LIVE Norwegian Jade May 1,2024

[umaine89]

Ok the rest of day 2. Walked 3 miles on jogging track. Very nice but kind of short. 
 

 

Obligatory selfie. 
 

 

Found a spot on aft of boat that was empty. You would think they could find a way to monetize this real estate. 
 

 

Enjoyed a wine while conducting a business call in Garden Cafe. There’s a picture but it’s upside down and I don’t feel like flipping it. Imagine a wine glass and a Caribbean Sea view through a window. 

 

Then found a nice walking path on deck 6 (I think. Right outside guest services). It goes all the way around the ship and is in the shade. Walked another mile. Excellent walk. 
 

 

Figured out that Starbucks was free with the upgraded drinks plan (unlike RCL) and listened to the piano guy. 
 

 

I have no idea if this video will work. 

 

 

 

 

View from deck 6 walking path. 

 

 

Spent afternoon on top deck listening to some good music. 
 

 

Dinner at La Cusina. Italian. 815 was not busy. 
 

Excellent food. I will be back this week. I can’t say enough good things about the food and the service. 
 

 

I make a mean cheesecake and this was to die for. 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3 by umaine89
Deleted non relevant pic

[umaine89]

I am not getting off the ship today. I’ve been to Cozumel a bunch of times and all I can eat and drink are free on the ship. 
 

best part of NCL, you can order more than one drink at once. 
 

[umaine89]

My daughter is making fun of me that I can’t flip an image

 

Anyway, here is the pic where I took the conference call. 

[umaine89]

@dmwnc1959

by request. I found this posted by the pool. 
 

[umaine89]

So it turns out we were parked next to Harmony of the Seas today. It’s hard to explain but I am a Royal Caribbean fanboy and am 3 nights away from Diamond.  Look at my signature, I have been on a bunch of RCL ships. So I felt some nostalgia for RCL. It’s an Oasis class, and while I haven’t been on Harmony, I’ve been on Oasis of the Seas. That said I am really enjoying NCL and this ship. 

Edited May 3 by umaine89
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[umaine89]

@dmwnc1959 Thanks for breakfast recommendation.  Had breakfast at O’Sheehan’s

 

View

 

 

Very good and good service. 

 

[umaine89]

So the Jade was built for Hawaii and was originally named Pride of Hawaii.

 

 

You can see the Hawaii influence in the staterooms doors 

 

and the artwork throughout the ship. 
 

 

[umaine89]

[dmwnc1959]

12 hours ago, umaine89 said:

Ok the rest of day 2. Walked 3 miles on jogging track. Very nice but kind of short... Then found a nice walking path on deck 6 (I think. Right outside guest services). It goes all the way around the ship and is in the shade. Walked another mile. Excellent walk. 

 

Dinner at La Cusina. Italian. 815 was not busy. 
 

Excellent food. I will be back this week. I can’t say enough good things about the food and the service. 

I can see me spending a LOT of time at O'Sheehan's for breakfast. And I can also see me spending an hour or so every morning out on the promenade deck walking track trying not to get any fatter. Lol 😉 been on a diet since January getting ready. 
 

Any plans on eating at the Jasmine Garden? It's complimentary and the menu looks pretty tasty. 

 

 

10 hours ago, umaine89 said:

So it turns out we were parked next to Harmony of the Seas today. It’s hard to explain but I am a Royal Caribbean fanboy... and am 3 nights away from Diamond...That said I am really enjoying NCL and this ship. 

Glad to hear this. Having been on Allure of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, it's been a good number of years since I've cruised on a ship the size of Norwegian Jade.  

 

[umaine89]

Dinner tonight. Back at Alizar. It was quiet at 930p when I showed up for late dinner after a nice nap. 

 

 

Cheddar and potato soup. Excellent 10/10

 

 

Also had lettuce wraps. The lettuce was a little soggy/limp but chicken was good. 9/10 if lettuce was crisp. 6/10 as served. 
 

 

Finished with bang bang chicken and shrimp. Shrimp and rice were good. I didn’t finish all of the chicken and skipped dessert because nothing was enticing. 
 

 

 

[umaine89]

By request. 
 

[umaine89]

Breakfast this morning, back at Great Outdoors which is behind Great Cafe. 
 

 

I love the two drinks at a time. I didn’t even ask for 2. RCL makes pina coladas with dark rum. In NCL, it is always light rum unless I ask for Goslings. It should be dark rum, IMHO, but this is definitely a first world problem. Haha. 
 

I have never been to the buffet when I didn't see multiple tables open by the window. This ship does not feel crowded at all. 
 

That said, it’s windy on the deck and they closed the port side top deck. So you’re not finding a lounger right now. 
 

 

[LatinaInTexas]

On 5/3/2024 at 5:12 PM, umaine89 said:

So it turns out we were parked next to Harmony of the Seas today. It’s hard to explain but I am a Royal Caribbean fanboy and am 3 nights away from Diamond.  Look at my signature, I have been on a bunch of RCL ships. So I felt some nostalgia for RCL. It’s an Oasis class, and while I haven’t been on Harmony, I’ve been on Oasis of the Seas. That said I am really enjoying NCL and this ship. 

Glad to see another person that likes the Jade. I really like the big ships so was concerned about booking the Jade which would be my smallest ship to date.

But I have read numerous reports and everyone seemed to enjoy and love it. 

[GALSews]

On 5/3/2024 at 4:19 PM, umaine89 said:

I am not getting off the ship today. I’ve been to Cozumel a bunch of times and all I can eat and drink are free on the ship. 
 

best part of NCL, you can order more than one drink at once. 
 

Could you please tell me what you are drinking? Thanks,

[jamin jul]

How is the music on board? Any calypso music? Does the buffet have a good salad bar? Fruit bar?

[umaine89]

2 hours ago, GALSews said:

Could you please tell me what you are drinking? Thanks,

@GALSews That’s a Miami Vice. I didn’t ask what’s in it. It’s colorful and good. 

Edited May 5 by umaine89

[umaine89]

10 minutes ago, jamin jul said:

How is the music on board? Any calypso music? Does the buffet have a good salad bar? Fruit bar?

 @jamin jul  Music is good but no calypso that I’ve heard. Piano bar guy is good. Guy playing sax is good. A couple of different bands were good at pool and in Spinnakers. 
 

Many times I eat at the salad bar. This has not been a salad bar trip so I have no info. I do get fruit in the morning. Bananas, apples, and sliced watermelon, cantaloupe, melon and pineapple. Really breakfast bar looks same as RCL to me. 

[umaine89]

3 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

Glad to see another person that likes the Jade. I really like the big ships so was concerned about booking the Jade which would be my smallest ship to date.

But I have read numerous reports and everyone seemed to enjoy and love it. 

@LatinaInTexas  I heard some people talking in the casino and they said their kids were bored. I agree, I wouldn’t bring kids. This is classic cruising. Playing bingo, sitting by pool, listening to piano guy, singing karaoke, going to a show, gambling in casino, eating good food (specialty restaurants), walking on deck, drinking pina coladas, a couple of stops on the itinerary. 
 

While I have done the Rock climbing wall and zip line and water slides and surf riding and ice skating and other stuff I’m forgetting, I don’t need it on a cruise. 

Edited May 5 by umaine89

[umaine89]

Deck 11, the bridge overlook is cool. 
 

Back on this Hawaii thing. I am going to go into MBA mode for a minute, so feel free to skip over this post.
 

I am amazed how fast NCL stopped sailing in Hawaii. It must have been a horrendous business decision to start with. 
 

The Pride of Hawaii was registered in USA and they made a big deal of it coming to Hawaii, the Hawaiian House of Reps passed a resolution in May 2006 welcoming it and celebrating its arrrival. 
 

 

Its maiden voyage was 6/3/2006. 
 

 

February 10, 2008, they lower the US flag. 
 

 

February 29, 2008 it is in Miami. 
 

 

It sailed in Hawaii for 20 months and then was renamed and pulled to Miami. 
 

Kudos to NCL for the fast pivot and realizing that the business model obviously didn’t work but wow what a blunder in original strategic planning. 
 

I got all of these pictures from the wall in the bridge overlook which got me thinking. 

Edited May 5 by umaine89

[umaine89]

I read, worked out and played Deal or no Deal this afternoon. 
 

 

Then had a couple of pina coladas (with Gosling dark rum) in the hot tub when things died down on the pool deck around 4. 
 

Someone came up and asked me what I was drinking. I’m just saying, it’s a much better looking drink with dark rum. 
 

 

 

 

 

[umaine89]

I am operating with no dinner reservations so I appreciate the board telling me how busy things are. 

 

Dinner at Sushi 11/10. Couldn’t have been better. With the meal package you get to order any 4 things on the menu. I was stuffed. 

 

 

Yes that was all free for one speciality dining credit. 
 

For $210, I got upgraded internet, upgraded free drinks package and 2 more speciality dinners (3 total). I have had multiple calls and the reception is fine (I have t mobile WiFi calling). I have been able to drink whatever I want and they give me two at a time. And the two speciality dinners so far have been awesome. That is the best $210 I have ever spent. 

[umaine89]

Last one

 

[dmwnc1959]

6 hours ago, umaine89 said:

I heard some people talking in the casino and they said their kids were bored. I agree, I wouldn’t bring kids. This is classic cruising. Playing bingo, sitting by pool, listening to piano guy, singing karaoke, going to a show, gambling in casino, eating good food (specialty restaurants), walking on deck, drinking pina coladas, a couple of stops on the itinerary. 
 

While I have done the Rock climbing wall and zip line and water slides and surf riding and ice skating and other stuff I’m forgetting, I don’t need it on a cruise. 

I am counting on this big time for next year. Can't imagine someone wanting to book an extended cruise knowing there are much more kid- and family-friendlier options. What you described as 'classic cruising'... perfection. 🥰

[dmwnc1959]

6 hours ago, umaine89 said:

I am operating with no dinner reservations so I appreciate the board telling me how busy things are. 

It's mind-blowing (to me, at least) that the complimentary dining options are just wide open and not a slot to be had for the specialty restaurants until after 8pm. I'm an early eater i.e. 530pm for dinner, and usually in bed by 10pm. It's also why I had mentioned earlier about having 5:30am breakfasts a lot at O'Sheehan's. 
 

 

6 hours ago, umaine89 said:

Dinner at Sushi 11/10. Couldn’t have been better. With the meal package you get to order any 4 things on the menu. I was stuffed. 

 

 

Yes that was all free for one speciality dining credit. 

😳 This does look very good! 
 

 

Edited May 5 by dmwnc1959

[schmoopie17]

WOW...looks like a huge "crowd" for Deal or no Deal. That was about the same size "crowd" we had for Wheel of Fortune on the Jade. Hoping NCL observes the "crowds" and decides to pull the plug on the game show fiasco.