The Jade

[texastennis]

Just got back from the 12/19 sailing on the Jade and it was the worst cruise I have been on in thirty years.The dining rooms were dirty with staff not able to keep up with cleaning tables in the Garden Café,tender service ridiculously slow at ports,xtra charges for everything and lastly ,a change in the itinerary that resulted in us docked in Houston 16 hours early

 

I'm on the Jade in March and getting a little nervous. The reviews have been consistently terrible. Would you mind expounding upon your experience a little more? In your 30 years of cruising, how many of your cruises have been with NCL out of Houston? Can you compare those experiences with your most recent? Was anything on this cruise praise-worthy?

 

As excited as I am about my upcoming "sabbatical," I'm beginning to think that I'll have to lower my expectations for this upcoming (and final) NCL cruise.

 

Thanks.

[kmaxwell43701]

I would definitely suggest lowering your expectations and I have cruised on NCL in the past and if this is their new approach it has gone downhill.In Roatan they started tendering at 8 but the first ones to go were those on NCL shore excursions so by the time they got around to us,boat 21 even though we were in line to get tickets at 7;45,we didn't get ashore until 10;30, We did a little trip to Little sister Key and arrived there at11;30 and needed to leave by 2 to get back onboard by 3.We had the unlimited beverage package but while we were in US waters,about 24 hours due to rescheduling,we could only get a small selection of alcohol and had to pay the taxes on that. The buffet was very dirty due to understaffing and the head chef expressed displeasure to me personally about his lack of control over the menu and food selection saying it was dictated to him by corporate.I made a comment to one of the NCL staff members that "this was the worst cruise I have ever been on" and her reply was "she would like to have a nickel for everytime someone had told her that this week":mad::mad:

[hawk1972]

I would definitely suggest lowering your expectations and I have cruised on NCL in the past and if this is their new approach it has gone downhill.In Roatan they started tendering at 8 but the first ones to go were those on NCL shore excursions so by the time they got around to us,boat 21 even though we were in line to get tickets at 7;45,we didn't get ashore until 10;30, We did a little trip to Little sister Key and arrived there at11;30 and needed to leave by 2 to get back onboard by 3.We had the unlimited beverage package but while we were in US waters,about 24 hours due to rescheduling,we could only get a small selection of alcohol and had to pay the taxes on that. The buffet was very dirty due to understaffing and the head chef expressed displeasure to me personally about his lack of control over the menu and food selection saying it was dictated to him by corporate.I made a comment to one of the NCL staff members that "this was the worst cruise I have ever been on" and her reply was "she would like to have a nickel for everytime someone had told her that this week":mad::mad:

 

By the buffet being dirty do you mean the tables were unbussed, the floors were dirty, the dishes were dirty, the buffet lines were unsanitary, or what exactly?

 

The tender situation has motivated me to book NCL excursions in Belize and Roatan.

 

The change in schedule was due to weather at Bayport and was really beyond Norwegian' s control. That is a risk of sailing from there or even Galveston.

 

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk

Edited December 31, 2015 by hawk1972

[hawk1972]

Reading the Roll Call for the 12/19 cruise, there are glowing reports from some of the returning cruisers. One talks about how clean the ship was and how great the buffet was. Hard to know who to believe.

Edited December 31, 2015 by hawk1972

[kmaxwell43701]

Mainly floors dirty and tables unbused

[Linda the Book Lover]

Reading the Roll Call for the 12/19 cruise, there are glowing reports from some of the returning cruisers. One talks about how clean the ship was and how great the buffet was. Hard to know who to believe.

 

In this case I am going with the glass half full. I am going with the Roll Call reviews. Additionally on this thread it appears the tendering situation was addressed. As in all things we each may view an experience differently.

[hawk1972]

In this case I am going with the glass half full. I am going with the Roll Call reviews. Additionally on this thread it appears the tendering situation was addressed. As in all things we each may view an experience differently.

 

I am going expecting to have a great time and I doubt I will be disappointed.

[canadianeh934]

I have been to tender ports before but it sure sounds like the Jade is done poorly. Lets hope that it is better then described.

[mbacfs]

FYI, I was on the 12-19 cruise, and for the most part it was great. I would do it again. The reason tendering took so long in Roatan was due to rough waters preventing tendering from both sides of the ship. Then, the reason we got back early was due to fog. This keeps everyone on schedule when disembarking, which I appreciated. We just made it back to Amarillo prior to a blizzard, so I would have hated a delay if the captain would have waited and we had a problem. My biggest complaint was on dining reservations and the lines for the main dining rooms. We've been on several cruises with multiple companies, and this one was just fine. Go and enjoy!

[Oakman58]

I’ll be on the Jade in a couple of weeks so when I come back I’ll be doing a photo review of our cruise. I’m not good at writing so it will be more photos than words.

 

I don’t mind tendering at ports, I just consider it bonus boat ride that provides a photo op of the cruise ship. I do worry about my wife getting on and off a tender boat in choppy water but the crews have always done a good job helping her on and off.

 

If you’re going to be a cruiser you have to understand weather and other circumstances can cause changes to the ship’s itinerary. It happens. My greatest cruise fear is what happened on the Costa Concordia or how the passengers were treated after the fire on the Carnival Triumph back in 2013.

[Linda the Book Lover]

Oakman58 I am looking forward to your pictures...I hope you are leaving before us.

[Oakman58]

Oakman58 I am looking forward to your pictures...I hope you are leaving before us.

 

My wife and I are cruising with my sister and brother-in-law again and we are departing Houston January 16. Wife and I are so excited about this trip we log onto NCL and our vacation summary just to see the countdown days (15 days). :D

 

I was recouping from New Years Eve today by sitting at the computer and randomly looking at all-inclusive resorts and cruise prices. I found what I think is a great deal through an online website for a balcony cabin on a December cruise on the Epic. I've always wondered about the mega-ships so this will be my chance to find out if I like them or not. Along with the good price I got the pick two freestyle choice promo. Woo Hoo!!

[wvfrogg]

I'm on the Jade in March and getting a little nervous. The reviews have been consistently terrible.

 

Don't be nervous -- the reviews are NOT consistently terrible. I loved my 12/5 Jade cruise and several others also indicated how much they enjoyed the cruise.

 

I tendered in Belize, which was no big deal, but chose not to leave this ship in Roatan. We also got in early, due to the fog. I was glad for that as one time coming into Tampa Bay the ship was 7 hours late due to the Coast Guard closing the channel leading to the port. Many, many missed their planes that time. This is not a NCL problem.

 

We thought the food was very good, were not charged extra for anything except for drinks we ordered by the pool. Crew was excellent as was the Service Desk. I had a $75 OBC and my daughter put $100 on it as a birthday gift. I had a credit at the end of the cruise, and we ate at speciality restaurants 3 times.

 

Enjoy your cruise, and I hope you get Derick as your stateroom steward. He was fantastic.

[canadianeh934]

My wife and I are cruising with my sister and brother-in-law again and we are departing Houston January 16. Wife and I are so excited about this trip we log onto NCL and our vacation summary just to see the countdown days (15 days). :D

 

I was recouping from New Years Eve today by sitting at the computer and randomly looking at all-inclusive resorts and cruise prices. I found what I think is a great deal through an online website for a balcony cabin on a December cruise on the Epic. I've always wondered about the mega-ships so this will be my chance to find out if I like them or not. Along with the good price I got the pick two freestyle choice promo. Woo Hoo!!

 

 

See you on board....the 16th will be our second week on the Jade...

[Linda the Book Lover]

My wife and I are cruising with my sister and brother-in-law again and we are departing Houston January 16. Wife and I are so excited about this trip we log onto NCL and our vacation summary just to see the countdown days (15 days). :D

 

I was recouping from New Years Eve today by sitting at the computer and randomly looking at all-inclusive resorts and cruise prices. I found what I think is a great deal through an online website for a balcony cabin on a December cruise on the Epic. I've always wondered about the mega-ships so this will be my chance to find out if I like them or not. Along with the good price I got the pick two freestyle choice promo. Woo Hoo!!

 

We enjoyed the Epic but the DH felt it was too big for him as he prefers the medium size ships. Then again he was so in love with Posh I always knew where to find him! So many shows, so many activities, so many Tastings! It was a birthday cruise just like the Jade will be. Have a wonderful time!

[kitten3008]

We're sailing on the Jade February 13th, and I'm finding myself a little anxious. Not even because of bad reviews; my only other cruise was on the Epic last March, and I absolutely LOVED it. I know that the Epic is huge and different than any other ship, so I am having anxiety wondering if I'll love the Jade half as much!

 

My husband, who has far more cruises under his belt, didn't care for the Epic (we had a wonderful vacation, he just much prefers the smaller ships), and tells me regularly that I'm going to absolutely love the smaller, more intimate Jade. I guess we will see!

[getaway4fun]

We're sailing on the Jade February 13th, and I'm finding myself a little anxious. Not even because of bad reviews; my only other cruise was on the Epic last March, and I absolutely LOVED it. I know that the Epic is huge and different than any other ship, so I am having anxiety wondering if I'll love the Jade half as much!

 

My husband, who has far more cruises under his belt, didn't care for the Epic (we had a wonderful vacation, he just much prefers the smaller ships), and tells me regularly that I'm going to absolutely love the smaller, more intimate Jade. I guess we will see!

 

You are going to have a wonderful cruise! We had a great time on the Epic, but like your husband, prefer the smaller Jewel Class ships. All in all, no matter what ship, you will be away and letting someone else take care of you! :) Have a great time!

[kitten3008]

You are going to have a wonderful cruise! We had a great time on the Epic, but like your husband, prefer the smaller Jewel Class ships. All in all, no matter what ship, you will be away and letting someone else take care of you! :) Have a great time!

 

Thank you so much for the reassurance! It's so good to know other people feel the same way he does. I loved the Epic so much, but my DH likes to remind me that I also have nothing to compare it to, lol. I have some social anxiety, so he thinks I really will prefer the smaller, less crowded Jewel class ships.

 

And trust me, I cannot wait for frozen drinks, pool time, and someone else cleaning up after my messy husband and eight year old son, lol!

[getaway4fun]

Thank you so much for the reassurance! It's so good to know other people feel the same way he does. I loved the Epic so much, but my DH likes to remind me that I also have nothing to compare it to, lol. I have some social anxiety, so he thinks I really will prefer the smaller, less crowded Jewel class ships.

 

And trust me, I cannot wait for frozen drinks, pool time, and someone else cleaning up after my messy husband and eight year old son, lol!

 

The Jewel class ships have a much more open format - grand two-story lobby area - and the casino is a separate room instead of being in the hallway, as it is on the Epic. The only thing I miss on the Jewel class ships is the water slides. They were a lot of fun on port days and most of the people were off the ship. My DD has social anxiety and large crowds bother her. We were in the Haven on the Epic and will be on the Jade in March, but she has had no problems on any of the Jewel class ships when we were out and and about - even on sea days.

 

Frozen drinks, sun and no cleaning!! Amen! :D

[live2cruise2011]

we board next week and i will do a photo review when i return we have reservations at La cocina and the french restaurant mainly. i have a folder set aside to bring back all the dailies as well. In my book the only bad cruise is one i am not on.... if anyone has anything they would like to request that i bring back please e mail me at laredotupperware@gmail.com

 

cheryl

[pr0pel]

we board next week and i will do a photo review when i return we have reservations at La cocina and the french restaurant mainly. i have a folder set aside to bring back all the dailies as well. In my book the only bad cruise is one i am not on.... if anyone has anything they would like to request that i bring back please e mail me at laredotupperware@gmail.com

 

cheryl

 

Can't wait for your review.. we'll be on next month.

[Linda the Book Lover]

we board next week and i will do a photo review when i return we have reservations at La cocina and the french restaurant mainly. i have a folder set aside to bring back all the dailies as well. In my book the only bad cruise is one i am not on.... if anyone has anything they would like to request that i bring back please e mail me at laredotupperware@gmail.com

 

cheryl

 

Have a great time! Looking forward to reading your review.

[TxTeach79]

Was also on the 12/19 sailing... had a great time. Ship is in fine shape, crew was happy and helpful. Tons of happy fellow pax.

[hawk1972]

Was also on the 12/19 sailing... had a great time. Ship is in fine shape, crew was happy and helpful. Tons of happy fellow pax.

 

Glad to hear this.

 

They will have to try really hard to keep me from having a good time in a few weeks!