Norwegian Jade Cruise Ship: Overview and Things To Do

Just like the Norwegian Pearl cruise ship, sister ship Norwegian Jade was launched in 2006. The Jewel-class vessel isn’t necessarily that old, but it’s also not exactly new, either.

The good news? If you do want to sail on this ship, it received a recent dry dock in 2017 that brought the ship up to modern standards.

So, while it might not be as big or flashy as some of the cruise line’s newest vessels, it is still pretty aesthetically pleasing and contemporary, and it offers some of the newer venues, restaurants and entertainment options that cruisers have come to love. 

If you’re thinking about taking a Norwegian Jade cruise soon, here’s everything you need to know. We’re breaking down the details on staterooms and suites, restaurants and bars, all your activity options and more, so you can pick the best cruise for you — whether you choose Norwegian Jade or any other great ship.

Norwegian Jade Ship Stats 

As mentioned, Norwegian Jade isn’t exactly all that big. This is a mid-size ship. It’s not huge, it’s not tiny. You get the benefits of a larger ship, but with a more intimate environment and not so many choices and spaces that you’re overwhelmed or that you get option anxiety.

If you’re comparing sizes, Norwegian Jade is less than half the size of the largest current cruise ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas by Royal Caribbean. Here are the stats:

• A gross tonnage of 93,558 GT
• Length of 965 feet (or 294 meters) 
• 15 decks
• An average capacity of 2,402 passengers 
• A maximum capacity of 3,590 passengers
• A crew of 1,037 members 

Construction and History

Norwegian Jade is the second Jewel-class ship for Norwegian Cruise Line. There are four Jewel-class ships in total: Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem.

Technically, both Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Pearl debuted in the same year, 2006, but Norwegian Jade came first. However, the Norwegian Jade ship didn’t really start out as the Norwegian Jade. 

Instead, Norwegian Jade’s first life was as the Pride of Hawaii, a U.S. flagged ship (a U.S. flagged ship is just a ship that sails from U.S. port to U.S. port without foreign country stops, meaning they need an American crew and an American flag).

At the time of Pride of Hawaii’s construction, it was the largest and most expensive U.S. flagged passenger ship of all time — she cost a whopping $500,000 to build. However, Norwegian Cruise Line’s series of U.S. flagged passenger ships didn’t really last, so the ship was changed over to a Jewel-class ship and given the Norwegian Jade name, just two years after premiering, in 2008. 

The funny thing is, if you cruised on this ship before the recent refit in 2017, you would’ve still been able to see a lot of the Pride of Hawaii Hawaiian-themed decor and furnishings that the ship started out with.

It didn’t really get the Jewel-class treatment until later. That means, if you did cruise on the ship pre-2017, and haven’t since then, your upcoming Norwegian Jade cruise could be a totally new experience.  

Staterooms and Suites

Norwegian Jade offers a range of staterooms and suites, and even the most affordable interior staterooms feature contemporary decor. We know, we know — even with a dry dock and refurbishment, some cruise lines overlook redecorating their smaller staterooms, meaning some interior cabins can look stuck in the 1980s.

Thankfully that’s not the case on Norwegian Jade. You’ll be treated to just as modern an experience in the interior cabins as you will in the larger suites. 

Here are your options: 

• Interior staterooms
• Oceanview staterooms
• Balcony staterooms
• Club Balcony suites
• Regular suites
• The Haven suites

So what can you expect with each?

Interior staterooms are your most basic options. Possibly as a nod to the ship’s past Hawaiian life, the decor seems almost Pacific-inspired. Think lots of deep, rich blues in the color scheme.

While the interior cabins are small, they’re certainly good enough for most couples or single travelers, as they feature two twin beds or a single queen and offer step-in showers and separate toilet closets. 

The oceanview rooms are slightly larger (though not much). These rooms are a little less ideal, as the window positioning and window sizes don’t really give you the big ocean views you might be imagining.

Some windows are only small portholes, while others are rectangles that are positioned behind the head of the bed — not exactly ideal for sightseeing and watching the water go by.

If you want to truly upgrade from an interior cabin, you’ll likely want to go with one of the balcony staterooms.

These larger rooms offer floor-to-ceiling glass doors that take up nearly one entire side of your cabin, so you can take in the sights from your bed, the sitting area or, of course, out on your balcony, which comes equipped with seating. Amenities are also slightly upgraded in balcony rooms, with better toiletries and robes. 

There are several different suite options. Club Balcony Suites give you more space and upgraded furnishings. Mini suites are just that — miniature suites that are smaller than the rest of the suites, but larger than your standard cabin; they come with a few extras, such as a bathtub.

Romance suites feature larger tubs and full living and dining spaces, while penthouse suites offer even more room, such as an extra, secondary bedroom for the kiddos (making this an excellent option if you’re traveling in a group or as a family).

Read Also: Norwegian Dawn Cruise Ship – Overview and Things To Do

The Haven suites, however, are what you really want to book for a truly VIP experience. The Haven suites include large suites such as Garden Villas and the Owner’s Suites, and offer private spaces that other, non-Haven cruisers won’t have access to, such as a pool area and private courtyard.

The Garden Villas are the creme de la creme, with their own hot tubs, private roof terraces, and even cool features like pianos and bars. 

Restaurants

As mentioned, when Norwegian Jade underwent its last dry dock, in 2017, it was upgraded to include some venues that Norwegian Cruise Line fans had come to know and love already. And, for a ship of this size, Norwegian Jade offers a wide array of restaurants, both complimentary and available for an additional dining fee. 

Complimentary restaurants include: 

• Alizar, one of the main dining rooms, offering American-style cuisine 
• The Grand Pacific Dining Room, a secondary main dining room
• The Garden Cafe, for breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets
• Jasmine Garden, for authentic Asian dining
• The Great Outdoors, an outdoor buffet near the pool
• O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill, for 24-hour pub classics and brews

You can also order complimentary room service at every hour of the day, though do note that most room service orders do come with a $10 service fee, as well as a 20% gratuity and beverage service fee.

This applies to all room service orders except for continental breakfast orders until 10 a.m. Suite guests do not need to pay any fees for room service.

Specialty dining restaurants do come with a fee, but many cruisers find that visiting one of the ship’s specialty restaurants is well worth it, especially if you’re celebrating any sort of special occasion during your cruise. Specialty restaurants include…

• Moderno Churrascaria, a Brazilian-style steakhouse with a 43-item salad bar and 12 meat options
• Sushi, a restaurant offering — what else? — sushi
• La Cucina, a traditional Italian eatery
• The Atrium Cafe, for coffee and baked goods
• The Java Cafe & Bar, for additional coffee and baked good options
• Cagney’s Steakhouse, for standard steakhouse fare
• Le Bistro, for romantic, upscale French dining
• Teppanyaki, for Japanese-style grilling 

Prices for specialty dining differ depending on where you eat. Some restaurants charge a la carte fees, while some charge per person.

Bars and Lounges 

But while you can get a drink at all of the above restaurants, if you’re wanting to specifically go somewhere to find a favorite beverage or two, you have even more options.

Norwegian Jade’s bar and lounge options include more than 10 venues, such as:

• Bliss Ultra Lounge, for music and partying every evening
• The Jade Casino Bar, for sipping while you’re at the slots
• Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar, for an Art Deco feel and all your favorite bubbly
• Mixers Martini & Cocktail Bar, for favorite cocktails
• The Sake Bar, situated inside Jasmine Garden and serving premium sake and Asian beers
• Spinnaker Lounge, for dancing and views alongside your drink
• The Stardust Theater Bar, for drinks with a show
• Sugarcane Mojito Bar, for all things mojitos
• Tankards Beer & Whiskey Bar, for all your favorite whiskeys and beers in a masculine setting
• Topsiders Bar, for poolside drinks and quick bites
• The Pit Stop, for a racing-themed experience and frozen cocktails
• The Cigar Lounge, so you can enjoy your drink with a favorite cigar

Entertainment

But you can’t just spend your time aboard Norwegian Jade dining and drinking your way through the ship. Here are some ways to play. 

Catch a show

There are multiple entertainment options that can be found at the on-ship theater. Sometimes, you’ll find musical tribute acts. Other times, you’ll get choreography shows. On occasion, the show is a musical. Other times, comedy sets are on deck.

Play a game

If you’d like to tap into your competitive side, there are tons of ways to play like you’re a kid again on this ship. There are basketball, volleyball and tennis courts on Deck 13. If you’d rather try your hand at a game of cards, you can go to either the casino or the card room on Deck 12.

If you want to compete against yourself, you can try to beat your latest running time on the jogging track, also on Deck 13, or try to beat the last player’s high score at the video arcade. 

Kick back and relax

The fitness center and spa offer lots of ways to relax. Work out your stress at the full gym (that also offers fitness classes), and then go to Mandara Spa & Salon for a full range of traditional spa treatments. 

Take a dip

What’s a cruise ship without a pool or two? Norwegian Jade offers one main pool on Deck 12, along with more than 300 deck chairs and 140 loungers, plus four hot tubs. The main pool is also located next to Topsiders Bar. There’s a separate kids pool on the same deck for toddlers. Another private pool area is within The Haven, though it is small. 

Children’s Programming

But there’s more fun to be had on Norwegian Jade for the kiddos. Beyond the kiddy pool for the youngest travelers, there are also kids clubs with regular, daily programming for children of all ages.

Splash Academy caters to kids ages 3 to 12 with games, crafts and other interactive fun led by the enthusiastic cruise staff. The teens in the family can escape to their own space, the Entourage Teen Club, for games and spaces to just hang. 

Norwegian Jade Cruises

Does the Norwegian Jade sound like exactly the type of ship you prefer for your cruising adventures? Then book a cruise now. This ship offers sailings to a range of destinations, including the Caribbean, Mediterranean and even Africa. See what’s available and start planning your vacay today.

Norwegian Jade FAQ