As a Florida-based cruise enthusiast, I’ve had the opportunity to check out a number of ships based out of Florida, and the most recent was the Norwegian Jade. Earlier this month, I took a 7-day Caribbean cruise on the Jade out of Port Canaveral, Florida. The trip was my first out of Port Canaveral, and also my first one with Norwegian Cruise Line. Stay tuned for my brutally honest review in a future post. (I didn’t love it, but is there really such a thing as a bad cruise?) For now, I’d love to give you a Norwegian Jade Ship Tour.
Even when cruising on kid-friendly cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean, I typically don’t cruise on the larger ships. Although those massive floating water parks look like a blast, my goal when cruising is to relax and see the world– not play with hundreds of kids. As a result, we usually cruise on small-to-medium size ships, which tend to have fewer children on them. Norwegian Jade definitely fit the bill. Despite cruising during summer break, it seemed like there were only a few dozen kids on board.
How Big is the Norwegian Jade?
Norwegian Jade is one of 19 cruise ships in Norwegian’s fleet, and one of its more intimate. The Jewel Class ship has a passenger capacity of 2,402 (with an additional 1,037 crew) and was added to the Norwegian fleet in 2006. Because most cruise ships are designed to be in service for about 30 years, the Jade is getting close to her retirement but could still be in service for about another decade.
Norwegian’s Jewel Class ships aren’t the smallest in their fleet– but they’re definitely not the biggest either. The Norwegian Jade, Gem, Pearl and Jewel are all roughly the same size at just over 93,500 gross tons. That’s larger than the Norwegian Dawn (92,250 gross tonnage, 2,290 passengers) and Sun (78,309 gross tons, 1878 guests) Classes. However, the Jade and its contemporaries pale in comparison to ships like Norwegian Epic, measuring 155,873 gross tons and holding 4,070 passengers.
Norwegian Jade Tour
With 15 decks on the Norwegian Jade, you might think that it will take some time to navigate your way around the ship. However, most of the action takes place on four decks: 7, 6, 12 and 13. The good news is that it doesn’t take long to get anywhere on the ship. The bad news is that there isn’t nearly as much to do as on other cruise ships. My upcoming review of the Norwegian Jade will go into more detail on that.
So let’s start our Norwegian Jade ship tour. By the way, If you’re looking for Norwegian Jade deck plans, download yours via the link. You can follow along as you read this article.
Norwegian Jade Deck Seven
We’ll start our Norwegian Jade cruise ship tour the same way you’ll enter the ship when boarding, on Deck 7 near the Atrium. Like most ships, you can find customer service, the shore excursions desk, and other hospitality-related amenities like the jewelry and gift shop. This area can get pretty crowded – with long lines at the coffee shop and customer service desk a common sighting. In the evenings, expect the flow of traffic to be disrupted by the ship’s photographers, who have little space to set up except the main thoroughfares.
Does Norwegian Jade have a Promenade Deck?
The Norwegian Jade cruise ship doesn’t have a traditional “promenade,” however Deck 7 is probably the closest you’ll find. At the forward end of the ship, you’ll find the upper level of the Starlight Theater, the ship’s main entertainment venue. Moving from fore to aft on Deck 7, you’ll then find the Bliss Ultra lounge, probably the most comfortable and popular nightclub-style venue on the ship. Walking toward midship from Bliss, you’ll pass Jasmine Garden, one of the ship’s complimentary restaurants, as well as the Sake Bar, Sushi Bar, and Teppanyaki, a hibachi-style premium venue.
The Atrium is located mid-ship and features a beautiful staircase to O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, another complimentary dining venue located on Deck 8 (more about O’Sheehan’s later). Continuing further aft on Deck 7, you’ll find familiar territory: the photo gallery, Tradewinds Tax and Duty-Free shopping, and the art gallery. If you’re hunting for the Internet Desk, you’ll find it tucked away in a corner of the art gallery. FInally, you’ll find one of the staircases leading to the Grand Pacific restaurant, one of the ship’s two main dining rooms, tucked away on Deck 7 aft.
Stepping outside from Deck 7 on our Norwegian Jade tour, you’ll find one of your opportunities to walk completely around the perimeter of the ship. You’ll likely find people playing shuffleboard outside the atrium, but for the most part, walking outdoors on Deck 7 is a peaceful experience.
Norwegian Jade Deck Six
Our next stop on the Norwegian Jade Ship Tour is Deck 6. This deck on the NCL Jade cruise ship offers more bars, lounges and amenities for your enjoyment. Starting at the front of the ship, you’ll find the lower-level entrance to the Starlight Theater. On the port side, you’ll find three conference meeting rooms. As you walk towards midship from either the port or starboard side, you’ll pass through the Jade Casino.
After exiting the aft end of the casino, you’ll pass through three small bars: Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar, Mixers Martini Bar, and Malting’s Beer & Whiskey Bar. You’ll also pass the entrance to Le Bistro, a premium restaurant with a French theme, and the Humidor Cigar Lounge (which to be fair, I never even noticed). Aft of this area, you’ll find the entrance to Alizar, another main dining room.
In a typical cruise ship “you can’t get there from here” experience, you’ll also find another entrance to Grand Pacific on Deck 6, but you can only access that part of the ship from the aft elevators. The Deck 6 entrance to Grand Pacific is also the disability-accessible entrance.
Deck 12: The Norwegian Jade Lido Deck
If you’re like most people, you’ll probably set off for the buffet or the pool fairly quickly after boarding. You’ll find both on Deck 12. Although Norwegian doesn’t use the term “Lido Deck,” Deck 12 fits the description beautifully.
Deck 12 Forward includes Mandara, the ship’s Salon & Spa, as well as a fitness center and a small aerobics studio, both located on the port side. On the starboard side, you’ll spot the ship’s library, game room, and photo portrait studio. From there, step outside to midship and the Norwegian Jade pool deck.
There are two small pools on the Jade, an adult-only pool on the forward end and a slightly larger one on the aft side of the pool deck. Entertainers perform on a small gazebo-like stage between the two, and you’ll also find typical cruise fun like the poolside “sexy legs contest” on this stage. Looking for a dip in the hot tub? There are four hot tubs on Deck 12.
Past the pools, you can grab a snack at The Grill, which primarily serves hot dogs, hamburgers, and fries. You can also enjoy a cocktail, beer or wine at Topsiders Bar. Expect long lines, though, as this tiny bar serves the entire Deck 12 pool area.
Just past Topsiders Bar, the kids section of the ship is located aft of the pool area on the port side. This section includes Splash Academy, the video arcade, and the Entourage Teen Club. If you’re an adult who enjoys an arcade (like me) you’ll be disappointed to find that the video arcade is only accessible through the kids club.
On the starboard side of the ship, you’ll walk from the pool deck directly into the ship’s buffet, the Garden Cafe. Keep walking aft to pass the well-hidden entrance to La Cucina, then another well-hidden spot, The Great Outdoors. The Great Outdoors is another, smaller buffet located outside on the ship’s aft end. Enjoy amazing views while you eat breakfast, lunch or dinner and snag a cocktail at this secluded venue that often had plenty of seating available.
Deck 13 on the Norwegian Jade: The Sports Deck
Set your superstitions aside if you’re looking for mojitos, steaks, sports or nightlife on this cruise ship. Deck 13 is where you’ll find all of the above, and is the next stop on our Norwegian Jade Ship Tour. It’s also a spot to look for a pool lounger if you’re not an early riser– Deck 13 mid-ship surrounds the pool, so you can still hear music and activity and peek down at the fun. And because it’s an open-air deck, you may be able to catch a nice breeze when the ship is sailing.
If you get thirsty sunbathing on Deck 13, I have good news for you– you don’t need to brave the crowds on the pool deck to quench your thirst. You can snag a beverage at the Pit Stop, a racecar themed bar with a small seating area. If you’re a smoker, the Pit Stop is one of the few smoking areas on the ship (the casino, of course, is the other).
If you’re a night owl, you’ll likely find yourself indoors on Deck 13 forward at the Spinnaker Lounge. This show lounge and nightclub has comfortable couches in a theater-style seating arrangement and is located above the bridge. The Spinnaker Lounge has a dance floor and a small stage, which means you’ll find a variety of events here. Our cruise featured evening dance parties and musical performances in the evenings. There was also some game-show style fun in the afternoons in the Spinnaker Lounge. During the day, it offers spectacular panoramic views. Exit the port side of the Spinnaker Lounge and you’ll pass the ship’s chapel.
Walking aft from the pool area, you’ll find more shuffleboard courts and a makeshift jogging track that circles two more of the ship’s premium restaurants. Step inside and find Cagney’s Steakhouse and Moderna Churrascaria, a Brazilian style steakhouse. The Sugarcane Mojito Bar is located between the two, serving up specialty Mojitos and other delicious cocktails. We didn’t make it to Sugarcane until late in the cruise. We would have spent more time there if we’d found it earlier!
Step back outside and walk further aft for a golf driving cage and the sports court, which can be set up for basketball, volleyball or tennis (and I assume pickleball as well). Climb the stairs to Deck fourteen for some bench-style stands for spectators.
You’ll find some more open-air areas if you search the ship’s remaining decks. However, some of them are reserved for guests of The Haven.
Surprises on the Norwegian Jade Ship Tour
While most of the activity on the Norwegian Jade takes place on four decks, Deck 8 and Deck 11 both hold a couple of surprises that you might miss if you weren’t looking for them.
O’Sheehan’s on Deck Eight
Because I was traveling with someone with mobility issues, we decided to take it easy on the first day. Since our stateroom was on Deck 8, it made sense to have lunch at O’Sheehan’s on the same deck rather than battling the lines at the buffet. O’Sheehan’s is open nearly all the time, so it’s a nice spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a late night snack. After chatting with many other passengers, we discovered a lot of folks weren’t aware it existed.
Getting to O’Sheehans wasn’t as easy as we’d thought it would be. Not able to navigate the staircase from the Atrium, we followed the maze of staterooms to the Irish-style pub. We learned later that, if you’re trying to get to O’Sheehan’s from anywhere other than the atrium, the aft elevators are your best bet.
The Bridge Viewing Room on Deck Eleven
The Bridge Viewing Room on the Norwegian Jade is the ship’s best-kept secret. From the forward elevators, turn to the port side of the ship, then work your way forward. A short maze of hallways will lead you to a tiny room where you can watch the ship’s crew navigate from the bridge. Occasionally the blinds will be closed, inhibiting your view of the bridge. You can still view the navigation map and on-screen displays of navigation technology. However, during daytime hours, the bridge viewing room is typically open.
Because of security issues, taking photos is prohibited in the Bridge Viewing Room. However, apparently not everyone is as much of a rule-follower as I am. You can check out a few shots of the room here.
Passenger Decks on Norwegian Jade
The remaining decks on the Norwegian Jade contain primarily passenger staterooms and the occasional ship service. There’s also The Haven, Norwegian’s luxury ship-within-a-ship experience.
Deck Four on Norwegian Jade
Deck four is the lowest of the passenger decks on the Jade. You’ll find oceanview and inside staterooms, along with some solo staterooms on the port side and interior. If you’re not staying on Deck 4, you’ll likely still visit while in port. This is where you’ll typically find the gangway or tender boats. Hopefully you won’t need to visit the deck four for the Norwegian Jade medical center, which is located mid-ship.
Norwegian Jade Deck Five
Deck 5 on the NCL Jade is exclusively reserved for staterooms. Again, you’ll find oceanview, interior, and solo cabins on Deck 5, as well the slightly larger family oceanview staterooms that feature a larger window. You’ll also find adjoining staterooms on this deck. Deck 5 staterooms are primarily located mid-ship.
Staterooms on Deck Eight
With decks six and seven reserved for entertainment and dining, the next passenger deck is deck eight, where I stayed. On deck eight, you’ll find many balcony staterooms, as well as interior and oceanview cabins. A word of caution: The ship’s life boats are located on this deck. That means many of the oceanview staterooms have an obstructed view.
When booking on Deck Eight, pay close attention to what your stateroom is located above and below. If you like to go to bed early, you likely won’t want to be directly above the Bliss Ultra lounge. Make sure to check out our blog on other staterooms you might want to avoid on any cruise ship.
Staterooms on Decks Nine and Ten
Decks Nine and Ten on Norwegian Jade are quite similar in layout, primarily featuring balcony staterooms and interior cabins. You’ll also find some of the ship’s penthouse-style staterooms which range from 375-575 square feet, as well as large balconies. There are also two owner’s suites, part of The Haven on Norwegian.
Deck Eleven Staterooms
The next level, Deck Eleven, features a number of inside cabins, family suites, and club balcony suites. These are larger balcony staterooms that include a few added suite amenities. While we didn’t choose to stay in a club balcony suite on the Norwegian Jade for reasons I’ll detail later, I wish we had. Our balcony stateroom was one of the smallest balcony cabins I’ve ever stayed in. It had an extremely narrow path between the bed and the vanity that was difficult to navigate. Throw in a small mobility device and we were very cramped. Our stateroom was 162 square feet (not including the balcony). We definitely could have used the extra 50 or so square feet for what was a nominal price difference.
So why didn’t we book the Club Balcony Suite instead of the balcony stateroom? Three words: location, location, location. When we booked, the only available balcony suites were located directly below the pool deck and the buffet. The thought of waking up to chairs and tables being dragged around for breakfast didn’t delight me. In retrospect, I’d rather have given up a few hours of sleep in exchange for a little more space. Live and learn!
Norwegian Jade Ship Tour: The Haven
What is The Haven? Like many cruise lines, Norwegian offers luxury accommodations in their ship-within-a-ship concept, The Haven. Guests of the Haven enjoy 24-hour butler service. They also get a dedicated Haven concierge to help you book dining, shore excursions and entertainment. The Haven offers a private sun deck and a personal escort on and off the ship at embarkation, debarkation and at ports.
Haven accommodations include penthouse suites, garden suites, and owner’s suites, all with their own balconies. The three-bedroom Haven Garden Villas accommodate up to eight passengers and have their own hot tubs!
Haven accommodations can be found on decks nine, ten, 14 and 15. The Haven has its own secluded pool area on deck 14 and a private sun deck on Deck 15.
Are You Ready to Cruise on the Norwegian Jade?
Whether you’re hoping to cruise in luxury in a Haven suite or simply enjoy the journey in an interior stateroom, the Norwegian Jade is a small, relaxing ship. Don’t look for Broadway-style shows, waterslides, or standup comedy clubs here. Cruise the Jade on itineraries visiting the Caribbean, Canada and New England, Alaska, the Bahamas, and even the Panama Canal and South America.
If you’re ready to set sail, email us at info@seavixenvoyages.com or fill out our no-obligation inquiry form!
