Norwegian Jade And Gem Dry Dock Upgrades For 2026

Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem, two Jewel Class ships, will each spend several weeks in dry dock in spring 2026 ahead of busy Alaska and Mediterranean seasons. Norwegian Jade is scheduled for revitalization from April 19 to May 4, 2026, while Norwegian Gem will pause sailings from April 24 to May 11, 2026 for its own refresh. For guests already eyeing Alaska, Greek Isles, or broader European itineraries, these upgrades will change how the deck 14 sun spaces work and will make 2026 sailings more attractive for adults who value quieter outdoor zones. Travelers should check their dates against the dry dock windows, then decide whether to time bookings to be among the first to try the new spaces or to stick with familiar layouts on earlier cruises.

The core change is that Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem will both add Vibe Beach Club, an extra fee, adults only sun deck concept that Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL, has been rolling out across the fleet. That means the former open access additional sundeck on deck 14 will be converted into a more controlled, capacity limited retreat with dedicated loungers, cabanas, and a private bar. For 2026 cruises, this will shift how passengers spread out on sea days and will give adult travelers another option when main pool decks feel crowded.

In plain terms, the Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem dry dock 2026 program will remove the current deck 14 public sundeck and replace it with Vibe Beach Club, a more private outdoor area, while also adding a branded Starbucks café to Norwegian Jade. For Alaska and Mediterranean passengers, the net effect is more choice for adults who are willing to pay a supplement, plus an additional familiar coffee option on Norwegian Jade, but a bit less free space for families who currently use that upper deck as spillover lounging.

Vibe Beach Club Comes To Norwegian Jade And Norwegian Gem

On both ships, crews will install Vibe Beach Club on deck 14 as part of the 2026 dry dock work. The updated layout will feature an additional hot tub, 54 premium lounge chairs, and seven private cabanas sized for two guests, along with a full service bar and touches like chilled towels, water spritzers, and fruit skewers. Access will be limited to guests who buy day passes or cruise long passes, or who reserve one of the cabanas, so the space should feel noticeably quieter than the main pool area.

NCL already markets Vibe Beach Club on other ships as an adults only retreat with ocean views, padded loungers, and an oversized hot tub, and the line notes that space is limited, which encourages early booking on popular sailings. Pricing typically varies by ship and itinerary and is not being published as part of the current announcement, so travelers should treat Vibe as a nice to have add on rather than a guaranteed feature they can count on at a specific price point. What is clear is that passengers who value adult only space will have more options on both Jewel Class ships from mid 2026 onward.

Because Vibe takes over the extra sundeck, families and mixed groups who currently use that area for free sunbathing will find fewer open access loungers on upper decks once the work is complete. Main pool decks and any remaining family friendly sundecks will absorb more traffic, particularly on sea days in Alaska, the Mediterranean, and the Greek Isles. That makes it more important for groups who like to stay together to coordinate arrival times and think ahead about shade versus sun needs.

Starbucks Addition On Norwegian Jade

Norwegian Jade will also receive a new Starbucks café on deck 7, designed by Studio DADO, during the same April 19 to May 4, 2026 dry dock. This continues NCL's broader partnership with Starbucks across multiple ships and gives Alaska passengers a familiar grab and go option for coffee, snacks, and branded drinks, especially on port intensive itineraries.

From a traveler perspective, the Starbucks addition is less about novelty and more about predictability. Guests who prefer a specific style of coffee or who travel with teenagers who treat Starbucks as a daily ritual will now find that option on Norwegian Jade in addition to the ship's existing bars and cafés. Because specialty coffee lines can spike around breakfast and early afternoon, passengers who care about quick service should watch how the new outlet fits into their daily flow and adjust their port morning routines accordingly.

Impact On Alaska Cruises From Vancouver And Whittier

Once Norwegian Jade leaves dry dock in early May 2026, the ship will move into a season of seven day Alaska cruises sailing between Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Whittier, Alaska, with itineraries that include Inside Passage cruising and classic ports such as Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, and Icy Strait Point, along with scenic time at Hubbard Glacier. That combination of one way sailings and marquee ports already makes Norwegian Jade a contender for travelers who want to pair cruises with land tours that start or end near Anchorage.

The timing of the dry dock means Norwegian Jade's first full Alaska cruises out of Vancouver and Whittier in May 2026 should debut the refreshed spaces to paying guests. Anyone booking those early season sailings should understand that minor finishing touches sometimes continue in the first weeks after a dry dock, even when core facilities are open, but the upside is being among the first to experience the new Vibe Beach Club and Starbucks in real service. For those who prefer maximum certainty and fully settled routines, mid and late season Alaska departures in June, July, and August 2026 will likely feel more dialed in.

Travelers planning complex Alaska trips that combine flights, rail, and land tours should still follow standard best practice here. Fly into Vancouver or Anchorage at least a day before embarkation, protect tight connections with extra buffer, and avoid separate tickets where possible so that airline delays do not cascade into missed cruise departures. The ship upgrades do not change these fundamentals, but they do make Norwegian Jade a bit more appealing for repeat NCL guests choosing between similar Alaska itineraries.

For deeper planning on ports, glacier viewing, and land add ons, it is worth pairing this news with an Alaska cruise planning guide that compares major lines, route patterns, and pre or post land tour options.

Mediterranean And Greek Isles Sailings On Norwegian Gem

After its April 24 to May 11, 2026 refresh, Norwegian Gem is set to sail a mix of Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries from Venice and Rome, Italy, giving European cruisers another Jewel Class ship with Vibe Beach Club in the region. These cruises are likely to include a blend of Italian, Greek, and possibly Adriatic ports, although individual itineraries will vary across the season.

For guests who choose Norwegian Gem specifically for its warm weather, sea day heavy itineraries, the addition of Vibe Beach Club should help relieve pressure on the main pool deck during high demand afternoon and early evening windows. Adults who prioritize quieter time by the hot tub or who prefer to avoid splashier family pool scenes may find that the extra fee passes are worth the premium on peak summer departures. At the same time, families and budget minded travelers who rely entirely on included decks will want to review updated deck plans and think about how to avoid the most crowded times of day.

Because many Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises are paired with European city stays, air travel, and rail connections, travelers should keep the dry dock dates in mind if they are building 2026 trips around Norwegian Gem. Most inventory will be concentrated on post refit departures, but the gap created by the dry dock could influence how pre and post cruise hotel nights align with shoulder season flight schedules.

Background: NCL's Vibe Beach Club Rollout

Norwegian Cruise Line has been steadily expanding Vibe Beach Club across its fleet, including Prima Class ships like Norwegian Aqua and refits to vessels such as Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, and Norwegian Joy. The concept is designed to give adults a semi private outdoor retreat that can absorb some demand from the main pool while generating additional onboard revenue. In many ways, adding Vibe to Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem is less a radical change and more a catch up move that brings older ships in line with newer hardware.

For travel advisors, this makes product comparisons easier. Instead of explaining why one NCL ship has Vibe and another does not, they can present Vibe as an increasingly standard option across the brand, with differences mainly in size, location, and price. That can simplify discussions with clients who have sailed other NCL ships and already know whether Vibe fits their style.

What Travelers Should Do Now

Travelers who already hold bookings on Norwegian Jade or Norwegian Gem for 2026 should first verify their sail dates against the April and May dry dock windows and watch for any schedule adjustments or cabin changes communicated by NCL or their travel advisor. If their cruise falls after the refresh, they should review updated deck plans to see how Vibe Beach Club, the Starbucks on Norwegian Jade, and any smaller layout tweaks might change their cabin preferences or daily routines.

Next, guests who are likely to use Vibe Beach Club should monitor when 2026 access passes and cabanas open for pre booking and act quickly for high demand Alaska and peak summer Mediterranean sailings, since capacity is intentionally limited. Those who do not plan to pay for Vibe should instead focus on cabin locations that minimize noise and traffic near the main pool and should think about how to time their sea day deck use to avoid the most crowded windows.

Finally, anyone still deciding between cruise lines can treat these upgrades as one more factor in the broader comparison between NCL and competitors on similar Alaska and Mediterranean routes. Norwegian Jade and Norwegian Gem will not be brand new ships in 2026, but the addition of Vibe Beach Club and, on Norwegian Jade, a full Starbucks, should keep them competitive on amenities for several more seasons.

Sources

• Dry Dock Enhancements Coming For Two NCL Cruise Ships
• Norwegian Jade And Norwegian Gem To Undergo Dry Dock Enhancements
• Norwegian Cruise Line To Update Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Gem
• Norwegian Jade, Find A Cruise Itinerary
• Cruises To Whittier, Alaska
• Norwegian Jade, Vibe Beach Club And Onboard Amenities
• NCL Adds Adults Only Sun Deck To Two Ships