Marco and Kevin recently spent three nights onboard Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Norwegian Jade as she became the first ship in the fleet to resume international cruising. The short sailing from Athens was a test cruise before NCL were able to welcome back their first guests after a long 500 days since cruise operations had been halted because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Find out what Marco thought of his experience on board this historic sailing.
Itinerary
Athens / Heraklion / Rhodes / Athens
How was the embarkation process with Norwegian Cruise Line?
Whilst the embarkation process itself was extremely smooth, there were a few boxes to tick before even leaving home. We were required to provide a negative pre-departure antigen test, this was very easy to book and the majority of UK airports have testing centres that provide rapid tests before you set off. As well as the usual online check-in we also had to register for NCL’s Covid-19 testing app, however, if you didn’t manage to do this you could of course register at the port. Before embarking we underwent a rapid test and once we got the all-clear we were able to get on board. The whole process was seamless and took less than half an hour, and whilst there was a bit more paperwork, from speaking to others onboard it was clear that the whole process ensured everyone felt safe and secure on the ship.
Tell us about the accomodation on Norwegian Cruise Line
Our cabin on this short sailing to the Greek Isles was a balcony cabin towards the forward on deck 8. The cabin provided plenty of room although I can imagine the bathrooms being a bit tight for those who are a bit taller. The balcony included the usual chairs and side table although as this was a shorter sailing we did not really make use of it. Whether your cabin is located towards the forward, middle or aft of the ship, you’ll always be fairly close to lifts and stairs which makes navigating your way around very easy.
How did you find the ship in general?
The ship has recently undergone a bit of a refresh and it was very clear to see. You’d certainly be forgiven for thinking you’d just boarded a brand new ship as the public areas were sparkling and the outdoor areas were shimmering in the summer sun.
The atrium, located midship on deck 7, is a perfect meeting place. Here you’ll find guest services and the shore excursions desk, sat beneath a stunning humungous chandelier you’ll also find a Starbucks coffee shop. The stairs behind the counter lead up to O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, which is open 24 hours a day. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a cold crips pint or in need of a midnight snack the staff here have you covered, just make sure to try out their signature chicken wings!
You can see why this ship was chosen to sail the Greek Isles this summer, there is so much space for sunbathing! There are two pools on deck 12 as well as a few hot tubs, although as it was consistently over 30°C you can understand why they were rarely used… Overlooking the pool deck, on deck 13, you’ll find The Pit Stop bar as well as plenty of sun loungers. Stairs, hidden away behind the bar, lead up to a spacious sundeck with even more space for those looking to work on their tan.
What was the food like on the Norwegian Jade?
If you’re new to Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Freestyle Cruising concept you might want to check out our Norwegian Cruise Line dining blog. The flexible dining concept means you’re free to dine where you like, when you like, and we tried our best to try as many of the venues as possible, all on your behalf of course! The main dining room, Grand Pacific, is located on the aft of deck 6 with plenty of views out to sea. The food was very good, as with most NCL menus you’ll find a set of classic dishes always available as well as daily specials. Alizar is a smaller main dining room, it offers the same menu as Grand Pacific but it a more casual intimate venue. It is more midship on deck 6, so if you’re suffering from a bit of seasickness this may be a good option. On deck 7 you’ll find Jasmine Garden, a complimentary Asian restaurant, the food here was excellent, its essentially a speciality restaurant with no extra cost, it is smaller than the main dining rooms so make sure you book a table if you’re looking to try it out! O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill is NCL’s 24 hour eatery, if you’re feeling peckish and fancy a hot dog at 3am then this is the place to go. The large Garden Cafe buffet has an array of stations to suit all tastes, however, if you fancy having breakfast whilst watching the ship dock we’d recommend heading through the buffet to the aft of deck 12 and grabbing a table at The Great Outdoors, you can’t beat a morning coffee as you arrive into your next port of call.
There are six speciality restaurants to try our onboard the Norwegian Jade. If you’re celebrating a special occasion do make sure to get your table booked early as these restaurants are always very popular, we would have loved to try Teppanyaki, the authentic Japanese restaurant where the chefs are the stars of the show, however this was all booked up throughout the voyage. We opted to dine at Cagney’s Steakhouse which actually also houses Moderno, the Brazilian churrascaria. The thick cut bacon starter was excellent as was the ahi tuna tartare. Meat lovers are in for a treat as there is an array of cuts to choose from. Both the sirloin and the porterhouse steaks we tried were perfectly cooked. There are plenty of sides to select from with the highlight being the parmesan coated truffle fries! Â
What is the entertainment like on the Norwegian Jade?
As this was a special comeback sailing we were treated to a poolside DJ set from Robin Schulz, however, whilst we can’t promise NCL will provide international superstar DJs on every cruise, the standard entertainment was still good. Nightly poolside parties mean you could dance the night away or simply watch the sunset from the popular outdoor Pit Stop bar, meanwhile the large Stardust Theatre hosts two nightly shows. Sadly you won’t currently get to experience the usual Broadway-style productions, having said that the in house performances did produce some good feedback. We only managed to catch one show, Blazing Boots, which if you’re a country music fan like myself is an absolute must! The shows are around 45 minutes long, you can pre-book these, however, there was plenty of room so not a problem if you just decide to head to the theatre at the last minute.
Does the Norwegian Jade offer any fitness & recreational facilities?
If you’re looking to keep fit whilst at sea you’ll find a few options available to you. There is a large gym and fitness centre located on deck 12 which is open from 6am to 11pm. If you prefer to run outdoors rather than on a treadmill there is a short jogging track at the aft of deck 13, however it is fairly narrow so do make sure to watch out for other guests making their way around the ship. You’ll find a tennis court, come basketball court, come 5-aside football pitch, at the aft, as well as a couple of golf cages, although with the heat these were understandably rarely used.
Looking for a bit of pampering? Well then the Mandara Spa & Salon is the place to go, it offers the usual array of spa treatments designed to put you in a very peaceful and tranquil mood.
Any tips for someone looking to cruise on the Norwegian Jade?
Make sure to book your speciality restaurants as soon as possible. Whilst the cruises are currently operating at a reduced capacity, many of the restaurants onboard have also reduced the number of covers they can accomodate to ensure for social distancing, so to make sure you secure your table it is best to book early.
Final thoughts on the Norwegian Jade
It was over 500 days since Norwegian Cruise Line was able to welcome guests onboard, and this sailing marked the occasion perfectly. It may have been a test cruise, a chance for all the crew to ensure they were back up to speed and get to grips with new protocols, however you would have never have guessed that any of the crew had ever stopped working over the past 16 months. Having spent the last two months onboard preparing for this moment, the excitement of being able to finally look after customers was clear to see amongst all the crew.
The Norwegian Jade is the perfect sized ship for an itinerary such as the Greek Isles. There is plenty of space out on deck to work on your tan, plus with the current reduced capacity embarking and disembarking at each port was very easy with no queues whatsoever.
If you’re thinking of exploring Greece by cruise do check out our port guide to Athens, just click here to find out why your next cruise should depart from the Greek capital.
