Norwegian Jade Review
A jaded experience around the Greek Isles
Rating by category
Additional details
We bought a late booking to travel on NCL's Jade on the Greek islands itinerary for seven nights from Venice. We travelled in a forward mini-suite with balcony on deck 11.
Embarkation at Venice
We booked independent travel from the UK to Venice (Marco Polo airport) travelling on departure day, a Saturday in June. We used the ATVO coach to Piazzale Roma, had to let the first one go as it was already full and wait 30 mins for the next one. Our coach was full about 5 minutes before departure time but the driver waited till the official time before leaving. At Piazzale Roma we used the people mover to Maritima and then dragged our cases to check-in (which for our departure was at terminal Isonzo 1 / berth VE20, the furthest from the dock entrance, although most Jade departures are from other terminals). With hindsight it might have been worth the c50 euros taxi rather than the 14 euros it cost us for coach and people mover.
Cabin Review
Mini-Suite with Balcony
Stateroom 11016 is sold as a mini-suite. The location in the ship is good - above is the library, below are other staterooms so it is very quiet but it is very close to the forward stairwell so easy to access. The room has a balcony but the deck above fully covers the balcony area; there are some staterooms towards the rear of the deck where the side of the ship is stepped so there's more sun on the balcony (but in midships, deck 12 juts out over deck 11 so there's an overhang which further cuts out direct sunlight). Facilities in the stateroom are good, there is plenty of storage with double wardrobe, floor to ceiling drawers and cupboards beside the wardrobe, and more drawers and cupboards beside the desk area. Nice sofa which converts to a second bed if travelling with three or four guests in the room (though you might then find the storage space less generous).Balcony adequate for the two chairs and table supplied; again, unlikely to take four people.Safe, coffee maker with tea and coffee facilities, fridge with mini-bar (but room to store cold drinks and fresh milk if you want to). Dressing Gowns supplied but no slippers.Bathroom has three-quarter length bath with shower over. WC and wash basin. Shelves and storage areas. Drying line over the bath. Unfortunately NCL uses soap/shampoo and shower gel dispensers rather than individual toiletry packs. No problems experienced with hot water or water pressure even at peak usage times across the ship.With curtains drawn at night the lighting was a little dim for our liking.Sea conditions throughout the cruise were very mild; there was slight vibration when crossing the southern Agean towards Santorini and Mykonos where waves were 0.5-1.0m high but no impression of movement thoughout the time we were in the Adriatic and Ionian seas where sea conditions were even less rough.