My husband and I recently returned from the November 7 – November 14 Western Mediterranean Cruise aboard the beautiful Norwegian Jade with stops in Monte Carlo, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, and Palma de Mallorca. When we were planning our vacation for this year, the only thing we knew was that we wanted to visit Italy. I looked into land tours and cruises and finally made the decision to book a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line for many reasons. This was not our first cruise with Norwegian, and we will sail with them again. We thoroughly enjoy the freestyle cruising. What this means is, “Freestyle Cruising is all about giving you the freedom of choice to have your style of vacation. Relax or be adventurous. Eat a burger or filet. Dress up or go casual. And never have a fixed schedule or restriction to slow you down. It's your vacation, so make sure it's exactly what you've been daydreaming about. “ NCL really goes against the grain in this respect. You eat where you want, when you want, what you want and, most importantly, you can wear what you want!
Some points I would like to make:
- Ship is laid out very well, made for easy navigation.
- NCL adds a $12 per person per day service charge to your on board account, with the option to pay in advance. I feel this amount is very fair for the quality of service received. In fact, our room steward/stewardess did such a fantastic job; we tipped them in addition to this service charge.
- Great staff always friendly and efficient.
- You will never go hungry; if you do…it’s your fault!
- The bridge observation room is awesome. It is open every day from sunrise to sunset and you are provided with a view of the crew on the bridge.
Here is a brief synopsis of each day:
Day 1 - Embarkation Day
We arrived at the Barcelona airport about 7:30 am. Went to baggage claim, luckily all our bags were there…great way to start the trip!! We hopped in a taxi...with 3 bags in "the boot" and 2 passengers the total cost (including a nice tip since our driver was extremely nice) was 40 Euro. We were at the port within 20 minutes!
Not only is the Barcelona port the largest port in Europe, it is also beautiful. When we arrived at the the porters for the Jade are whisked away our luggage and we walked into the terminal and proceeded through security quite easily. Since we arrived so early and they weren't checking in guests yet, my husband and I watched a movie on the iPad. Extremely convenient!
Promptly at 11:00 check in started. We had two lines to choose from, either the line for "bronze & silver latitude members" or the line for "balcony and mini-suite guests". My husband chose the line for "balcony and mini-suite guests" for some reason, but both lines moved very efficiently. Check in was a breeze. * Just a side note, we opted to use cash for our on board account. We have had issues in the past with our credit card not working internationally, so we like to be prepared with enough cash. Setting up the on board account with cash was not an issue, very easy*
Once we were on board, there was an announcement that rooms would be ready for 2:00. This didn't bother us one bit...we walked around the ship, took some great pictures and headed to the Grand Pacific Dining Room for lunch about 12:15. I have to start off discussing lunch by saying our waiter, Norman Dixon from Jamaica, was FANTASTIC. I understand how busy the waiters are so I realize they don't have a lot of time to socialize, but he made it a point to wish us a great cruise and even joked with my husband about their mutual admiration for the Blue Lagoon chicken wings. (If you haven't had them, try them...you'll thank me later) For an appetizer I ordered the Goat Cheese and Pancetta Quiche and my husband ordered the Split Pea Soup. For our entree, I ordered the Wild Mushroom and Garlic Risotto and my husband ordered the BBQ Pork Ribs. And don't forget dessert...we both ordered the Milk Chocolate Mousse. I can't even tell you which course was our favorite. Everything was prepared perfectly...just delicious.
After lunch we headed to our room (which was ready) where we met our room steward/stewardess, Sandy Britton and Dominador Carbonell. They were very friendly and told us if we needed anything to let them know. The room (as well as the rest of the ship) was perfect. After a long day, we decided to take a nap before muster drill. Speaking of muster drill, it was extremely painless. I have sailed on other cruise lines where you have to take your life vest with you and you are cramped in a room with a bunch of other people and it gets uncomfortably hot. Not with NCL, although the life jackets are in the room, it is not necessary to bring them with you to muster. Thank you NCL!!
After muster, we walked around the ship a little more, went back to the room and unpacked and then went to dinner. Since we ate lunch in the Grand Pacific, we decided to try The Alizar. Both of the main dining rooms have the same menu, but the Alizar is the less formal of the two. As an appetizer I ordered the Marinated Roasted Pineapple (Aged Rum, Coconut Cream, Mint, Mojito Vinaigrette with Sugar Cane) and my husband ordered the Crostata - Savory Farm House Style Tart (Buffalo Mozzarella, Wild Mushrooms). For our entree, I ordered the Grilled Farm Raised Chicken Breast (Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Vegetables) and my husband ordered Grilled Mahi-Mahi (Sun-dried Tomato Polenta, Braised Fennel, Chive Butter Sauce). The Grilled Farm Raised Chicken Breast is on their always available menu. I have ordered this many times on past NCL cruises, and it is one of my favorite meals. Usually when I receive sautéed vegetables, they are either not cooked enough, hard or completely mushy. These vegetables were cooked perfectly. For dessert, I ordered Semi-Sweet Chocolate Amaretto Bavarian Cream (Espresso Sauce) and my husband ordered Warm Vanilla Bean Soufflé (Grand Marnier Anglaise). Once again, everything was delicious!
After dinner, we made it an early night since we had a long day ahead of us in Monte Carlo, Monaco!
Day 2 - Monte Carlo, Monaco
The weather report had today listed as 50 and rainy. We were pleasantly surprised to wake up to the sun shining through our balcony door! We decided to have breakfast in the buffet and, once again, weren't disappointed. It has to be said, NCL does a fantastic job with all their food. But their buffet (especially the breakfast buffet) blows every cruise line I've sailed with out of the water (pun intended).
Originally we didn't have an excursion booked for Monte Carlo. However, we decided to add on the excursion Nice, Eze & Monaco. This tour is 7 3/4 hours and cost $99.99 per person. The description of this tour is:
Scenic Drive to Nice and travel along the Promdenade de Anglais. See the Russian Orthodox Church and walk around the old town. Head to the Medieval village of Eze & be dropped off at the general parking area in Eze where you may visit the perfume factory or walk up the steep cobblestone streets of Eze for magnificent views. In Monaco ride the elevators/escalators up for a walking tour of the main sights on the upper level. Short drive along the F1 circuit to Monte Carlo for another walking tour up to Casino Square for views of the Grand Casino & free time.
The tour was exactly as described. The bus used for the tour was in great condition; the tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and informed us of the history of the sights we were seeing while pointing things out the window of the bus for us to photograph. I just want to point out; the tour guide was not the driver. I think this was especially important because we have been on other excursions in the past where the guide doubles as the driver and either your information or the safety is compromised. I would highly recommend this tour!
Tonight was one of two "dress up or not" nights and we had every intention of dressing up. Unfortunately, after the long excursion our stomachs didn't want to wait for us to get changed. Directly after boarding the ship at 6:00 after our excursion, we went to The Alizar for dinner. This is one area where I truly enjoy NCL, their freestyle concept is just perfect. On other cruise lines, there is no way we could have showed up in jeans and been able to eat in the main dining room (and receive service with a smile, no less!).
Since lunch wasn't provided on this tour and we were too busy sightseeing to remember to eat, don't let your jaw hit the floor when you read what we ordered! For appetizers, I ordered Farmhouse Chicken Noodle soup and Caesar Salad (Smoked Turkey, Herb Garlic Croutons, and Parmesan Cheese). My husband ordered Spicy Tortilla Soup (Corn, Lime, Roasted Chilies) and Meze of Grilled Lamb Sausage (Mediterranean Sweet Peppers, Feta, Hummus). As an entree, I ordered Roasted Monkfish Fillet (Braised Artichoke, Barigoule, Pommes Persillee, au Jus and my husband ordered both Spaghetti Carbonara (Pancetta, Rich Cream Sauce) and Chicken Picatta (Gnocchi, Roasted Tomato, Lemon Butter) because he couldn't decide between the two. For Dessert I ordered Chocolate Caramel Mousse Dome (Port Wine Reduction) and my husband ordered Banana Cheesecake (Cherries Jubilee). Everything came out very fresh and prepared perfectly. I can't say what my favorite part of the meal was because everything was just delicious. After dinner, we decided to cut the night short again because we had another long day ahead of us.
Day 3 - Florence (Livorno), Italy
We woke up bright an early and headed to the buffet for breakfast. As usual, the breakfast was delicious, a ton of different foods to choose from. Although the weather forecast was Partly Sunny and 60, it was raining when we pulled in to port, so we decided to pack our umbrellas and jackets. Trust me; we were so happy we did. About half way through Lucca, it started to rain and didn't stop until we were ready to leave Pisa.
For this port, we booked the tour "Wonders of Lucca & Pisa" with a length of 8 hours and a price of $124.99. The description of the tour is:
Combine two of the most famous Tuscan Towns: the fortified medieval city of Lucca & the famous "Miracle Square" of Pisa. In Lucca, take a guided walk through the old town, strolling from piazza to piazza, learning the city's history through its architecture. Inside visit the Duomo, Lucca's Romanesque cathedral dating from the 12th century, featuring a facade with elaborate relives and columns. Inside is a carving of Christ on the cross by Nicodemus, a purported witness of the crucifixion, and Tintoretto's painting of the last supper. Enjoy free time in Lucca to shop, take photos & eat. Guide walk to "Miracle Square," where you will be given a brief orientation & some free time to view the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Baptistery and Cathedral from the outside.
Well, what to say about this tour. I guess I can start by saying it wasn't what we expected. I fully expected to receive the history of the towns and maybe some side stories. I think it would have been a little more beneficial to receive a chunk of the history while we were walking from place to place instead of stopping in front of the sights and being overly excited to experience them, but waiting until the guide was done talking. With that said, Lucca wasn't my favorite place. Yes, there was a lot of history and many beautiful sights to see. However, we received 2 full hours of free time in Lucca after our 2 hour guided tour. This wasn't needed. The town is so complex and the streets are so narrow, one could easily get lost in those two hours and never find the way back to the bus. We were given a map, but honestly I couldn't have found my way if I were lost using it. As a matter of fact, some members of our group did get lost and were about 10 minutes late getting back to the bus in Lucca. This also happened in Pisa, where about 4 people were over 30 minutes late getting back to the meeting point.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Pisa. I believe we received about 45 minutes of free time. I felt it would have been nice to have relatively the same amount of free time in both Lucca and Pisa. In Lucca we received about a 2 hours guided tour. In Pisa, about 30-45 minutes. Clearly the highlight of this tour was Lucca, not Pisa. If equal time was spent in both places, I think it would have been better.
Okay, so you're probably thinking...why didn't you voice your concerns to NCL? Well, I did. I didn't do so to get anyone in trouble, just to let them know my thoughts on certain things. Even though we didn't request it, we were given a 10% discount off the price of the tour. I also understand this is not NCL's tour, they contract through tour companies...but if customers are expecting one thing and not receiving it, I think NCL would like to know and they were very appreciative of our feedback. As a matter of fact, we discussed this tour with a few other couples later in the cruise and they had also complained about this tour.
For dinner we went to the Grand Pacific. For an appetizer I ordered the Cheesy Cauliflower Soup so I could warm myself up, and my husband ordered the Double Beef Broth (Tortellini, Fresh Herbs). For and entree, I ordered the Roast Carved Turkey (Bread and Herb Dressing, Sweet Potatoes, Pan Gravy) and my husband ordered the Beef Stroganoff (Buttered Egg Noodles, Mushrooms, Sour Cream). Tonight we only ordered one dessert, the Dark Chocolate Orange Bavarian Cream (Vanilla Syrup) because we wanted to go to a show and I really wanted to try the crepes in the buffet after the show. As usual, everything was delicious! No complaints from us on food (and I would highly recommend the crepes in the buffet!)
After dinner, we went to the Spotlight Showtime: Duo Acrobatique. “International sensation Ilia and Valerie take to the stage in a performance of power, balletic grace and athletic prowess. Having headlined at the Lido de Paris, the Casino of Monte Carlo and most recently with Cirque du Soleil, Duo Acrobatique is sure to thrill and delight you.” Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. We found it extremely entertaining and would recommend it to anyone! Obviously, others on board felt the same way as there was standing room only for the 7:45 show! After the show, it was off to sleep because a long (and early) day in Rome awaits us!
Day 4 - Civitavecchia, Italy
Today was another early morning, so right after we woke up we went to the buffet for a delicious breakfast. It is the best way to start off the day! The weather forecast for today was mostly cloudy and 61, we only encountered a few showers and since we were inside during that time it didn't really affect us.
For this port, we booked the tour "Rome & the Vatican" with a length of 9 1/2 hours and a price of $259.99 (with lunch included). The description of the tour is:
Inside visit of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. Visit St. Peter's Basilica & Square. Enjoy an orientation drive through the "Eternal City", passing the Roman Forum, the Arch of Constantine and have a photo stop at the famed Colosseum. Lunch is included on this tour.
Well, I don't even know where to begin. This tour was worth more than the price charged. Honestly, there is no way we would have been able to see the things we saw if it weren't for this tour. Unless you were to hire a guide and have them purchase all your tickets in advance (which was the case for this tour) you will probably spend a good portion of your day just waiting in lines. Being able to see the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel was simply breathtaking. Actually, all the sights we saw on this tour left me mesmerized. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone and after speaking with many others on this excursion; it seemed everyone was impressed with this tour.
I have to mention this, because I feel it is extremely important. Traffic getting to Rome from the port was horrific. It was so bad that our guide had to change the order of our tour. If it weren't for her insight, we would not have been able to see everything that was promised on this tour. Kudos to them for being able to improvise based on conditions!
I was very impressed with the lunch that was included. It was a full three course meal consisting of a pasta dish, salad, meat and dessert and also included wine, coffee and water. The food was served promptly and arrived hot and fresh. I was extremely grateful for both the speed of service and the quality of the food. This meal alone could easily run $20 per person and to have it included was just another highlight. After lunch we went straight to the Vatican Museum, followed by the Sistine Chapel. We then proceeded on to the other sights listed. Overall, this was a very full day which maximized the time spent in port.
One thing I really thought was useful on this tour was their usage of headphones so the guide could talk to the group without having to stop each time she wanted to say something. This is something that would be useful on every excursion that involves a lot of walking and history.
Another thing I would like to mention, on this tour we met a lot of wonderful people. As a matter of fact, one of the couples on this tour was on the "Wonders of Lucca and Pisa" tour we had taken the previous day. As luck would have it, this one couple was part of the group who had gotten lost. They also shared with us their dissatisfaction with the previous day's tour. At the end of the "Rome and The Vatican" tour, I asked them for their thoughts. They couldn't stop gushing about how much of a difference there was between how these tours were handled. And the best part, they didn't get lost!
By the time we got back to the ship, we were exhausted so we opted to eat in the buffet. The buffet was, as usual, delicious. I guess a lot of other people had the same idea as us though because it was packed! Luck must have been on our side, we found a table for 4 (we are only a party of 2) right near a window. My husband and I took turns getting food so as not to lose our table. While we were eating, we noticed a couple who wasn't so lucky in finding a table. So to "pay it forward", so to speak, we offered to let them sit with us. They were more than grateful, and my husband and I enjoyed getting to know these two people very much.
After our dinner and a nice cup of decaf coffee on our balcony, it was off to bed because we had another early morning scheduled for Naples!
Day 5 - Naples, Italy
You guessed it, this morning started out with a trip to the buffet! The weather forecast was Partly Sunny and 63 and turned out to be pretty accurate for us. We heard from our room stewardess that there was hail around 3:00, luckily for us we only encountered a few showers on our way to Sorrento.
For this port, we booked the tour "Sorrento &; Amalfi Drive" with a length of 9 hours and a price of $169.99 per person (including lunch). The description of this tour is:
Drive to Sorrento, perched high above the Bay of Naples and visit its historic center. Ride along the winding coastline & through the mountains and stop for lunch at one of the picturesque Amalfi Coast villages. Note: Not suggested for guests prone to motion sickness.
Honestly, the description of this tour does not do it justice. Everything about this tour is picturesque. Walking along the streets of Sorrento was so relaxing; it is probably one of the nicest little towns I have ever visited. After spending time in Sorrento, we traveled along the Amalfi Drive to the town of Amalfi where we ate lunch at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the Amalfi Coast and then had some free time in the town of Amalfi. Lunch was good, but it wasn't as delicious as the lunch we had in Rome. Although, the lemon cake we received as a dessert was excellent!
After lunch we headed toward Amalfi, it was a nice town to walk around. The best part for my husband and I was enjoying an authentic sandwich with real Mozzarella in the warm sun at a table which overlooked the ocean and the beautiful coast line. Definitely a high point for us! After our time in Amalfi, we continued our drive along the coast before making our way back to Naples.
Our last stop before getting back to the ship was at a Cameo factory. Honestly, this is one part that could have been cut out of the excursion and I don't think anyone would have minded. Most other guests looked bored and went right back to the bus to wait out our 20 minutes of allotted time.
Unfortunately for us, because of the rain/hail storm I mentioned earlier, some roads were flooded. We ended up getting back to the ship a little over an hour later than expected. Luckily we weren't' on the longest tour (which was 10 hours) or the ship would have been waiting for us! (This is one of the best reasons to book an excursion with NCL, no worries about unexpected delays because the tour guide always has a way to get in touch with the ship!)
After this exhausting day, my husband and I decided to eat in the Blue Lagoon because we wanted comfort food. We both ordered the chicken wings and were more than satisfied. Almost immediately after eating we went back to our cabin to shower and fall asleep. We have never been so excited for a sea day!
Day 6 - At Sea
This morning we woke up about 8:00 to clear skies and plenty of sunshine. We put on our bathing suits under our clothes and went to the buffet again for breakfast. We had originally planned to have breakfast in Cagney’s, but we felt we would be under dressed so we opted to grab a quick breakfast before enjoying a relaxing day with plenty of sunshine followed by some activities planned around the ship, "dress up or not night", the show Elements and finally the chocolate buffet!
There were plenty of chairs available at the pool, mostly children were swimming. My husband and I had no problem finding two chairs in the sun and enjoyed some time in the hot tub.
After spending a little while at the pool, it was time for the "Towel Folding Demonstration with your Housekeeping Staff" which started at 10:15. This was very well attended, and was very fun to watch and learn how your towel animals are created. I give credit to the stewards/stewardesses who do this for the guests each night, as it is very time consuming.
At 11:30 we attended the NCL U Sushi Demonstration which was held, quite appropriately, in the Sushi Bar. Rex did a fantastic job and you can tell he is very skilled with sushi. Watching him prepare the different items was incredible. The best part was, once he was finished he let the group sample everything we had watched him prepared. I must say, the sushi was delicious and is pretty high on the list of the best sushi my husband and I have ever had the opportunity to enjoy.
The rest of the afternoon we just relaxed until it was time to get ready for the “Dress Up Or Not” dinner. We both did dress up for dinner this evening. Many others also dressed up, while some were underdressed in my opinion. We ate in the Grand Pacific dining room (since that is supposed to be the “dressier” dining room) and sat at a table with a great view of the staircase. We admired how nice everyone looked. That is until a couple came in wearing sweats and t-shirts. NCL did allow them in and sat them pretty close to us. I’ll never understand why these passengers didn’t follow the rules and eat in the less formal dining room, The Alizar. These passengers were definitely out of place. Anyway…on to dinner. For an appetizer both my husband and I ordered the Grilled Asparagus and Marinated Bay Scallops (Toasted Sesame Seeds, Shitake Mushrooms, Miso Vinaigrette). For our entrée, we both ordered the Lobster and Group Extravaganza (Basmati Rice, Asparagus, Diced Garden Vegetables, Drawn Butter). For dessert, I ordered the Warm Streusel Apple Pie (Butter Pecan Ice Cream) and my husband ordered the Honey Crème Brûlée (Layered Semi-sweet chocolate ganache). This dinner was absolutely delicious!!
After dinner, we made our way to the Stardust Theater to see the show Elements. The description of this show is – “Come and experience Norwegian Cruise Line’s new production show – ELEMENTS! From mesmerizing magic, to the visual feast of flying, to exciting music and dance, this dazzling show will revel in the four elements of Earth, Air, Water and Fire. This must-see production will be an incredible spectacle of wonder, enchantment and sensual delight. Come join us in our bold new world. “ I have to say that this show was amazing. I had heard from others on board that Elements wasn’t as good as the Duo Acrobatique show, but I think it was better. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this show.
After the show we relaxed a little more and then headed to the Chocoholic Buffet. We were pretty full after our big dinner, but made it a point to try a few of the things. The display was simply stunning, you can tell NCL puts a lot of work into this buffet and all the passengers thoroughly enjoyed it. After this, it was off to bed to prepare for our day in Palma de Mallorca.
Day 7 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain
This morning started off like every other morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the buffet and then met for our excursion. The weather forecast was 68 and sunny, we were happy to have nice weather on our last day.
For this port, we booked the excursion “Spectacular Scenery & Flavors” with a length of 4 ½ hours and a price of $69.99 per person.
The description of this tour is: See the scenery of Mallorca and taste local specialties. Scenic drive, viewing differing landscapes, with a couple of photo stops along the way. Visit La Granja de Esporles, surrounded by beautiful fountains and lush formal gardens. Free time to explore this superb 17th-century Mallorcan manor, now a museum. Sample wine and various Mallorcan products in the wine cellar.
After the tour was over, we decided to go back to the ship have lunch and start packing. For dinner, we ate at the Sushi Bar which has a cover charge of $15 per persons. My husband and I ordered a few rolls and split everything. We ordered: California Roll (Crabstick, Cucumber and Avocado), Godzilla Roll (Sweet Shrimp, Mango, Avocado, Caramelized Cashews and Coconut), Shrimp Tempura Roll (Shrimp Tempura, Avocado, Tobiko) and a Rainbow Roll (Tuna, Yellow Tail, Cucumber, Tobiko, Assorted Fish and Avocado). As expected, everything was delicious. Rex, the sushi chef, did a fantastic job. I would highly recommend this specialty restaurant to anyone who enjoys sushi…it will probably be the best sushi you have had in a long time!
Debarkation Day
My husband and I woke up pretty early to have breakfast in the buffet before debarking and catching our transfer (which we booked for $30 per person through NCL) to the airport. NCL has the debarkation process down pat. We were off the ship in less than 10 minutes and to the airport within 30. It was a sad day for us, we weren’t ready for our trip to be over.
Final Thoughts
I have to say, all our expectations were surpassed. The crew aboard this ship went above and beyond in every manner possible. NCL gives passengers the opportunity to fill out S.T.Y.L.E. (Service Teamwork and Yes Lead to Excellence ) cards for crew members who demonstrate and role model all the principles of S.T.Y.L.E. I think this opportunity should be fully embraced by all passengers. Everyone wants the best service, but sometimes forget to acknowledge it. This is a free way for passengers to say thank you to those who made your trip perfect. If you are considering this itinerary, I would highly recommend it.
People sometimes say they feel "nickel and dimed" on cruises. I never once felt pressured to purchase anything above the cost of my cruise. I chose to book excursions and I chose to book a specialty restaurant. Usually my husband and I visit the spa frequently on cruises, but didn’t this time because of how port intensive it was.
If you read a review that has anything other than glowing comments on this ship and her staff, the person looked for problems. I don’t know how anyone could go on a vacation like this and not be left happy and rejuvenated.
If you are interested in a NCL cruise, please feel free to e-mail me with any questions. I know I am already planning my next cruise with NCL!
