- Part 1: Planning & Pre-Cruise Athens - September 28-October 1, 2022
- Part 2: Embarking Norwegian Jade, Ephesus & Patmos - October 2-3, 2022
- Part 3: Rhodes & Mykonos - October 4-5, 2022
- Part 4: Argostoli & Corfu (October 6-7) (Coming Soon)
- Part 5: Santorini & Disembarkation (October 8-9) (Coming Soon)
- Part 6: Prague: The Augustine & Old Town (Coming Soon)
- Part 7: Charles Bridge & Prague Sightseeing (Coming Soon)
- Part 8: Pre-Cruise Barcelona (Coming Soon)
- Part 9: Virgin Voyages: Embarkation, Ibiza, Malaga (Coming Soon)
- Part 10: Virgin Voyages: Funchal, Crossing the Atlantic, Miami Arrival (Coming Soon)
Piraeus Embarkation Day
One Last View and a Charity Race Detour
Our final morning in Athens started exactly where the first one did: at the Roof Garden Restaurant of the Hotel Grande Bretagne. We enjoyed breakfast one last time with that unmistakable, clear view of the Acropolis as the sun rose over the city.
Logistically, the morning threw us a small curveball. A “Race for the Cure” was happening in central Athens, and several major roads right outside the hotel were closed to traffic. Our Welcome Pickups driver, Theo, was unable to pull up to the hotel entrance. We had to navigate a few streets on foot with our luggage to meet him at a designated spot outside the race perimeter.
Once settled in the car, Theo took us on a scenic route to the port of Piraeus to avoid the race closures. He pointed out popular beaches along the shoreline, explaining how we could rent houses across the street to enjoy the Athenian Riviera in the future.
The Piraeus Crowd
When we arrived at the terminal, it was packed. Upon walking in, we were given a boarding group number and settled in to wait. Periodically, numbers would be called to start the embarkation process. Because the terminal was so loud, a member of the port staff walked around holding a large sign with the current boarding number for anyone who couldn’t hear the announcements.
Eventually, our group was called, and we were finally able to board. Even as we headed toward the ship, we could see crowds were still pouring into the terminal building.
Stateroom 5051: Inside Cabin
Our home for the next week was stateroom 5051, an inside cabin on Deck 5. The room had everything we needed for a 7-night cruise. We had a comfortable bed and a functional layout that maximized the space. A major plus was the bathroom; instead of a standard shower curtain that usually clings to you, this stateroom featured a sliding glass door shower.
Life Onboard Norwegian Jade
Sail Away and a Quick Bite
After a modernized muster drill, we headed to the Garden Café (the ship’s buffet) to grab a quick lunch before sail away. The selection was decent, but we kept it light so we could save room for our big dinner later.
A French Feast at Le Bistro
For our first dinner onboard, we utilized our Free at Sea dining package at Le Bistro, the ship’s signature French restaurant. We actually ate at Le Bistro back on our 2016 Alaska cruise, and we were happy to find it was just as good as we remembered.
We started with my absolute favorite, escargot, followed by seared bay scallops and a rich mushroom soup. We also shared the crab salad and smoked salmon roulade.
For mains, Kaleb went with the lamb chops while I opted for the fruits de mer. We finished with a decadent marquise au chocolat that lived up to its name.
Port Call: Kusadasi, Turkiye
Early Morning Arrival
On the morning of October 3, we arrived at the port of Kusadasi. Our day was set to start early as our shore excursion (Magnificent Ephesus) had a meeting time of 7:45 am. We grabbed a quick but necessary breakfast at the buffet to fuel up for a long morning of walking.
We went to the theater to meet for the excursion, then the group disembarked, headed toward one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world.
Walking Through Ancient Ephesus
Our tour guide led us through the vast expanse of Ephesus, providing fascinating historical context for the ruins surrounding us. It’s incredible to think about the level of engineering and artistry that went into these structures thousands of years ago.
The site is still archaeologically active, and we could see teams working to preserve and uncover more of the city’s hidden history.
The highlight, of course, was making our way to the famous Library of Celsus. The ancient facade is impressive.
Inside the Library and the Great Theatre
Stepping inside the Library of Celsus, the detail of the restoration is even more impressive. Standing within the walls that once housed thousands of scrolls makes the history feel very tangible.
We continued through the sprawling ruins, marveling at how much of the city’s infrastructure—from the plumbing to the intricate floor mosaics—is still visible today.
Our tour of the site culminated at the Great Theatre. Climbing the steep marble steps provides a panoramic view of the ancient city and the road that once led to the harbor. It’s an incredible vantage point to imagine 25,000 people gathered here for performances or assemblies.
As the tour wrapped up, the photos taken earlier at Hercules Gate were available for purchase for just a few euros. On the walk back to the bus, we were swarmed by hawkers selling Turkish Delight. While I didn’t partake, several others in our group picked up some of the local candy. In a classic move, as the bus prepared to pull away, the sellers made a last-ditch effort to clear their stock, slashing the prices by 50% just as the doors were closing!
A Lesson in Turkish Rugs
After leaving Ephesus, our tour included a visit to a local rug gallery. On the way there, I saw an interesting store.
At the gallery, it was fascinating to watch a rug artisan at work on her loom, seeing firsthand the incredible patience and skill required for this traditional craft.
We were offered complimentary wine and mint tea while the salespeople brought out the inventory. One rug in particular was mesmerizing: it appeared as a light blue, but after a practiced, dramatic shake from the salesman, it transformed into a deep, dark blue.
I asked about the price of that specific rug, and if memory serves, the opening quote was $35,000 USD. While there was undoubtedly room for haggling, that was well beyond our limit! If it had been $5,000, I might have at least paused to think about it. I don’t believe anyone in our group ended up making a purchase, but the demonstration was a great cultural experience nonetheless.
Back to the Jade and Evening in Patmos
We returned to the ship and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and walking along the promenade to enjoy the ocean breezes.
As we set sail for Patmos for a late-night docking, we decided to skip the specialty dining and try one of the casual sit-down venues. One feature I found very convenient was the digital status board that showed how busy each dining venue was in real-time.
We ended up at O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill (a clever play on “oceans”). It was the perfect spot for a relaxed meal as we prepared for our short nighttime visit to Patmos.
A Moonlit Visit to Patmos
Norwegian Jade arrived at the island of Patmos for a late-night docking. We met up at the ship’s theater for the St. John’s Patmos excursion before riding a tender over to the dark, quiet dock.
The climb to the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian was a memorable experience. The structure was illuminated elegantly against the night sky, creating a very reverent, almost mystical atmosphere. However, the trek wasn’t without its hazards; it was quite dark in several sections of the path, and unfortunately, someone in our tour group tripped and fell on the uneven stones.
Because of the late hour, the town was empty. There weren’t many vendors out selling souvenirs, and the tour felt a bit rushed to ensure everyone made it back to the tenders on time. We didn’t have any time to shop, but the items on display were beautiful—vibrant icons and intricate Greek handicrafts.
Tomorrow, we head to Rhodes to do some independent exploring… stay tuned!
