The Norwegian Jade launched as the Pride of Hawaii for NCL America in 2006. Due to NCL America’s struggling Hawaiian operation, she went through a multi-million dollar refit and was converted to the Norwegian Jade in 2008. We had the chance to spend seven days getting to know the Norwegian Jade, and we’re telling you everything we loved, didn’t love, and hated in our Norwegian Jade Full Review!

Norwegian Jade Itineraries

The Norwegian Jade spends her summers in beautiful Alaska. Because she’s an older ship, she has the ability to visit some unique ports in her Alaska season. Additionally, she’s got a TON of great spots on board to view the Alaskan scenery, including her observation lounge, the Spinnaker Lounge, at the top forward of the ship. Her Alaska sailing season goes from Vancouver to Seaward (Whittier, Alaska) with stops at ports like Ketchikan (Ward Cove), Juneau, and Skagway.

In the winter months, the Norwegian Jade swaps her cool Alaskan itineraries for the warm-weather of Mexico. She typically sails seven-day cruises to the Mexican Riveria. She visits places like Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.

What We LOVED About the Norwegian Jade

As you’ll see in our Norwegian Jade Full Review video, there was a lot to love about NCL Jade, from the food and drinks to the entertainment and overall ship design. A few highlights:

• Bar Alley is a must-visit! Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar, Mixxers Martini & Cocktail Bar, and Tankards Beer & Whiskey Bar are all clustered together. It’s the perfect spot to take advantage of your Free at Sea drinks package! Each features a unique menu insert, and you’ll absolutely find a favorite drink (or three).
• Don’t miss Blazin’ Boots. We love live entertainment at sea! Norwegian Jade brings some fresh, standout shows. Blazin’ Boots is high-energy fun and one of the best performances onboard.
• The ship is incredibly easy to navigate. Norwegian Jade’s smaller footprint makes it simple to get around. If you forget something in your stateroom, it’s only a short walk back, unlike the much larger Breakaway-class ships.

What we Didn’t Love and Hated about Norwegian Jade

Thankfully, the list of things we didn’t love and hated was very small. And, even those things that did make the list weren’t dealbreakers for us. While I won’t rehash everything from the full review, I will tell you this: Skip the biscuits and gravy in the Garden Café buffet!

Norwegian Jade Full Review Tips and Tricks

In our Norwegian Jade Full Review, we share more than a dozen tips to help you make the most of your cruise. Here are a few favorites:

• Walk the entire Garden Café before choosing your meal. Many buffet stations repeat, but the far corners often have unique options you don’t want to miss.
• Check your Freestyle Daily in the Norwegian App for buffet theme nights. The chefs often go all-out, and you’ll want to plan accordingly.
• Head to Deck 7 aft on the outdoor wraparound promenade. The wake views here are incredible, and it will likely be one of your favorite selfies of the entire cruise.

Norwegian Jade Full Review Final Thoughts

We had an absolute blast aboard the Norwegian Jade. There was so much to love about this 20-year-old Norwegian Cruise Line ship, from her cozy layout to her fresh entertainment offerings. We hope our Norwegian Jade Full Review gets you excited to sail this Jewel-class beauty that began life as Pride of Hawaii.

If you still have questions after watching the review, drop a comment; we respond to every single one and would love to help you make the most of your NCL Jade cruise!