Loved Jade!

This was our first NCL cruise. We went out of a new port in Whittier so we had to ride a bus from the old Whittier cruise port to the new one. This was unexpected and should have been communicated. We were given a checkin time but these did not matter when arriving to port. Everyone stood in the line no matter what your checkin time. It took about 45 minutes in line. The outside of Jade was pretty and paint was fresh. Immediately when going inside we were taken to our muster station where we were ordered lunch and drinks. To our surprise, the muster station drill is nothing like it used to be and that was all we had to do beside watching a pre arrival video.. We were then able to go to our rooms and our suitcases had arrived. We were in a Club balcony suite and found it perfect in size and cleanliness with big balcony. We had 3 specialty dinners and the Cagney steakhouse was my favorite. The buffet was tasty, clean and I was able to remain gluten free. There were not choices for gluten free desserts on the buffet which was the only thing I can say that was disappointing. We spent a lot of time in the casino and the bartenders were super friendly and prepared our drinks when they saw us coming. All around the ship we did find it easy to get drinks. We tipped $1 each drink. We attended 3 shows and thoroughly enjoyed them and appreciated all the talent. The water from the faucet was good and drinkable. I preordered a case of water but is was less expensive if you ordered it on ship. The included Chardonnay was Vista Point but La Crema is less than $5 a glass. Champagne was decent. We had booked thru Casino at Sea which is affiliated with Caesars rewards and they evidently left the prepaid tips off of my husband so we kept getting charged service charges so check your onboard account closely thru the NCL app. There was plenty of time at the ports, fun excursions that included conoe at Mendanhall glacier, crab feast at a lodge and a musher camp. Don't miss the musher camp. The ship was VERY casual and we would change back into yoga pants/sweatshirts after dinner which we loved. We found the Jade 100% a winner and would not hesitate to visit her again. Staff were great, food good and drinks plentiful. Whales and bald eagle viewings were plentiful from ship and esp at Icy Strait Point. We also saw otters and sea lions. All around a great experience in a beautiful part of the country! Loved Alaska and the Jade.

Amazing experience

Our time aboard the Norwegian Jade was nothing short of fabulous! From the moment we stepped on board, we were greeted by friendly, courteous staff who went above and beyond to make every moment special. The ship itself is immaculately clean, well maintained, and beautifully run. The public spaces are well kept and constantly being cleaned. There were available beach chairs throughout the trip at any given time. Every night brought something magical with spectacular shows—our absolute favorites were Kateryna and Vasyl's stunning performance and the incredible Elements show on the final night. Truly unforgettable entertainment! But the real highlight? The food! Credit goes to Executive Chef Jissmon Panachepilly, whose incredible hospitality and leadership were clearly reflected in every meal we enjoyed. The menu was different each day and one better than the next. Each dish was delicious, beautifully presented, and made with care. Special shoutout to Luis Menino, the Food and Beverage Director, whose passion and attention to detail made a noticeable impact on the overall experience. These two truly made our cruise extra special! We had the privilege of going behind the scenes to tour the kitchens, and I can confidently say the team’s commitment to health, sanitation, and quality is second to none. The Norwegian Jade is a perfect choice for families, with something for everyone and a welcoming atmosphere from start to finish. We can't recommend it enough—thank you Norwegian Jade for the memories!

Good first cruise on Jade

This was my first cruise ever. I'm a widow, 70, very good health. I do a lot of solo travel to Europe with an art and history focus. I wanted toe experience a cruise and being "at sea." I chose this cruise (about 6 weeks in advance) because it seemed to be a good price for a single in a stateroom with balcony, it was fairly short (5 nights) and I wasn't committing far out into the future. I made the reservation thru vacationstogo.com--my agent there was very helpful. I was impressed. I was actually apprehensive after reading many bad reviews about ncl and Jade--that everything had gone downhill. But I found the ship to be in nice condition, my room to be comfortable and well-equipped, the staff to be professional, and the operation to be well-organized. The facilities--the ship and room were clean and well-maintained. I was impressed by the number of staff engaged in cleaning and maintaining--and all working hard. The fitness center was spacious and equipped with new or like-new equipment. I never had to wait. I walked the promenade often as extra exercise. There were other walkers but mostly I was almost alone. I didn't use the pool although I walked through the area to the fitness center several times a day. Everyone seemed happy. Lots of activity including a live band often. The staff--friendly and professional. My steward Joseph was great. Waiters at Alcizar, where I ate each night, also excellent. Helpful wine staff with upgraded glasses. I would have preferred having the same waiters each time, as tipping a team each night wasn't comfortable. I'd actually prefer a no-tipping policy--pay more upfront and be done with it. (Other than cash to one's steward) I had the beverage package and was very satisfied. It worked exactly as advertised. I did pay a few dollars at dinner for more interesting glasses of wine. I wasn't interested in activities or entertainment so didn't experience it. I know there were singles-focused activities or meetups for dining, but again, not interested.

Great itinerary & holiday on a spotless, friendly

Our first time on NCL although have previously cruised a number of times. Had read some negative reviews on here so was really nervous beforehand, when had booked the Jade for its itinerary. We needn’t have been! Club balcony cabin was lovely, very peaceful & kept spotlessly clean. In fact all areas of the ship were very clean & tidy. We requested a coffee machine & that was kept well topped up for us & used it to make hot water for tea as well. Made use of the one free laundry included with room category, which came back promptly & folded. Was then able to borrow iron & board to press returned washing. Food in the buffet was plentiful with lots of differing choices. Occasionally the MDR seemed a bit mundane but always regular fallbacks. Enjoyed all the specialty restaurants we ate at. Plenty of bars to choose from & never had an issue getting served. Staff were always helpful & friendly. We met some lovely people and would have no hesitation in booking again in the future