your cruises. Love your pictures and are most appreciative of the food porn lol but what does your wife say with all you eat? What about your kids as you said you travel solo?  I would be hundreds of pounds if I ate what you eat lol!  All the best!

[luvcruzing]

15 hours ago, BennyBrun said:

NCL Jade … very calm and relaxed

Your photos make me really miss that ship. Love the Jade. I’ll miss the entertainment, too, on my next cruise - Carnival.

[luvcruzing]

Thanks, Benny, for the commentary and all the great photos.  Looking forward to the next one.  Safe travels home. 

[BennyBrun]

14 hours ago, QuattroRomeo said:

What a delicious-looking meal! 

Is the spread in the second photo hummus and seaweed? Or something else?

I learned about eating fava… its ground up chickpeas seasoned and topped with caramelized onions.  So good!

[BennyBrun]

13 hours ago, penguin233 said:

Thank you so much for your detailed commentary and photos. We are cruising the Greek Isles on the Jade next May, but a slightly different itinerary (we go to Istanbul too) and are so looking forward to it. Safe journey home BennyBrun. 

Thanks so so much.  Watch out for that itinerary change… my itinerary changed three times the last 30 days prior to embarkation!  Have a great cruise!

[BennyBrun]

12 hours ago, OldTymeCruiser said:

Been there done that with your cruises. Love your pictures and are most appreciative of the food porn lol but what does your wife say with all you eat? What about your kids as you said you travel solo?  I would be hundreds of pounds if I ate what you eat lol!  All the best!

Party of one 😆 I love my food but I also love my running so it balances out!

[BennyBrun]

9 hours ago, luvcruzing said:

Your photos make me really miss that ship. Love the Jade. I’ll miss the entertainment, too, on my next cruise - Carnival.

Jade is awesome… highly recommend it when sailing in Europe!  I got quite a few Carnival cruises coming up and I am looking forward to my chicken at Shaq’s!  Can’t wait to get on the Celebration!

[BennyBrun]

8 hours ago, luvcruzing said:

Thanks, Benny, for the commentary and all the great photos.  Looking forward to the next one.  Safe travels home. 

Thanks so much!

[BennyBrun]

Day 9
 

Flying home… my flight is delayed … shocked !  So I used my priority pass for access to the Aegean Lounge at Athens airport … wow… what a nice lounge with a barista on site!  I can settle in here for a few hours no problem!

[LouChamp]

Thank you for your food pictures!  Maybe you can also post pictures of food from home lol. Just kidding! You do such a great job and I know many appreciate all you do.  Safe travels and I look forward to more pictures. That said, we have been blessed to travel the world and on many different cruise lines.  Except for the QM2 and the Norway we try to never go on the same ship twice just for variety and also depending on the location but I have always been pleasantly surprised with NCL food in general but agree with your opinion regarding the garden cafe.  You are an asset to Cruise Critic but also a good person!

[HuliHuli]

On 7/30/2022 at 8:26 AM, BennyBrun said:

I walked from the Moxy and it took about 24 minutes.  You can take the Metro to the Acropolis station.  The Metro is the way to go!

I cannot stress strongly enough, the Metro is NOT the way to go anywhere in Athens!  We were on this cruise as well and during our two days in Athens, I was pick-pocketed outside the Omonoia station, directly across the street from the Moxy Athens City hotel and a second attempted theft while on the metro itself by a team of thieves.  They assaulted my DW as we attempted to disembark, opening zippers on her bag and my pants trying to get our belongings.  We spoke with local police (who are stationed around the corner from the Moxy) and with hotel staff.  We learned that pick-pocketing is an industry in Greece in the summer months and once we were alert to the problem, it was easy to pick out the culprits in the vicinity of Omonoia and other places.  Be forewarned!

[HuliHuli]

On 7/31/2022 at 11:54 AM, BennyBrun said:

There is no priority line… just regular line and heaven line … but it moved very quickly 

Indeed, there was no "posted" priority/Haven line.  We had to press the port staff to recognize our priority status - they have a list on a clipboard and once they confirm you are on the list, you are escorted to a table at the front of the tent where you meet the concierge and are rapidly processed.  Once processed, there was a short delay awaiting immigration review, but then we were among the first few passengers to board.  We headed straight to Cagney's and were seated for lunch by noon.

[HuliHuli]

On 8/2/2022 at 6:44 AM, BennyBrun said:

Rhodes… I am going to Lindos to see the Acropolis Athena’ temple and explore the village with NCL excursion.

This is a great excursion, but a very steep climb on a narrow trail.  So if you have any mobility challenges, you might want to reconsider this excursion.

[Yesimapirate]

2 hours ago, HuliHuli said:

I cannot stress strongly enough, the Metro is NOT the way to go anywhere in Athens!  We were on this cruise as well and during our two days in Athens, I was pick-pocketed outside the Omonoia station, directly across the street from the Moxy Athens City hotel and a second attempted theft while on the metro itself by a team of thieves.  They assaulted my DW as we attempted to disembark, opening zippers on her bag and my pants trying to get our belongings.  We spoke with local police (who are stationed around the corner from the Moxy) and with hotel staff.  We learned that pick-pocketing is an industry in Greece in the summer months and once we were alert to the problem, it was easy to pick out the culprits in the vicinity of Omonoia and other places.  Be forewarned!

I'm sorry that happened to you.  However,  that's not a reason to avoid the metro.  It's a reason to research your trips and prepare appropriately.   Athens is notorious for pickpockets.   It's very well known.  Simply take precautions like wearing a purse in front of you, wallet in a front pocket or around your neck inside your shirt, lock the zippers on your luggage, be aware of your surroundings,  etc.

[HuliHuli]

6 hours ago, Yesimapirate said:

I'm sorry that happened to you.  However,  that's not a reason to avoid the metro.  It's a reason to research your trips and prepare appropriately.   Athens is notorious for pickpockets.   It's very well known.  Simply take precautions like wearing a purse in front of you, wallet in a front pocket or around your neck inside your shirt, lock the zippers on your luggage, be aware of your surroundings,  etc.

You ASS-U-ME I didn't come prepared.  My wallet was in a zippered pocket on the front of my trousers.  When the locals suggest avoiding the metro, I listen.

Edited August 8, 2022 by HuliHuli

[casofilia]

@HuliHuli

 

Thank you for the Metro warning, we were considering how to get from the airport to our hotel; taxi it is!!

 

Mike

[BennyBrun]

10 hours ago, HuliHuli said:

I cannot stress strongly enough, the Metro is NOT the way to go anywhere in Athens!  We were on this cruise as well and during our two days in Athens, I was pick-pocketed outside the Omonoia station, directly across the street from the Moxy Athens City hotel and a second attempted theft while on the metro itself by a team of thieves.  They assaulted my DW as we attempted to disembark, opening zippers on her bag and my pants trying to get our belongings.  We spoke with local police (who are stationed around the corner from the Moxy) and with hotel staff.  We learned that pick-pocketing is an industry in Greece in the summer months and once we were alert to the problem, it was easy to pick out the culprits in the vicinity of Omonoia and other places.  Be forewarned!

I am sorry to hear that.  I was warned about pick pockets so I don’t carry a wallet walking around town.  I have a picture of my ID on my phone and I use Apple Pay to pay for stuff.  Almost every store takes credit cards.  I also have a trace bag that I wear that has a flap with a snap and three layers of zippers.  You do have to be careful not just in Athens but in most metro cities in Europe.

[BennyBrun]

1 hour ago, casofilia said:

@HuliHuli

 

Thank you for the Metro warning, we were considering how to get from the airport to our hotel; taxi it is!!

 

Mike

Might want to pre arrange a ride because the taxis might take you for a ride.  Make sure you negotiate the price before you get in the taxi.  It’s not metered.

[BennyBrun]

13 hours ago, LouChamp said:

Thank you for your food pictures!  Maybe you can also post pictures of food from home lol. Just kidding! You do such a great job and I know many appreciate all you do.  Safe travels and I look forward to more pictures. That said, we have been blessed to travel the world and on many different cruise lines.  Except for the QM2 and the Norway we try to never go on the same ship twice just for variety and also depending on the location but I have always been pleasantly surprised with NCL food in general but agree with your opinion regarding the garden cafe.  You are an asset to Cruise Critic but also a good person!

Thanks so much!  I sincerely appreciate the comment!

[casofilia]

@BennyBrun

 

Good idea; thank you.

 

Did you post the names I asked for?  If you did I missed it.

 

Thanks

 

Mike

[casofilia]

@BennyBrun

 

Do you remember if there was an MDR open for lunch on embarkation day?

 

Thanks

 

Mike

[BennyBrun]

2 minutes ago, casofilia said:

@BennyBrun

 

Do you remember if there was an MDR open for lunch on embarkation day?

 

Thanks

 

Mike

The MDR is NOT open for lunch on embarkation day!

[Yesimapirate]

11 hours ago, HuliHuli said:

  We learned that pick-pocketing is an industry in Greece in the summer months and once we were alert to the problem, it was easy to pick out the culprits in the vicinity of Omonoia and other places.  Be forewarned!

Pretty sure they were your words.

[BennyBrun]

4 minutes ago, casofilia said:

@BennyBrun

 

Good idea; thank you.

 

Did you post the names I asked for?  If you did I missed it.

 

Thanks

 

Mike

Not yet but will do when I get home!

[casofilia]

@BennyBrun

 

Not yet but will do when I get home!

 

Thanks

 

Mike