On a sunny Sunday, we had the opportunity to visit the Norwegian Jade in Hamburg. Norwegian Cruise Line built the ship back in 2006 and in 2017 it underwent a major refurbishment. Now, she’s unrecognizable! New restaurants, redesigned staterooms and public spaces, and all the conveniences modern cruisers have come to expect are just small number of the changes waiting for you onboard. Learn more about our impressions of the Norwegian Jade!
In 2015, Norwegian Cruise Line launched a major project, “Norwegian Edge.” This was a major modernisation project which saw Norwegian’s eight oldest ships undergoing massive renovations to bring them up to par with even the newest ships in its fleet. The company invested a staggering 400 million U.S. dollars in the renovation of the entire fleet. Their goal was to ensure that every cruise passenger would get the same modern and comfortable cruise experience on every ship, regardless of when it was built.
After getting though the embarkation process, we stepped onto the Norwegian Jade for the first time. At first we didn’t quite believe that we were on a 12 year old ship. Surely there was some kind of mistake and we ended up on a new ship?
A range of culinary options on the Norwegian Jade
Shortly after starting our tour in the Bliss Ultra Lounge on Deck 7, we made a visit to the Asian restaurants. The entire area had been transformed! The new furniture was tasteful, warm colours, provided a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for passengers. The restaurant Jasmine Garden gives guests a chance to try out Asian delicacies, with most dishes at coming no extra cost. The Sushi Bar next door tempts passengers with small Japanese dishes that are more than worth the small extra cost. Anyone looking for a more private dinning experience should consider spending their evening in the Teppanyaki Restaurant, where gourmet chefs prepare Asian specialties right in front of you.
Le Bistro is for lovers of French cuisine. This French restaurant boasts an elegant and warm atmosphere and we recommend a glass or two of Veuve Cliquot to go with your meal – why not start your cruise the right was with some bubbles?
Garden Café is a buffet style restaurant which offers a wide variety of different dishes. Casual and well-lit, with lighter tones and a simple colour palette, guests can help themselves in creating in relaxing surroundings.
To end our tour we paid a visit to Cagney’s Steakhouse, which has been given more space after the renovation, La Moderna Churracaria, a Brazilian restaurant on Deck 13, and La Cucina, an Italian restaurant known for its fine pizzas and popular with all ages.
The best place to enjoy your favourite drink onboard
On the Norwegian Jade, there’s a wide selection of bars which offer a plethora of different drinks. There really is something for every taste.
Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar is an in Art Deco style wine bar and must-try for wine lovers. Just next to it is Malting’s Beer & Whiskey Bar, which is designed to make passengers feel like they’re in a real brewery. Mixer’s Martini & Cocktail Bar offers classic cocktails and the new Sugarcane Mojito Bar on Deck 13 offers new creations and twists on the classics.
But of course what could be better than a trip to the pub? O’Sheenan’s, a traditional Irish pub, serves casual comfort food and British beer. Here, passengers can enjoy all the comforts of a traditional pub but, unlike most locals, guests have a view of ship’s atrium.
Specializing in sodas and milkshakes, Pit Stop is a diner with a 50’s Americana flair. With its red leather chairs and checkered floor, cruisers can enjoy a bit of nostalgia with a great meal.
Enjoy the entertainment facilities onboard the Norwegian Jade!
Let’s start with the Bliss Ultra Lounge. Here guests can see live bands, listen DJs providing the soundtrack for an evening and even have a go at karaoke. Put simply, it’s the place to have fun and let your hair down.
Norwegian Jade offers a lot more than that though. The sporty amongst you can make use of the gym, the basketball court, and a jogging track. For anyone looking for a more relaxed way to spend their day, the Mandara Spa and the pool deck offer the perfect place to lie back and let the world go by. The redesigned boutique gives passengers the chance to do their duty-free shopping. And of course a trip wouldn’t be complete without an evening at a show in Stardust Theatre or at the onboard casino.
We were lucky and go to see a sneak preview of the show “Blazing Boots” whilst we were onboard. An original music and dance production specifically made for the Norwegian Jade, the show consists of a troupe of performers singing and dancing to your favourite country hits. After a few minutes the audience really got into the spirit of things and danced along. Our only regret is that we couldn’t stay for the whole production. (Next time!)
Of course there is plenty for kids and teens to do onboard the Norwegian Jade! Splash Academy is geared toward children between 3 and 12 to play under the supervision of the crew. Entourage Teen Club gives teens a place to chill out and play video games.
The Haven: an onboard oasis!
Of course the cabins were also part of the renovation! With new furniture, modern flat screen TVs, and USB ports, guests can enjoy complete comfort and convenience in their rooms. The best way to describe them is modern meets cosy. Haven staterooms in particular stood out due to the incredibly well equipped cabins and various other conveniences.
What really bowled us over was the Garden Villa. Upon first entering the ship’s top suite, we didn’t immediately realise just how large it actually was until our guide showed us around. The Garden Villa Suite consists of a three-bedroom apartment made up of three cabins and sleeping up to eight guests.
The main area of the Garden Villa includes a large bedroom with direct access to the villas private terrace, a changing room, and an ensuite bathroom with both shower and bathtub. The massive living room come dinning room, with a private bar, piano, cosy seating area, and phenomenal views over the pool deck, also offers access to outside space. Take the stairs from the outside area, which itself boasts a large dinning table as well as a whirlpool, and you come to a private sun deck. We’re still not sure how the tour guide got us to leave!
One peculiar thing we noticed was that there was a telephone in the bathrooms in the master suites! Not sure who you’re meant to phone in the bathroom?
In addition to the impressive Garden Villa Suite, we were able to visit a Haven Suite which is fully equipped with a master bedroom, a living room, a TV room, and a bathroom with separate shower and bathtub which offers a spectacular ocean view. Of course, the Haven Suite includes a private balcony, where guests can get some time to themselves to relax and soak up some sun.
The Norwegian Jade at a glance
In summary, the renovation of the Norwegian Jade was a huge success. The ship is beautifully decorated and looks stunning. Gone are the over-the-top decorations and they have been replaced with modern, tasteful design. Norwegian have created an atmosphere that’s elegant and welcoming at the same time and a ship invites passengers to a sophisticated, relaxing vacation.
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