Norwegian Jade

Having not really cruised before aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines, I was very curious and of course anxious to see what they had to offer.

We arrived to pick up the ship in Malaga, picked up a local cab at the airport and 15-20 minutes later we arrived at the ship (cost was €27 for anyone without transfers!).
Boarding at Malaga was very easy, had to wait about an hour in the holding area but that was due to our early arrival. We were on the ship by midday.

The ship itself is typically NCL, bright, colourful and lively with a sort of oriental/pacific feel. The bright theme for the décor carries over with the staff and crew, they couldn’t do enough for you and always had a smile on their face.

Had an extensive look around the ship and the main standout feature is the tremendous selection of different dining venues on the ship, you can have anything from Italian to Japanese to American! The choice is pretty much unrivalled on any other cruise line. The Teppenyaki Grill is a particular highlight but make sure you book well in advance!
Also being an English breakfast fan, I noticed that they offer a great thick pork sausage & back bacon at the buffet, aswell as the usual chipotle and streaky rubbish you come to expect on the American ships. But if you prefer a lighter breakfast, they have loads of fruit and pastry selections as well as pancakes & waffles for the sweeter toothed diner.

Facilites and entertainment in the day were very good, always an activity in the lounge, and outdoor music and pool games around the family pool which is entertaining to watch. The evening entertainment was also a very high standard, we managed to catch the crew show which was hilarious, and also a themed production which was brilliantly engaging and thoroughly enjoyable throughout.
Late on the Spinnaker Lounge has a DJ playing until the early hours if you’re like me and like a drink and a dance after the shows.

Prices on board are what you would expect on a US ship, price for a pint of Stella was about $5 or so plus the 15% service charge, and a cocktail about $7 again plus service grat. But for this you get decent branded alcohol, Grey Goose vodka, Bombay Sapphire etc etc rather than your run of the mill local stuff. Bottle of wine was up at about $24 for the lowest price white wine and about $27 for red.
Excursions are a little expensive I feel with most cruise lines, and NCL is no exception, if you are confident abroad, do your own thing. That said the choice of excursions was ample and the tours seemed well guided and well organized.

We left the ship in Barcelona and had an extra night on the Ramblas - which is a must, take the open top bus tour, its €24 euros and you get access to the whole city, and some excellent photo opportunities.

To sum up, we had a great time & would absolutely recommend this ship to anyone if you prefer a relaxed, freestyle dining experience with a fun and vibrant atmosphere, and considering the price you can get on this ship most of the year its amazing value for money as well.
Well done NCL Jade!