Tips for a first time NCL cruiser

[khuff7]

Hello, my husband and I are going to be sailing on the Jade in December. We have cruised many times before, but never with NCL. Can anyone give us some tips that maybe a first time NCL cruiser wouldn't know, also how does NCL rate compared to say Princess (which we really like) and Celebrity.

 

Also, if anyone has been on the Jade, what were your thoughts and things not to miss?

 

Kristin:)

[ohioNCLcruiser]

Hello, my husband and I are going to be sailing on the Jade in December. We have cruised many times before, but never with NCL. Can anyone give us some tips that maybe a first time NCL cruiser wouldn't know, also how does NCL rate compared to say Princess (which we really like) and Celebrity.

 

Also, if anyone has been on the Jade, what were your thoughts and things not to miss?

 

Kristin:)

 

I have some pictures from my Jade cruise on my blog that you might find interesting. Shes a pretty ship! www.shipblogger.com and click on the photo tab. Its under the Greek island and Egypt cruise.

 

It was a great cruise!

 

James

[Planer's Edge]

At the top of the main page there is a thread titled Creating a FAQ: "What You Need To Know About Cruising on NCL"

 

This will give you quite a few tips.

 

PE

[khuff7]

Thank you both. I will check both out.

[Planer's Edge]

...then, if you still have questions, fire away.

 

PE

[khuff7]

We found Freestyle Dailys from June 2008. We noticed that every night there were 2 for 1 specials for some of the speciality restaurants and also noticed that there are free drinks in the casino while playing. Do they still do this? If so, that is pretty cool. (We are hoping this is still the case:))

 

It seems like they offer alot of activities.

 

Has any one done the murder mystery dinner show? It sounds kind of interesting.

 

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm sure I will have a few more questions as the time passes between now and December.:)

Kristin

[terrymtex01]

Welcome to NCL

 

We found Freestyle Dailys from June 2008. We noticed that every night there were 2 for 1 specials for some of the speciality restaurants and also noticed that there are free drinks in the casino while playing.

 

The 2 for 1's vary cruise to cruise. It really will be a matter of supply and demand. We have never noticed that on any of the four cruises we have been on with NCL, yet as you could see by the Dailys you read there are some cruises where they might have them every night.

The casino was giving free drinks for a while to folks who were gambling and using their NCL players club card which you can sign up for once you get onboard. However from what a casino manager told me, too many people were abusing it and taking advantage of it, so that was a short lived program. (the free drinks was short lived I mean)

Do they still do this? If so, that is pretty cool. (We are hoping this is still the case:))

 

It seems like they offer alot of activities.

 

Has any one done the murder mystery dinner show? It sounds kind of interesting.

 

We have never done the M.M. dinner ourselves, but I have only read of one person who was disappointed in it. Every one else who comes back here to report on it loves it. I am hoping we get to do it when we sail on the Dawn this Nov. We had signed up for it on our last cruise, which was on the Pearl, but the casino had something going on we ended up wanting to go to instead. Be sure and check your Freestyle Dailys when you are onboard to find out the date and time to sign up as there is a limited number of people who can attend and it fills up quickly.

 

Thanks in advance for the help. I'm sure I will have a few more questions as the time passes between now and December.:)

Kristin

 

Im sorry I can't help you with the comparison between NCL and Princess and X. We have never sailed on the latter two. However I can tell you we went from RCCL to NCL and I was terified we had basically gone from luxury to a discount type of cruise. Nothing could be further from the truth. We found NCL to be very nice and have a great crew and staff. Now it seems like a horror to think of going back to traditional cruising.

[khuff7]

Thanks for your honesty. Yeah, I think we are going to like the "freestyle cruising" offered. We don't like the traditional dining offered on Celebrity or Carnival. If we are on an excursion, we don't want to be worried about getting back in time for dinner.

Based on your signature, you must like NCL, good to know.:)

[joanofarc]

Not meaning to hi-jack this thread but I just read about the Murder Mystery dinner and was wondering if it is available on all NCL ships (Jewel in particular) and if anyone has more info on this. Sounds like it would be alot of fun:)

 

Thanks

[Demonyte]

We found Freestyle Dailys from June 2008. We noticed that every night there were 2 for 1 specials for some of the speciality restaurants and also noticed that there are free drinks in the casino while playing. Do they still do this? If so, that is pretty cool. (We are hoping this is still the case:))

 

I was offered a free drink few times by the pit boss while sitting at the BJ table onboard Jade this January. I had signed up for the players club and sat there daily but didn't gamble that much in total, me and GF together spent less than $1000 in the casino during the whole cruise (not very much compared to what other cruisers here have told).

 

I didn't expect it so I was pleased to get offered. :)

[Cuizer2]

Hello, my husband and I are going to be sailing on the Jade in December. We have cruised many times before, but never with NCL. Can anyone give us some tips that maybe a first time NCL cruiser wouldn't know, also how does NCL rate compared to say Princess (which we really like) and Celebrity.

 

Also, if anyone has been on the Jade, what were your thoughts and things not to miss?

 

Kristin:)

 

I was on the maiden voyage of the Jade. Below is a link to my review (which I warn you is long - about 28 type written pages if I recall correctly) ...

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=38933

 

My best tip is the same for any ship. Go with a positive attitude. Go expecting to have a good time and you will. Go looking for problem and you will find them.

 

For NCL, I would say to take a little time an learn how Freestyle Dining works. Learn how to work the system to your advantage and you will enjoy it that much more. It is not perfect (no system is). But fighting the system will not improve it. The more flexible you are, the better you will enjoy your dining experience.

[Ottawa Lynne]

I loved NCL. I have only cruised NCL. I feel like a welcomed guest in someone's holiday residence - I don';t get the royalty feel that others seem to get on other cruise lines.

 

NCL has great entertainment! I'm not super keen on the Jean Ryan company who do the drama/dancing-type shows, but the comedians and entertainers have been beyond excellent on the three cruises we have been on.

 

Don't miss the Newlywed game - it is the funniest and, depending on the players, the most romantic hour of entertainment. The Liar's Club is also good, but is adult's only and can get a bit raunchy (if that offends you).

 

Explore the decks - there are lounge chairs all over, the ones at the pool are quickly taken but if you prefer shade or somewhere a little quieter there are other opportunities.

 

Eat at Cagney's or East meets West (the steak restaurant) - incredible steak.

 

Have an excellent time!

[khuff7]

Thanks for the tips.