Norwegian Jade Review
Great trip but I wish I had known what I am about to tell you
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This is my 6th cruise on Norwegian. I love the free style concept, not being much of a party person or one who likes to dress up. The ship was very nice-- I was not put off by the decor as others have commented. The inside stateroom was VERY dark-- we expected this but I admit that it would have been nice to have a window even though we didn't spend much time in the room. The food was fine-- I suggest going to the dining room vs the buffet for breakfast if you don't like crowds. The hogging of beach chairs was a bit annoying, but we always managed to find somewhere to sit/recline.The staff was outstanding and fun to talk to-- some very hard working folks. I was very pleased with the lack of hard sell on the boat-- my last cruise, which was to Alaska a few years ago, was peppered with exhortations to attend this or that gem sale or Bingo. This was much toned down on this cruise.
Although I did a fair amount of research prior to the trip, here is what I wish I had known:
Venice-- I was overly concerned about transportation,choosing to stay near the airport, worrying I would have a hard time getting to the Pier. Transportation is easy-- bus, vaporetto or train all easy and inexpensive. Don't worry too much about getting around, it is a lot easier than many cities I have visited. If you can afford it, staying in Venice might be worth it; I kind of regretted we didn't. The airport itself is a mob scene- even at 6 AM!! Getting from the boat to the airport-- you can do it on your own.
Cabin Review
Mid-Ship Inside
We cheaped out and picked an inside cabin. It was adequate and actually had quite a bit of storage space..I deliberately brought a soft rolling duffel so I could store it under the bed. The beds were nice. Bathroom adequate-- if you want (hair)conditioner, bring it.Plug adapter not needed *but we needed it in Venice. It was, of course, extremely dark- this was disconcerting as I kept waking up wondering what time it was. Next time I would bring an alarm , but that is just me- there were wake up calls available. I don't think the lack of a window would have bothered me as much if I could see a clock when I woke up at night...after all, it wasn't far to many windows and the beautiful sea! The staff were wonderful and the towel animals great. They kept the cabin immaculate and greeted us by name whenever we saw them.