Callimero

Happy to answer any other question

Hello Cheryl, I hope you‘re doing fine?

A good friend of mine John (aka Tiembiay) is doing almost the same trip like we did last August to Norway. I think I have in mind that you‘ve stayed at the Clipper Elb-Lodge in Hamburg previously to our cruise and you‘ve been quite happy with your choice. For which rate did you get this hotel and which website did you use to book it? If you could provide John & Jane with this information it would be great!

Thanks a lot

Oliver

Where were you able to find the info on where MSC is currently sailing from?.

http://www.hamburgcruisecenter.eu/de/estimated-ships

Wow, you (and that thread you linked) helped IMMENSELY! ?

Hello Tina,

I've tried to figure out on which terminal the MSC Meraviglia will arrive and depart in 2018, but it isn't scheduled yet. As already mentioned by Cheryl there are three terminals in Hamburg and only if MSC would use the Altona Terminal it would make sense to us a train until Hamburg-Altona. For the other two terminals (Steinwerder, which is used by MSC mainly this year and Hafen City) it would make sense to choose the train trip only until Hamburg Hbf (main station).

If you are in the 'uncomfortable' situation to have Steinwerder as your terminal, there are two options: one by car (taxi) the other by shuttle bus (departure at S-Bahnhof Veddel). The cost for this 15 minutes ride is 2,50€ and it departs between 07:30 and 11:30 every hour on half an hour.

Hope that helps...

Cheers Oliver

Hi Oliver~!! Hope you have made the transition back to work life successfully. It took us a few weeks to get back to normal. I'm not sure if that's because we were traveling nearly 4 weeks or because we're just getting older. I sure did love our Jade cruise!

Yes, indeed I've made it [emoji6]

It was the greatest cruise ever: great ship, great people on board, great staff, great iterinaty so really nothing to complain.

Just counting the days until the next cruise but nothing decided yet, only some ideas and some cruise next certificates in my pocket [emoji4]

Cheers Oliver

Yep, I noted that the OP said the carriage numbers will be on a small digital display around knee height near the doors to each carriage.

Yes, it's quite easy for a foreigner to travel with Deutsche Bahn here in Germany, even if you'll have only one stop to change trains in Osnabrück. Very reliable and very comfortable. Personally I'm not a big fan of Deutsche Bahn, but the travel from my hometown to Hamburg-Altona went very smooth and on time, my wife had different concerns [emoji6]

...so it was just extra special to sail with again..;)

All right, fully understandable. That's one of the big moments: if you met somebody from the crew of a former cruise and he recognize you. This time on the Jade is was the other way round, one bartender didn't knew that I was going on 'his' ship, so I surprised him in Hamburg. It seems that he was positive surprised [emoji1]

...and was feeling a bit nervous going over to the Jade..;)

Why are you nervous? There's no reason for it, honestly. The best strategy imho is to be open minded and be always friendly and respectful to every crew member. What me impressed most was the presence of the management staff of the Jade. I walked a lot on this ship but the officers did double it. Always visible, always friendly and always open for a chat. Never got an short of unfriendly answer or signal, so no reason for getting nervous [emoji6]

...That way the readers can be forewarned and forearmed before boarding and adjust their interpersonal action skills accordingly.

Well said! My intend of these two postings has been, first to share with you MY personal observations, if they are right or wrong, everybody is able to figure out by themselves. Second: to reflect an opinion because I've heard so good stories about this concierge so I asked two couples who sailed a lot with NCL and both said independently that they were a little bit disappointed. It could be on one single day or on the whole (so far) cruise. But as Uniall already said, it's a question of expectation setting: better a little bit lower than higher, so a positive surprise is always better than a negative. Again, I'm far away from blaming somebody, just wants to give a heads up.

Brings back lots of great memories with the staff on the Jade. Thanks for the update

[emoji41]

...It was a great cruise and we met some really nice people. Maybe we meet again on a future cruise;)

I can double that. Best cruise ever I've done so far. Very good ports, beautiful landscapes, best crew ever, very nice people on board, very hard to exceed...

Best wishes from the rainy middle of Germany [emoji4]

Oliver

Jade as of August 1, 2017

Captain: Ingar Kjellar (from Norway) - very good Captain, not very often see-able but always hearable via the ceiling-loudspeakers

Hotel Director: Stefan Antonescu - brilliant, best HD I ever met

F&B Director: Vesna Campos - open minded, very often in the main restaurants, helpful, always friendly

Cruise Director: Roberto De Pasquale - good job, speaks fluently Italian (of course), German (nice to hear his Italian-German accent), Spanish and of course: English

Executive Hoisekeeper: Nicolas Christopher - his team has done a tremendous job, cheering Dedy, one of the best cabin steward ever!

Executive Chef: Matthew Cole - very silent, but if you speak to him, he make things happen [emoji3]

Restaurant Manager: Martin Cliff - an excellent ExeChief, always visible, even during night time, perfect attitude!

Beverage Manager: Timea Bartha - one of the best F&B I've ever met on a cruise ship, very open minded, has one of the best crew staff I found on a cruise ship, honestly!

Guest Services Manager: Jaimaline Rocas -did a very good job, no complains.

Group Service Coordinator: Cholette Hayag.- also a good part of this team, no complains.

Also I'd like to mention: the brilliant restaurant chief at Cagneys (forgotten his name): great guy with a silent, perfect attitude! British style [emoji56]

Bar staff: all 8 bartenders working in Spinnaker Lounge between 10 and 12, never seen such an perfect team!!!

And finally the 'Stars' of my cruise: Nash & Max, both are from St. Lucia, very good Bartenders with a great mind and a sensitive touch, if you have ever the chance meet them in person, please give them a big hug [emoji6]. Also Mitch, (Michard) who is currently on vacation and will replace Max(ime) again when he and Nash will go on vacation November 6th.

Overall: perfect cruise with an outstanding crew, never met such an brilliant bunch of people on a cruise ship ever!

.

 

Concierge: Omar O Besso

To be honest to you: after this cruise I've heard some major concerns about Omar. I really can't tell you the details and why, but some very good friends of mine stayed in Haven didn't gave the best reputation of him [emoji43]

...and about 1 km to walk to the port exit :(

OMG, we left QE2 at 8:45 on time and were at 10:15 at LHR Terminal 2. Safe travels to Hamburg, Tina

Cheers Oliver

...It sails out of Southampton and I am wondering IF you can see the Cliffs of Dover at some point during the cruise---leaving or returning to Southampton?

Yes, we saw the Cliffs of Dover yesterday evening from our Balcony starboard side. So if you're sailing out of/ or into Southampton you'll be able to see them, they're stunning...

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Here we come! Thanks again!

Have a wonderful cruise like we had! Please ensure to say hello to Nash (main bartender on Pit Stop Bar) and Maxime (@Sugarcane Mojito Bar), you'll earn a BIG smile

Cheers Oliver

Thanks. The site says QE2 for today. Can anyone on the Jade confirm that?

]

Confirmed [emoji3]

... as I journal the trip and use my notes later in photo albums. Otherwise, I forget by the time I get

Great photos Cheryl, indeed! You can only top this if you've been on this beautiful cruise [emoji6] great ship, great crew and great people on board. CU tonight @Jumari.

Cheers Oliver

...your weather updates are helpful too. :):(

We've had so much luck so far, no rainy day, Alesund weather was awesome: sunshine with temperatures above the 70ies mark, today it's cloudy but no rain as previously predicted, hopefully we are again in a lucky position tomorrow at our last stop in Geiranger.

...did the Museum and Viking Farm accept credit cards?

Yes, all major credit cards has been accepted. You are allowed to pay one time for both attractions while inside the museum (opens at 10am, the Viking Farm opens at 12)

Oliver- next time he plays Caroline I'm going to find you and sing in your ear :)... We will be back with Jumari to close his set afterward...

OMG please don't [emoji12]

Do you know where Jumari is scheduled to play for tonight? In the Dailies there's another guitar player listed for this evening at the Atrium [emoji15]

Thanks trinity :).

 

We closed the atrium bar again- really enjoying Jamel (guitarist).

Cheryl, I think you're talking about Jumari, an really brilliant guitar player. I'm so happy that you mentioned him in this thread otherwise we could have missed him. BUT the next time he will play 'Sweet Carolyne' I'm gonna kill him... LOL

C U tonight @Jumari

Oliver

Hi again,

 

Went back to #844 in the July 30 rollcall (as recommended by Oliver I think) ...

 

Wouldn't the Sorhauggata@Torggata bus stop be closer to the Var Frelsers church where the cruise shuttle drops off?

 

Thanks again.

You are 100% right. If you look on the screenshot Cheryl posted in #868 you'll see a blue sqaure BELOW the Var Frelser church, that's the precise pick up location for the Avaldsnes Bus #209 or #210, as you've posted the corner of Sorhauggata@Torggata.

BELOW the first little blue square there's another one two blocks down, that's the drop off location when you're returning. That's at the corner of Strandgata@Torggata. So you'll have to walk only 3 blocks up back to the church on your return and right in front of the church you'll be able to pick up the free shuttle back to the ship.

...Any advice?

Does this help? http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2330013

Very helpful. Thanks! What time did the bus depart and then return? We are only in port until 3. I understand there is a tourist center at the harbor. Is there an ATM there? Did you enjoy the attraction?

Carol, There are two bus lines 209 and 210 which serves Alvernes. They 're departing in 20 minutes time difference and in between there's a 40 minutes break. No clue if there's a ATM at the harbour but there a lot in Haugesand. Enjoyed a LOT, gives you a deep insight in the Norwegian Saga (Thor, Odin, Hunin & Munin etc.)

Cheers Oliver

Where's the public bus stop you are going to pickup the bus in Haugesund? Is the fare 40 kr exact change?[/url]

All right, just coming back from our trip to the Norwegians Birthplace: there's a free shuttle from the harbour to the already mentioned church and from there it's only one block down and a half block right where the bus station is. The driver DOESN'T need the exact fare, a hundert NOK bill is fine for him: it's 35 NOK each way per person, that's around 4,50$ per trip. A daily pass will cost you 95 NOK each.

On the way back the bus station is exactly on the other side of the road, from there (and the way back of course) it'll take you 12 to 15 minutes walking time to the Norwegian Birthplace. The stop in the city is only 4 blocks down where the shuttle to the harbour will depart.

Everything has been easy, please calculate around 4hours minimum from leaving the ship until your return...

Hope that helps...

Cheers Oliver