Talk to me about the Jade and NCL in general

[mkcurran]

I have cruised on NCL before. The SS Norway in 1992. I'm sure many things have changed since then. I'm looking at a 10 day Caribbean cruise next year. 

My most recent cruises have been on Carnival. The husband and I are over dressing up for dinner for more than one or two nights. And dressing up for us is nice jeans and nice shirts.

What do I need to know before booking? Things to avoid? Advice?

[www3traveler]

34 minutes ago, mkcurran said:

I have cruised on NCL before. The SS Norway in 1992. I'm sure many things have changed since then. I'm looking at a 10 day Caribbean cruise next year. 

My most recent cruises have been on Carnival. The husband and I are over dressing up for dinner for more than one or two nights. And dressing up for us is nice jeans and nice shirts.

What do I need to know before booking? Things to avoid? Advice?

What ship,point of departure and what dates?

Things vary from ship to ship, point of departure and dates.

 

For instance you want to avoid holidays, mid February until a week or so after Easter (which March 31, 2024.  If you are sailing out of New Orleans, I would reccomend not sailing over the last weekend of Mardi Gras ( February 11, 2024).

 

New jeans (no holes or tears) and shirt will work for dinner.

 

Once you decide on a cruise and get it booked, go to the Roll Call Section of this forum, find your ship, date of your cruise an join (it is free).

 

Enjoy

 

I will be happy to answer any of your questions, if I can.

[ColeThornton]

51 minutes ago, mkcurran said:

I have cruised on NCL before. The SS Norway in 1992. I'm sure many things have changed since then. I'm looking at a 10 day Caribbean cruise next year. 

My most recent cruises have been on Carnival. The husband and I are over dressing up for dinner for more than one or two nights. And dressing up for us is nice jeans and nice shirts.

What do I need to know before booking? Things to avoid? Advice?

 

This may seem obvious but if you haven't already done so ensure you read the Terms and Conditions of the offer you are going to book under.  "Free at Sea" doesn't exactly mean free.   😉

[mkcurran]

17 minutes ago, www3traveler said:

What ship,point of departure and what dates?

Things vary from ship to ship, point of departure and dates.

 

For instance you want to avoid holidays, mid February until a week or so after Easter (which March 31, 2024.  If you are sailing out of New Orleans, I would reccomend not sailing over the last weekend of Mardi Gras ( February 11, 2024).

 

New jeans (no holes or tears) and shirt will work for dinner.

 

Once you decide on a cruise and get it booked, go to the Roll Call Section of this forum, find your ship, date of your cruise an join (it is free).

 

Enjoy

 

I will be happy to answer any of your questions, if I can.im

I'm looking at Jade in April. 

Does NCL have casino event cruises? Trying to avoid an overly packed casino as well.

[mkcurran]

12 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

 

This may seem obvious but if you haven't already done so ensure you read the Terms and Conditions of the offer you are going to book under.  "Free at Sea" doesn't exactly mean free.   😉

I've seen that. Debating whether $400 of gratuities is cheaper than what my actual drink bill would be. Given that water for the room is around $2/liter, maybe it isn't such a bad deal.

[www3traveler]

2 minutes ago, mkcurran said:

I'm looking at Jade in April. 

Does NCL have casino event cruises? Trying to avoid an overly packed casino as well.

I think so, but I do not know anything about ship casino's except how to walk through them on my way to somewhere else.

[www3traveler]

1 minute ago, mkcurran said:

I've seen that. Debating whether $400 of gratuities is cheaper than what my actual drink bill would be. Given that water for the room is around $2/liter, maybe it isn't such a bad deal.

Why pay for water?  It is available all over the ship including your cabin FREE.  Just bring a water bottle.  Ship water is perfectly fine to drink.  

[UKstages]

4 minutes ago, mkcurran said:

Given that water for the room is around $2/liter, maybe it isn't such a bad deal.

 water in bottles or cartons is not included in the “regular” free at sea drink package.

[mkcurran]

7 minutes ago, UKstages said:

 water in bottles or cartons is not included in the “regular” free at sea drink package.

Ah well then the drink package doesn't make sense. Good to know. Thanks!

[mjkacmom]

2 hours ago, mkcurran said:

Ah well then the drink package doesn't make sense. Good to know. Thanks!

If you only drink one alcoholic beverage a day it’s probably not worth it, if you drink 2+ it is.

[Panhandle Couple]

1 hour ago, mjkacmom said:

If you only drink one alcoholic beverage a day it’s probably not worth it, if you drink 2+ it is.

This has been discussed here several times.  But 2 a day is the likely break even. 3 a day saves you some money.

They now have 4 or 5 mid-grade wines in the pkg for dinner (MDR or specialty), so that makes it even a better deal. 

[mjkacmom]

14 minutes ago, Panhandle Couple said:

This has been discussed here several times.  But 2 a day is the likely break even. 3 a day saves you some money.

They now have 4 or 5 mid-grade wines in the pkg for dinner (MDR or specialty), so that makes it even a better deal. 

It depends, I drink wine and cocktails, so with a gratuity, my drinks are usually around $13 - $15 each, so I come out ahead after my second drink. Add soda, virgin drinks, and the ability to bring in unlimited bottles of wine, unless one really doesn’t drink it is a decent perk.

[complawyer]

with the package, i tend to overdrink, more that i normally would.

 

while i certainly dont recommend the following, (1) at breakfast i usually order a glass of champagne or a mimosa. (2)  prior to lunch, a glass of chivas. i usually have a couple of bottles of heineken stashed in the cabin fridge. (3) mid day, or back from an excursion, either a mojito or margarita. we usually go to topsiders bar to order drinks. in the alternative, thank god for sugarcane

 

 (4) at dinner, another chivas, and (5)  a glass of port after the meal.  my wife has developed an affinity for reisling

 

there is no way i would normally drink that much in a month, much less daily

 

if youre eating at cagneys for dinner, and you ask your waiter nicely (a $5.00 tip doesnt hurt) he will bring you some of the sliced pineapple from moderno's/ (something to die for if you havent tried it before)

[Postcards]

Ahhh Moderno’s is my favourite , Great for Breakfast. Cagney’s is where you take lunch. Very casual for both

 We always take a Suite (Aft), all the same Haven perks just not ‘Haven’ cabin. Well worth it!!

We sailed the Jade to Alaska, maybe 7/8 years ago? Nice comfortable ship.

Good casino, Obviously not massive. Busy comes in small waves,,, shows etc.

Comes with Premium drink pkg and 2 specialty dinners.