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Jade Questions


Kjudge
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So I've sailed the Jade 3x and her sister ship the Jewel 3x and really love them. I really enjoy sitting on the rail in O'Sheehan's on deck 8 overlooking the atrium below while enjoying some tasty treats. I am a big fan of the ship size / passenger count vs. the mega-ship experience but that also means none of the mega-ship amenities. The casino is a smallish rectangle on deck 6 but it's size-appropriate for the passenger count, however it can get crowded / smoky.

 

I recommend considering a non deck-11 stateroom if possible. So much happens on deck-12 from the pool to the garden cafe to the Splash academy to the spa and fitness centre that there is a real possibility of noise from above. I always try to pick a deck sandwiched between two other stateroom decks when possible.

 

If you have specific questions - let us know.

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It looks like you've been on the Gem and the Pearl. The casino is the same size and in the same location as on those ships. The only difference is the casino bar is in the center of the casino instead pushed up against the back. The cashier is also located on the other side.

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Jewel class ships are some of the best designed in the fleet. Good size at almost 100,000 tons and the Great Outdoors is a wonderful space. The aft suites are some of the best bang for buck cabins NCL offers.

Edited by jpcdds6
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Thanks for the responses! I love the smaller ships as well.  Pearl was my all time favorite ship! I had heard from another cruiser that the ships that do European voyages scale down the casinos as those sailings are not as popular for casino action! Thanks for the room tips too!  Picked this one for its 10 day island itinerary in March.

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I'm sailing on the Jade in early February next year and am happy to hear that so many people like it. I don't mind smaller ships as long as there are some fun things to do and the drinks are flowing. My last ship was the Epic, but it was in the Mediterranean so we actually didn't spend much time on the ship. For those that have been on the Jade, do they have comedians? I have tried looking everywhere but haven't found much to confirm that they are a reglar part of the ship. 

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I loved the Jade! I sailed on her in January and am going again in January 2019. They did a nice job with the refurbishment in 2017. I loved the ship layout and relative ease to access almost everything. I am not a foodie, in fact I like rather plain food, and found the complementary options much to my liking. I especially liked the Great Outdoors for breakfast -- it was nice to sit outside and enjoy the view while eating from the buffet.

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As is the case for all sailings, not just European ones, the casino's hours and decision to open tables/set table limits depends on the traffic the casino gets. It is true that there is usually less casino action on European sailings because itineraries are generally more port intensive.

 

That said, on my Jade sailing this summer in Norway casino crew stated it was one of the more crowded sailings they've seen. All tables were open and the casino stayed open pretty late. It all depends on the other passengers on board with you and who wants to make a donation. The casino itself though is the same size thought (remember, European ships are often Caribbean ships in the off season 🙂 ).

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Was on the Jade in March for my 30th anniversary.  Have been on the Sky and the Escape but the Jade was the best.  We stayed in Suite 9500.  Didn’t have any comedians but the entertainment overall was great.  Food was great.  Great service. Just wonderful overall.  Loved the mid size of the ship.  Never felt crowded.  

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The Jade is a nice ship.   It's decor is updated, it still feels fresh to me.  I like it because it isn't crazy crowded like the bigger ships.   You go out to the pool deck and you can find a seat.   The venues are large enough to accommodate everyone who wants to be there.   You can find out of the way places to relax and enjoy the views because this ship came along before NCL grew mega ships and slapped a cabin anywhere possible, eliminating pretty public areas to increase revenue.   

 

I agree with a previous poster about avoiding cabins on deck 11.   We had mini suites (connecting rooms because children) located on that deck and I wished we had just booked rooms on a lower deck, which would have meant regular cabins, not mini suites.   Our rooms were directly underneath one of the restaurants I believe and early morning cleaning meant chairs pulled across the tile floor.  Also, people walking in high heel shoes all day and night, I could hear the click, click, click.   It wasn't loud, just annoying.   That was my only gripe, the lack of adequate noise proofing coming from deck 12.   You want a cabin where there are other cabins directly above you I have learned.   Forgo the mini suites on that deck.

Edited by Vyhanek
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Does anyone who has been on the Jade recently have a Daily they can post? Curious what activities they have on board. Are there other things going on in lounges besides the shows? I was on a 3 day a short time ago, but don't remember much about that part of it, otherwise have not been on NCL in probably 10 years. We had been on a number back in the late 90's, early 2000's, before Freestyle. Planning a 4 night at the end of January. Nothing beats the value of this kind of cruise. 

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On ‎11‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 10:54 AM, kaykels said:

I’m sailing on jade in January. Are there updated slot machines ? How is the entertainment? Does it have a piano bar ? Do the bars seem crowded since most of the drinkers have a free drink package ? 

The piano bar is an open room near the champagne bar. Very comfortable and a small dance floor.  Not really a so called piano bar.  But think you will like it.  We did the 4 day Jade last Jan and will be on Jan. 2019.

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We were on Jade 7/18, 9 day Norway.  Were in mini-suite 11616 -- it was a great room with no noise from above (and we went to bed early since we had 2 preschoolers with us).  Unfortunately, I didn't save the dailies but DH thinks the evening entertainment included 2 nights of the in-house troupe, a singer, a magician, a trapeze act.  We really liked the ship & booked for a TA in April.

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On 11/3/2018 at 8:38 AM, Robinsilver said:

Does anyone who has been on the Jade recently have a Daily they can post? Curious what activities they have on board. Are there other things going on in lounges besides the shows? I was on a 3 day a short time ago, but don't remember much about that part of it, otherwise have not been on NCL in probably 10 years. We had been on a number back in the late 90's, early 2000's, before Freestyle. Planning a 4 night at the end of January. Nothing beats the value of this kind of cruise. 

 

More activities are offered on sea days in the lounges than days in port.  Along with the shows, This or That is my favorite, they offer Trivia contests, Canvas by U, Scattergories, etc.  They also usually offer Wacky Golf and other silly games.  There is also Bingo, Deal or No Deal, and usually a blackjack tournament in the Casino.

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Thanks for all your great advice. We will be on the 4 night in January. As it turns out, we are going to be 3 women in a cabin. Because of the talk about Deck 11 being a bad one, we are going to take a guarantee balcony, which will be on Deck 8, 9 or 10. There is a small sofa that converts to a bed. We will definitely be tight, but for 4 nights, I think we can manage. If anyone wants to say I am nuts, let me know now. Just to let you know my cruise experiences, I started out in 1994, with my husband, me, and my 2 young children in a cabin. We did that twice. Then started booking suites, first with them, then getting them a separate cabin, while we did things like the aft facing suite on the Sky it's inaugural year, complete with hot tub on the balcony. Once with a friend, we booked an interior on a Celebrity ship because it was a 3 or 4 night, and $199, and we managed. In other words, I always manage, but tell me if I am being crazy. I think we will book today.

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53 minutes ago, Robinsilver said:

Thanks for all your great advice. We will be on the 4 night in January. As it turns out, we are going to be 3 women in a cabin. Because of the talk about Deck 11 being a bad one, we are going to take a guarantee balcony, which will be on Deck 8, 9 or 10. There is a small sofa that converts to a bed. We will definitely be tight, but for 4 nights, I think we can manage. If anyone wants to say I am nuts, let me know now. Just to let you know my cruise experiences, I started out in 1994, with my husband, me, and my 2 young children in a cabin. We did that twice. Then started booking suites, first with them, then getting them a separate cabin, while we did things like the aft facing suite on the Sky it's inaugural year, complete with hot tub on the balcony. Once with a friend, we booked an interior on a Celebrity ship because it was a 3 or 4 night, and $199, and we managed. In other words, I always manage, but tell me if I am being crazy. I think we will book today.

It will be a little tight, but you're not a rookie. Spend less time in the cabin.

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  • 1 month later...
On 11/1/2018 at 7:27 PM, chesswiththedevil said:

I'm sailing on the Jade in early February next year and am happy to hear that so many people like it. I don't mind smaller ships as long as there are some fun things to do and the drinks are flowing. My last ship was the Epic, but it was in the Mediterranean so we actually didn't spend much time on the ship. For those that have been on the Jade, do they have comedians? I have tried looking everywhere but haven't found much to confirm that they are a reglar part of the ship. 

Just got off the Jade Monday. They did have a couple of comedians during the cruise. We didn't go as my husband isn't a fan, so can't say how they were. At least one of them did an earlier family friendly show and a later adult one. 

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