Great ports, sometimes too short a stay and felt rushed especially when tenders take so long.

Norwegian Jade Cruise Review to Europe - Northern Europe

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 81

Overall rating:

3.9 out of 5
Verified Review
Norwegian Jade

11 Night Norway & North Cape (Hamburg Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 12, 2018

Ship: Norwegian Jade

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 4520

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

Several shows on ship were exceptional especially Elements. No main atrium in middle of ship and elevators were confusing with accessibility very difficult to navigate at times and for disabled very frustrating for having to go to one deck to walk and then have to go back down elevator to access restaurants. Average to decent food in main dining rooms. Very limited 24 hour food in one place only with small menu and so so food. Icecream often not working and not available other than when buffet area open. Better on other lines for late night or special treats. Pizza not good and burgers not so great either. Fish and chips greasy frozen fish...odd while cruising one of the fish havens of the world! Very clean and services were good for most part. Several waiters were not the usual kind and fun folks as some, perhaps due to freestyle dining and not struggling to earn more tips from a specific clientele...not sure. One day very rough seas and everyone was sick. No announcements to direct passengers for help with sickness or how to reduce effects of the rough sea. I think 3.5 rating is accurate.

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Grand Pacific

3 out of 5

Nice dining area at aft so was far from us. Some wait staff seemed to be unhappy, not friendly and kurt. Unusual for us as all of previous cruises had very happy and jolly types.

Garden Cafe

3 out of 5

Average food. Short availability for late snacks...show gets out at 10:30pm at other end of ship but late night snack end at 11pm? Makes going not really possible. Ice cream is a fave of ours, but Jade's often unavailable or shut down except when open. Should have open late.

Jasmine Garden

3 out of 5

Was okay... but few selections available for main entrees. Very skimpy on sea food when ordered. Got one piece of shrimp on shrimp fried rice, yet it was main entree. Soup was good, egg roll huge. So so.

The Great Outdoors

4 out of 5

If this refers to outside decks, they were pretty good. Several side decks allowed bypassing crowded walking halls inside.

Atrium Café

3 out of 5

Sandra is a great waitress, but bar itself is blah and no dramatic look or feel as usual on most ships. Next to busy excursion desk and guest services

Mixers Martini & Cocktail Bar

4 out of 5

Small area for a bar. I believe one of few with draft beer.

Magnum's Champagne & Wine Bar

3 out of 5

Small lounge, okay

Alizar

2 out of 5

Smaller, windows blurred hard to get in and out of for disabled and only accessible from one floor that does not go through requiring several elevators.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Shore Excursions Desk

3 out of 5

Average with lines

Reception

3 out of 5

Average..with long lines at times

Private Sundeck

2 out of 5

Did not use and did not appear to have anyone there so perhaps not advertised enough.

Pool

3 out of 5

Rarely usable due to cool temps but some folks still swam. Average deck area

Hot Tubs

3 out of 5

Only 2 available and always crowded by same folks. Closed at 10pm too early for cruise with pools few could use because of outside temps

Galleria Shops

2 out of 5

Expensive and nothing really appealed to me.

Body Waves Fitness Center

3 out of 5

Just average. Few machines...unremarkable.

Casino

2 out of 5

Dead...the minimums were too high. Many more folks would have played tables if there were cheaper minimums.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Spinnaker Lounge

4 out of 5

We enjoyed this lounge. Large and on our side of ship. Band that played here often was pretty lousy but the bar itself was great!

Stardust Theater

3 out of 5

Theater itself could be larger or seating redone. Tight seating, little leg room, hard to pass by others with lots of interruptions by folks getting in and out during show. Do not enforce not allowing late entrances! Shows themselves were great!

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5
Cleanliness 5 star but design really not very good...hard to navigate and unremarkable with no dramatic atrium area. Show room very tight with little leg or seat room. Too many late arrivals allowed in and disturbing to those of us who came on time!

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Ship tip

We were put in a porthole cabin far forward on bottom floor for passengers with oceanview cat so it was not ideal room. Room was a bit small but clean as could be and stewardess was great. Noisy spot on ship and far from a lot. Bed hard but acceptable. All in all average cruise

Ports of call

Hamburg, Germany

4 out of 5

Hellesylt, Norway

4 out of 5
Did not get off boat here.

Geiranger, Norway

5 out of 5

Leknes, Norway

5 out of 5

Tromso, Norway

4 out of 5

Honningsvag, Norway

4 out of 5

Alesund, Norway

5 out of 5

Bergen, Norway

5 out of 5

Disembarkation

3 out of 5
Was this review helpful? 41

5 Comments

DesertBear360    6 years ago

When we were on the Jade back in January, we were greated with a beautiful atrium for its size based on the ship size. It was located on deck 7 mid-ship. The crew was great and very friendly. The food at all the restaurants was great as well. The buffets was good as well and beats the buffets that we have visited. Motion sickness can happen anywhere and one should be prepared for it.

elvis18    6 years ago

Always go prepared with sea sickness pills when Cruising ⚓⚓⚓

nclcruzr    6 years ago

Well they put out little bags all over the ship when they anticipate rough seas, you can always go to the ship doctor. Too bad you didn't enjoy your cruise, the are other ships that may be better suited for disabled. With so many good options, I am surprised people complain about the food. There is always another restaurant to try. Maybe I am not a picky eater.

onlysail    6 years ago

Could you not take responsability for your own sea sick treatment. You must have been aware this could happen but you took nothing with you.

chadley77    6 years ago

Always take Bonine with you for motion sickness. It works very well.

Other reviews of this sailing