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Smaller ships like the Jewel Class, Jade are just nice. I also like newly refurbished ships and the Jade was redone in 2017 (and really needed it). This sailing, like almost all my cruises, I paid for primarily with points so it ended up costing net 10-15% of retail (see this post to learn how). First let’s look at the cabin then I will comment on the cruise itself at the end of the post.
This corner aft suite 10164, the second row of balconies from the top, that you see in the shot at the top of the post, offers stunning views.
Entrance into these suites is a bit tight. You have some shelves and storage that can be accessed from either side (more on that below).
With a large sliding glass door the cabin is bright and open when you make it into the room itself.
Like most of NCL’s suite beds this one was large and comfortable. You can see there is a curtain divider should you wish to use the pullout sofa as another bed and have some privacy.
The TV in the room is large and there is a DVD player (you can get free DVDs from the butler). The table, while small, is great for two and can squeeze four if you want to.
Since the sofa is also a bed, it is a bit on the firm side. I don’t think I have ever been on a NCL couch that is really comfortable to sit on.
Inside these cabinets is a safe where you can program your own PIN code. For a smaller suite there is ample storage.
The makeup vanity area is not the best. It is my wife’s only real complaint about the suite as the area gets HOT and if someone comes out of the shower it gets 10x worse. On the right in the photo you see 2x mirrors. They are the other side closet doors we looked at as we entered the suite.
The bathroom is not bad for a cruise ship but for a suite just OK. There is a LARGE step up so be aware of that. Also, as you can see, there is a full size tub but again a large step in (in case you have mobility issues). The lav area does have a door to slide closed in addition to the door to the bathroom area itself.
Now it is time to see the real *STAR* if you will of this suite, that is, the very large balcony.
It is so large we had our room steward replace the stock provided one lounge chair and one sitting chair with two lounge chairs!
There are few pleasures in life as nice as sipping a tropical drink and watching the sunset over the ocean on your private deck!
One of the other nice perks of a suite is having access to a butler and free room service. Any day we had excursions planned we scheduled a time for the butler to bring us breakfast in our room.
As an example how perfect the NCL suite experience can be one night before dinner we had our butler bring us all the sides for a caviar appetizer (we brought our own caviar). While a little tight with four around the table – it worked just fine!
Overall this is a great choice for an NCL suite experience. The room is decent size, the bathroom is big, storage is plentiful and the balcony is amazing.
This really was a near perfect sailing. Suite check-in in Miami was quick and painless. The concierge, Omar was crazy good. Our butler and room steward were flawless. The food onboard, as always, was amazing. I simply did not want to get off the ship!
Have you been on the NCL Jade since it was refreshed? What do you think of aft suites vs. the other choices? Any questions about NCL life? Fire away in the comments below – René
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Rene, Nice review. Just back this past Saturday on a cruise on the NCL Epic. The cruise was fun. Food was very, very good. However, the Epic is probably our least favorite ship, of any brand, we have been on. You must walk through a smokey casino on deck to go many places. You cannot go all the way down on the aft elevators to reach deck 5. You must go through the smokey casino and then back track to where you were going. The bathroom is split into 3 separate items. As you enter your stateroom, the toilet is on the right in a separate room, on your left is the shower in its separate enclosure and in the stateroom is the sink. We had a balcony cabin. It was extremely tight. One of the shows at night was of drag queens. That was not the best for a cruise where 25% of folks were kids. Yes, it was a Christmas cruise and there were kids everywhere. We have 12 of the cruise next certificates so we will be on NCL alot more, just not the Epic. For another smaller NCL ship, we found the Pearl to be very nice and great crew.
I have been on the Pearl as well and liked it. I just got back from a cruise on the Carnival Magic on Sunday. Had an extended balcony cabin by the stern of the ship. There were 4 chairs and a lounge chair on the balcony as well as a long walkway into the cabin, like Rene shows above in his NCL Suite. My GF is platinum on carnival so some of the perks she gets are nice and my global entry got us a walk directly to a customs agent.
I have been on this boat for a concert series called Jam Cruise. Makes me laugh thinking of the shenanigans that went on on that cruise, and now thinking that they use it for general public. Absolute blast, but would hate to go on “vacation” on one of these. Seems a little like being held captive in a floating prison.
We have enjoyed NCL and have tried 6 cruise lines all together. The aft balcony looks great. We were on EPIC and Getaway in Europe and the buffet was great. We were busy at ports all day and it was easy enough to get dinner and relax before the next busy day. Fun!
Rene, you brought your own caviar?!? That would never have occurred to me. Great idea!
@Cate – Yep. Why not. They have all the rest 😉