NCL Jade

[*Libby*]

Hi there, we're thinking of booking the Jade for a Med cruise in Sept next year. Never having cruised NCL before, what can I expect - good & bad - from the Jade? Probably going to just book an inside stateroom - which decks should we consider/avoid?

 

Many thanks in advance from all you NCL experts out there, and look forward to your replies. :)

[Dayenu]

Not many posts about Jade here, don't know why. You can read reports, more information there. We cruised to the Greek islands out of Venice in May, loved it!

 

There are 2 restaurants included in the price, we preferred Pacific over Alizar for better service and views. Entertainment was better than expected, tenders well organized - they checked your ticket number!

 

I would not hesitate to sail with Jade again. Cannot advise on decks to avoid - we always get a window cabin on a lower deck in the middle to avoid getting sea sick.

[CTCruisers]

We have sailed on the Jade twice and will be back on her in a few weeks as we sail from Venice to Rome.

 

We like the Pearl class ships of NCL and of course we really enjoy freestyle. Do what you want when you want. :-)

 

We always book an inside cabin on decks 9 or 10. Those are between the top decks for the pools and buffet restaurant and the promenade deck with the rest of the restaurants and theater. So you do not have far to walk with the staircases. Those decks are quiet.

 

Here is a link to a long review I posted from our last Jade cruise:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1189792

[*Libby*]

Thank you both very much for the info. We've only cruised once before and that was earlier this year with Carnival - and yep, we caught the bug! We're looking to cruise the The Adriatic, Greece & Turkey, taking in Dubrovnic, Split, Athens & Izmir, sailing in and out of Venice. The itinerary is just perfect for us, and from what I've read so far I can't see any major faults with the Jade. Obviously folks will complain about this and that, but after sailing with Carnival I can't be any more apprehensive than I was - and that turned out just fine.

 

I think I may be phoning my travel agent in the morning! :D

[SuiteTraveler]

I've sailed on the Jade twice. It is a very nice ship. The food in the MDR is good quality hotel banquet type food - very, very good. I am not a huge fan of the buffet, but I don't like buffets that much normally however, they do have a lot of options in there. They do put out nicer cheeses than other ships and pretzel rolls in the late afternoon! If you have trouble finding a place to sit at breakfast, go through the buffet and into the Pappa's Italian Kitchen restaurant - you can sit in there and most people don't know about it. The buffet gets madly crowded in the morning on port days, so it's a good thing to know!

 

We stayed in the Courtyard Villas (now called Haven Courtyard Penthouses) the first time and an Owner's Suite the second time, but I did a cabin crawl and have seen all of the cabin types. They are ALL very, very nice and in good condition. The beds are luxurious and have nice linens. The bathrooms are well designed and the cabins are spacious and have really great storage compared to some other ships I've been on. The prices have been really great for insides. I know some lady on my cabin crawl got hers for $400 pp for a 7 day cruise. OUTSTANDING BARGAIN! It may be as the time approaches for your cruise that you can upgrade to an Oceanview for a small amount of money! This is how we got into a Courtyard Villa from a Penthouse and an Owner's Suite from a Courtyard Villa the next year! Keep your eyes open and call when you see the price drop if you are interested - it is usually only a one day sale. The Oceanviews are very nice and seemed much larger than an inside to me - although they are probably the same size:rolleyes:. Of the dining rooms, we liked the Grand Pacific best. It is really lovely and the service was very good in there. Azure is also very nice for a change.

 

Of the specialty restaurants, Le Bistro was probably the best, followed by Cagneys. Teppenyaki was the most popular. We had a party with food from the Blue Lagoon a couple of times for folks we met on tour - and they liked that food a lot.

 

The bar area on the ship which is outside of Le Bistro is very nice and I also liked the decor of the Casino - very Asian.

 

The shop onboard doesn't really offer all that much - but then, when you're in Europe, who cares? LOL!

 

You can bring 2 bottles of wine onboard and all the soda and bottled water you want - which can save you a lot of $$ on your sign and sail card. We also brought some cheese and iberico ham since we boarded in Barcelona and at various stops I bought pastries and other delicacies for us to have as a snack onboard.

 

There is also a nice bar above the pool area. All in all, this is a very nice ship with a very nice staff and I do think that you will enjoy yourself thoroughly on it! IMO, don't hesitate to book, the deals are too good to pass up!

[churchcottage1]

We are also sailing on the Jade , we're on the New Year cruise from Barcelona. This is our first time with NCL normally cruise with Celebrity or Princess, but this cruise just fitted in brilliant date wise for us so decided to give NCL a try.

 

I was a bit worried about the lack on mention of the Jade on these boards but feel happily reassured now.

 

Suite Traveller mentioned in their review that you can take two bottles of wine onboard. I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere else? I thought that you had to pay $15 corkage on wine you took onboard? We are planning to take a couple of bottles of champagne on with us, we always do with Celebrity , they don't charge any extra for two bottles. Would please me if I don't have to pay any extra on nCL as well!

[HokiePoq]

The Jade was our first NCL ship and we are happily returning to it in December. I, too, like that class of ships. We had a porthole room which was not what I thought "oceanview" was supposed to be. It was right next to the exit for getting off the ship at ports which caused a number of problems. We did love the ship in spite of not knowing which room to choose at the time. This time we are getting a different class cabin. I loved the ship, though, and wish you a great cruise.

[SuiteTraveler]

We are also sailing on the Jade , we're on the New Year cruise from Barcelona. This is our first time with NCL normally cruise with Celebrity or Princess, but this cruise just fitted in brilliant date wise for us so decided to give NCL a try.

 

I was a bit worried about the lack on mention of the Jade on these boards but feel happily reassured now.

 

Suite Traveller mentioned in their review that you can take two bottles of wine onboard. I haven't seen that mentioned anywhere else? I thought that you had to pay $15 corkage on wine you took onboard? We are planning to take a couple of bottles of champagne on with us, we always do with Celebrity , they don't charge any extra for two bottles. Would please me if I don't have to pay any extra on nCL as well!

 

In my experience, the corkage fee is ONLY if you take the bottles to the dining room - not if you enjoy them in your stateroom. However, I was last on this ship in 2010, so things may have changed in the past year.

 

The Jade is a very nice ship. I think you will be pleased with your choice and I really don't think you can beat the great prices!

[4774Papa]

We did the Jade last March and the Gem (almost identical ship) July 2010. The Jade was great.

Regarding inside cabins, it wouldn't matter to me which deck.

[mikewrit]

We love the Jade. Sailed on her from Istanbul to Barcelona in 2008 and are going from Rome to Turkey, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt next month in a deck-8 cabin with a big window on the side of a lifeboat. Rather have a balcony but this was the best we could do when we had to jump from a similar itinerary that got cancelled. We prefer the larger aft main dining room with big windows and a touch of posh.

[Fishbait17]

In my experience, the corkage fee is ONLY if you take the bottles to the dining room - not if you enjoy them in your stateroom. However, I was last on this ship in 2010, so things may have changed in the past year.

 

NCL's official stance on the corkage fee is that ANY wine brought onboard is subject to the $15 fee per bottle, no matter where you consume it. There is no limit that I know of (we have brought as many as 12 bottles on wine on). It is our experience that they often do not collect this fee on European itineraries.

 

We always sail in suites, and have always been escorted onto the ship by our butler. The first two times on the Jade from Barcelona, we asked several times while boarding about paying the fee and were "pooh pooh"ed by the butler. The third time (out of Venice), they had a sign (declare all alcoholic beverages) and table just before the security x-ray (after the VIP room checkin, on the way to the ship). Again, we told our butler that we had wine to claim in our cooler, and he simply ran it through the x-ray and carried it onboard. So, three for three times, we were not charged corkage fees (and we tried - even the last time, we approached the desk to pay and butler pulled us away).

 

This is very much unlike many of the American ports (like NYC) where they see it on the x-ray and automatically send you to the table to pay the fee prior to check-in. We have always paid the fees there. So, YMMV...

 

BTW, we love the Jade - it feels like home to us! The crew is outstanding and friendly. Be sure to sign up for your Roll Call and attend the Meet and Greet - you will meet many of the officers on the ship and see them all week!

 

Robin

[t-and-t]

We LOVED the Jade! Sailed on her last November out of Barcelona...visited Rome, Crete (was supposed to be Athens, but political demonstrations made it unsafe), Turkey, Egypt, and Malta. FABULOUS CRUISE! We were in a mini-suite on deck 11, and had no problems at all. Take a look at the deck plans and try to avoid any cabins above/below/adjacent to any areas you think might be noisy (the Stardust Theatre, for example). That being said, however, we were right underneath the Kids Club area and never heard a thing the entire cruise! We'd sail on her again without hesitation.

 

Next up for us is the Star in April in a penthouse suite. We've definitely caught the cruising bug and I have a feeling we'll be immensely spoiled by the 'suite life'!

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

~Tanya

[SuiteTraveler]

NCL's official stance on the corkage fee is that ANY wine brought onboard is subject to the $15 fee per bottle, no matter where you consume it. There is no limit that I know of (we have brought as many as 12 bottles on wine on). It is our experience that they often do not collect this fee on European itineraries.

 

We always sail in suites, and have always been escorted onto the ship by our butler. The first two times on the Jade from Barcelona, we asked several times while boarding about paying the fee and were "pooh pooh"ed by the butler. The third time (out of Venice), they had a sign (declare all alcoholic beverages) and table just before the security x-ray (after the VIP room checkin, on the way to the ship). Again, we told our butler that we had wine to claim in our cooler, and he simply ran it through the x-ray and carried it onboard. So, three for three times, we were not charged corkage fees (and we tried - even the last time, we approached the desk to pay and butler pulled us away).

 

This is very much unlike many of the American ports (like NYC) where they see it on the x-ray and automatically send you to the table to pay the fee prior to check-in. We have always paid the fees there. So, YMMV...

 

BTW, we love the Jade - it feels like home to us! The crew is outstanding and friendly. Be sure to sign up for your Roll Call and attend the Meet and Greet - you will meet many of the officers on the ship and see them all week!

 

Robin

 

That's how it was for us - we were in a suite both times in the Med and our butler just bypassed the whole corkage fee table thing and off we went.

[SteveH2508]

<snip>

BTW, we love the Jade - it feels like home to us! The crew is outstanding and friendly. Be sure to sign up for your Roll Call and attend the Meet and Greet - you will meet many of the officers on the ship and see them all week!

 

Robin

 

We have sailed the Jade 3 times - (4th cruise already booked :D).

 

Definitely go to the Meet and Greet - it pays to be known to the officers. I spent some time bending the restaurant manager's ear about 2 for 1s at speciality restaurants. He remembered me later on in the week and when we went to Cagneys he comped us a bottle of wine. :D

 

The beverage manager was straight on to the cellar when I mentioned that a particular wine was not available from one day to the next in the MDR. (Gewurtztraminer - which is very reasonably priced BTW)

 

The officers are there to run things to please us - all feedback is received and acted upon - NCL is a very good example of how customer service should be implemented.

[Jamisonke]

We LOVED the Jade! Sailed on her last November out of Barcelona...visited Rome, Crete (was supposed to be Athens, but political demonstrations made it unsafe), Turkey, Egypt, and Malta. FABULOUS CRUISE! We were in a mini-suite on deck 11, and had no problems at all. Take a look at the deck plans and try to avoid any cabins above/below/adjacent to any areas you think might be noisy (the Stardust Theatre, for example). That being said, however, we were right underneath the Kids Club area and never heard a thing the entire cruise! We'd sail on her again without hesitation.

 

Next up for us is the Star in April in a penthouse suite. We've definitely caught the cruising bug and I have a feeling we'll be immensely spoiled by the 'suite life'!

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

~Tanya

 

We also loved the Jade and were on the same cruise as Tanya (Hi Tanya!). In fact, we loved the Jade so much that we'll be sailing on her again this November. Last year, we were in a forward facing penthouse with a HUGE balcony on deck 9. We have sailed in suites on NCL a few times and have always enjoyed it, but found the service on the Jade to be superior to any we've had on any NCL ship. We feel very fortunate to be in an Owner's Suite this November. We both think the OP will have a wonderful experience on the Jade!

[Jamisonke]

We also loved the Jade and were on the same cruise as Tanya (Hi Tanya!). In fact, we loved the Jade so much that we'll be sailing on her again this November. Last year, we were in a forward facing penthouse with a HUGE balcony on deck 9. We have sailed in suites on NCL a few times and have always enjoyed it, but found the service on the Jade to be superior to any we've had on any NCL ship. We feel very fortunate to be in an Owner's Suite this November. We both think the OP will have a wonderful experience on the Jade!

 

We forgot to mention that our room was 2 decks directly above the Stardust Lounge last year and we could definitely hear the shows and rehearsals each day/night. Keep your location in mind when you choose your cabin location.

[t-and-t]

We also loved the Jade and were on the same cruise as Tanya (Hi Tanya!). In fact, we loved the Jade so much that we'll be sailing on her again this November. Last year, we were in a forward facing penthouse with a HUGE balcony on deck 9. We have sailed in suites on NCL a few times and have always enjoyed it, but found the service on the Jade to be superior to any we've had on any NCL ship. We feel very fortunate to be in an Owner's Suite this November. We both think the OP will have a wonderful experience on the Jade!

 

Hi guys!! *waves* We're heading to the Southern Caribbean next, but I think after that it's back to the Mediterranean for us. Tell the Jade that Trevor & I miss her! :)

 

~ Tanya

[beepee]

Nice, my wife and I are doing Jade for a week from Venice around the Adriatic next June and this thread is quite reassuring.

[Jamisonke]

Hi guys!! *waves* We're heading to the Southern Caribbean next, but I think after that it's back to the Mediterranean for us. Tell the Jade that Trevor & I miss her! :)

 

~ Tanya

 

Tell Trevor we said hello. We were on the Star in May, and we're sure you'll have a good time on your cruise!

[hairyvince]

I am on my first cruise this time next week on the Jade!

[herdingdogmom]

Hi there, we're thinking of booking the Jade for a Med cruise in Sept next year. Never having cruised NCL before, what can I expect - good & bad - from the Jade? Probably going to just book an inside stateroom - which decks should we consider/avoid?

/quote]

 

We were on the Jade in Feb out of Barcelona. Loved the ship, but booked too late and could only get an inside cabin. It was on deck 11 midship which is a great location, but an inside is very small and very dark. Also we were under the entrance to the buffet and we could hear carts and what sounded like high heels early in the morning.

 

For your cruise, sailing into Venice in the morning looking out your balcony is an unbelievable sight. We had a balcony cabin on another cruise line in May 2010 and coming into Venice was the highlight of my trip. Sept. will be nice weather too so I'd definitely recommend spending a bit more and getting a balcony or mini suite.

[*Libby*]

Thanks everyone for all your help! I've booked yippee! Got a really good deal from my local TA, and I knew if I didn't book it I'd regret it. I was offered an inside cabin on Deck 5, but decided to go down to Deck 4 as Deck 6 seems to be one of the main thoroughfares through the ship. So we're inside midship as it would have been an extra £400 to book an outside - hopefully nearer the time we'll get an upgrade. If not, low and midship will be absolutely fine.

 

Really looking forward to this itinerary, 20 years ago we had a couple of wonderful holidays in the former Yugoslavia, so it'll be lovely to go back again. Also really looking forward to the freestyle cruising that NCL will offer us! I may pop back again with any questions I may have, seeing as I'm still a cruising newbee. Is it to early to be counting the sleeps?

 

Thanks again folks! :D

[Jamisonke]

Thanks everyone for all your help! I've booked yippee! Got a really good deal from my local TA, and I knew if I didn't book it I'd regret it. I was offered an inside cabin on Deck 5, but decided to go down to Deck 4 as Deck 6 seems to be one of the main thoroughfares through the ship. So we're inside midship as it would have been an extra £400 to book an outside - hopefully nearer the time we'll get an upgrade. If not, low and midship will be absolutely fine.

 

Really looking forward to this itinerary, 20 years ago we had a couple of wonderful holidays in the former Yugoslavia, so it'll be lovely to go back again. Also really looking forward to the freestyle cruising that NCL will offer us! I may pop back again with any questions I may have, seeing as I'm still a cruising newbee. Is it to early to be counting the sleeps?

 

Thanks again folks! :D

 

Don't forget to join the roll call for your cruise where you will meet people who are booked on your itinerary and be able to discuss items that may be pertinent to everyone on your cruise. Happy sailing!

[t-and-t]

Thanks everyone for all your help! I've booked yippee! Got a really good deal from my local TA, and I knew if I didn't book it I'd regret it. I was offered an inside cabin on Deck 5, but decided to go down to Deck 4 as Deck 6 seems to be one of the main thoroughfares through the ship. So we're inside midship as it would have been an extra £400 to book an outside - hopefully nearer the time we'll get an upgrade. If not, low and midship will be absolutely fine.

 

Really looking forward to this itinerary, 20 years ago we had a couple of wonderful holidays in the former Yugoslavia, so it'll be lovely to go back again. Also really looking forward to the freestyle cruising that NCL will offer us! I may pop back again with any questions I may have, seeing as I'm still a cruising newbee. Is it to early to be counting the sleeps?

 

Thanks again folks! :D

 

It's never too early to count sleeps! ;)

[Fawn524]

I was on the Jade last May sailing out of Venice with my 2 girls...we had a 2 bedroom Villa. Loved the itinerary...the ship was great...the Officers fantastics. I would definitely sail the Jade again! Have a fun cruise!