We have to start this review with the preface that we are not natural born cruise types. Our idea of a perfect family holiday would not normally include being intentionally confined to a limited space for days on end. But....the itinerary of this cruise was too good to turn down. We did our research and knew that booking on NCL was not the same as booking on a high-end line, so we adjusted our expectations accordingly. No, we were not booking into the equivalent of a Westin or Hyatt, we were booking into the equivalent of a Holiday Inn Express. And, we normally do book into the Westin or Hyatt.
With that out of the way, here is what we thought. We (family of four with 11 and 14 year old kids) flew from Vancouver to Barcelona via Amsterdam on KLM. What a fantastic airline. After suffering through too many flights with Air Canada, KLM was a dream.
We splurged and stayed at the new "W" Hotel down on the waterfront for the night before departure. If you can swing it, stay at this hotel. It lacks the convenience of a central location, but it is a "Wow" hotel. We have stayed at some very upscale hotels over the years, but none could hold a candle to this hotel. And as a bonus, we woke up Sunday morning looking right at the Jade at dock.