Nice last minute cruise

We booked the Jade last minute and made it to the terminal in plenty of time to board.  The wait line was short and we were able to get in our room by 1:00.

The dining was fine with food being tasty and well presented.  We did not opt for the dining plan so we ate at the buffet for breakfast and the dining rooms every night except for one.  Lunch was either on deck or the buffet.  The last couple of nights were not as nice, not because of the taste of the food but one night we waited for 45 minutes to get our appetizer and another night was 30 minutes to get dessert.  On our last night my husband ordered his meal and didn't get what was on the menu (ordered garlic shrimp on mashed potatoes with asparagus and got spicy shrimp on a rice/pea plate).  The outdoor barbecue was excellent and other than those instances our dining was good.  

Our room was tiny for 3. Inside room 10073.  Really, if you are a stickler on space, opt for a balcony.  Our stateroom service was fine. This was one ship where I didn't feel that the staff really got to know us.  Which is fine but it didn't seem as personalized.

We did the Xplor excursion from Cozumel.  If you get at all queasy, do not do this excursion!  It is a very rough ride to Playa del Carmen.  We did love the place.  We didn't do an excursion in Belize,  Outside the shopping area is kind of sketchy.  We got a cab to the West End beach and loved our time.  The Tabyana Beach is this one and we spent as much as if we would have booked it through the ship.  

There are no Broadway shows on the ship and I didn't think their singers were very good but enjoyed the shows.  The acrobat act and comedian were good.

Bingo made me mad.  I played the first night it was offered and they played one game.  I paid $50 to play one game and obviously didn't win.  I refused to play on subsequent nights.  

The NCAA finals were the week of our cruise and no one from the staff could tell us where to see it (many said to watch it on the television in our room or didn't know it was a basketball tournament).  When it aired it was on a small tv in a lounge.  In the meantime, we walked around back and forth to our room and the lounge to see if anything was airing.  

We enjoyed a massage at the spa.  Do the $139 special so that by the time your gratuity is added you pay the $179 original price.  

Now for the part about waiting.  We waited for hours for tenders to take us to and from port except for Cozumel.  It seemed like we waited for dining.  

I would say we had a good time but probably will choose a different boat to see if that makes a difference.  We cruise often, and seemed to be more at home on Royal Caribbean and Disney.