Educators2

Hi Karen and Gary, of course I remember you both. So nice to see you posting here.

We found a taxi outside the gate. We were looking for the Express bus stop. It is easy to find taxis in Athens.

Loved reading your review. Will search for the earlier segments. Glad you and Sarah had a fun cruise.

Susan

Loved reading your review. Now I'll search for the earlier segments. Glad you and Sarah had a fun time.

Susan

I think you should post this on your Roll Call. Find the Roll Call in the Forum section of Cruise Critic. Look for Norwegian Roll Calls, find the Epic Roll Calls and your date. then post the message.

Have fun on your cruise.

I would like more enrichment speakers, workshops, etc. These programs seem to be disappearing from many cruise lines.

I hosted two Meet and Greets in 2014. In both, I encouraged everyone to say a little bit about themselves. On the Jade in December, I had a microphone and every group, couple, single introduced themselves and said what they most looked forward to on the cruise. It went really well and most people hung around to chat after the hour. I also asked for a raffle item and that was a big hit. I didn't know if I would get any little gift but it doesn't hurt to ask.

On the Gem, I asked for a bridge tour that was arranged. I don't count on that, either.

I always make name tags and about two-thirds showed up. It is fun to have activities but encouraging everyone (who feels comfortable) to speak makes for a great Meet and Greet.

We purchased the UDP online prior to our cruise on the Jade in December 2014. With your Platinum voucher you get a bottle of wine with dinner in LeBistro or other restaurants that accept the voucher.

I, too, have called the insurance company and if it before final payment, was able to rebook and carry over the insurance. You have to pay more if the new cruise is more expensive. In one case, we had to book a new trip before the original departure date. Another time, after Hurricane Sandy, they were very generous about the time frame. Every company is different. We dealt with Travel Guard.

Hi Janice,

We went from the port to the new museum in December. A taxi was 15 euros to the museum. The museum is wonderful. It was 20 euros to go back to the port. Enjoy.

Susan

Hi,

We were on the 10 day cruise. The laundry special, which we did free as Platinum, was on the seventh day (Wednesday before a Saturday debarkation). Everything was pressed beautifully, no problem. Generally, the special is also offered earlier in the cruise.

We liked LeBistro, Cagney's and Jasmine Garden. Best dessert, creme brûlée in LeBistro (classic creme brûlée) and tiramisu in LaCucina.

Join the Meet and Greet and you will meet the officers. They take questions. Jovo, the Hotel Director, had a question box at Guest Services. All staff were friendly. Put in for dinner with an officer.

It was December, so not pool weather. Kids were in hot tubs, though.

I had no real interaction with the cruise director. He let me have the microphone for the Meet and Greet which was very helpful.

Susan

Love reading your review. We were on the sailing right before you.

I agree completely about the need for more activities on sea days and the timing of many activities. I remember a circus workshop at 6 p.m. which I thought was dinner time for families and trivia at dinner time, too.

As far as taxis in Istanbul, we were told only to go to taxi stands. We had no problems and never had to negotiate fares.

Just want to verify. If I book a European cruise, I get two offers (dining and $200) on board credit but no Latitudes and no AARP. Is that right.

If I buy a welcome back reward with $75 OBC do I get to keep that. Is that combinable with new promotion.

I think there was a clothesline, but we had a balcony. It was very high up in the shower. There is an option for a bag of laundry for close to $30. We had free laundry but always paid for the special when we weren't platinum.

I did some hand-washing in the sink and everything dried over-night.

Have a great trip.

Hi,

We took the Delta flight from Rome. Delta also has a non-stop to JFK from Venice at about 1:00 p.m. You will have plenty of time to make your flight. We did not walk off with our luggage. Debarkation was very easy, not chaotic at all.

Have a great time.

Make a copy of your passport and take it with you. We were told to take copies of our passports and not to take the original. Anyone not in the EU had their passports collected and returned after we reached Turkey. I don't recall anyone asking for a photo ID. All ports had security screening.

The best rates for currency are through an ATM. We got some euros from Chase Bank in NY prior to flying. Although they told us they would get them for us as a "courtesy," they charged a pretty hefty fee. We used our Capital One card in Civitavecchia at an ATM- best rate, I think a 3 dollar fee.

We are used to ATMs inside the door of a bank. All the ATMs in Italy, Greece, and Turkey were open to the street. We were comfortable in Civitavecchia where the area around the ATM was not crowded but didn't feel comfortable in other ports. This is probably just us, figuring out language on machine, etc.

If you have to exchange for euros on the ship, the transaction fee was $10. (Better than what Chase charged us as a "premier" customer.)

In Istanbul, fellow cruisers negotiated better taxi rates with liras. Taxis all take euros, too.

Love reading another review of a very speical cruise. Looking forward to reading more.

Susan

Hi,

Our shuttle dropped us next to the check-in area at the port. It was the closest we ever were dropped off. Almost no walking at all. Our private shuttle transfer picked us up right near the pier. Our driver said that he had a permit to come right to the ship.

It was between 50-55 in Naples. I wore a leather jacket with a cardigan underneath. I did not need a winter coat anywhere but a lot of people wore them. Note: I am always cold.

Hi Hawkeyetise,

The captain was Lars Bergstrom and the cruise director was Pedro Serra. I hear that Pedro will be going to a new ship. Captain Lars really loves the ports and the major attractions there.

I prebooked for Olympia. It wasn't necessary. There are lots of buses right outside the port gates. I wanted the free wifi and a guide who explained what we would see.

The express bus is four euros round trip. There is a lot of information about the bus and it's schedule in the ports section on cruise forums.

Susan

We loved our winter cruise in the Mediterranean. I'm happy to answer any questions. I have included tips for other slow walkers out there.

Susan

Our December 3-13, 2014, cruise to the Eastern Mediterranean on the Norwegian Jade was in a word “fantastic.” We met so many people from around the world, enjoyed calm seas, visited interesting ports, and had great sightseeing weather during the rainy season. I’m dividing the review into sections, so if a section doesn’t affect your travels, you can look at the parts that are of interest to you. I’m a “slow walker,” so I will highlight any mobility issues in the section on the ports.

GETTING TO CIVITAVECCHIA

We booked our own air, a non-stop flight on Delta from New York (JFK) to Rome, about five months before our cruise. Although this was expensive, we didn’t consider other cheaper options that involved trains, layovers in faraway cities or multiple connections. I promised myself not to look at the fares after I booked, but I couldn’t help myself. The fares never dropped more than one hundred dollars.

I had always left the transfers and excursions up to the cruise lines, but this time I made all arrangements myself, and everything worked out. My two criteria were a quick answer to my e-mails and no payment upfront. Since our flight landed before noon, I contacted all the shared shuttles from the airport (FCO) to Civitavecchia. ESA transfer promised to wait if our plane was late and Allessandro, a charming young man, was holding a sign with our name as soon as we departed the baggage area. He took our bags and wheeled them to his van which was parked about a city block away. There were four of us in the van and we were dropped off at our hotels in Civitavecchia, about 50 minutes away. We all arranged for ESA to pick us up at the pier when the cruise ended.

We stayed overnight at the San Georgio Hotel. It is identified as a four-star hotel but that is by European standards. The lobby was lovely, the breakfast the next morning was beautifully displayed and delicious, and the staff efficient. We asked for and received early check-in and a room with a shower instead of a bath tub. The wi-fi was free but not good at all in the evening when the hotel was full. The shuttle to the ship, about a half-mile away, was ten euros per person, but necessary.

EMBARKATION

The shuttle brought us to the Jade at about noon. It was very stormy and the shuttle deposited us right next to the ship. We were checked in within minutes. We dropped off our carry-on in the room and voilà, our cruise was a reality.

THE JADE

We had travelled on the Jade in 2009 when ships were still visiting Egypt. We have cruised on the sister ships, the Jewel and the Gem, so we were familiar with the layout. All of the public rooms were well-maintained, the staff very friendly and our stateroom, a mid-ship balcony cabin, had more than enough storage. Roy, the room steward, did an excellent job and was always around when we needed him. Note pads were left in the room to communicate with the room stewards- a great idea. We are Platinum cruisers (this was our ninth NCL cruise) and the free laundry (one bag for each of us on a day of our choice) was the best perk of all.

SHIP ACTIVITIES

I was the host for the Meet and Greet, held on the first sea day. If you are new to cruising, or if you are not familiar with the Meet and Greet, it’s a chance to meet fellow cruisers and the ship’s officers. Sign up through the Roll Call Forum on Cruise Critic. We have attended many Meet and Greets on various cruise lines and the most important thing is to encourage communication. After the officers spoke, I made sure to have a question or two because I knew that most of the time people are shy about asking the first question. The cruise director let us borrow a microphone and I asked everyone to introduce themselves and talk about the one place or activity they were most looking forward to. We had door prizes (very successful) and a magnet exchange. It was amazing. Almost everyone stayed to talk after the meeting and we met people from all over the world who we chatted with throughout the cruise.

The gym has lots of treadmills and exercise machines, weights, etc. We went to the gym early in the morning on sea days and never had a problem finding an open treadmill, etc. There were lots of activities listed in the Daily Planner but many were selling spa services, announcing that the library was open, or advertising sales. I’m a big fan of general trivia but the games were at six or seven in the evening when we had dinner. I do think that it is worth paying a bit more for the cruise and having lecturers, personal enrichment speakers, computer lessons, etc. There is a lot to do in the evenings-- production shows, live music, game shows, etc. I do think that Norwegian excels in the area of evening entertainment.

DINING

I purchased the Dining Plan when it was first introduced at a great promotional price. Even at full price, it is well worth it. We had lots of wine (for us) through our Platinum perks and we enjoyed all our meals. There were only 700 cruisers from the United States so we generally were the first to have dinner at 6:00 p.m. Needless to say, service was extraordinary. Even Teppanyaki, the Japanese hibachi restaurant, had open seats at that hour.

We put our names in for the lottery to have dinner with a ship officer and we were one of the twelve lucky cabins chosen for the second night of this dining activity. Don’t worry, if you wear your best outfit, you’ll be dressed just fine. Only two men wore jackets. We were seated with two of the ship’s engineers and enjoyed the evening immensely. It was our only time in the complimentary dining room and of course, we had the best service. It was a lovely evening with fellow cruisers and the officers.

PORTS

The ports were the highlight of the cruise for my husband and me. If you love ancient history, mythology, world cultures, you will love this cruise. I felt that I couldn’t keep up with a large bus tour, so I arranged tours with private companies or we took taxis to sites that I wanted to visit. Again, I confirmed all my reservations about a week ahead and let the tour operators know that we didn’t have cell service in Europe. Tip: Make sure you write down the phone number of the tour operator and bring your confirmation e-mail.

CIVITAVECCHIA

We enjoyed our walk through Civitavecchia, the port for Rome. The apartments and stores all had very interesting old doors and architectural elements. There were numerous shoe stores and clothing stores, many of which were outlets. Almost every store was closed for siesta until 4:00 p.m. so shopping wasn’t an option. Of course, we needed a battery and it was about 2:30 p.m. We finally found a battery by using the word “Duracell”—the global marketplace is alive and well. There was a lovely park across the street from our hotel that abutted the seashore and had a children’s amusement park and skateboarding area. We hoped to explore more the next morning but it was raining heavily. There are cobblestone streets but curb-cuts where you cross (not always at the corner). It wasn’t touristy at all in December. We did get euros from an ATM near the hotel; ATM’s are the best places to get currency and we felt safe using an ATM on the street in Civitavecchia .

OLYMPIA, GREECE

There are numerous tour buses just outside the port of Katakalon, Greece, the gateway to Olympia. I opted for Katakalon Express. They offered numerous options but we chose the bus with a guide and free wifi (excellent). You paid your own admission to Olympia and the museum and, if desired, 10 extra euros for a guide on-site. The guide was very knowledgeable and spoke in English and German. German archaeologists are assisting the Greek government in excavating the site and signage is in Greek, German and English. When we got to Olympia, I was amazed. The site is huge—it is an actual excavation area. You get to see the pillars, stadium remnants and columns from the first Olympic village. We had two hours there and in the off season, you could explore as much as you wanted without huge crowds. The grounds were gravel and it was easy enough to manage if you walked at your own pace. We couldn’t possibly explore everything. We went to the relatively new museum that housed the artifacts from the original site. The museum is totally accessible with clean restrooms and uncluttered display. Another hour at the site would have been even better. Tip: We needed that phone number of the tour operator when we went to the parking lot for bus pick-ups. The depot we were directed to was not where our bus was located. A very friendly bus driver contacted Katakalon Express and the bus picked us up. Since it was within the two-week olive harvest, we visited a family farm to see how olive oil was made. It was pretty low-tech but the family was lovely and had bread and olive oil for us. Very nice. By the time we got to the town of Katakalon, it was starting to rain so we didn’t visit many of the shops. The trip to Olympia far exceeded our expectations.

ATHENS, GREECE

We visited the Parthenon on our visit to Athens in 2009 so this time, our plan was to visit the new Acropolis Museum. I learned about an Express Bus X80 to the museum with its stop right outside the cruise terminal by the DHL store. Well, we walked and walked and as soon as we hired a taxi for 15 euros, saw the DHL store. Ah well, we’ll have to try again next time. It was a perfect sight-seeing day, sunny with temperatures in the 60s. The museum is world-class, beautiful in its display of antiquities, signage and architectural design. We arrived around opening time at 9:00 a.m. and stayed until 1:00 p.m. There is an archaeologist on-site who was delighted that I had a real question for her. All exhibits relate to the Acropolis. You can see the Parthenon from many windows, from the outdoor café, and from all angles on the third floor. I love museums that are dedicated to a single subject and this site is extraordinary. If you need time to sit, there is a video on the third floor and an indoor-outdoor café on the second floor. The latter was a great place for people-watching-- the school kids and the “ladies who lunch.” We did have a hard time figuring out the buttons in the elevator, at one time shutting the lights by accident. The museum is totally accessible but you have to walk on a cobblestone street to get there. A must-see-don’t miss this museum. The free wifi in the Athens port was not very good.

KUSDASI (EPHESUS), TURKEY

Loved Ephesus on our last trip and wanted to go back. This time, we used Ephesus Deluxe for their duo tour-Ephesus and one day in Istanbul. Our guide, Gazim, was lovely -- knowledgeable, hard-working and enthusiastic. If you have her as a guide, you have struck gold. There were six of us on the tour, three of us “slow walkers.” If you visit Kusadasi, you have to have a guide take you to Ephesus—either on a ship excursion or a private tour company. Our tour included a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary (whose authenticity is accepted on faith), the Terrace Houses, and the Basilica of St. John, mosque and pillar from the Temple of Artemis (a site that honors pagan, Christian and Muslim faiths). I enjoyed seeing the wishing wall at the House of the Virgin Mary where guests left their wishes on paper strips—very multicultural. Ephesus is amazing the first time and equally interesting on repeat visits. There is a lot of walking but there are small ramps in places and places to lean against or sit down if you are in a small group. I remembered the ancient toilets from our first visit but learned a lot more about the city in a small group. The Terrace Houses, where the rich folks lived, was the only area which was too difficult for me to explore—more than 200 steps. When a fellow cruise critic decided she couldn’t do the walking, I had company on the bench outside and my husband went in to take photos. He was amazed that the tile pattern inside matched our area rug at home and learned that rug makers were visiting the houses to get carpet ideas. It was a fantastic day and luckily, the rain held off until our lunch (included) at a carpet cooperative. There was a demonstration showing how silk threads were obtained from cocoons and of the weaving process; the salesmen are masters at sensing interest. One of the women bought a room-size carpet so our time at the showroom was extended. If your mobility is challenged, you can get to see Ephesus in a small group or private tour; if it’s raining, then it would be a major challenge on the marble. The port has a bazaar area with many aggressive hawkers, not for us. Another great day with a superior guide.

ISTANBUL

I was most excited about our visit to Istanbul, an overnight stop. I love exotic places that appeal to the senses. On our first afternoon, we visited Topkapi Palace. The movie Topkapi always captured my interest and I was eager to see the jewels that are housed there. We took a taxi from the taxi stand for ten euros. It was quite a long walk to the palace complex. In tourist season, I am sure that the crowds and heat would diminish the experience but we loved it. The area is huge and there is a lot of walking. The rooms all have a step up and are pretty dark inside but the armor, jewels and clocks, all housed in separate areas, were more than worth the admission. It was fascinating to see the vendors selling toys and pomegranates among other things. When we asked a guard where to find a taxi, we were instructed to walk all the way to the taxi stand where the prices were fixed. We did not get Turkish lira; everyone accepted euros or dollars except for the tram. Definitely worth a trip especially in the uncrowded winter season.

Our full day in Istanbul was part two of our tour with Ephesus Deluxe. We realized after taking a taxi to Topkapi that a guide wasn’t needed in Istanbul but the price of the duo-tour was more than fair. We and a young honeymoon couple were the only ones on the van. They had visited the Grand Bazaar the previous day and weren’t too anxious to go back. Yay! Bazaars are not our thing but we’d have a look just to say that we were there. The morning tour included visits to the major sites—the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome and the Cisterns (underground water system). Hagia Sophia was our favorite. The Cisterns are eerily interesting but you have to be careful since the ground is wet and slippery. Once again, having the tour operator’s phone number paid off. Our guide gave us time to explore Hagia Sophia on our own and meet by the café. Guess what? There were a lot of cafes that all looked the same. A policeman called the tour operator and our guide found us! We did feel pretty stupid. Lunch was on our own but not really. We were taken to a “local” place where no tourists would go. No prices listed either. Nothing appealed to me but my husband chose one chicken leg and what looked like small meat-filled ravioli. The honeymooners had many different items. When we were given the bill, our guide told us the price and it was outrageous. Ten dollars for my husband and twenty-five dollars each for the honeymooners. I wanted to say something but my husband would have been embarrassed. Many others on the ship had similar experiences so, ask first before you eat. The guide showed us a few shops in the bazaar; that was good since we weren’t harassed. To my untrained eye, the shops were selling the same thing—jewelry, spices, porcelain, rugs, and leather. I don’t like haggling and wouldn’t take a chance buying jewelry so we quickly called it a day. There are steps into the Blue Mosque but benches to sit to take your shoes off. You are given a plastic bag for your shoes. With Turkey’s political move to the right, women have to cover their heads. Bring your own scarf. If I ever return to Istanbul, I would see the other palaces and smaller historical sites.

NAPLES, ITALY

I did a lot of research and decided to do something different in Naples—a cooking experience with Eat in Italy Food Tours. I told Francesco that I was a slow walker and asked him which tour would be best. He offered a private pizza-making class which appealed to me. I signed my husband up for the tour as well. We had a scheduled meeting point in Vomero, a taxi ride from the pier in an upscale neighborhood. When the captain announced that there was a strike in Naples of all taxis and public transit, I thought all was lost. But no, the ship called Francesco and he drove to the port to get us. What a day we had. We learned about the quality ingredients used in the family business we visited and sampled them. Neapolitans are aghast that shredded mozzarella is sold in the U.S. The pizza chefs and the staff in the kitchen were smiling the whole time we were there. We tried delicious doughnuts made with pizza dough and rolled in sugar. We watched the preparation of pizza margarita and fried pizza (a specialty in which the dough is first fried, then topped with sauce and cheese and baked). Then my husband and I each made our own pies and used paddles to place them in the new high-tech ovens. Of course, we had a pizza party with the four pizzas. Francesco was with us for the four hour tour explaining everything and then took us back to the port. A memorable experience. Francesco then e-mailed us the photos that he took of our day. Awesome. Totally worth it. The port of Naples has cheap and very good wi-fi. Buy a coke for two euros and you’re given the password to use it.

DISEMBARKATION

If you wanted to walk off with your luggage you could leave at 6 a.m. Tags were called by 6:25 a.m. Everyone had to be off by 9:15 a.m. We left at 8:30 a.m. and ESA was there holding our name on a sign board and taking us to the airport for our flight home at about 1 p.m.

Phew!! You’re done reading. A great trip which I’d do again in a heartbeat.

Just got off the Jade. Rome and Naples were in the 50s. I used layers..sweater and leather jacket. Many wore winter coats while some wore lighter jackets. Check the weather before you leave. It is the rainy season. Doesn't rain all day but there were a few showers. Great cruise to Eastern Mediterranean.

We had a wonderful day in Naples with Francesco from Eat in Italy. There was a transportation strike and Francesco drove to the port to pick us up at the cruise terminal. I am not a wonderful walker and my husband and I had a private pizza class instead of the walking tour. It was so much fun and very informative. Francesco emailed us photos the next day. A memorable day.

Susan

On our January 2014 cruise on the Gem, Platinum could only get free laundry on the days the special was offered. The bag was returned the next day. On a seven day cruise, we could choose our day.

If it is after three days, that would be great.

If anyone was on a Jade cruise, maybe it is different.

Thanks.

We are going on a 10 day Mediterranean cruise on the Jade next week. We are also Platinum and want to take advantage of the laundry specials. I know the specials are offered twice on a 10 day cruise. Does anyone know what days the specials are offered? It is probably the same for all 10 day cruises. This will save on packing.

Thanks