soccermommy

Thank you all for your replies and help.

It isn't so much as I can't wait,( though it's hard!), it's a matter of trying to find out what itineraries are out there. We'd prefer a cruise over 12 days, but any one we like has to be within a 2 month window. Surprisingly, there aren't a lot of those cruises out there.

I looked at Norwegian's 2017-2018 sailings to get an idea of what could be offered, but of course, that does't give dates or fares for 2018-2019.

Our TA can't get any info from NCL yet, so advised us to put down a deposit on a cruise we like, with the idea that when NCL comes out with its plans, we can change, since the cruise is 18 months out. So we are booking with Celebrity, which has a pretty good deal with their Concierge class, but really want to see what NCL will have to offer.

Can anyone give me an idea when NCL will release dates and itineraries for 2019? We are particularly interested in Australia and New Zealand. This will be for a 70th birthday celebration, and one more check off my ( very big) bucket list!

Several other lines have already published their 2019 itineraries, and believe it or not, starting to fill cruises, but we want to see what our preferred line has to offer.

Thanks for any help.

I have had 2 bad bouts of BPPV, and it's no fun. My problems had nothing to do with sailing, but after tests, I found my problems had to do with severe sinus problems and allergies. But that's just me. It can happen for a variety of reasons, but the end result was that my inner ears couldn't regulate my balance. There are methods for resetting the little "stones" inside the inner ear and in my case, they worked.

Please see your doctor. I found I have to careful about colds and sinus blockage, but I have no problems flying or, thank goodness, sailing! It is possible your dizziness could be long term, which is rare, but there's a better chance it won't.

A lot of information has been hitting the media sources today, so everyone is getting to see just how violent and disturbing this incident really was....that is, for those who are interested. I'll also refrain from posting the cabin #.

 

Thank you to the vast majority who kept this thread civil. I've been in law enforcement 24 years and I've seen my fair share of domestic cases....often the first to arrive. This is the sort of thing that is not only tragic at face value, but also for the first responders and witnesses who have to see what death really looks like. It's the sort of thing that changes a person. My heart bleeds for their daughter, family and other witnesses who had to intervene.

As the mother and MIL of law enforcement agents, I just wanted to thank you for you calm professionalism in reporting on this truly sad occurrence, and thank you for you service.

Sorry, you are inaccurate. Simply ONLY the John Hopkins Glacier from the turn at the inlet -5 miles, is closed for the harbor seal sanctuary until Sept 1, . The Tar Inlet is open for ships to stall right in front of the Margerie and Grand Pacific. And most ships stall by the Lamplugh Glacier. Many people simply miss the Reid Glacier.

Thanks for the correction. I probably misunderstood. And it was in 2006, so I may be having a Senior moment! I really do need to go back, so we're looking into next year.

The one thing about Glacier Bay is that the bay and glaciers are so big! Awe inspiring doesn't begin to explain viewing it. I saw it September 2006, and would go back in a heartbeat to see it again, especially to see how it has changed. But I missed Sawyer, Endicott, et.al, and I'm sure I missed something awe inspiring there.

Glacier Bay is strictly controlled, and we were told by our Ranger ships can't enter until seals have weaned their pups, so early season cruises can't venture far into the Bay, if at all.

So, when you go might be as important as which ship you want to take. If for some reason the cruise you take can't go to Glacier Bay, you won't be cheated of fantastic scenery.

I would pick the cruise that has the most interesting itinerary for you. We did the Jade in May for the Great Britain/Ireland cruise, and loved both the itinerary and the ship. The Jade is smaller and has fewer bells and whistles, but with a port intensive cruise it didn't matter much. I can't answer about Baltic since I haven't done it (yet!), or the Breakaway.

Airfares to London are pretty reasonable since there is so much competition. Getting to Southampton can be a pain, but we spent a few days in London and took a really cheap Megatrain down to Southampton. Going to Copenhagen might involve changing flights once you reach Europe. For example, IcelandAir means stopping in Iceland, but that would be a fantastic opportunity to see that fascinating island, and break up your flight in a fun way.

Weather can go any which way, so dress in layers. We found hot weather in England and cold drizzle in Ireland.

We originally booked insides, but were upgraded to balconies after a price drop after final payment. But we did the 12 day Spirit Mediterranean last year in an inside and enjoyed that too.

Go with your gut and you'll have a fantastic time. Let us know what you decided!

To address the other question posted....NCL Jewel is going to do Australia /Asia cruises this fall to spring.

We are on the Sydney to Hong Kong part of the repositioning cruise next spring. It then goes on to Tokyo.

Many from Australia are doing this cruise because it may be the last, for awhile. it is not clear if NCL will be able to get docking in Sydney after that. Apparently , they applied too late and after other cruise lines.

This was the explanation we received when we inquired why it sold out in 2 weeks.

Cruises very far out are always in flux. As many here know. This may all change .

Thank you so much for that information. I know a lot can change in one or 2 years, but I love researching this stuff, and this cruise will be for a special occasion. We don't expect to book the Joy, since her cruises tend to be shorter than we're looking for..

It still sounds like we would enjoy the Jewel as much as we liked the Jade, with similar size and amenities. And mostly nice people having a good time.

I started reading this thread because I'm researching Asia and Australia cruises and the Jewel is doing them for next year( note to NCL please give us a hint of 2019 bookings soon!). I haven't sailed the Jewel, though I have the Jade.

With the exception of the comments on tattoos (who cares?), and drinking by the pool (I am so shocked! Again, so what?), I thought a number of comments like those about housekeeping were valid, if a little over the top.Food is subjective. But I did react to what I thought was the tone of the post. Why bring up things like tattoos otherwise? ( and if anyone can explain to this 68 yr old grandma why they matter, please try).

I too think she might be happier on another line. But I bet every line gets someone who isn't happy.

I think the Jewel, if she does turn out to be the ship we book, will make DH and me very happy.

I do feel for you, OP, but this kind of this situation, though thankfully rare, happens to just about every cruise line. Over on the Celebrity boards there is a very long thread about a cancellation on their new ship the Edge for a cruise almost 2 years out. It's upsetting when it happens to you!

The good thing, I hope, is that you haven't spent money on airlines or hotels. If you are locked into certain dates, and NCL can't accommodate you for price and amenities, look into other cruise lines. I do hope you find something that works for you.

I was on the Jade in May, and did not find any problems with the food in either MDR. Even my DS, who is a very picky eater, always found something she enjoyed. But food is subjective. Give the MDR a try and judge for yourself, OP.

We also ate at Cagney's, Le Bistro and Moderno, but didn't get to Teppanaki or La Cucina, and I think you will really enjoy the 3 we tried. There is a reason why I am still trying to lose the weight I unfortunately gained!

I will say we preferred Alizar to the Grand Pacific. It was smaller, and we found the service better, but when we cruised, it appeared quite a few new crew members were being trained for the Joy, and things got mixed up a few times. That didn't spoil our enjoyment of the Jade, though!

Have a great cruise. I think you will like the Jade very much.

We ate at Moderno during our Great Britain cruise. I'm not really familiar with Brazilian steakhouses on land, so I can't give you a good comparison, but we really enjoyed Moderno.

The salad bar could give you a full meal by itself, but then the meat starts. And continues. And then continues some more. The service was very good, very attentive. My major problem is that I found I ran out of room way too soon to try everything I would have liked to sample.

Nothing was particularly spicy, IMO, but I did find some meat saltier than I would like. Since I don't cook with much salt, that could be just me.

My advice is try Moderno, and see for yourself. It's entertaining, and in the same room as the Mojito Bar so if all else fails...

Just don't eat much during the day!

I want to thank you for a fantastic review!

DH and I, with my DS, just finished a somewhat similar itinerary on the NCL Jade and loved it. Yours is just different enough to make us consider it, since we also love Celebrity.

I especially enjoyed your visit to Blarney. I too did not do the kissing of the stone, so I spent a lot of time in those gorgeous gardens taking pictures, and visiting the Mill. I got a sweater also since the prices were so good, and I wound up needing it. Our weather was colder and mistier than yours!

Thanks again. You are a wonderful reviewer! And please, give us an update on you family's health concerns, especially Brian.

I am so sorry this vacation is causing you so much anxiety.

 

You could actually get on the ship and not have a perfect vacation. It could break down as happened years ago with Century in France. Or the cruise could be canceled after boarding because of an impending hurricane. That happened to us on HAL (not Celebrity). We boarded in Montreal on a 7 night cruise to Boston. The weather was beautiful but after our second day and returning from PEI the Captain announced the rest of the cruise was being canceled and we would pass the next 3 ports and head directly to Boston. There was a concern of hurricane Earl and he was afraid they might close the Boston harbor which would affect the next cruise. When we arrived in Boston it was sunny and bright and no storm ever came. But the cruise just ended. Everyone was welcome to stay on board for the full cruise nights but sitting on a ship in South Boston is not the same as cruising (plus all shops and casino were closed and pool drained and they used the time to do repair work). The cruise line gave everyone 25% of what they paid towards a future cruise - no refund.

 

It was disappointing but we disembarked and moved on. A group from the UK was traveling on their first cruise which was part of a longer land vacation and we heard on these boards later they would never cruise again...

 

Others treated the crew so poorly and I was waiting at the front desk to get our invoice and so many people were angry and pulling all of their gratuities/hotel charges.

 

 

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Omg, Jade 13, I saw your post and had to reply. We're thinking of doing a similar cruise, partially because we live just outside Boston which makes it particularly convenient. I can't imagine having the necessity of spending 3 days onboard in Boston when I live 20 miles away! On the other hand, having someone else cook and clean for me has its attractions....

I personally have never had a cruise cancelled on me, but have had a port I particularly wanted to see (Istanbul) taken off an itinerary. I feel for the OP, and I sympathize with US Cruising, and I hope you get some peace of mind, especially with all the contentiousness on this thread.

But, I have read a cruise contract. I know that 99.9% of said contract is in the CL's favor. In spite of that, I still choose to cruise because I trust (gamble?) that things will work out. On the other hand, if closer to the cruise and I have made air / hotel arrangements, and the cruise iis chartered or cancelled, I would expect the cruise line to work with me. At the very least, I would want the new booking at the same price and room level. It may not be legally required, but it is,IMO, the fair thing to do. It's just plain good business, and I still believe Celebrity wants to look good.

And of course, I would make sure I had very good cruise insurance.

To the UK posters, am I correct that you lose your deposit if Celebrity cancels on you? You have to take the alternatives offered, or lose it? If that is so, it truly stinks.

We had our first cruise with Celebrity on the Reflection, and had a fabulous deal for Concierge. Having lunch in the MDR was a lovely perk, even if we don't normally eat such a large meal for lunch. I kept my carry on with me under my seat, and no one said a word. And it even better to have this quiet time since there was a delay until 2 pm to get to our rooms.

We didn't get to see Sailaway from Miami on the helicopter deck, but we got to see the sail in to Labadee. That was magical!

Celebrity did make me feel at least a little bit special, and it was lovely. But I suspect Celebrity would make me feel special no matter where my room was located, the service is that good.

Unfortunately, now I really am spoiled, and want Concierge every time. Still working on DH for that!

Sorry, OP, that you had an uneven experience on the Spirit. I cruised on her in May 2015, and loved it.

Yes, the Spirit is a smaller, older ship, and yes, she is showing signs of age, but we found the ship to be immaculately kept, and service was outstanding. She is a unique ship and I hope NCL continues to find a place for her in the fleet. I'm sorry your experience wasn't so good, but did you go to customer service with your concerns? What did they say, or do for you?

As far as a rooms on deck 11 goes, I feel your pain. My first cruise on NCL on the Star, I thought I scored with a mini suite. Little did we know we were under the Garden Cafe with continuous cart rolling (it seemed) late at night. So, no more deck 11 for us on any NCL older ship. We haven't tried the megaships, but I will take pains to avoid being directly under any buffet or pool!

It seems you might like the newer ships more, so I hope you don't give up on NCL. Happy future cruising!

Thank you so much for this review! We are headed to Norway on the Jade next month. Do you happen to have the dailies?

I do. Haven't figured out how to post them but will a) try and B) answer what're rt questions you have!

Me again. The other glaring exception to service was the Internet Cafe. There was an offer for 30 minutes for 14.95 on the final day, a sea day, for checking in with airlines. We traveled Virgin Atlantic ( a very good airline and value, btw) and could not get a seat assigned until 24 hrs before flight time, unless we wanted to pay, that is. I won't go into the fun of dealing with the slow speed, but it took the full 30 minutes to check in 3 people. Next to us, there was a family trying to check in with Air Canada. They were there before us, and were still trying when we finished. The problem was there was no one at the Cafe to help. The printer didn't work. Why offer a deal and not staff enough people to be there? DS asked the woman across from us, one of the Art Auction people, and got a snippy reply. Doubtless, she was tired of questions she wasn't responsible for, but her attitude was different enough to notice.

Specialty restaurants. We went to Cagney's the first night, our anniversary. It was the usual great meal, hand down our favorite. DS and I had the Petit Filet, DH had the larger cut. We also got a cake and a serenade thanks to DS.

Le Bistro. Funny, I can't remember what we had, the food being good, but very rich. Service and ambiance were excellent.

Sushi and Jasmine Garden. DH is a sushi lover, DS and me not so much. We enjoyed the regular restaurant, DH had sashimi and a crab roll which was partially cooked and, he said, crunchy. He was a little disappointed.

Moderno. When they say meat, they mean meat. It was really good meat, but you have to starve yourself all day to make room for all the offerings. Really good meat but so much of it!

Generally, we found the meat to be very good in all restaurants. The prime rib in the MDR is maybe a bit smaller than the specialty restaurants, but it was good. DS thought some of the pork was a little tough. Again it's all a matter of taste. But we never starved!

Entertainment. Another subjective suggest. We generally liked it. The shows were entertaining. I've read on other Jade review varied opinions. The performers worked hard to give us a good show, we really enjoyed the Showtime Band( their concert of Dixieland music brought down the hose). Music in the lounges varied, but there was a style for everyone. It tended to be loud, but that seems normal on most ships.

Passengers. This was very port intensive, and from talking to some people, they were there for the dream ininerary. I was surprised at the seemingly large number of very elderly passengers and those who needed assistance, but I suspect they were there for the same reasons we were..to see places they never expected to visit. Being a European cruise, the passenger mix was very international. We probably were a sedate bunch, getting up early for the next day doesn't lead to late nights. It's sad to note that I have reached the point in my life where I'd rather sleep than party.

Excursions and ports. DS had the shore excursion perk( we had prepaid gratuities which is our choice whenever available) so we mostly used the ship excursions.

Guernsey. We didn't take a tour, preferring to walk St. Peter's Port. We were going to join a walking tour offered by the visitor's center, but there was a couple of hours to fill before the tour, so we just started walking. We wound up at a little museum at the site of the GermanHigh Command's signal center painstakingly restored by volunteers. For DH, this was a find. We got a comprehensive tour that was fascinating . We never did take that other tour, instead got a real insight into Guernsey's war experience., as well as a lovely walk. There is so much more to see on this island.Weather was cool and foggy so we really need to go back to see more!

We tendered this port. Between the crazy Channel tides (at low tide, the inner port has no water!), and wind, tendering was a bit of a mess.

Portland. I didn't know much about this port, which actually isn't all that far from Southampton, but the stretch of countryside as well as the coast itself, is gorgeous. We took the Corfe Castle tour, a ruin originally owned by King John, destroyed in the English Civil War. Beware, when a guide tells you there is a "wee bit" of a walk, be prepared to walk. And climb. Of course, this day was warm and sunny. But the views at the top of the castle were spectacular, and there was the charming little village of Corfe was at the bottom.

Cobh. This lovely little village is the port for Cork. We took the full day best of Irish countryside tour. We did have a drive through tour of Cork, then we went to Blarney Castle tour. We decided not to climb 120 steps and wait in a long tine to kiss the Stone. There is a large beautifully landscaped garden which we did explore, and a lovely Blarney Woolen Mills outlet where DS and I shopped. I got a nice sweater, she got souvenirs. We then stopped for a full lunch at a hotel, complete with Irish music and dancers. After rolling our bodies back to the bus, we completed the day by visiting Kinsale, a beautifully preserved fishing port. Weather was cool and cloudy bordering on misty.

If I keep using the terms beautiful, charming and lovely, it's because everything was.

Our tour guide told us how happy Cobh was to have us as visitors. At Sailaway, we were entertained by Irish music and dancers. Being on the port side, I got to enjoy the show. Sorry, I'm Irish, I'm a sucker for this.

More to come.

I guess I am jet lagged; I lost a paragraph someplace.

If you are new to NCL, be advised that the Jade is not like the newer megaships. It has an intimacy about it we loved. We rarely felt crowded. The ship was immaculate. We noticed a few worn spots in our stateroom, like the sink which had a few dings, and the plastic toilet seat which protested -loudly- when someone sat down.

Food. It was pretty good. Food is such a subjective subject, but we never had a problem finding something to eat. We mostly used the buffet for breakfast if we had early excursions, but did eat in the Grand Pacific when we had time. It often depended on what I call the great lox hunt. DH, being from NYC, loves his lox and bagels. You can't get it at the buffet anymore. You can get a nicely presented half bagel piled with lox in the MDR. When I asked about it at the meet and greet, I was told it was a budget decision. I suspect, lox, being smoked salmon, is highly perishable and probably has a lot of waste. But this is a change from last year.

The crew: with only a couple of exceptions, they were friendly, professional, and went out of their way to help.

For example, I also mentioned at the M&G that I never saw a laundry special. That is, it was available to Gold and Platinum. I was Silver. I was doing hand wash in the sink each night, which is not my idea of a vacation. The Hotel Director made sure that DS and I were taken care of after explaining that the ship could not produce enough water from sea water traveling at the slow speeds we used due to short distances between ports. Though I was very grateful for both the explanation and the perk, I wondered about other poeple in the same fix.

Another reason to go to the M&G!

The exceptions? Service in Grand Pacific was erratic, mostly at breakfast. The servers were friendly, and worked hard, but just didn't know what to do sometimes. We were told a group of new employees destined for the Joy were being trained, maybe someone can confirm that, but there definitely language problems.

This cruise was a dream itinerary for us as I had never expected to visit Northern Ireland where my father's family originated. This cruise was the only UK/Ireland itinerary for 2016. We booked this the day it was announced. My widowed sister joined us even though she had to pay double. She is from Rochester NY where we grew up.

A bit about us: DH and I are recently retired, late sixties, from the Boston area. This was our 3rd Norwegian cruise though we have sailed Celebrity and Carnival. NCL just seems to fit us best. We were Silver Latitudes on this cruise.

We left Boston on May 18 to spend 3 days in London. I hadn't been there since 1977! We stayed at the Hampton by Hilton near Waterloo station. It was reasonably priced, close to the train station and tube, and walkable to the South Bank. It was clean, comfortable, and had a pretty good free breakfast. We never felt unsafe. There are a number of restaurants and bars in the area that are pretty busy. Friday we walked around the Prominade on the South Bank before collapsing.

Saturday we got a one day hop on hop off ticket to get oriented to London and it included a walking tour to the Changing of the Guards. So Sunday morning, running late, we got an Uber to get us to Trafalgar Square to join the walk. We were able to see the Change from the beginning, essentially jogging along with the band and new Guard on its way to the Palace,, then essentially running to the other side to view the other band and Guard march to the Palace. The two groups meet at Buckingham palace, something we did have no hope of seeing, but what we got to see was way more fun. That afternoon we went to RAF museum in Colindale, which required a one day pass so we could use both the tube then the train. DH is a military buff but both DS and I had a great time too.

Monday the 22nd, we took the Megatrain from Waterloo to Southampton. I booked it 6 weeks ago and it was a great deal: £24 for the 3 of us. (Thank you so much you nice people on the Britain CC board for the heads up!) The fares can vary, but we were happy with our deal. It was for a very specific train, so you have to watch the timetables at Waterloo. All we had to do is show the gate attendant our printout with confirmation code and were on our way. We got there about 11:30 .We got a taxi to the port and there was the Jade. We dropped off our bags with the porters and everything finally seemed real.

Embarkation was easy. It took maybe 10 minutes. Then we used a lot of ramps to get to the ship.

Once on the ship, we asked if the rooms were ready. One crewman said yes so up we went to greet a very flustered Steward. So, we decided to find lunch and asked about the dining room. We were told it wasn't open so we and everyone else went to the buffet. I never did find out if the Grand Pacific was open.

After lunch, which was pretty good, we found our rooms were ready and set off to explore the ship.

I've only seen pictures of the previous decor, but the new Jade is quietly classy. It is a work in progress, though. Workmen were changing out lighting and some windows during port stops. I don't know how much work was done in the MDRs. Grand Pacific is dark wood and Polynesian murals, Alizar is a bit more colorful but not garish. The various bars were

We had adjoining "obstructed" balconies, 8538 and 8540, meaning the superstructure slightly encloses the balcony. It never bothered us and protected us from wind and sun(when we had some!). Being so far forward, I wondered if we would notice ship movement more. We didn't.

The rooms had updated bedding and decor, and the usual tiny bathroom. There was plenty of storage, and we had a coffee maker and a real hairdryer, not the tube contraption we had on the Spirit last year. All in all we were really comfortable.

More to come on the ports, excursions and general impressions, but I will say I would do this itinerary again in a heartbeat. (There are supposed to be 2 next year.)

We had a slightly different case whitch ended well. We booked our just finished Great Britain/ Ireland Jade cruise last year as soon as it was announced. However, we wound up changing TAs in October resulting in a new booking number.. Because of that, there was some confusion about receiving double Latitudes points which would have lifted us comfortably into Gold since we booked before the changes.

So, I asked the Cruise Next people onboard about it and was told since our current reservation number was made in October, there would be no double points. Disappointing, but not unexpected so we thanked them and went on our merry way.

DH checked our accounts this weekend after we had gotten some sleep, and unless we are hallucinating from jet lag, we got the double points and are only 20 points from Platinum. I don't know if the system did this automatically or if the very nice people on the Jade did it, but we're thrilled.

If you don't ask, you don't get, so ask nicely. It worked for us!

Last year on the Spirit our passports were collected at embarkation in Venice, and returned after we left Greece. We were told that it was requested by the Greek authorities. Maybe it had something to do with our stop in Montenegro, who at the time wasn't fully part of the EU, maybe not. We never found out why. This year, in fact just 2 weeks ago, we surrendered our passports at Southampton and didn't get them back until after Ireland. The Garda stamped our passports so I have to guess Ireland wanted to see our passports. Why? Who knows?

We were in London when the Manchester attack happened. It's a little unnerving to get off at a UK port and see police with machine guns, but s little comforting since a cruise ship could be a very large temptation.

No one likes losing the control over their passports, but when in another country, we obey their rules. Considering the state of the world right now, is anyone really surprised this is becoming so common?

Thank you so much for your review. We board the Jade next Monday and appreciate your helpful review. A couple of questions, if you could,

How was Southampton disembarkation? Did you head to London or to the airport? We are flying to London early- tomorrow!- and leaving the ship to go to Heathrow, but would like to read your impressions. What did you think of the buffet? Who is the cruise director and how were the daily activities?

Thanks again. I think your advice about treating the crew well was the best.

We used them last year. We had a 2 day post cruise stay in Barcelona and booked them for both days. We had a fabulous time. We will be using them again in London before our Jade cruise. Viator is, I believe, a part of Trip Advisor. I recommend them.

Thanks for clarifying that for me, I never tried to bring water back. Rum, yes, but I knew that was going to be surrendered. But the Op could certainly buy water for consumption at port stops.

I have admit, I'm perfectly happy with the ship's water.