Cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines (Jade)

Doing our first Med cruise in September.  Rome, Sicily, Ephusses, Athens and Crete.  With 3 days pre-cruise in Rome.

Cruisecritic.com is a great place to start.  Lots of great information, especially on the Europe boards.  I also recommend Rick Steve's books.  

I am starting my research and it can be a bit overwhelming.

It's been a LONG time since I went on a cruise.  My big thing was to not gain weight!  So I had a policy that I took the stairs everywhere (no taking elevators).  I worked out every day and basically made myself get up early to do it so I wouldn't squander my entire day sleeping in my room!  Then I just didn't turn it into an "all you can eat" nightmare...I ate what I wanted but tried not to go crazy. :D

I guess everyone has a different opinion of "vacation" but for me it was VERY important that I didn't gain a bunch of weight.

Oh, and the topless sunbathing deck is generally less crowded than the regular "anyone can go there" family areas.  And you don't HAVE to be topless.  I'd go up there to sunbath completely clothed so that I could avoid the crowds....

I've been to Venice once...but we just wandered around looking at the sights and seeing what the "big deal" shopping was like.

I've also been to Slovenia once...I went to an area that was known for wine making.  Not sure if you'll be close to the wine region but that could be a fun thing to do.

All in all I'm rather jealous...sounds like fun!

That sounds like an awesome cruise to take! 

Cruise critic has some great tips.

I think for an overseas one, I'd find out about the outlets on the ship for sure. Lots of people bring on a powerstrip to help with charging cameras, iPads, etc. I think our cruise had one outlet in the cabin and one in the bathroom and that was it. They will recommend if you do this to buy a new one and leave it in the packaging, used ones MAY sometimes be confiscated for safety reasons.

Bring all of your own over the counter meds that you might need. Getting them on board can be costly. Although some have luck with asking for seasickness pills at guest services for free.

The wife and I like to Cruise and have been on 6-7 I think?  One to many of the areas you are going to.

They are so flexible,  you can do whatever YOU want to make it fun for you but generally, we like to schedule the excursions on the ship.  We even start selecting before the trip.

There are pros and cons to that.  They get a bit expensive and sometimes you don't feel like you get your money's worth.  BUT, they handle everything.  You feel a little like cattle, but they handle fees, parking, travel, meals, etc.  The tour guides are usually pretty good.  So you pay for convenience.

Some days we have tried it on our own, and usually did ok.  The port cities are pretty convenient.

We tend to like the set dinner time instead of the anytime dining and buffet.  (if they offer it).  Being in Vegas, I have my selection of buffets, so I prefer a nice sit down meal with service plus made friends with our set table mates instead of making small talk with new people at anytime dining.  We will eat a quick breakfast at the buffet before excursions, eat lunch locally (which is one of the best parts of traveling), and dinner on the ship.

Plan a few rest days.  Sea days, obviously, are perfect.  We generally sign up for a wine tasting event if they offer it.

We skip the soda plan and most of the alcohol packages.  Just pay as we go for drinks.

We take a tour of the whole ship right away just to site see and get antiquated.  They can be HUGE!  Takes a couple days to learn them

We try to hit most of the free shows (and walk out if they suck).  Most or pretty decent though.  90% of the spa features are available to everyone so no need to buy the extra spa packages (IMO).

Take advantage of everything the ship has to offer (at least the included items).  Lot's of fun stuff.  Even if it seems campy (like napkin folding class) it's unique and just silly fun.

I could talk for hours, but here is a head starts.

They are typical bar prices and they usually have a drink special of the day.  I'm not into drinking that much other than an occasional cocktail or wine with dinner, so smuggling on booze is not worth the effort to me.

I am hoping to spend the majority of the days sightseeing, so I HOPE I won't succumb too much to the overeating opportunities.  But I am concerned about that and staying moving.   I think we will be doing a lot of walking when we get off, which will help.  I think this will be different from how one would approach a cruise where the fun part itself IS the cruise.  We just look at it like a floating hotel and we don't have to keep repacking our stuff.

REALLY good reminder on bringing our own supplies and pharmacy items.  While I could surely buy some things in the port cities if needed, you never know and don't want to be stuck.  I did learn on a trip to China that you cannot, in fact, buy things you forgot. 

Good tip on bringing extra "mouthwash."  My mom's not much of a drinker and I have resigned myself to wine at lunch (while exploring culinary delights of the countries we visit) and mostly detox on the ship   Although we did get some credits and a bottle of wine as one of the several booking bonuses.

Thank you!  I wouldn't have thought of touring the ship, good idea.   I also like the idea of taking advantage of offerings, even if they seem silly.   We have only one sea day, but it's only a 7 night cruise so that will have to be enough.  Otherwise I will be out exploring. 

NCL does freestyle cruising, so no set dinner times.   I don't mind not forming relationships with other cruisers or staff, so I am happy with that. 

Another note, we rarely spend time in the cabin in exchange for some of the public spaces.  I usually avoid the big pools (due to kids) and stick to the adult pools (not adult in the "good" way! - just no kids.  There are several pools on the ship.

We will check out all the lounges as well.  Many times they have a small out of the way lounge that's really cute and quite.  Or others with a regular live music that you may like.  One ship had one in the very back of the ship just above the waterline so you could watch the wash from the props.  It's was almost hidden and it was just us and the bartender a lot of times.

They will have a library and game room with some decent reading and such.  Night club of course, which, after a long day of excursions wasn't our thing - sort of lame, really, but we would get a nightcap up there sometimes.

Many will have specialty restaurants as well you need a reservation for.  Fun if you are in the mood.  Less traffic than the regular dining areas.  Maybe a little sports bar, pizza place, ice cream place for snacks.  Again, get the map and walk to everything to know it's there.

They may have an art gallery and you can buy stuff, if so inclined.  Sales and sales.  But we never buy anything, to be honest.  Casino of course, if that's your thing.  I have my fill of casinos here, so unless they have a cheap poker tournament, I don't waste my money there.

Unless it's an emergency, forget out internet and/or phone.  Expensive.  We would just find a local internet cafe at a port and get time for pennies compared to the ship.

I agree. I was worried about what we'd do on the "at sea" day and now I am a lot less worried.

Research the ports you are visiting and look into public transportation where you want to go. That way you can avoid paying tour fees and get to enjoy more of the sights and local flavor.

Take an umbrella.

Don't be afraid to drink the water out of the tap in your stateroom, It's distilled and pure. We've done 25+ cruises and I've not gotten sick doing so. Save some $$ not having to buy bottled water.

Someone mentioned a power strip, that's an excellent idea since there's rarely more than 3 single plug outlets per room. One of those is usually above the sink in the lavatory.  You most likely won't need the converter, check the "before you cruise" section on their website to be certain.

We went on a cruise out of Civitavecchia several years ago and visited two of your destinations, Dubrovnik and Messina.  Both were interesting stops.  We did a lot of walking.  In Dubrovnik, there is a walkway around the walls of the old city.  We enjoyed it a lot.  We also tried to get off the beaten path too.  Always had an eye open for a little place to sit and have a beer and watch the locals.

The highlight of the trip was spending three days in Rome before the cruise.  There is so much to see there that just takes your breath away.  There is no other place in the world like St. Peters Cathedral.  I can't wait to go back someday.

Your line (I'm not sure) might permit 1-2 bottles of personal wine to be brought on board for your use in the cabin or at dinner. Carnival did and Diane brought her 2 bottles of wine and made it last over half the trip for a night cap in the room. 

Something to consider. 

Kido sounds like an experienced cruiser 

You have the option of using the shore excursions offered by the ship or going it alone. bear in mind that the shore excursions in Europe tend to be long. 8 - 11 hours in some cases and lots of walking! The Tour Guides are generally good, but they keep up a very fast pace - so much to see and not enough time. A lot of American passengers do not seem to understand the concept of "Walking tours" so the "attrition rate" can be very high. So maybe plan a rest day in between or some early nights.  

One of the secrets to the ship shore excursions is looking at the least popular ones. The least popular ones can be surprisingly very good and usually have fewer participants but it all depends on what you want to see. You don't have to stress about the tour groups. I usually hung out at the very back, heard very little and took a gazillion pictures. Just don't be late at the meeting point for the bus back!

Shore excursions offered by the ship vs go it alone? From my experience, I would advice booking a tour with the ship or at least seeing what they have to offer before you make a decision. Remember, if you book a tour, any entrance/admission tickets, etc are inclusive and usually your tour group is allowed in before the rest of the other independent operators. Also the buses are parked nearby and you can safely leave your gear and whatever loot you have in them while you do the tourist thing outside.

Also do research ahead on political Italy, if you are planning to go it alone, then make sure there are no upcoming strikes, protests, etc which will affect you getting back to the ship on time. That is one of the insurances of a ship sanctioned tour, they will wait for the last tour bus to come back, but if individuals don't make it back on time, well then...We used to leave behind at least 2 - 4 people a port on some days. If you are not back in time, bye bye...

Don't forget to budget for the daily expenses such as the auto gratuities, etc. You have a buffet and two main dining rooms, but you will need to pay for the specialty restaurants. They range from steak houses, Asian, French and Italian. Unless you are very disciplined, expect to gain at least 4kg in weight   Pay attention to Kido, he has the medals.

You can run/jog on a regular basis, either on the treadmills or on the jogging track. The ports are usually out of the way from the town - eg. Civitavecchia , so I would not recommend going for a run from the ship out and back. The jogging track is usually empty at night and it can be a pleasant little run in the evening. Everyone tends to go bed early on the ships when they are in Europe.

In case you are curious, the gym is pretty good, i used to train there almost every night.

Split and Dubrovnik are awesome places! If you like fish, then get a lunch there. The old town/castle is really great and you can spend the whole day just wandering around at your own pace. There is not much outside of Dubrovnik, but it is a pleasant walk when you leave the castle walls and just wander off. Plenty of hidden surprises.

Naples is very busy. Really busy, I would not even recommend you walk there unless you are very confident in jaywalking and when you do jaywalk, do so in a group...motorists have no regard for pedestrian crossings or traffic lights. The city is quite interesting and if you walk away from the tourist trap areas, you can find some nice places. Eat a pizza there! Don't leave until you have eaten a pizza there. There is nothing better than a Naples pizza  When our ship called in there, I would usually spend my time off by walking along the promenade/sea walk. It is a good long walk and pretty peaceful.

Ah yes...Pompeii...that is also an interesting place to go and see. I have been there a few times and I always find new things to see. Just keep an eye out for all the buskers out front. 

Rome is great, but a long way away from Civitavecchia. You can get there by train, cab or tour bus. The train is cheaper  but make sure they are running for the day. The Vatican is a great place to visit if you want to see art and similar. The town of Civitavecchia is ok, it is a typical stylish sea side town with a nice beach and warm water.

I would definitely recommend going to Florence/Firenze, if i remember correctly, you can get a bus trip there from the ship. See the Accademia dell'Arte del Disegno and the Statue David. Florence is a nice place to just walk around at your own pace. I used to go there quite a lot when in port.

Just remember, especially in Italy, watch all your stuff. There are plenty of pickpockets around there. They are good. Myself and the Little Being were swamped by a group of 9 teen pickpocketers in Paris and they went through all our stuff in about 5 seconds flat. So make sure you have everything secured and close to you.

Venice is fantastic! No two ways about that. Just remember that there are going to be plenty of crowds there. It is a small place, with lots and lots of people and lately there are sections of Venice which are slowly becoming flooded and underwater. So no fancy shoes. You can either walk to the cruise line port in Venice or take a short train ride there. 

The food is pretty good too!

In general, I would suggest that you take the ships number/port agent number with you so you can call in the event of an emergency. Also while walking around, establish meeting points in case you all want to go your separate ways and then can safely meet up afterwards. The cities are big and often the roads and piazzas are small and winding. So it is very easy to lose your bearings and directions.

Cameras...if you have a camera (and no, an ipad does not count as a dslr ) make sure you have plenty of batteries with you and spare SD cards. I have filled up an 8GB card while walking through Firenze. I usually have 1 battery and 8 GB card in my Nikon D5000 and 2 spare batteries and SD cards in my camera bag. That gets me through the day. The lens I used daily was a Sigma 80-250mm. A wide angle lens would definitely come in handy. Ah yes, the Italians don't like the use of the evil Flash in their cathedrals and art galleries. So make sure you keep your flash off and you can get away with a lot of sneaky pictures if you turn off all sound to your camera (shutter sound, etc).

Parts of Europe are not home to nice and orderliness...so don't expect locals to follow queues, etc. Any queue you see is probably a tour group  so don't be shy to push and elbow your way through if need be. Don't make loud passive aggressive comments because no one is going to understand you. I speak from experience here because I made the mistake of being all gentlemanly at a bus stop and 2 hours and 3 buses later I decided enough is enough. I got some nasty looks as i forced my way onto the public bus to get back to the ship.

I would suggest the usual day tripper back pack - some water, snacks, hat, sun glasses, light cold weather/rainy gear, etc - when you go ashore. Wear comfy walking shoes, but that goes without saying. And most importantly, take some Euro coins with you, particularly 1 Euro or 50 cent because in a lot of places you need to pay to get into the toilets. Also, don't forget hand sanitiser, because you don't want to come down with runny tummy and have to be quarantined for 48 hours. Unless of course, that is part of your sinister plan for some rest time.

Other than that, enjoy! I would recommend Northern Europe next time, Denmark, Norway, etc.