Jade 1/27/24 - 2/7/24 review

[JIMESOPUS]

No live, semi-live, or semi-anything this time,  just post-mortem pictures. The last time we sailed on the Jade the internet was terrible and I knew it was going to be almost impossible to upload anything.

Speed test at midnight on the first night

[JIMESOPUS]

The last time we were on the Jade was 10/2017, they still had the Fountains in the main theater and the quest game show. 

King Kamehameha was still in the Main dining room and there were murals of Polynesian life throughout the ship. Sadly the only thing left of the Pride of Hawaii is this plaque 

 

and picture located on deck #7

[JIMESOPUS]

We flew down the day before because of Gasparilla Pirate Day and we stayed at the Hampton Inn several blocks from Pier #2 ( 1100 steps as per Carol's Fitbit ).

Dinner that night was at the District Tavern, both the hotel and restaurant are located in the " Channel District ". 

We had an 1130 am check-in time but the terminal was packed once we got there, but soon after they started boarding and the lines started moving quickly.

I think we boarded around noon and sat down in O'Sheehans for lunch.

The area around Pier #2 after boarding.

 

Oopsie

 

[JIMESOPUS]

Walk around on embarkation day

Buffet Welcome

 

Spinnaker, 

Chair Hogs already !!

 

 

 

[JIMESOPUS]

The Cabin 8516, OA Oceanview

[JIMESOPUS]

Sailaway - outside

From Cagneys

[JIMESOPUS]

I should mention now about the flood that occurred on 2/3/24 around 3 PM while in port at Curacao. A large hot water main broke on deck #9, port side between midship and aft. 29 cabins on deck #9 were affected along with several on deck #8 and #10, a total of around 35. Only 4 cabins were relocated to deck #4 (the ship was full ), while the other PAX had to stay in very damp cabins.

The NCL crew worked tirelessly throughout the remainder of the cruise replacing carpets and getting the cabins cleaned and dry.

A couple that we knew found an I Pad floating in the water inside their cabin and later returned to security.

NCL compensation was $200 per person, 25% FCC ( based on cruise fare paid ), and a means to file a claim to NCL HQ.

 

[JIMESOPUS]

Food, we didn't starve but it should have been much better. Our first meal in Cagneys set the tone for the remainder of the cruise. I order a medium filet, onion rings, and a baked potato. Do two rings count as a serving? I went back several days later and got three.

 

 

The bread while warm didn't have that rosemary taste

 

[JIMESOPUS]

I didn't bother taking any other pictures relating to food. Most of the meals for us in the MDR were bland and almost cool. On other NCL ships, there was a waiter and runner, most of the time on Jade the waiter went back to the galley. Also observed the same waiter cleaning and setting up tables in their section.

Most of the days we ate at O'Sheehans, sometimes all three meals.

[JIMESOPUS]

Hydration is very important while cruising, we were blessed with several great bartenders. 

Dang

Chad

Mohammad

 

Honorable mention to Dr L at the Bliss lounge( Yeah Baby, thanks for the Love ) and Jamil ( Jammy Bear )

 

[JIMESOPUS]

Several drinks helped us to survive.

French Rasberry

Key Lime Pie

Lemon Drop

Edited February 10 by JIMESOPUS

[JIMESOPUS]

We spent countless hours at the Great Outdoors, simply just love that spot on the ship. Sadly there were no chocolate chip cookies to go with our Toasted Almond drinks.

 

[cincicruisers]

Following along

 

[JIMESOPUS]

We like this orientation of the Bliss Lounge and the Tradwinds shops. Unlike the " maze that is found on the Gem and the Pearl the straight path going from the bow to the stern allows a better flow of PAX after the theater shows.

Bliss Lounge - Deck #7 midship

 

Tradewinds shops, Deck #7 Aft

Edited February 10 by JIMESOPUS

[JIMESOPUS]

The casino found on deck #6 has a great mix of machines and was in the process of replacing some of the older machines. The strong smoke smell kept us out most of the time but liked the bar.

 

Another spot to keep hydrated, Deck #12 - Topsiders

 

 

We didn't have an outdoor BBQ on deck #12 on this cruise, maybe they stopped that.

[JIMESOPUS]

Cruise Critic meeting, we had about 40% attendance

[AKR2011]

Thank you for doing a review! I love this class of ship and one day would love to do The Jade ❤️⚓️

[JIMESOPUS]

Entertainment - 

We had three great groups aboard on this cruise which rotated between venues, Gravity Trio, Prelude Duo, and Diego.

CD classic games show Not So Newlywed, Battle of the Sexes, and The Perfect Couple were held at the Spinnaker ( Viva didn't have these shows )

Guest entertainers at the main theater ( aerialist couple, singer, comedian, magician, and hypnotist ) plus the production show Blazing Boots. The final show Elements was cancelled due to sea conditions.

Bingo was held at Spinnaker, Deal or No Deal in the main theater, and now Wheel of Fortune has been introduced. ( the intranet aboard the ship was great, and the internet to the outside world was bad )

 

[Panhandle Couple]

14 hours ago, JIMESOPUS said:

Hydration is very important while cruising, we were blessed with several great bartenders. 

Dang

Chad

Mohammad

 

Honorable mention to Dr L at the Bliss lounge( Yeah Baby, thanks for the Love ) and Jamil ( Jammy Bear )

 

We had Dang on the Bliss in 2022. He makes great specialty shots!

 

Dr. L is crazy in a good way. We had him on Breakaway last year.

[JIMESOPUS]

Itinerary - Key West, Tiano Bay, BVI, Aruba and Curacao. Grand Caymans was canceled due to the high seas and we were refunded that port fee.  

 

We have been to all these ports before, last year we visited Tiano Bay ( Dominican Republic ) four times.  

Here are some random photos.

Key West, docked at Mallory Square which only had room for one gangway

 

Taino Bay was a wet and rainy day. 

 

BVI - Pain killer at Pussers

Aruba - the bridge is still broken and drunk butterflies

Curacao - surprised how dirty everything was, garbage cans not emptied, trash everywhere, and broken benches and sidewalks throughout the capital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JIMESOPUS]

Epilogue

 

We have been fortunate enough to have sailed on all six multi-ship classes this past year. By far for us the Jewel Class is the best fit for us, would have sailed on the Gem but we prefer Tampa over Miami because there are no large ships here in Tampa ( please don't raise that bridge ). We would prefer Manhattan but that's another story.

 

Still, ensure why the food was off. Other PAX reported the same thing with taste and service. The ship was in great shape, and that broken pipe on deck #9 could occur anytime or any place. NCL is still lacking in communication, not only to those who were affected by the flood but in general terms. Carnival and RC sent out warnings days before embarkation about traffic around the port due to Gasperailla Day, NCl waited till embarkation day. We found money in our account and went to guest services to find out it was a refund of port fees. Couldn't they have posted that on the daily?

 

We will sail again with NCL, we met a couple who said everything was terrible and will never sail with NCL again. The husband was even complaining about the cell service aboard the ship as he attempted to make a call three hundred miles off the coast of Florida while holding his phone to window up at Spinnaker.

Almost caught that elusive green flash

Be well and safe travels

Jim

 

 

[schmoopie17]

We're on the Jade in two weeks. We mainly cruise for food and drinks. Sounds like we'll be disappointed with the food, but more than fine with the drinks.

[mimi'sgirl]

Could you please tell me a little more about your stay at the Hampton Inn? Was it clean, comfortable? How were the breakfast choices? Also would you stay here again? We are considering staying here next December when we sail out of Tampa. Thank you in advance for any info.

[JIMESOPUS]

@schmoopie17 Dang left when we did but everyone else will be still aboard. If you find Chad ask him for a Key Lime Pie.

@mimi'sgirl Typical Hampton Inn on one half the other side was Home2 Suites also a Hilton Brand. Didn't have breakfast but it appeared to be the normal offering. Yes we would stay there again, they offered a shuttle to the pier but we walked.

[mimi'sgirl]

Thank you again for the info and for your review!