Norwegian Jade Cruises Reviews

Thursday 9th Feb 2012

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Ncl Cruises

Norwegian Jade

Not A Good Start

not a good start	1 of 1 people found this review informative

Reviewed By: wilkinson, bradford on 7th Feb 2010
Cruise Line: NCL Cruises	Times cruised before: 1-2
Cruise Ship: Norwegian Jade	Sailed: January, 2010
Destination: Canaries	Age: 46-55
Cabin: Balcony	Occasion: Birthday

On arriving at the port we were met by a porter who took our cases on board. In the queue before checking in we were given a letter to say that on the previous sailing approximately 8% of the guests on board Norwegian Jade experienced symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. They did offer a Cruise Credit Certificate for the value that we had paid for this cruise but no mention of how we would get back to the UK or if they would pay for the flights back to the ship at a later date. They knew of the acute gastroenteritis before we left the UK and should have told us before leaving. Friends also on the same cruise but in a different queue did not get the letter so did not know of the outbreak of gastroenteritis until we showed them the letter. The checking was fast. On Boarding we were informed that our Stateroom would not be ready until at least 4.00pm (time now 12.00pm). At 4.00pm we went to our Stateroom but it still wasn’t ready (no towels or dressing gowns, it had not been vacuumed and items had not been replaced in the fridge) and no cases. It was not until about 10.00pm that our cases arrived at the stateroom by this time we had been in the same clothes since leaving home at 2.00am (18 hours). The first shock was the drinks price $9.64 (£6.10 approx) for a Pepsi and large draft Murphy’s (at home 2 pint’s beer, ½ lager and a pint Pepsi £7.25) With a 15% added to the drinks we declined to pay the discretionary $12 a day service charge and tipped the ones we felt gave a good service. The food in the self service was not always hot and looked dried up at times. In the Grand Pacific Dining room Food ok but not much to choose from and service slow. Cagney’s very good food and service but you have to pay $25 (£15.82) each for this little extra. We were encouraged to sign up for airport transfers at $30 each as they said there would only be a limited number of taxies available in Barcelona at the end of our cruise. On arriving in Barcelona there must have been nearly 100 taxies waiting. We found out after that it would have cost about half of what NCL charged. The Cruise it self was good, the ship was clean and well laid out, day time entertainment I think was lacking a bit the 2 Spanish singers in Bar City at night were very good (Pablo Rodriguez and Jose Manuel Rodriguez), the weather was sun all week long ranging from 16deg in Barcelona to 40deg in Agadir. Casablanca was an eye opener when we went around the old market. Out of the market, the people that were not trying to sell you some thing or take you some where we found helpful and friendly. Agadir was very good well laid out with wide streets and clean. We had a good time and a laugh with the shop owners when bartering for some of the goods we bought, we would go back there. Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Funchal, Madeira and Malaga Spain. Typical Holiday places, clean and pleasant. Would go back to Madeira for a stay on the Island. In all we would do the same or similar cruise again but not with NCL. We have Cruised before on the Island Star and felt that the Island cruises where much better both the food and the entertainment.
Quality of Food

Entertainment

Shore Excursions	n/a

Staff

Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities

Cabins

Overall Rating

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Comment by McAuley, Charlotte Hall (20 Jan 11 05:18) about this REVIEW

We have been on 10 cruises, have cruised all lines, however we will NEVER cruise with Norwegian again. Yhey gave the poorest service ever, the food was okay, but for the price of a cruise, you expect better than okay. The tip was already charged to our credit card before sailing, so the staff couldn't have cared less. It worse the worst. Dirty cabins. No response when you called the operator-no answer. God help you if it was an emergency. We couldn't wait to get off that ship. I would never sail NCL again, even if they paid me!

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Comment by Woods, Bexhill on SEa (09 Feb 10 14:09) about this REVIEW

For a very similar itinerary around the Canary Islands and north Africa - try a Thomsons cruise. REasonably priced, excellent entertainment and food and tipping included - although we always give something to our cabin steward as this is such a personal service.

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Comment by painter, salisbury (09 Feb 10 14:41) about a COMMENT by Woods (09 Feb 10 14:09)

i agree about thomson ships very good value for mo0ney and you can upgrade to all inclusive but at the moment avoid the island escape like the plague rife with that NASTY BUG and food not good at all,ship needs a complete overall but what can you expect from a converted car ferry

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Comment by hughes, Walsall (09 Feb 10 14:09) about this REVIEW

Tip - At Barcelona cruise terminal over flyover bridge (NCL etc) when you leave check in and go to escalator to ship, stop off for bottled water and coca cola, but not alcohol. Alternatively, go aboard and leave bags and return to shops. Much cheaper than on board.

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Comment by hughes, Walsall (09 Feb 10 14:02) about this REVIEW

We had no problem with cabin, were told 4pm but went there at 2pm and asked steward if ready. It was. Drinks are very expensive. For people who like their drink, try to go all inclusive although i believe brand drinks and bottled water are not included. Food always cold, even colder when staff had to serve everything - individual cereal to be opened and poured, tomato ketchup dispensed, individual wrapped butter etc. And we did not have any norovirus or anything. Grand and Alizar nice but very claustrophobic and have to book a table. Steak and Chips in Alizar - Steak and french fries - no onions, mushrooms, side salad or sauce -very small - very dissapointed. The person on the next table ordered two portions of every course, he was either a food critic or knew something the rest of us did not! Taxis at port - there are so many they were being turned away. Do not fall for the ships transfer. The bus stops outside the terminal where you drop cases off. 2 Euros to/from the bottom of Las Ramblas 'Port Vell'. Bus solely to and from the terminal over the flyover bridge. Catch Aerobus at top of Las Ramblas (main town centre) to airport - 5 euros. Taxis quoted 12-15 euros from bottom of Las Ramblas to cruise terminal, approx 5 minutes. Cruised on Island Escape and Grand Princess, will not go on NCL Jade again. Grand Princess favourite so far.

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Comment by Connolly, Manila (09 Feb 10 04:31) about this REVIEW

We had the same experience, with lots of taxis waiting ship-side upon arrival in Barcelona from a Celebrity cruise a few years ago. Luckily we ignored the Cruise Directors advise to take the ship's shuttle bus and saved about $30 in the process.

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Opinion: Agree Question by Reade, Ferndown (08 Feb 10 08:52) about this REVIEW

Mr. Wilkinson, please tell me how you cancelled your tipping. I was on Jade in Sept. and tried to cancel my tips, I was told I couldn't till the last day of the cruise, were they trying to fob me off?

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Answer by Mifsud, Sliema (09 Feb 10 18:56) to a QUESTION by Reade (08 Feb 10 08:52)

Reade - no I don't think they were trying to fob you off. When we sailed on NCL on the booking confirmation it said that if you were not satisfied with the Service and, after reporting it ,the problem was still not solved - then you could demand to remove the auto tipping. Even though the auto tipping is quite high by European standards, I am always wary of removing it. First of all I have never had really bad service. Secondly you have different waiters every evening so you'd have to tip not only every day but every meal Thirdly you'd be leaving out those who work in the buffet We were also informed that if you remove the auto tip and you tip individually , that crew member can't keep the tip but has to put it in the tipping pool. If you wouldn't have removed the tip then he cam keep it. All in all most people I know who want to remove the discretionary tip do so because they feel it is too high. Especially if they want to remove it at the beginning of the cruise. For the two of us the tips were $84 x 2 = $ 168. I don't imagine the OP spent that amount on tips. By the way, the bar staff don't share in the tipping pool.

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Answer by wilkinson, bradford (08 Feb 10 20:09) to a QUESTION by Reade (08 Feb 10 08:52)

Hi Mr Ferndown We stood our ground about not tipping, although we were asked alot of questions about why we wanted to cancel the tips. We had taken a copy of the booking conditions with us which states discretionary sercharge , although this was kept quiet by the staff, but we still had to fill a form in on the last day. We feel that tipping is a personal thing and told them we would be tipping who we think served us well.

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Comment by Moore, Belfast (17 Feb 10 23:54) about an ANSWER by wilkinson (08 Feb 10 20:09)

What is the problem with the service charge- our cabin staff were excellent and the majority of the staff in the main dining rooms were also very good.

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