Temperature Issues - Jade - Winter Cruises - East Med.

[GregGH]

I have searched thru quite a few threads on Eastern Mediterranean NCL cruise on Jade for the winter months ... and very few have mentioned coping with the weather??

 

The Winter ( early March 2011 for me ) seems to be a best fit of 'hating my home weather' and not needing 90 degree travel weather ... but ... have you done this trip and ever had regrets on the weather?

 

I have these bookmarks - handy as they list an entire month - and you can go back previous years to see ...

Spain BCN Barcelona

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/BCN/2009/3/1/MonthlyHistory.html

Egypt ALY Alexandria

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/ALY/2009/3/1/MonthlyHistory.html

Turkey ADB Izmir

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/ADB/2009/3/1/MonthlyHistory.html

Italy FCO Rome

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/FCO/2009/3/1/MonthlyHistory.html

Malta MLA

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/MLA/2009/3/1/MonthlyHistory.html

(hope I have the airport codes correct)

 

Does NCL have a good thing being the only cruise line to offer winter cruises here ??

 

Any suggestions or weather relates comments appreciated. Did you notice many places 'closed' for the off season? Where you surprised by any large crowds anywhere - given this is off time ?

 

Greg

[cruisinfamily07]

We did this cruise last year at the end of January and had a great time! The weather was perfect in my opinion. It was not too hot and while there were a few days of overcast skies it was perfect for sightseeing. There were no crowds and we did not feel rushed at all. I would say the temperatures ranged from 10C to 20C depending on the port. Just be sure to take a small umbrella that you can carry in a bag and wear layers so that you are prepared for either.

 

The Jade was a great ship and would definately sale on her again!

[Fishbait17]

We sailed the Jade on the Morocco itinerary in March, and the Egypt itinerary over Christmas. The Christmas cruise was a tad on the cold side (unusually cold in Barcelona actually), but beautiful in Egypt and in Greece, where we had some unseasonably warm weather. Only rain we saw in port was Rome. Layering a fleece with a wind/rain shell was perfect, used a scarf and light gloves a couple of days in Barcelona. MUCH preferred the winter weather to August (when we sailed the Jewel Eastern Med). The March cruise was absolutely beautiful, no rain, with a light jacket early in the morning and short sleeves the rest of the day - that itinerary was a tad farther south than most of the Eastern Med, but I would still expect temps to be lovely. For touring Europe, I would rather wear a light jacket than to roast all day in a city.

 

Robin

[mum and son]

I agree that the weather was very good (have just returned from the Jade Eastern Med). After spending two weeks in London and Paris everywhere on the cruise seemed warm. We had rain in Rome and Malta but it didn't dampen our spirits and I enjoyed the days in both places. I had a knee-length winter coat with me but didn't use it once after leaving Barcelona.

 

As suggested, a fleece type jacket with a rain jacket over the top did the trick in most ports. In Cairo no jacket was needed. Athens was also warm enough for a t-shirt. Ephesus was bright and sunny with a slight chill in the air when you stood in the shade.

 

It was great to walk up to the Trevi Fountain in Rome and take our photos because there are about 5000 people there in summer !!!! It was the perfect time of year to travel to these destinations and I didn't notice any vendors missing.

 

You'll love it !!!!!

[jocap]

Usually you're followed round the E. Med by an RCI ship, so Jade isn't the only ship sailing; there's always 2 or 3 MSC and Costas around.

It can be wet in early spring, and we were drenched in Turkey and Alex last year, but the only time it can be really cold is on deck at night.

All this is worth it for the lack of crowds.....last yr. there were only Jade pax at Ephesus, which was a 1st for me!-jocap.

[GregGH]

Usually you're followed round the E. Med by an RCI ship, so Jade isn't the only ship sailing; there's always 2 or 3 MSC and Costas around.

........

All this is worth it for the lack of crowds.....last yr. there were only Jade pax at Ephesus, which was a 1st for me!-jocap.

 

Thanks for info

 

Curious that Expedia & Orbitz doesn't list Costa or MSC ???

http://www.costacruise.com/B2C/USA/ShoppingV2/CruiseDetail.htm?&Period=201003&Iti=CIV08003&VIti=PA_11_CIV_S_F0B0H0_CIV_SVN_KAT_ATH_RHO_LMS_ASH_PTS_ALY_CIV&Cru=PA11100303

 

 

who is RCI ? sorry for the newbie question - RCCL doesn't start until April and see this >> http://www.rcicruiser.com/ but wonder if this is what you meant?

 

The MSC site can be slow to load :-( Getting time out errors - will try latter

 

Add a rain suit to the list

 

Greg

[WhenIsOurNextCruise]

Thanks for info

 

Curious that Expedia & Orbitz doesn't list Costa or MSC ???

http://www.costacruise.com/B2C/USA/ShoppingV2/CruiseDetail.htm?&Period=201003&Iti=CIV08003&VIti=PA_11_CIV_S_F0B0H0_CIV_SVN_KAT_ATH_RHO_LMS_ASH_PTS_ALY_CIV&Cru=PA11100303

 

 

who is RCI ? sorry for the newbie question - RCCL doesn't start until April and see this >> http://www.rcicruiser.com/ but wonder if this is what you meant?

 

The MSC site can be slow to load :-( Getting time out errors - will try latter

 

Add a rain suit to the list

 

Greg

 

RCI (Royal Caribbean International) is RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line)

[cruis247g]

Greg, It sounds like you're doing the same itinerary that we did last spring, but we travelled about one month later i.e. early April. I"m not sure that this is typical, but it was chilly (50s F) and rained continuously when we embarked and disembarked in Barcelona; cool and cloudy in Rome, but a just a bit warmer than Barcelona; perfect in Greece and Turkey -- low 70s and sunny; a bit warmer (lo to hi 70s), but very pleasant in Egypt; and sunny and warm in Malta (high 60s to low 70s F). Although I found it a little too cool for the pool, from Greece onward, there were always some people, usually children:D, who were brave enough to swim. It was an amazing trip, with a fantastic itinerary! Enjoy!!

[cruis247g]

Greg, It sounds like you're doing the same itinerary that we did last spring, but we travelled about one month later i.e. early April. I"m not sure that this is typical, but it was chilly (50s F) and rained continuously when we embarked and disembarked in Barcelona; cool and cloudy in Rome, but a just a bit warmer than Barcelona; perfect in Greece and Turkey -- low 70s and sunny; a bit warmer (lo to hi 70s), but very pleasant in Egypt; and sunny and warm in Malta (high 60s to low 70s F). Although I found it a little too cool for the pool, from Greece onward, there were always some people, usually children:D, who were brave enough to swim. It was an amazing trip, with a fantastic itinerary! Enjoy!!