Norwegian Cruise Line - Jade western mediterranean Review

Just before 6:00 AM on Friday morning, two days before embarking on an overseas flight to Barcelona, Spain, and catch an NCL cruise out of Barcelona, an NCL representative called and out of the blue asked of me if I wished to be upgraded to a Courtyard Villa, and leave my cabin on the 11th floor of the boat behind for someone else to grab.  As I was still a little foggy before the reality of what she was offering me set in, there was a long period of silence on the phone before I asked her what it was all about, and how could it possibly benefit me to change at this late date.  Being a first time cruiser, I was unaware that this is a common practice in the cruise industry when they are out of a particular grade of cabin, and their market for it is still hot for sale.  She explained that they had only two villas left, and it would benefit me greatly as while I would not only be upgraded from a 265 sq ft cabin to a 625 sq ft cabin, that there were numerous other benefits as well.  Larger private balcony, private floor with only 14 cabins with private access elevator, a private courtyard with pool, steam room, small workout room, and even a butler.  As being a backpacking style traveler when traveling for other than business reasons I was still hesitant despite the preponderance of advantages she was recounting to me.  After about 10 minutes on the phone, I agreed.  She probably thought I was mental even to consider not doing the deal.  As I'd never been on a boat before, I thought "what the hell, it's still going all the same places", so I said yes. 

It was fabulous!  Living the life of the nuevo riche if even for only 12 days was more than worth it, and it was a most enjoyable adventure.  The best part for me was the flat panel TV above the tub with an ocean view allowing me to catch CNN and the sunrise on the water all at the same time.  The Villa had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, four flat panel TV's, a bar, dining table and living room with a large private balcony, and a butler.  It's funny how you can go through life and not realize how cool it is to have a butler, and how devistated you are when you no longer have one.  First run movies ran all day, and a channel with GPS continually updating the ships position was also available.  A channel for ship announcements and activity schedule updates ran all day long, and the activities ran fast and furious the whole trip long.  All this being stated, I don't know if I'll bother to cruise again, for reasons I'll explain further along. 

I really enjoyed many aspects of NCL's Freestyle Cruising concept.  Do what you want, when you want, so says the ads.  This concept comes most into play when dining, or choosing where to dine.  Any time, any place.  Pretty cool.  There were 12 restaurants on the Norwegian Jade, and the food for the most part was much better than expected from what I had read on websites.  The consistently best food encountered I found was in the Grand Pacific on the 7th floor, an included in cruising price restaurant.  Elegantly decorated, with impeccable service, and quality food for a variety of tastes from start to finish.  While you can eat for free for the entire trip, there are a variety of specialty restaurants that charge a small service fee of about 10.00 to 20.00 dollars per person also. 

NCL Norwegian Jade:   One big ship!  15 floors, 12 restaurants, a large casino, running track, sports court, performance theatre, medical facility, large spa, library, gym facilities and classes, sundecks, two large pools, five hottubs, gawd only knows how many bars, Internet services, espresso bar.....you get the idea....it's big.  968 ft long,109 ft wide, and the ship was spotless inside and out. 

The one thing about the ship that was a bit weird, was the recurring Hawaiian theme that ran intermittently throughout the ship.  The ship was repositioned from Hawaii to being permanently in Europe early in 2008, but the decor seems to have lagged behind despite the change in logistics.  Tiki gods in the buffet that were big enough that they had to be walked around, relief maps of Hawaii still on the landings, and the Aloha bar still graced the center confines of the ship's atrium.  No big deal, but it just took a little bit away from the European feel of it all.   

Dining:  The NCL lines signature steakhouse, Cagney's, their French restaurant, Le Bistro, the Japanese restaurant and sushi bar, all charged a service fee along with a few others serving specific ethnic dishes.  Cagney's service was extraordinary and every thing was cooked to perfection, as was Le Bistro, but quality of the food, Cagney's in particular, wasn't great.  To be specific, everything was great but the steak.  Really a shame, because everything else was pretty darn close to perfect.  If your gonna have a steakhouse, shouldn't your steakhouse have top quality beef?  Anyway, small things aside, the food and customer service all over the ship was extraordinary, and the Midnight Chocolate Buffet is not to be missed.  Chocolate sculptures, truffles, blocks of chocolate, parfaits, chocolate fountain fondue with fresh fruit, hot fudge sundaes, and whatever chocolate fantasy your heart desires.   5 stars for the cooking and the service, 4 stars for the food.  5 for the chocolate....well...maybe 6. 

Entertainment:  Again, it was so much better than what I had read on the cruise blogs, I was extremely pleased.  Broadway type shows, comedians, a magician from the Moscow Circus who was terrific, and a house orchestra that was surprisingly very good.  Two shows were performed every night in a Vegas style theatre that was very well designed, and the seating was quite ample.  I'd give the entertainment for the trip 4 and 1/2 stars even though it was a bit uneven at times, just because any performer who can stay on key and dance through a number without falling off the stage during 12 to 18 foot seas gets my vote.   

Shore excursions:  Very well put together and organized.  Many fellow cruisers on this trip arranged their own shore excursions with private contractors for their port time citing cheaper prices as their reason.  However, with a private contractor performing your tour, if they're late, you miss the boat.  With NCL arranged tours, if the tour is late, the boat will wait.  Seemed like a no brainer to me, and the NCL tours were top notch.  I did a mountain biking trip from Frontera de la Vejer to Trafalgar Point out of the port at Cadiz, Spain via NCL, and it was incredible.  NCL tours, as far as I'm concerned, rock.   

Shipboard nightlife:  If gambling is your pleasure, it goes on at all hours.  The slot crowd on the ship claimed the slots were a little tight, but not being a gambler, I got through the tight slots crisis OK.  I only experienced the casino as I was passing through on our way to the disembarkation gangplank, but it looked like a Vegas casino, which I suppose is what they're supposed to look like.  Lotsa lights, lotsa smoke, lotsa drinks.  

The bars and lounges are plentiful, particularly on deck six next to the casino, which also has a bar and lounge.  Go figure.  The Medusa lounge, the main music venue on the sixth floor, was very popular with the much older crowd, and many octogenarians could be seen making their moves on the dance floor for their intended prey.  Did I mention that the people watching on the boat was world class?

The Spinnaker Lounge on the 13th floor was a magnificent venue with ample seating, a large stage and dance floor, and a oceanview from port to starboard over the bow.  Bands or DJ's kept Spinnaker rockin' most nights, and in the earlier evening the Second City Comedy troupe performed improv most evenings till 10 or 11.  Drinks throughout the ship, unlike the food, cost.  Prices are fairly reasonable for  venues with no other options if you'd like a drink.  Although they aren't free, their drinks are very well concocted, and I heard complaints from no one in that particular regard.

Cruising weather in Europe in the winter months:  I can still hear the lies of the soft voiced, extremely charming NCL personal cruise consultant telling me, "Steve, the ship is so large, you'll never even know your at sea".  "Steve, it's always warm in the southern Mediterranean, don't worry about it".  I remembered this former comment in particular when I was pitching from side to side in the elevator grasping for the handrails during our 4 nights of 12 to 18 foot seas.  Trust me on this one, no matter how big the boat, you really can tell your on one at these times.  I remember her later comment when the weather got up to 50 in Lisbon one sunny port day.  Stay behind and sun on the deck, not likely.  Don't get me wrong, it really was a fun trip, I just wish I'd had brought warmer clothes.  Much warmer. 

Spa and work out facilities:  The ship has a huge spa offering any type of spa treatment you could possibly imagine, plus hair styling, teeth whitening, hot rock therapy, and they'll wrap you in any type of sea weed you desire.  Beyond me, but quite popular.  The ships gym facility was beyond my expectations, and offered a full array of weight training equipment, aerobic machines, along with cycling, yoga, and pilates classes.  I was somewhat disappointed at the limited selection of free weights on my first visit, but after working out on a very rough sea day, I immediately realized why they had opted for machines rather than iron.  The spa services are additional costing, the gym is free. 

My fellow cruisers:  Herein lies my problem.  While contained with any large group of people, you are always bound to find commonalities, and people to enjoy the experience with, which we did.  Some great folks who relationships have continued with after the cruise has ended.  But on the lower decks, and on tours, it was like being locked in with disgruntled Wal Mart shoppers.  Complain, complain, complain, stop.....assess, then continue complaining as planned. There is a cruising adage that I remembered when stuck amongst the complaining hordes.  Cruising is for the newly wed, over fed, or nearly dead.  When roaming amongst some of the most exotic, fascinating, and once in a life time travel experiences available, a little positivity and manners would have gone a long way in my book.  Or maybe just a little silence.  Traveling with out of shape people whose main focus is lack of American style food, how no one speaks English, how the USD isn't recognized for payment, or how much longer they have to walk for a restroom is not my particular idea of enlightened travel.  Maybe a visit to North Dakota would be a better choice for many the next time out.  Who could possibly complain about North Dakota?

Sunsets and Scenery:  Spectacular!!!!!!  There is nothing like the sunsets from your balcony when out to sea.  The sight is worth the price of the booking alone.  The coastlines and viewpoints that only come with sea travel are unforgettable. No place, absolutely no place, do you experience the spectacle as at sea. 

My Rating:  I'd rate the experience high even if it wasn't my cup of tea so to speak, and NCL would be my choice.  What the hell.....it's a 5 star trip.