Jade Med based in 2010

[David&Heather]

Looks like NCL are homing in on the soon to be ex Ocean Village customers by basing Jade in the med for fly cruise holidays which are great for those in the uk who do not like driving to Southampton / spend 2 days cruising the English Channel before you get to the med.

Some good destinations on offer with some nice early booking prices.

We are having a serious look at one of the 21 day cruises on offer and subject to agreement from work to have the time off the deposit will be paid on Monday.

Well done to NCL for giving us the sort of cruises we want, hope they gain lots of ex OV customers, many of which are less than happy with the P&O alternative that we are told is the next best option.

[Stefan Batory]

And your Point is...???

[mypleasure]

Yes I agree. Sailing from Southampton does waste a lot of the cruise due to the 2 days it takes to get to the med and the 2 days to get back again. By sailing from Barcelona the choice of ports is good due to the time available. I can fly to Barcelona in a time that would be a little longer than the time driving and parking at Southampton and as you live North of myself it would certainly be a comparable with a flight from Manchester.

 

Wild horses will not drag me on P&O - far to many rules! I sailed Jade last week and found it to be a nice ship.

[jocap]

But as we've said on these pages before-if only NCL would ADVERTISE! Nobody knows it exists, and it sounds as if OV are giving the hard sell to P&O-obviously, being a Carnival line. There's a few OVers been on these pages and picked it up, but the rest are heading for Ventura. Our local TA sends us reams of P&O and RCI stuff, but we have to prize NCL brochures out of him. Just check the Sunday whatever papers tomorrow and there'll be NO MENTION-as ever. As you say, a quick flip to Bcn., and you're on your way. And still people are saying:" Oh, my friend went on that Norwegian line", meaning Hurtigruten. It makes me cross! Glad you enjoyed Jade, by the way-I'm busy watching her go round the Hebridees on the AIS page at the moment.-jocap.

[mypleasure]

But as we've said on these pages before-if only NCL would ADVERTISE! Nobody knows it exists, and it sounds as if OV are giving the hard sell to P&O-obviously, being a Carnival line. There's a few OVers been on these pages and picked it up, but the rest are heading for Ventura. Our local TA sends us reams of P&O and RCI stuff, but we have to prize NCL brochures out of him. Just check the Sunday whatever papers tomorrow and there'll be NO MENTION-as ever.

 

Pages and pages of cruise ads in Telegraph travel section today but not a single NCL cruise listed in any of the ads. Lots of ads for P&O, Cunard and Fred Olsen as usual.Did see a tiny mention elsewhere in the text but it only said that there were spaces available on NCL Jade from June to Sept.

The travel agent in the village I live in has a big sign saying cruise specialists over the door. I asked for an NCL crochure and was told they don't have their brochure as they aren't very popular.

 

I enjoyed the Jade last weekend and would be happy to sail her again on a longer cruise with a different atmosphere.

[dolphingirl47]

I suppose it really depends on where you live. We are big DCL fans, but DH really wanted to try another cruise line to get a comparrison. So late last year I started trying to find out about other cruise lines. The cruise line I was particularly interested in was Royal Caribbean as I figured from what I heard on other forums, that this would be the bet fit for us if we can't sail DCL. In the city centre in Manchester there are two travel agents across from each other (Thomson and Thomas Cook). Thomson were just trying to push their own cruises and I decided very quickly that this is not for us. I know that Thomas Cook does sell Royal Caribbean as I had seen offers for cruises in their window in the past. Yet they massively pushed NCL. They gave me two different NCL brochures and nothing for Royal Caribbean. When I asked if they had anything for other cruise lines, they offered me information on Cunard, P & O and Ocean Village. So I ended up researching NCL and we ended up sailing with them.

 

In March we went to a cruise show in London. All the big players were represented. P&O and associated companies, Royal Caribbean and associated companies, Cunnard, Princess, Regent, Silverseas, Easy Cruise and various river cruise companies had quite an impressive presence. NCL had a banner in a corner and two members of staff that you could not get to. At various talks, presentations and panel discussions, NCL was promoted, but not by NCL either, but by travel writers, a representative from Cruise critic and presenters from TV travel programmes. Apparently all cruise lines were invited to contribute to this, but the only people who took the organisers up on the offer was Royal Caribbean.

 

We did a back to back to back cruise (5 night Irish Escape plus 2 night weekender to Guernsey) and did have a good time. We came to the conclusion that Freestyle cruising is not really for us. We do prefer having company (and the same company for the length of the cruise) at dinner and the same serving team. We asked to share, but for only about 50% of the meals did this actually happen. It was not a big deal and we would cruise with NCL again (and I am sure we will in the future), but only if there was a significant price difference (for instance a Baltic cruise were DCL has insane prices) or an itinerary that we could otherwise not do (Hawaii or Alaska). We also came to conclusion that Royal Caribbean is probably not for us either again due to their leaning to what they call "My Time Dining". What we really want to try before too long is Celebrity.

 

Corinna

[David&Heather]

Yes I agree. Sailing from Southampton does waste a lot of the cruise due to the 2 days it takes to get to the med and the 2 days to get back again. By sailing from Barcelona the choice of ports is good due to the time available. I can fly to Barcelona in a time that would be a little longer than the time driving and parking at Southampton and as you live North of myself it would certainly be a comparable with a flight from Manchester.

 

Wild horses will not drag me on P&O - far to many rules! I sailed Jade last week and found it to be a nice ship.

 

It would appear that only people who live north of Watford can appreciate this:D

[David&Heather]

But as we've said on these pages before-if only NCL would ADVERTISE! Nobody knows it exists, and it sounds as if OV are giving the hard sell to P&O-obviously, being a Carnival line. There's a few OVers been on these pages and picked it up, but the rest are heading for Ventura. Our local TA sends us reams of P&O and RCI stuff, but we have to prize NCL brochures out of him. Just check the Sunday whatever papers tomorrow and there'll be NO MENTION-as ever. As you say, a quick flip to Bcn., and you're on your way. And still people are saying:" Oh, my friend went on that Norwegian line", meaning Hurtigruten. It makes me cross! Glad you enjoyed Jade, by the way-I'm busy watching her go round the Hebridees on the AIS page at the moment.-jocap.

 

We have been shopping around quite a bit lately and have found no problems getting info about NCL & brochures. Quite a few travel agents have recommended NCL as a good alternative to OV.

[jocap]

Yes, checked Sat & Sun Times-nothing!DH says it must be because they're doing OK, but now you say there's a mention of berths on Jade in June-Sept.-so not as well as all that. We could do it better!-jocap.

[dalyn]

It's swings and roundabout though! - our third NCL cruise is from Southampton on the Jade this August and we are really looking forward to the 2 sea days and no flying - ie. airport delays, hassle etc. Perhaps my view will be different when we get back - watch this space.

 

We are already looking at next years cruise which maybe the Jewel to the Baltics from Dover and it still looks at the moment that they will be sailing from Dover.

[jocap]

It's swings and roundabout though! - our third NCL cruise is from Southampton on the Jade this August and we are really looking forward to the 2 sea days and no flying - ie. airport delays, hassle etc. Perhaps my view will be different when we get back - watch this space.

 

We are already looking at next years cruise which maybe the Jewel to the Baltics from Dover and it still looks at the moment that they will be sailing from Dover.

:( Sorry-they've changed Jewel for the Sun next year from Dover.-jocap.

[insidecabin]

WE like the ex-uk options 2hrs from all the main ports, so on the ships for lunch, we also like the sea days.

 

 

NCL UK say(I asked) they don't need to advertise they fill the ships anyway.

 

What actualy happens is they fill them by discounting expecialy the suites and villas through upsells to US passengers.

 

Look at the baltic trips they were flogging off the last cabins for £399 thats for a 12n cruise even Thomson can get more money for their cruises than that.

 

I really think if they targeted the OV market properly they could start getting OV prices and up the revenues.

 

There has got to be a good tag line along the lines of

 

"You tried the cruises for people that don't do cruises, now try NCL cruises for people that don't do cruises but liked cruising, NCL offers everything OV did and more"

 

 

They could even try running the adds that they showed in the US.

 

About 18 months back NCL UK had loads of marketing jobs, I know some were for the UK PCC program but what about the senior guys what are they doing?

 

 

UK TAs are starting to put NCL in the mail shots, 1sy4cruiseing has 2 pages in theircuurent 24pg mailshot only P&O gets 3 the rst get 1 or2..

 

One thing that does seem to work for NCL are the short cruise ex UK they can fill these at good prices and with drinkers which does the bar staff good but not a lot of gamblers it seems.

[David&Heather]

WE like the ex-uk options 2hrs from all the main ports, so on the ships for lunch, we also like the sea days.

 

I take it you are from the US?

 

5 to 6 hours drive from Manchester to Southampton if you are lucky, a lot more if the roads are a mess which they often are. Can do home to ship in Barcellona by air quicker than home to ship in Southampton by road which is why we prefer fly cruises direct to the med.

 

We like some sea days as well but prefer the warmer med climate not the unpredictable and often cold English one.

[mypleasure]

Took me 3 and a half hours to Southampton last Friday from my friends home in Dudley. I had hoped to get an early start but my friend was dragging her feet about nothing and we didn't get away until 9. This meant we arrived at the dock later than expected/planned and the queue for checkin was ridiculous.

 

That aside I would still sooner sail from Barcelona because a)weather should be better from day1 and therefore any sailing time would be more enjoyable and b)no rough seas/bay of biscay.

 

I tend to sail for the ports mostly and find sea days a bit of a bore since I do not drink but I don't mind lying on a lounger for an hour or two (max) and doing a bit of swimming.

 

If I can get a cabin for £399 to the Baltics or Med I might actually consider an extra cruise this year!

[mypleasure]

I take it you are from the US?

 

 

2 hours from both Dover and Southampton = Greater London I would say.

[dolphingirl47]

I take it you are from the US?

 

5 to 6 hours drive from Manchester to Southampton if you are lucky, a lot more if the roads are a mess which they often are. Can do home to ship in Barcellona by air quicker than home to ship in Southampton by road which is why we prefer fly cruises direct to the med.

 

We like some sea days as well but prefer the warmer med climate not the unpredictable and often cold English one.

 

We also live in Manchester. We had the choice between a Med itinerary on the Navigator of the Seas out of Barcelona or the Irish Escape/ Guernsey weekended on the Jade out of Southampton. We booked about 6 weeks prior to sailing. The air fare from Manchester to Barcelona on short notice was insane (lets just say it was comparable to what we are paying for our flights to Florida in September), whereas we paid £80 per person to fly from Manchester to Southampton return. We would love to do a cruise in the Med at some stage and would most certainly have considered cruising on the Jade for an itinerary like this, but not being able to go from the UK is a major turn off.

 

Corinna

[insidecabin]

2 hours from both Dover and Southampton = Greater London I would say.

 

North of london, but easy access to the M40 and M25 so 2hrs Dover,Harwich,Southampton Also Luton,Gatwick,Heathrow,Stansted,Eastmidlands and Birminham are all easy to get to.

 

Flying to BCN door to ship must be a min 5hrs.

1hr drive and park,

1hr check in,

2hr flight,

1hr customs/bags and taxi to port.

 

The trick if coming from up North is to split the trip with an overnight stay, can leave in the evening so no extra day of work and take laternative routes to the Motorway to give more choices of overnight accomodation.

 

South of Milton keynes(M1) or Banbury(M40) leaves an OK(<3hr) time to get to the ship for lunch.

 

Look out for the deals in Holiday inns(£25+), Travelodges(£19+) and Devere venues(£10+). It adds to the overall cost but there is not allways a deal for a hotel that will fit with the cruise dates.

 

 

Interesting that the queue on the 5N jade was bad at 12:30 we arrived at 1:00 and had about 10min the car car queue and 15min in security, none at checkin.

[mypleasure]

Interesting that the queue on the 5N jade was bad at 12:30 we arrived at 1:00 and had about 10min the car car queue and 15min in security, none at checkin.

 

It was for the 2 night to guernsey. I got it for my friend and I as a treat for her. The queue to get to the security queue was about 5 mins. Once through that door the line started immediately and then we had to snake all of the way around the hall. It was very hot. Once x-rayed we then had a similar queue for the check-in desks Once checked in we then joined a line going across the bridges to the ship. All in all from when we arrived at check-in area to the ship was about 2 hours.

 

Last year in Seattle, my only previous cruise ever, we were on the ship 20 mins after leaving our cab outside the terminal.

The difference between Seattle and Southampton was that in Seattle they had seperate lines for balcony and above, VIP, latitudes although there was one line only for x-ray.

 

Once onboard everything was great but that line was hell. I even had to check my blood sugar to be certain that my sweating was due to heat and not an oncoming hypo due to not eating when I thought I would. I was fine though so no problem there. I found the food to be great for a low carb dieter like I am.

 

Not so sure my friend liked it though but that is another story for another time.

[dolphingirl47]

I heard this from a number of people on the 2 nighter. When we got on for the 5 nighter this was very well organised. We got to the port about 10:30, check in opened at 11:00. There was a short line at security and one party in front of us in the line for check in and they did direct people to different lines. We were then asked to sit down and wait for the colour of our boarding card to be called. We were on the ship at 11:40.

 

Corinna

[insidecabin]

It was for the 2 night to guernsey. I got it for my friend and I as a treat for her. The queue to get to the security queue was about 5 mins. Once through that door the line started immediately and then we had to snake all of the way around the hall. It was very hot. Once x-rayed we then had a similar queue for the check-in desks Once checked in we then joined a line going across the bridges to the ship. All in all from when we arrived at check-in area to the ship was about 2 hours.

 

Last year in Seattle, my only previous cruise ever, we were on the ship 20 mins after leaving our cab outside the terminal.

The difference between Seattle and Southampton was that in Seattle they had seperate lines for balcony and above, VIP, latitudes although there was one line only for x-ray.

 

Once onboard everything was great but that line was hell. I even had to check my blood sugar to be certain that my sweating was due to heat and not an oncoming hypo due to not eating when I thought I would. I was fine though so no problem there. I found the food to be great for a low carb dieter like I am.

 

Not so sure my friend liked it though but that is another story for another time.

 

The 2ners we have been on all seem to be much the same very busy early boarding.

 

I wonder if they were late starting since the last kick off the ship from the 5n was 11:00am. I also guess a lot of people decided to turn up early to get the most from the 2nights, on a longer cruse a couple of hours later does not make a big difference.

 

 

The move to doing X-ray/security before check in has disrupted the VIP/suite/latitude priority at the ports, before you got in the short line and were escorted to the front of the security queue. Now there is no priority for security except for those with access needs like being in a wheelchair.

[dark star]

adverts in M.O.S. 2 THIS WEEKEND FOR BALTIC CRUISES. still cheaper to book through a t.a. in the states though.

[David&Heather]

If I can get a cabin for £399 to the Baltics or Med I might actually consider an extra cruise this year!

 

Where from? Looking to do another cruise this year and would like to give NCL a try.

[mypleasure]

Dunno. It was suggested in post #12 by insidecabin that there are or were £399 cruises available.

Our trip to Alaska and 4 days in Seattle has already cost us £2000 each! Airfare, parking,hotels,cruise. Maybe you have to wait until absolutely the last moment and take pot luck?

[insidecabin]

Where from? Looking to do another cruise this year and would like to give NCL a try.

 

Can't name UK TA's on here but the early season Jewel trips did get some good discounts though different TA's the cheapest was £399 for the 3rd June sailing.

 

There is an independant UK board holidaytruths that has a thread with cruise deals from any source that would be of interest to UK cruisers.

 

Celebrity had 14n baltics at £569 on the constellation.

 

The deals are out there if you are flexable on dates and can leave at short notice.

[StuP]

We're gutted the Jade is no longer sailing from Southampton from next year. My partner will not fly, has a real fear of it, so sailing from Southampton has been a god send. We did the same itinerary last year and thoroughly enjoyed it (hence the decision to go again this July). It has severely limited our options for next year, we are now wondering about trains/ferry to Barcelona which obviously adds quite a bit of time to our holiday.