Norwegian Cruise Line has given two popular ships a smart new lift. Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem now offer larger spa areas, adults-only Vibe Beach Clubs and more places to relax at sea.
The changes were announced on 16 July 2026 and include major enhancements to the Mandara Spa and Salon aboard both ships. Norwegian Jade has also gained a licensed Starbucks store.
It is a clear and practical upgrade rather than a makeover purely for show. Still, with private cabanas, an ice room and a charcoal sauna now available, nobody can accuse NCL of merely rearranging the deckchairs.
Guest feedback reaches the top deck
“Listening to our guests and delivering exceptional experiences across our fleet is at the heart of what we do,” NCL president Marc Kazlauskas said.
“These recent transformations bring some of our most beloved amenities to Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem, creating greater consistency across our fleet while giving guests more ways to personalize their vacation — from adults-only outdoor spaces to serene relaxation areas designed to help them unwind at sea.”
That statement explains the plan. Guests want the best features from newer ships to appear aboard trusted favourites as well. NCL has responded by incorporating popular concepts into Jade and Gem. This also gives travel advisers a clearer and more compelling story to tell.
The largest outdoor change is the arrival of the Vibe Beach Club. NCL has transformed the existing Deck 14 sundeck on each ship into an adults-only retreat.
The space offers sweeping ocean views, a private full-service bar and an additional hot tub. It also includes more than 50 premium lounge chairs and seven private cabanas.
This is welcome news for couples, groups of friends and parents seeking a quiet break. Families can still enjoy the rest of the ship. Adults, meanwhile, gain a peaceful corner where the sea is blue, the drinks are cold, and no child is preparing an Olympic-grade splash beside the pool.
The addition also creates value without changing the ship’s fundamental appeal. Jade and Gem remain familiar, mid-sized vessels, but they now offer a stronger selection of social and quiet spaces.
Mandara Spa turns up the heat
The thermal suites have received the most extensive upgrades. NCL says both ships now have three times as many heated tile loungers.
The layouts have been made more central, the reception areas have been upgraded, and the steam rooms and saunas have been refreshed.
Both ships have also gained a charcoal sauna, an ice room, a salt room, an IV Lounge and Four-Senses Loungers.
NCL associates these facilities with relaxation, improved circulation and physical recovery. These are company wellness claims rather than independently verified medical findings. The main passenger benefit is easier to assess: guests now have more ways to slow down, warm up or cool off during a day at sea.
Norwegian Jade also features new experiential showers, which use multiple water jets and lighting effects to invigorate the body. A plunge pool provides opportunities for brief cold-water immersion.
Norwegian Gem has received an updated hot tub and a thalassotherapy pool featuring massage jets, bubble loungers and countercurrents.
The two ships do not offer precisely the same facilities, and that is no bad thing. NCL has lifted the overall standard while preserving several points of difference. Guests gain greater consistency across the fleet, while advisers retain clear reasons to match each vessel with the right client.
The spa enhancements also make sound commercial sense. Sea days are important to both passenger satisfaction and onboard revenue. A larger thermal suite can increase paid spa usage, extend the time guests spend in the facility and give premium travellers another reason to book.
Starbucks joins Norwegian Jade
Norwegian Jade now features a licensed Starbucks store, where guests can order familiar hot and cold drinks, seasonal blends, snacks and light meals.
NCL says Starbucks is available across its entire fleet and at its private destinations.
Some travellers believe a cruise should provide a complete break from life ashore. Others consider the morning unsafe until a proper coffee has been secured. Norwegian has wisely chosen not to test the second group.
The brand represents more than a minor perk. Familiar products can make a large ship feel easier to navigate. Guests know what to order, what to expect and where to meet. For travel advisers, it is another simple but useful detail that may help secure a booking.
Alaska and Europe take centre stage
The upgrades arrive during a busy year for both ships.
Norwegian Jade is sailing seven-day Alaska itineraries between Vancouver and Whittier through late summer 2026.
The program includes scenic cruising through the Inside Passage and Alaska’s glacier regions, with port calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point.
It is a strong fit for the new spa and adults-only deck. Alaska can deliver long days, cool weather and busy shore excursions. A heated tile lounger or quiet cabana may look particularly appealing after a morning spent chasing glaciers, spotting whales or searching for the perfect rainproof jacket.
Norwegian Gem is spending the European summer in the Mediterranean and Greek Isles. Its voyages depart from Rome’s Civitavecchia port or Ravenna, which serves as a gateway to Venice.
The itineraries include destinations in Italy, France, Croatia and Greece, with ports such as Cannes, Livorno, Split and Dubrovnik among the highlights.
Later in 2026, Norwegian Gem is scheduled to operate Caribbean and Bahamas cruises from Tampa, Florida. Norwegian Jade will return to Asia for a range of longer and more immersive voyages.
This broad deployment gives the new facilities considerable sales value. The same peaceful deck can complement Alaska’s grand scenery, a warm Greek afternoon or a relaxing sea day in Asia. The hardware remains in place; the view does the travelling.
A refresh with a clear purpose
These changes are about more than adding another sauna or finding a better home for the coffee machine. They demonstrate how cruise lines can renew established ships without removing the features loyal passengers already enjoy.
For NCL, the work brings more of its best-known amenities across the fleet. For travel advisers, it creates new selling points aboard ships that already have a loyal following. For guests, it means greater choice and a better balance between lively public areas and peaceful, adults-only retreats.
Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem have not become entirely different ships. Nor did they need to.
Their appeal rests on their practical size, varied itineraries and easygoing onboard atmosphere. The latest enhancements strengthen that offering with improved spa facilities, polished adults-only clubs and, aboard Jade, coffee that requires no translation.
That is a sensible way to refurbish a cruise ship: retain what works, improve what passengers notice and resist any temptation to run a waterslide through the main dining room.
Travellers should confirm current departure dates, fares, access charges and inclusions with Norwegian Cruise Line or a qualified travel professional before booking, as cruise schedules and onboard offerings may change.
By: Sandra Jones – © 2026.
Read Time: 5 minutes.
Author Bio:
Sandra has spent a working lifetime quietly rescuing journeys, one itinerary, one anxious caller, one impossible connection at a time. Years in Australia’s finest travel agencies taught her the art of calm, how to find a flight in a fog of cancellations, how to soothe a traveller when luggage wanders, how to turn nine frantic days in Europe into something resembling sense. Qualified, seasoned, endlessly patient, she learned that good travel advice is part logistics, part listening.
But the storyteller in her was always waiting for her turn. Writing offered a new map, a way to turn experience into reflection, detail into delight. At Global Travel Media, Sandra now writes the truths only insiders know: the mishaps, the laughter, the grace found between gates and goodbyes. She reminds us that travel, for all its fuss, is still one of life’s better ideas.
