Category: cruising

Cruise Ship Tour: Amazing Norwegian Jade!

by Heather Anne • July 29, 2021

Watch my full video tour!

Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship Tour

Cruising has returned! USA Today reported in this article that the Norwegian Jade was the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to sail post- COVID-19 delays. So it seems like a great time to post this full video tour I filmed right before the shutdowns started! The Jade offers some of the most exciting cruise ship tour itineraries in the world. My Jade itinerary sailed from Rome, Italy to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with stops in Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, and Israel. If you’re seeking some real adventure, consider a journey on the Jade!

Decks of Delight

There is a wealth of different deck areas on the Jade, each offering a unique perspective on the bright, sunny skies and brilliant, blue waters! For fun in the sun, easy access to the numerous bars, live entertainment, and the pool and jacuzzis steps away, visit the upper floors and Lido deck. For peace and quiet, a chance to relax and escape, and time away from the crowds, head for the Promenade Deck. Feeling frisky? There are athletic opportunities on the uppermost decks, including a basketball/soccer court and more. Your spectacular views, selfie ops, and the gentle breezes of the sea will be yours whichever deck you choose!

Delectable Dining

The Jade has dining options that will suit even the pickiest eaters’ taste buds! Your options will include complimentary dining options, specialty dining options that come at a fixed cost, and a-la-carte options. Your complimentary choices include two main dining rooms, a pub-style restaurant that’s open 24 hours, an Asian restaurant, a great big buffet, and an outdoor grill near the Lido deck. In the mood for a splurge? There are specialty dining restaurants including a steakhouse, Brazilian restaurant, French restaurant, Italian restaurant, Teppanyaki, and more. I believe you’ll find all of your bases covered! Whatever your whim, your appetite will be well-satisfied!

Luxurious Lobbies and Exceptional Entertainment

What’s better than a beautiful lobby to unwind in as you savor your favorite drink and watch the swirling seas float by out your window? Great entertainment too! Sure, the nightclubs and theater are there for you too, but first, for a more relaxed atmosphere, head for one of the luxurious lobbies to partake in some piano tunes and swoon-worthy singers. Close the night out with the excitement of a Broadway-style show in the Theater, some chills and thrills in the casino, and/or some dynamic dancing in the neon-bathed nightclubs! Whatever your mood or energy level, you’ll find just the entertainment you enjoy!

Conclusion

If you’re like I am, you’ve been really missing the #cruiselife. For more cruise content, take a behind-the-scenes tour of another grand cruise ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, here! And I hope you will be sailing again soon! In the meantime, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to my all-travel, all-the-time YouTube channel here for more great cruise and other travel-related content! Thank you for reading and I look forward to sharing my travel experiences with you again next time! Are you back to traveling? Never stopped traveling? Leave a comment below; I’d love to hear about your adventures!

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cruising

Norwegian Dawn Tour – Christmas Cruise Ship!

by Heather Anne • December 22, 2020

Watch my YouTube video tour!

Norwegian Dawn Tour at Christmastime!

I have a Norwegian Dawn Tour at Christmastime for you this week! Norwegian Cruise Line goes all out around the holiday to decorate their ships in brilliant lights, sweeping garlands, and more Christmas trees than I could count. It’s a beautiful sight whatever your religious and cultural beliefs. And I don’t know how they do it. With cruises booked back to back to back, when they set all this up for the month of December they must do it in the few hours between cruises on the weekend they plan on it. Considering the volume of decorations scattered throughout the ship, that’s incredible. It’s like a Christmas miracle! December is my favorite time to cruise, because it feels like a non-stop celebration, and all of the shiny objects and merry music are enthralling! NOTE: Neither this article nor video are sponsored by NCL.

The Dawn Decked Out for the Holiday!

The scene is spectacular! It seems like every major public area on the ship has one or more Christmas trees set up. The Atrium and Buffet have adorable, delectable gingerbread villages set up as well. These wintry scenes are incredibly detailed. It’s clear, Norwegian’s Christmas elves have been very, very busy! It’s a magical time of year for cruising, with all of the fantastical festivities. As if the flamboyant decor wasn’t enough, you’ll also find numerous Christmas concerts performed by a variety of bands around the ship. (Check out my YouTube video above to hear 2 performances!) I think the North Pole has met its match here on the Dawn… Take a stroll though the ship and feel the Christmas spirit envelop you!

Ho-Ho Harmonious

There’s a harmonious synchrony around the ship at this time of year. Norwegian does a great job of creating beautiful spaces throughout the year, but this time of year they pull out all the stops. There is an appealing consistency throughout the ship. All of the dining rooms, specialty restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and lobbies are in on the fun. The Christmas cheer is infectious. And the warmth of the sunny destinations cruise ships visit this time of year mirrors the warmth of the holidays around the ship! So ditch the shovels and snow tires and escape for the holiday season!

Christmas Cruising Conclusions

In my opinion, the holidays are the very best time for a cruise. A cruise is a joyous event ordinarily, but the cruise lines really outdo themselves for the holidays. It’s like getting a a Christmas gift included in your cruise fare. I would also add that this is the best time of year to book a cruise. Around Black Friday is the ideal time, but great deals are still to be had through December. I find that not only are prices lower, but that more perks are included to boot. So plan a holiday getaway to a winter wonderland in the sun! Get away from the cold, and feel the warmth of the holiday season on a cruise vacation next holiday! And, in the meantime, enjoy my Norwegian Dawn tour in the video at the top of this post. And, if you want to take a behind-the-scenes tour of a cruise ship, check out my Norwegian Breakaway behind-the-scenes tour here! Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays!

cruising

Cruise Ship Behind-the-Scenes TOUR!

by Heather Anne • September 8, 2020

Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Ship Behind-the-Scenes Tour

During my most recent cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway, I took the cruise ship behind the scenes tour for a peek below decks. Norwegian Cruise Line offers these tours on most of their ships. Platinum tier level guests are invited to take the tours for free, and should sign up at the Rewards desk on the day of sailing. All others may sign up for a tour at the Excursions desk. Last I checked, the charge was $75 for this tour excursion. Unfortunately, the tours no longer visit the Bridge due to security concerns. But the tour is a very interesting and worthwhile experience nonetheless. And be sure to wear comfortable shoes – especially if you’re touring one of the mega-ships! You’re going to cover a lot of ground and get a good workout in for the day!

Backstage at the Show Hall

To start off, the first stop on my tour was backstage at the show hall, where the dressing rooms are and costumes are maintained. The first room we entered had sewing machines and many tailoring supplies, as well as wigs and equipment used to keep the wigs in pristine condition. Before this tour, I had no idea how much attention was required to keep the costumes for these shows in good condition. And the second room was, in my opinion, the highlight of the tour. Because here the dazzling costumes were stored, including brilliantly colored and sequined clothing, footwear, and accessories. I recognized all of the costumes from the shows. For the show “Six,” there were two sets of boots: identical except that one set had higher heels than the other. The tour guide explained that the shorter heels are for use as a safety precaution when seas are rougher!

The Shipboard Laundry Facilities

I was very impressed by the massive laundry facilities! There were long rows of huge washer and dryer machines. And stacks and stacks of crisp, clean folded sheets and towels. Meanwhile, piles of laundry were gathered, waiting to be washed. And there were many employees taking care of customer clothes by hand. I found one machine particularly interesting that steamed articles of clothing, puffing them out to a giant size and then deflating them. Two friendly employees worked the sheet-folding machine, while the towel folding machines were completely automated. It’s a huge undertaking to manage laundry for thousands of people, and I was amazed at what an efficient system they had on the ship!

Cruise Ship Kitchen

Like the laundry facilities, the kitchen was massive! Huge sections were dedicated to gigantic dishwashing and storage systems. Delectable menus were hung on the walls, planning service for the many restaurant options on the ship. And gigantic, shiny metal pots simmered on a multitude of stovetops. The counter space was abundant, and there were too many commercial ovens to count. We were able to watch several employees preparing for lunch service. The area was immaculately clean. After proceeding through the kitchen, we emerged to a hallway where blueprints of the ship were hung on the walls. Disappointingly, photography was not allowed in this area for security reasons, so I cannot share that with you here.

More Cruise Ship Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Of course, my descriptions can’t do the scale of these facilities justice – so I highly recommend you watch my video tour below!

Ultimate Travel Adventures on YouTube

Also check out my blog post on the Breakaway cruise ship here!

https://atomic-temporary-140334132.wpcomstaging.com/2018/09/03/breakaway-to-the-baltic-norwegian-breakaway-cruise-through-the-baltic-sea/

cruising

Cruises and COVID-19: Update

by Heather Anne • June 2, 2020

Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas

Cruises have been put on hold since mid-March due to COVID-19. Since then, I’ve had two cruises cancel – and two more are imminent to cancel due to new restrictions. Is there an end in sight? In this post, I’ll give you the latest news on government restrictions on cruise travel and cruise line plans for sailing once again, as well as my theories on what I expect going forward.

Norwegian Bliss

Government Restrictions

On May 29, Canada extended their ban on cruise ship travel involving their country until November, 2020. The ban applies to ships with more than 100 people aboard and overnight accommodations. Meanwhile, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s no-sail recommendation is due to expire on July 24. Currently there is no update on whether that deadline may be extended or not. And any cruises scheduled to visit Europe, Asia, and other continents will need to comply with local regulations in those areas.

The good news is that many states in the U.S., from which a large percentage of cruise ships embark, are rapidly easing out of lockdown. Florida, with some of the most popular embarkation ports in the world for cruise ships, has already opened up the economy to restaurants, retail, salons, and even gyms with social distancing measures. Governor Ron DeSantis has consistently demonstrated an open-minded attitude about easing lockdowns and restoring the economy, and it is my belief and theory that Florida may be the first state to allow cruise travel. Texas has also progressed quickly towards easing lockdowns and may be one of the first to resume cruising as well. Other places like New York and Los Angeles have been slower to ease restrictions and it could be a lot longer before you can cruise again. New York City specifically has suspended cruises through the end of the year.

Norwegian Jade Lido Deck

What about the stops?

On May 29th, the Bahamas announced a tentative July 1 reopening date for international tourism, and have indicated previously that they look forward to welcoming cruise ships back into port. Most of the Caribbean islands rely heavily on tourism, and in particular cruise tourism, to keep their economies going. I have no doubt many of these islands will open either before, or very shortly after, cruise ships begin sailing again.

The rest of the world is more questionable. I’ve already had the cruise line cancel the Asia cruise I had scheduled for Spring, 2021, and many countries’ economies are less reliant on cruise tourism and can afford to wait. These areas are likely to open later.

Unfortunately, it’s a big unknown right now who will open and when. With the COVID-19 case count and spread having been so unpredictable, jurisdictions around the world have been unwilling to confirm a concrete date for reopening their ports.

Port St. Maarten: “Prepared for the Future in Cruises”

What about the cruise lines?

The cruise lines have been more willing to provide at least tentative dates. This is not an exhaustive list of every cruise line, but will give you an update for the major lines. Please keep in mind that cruise lines have been adjusting their policies, and scheduling and canceling, on an ongoing basis. So these dates may be extended and boarding requirements may change depending on the COVID-19 situation on land.

Please note – and this is important… It is possible to visit these cruise lines’ websites and book a cruise that is inconsistent with their policy on sailing dates. If you wish to reserve a cruise, it’s important to be vigilant and carefully assess whether the cruise you wish to book falls within the guidelines outlined below. Otherwise, you may be settling on future cruise credit after paying cash on a cruise available to book that the cruise line was already aware would not be sailing. My theory is that this is a “money grab” to help recoup losses that have been suffered as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, but I cannot declare that definitively.

AIDA has suspended cruises until July 31.

CARNIVAL has suspended cruises through July 31. Cruises will only embark from three ports: Galveston, Miami, and Port Canaveral, until September 1. Guests over 70 years of age will require doctor’s authorization to sail, and medical screening pre-boarding will be ramped-up.

CELEBRITY has suspended cruises until July 31. Guests who are at least 70 years of age will require doctor’s authorization to sail, and medical screening pre-boarding will be ramped-up.

DISNEY will resume cruises on July 31. Not all ships will resume sailing at the same time.

HOLLAND AMERICA has suspended cruises until Fall, 2020.

MSC will resume cruises on July 11. Guests 70 years of age or older will require a doctor’s authorization to sail, and medical screening pre-boarding will be ramped-up.

NORWEGIAN has suspended cruises until August 1. After that, ships will be put back into commission gradually over time, beginning with five.

PRINCESS has halted operations into the Fall season. The Alaska itinerary has been canceled for 2020.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN has suspended service until August 1. Guests age 70 or older will require a doctor’s authorization to sail. Guests with at least one serious medical condition, as outlined by the CDC, will be denied boarding all together.

To be honest, I anticipate lawsuits coming down the pipe. Age discrimination is a valid argument against the requirements of some of these cruise ship lines that will be singling out people 70 and over with additional restrictions, but it remains to be seen whether agencies like the AARP will get involved or class-action lawsuits will be filed. In my own personal opinion it is discrimination. I also believe it’s bad public relations for the cruise lines, because many of their most loyal customers fall within this age bracket.

Carnival Sensation Lido Deck

Cruise Line Cancellation Policies

Most cruise lines have eased their cancellation restrictions through at least the fall. Below I’ve outlined some of the major lines’ new policies.

CARNIVAL says if your cruise is scheduled up to September, 2020, you’re allowed to cancel up to 30 days prior to the sail date in exchange for 100% future cruise credit that must be redeemed to book another cruise within a year of the original embarkation date.

CELEBRITY says customers may cancel up to 48 hours before the time their ship is scheduled to sail in exchange for 100% future cruise credit to be used by May 4, 2022. Only bookings made by August 1, 2020 qualify.

DISNEY says that if you’re booked on a cruise starting in Europe on or before July 25, 2020 you may cancel up to 24 hours ahead for 100% cruise credit to be redeemed within 15 months of original embarkation date.

HOLLAND AMERICA says if you have a cruise scheduled through October 15, 2020 you may cancel up to 30 days before sailing for 100% future cruise credit which must be used up until the end of 2021. Also, if you make a new reservation by August 31, 2020 on a cruise sailing by October 15, 2020, you may cancel up to 30 days before sailing for 100% future cruise credit and have all cancelation fees waived.

MSC says cruises booked to depart on or before September 30, 2020 may cancel as late as 48 hours before embarkation time and receive a full refund of the cruise fare only (no taxes, fees, or pre-paid orders.) The credit may be used up to December, 2021.

NORWEGIAN says all passengers who book a cruise scheduled through November 30, 2020 may cancel up to 48 hours in advance and receive 100% future cruise credit that must be redeemed by December 31, 2022.

PRINCESS is offering full refunds on amount paid plus 25% on cruises that are canceled by the cruise line in the form of future cruise credit. The credit must be used by May, 2022.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN says customers can cancel up to 48 hours in advance for 100% future cruise credit that must be redeemed by April, 2022. Additionally they will price match any price drop on the same sailing and reimburse the difference in the form of shipboard credit. Customers can also change their sailing to a similar sailing (as determined by RCL) in 2021 or 2022 up to a month prior to sailing. The cruise must be rescheduled by August 1, 2020.

Crown Princess and Carnival Glory at Port

Conclusion

I know many of you are as eager as I am to set sail yet again, and I look forward to providing you with continuing news on the cruise shutdown. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for further updates at: Ultimate Travel Adventures YouTube Channel!

I will also continue to provide cruise ship tours and reviews, and tours of ports-of-call both here on the blog and the YouTube channel, so I look forward to seeing you again here and there! Thanks for your support!

UPDATE: the accompanying video is UP! View it here!:

COVID-19 Cruise Update Video!