NCL Jade - Not A Ship For The Masses?
NCL Jade - not a ship for the masses? |
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Reviewed By: McLaughlin, Armagh City on 9th Mar 2010
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| Cruise Line: NCL Cruises |
Times cruised before: 1-2 |
| Cruise Ship: Norwegian Jade |
Sailed:
February,
2010 |
| Destination:
Mediterranean
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Age: 56-65 |
| Cabin: Inside |
Occasion: Birthday |
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This cruise started in Barcelona, Casablanca, Agadir, Las Palmas, Funchal, Malaga, Barcelona
Overall first impressions were very positive - bright, clean, pleasant staff, good quality food. During the first two days in the main buffet restaurant ( Garden Restaurant) the policy was that you did not touch one single item - plate, food (packaged or otherwise) - you were served by an army of staff who soon reminded you - 'do not touch'. Clearly for hygiene reasons - laudible, but totally inefficient. Day three - you serve yourself. Complaints must have overwhelmed the management and they quickly back-tracked on their principles!!!! I would repeat that the quality of food in all the non cover charge restaurants was very good. On cover charges there were 3/4 restaurants not requiring you to pay an additional cover charge and 7 restaurants requiring a cover charge ( $10 - 25 extra and even then some menus demanded an additional payment on top of that). The 15% tip for every drink served, or service provided, was probably for everyone, except the Americans, a totally abhorrent practice. If you sit at the bar and order a drink you pay an additional 15% plus maybe 2-3% tax in certain ports. If you spend $ 150 in the SPA for treatment you pay an additional 15%. There is no end to the tipping.
There was a wide choice of tours in each destination at prices which were quite fair, considering the somewhat inaccessible parts of each destination as independent traveller.
Our staterooms stewards were very efficient, hard-working, not-in-your-face and very pleasant when we did come in contact with them. Our inside stateroom was of standard size, finished to a high standard and serviced to a high standard.
The quality of the entertainment ( shows, quizzes, etc) was extremely variable from amateur standard to quite professional. I don't think there were any X - Factor or otherwise talent of the future on board this ship.
The quizzes were presented by different staff from the Entertainments Department each day and clearly some had their college diplomas and well ......
The main issue I would like to address was the overall facilities and accommodation in the public indoor areas - during adverse weather, and the restaurant accommodation in general. This ship is simply not designed to comfortably accomodate a full compliment of passengers in the restaurant space available. Restaurants were mostly crowded and overall very congested and uncomfortable. With rainy or windy conditions on deck seating inside was soon at a premium and often not available, necessitating withdrawal to your stateroom? My perception overall, was that this ship is poorly designed and does not meet the comfort needs of the passenger as and when required.
Would I travel on this ship again - possibly?
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| Quality of Food |  |
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| | Shore Excursions |  |
| | Staff |  |
| Michelle Wenceleslao - from the Phillipines - charming smile and total service in the reataurant | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities |  |
| | Cabins | |
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