NCL Jade from Athens Sept 3-10 / NCL Air/ Latitudes Platinum / CAS Sapphire / Group Benefits

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

I did a CC check before leaving for the trip to Athens and ther's not a lot of post so thought of adding one.....

 

Airline Booking - used NCL buy 1 get 1 free air.   

 

JFK Terminal Lounge - Primeclass is good. Better than Lufthansa.

 

 The flights we have are not bad.  NY-Brussels-Athens.  Layover ar Athens is 2.5 hours.

TIP - if you have a connecting flight, you will need to go through immigration.  Upon exit, there

are two exits that say connecting.  One is straight out and one exit ramp to the right. The exit ramp

has a waay shorter line through immigration. 
Brussels Airlines either has a bad conveyor or their luggage people throw bags because 3 of 4 have some sort

of damage.  I saw one box that said fragile that was totally mishandled. Other than that, flight was ok

our return at the end of the week is Austrian air -Athens-Vienna-NY.

Did a two day deviation on Athens Arrival
 

Athens Greece Arrival

Airport Transfer- we used Spiros which was a recommendation from old cc posts.

Prices were not cheap so I asked if I can pay by credit card. He said yes with no qualms or warnings.

Upon drop off at our hotel- I gave my cc and the driver said 15% surcharge for using credit card.

I don't mind 3% but 15? Annoyed at Spiros tour at this point but had no choice.

I emailed to say that the guy he contracted to pick us up is charging us 15%.  His reply was

the price he gave me was so low so it's cash only.  See his original answer when I asked if I could use CC.

i asked for a receipt which they didn't have.
 

Now that you are aware, make sure you have everything in writing, 
 

Athens Tour prebooked also from Spiros.

told my group It's cash only so collected cash.

We got a tour guide from spiros but it was only for the acropolis for 120 euro.

just ok guide.  The rest of the tour was the driver talking... not good english and only the person next to him

can hear so I had to repeat to everyone. I became the human bullhorn for the rest of the tour.

 

Airport dropoff from spiros went seamless but still cash only.

Times for pickup and dropoff were dead on.

sidenote: if you have apple pay, you can use it on most stores; even those small kiosks.

had no need to put out cash in athens except for Spiros. 
 

Athens port

No casinos at sea nor platinum check in line. Only those who bought VIP through NCL had express checkin.

Nothing recognized except for those who paid for haven or vip pass.

Jade - refurbished so it looks great. Layout of restaurants and venues are all spread

out in hidden areas of the ship. I like the breakaway class ship's layouts better.

 

Rhodes - used chat gpt to give us a walking tour.  I was impressed.

People are nice.

 

Bodrum Turkey - didn't like the salespeople. Very aggresive salespeople bordering on being AHoles.

you have to be ready to bargain.  i saw a guy being followed outside the door by a shirtless salesman

saying 50 euros. Customer said no.

Sales "how much you want to pay?

customer- I only have 20 usd.

Sales - no 30

cust - walks away

sales - ok fine give me 20.

cust - continued to walk away.

 

Lesson: from 50 to 20? That means they mark it up so high. Total tourist trap.

 

anothe experience:  one cust was from my group asked for price of a bag.

cust- how about 20 euros

sales - squats in pooping position and said he'll poop and sell it for 20 euros.

Very rude.  Good thing it's only for a day,

food - they have a menu but says ignore that and go pick by the grams/kilos

and you get fresh everything.  So the menu items are frozen seafood?

bill was $275 for 5. 
 

just disappointed With Bodrum.

 

Rest of the trip is in Greece . Next stops are Mykonos, Paros, Crete and Santorini.

 

I'll add to above as we go. i can post picks of dailies if someone wants it.  On day 3 (of 7) so far.

 

thanks

 

[www3traveler]

Would you please be kind enough to post a list of the Senior Officers both Bridge and Hotel.

 

I hope the rest of this wonderful adventure goes well and your return trip home.

[Albinroo]

Could you add some dailies, would be much appreciated. Have a great trip! 

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

Dailies....

 

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

Casinos at Seas Group Booking - this one is a good deal if you have a group. Not sure what minimum for a group but we have 5 cabins / 15 people.

1.  Every cabin in your group gets 10% off

2.  Each cabin has $50 free play.

3.  Group Leader gets $500 free play. unfortunately not OBC. Of course they took it all 😞

 

 

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

Cagneys Steakhouse downgrade - My family was in love with Cagney's in the beginning. After a while, we got sick of it so haven't done Cagneys until this trip.  I don't know when it happened but they downgraded the steak selection.  Prime Rib is now NY Strip.  Porterhouse was a free choice but now an upcharge.  I guess that's how they can maintain the free at see promotion.  Curious what was downgraded on other specialty dinings.  anyone?

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

On 9/5/2023 at 11:09 AM, www3traveler said:

Would you please be kind enough to post a list of the Senior Officers both Bridge and Hotel.

 

I hope the rest of this wonderful adventure goes well and your return trip home.

apologies.  They showed it on the big screen but didn't take pics.  Saw your message late.

[schmoopie17]

24 minutes ago, NYFirstTimeCruiser said:

  Curious what was downgraded on other specialty dinings.  anyone?

Tepanyaki has replaced tenderloin/filet with some mystery meat.

The filet at the French restaurant is now an upcharge,

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

2 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

Tepanyaki has replaced tenderloin/filet with some mystery meat.

The filet at the French restaurant is now an upcharge,

ah yes.  We did Teppanyaki and the steak was no longer filet mignon.  tough meat.  didn't like it at all.

[laudergayle]

33 minutes ago, NYFirstTimeCruiser said:

Curious what was downgraded on other specialty dinings.  anyone?

The lamb chops at Moderno is now Lamb Sirloin.  

[Crazy planning mom]

On 9/5/2023 at 10:12 AM, NYFirstTimeCruiser said:

I did a CC check before leaving for the trip to Athens and ther's not a lot of post so thought of adding one.....

 

Airline Booking - used NCL buy 1 get 1 free air.   

 

JFK Terminal Lounge - Primeclass is good. Better than Lufthansa.

 

 The flights we have are not bad.  NY-Brussels-Athens.  Layover ar Athens is 2.5 hours.

TIP - if you have a connecting flight, you will need to go through immigration.  Upon exit, there

are two exits that say connecting.  One is straight out and one exit ramp to the right. The exit ramp

has a waay shorter line through immigration. 
Brussels Airlines either has a bad conveyor or their luggage people throw bags because 3 of 4 have some sort

of damage.  I saw one box that said fragile that was totally mishandled. Other than that, flight was ok

our return at the end of the week is Austrian air -Athens-Vienna-NY.

Did a two day deviation on Athens Arrival
 

Athens Greece Arrival

Airport Transfer- we used Spiros which was a recommendation from old cc posts.

Prices were not cheap so I asked if I can pay by credit card. He said yes with no qualms or warnings.

Upon drop off at our hotel- I gave my cc and the driver said 15% surcharge for using credit card.

I don't mind 3% but 15? Annoyed at Spiros tour at this point but had no choice.

I emailed to say that the guy he contracted to pick us up is charging us 15%.  His reply was

the price he gave me was so low so it's cash only.  See his original answer when I asked if I could use CC.

i asked for a receipt which they didn't have.
 

Now that you are aware, make sure you have everything in writing, 
 

Athens Tour prebooked also from Spiros.

told my group It's cash only so collected cash.

We got a tour guide from spiros but it was only for the acropolis for 120 euro.

just ok guide.  The rest of the tour was the driver talking... not good english and only the person next to him

can hear so I had to repeat to everyone. I became the human bullhorn for the rest of the tour.

 

Airport dropoff from spiros went seamless but still cash only.

Times for pickup and dropoff were dead on.

sidenote: if you have apple pay, you can use it on most stores; even those small kiosks.

had no need to put out cash in athens except for Spiros. 
 

Athens port

No casinos at sea nor platinum check in line. Only those who bought VIP through NCL had express checkin.

Nothing recognized except for those who paid for haven or vip pass.

Jade - refurbished so it looks great. Layout of restaurants and venues are all spread

out in hidden areas of the ship. I like the breakaway class ship's layouts better.

 

Rhodes - used chat gpt to give us a walking tour.  I was impressed.

People are nice.

 

Bodrum Turkey - didn't like the salespeople. Very aggresive salespeople bordering on being AHoles.

you have to be ready to bargain.  i saw a guy being followed outside the door by a shirtless salesman

saying 50 euros. Customer said no.

Sales "how much you want to pay?

customer- I only have 20 usd.

Sales - no 30

cust - walks away

sales - ok fine give me 20.

cust - continued to walk away.

 

Lesson: from 50 to 20? That means they mark it up so high. Total tourist trap.

 

anothe experience:  one cust was from my group asked for price of a bag.

cust- how about 20 euros

sales - squats in pooping position and said he'll poop and sell it for 20 euros.

Very rude.  Good thing it's only for a day,

food - they have a menu but says ignore that and go pick by the grams/kilos

and you get fresh everything.  So the menu items are frozen seafood?

bill was $275 for 5. 
 

just disappointed With Bodrum.

 

Rest of the trip is in Greece . Next stops are Mykonos, Paros, Crete and Santorini.

 

I'll add to above as we go. i can post picks of dailies if someone wants it.  On day 3 (of 7) so far.

 

thanks

 

Recommend PK Travel for transfer in Athens and to the ship.

[NYFirstTimeCruiser]

I used Discover Athens - Spiros for tours and airport transfers.  Got the name from here as well.  Airport pickup and transfers were smooth.  The tour though was mediocre.  Hired a tour guide for the Acropolis but the rest of the tour was the driver speaking softly to me, no mic so I had to repeat what he tells me to the group of 15.

I would recommend Spiros - Discover Athens for transfers but not for the tours.