Guest services and personnel have no clue what "Free at Sea" means!

Item: Norwegian Jade
Rating: 3.6
Author: mvalmonte

Norwegian Jade Cruise Review to Europe - Eastern Mediterranean

mvalmonte

Contributor Level: Purser

102 Days Till Next Cruise

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 11

Overall rating:

3.6 out of 5

7 Night Greek Isles Israel & Patmos (Athens Roundtrip)

Sail date: May 14, 2023

Ship: Norwegian Jade

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 11002

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

This would have been the perfect cruise if it wasn't for "free" perks that we still ended up getting charged for in full. Our first night at dinner, our waiter told us that because we had "PRTY" on our room key, that means we get all the free drinks we want. So we ordered a glass of wine. He proceeded to tell an elderly couple near our table the same thing after he also saw on the room key "PRTY". They were as pleasantly surprised as we were. We were told by both RCI and NCL that we were allowed up to $15 per person, per day on drinks. To our shock at the end of our dinners - us and the couple nearby - the waiter came back insisting we sign a receipt that charges us IN FULL for our drinks! The elderly couple nearby went ahead and signed theirs. After what happened in the spa, I made a big stink about what the waiter did, leading us to believe that we could order any drink for free, then at the end of our dinner insisting we sign a receipt that we agree to pay for our drink in full. We refused to sign as we believed the waiter. The waiter finally reversed the charge. We never returned to that restaurant again! The cruise next desk, I only inquired on an Asia cruise and the matching $250 cruise next certificate NCL was offering while sailing. Next thing I know, I receive a message from my bank letting me know of a $1000.00 credit card charge. Then I find out the cruise next desk went ahead and booked me for the cruise, unbeknownst to me and unauthorized to charge my credit card. I had to wait in line the next day to reverse the charge and cancel the Asia cruise since my husband and I hadn't really decided on it yet. The cruise next rep told me I could gift any of the certificates if I can't use them. I. WAS. LIVID! I had the guy cancel everything out and told him I just want ONE cruise next certificate. I took our cruise week for that $1000.00 charge to clear out.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Smooth

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

We were allowed 2 dinners at a specialty dining restaurant. We went to one of them and they insisted we would be charged for our dinners in full. In one of the complimentary restaurants, we were seated in a darker corner for dinner - I sat on food. YUK! The staff cleaned my seat with a REALLY wet towel and told me to be seated. I would not sit on the soggy bench wearing a skirt! GROSS!

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Spa. We were "gifted" this one certificate for $100 and one coupon for $40 off at the spa. We surrendered both for spa services after being told they would honor them for the services we had reserved. After the services, we were still charged FULL PRICE for spa services!

Entertainment

We went on this cruise for peace of mind. To relax.

Children's Programs

Couple cruise.

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

Two stars ONLY BECAUSE our room steward and only a few others were fabulous. The other personnel we encountered, especially in the spa, at guest services desk, at next cruise desk, and waiters were the worst!

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Relaxation lounge was a mess - orange peels left on the floor at times. People allowed to be noisy and even watch videos with volume full blast on their cell phones and other people talking at the top of their lungs as if they were in the jacuzzi outside. All this in a space that was supposed to be a "Quiet Zone". NCL needs to be strict about this. My husband and I paid around $400 for unlimited access to this Quiet Zone and we didn't get what we expected or promised to us - a QUIET ZONE!

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Excellent

Ship tip

Get everything NCL promised you IN WRITING! At the end of the day, that's what Guest Services will ask you for - "Prove it. Show it to us in writing."

Thumbs up