Norwegian Jade experts - Tell me what you know.

Hi all.

Booked our first Norwegian cruise today on the Jade.

So you Norwegian Jade experts. Tell me what you know.

Favourite bar or lounge.

Best restaurant.

What's not to miss, what to avoid.

Thanks in advance.

My favorite restaurant is Le Bistro - such a beautiful room and very peaceful. Teppanyaki seems to be full every single night. We don't really care much for Teppanyaki, so it doesn't matter to us. Cagneys is also good.

Several of the bars are clustered together outside of Le Bistro - so that is a good place to hangout.

Important to know: In the morning, if you go to the buffet and can't find a place to sit - go towards the back and you will see La Cucina - you can go in there for extra seating. Don't miss the pretzel rolls and nice cheeses in the buffet around 5pm.

What to avoid: We were not crazy about the food in La Cucina - but food is subjective, you might like it.

If you can afford a penthouse or above, book one. NCL does suites better than any other line we've been on so far! If you are in a regular cabin (inside through mini-suite) they are also very nice with good storage.

Don't forget to get a spa pass right after you board the ship if you like using the spa facilities.

Thanks for that. I'm made notes!

Anyone else out there with info?

You're welcome. I thought of a few more things - I've been on the Jade twice:

In the hallway carpets, the fish swim towards the front of the ship - very helpful for staying oriented.

I liked the Grand Pacific dining room better than Alizar - Grand Pacific is a larger space with a higher ceiling and lots of windows. Food is the same.

The buffalo wings from the Blue Lagoon (free) are very popular.

Part of the buffet (Garden Cafe) is the Kid's Cafe - with stuff especially to appeal to children.

Great Outdoors is a good place to be for sail away and also good for breakfast and lunch.

IF you are in a suite, bring DVD's as all suites have VCR's.

You can bring 2 bottles of wine, and all the soda pop and water you want onboard.

Don't forget to bring your binoculars.

The Star Bar (across from Cagney's main restaurant) is probably the prettiest bar onboard but not used as much as it ought to be - at least not on my cruises. Perhaps people don't know about it. It might be a great place to get a group together and go there to hang out.

Don't bother to bring formalwear unless you just REALLY want to. Most passengers don't dress up unless they want to do photos. Men typically wear trousers and a shirt with a collar for dinner and women wear resort wear - pantsuits, sundresses, maxi-dresses, pants and top, skirt and top. Makes packing so much easier.

What is great for some may not be great for you. We like most of the bars, restaurants and music. But sometimes one is okay, and sometimes others not so much. We don't do martini, so a martini bar is not so good for us. We do not do sushi, so sushi bar that is great for others is not great for us. Some want to do speciality each night, but we are okay doing buffet half the time and something lighter other nights like Blue Lagoon.

What works for you? Hard to say.

Keep in mind that Jewel, Jade, Pearly, Gem are sister ships if that helps.

 

You can bring 2 bottles of wine, and all the soda pop and water you want onboard.

 

To clarify: you can bring as many bottles of wine on board as you like BUT each one is subject to a $15 corkage fee, payable as you board.

Avoid the bingo - it is a rip off.

The casino takes USD - it is cheaper to bring your own - drawing cash from your room account costs 3%, There is an ATM but that costs loads more.

Balcony cabins and above have a coffeemaker but no kettle (if you are a tea drinker). I believe the choice of teas is not good (I don't drink the stuff) so you might want to bring your own. Other Brit things not usually available - Marmite and proper bacon.

Elements show is excellent - well worth watching - do not arrive late - you will not get in.

We hang out in Bar City on deck 6 in the Martini bar (there is also a cigar bar there next to Le Bistro).

If you are a foodie then the Chef's Table is good. 12 places only so book it early ($99).

Teppanyaki books up quickly as well.

The buffet has fresh made omelette stations at breakfast and a fresh made crepe station at dinner. There is also a coffee machine in the buffet which fresh grinds the beans.

All good stuff everyone, Thank you.

Any more. Especially tips on freestyle dining.

All good stuff everyone, Thank you.

 

Especially tips on freestyle dining.

The beauty of freestyle dining is it is what it says. We alternate between the buffet and the MDR's. We do not make any advance plans or bookings. We decide on the evening where we want to go and having looked at the screens or on your TV in the cabin, wander up or down and simply dine. The only thing we plan in advance is to purchase 4 bottles of wine at $88 + 15%, which is cheaper than buying bottles individualy. When are you on the Jade by the way?

Thanks for that.

We're on the Jade 4th Feb next year.

How are the theatre shows and lounge entertainment. Do you have to book the theatre?

Thanks for that.

 

We're on the Jade 4th Feb next year.

 

How are the theatre shows and lounge entertainment. Do you have to book the theatre?

No - and no saving seats either!

Walk all the way forward on deck eleven to go in the Bridge viewing room. The Spinnaker Lounge is a nice place to hang out with its big windows and green and purple loungers for two. Also be on the lookout for the Dixie Land Jazz Jam in the atrium one night. They set up folding chairs since it was so popular, but we ran up the stairs to the Blue Lagoon and got a table at the railing to look down and listen while enjoying dessert. (Ok, second dessert!). :)

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Jazz Brunch in Le Bistro is good as well ($15 pp).

There is usually a German lunch in the Great Outdoors one sea day with oompah band and German dishes and beers.

The information here is good. We are sailing on the Jade come early December. Thanks.

All good info, the Jade like all the Jewel class ships are excellent. Make friends with all the crew, join the Roll Call, go to Meet and Greet, enjoy. We have cruised four times on her and will cruise again in October 15. She is great, and is our favourite.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you everyone so far for the info. Anything anyone else can think of?

One specific question please. I know the fish on the carpet "swim" forward, but are the 4 sections (port forward, port aft, starboard forward and starboard aft) different colours to aid navigation?

I did the Med by myself on the Jade a few years ago visiting Rome, Egypt, Malta , Turkey, Greece...Had a wonderful time...

Found myself at the Blue Lagoon more times than I could count merely because it served wonderful comfort food at all hours...

Crew was first rate, staff went above and beyond the call..

I have nothing but fond memories on the Jade...

I am bumping this thread up because even though the latest post was six months ago, there is great info in this thread that shouldn't be missed.

We are booked on the Jade for next April. Have cruised on her sister ship Jewel three times so am really looking forward to the Jade.

I discovered in another thread that the Jasmine Garden (I think I've remembered the name correctly) is now complimentary. So we are going to try dinner there one evening.

Just off the Jade, cruised the Adriatic. We had one night in the Jasmine Garden and could not fault it. The hot and sour soup was amazing, as was the four spice chocolate cake! Ate in the main dining room or Alizar on the other nights. Breakfast in the buffet restaurant is a nightmare, also on sea days when you struggle to find a table...much more calm, relaxed and enjoyable in the main dining room....although food in the buffet is excellent and varied....just coping with the masses is the problem [emoji1]

I'm sailing on Jade in September. What is the name of the dining room that serves breakfast? Thanks

I'm sailing on Jade in September. What is the name of the dining room that serves breakfast? Thanks

That's the Grand Pacific. Good, but the service can be a little slow so say if you want to be done quickly.

I have been on the Jade twice:

Jade has the same exact layout as Jewel.

I enjoyed the spicy seafood udon at Jasmine Garden as they were pretty generous with the seafood portion (though the soup base was a bit ehh).

Like others have said, teppanyaki gets booked fast so definitely book it fast!

The chocolate croissants are awesome.

If you want to use the free weights at the gym, do note that unlike other ships, the Jade has a rule in which you can't use free weights after 9pm. They will roped off the area after 9pm.

For Modernos, try to sit by the windows as it gives off a calm vibe while you are eating. I love their lamb, cinnamon pineapple, and chicken. The garlic beef has a bit of a weird taste but yet I still like it!

The casino is never really a happening place. I have noticed this to be the case when it comes to European cruises vs. Alaska or Caribbean cruises (in which the casino was always lively on Alaska, Bahamas, and Caribbean cruises)

In the Garden Cafe they have Cold Soups (purposely cold), that change daily. Mellon soup, pear soups, etc. They are very good and very refreshing. Give them a try.

Hi i just got off Jade a few weeks ago. I did back to back. I will be pisting an in depth review when i get back in town. However, here are a few tips for those sailing.

1. Main dining room Grand Pacific serves break lunch and dinner. They prepare evergyting to order. I never found it crowded at both lunch or dinner

2. If you want to do speciality dining suggest you book online. My first week sailing all the specialty resturants were open. Second week sailing they were booked solid. I ate in Le Bistro and La Cucina. Le Bistro service and food was excellent. La Cusinca food was good, service very slow.

3. Ordering drinks in Alizar amd Grand Pacific is slow NCL should have a better bar syste. In their dining rooms.

4. Blue Lagoon is never crowded, serves food to order and is fairly quick. Limited menu, but still offer good choices

5. Garden Cafe Buffet. Lots of choices, food is good and during breakfast rush hour, has three omelette stations going. Overflow seating is in La Cucina. I never saw La Cucina filled on my B2B. Guess people dont want to walk around the corner to eat

6. Spinniker bar was fav hangout. Large area, great views, and lots of action up there. White Hot Party is held here. Great party and you should go to see whats its all about

7. Did behind the scene tour. Well worth the money

8. Crew was great. Ports of call were great. Weather in Med was perfect

9. Never saw much going on in casino. It was never crowded

10. Elements show in theater is not to be missed. All the shiws were great. Was very pleased that the shows were different on my B2B

**. Will post a more in depth review in a few days

AF-1 I am looking forward to your review.

We were on board this year from January 24th until February 4th so about the same time of year. The staff was really great, friendly and helpful. We also preferred the Grand Pacific dining room over the Alizar, just a better ambiance, but the food was very good all nights. We went to dinner pretty late, around 8:00 most nights and had no problems for our group of four being seated. Agree that the buffet was very crowded for breakfast and late lunch (after ports). For breakfast we usually sat in La Cucina where there was overflow seating. I'm sure part of the problem was that the weather wasn't warm enough to sit outside. The food in Blue Lagoon was Ok but service was very slow. But it was worth waiting for the brownie sundae - wonderful!

Someone mentioned hanging out in the lounge outside Le Bistro but we found it to be too smokey. Not really enough lounge areas in my opinion. We did end up in the Atrium most evenings listening to the musicians and often had to stand on the outskirts. The Spinnaker Lounge was a nice place to hang out on sea days but sometimes the activities (Bingo, game shows etc) were taking place there and then it was noisy and hard to find a seat. A nice spot for them if you were joining in though. We only went to a couple of the evening shows but both times the theater was almost empty.

Overall a great trip, the ports were awesome. Enjoy!