Description

NORWEGIAN JADE CRUISE SHIP

FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY, QUALITY SHIP MODEL

Dimension approx.: 40″ L x 5.75″ W x 11.75″ H
This beautiful model is already built, NOT a kit.

When she emerged from the covered halls of Meyer Werft in Papenburg in 2006, the ship that would become Norwegian Jade was intended to be something uniquely American. Built at a cost of more than half a billion dollars, she was launched as Pride of Hawaii, the third and final vessel in the ambitious NCL America project — a fleet of U.S.-flagged cruise ships designed to operate exclusively in the Hawaiian Islands. At just over 93,500 gross tons, she was the largest and most expensive U.S.-flagged passenger ship ever constructed.

Her early identity was unmistakably Hawaiian. Bright tropical murals, island‑themed décor, and even a statue of King Kamehameha filled her public spaces. She joined Pride of America and Pride of Aloha on 7‑day inter‑island cruises, sailing to Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. But the Hawaiian market soon became overcrowded, and by 2007 NCL America was struggling. In April of that year, NCL announced that Pride of Hawaii would leave the islands in early 2008.

On 4 February 2008, she departed Honolulu for the last time. What followed was a transformation. After repositioning cruises, a new name, a new livery, and the addition of a casino, she re‑entered service in Europe as Norwegian Jade. Though she carried her Hawaiian décor for nearly a decade, she quickly became a versatile, globe‑trotting member of the NCL fleet.

Her career since then has been remarkably varied. She has sailed throughout the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Northern Europe, and the Middle East. She served as a floating hotel during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, underwent major dry docks in 2011 and 2017, and received a full interior modernization that replaced her Hawaiian theme with a sleek, contemporary design. New restaurants, lounges, redesigned staterooms, and upgraded technology kept her competitive with newer ships.

Norwegian Jade has also hosted several high‑profile charter events. In 2018, the rock band Paramore held their “Parahoy!” cruise aboard her, filling the ship with concerts and fan events. Later that year, professional wrestler and musician Chris Jericho launched the first “Rock ’N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea” on board, blending music, comedy, and live wrestling matches in a way no cruise ship had seen before.

Her voyages have not been without challenges. Mechanical issues in 2018 and 2019 forced itinerary changes and early terminations of cruises, with repairs carried out in Miami and Europe. Yet each time, Norwegian Jade returned to service, continuing her role as one of NCL’s most flexible and widely traveled ships.

From her origins as a Hawaiian‑themed U.S.-flagged vessel to her modern life as a cosmopolitan Jewel‑class cruiser, Norwegian Jade has reinvented herself more than once. She has sailed oceans, hosted festivals, served as a hotel, and carried millions of guests across two decades. Her story is one of adaptation — a ship built for one purpose that found success in many others, and continues to evolve with every passing year.