Norwegian Cruise Line Jade

In some ways, the Norwegian Jade is the newest of Norwegian Cruise Line's fleet. It first launched in 2006 as the Pride of Hawaii, part of Norwegian's focus on the Hawaiian Islands as a cruise destination. It was designed primarily for multi-island tours, traversing the 50th state and allowing passengers to disembark at multiple locations. This was in keeping with Norwegian Cruise Line's emphasis on domestic cruises and allowed the company to take advantage of the relatively open Hawaiian cruise line market.

The decision was made to redeploy the vessel to Europe, with the ship making the journey in the first part of 2008. The newly rechristened Norwegian Jade underwent a light face-life, removing the Hawaiian influences in the décor and pulling down 40-odd cabins to make room for a new casino. Its itinerary for 2008 emphasizes Mediterranean tours, launched from Barcelona and London, and ranging in length from one week to nearly a month.

Booking a European Cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line's Jade

Like other NCL cruise ships, the Norwegian Jade stresses Freestyle Cruising, a part of the company's philosophy that has helped cement its identity. Dining times are not set on a schedule the way the are on other ships. Passengers receive meals to order and may come and go as they like. The Norwegian Jade has twelve different onboard restaurants, with an emphasis on variety. Dress codes and onboard activities are similarly freewheeling. An online travel agency like Direct Line Cruises has options for upcoming cruises on the Norwegian Jade.