Live from the jade

[sanger727]

I didn't sign up for any onboard internet so not sure how often I'll be able to log on. But we embarked yesterday in Tampa. This was by far the best experience I have had boarding a ship. We stayed at the Hampton inn ybor, which I highly recommend. Just as a tip, you have to access it from 6th, not 7th even though that's their address. Uber knew that so it directed our driver to 6th, but as we came out the 7th street exit (must have a key to enter there) we saw a van unloading all of its luggage and they had to load it all back up!

 

Hampton inn includes a hot breakfast and shuttle to the port, so everything we needed. Shuttle ran ever 30 minutes starting at 9:30 AI we signed up for the 10:30 shuttle. We were at the port around 10:40, checked in by 11 with 'latitudes 2' as the boarding number. We were on the ship by 11:15. Rooms were ready at 1:30 and we got our luggage while we were checking around 1:45.

 

 

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[sanger727]

This was my first trip with the UBP and I don't think I can go back to cruising without it. So nice to walk up to order whatever without thinking about the cost (within the $15). The first bar we went to at the rear buffet had really rude and unfriendly bartenders. But the rest of the crew has been great. The water slide is down but all pools and deck space is open.

 

Day 1 was key west and we just walked around sight seeing a bit and shopped. We stopped at blue heaven for lunch, way overrated IMHO, very small menu and nothing special about it. Also stopped at kermits, also overrated. Only thing annoying about key west is we docked at the military base and had to take a trolley to and from Mallory square. But they provided the shuttle complimentary and ever gave us a free bottle of water for the port. [emoji106]

 

 

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Edited January 16, 2017 by sanger727

[sanger727]

We have two rooms on the 9th floor, one inside and one balcony. The inside is perfectly fine, the bathroom and shower were actually roomier than we expected. My bf is on the larger side and has no issues with the shower size. The balcony was a bit of a disappointment, if the room was classed differently we were unaware of it. But there are 5 balconies on the 9th floor that are very far forward and actually have a metal enclosure around them. So it's a bit more like a lanai than a balcony.

 

So far the food and drinks have been good. At the first bar I went to, while I was waiting we heard someone order patron and he was told it wasn't included in the UBP. He was upset but I do appreciate being told before I'm charged. I was aware of the state tax issue and it does show the charges on my onboard account. But we haven't been handed a single 'slip' for the drinks. They just swipe the card and hand us the drinks. Nothing I have been ordered has come out of the pre-made jugs so far. Had a pina colada, mojito, and a couple martinis at the martini bar and they were made fresh in front of us. Light pours but tasty. We did see someone handed a drink from one of the pre-made jugs (mai tai I think) and she made a face so think it may not have been very good so going to avoid those as much as I can. The bottles aren't labeled in any way I can read so not sure how easy it will be.

 

 

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[ew101]

We became major groupies of the Showtime Band who would appear as a whole or in parts in various lounges.

[calmpets]

This was my first trip with the UBP and I don't think I can go back to cruising without it. So nice to walk up to order whatever without thinking about the cost (within the $15).

 

I totally agree with you about the UBP! Once you've sailed with it, it would be rough to go back to paying a la carte. Following your updates - keep them coming, but enjoy your cruise!

[khaide612]

We became major groupies of the Showtime Band who would appear as a whole or in parts in various lounges.

 

They were excellent! We would even sit in the atrium to hear the leader play guitar in the afternoons. The other band is really good too. The singer does a great impression of Louis Armstrong! The duo is terrible - I think called Soul Waves.

[MNcruisingcouple]

We became major groupies of the Showtime Band who would appear as a whole or in parts in various lounges.

 

 

What type of music do they (or any of the other acts) play? We sail on 1/25 and are starting to get really excited.

 

 

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[khaide612]

Also I forgot Barry on the piano was a lot of fun!

 

The bands play all types of music from swing and cha cha to rock and reggae.

[MNcruisingcouple]

Also I forgot Barry on the piano was a lot of fun!

 

 

 

The bands play all types of music from swing and cha cha to rock and reggae.

 

 

We have a group that mainly wants to listen to rock. Which bands and locations are the best for that? Thanks for your help!

 

 

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[BrianSimpsonKY]

I am on the Jade in April...keep the updates coming please!!! Great job so far!!!!

 

 

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[sanger727]

What type of music do they (or any of the other acts) play? We sail on 1/25 and are starting to get really excited.

 

 

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There's a wide variety from reggae, to big band, to classic rock

 

 

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[sanger727]

So made it to Tortola today and we did the baths at virgin gorda on our own. Smith's no longer goes that route, so you must take speedy and can come back at 12:40 or 3:30. With all aboard at 4:30 we took the 12:40 ferry. Worth doing once but very busy. As far as ship life, things have gone downhill a bit. The shows are excellent. So far had an aerobatics act, a production show with pop country that was great and a comedian/musician. Food, not as much. Had a turkey lasagna in MDR that was rubbery and soggy, and 2 steaks at cagneys, both of which were cooked incorrectly. Also, the pre-made drinks are everywhere and just about impossible to avoid. Teppanyaki and the martini bar are the highlights; even the pre-made drinks at the martini bar are great!

 

 

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[ew101]

They were excellent! We would even sit in the atrium to hear the leader play guitar in the afternoons. The other band is really good too. The singer does a great impression of Louis Armstrong! The duo is terrible - I think called Soul Waves.

 

The Bandmaster is I think Vaughn- he's friendly and from New Zealand. He stays with the ship and the musicians rotate in and out based on their contracts. I think from now on we will try to track down the Bandmaster early in our trips and ask he or she what they would recommend for the type of music we like. He said they adjust as they can based on passenger preferences and it varies from cruise to cruise. We had Showtime all to ourselves one night in Medusa for a few ballroom dances - it was memorable :)

Edited January 20, 2017 by ew101

[sanger727]

Got into a wifi zone finally. So after the day in key west we did the mdr for dinner which is where I had the inedible turkey lasagna. The show that evening was a combination dancing and acrobatics that was very good.

 

Next day was our first sea day and I was a little disappointed by the activities. It seemed like very little was planned. We mostly spent the day at the pool and then went to the martini bar. We did sign up for spin classes on our sea days. I'm an avid spinner and while the instructor tried, the bikes were terrible. Very worn in.

 

 

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[sanger727]

Dinner that night was cagneys. Now when we walked up there was a woman complaining about how terrible her dinner was so we expected the worse. It wasn't bad. It wasn't exceptional and not worth the price to me. Had the wedge salad, a medium 5 oz filet mignon that came out mid rare and garlic mash, truffle fries, and broccoli. Everything was just fine but nothing tasted really good. Had the brownie for desert and it was also just fine.

 

Show was the production cast doing blazing boots. That was wonderful. Really enjoyed the show.

 

 

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[sanger727]

Next day was another sea day. This day had a lot more going on. We went to a info session about the running of the ship, an ice carving at the pool, then the casino for a bit. In the afternoon it was not smoky but I wouldn't go there in the evening. For dinner we did teppanyaki which we enjoyed very much. The wasabi cocktail was delicious. The show that night was el goucho which sounded and looked silly but was actually very good.

 

 

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[sanger727]

Our next port day was Tortola. We jumped on the 9 am ferry to virgin gorda with plans to return at 2:15 on a different ferry company. Come to find the other company was no longer running this route so we could only return at 12:40 or 3:30. We chose the 12:40 because the other one got us back right at all onboard time. It's about a 30 minute ferry ride and then a 10 minute taxi.

 

We arrived at the baths right after the ship excursion. So of course, it was very crowded. There was no clear direction so people were passing on both sides and you constantly had to stop at the tight spots. If you've never been, you have to go. But if you have been, it's not worth going on a cruise ship day.

 

Dinner was in the mdr, had steak. Which was actually cooked correctly, although was a much tougher cut than cagneys of course. And didn't have a lot of flavor. Show was an American idol style with Motown music. I was t a fan, although was surprised by the number of people who thought it was fixed. It didn't appear that way to me.

 

 

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[sanger727]

Today we stopped at Antigua. We didn't know anything about it but it will be the highlight of our trip. We did the xtreme circumnavigation tour with adventure Antigua and it was fabulous. So beautiful, so fun, and great stop for lunch, snorkeling, and rum punch.

 

We had a surprise extension and are in port until 7:30 instead of 6 so had time for shopping and a little wifi at a restaurant overlooking the ships. [emoji3]

 

 

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[sanger727]

Oh, and before I sign off, completely forgot to mention the cruisecritic group on this sailing. It's huge. Completely filled up le bistro for the meet and greet. Also went on a pub crawl they organized which was awesome. Kudos to the organizers for doing such a great job.

 

 

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[sanger727]

I'll try to load some pictures but not sure how it will do.

 

Virgin gorda

 

 

 

 

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[sanger727]

Antigua

 

 

 

 

 

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[khaide612]

Show was an American idol style with Motown music. I was t a fan, although was surprised by the number of people who thought it was fixed. It didn't appear that way to me.

 

On my Jade cruise last week, first voted off was the blonde girl, then the dark haired girl, then the black guy and the white guy "won". I thought it was fixed because of the choreography, etc. but my sister overheard them pick one of the judges out of the crowd and tell him to pick the person he thought got the least amount of votes.

[ew101]

Oh, and before I sign off, completely forgot to mention the cruisecritic group on this sailing. It's huge. Completely filled up le bistro for the meet and greet. Also went on a pub crawl they organized which was awesome. Kudos to the organizers for doing such a great job.

 

 

One gets the distinct impression NCL pays attention to Cruise Critic - if we read it was a question on the after cruise survey

[MikeyB]

Any bartenders you recommend?

[Ellusionz]

My parents are on there now. And I'll be on there in March with some friends for a shorter trip. Enjoy :)