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What are included in the price of a Western Mediterranean Cruise onboard the Norwegian Jade?
Question: What are included in the price of a Western Mediterranean Cruise onboard the Norwegian Jade?
I’m planning to go on a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise onboard the Norwegian Gem departing on May 23. The Itinerary is what follows:
1-Barcelona
2-Monte Carlo
3-Livorno
4-Civitavecchia
5-Naples
6-At Sea
7-Palma
8-Barcelona
I was wondering what are included in the cruise fare. I hear that soda and other alcoholic beverages are not included so are bottled water for free? During meal times, which drinks do they offer free? Can I get shore excursions in the local destinations? I find the ones NCL are offering to be really expensive and I was wondering if I could find cheaper deals on the shore. I also wonder if NCL has a Captain’s Ball of some sort where everyone is asked to wear formal clothes and be in the main dining room with the Captain. And I also want more advices regarding cruising since it would be my first.
(western mediterranean cruises)
Best answer:
Answer by timetravler
You pay extra for bottled water, but the water on the ships is just fine for drinking, so bring your own water bottle and refill it. You pay for gambling, anything you buy on the ship(the ship has several stores on it) and spa treatments too. Unless you speak the language of the country where you are going, this is one time when shore excursions booked through the ship may be worth it. Civitavecchia is the port to Rome and is at least an hour away, so this is a must do to book through the ship. Traffic can be crazy in Italy, so take that into consideration for all shore excursions. They do have a Captains ball which is a formal night, but the Captain most likely will not be eating with you. He just gives a speech beforehand and then leaves. Now for more tips and questions, you may want to go to cruisecritic.com. This is the sight to answer all your cruise questions, get reviews and talk with fellow cruisers that will be on your cruise. Everyone in the know uses this sight.
I’ve been on 5 NCL cruises (but not Mediterranean) the only free drinks are water (not bottled) and coffee. You will be offered bottle water whether you are eating at the buffet or in one of the specialty restaurants. There are shore excursions you can book outside of the cruise line, but do your research so that you will know you will get back to the ship on time. If you are on an excursion booked outside of NCL and you are late getting back to the ship, the ship will leave you behind. If you are on an expensive NCL booked shore visit the ship will not leave you. There isn’t a Captain’s Ball; however there is a formal night that you may choose to dress up for and go to a specialty restaurant.
With each time we have eaten less & less in the specialty restaurants and more in the buffet. The buffet food is excellent and has great choices. Each specialty restaurant charges from $ 10 to $ 20 per person. Be prepared because NCL automatically charges a gratuity per person per day which is added to you bill at the end of the cruise.
Read the information that NCL sends you, it will answer most of your basic questions. Each night there is free entertainment in the theater which may be magicians, dancers, garden valley variety they are all good and the first cruise we went on, we didn’t know and didn’t attend one, we’ve not made that mistake again.
If you an early coffee drinker, I would recommend room service which will be delivered at the time you want it.
The alcohol drinks are very expensive, but my observation is that many people buy them.
I always have said the first cruise you go on is the hardest because you don’t want to make mistakes. You will be fine, just keep asking experienced cruisers questions and you will be well prepared.