Norwegian Jade Review

4.0 / 5.0
2,044 reviews

Fine Facets of the Mediterrean on the Jade

Review for the Eastern Mediterranean Cruise on Norwegian Jade
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twoboomers
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Additional details

Sail Date: Nov 2008
Cabin: Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony

The November 30, 2008 Norwegian Jade cruise from Barcelona to Rome, Athens (missed due to weather), Ephesus, Cairo/Alexandria, Malta and return to Barcelona. We booked thru Online Vacation Center with all flights from/to SFO and a two night pre-cruise NCL package. All transfers from airport to hotel, to ship, and to the airport were included and were on time and waiting for our arrival and departures. I wish I had thought more about upgrading to Business Class! Lufthansa economy was tight and the non-stop SFO to Frankfurt was barely tolerable, saved by the seat next to my wife being empty. The connection to Barcelona was also economy but only an hour or so. The return was on Delta, Barcelona to Atlanta, ATL to SFO. Delta economy was a bit roomier but still long flights (10 and 5 hours). Customs at Atlanta was almost non-existent. Lots of lines, baggage, customs, security to re-enter for the domestic leg, but patience and lots of standing got us thru. Keep your connection times at two hours or more for the return.

Embarkation was reasonably fast with only a small amount of waiting in line, Latitudes membership does seem to count for something. A glass of bubbly when on board and a quick visit to our cabin then off to the Grand Pacific for a lunch with some of our Cruise Critic folk. Note that you will be directed to the Buffet for lunch but the sit down dining room is open if you ask for it. Our luggage made it to our room by about 2 PM. We had the Anniversary package so had a bottle of Champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries in the room waiting for us. We saved the berries for later but never did get around to eating them. We had the bottle on a later night with the canapes served as part of the Anniversary package. The Mini-suite had a bowl of fresh fruit which was refilled each day by our steward. I'm not sure if this was a room feature or a Latitudes perk but it was very nice. We did not have to remember to grab fruit off the buffet and had a nite-time nibble if needed.

The shows in the Stardust Theater were very entertaining. We went to the Welcome Aboard show which had a little bit of several productions from later in the cruise. A good sampler to help you decide if you wanted to see more. We went to see the tenor Lawrence Robinson the next night, very good. We skipped the show Shout! -The Mod Musical not our style. We were too tired to see the Magician, the comedian, the musical collection of opera, jazz, and big band, and the Showdown vocal-idol-style competition on their nights. We did go to And the World Goes Round (a broadway revue) and Smokey Joe's Cafe. Both were first class productions with reasonably good singers who also danced and moved about the stage sets. Maybe not New York or Vegas but fun and entertaining. The shows in the lounge were mixed attempts at humor and fun. Not our style but many went and seemed to enjoy them. The performers in the bar areas, piano or guitar with singing sometimes, were good. You could hear them while you dined in the Jasmine Garden and some of the other surrounding restaurants. The drinks are expensive and we only bought one round at a bingo/drawing session. Lots of chances to dance to the wee hours if you wanted, we enjoyed our balcony and crashed early most nights after walking way more than we are used to doing.

Cabin Review

Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony

Cabin MA

The Mini-suite is terrific. A full bathtub/shower, and a separate stall for the toilet lets one use the sink while another does the necessary. The Bed was very comfy and the Balcony is large. Our stewards, Francisco and Igusto, kept the room extremely neat and clean. Just remember to flip the sign outside the door when you leave and want the room made up, or turned down. The Stewards are around only from about 9 to noon and 6 to 9 in the evening but provided good service when there. (Ice, extra blanket and such)

A Towel creature on most nights when the bed was turned down with mints.

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