We booked the deluxe owner's suite (note, the new category designation is S2, not A2) on the Jade, splurging to celebrate my 40th birthday on a cruise round-trip Venice to the Greek isles.

After arriving to the cruise port via water taxi, we dropped our pre-tagged bags and were swept quickly through VIP check-in where we were met by our concierge, Florentina. She quickly booked tables at Cagney's and Le Bistro for our first two nights while our butler Arnie came down to escort us aboard. We immediately fell in love with the VIP life as Arnie led us directly to the front of the security line, at about the same time as a huge thunderstorm swept over the port. Arnie and one of the ship's officers quickly produced umbrellas, and before we knew it, we had been swept up the elevator to deck 14. Arnie led us to the door for suite 15000, the "Black Diamond Suite," which opened onto a long staircase up to the deck 15 - our exclusive level for the next seven days.

Arnie showed us all of the features of the suite...how to access the wireless internet (a laptop was provided, but we had brought our own), the many lights and dimmer controls, the plethora of 110v outlets (plenty of 220v as well), the Lavazza espresso and tea machine (which he stocked with espresso and green tea at our request), and how to operate the remote-controlled privacy curtains for the massive floor-to-ceiling forward facing windows overlooking the pools on deck 12. The suite also featured a dining room table for four, massive walk-in closet, two safes, a powder room, living room with flat-screen TV, Bose sound system with DVD player and iPod hook-ups. The huge bath featured a walk-in shower with multiple spray-heads, a large tub, a separate WC, two vanities, and an endless supply of Elemis bath products and sample-sized spa products (eye cream, face gel, lip gel). Our stewardess, Fatima, and steward, Jesus stopped by to welcome us, and Darius, the deck attendant, promptly stopped by to say hello and put out cushions for the sun-beds on our private starboard and port sundecks - we commanded a 180-degree forward view - incredible! Read more