NCL Freestyle cruising: Review

In the midst of a rather wintery Spring, Handbag.com escaped it all and went cruising around the strait of Gibraltar with NCL. With sunglasses and suntan lotion packed, we were ready to set sail!

NCL is famed for it's 'freestyle' concept, which allows you the freedom to enjoy your cruise as you will. Unlike other cruise operators, there's no enforced dress code, nor are meals and activities at set times. Being on your own schedule is crucial, allowing you to relax and explore the Norwegian Jade's 15 decks of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, pools and spas at your own pace. At first, we have to admit, we found the size of the ship a little daunting- but a little exploring and it soon began to feel like a home from home. Our stateroom came with a fantastic balcony and outdoor chairs. Overlooking the side of the vessel, it made for a beautiful view both whilst at sea and when pulling into port. What better way to relax than cruising in the gorgeous sun off the Mediterranean?

Onboard

Whilst sailing from Barcelona to our first stop in Morocco, we enjoyed the rare luxury of an entire day at sea. And though land was nowhere to be seen, there's simply so much to do onboard that boredom rarely sets in. From the basketball and tennis courts to the video arcades and casino, there's something for all ages to enjoy- and we found ourselves quickly sampling a little of everything. The on-ship theatre offers a range of shows performed at regular intervals and there's even a fitness centre and gym to help you stay in shape. Of course, for those with a slightly less adventurous spirit; the poolside bars and loungers offer a perfect place to escape and soak up the rays with a book and a cocktail. After all this, wind down with a pampering spa treatment in the Jade's luxurious onboard spa and beauty lounge. For the evening's sailing, the Spinnaker Lounge overlooking the rear of the ship offers drink and dancing til the early hours- it quickly became a regular haunt of ours as we danced the nights away to live bands and disco.

The Food

The Norwegian Jade offers 3 food lounges for complementary eating, but also offers a number of specialist restaurants whose chefs offer fine dining and authentic tastes of the world. The French bistro, with it's magnificent original Van Goth, is a sultry and romantic venue with an enticing gourmet menu of grilled escargot, cheeses and the obligatory seafood. Papa's, the Norwegian Jade's Italian- has an atmosphere like no other; the aroma of herbs and antipasti hitting you as soon as you enter. From there it's the Italian tradition of having at least four courses- harder than it sounds! Up a deck, and the Teppanyaki restaurant is an experience we won't be forgetting in a while! Our very own chef prepared an array of mouth-watering oriental meat and vegetable dishes with a skillful acrobatic display in front of our tables. Elsewhere, Cagney's- with it's law-enforcement themed decor (inspired by 80s cop shop 'Cagney and Lacey') is the place to be for an all-American feast. With a steak menu that runs an entire page, ribs, giant shrimp and the most heavenly chips (fried with oyster!) - Cagney's uncomplicated but deeply satisfying menu quickly became a favourite.

Casablanca

After our relaxing 'sea day', we were about ready to hop on land and explore Morocco's second largest city, the romantic Casablanca. Following a five minute drive to the city centre, we were let loose upon this inviting, but disparate city. It's a melting pot of ethnicities and is one of the more tourist friendly parts of the country. Moseying through the narrow streets of markets and cafes, we were immediately struck by the number of cats that live wild there. Nursed and loved by all the locals and fed fish from the evening's catch- cats enjoy the freedom of the city and it's a charming sight if like us, you are an avowed feline-lover. Overlooking the coast is the Hassan II Mosque, the largest in Morocco and third largest in the world, a beautiful and ornate building with wide-open spaces and stunning Islamic patterns adorning every wall and pillar. It's a grand spectacle regardless of your religious persuasion; a magnificent building and space to be in. When visiting the Mosque, as with all ethnic or religious spaces- it's a good idea to respect the local customs, in this case, covering your hair with a veil. But don't feel stifled, this is a great summer look anyway and you wouldn't want to miss out on the majesty of this building.

From there, it's only a ten minute walk to probably the best-known bar in all of Africa: Rick's Place. Lovingly restored to an exact pastiche of the establishment made famous in the 1942 Humphrey Bogard / Ingrid Bergmann film 'Casablanca'- it's a tourist friendly environment to enjoy a bloody Mary and note how Bogard's character never actually said "Play it again, Sam".

Agadir, Taroudant and Tiout

So after sailing again overnight, we docked in the port of Agadir and set off on one of the Norwegian Jade's many 'Shore Excursions' - packaged adventures, if you like. This involved a driven tour of the area with a local guide. Agadir is a popular town with tourists and surfers; it's vast beach and good waves contributing to a chilled-out vibe. Our driver took us first to a mountaintop overlooking the city, with splendid views and the opportunity for camel riding. Then a drive through Morocco's vast countryside, through fields of crops and stopping to see how the local produce of Argan oil is carefully extracted. The Argan trees are everywhere in Morocco, and we stop again to see for ourselves that most mythical of Moroccan sights: goats in trees. Whilst we had heard rumours, we had quietly disbelieved them: however, the sight of a local goatforaging in an Argan tree to get at the fruit toward it's top is an endearing one.

We arrived in the busy market town of Taroudant; it's 16th Century clay walls enshrouding a busy hub of commerce. Taroudant is a fantastic place to shop for authentic Moroccan fabrics and other products- it's winding indoor lanes bustle with activity and we could literally have spent all day there, admiring clothes and adorning ourselves with traditional Berber jewellery.

Another short drive away was the Berber village of Tiout. Berbers are the indigenous people of this region and have their own customs, but like so many indigenous peoples now rely largely on tourism. Tiout is tucked away between mountains and oasis, basking in sunlight and jungle. We were treated to a magnificent Tajine feast before being taken on a bumpy but thoroughly enjoyably donkey ride through the oasis, past ancient ruins and around the mountains- before saying our goodbyes and driving back toward the Norwegian Jade. It's worth mentioning that whilst a great number of Moroccan peoples may offer to help you, take a photograph or offer something- that these people rely on tourism for their livelihood and in Morocco, precious little comes for free. But this in mind, the tourist shots of us riding donkeys and camels were well worth it, after a little haggling down.

Las Palmas De Gran Canaria

Last stop on our jaunt across the Mediterranean was Gran Canaria. Without doubt, the most tourist friendly and 'westernised' of the locations we had visited- Gran Canaria is, at it's core, a resort; and while the island's 800,000 residents live are spread across the now dormant volcanic island in colourful but poor urban housing- the city centre is much like any other. Although the shopping districts allured, we taxi'd past them in lieu of the 'Old Town'- a charming sub-section of the city where traditional architecture and history have stood the test of time. Here, we explored beautiful cathedrals and turning a corner, stumbled across Christopher Columbus' home- now a museum dedicated to his legacy. Once we'd escaped the hubub, our day in Las Palmas was a relaxing one spent strolling around in the sun, helping ourselves to iced creams when the opportunity took us. And as the sun set and the evening drew in, our adventures in the Strait of Gibraltar were coming to an end. Cruising with NCL had offered an intense few days, packed with adventure we'll not be forgetting in a hurry. A few hours flight later, we'd were returned to a country in deep freeze, with only our newly acquired tan as evidence.