Oldies But Goodies Doo Wop Cruise

 

Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery of its latest treasure the Norwegian Gem from Meyer Yard in Germany. When arriving at the port of Rotterdam on 4th of October 2007. You could instantly recognized the new NCL cruise resort by her distinctive hull artwork, featuring an eye-catching array of colorful gems tumbling from the bow to almost the middle of the ship. With a crew of 1.154, Norwegian Gem can accommodate 2.400 guests (double occupancy) and has all the top-of-the-line amenities guests have come to expect from NCL, including, two top of the ship Deluxe Owner's Suites and the new Wii video game system by Nintendo a ship offering facilities and cabins for nearly every taste.

The Norwegian Gem is the sixth and final ship in Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) Jewel class, and the thirteenth ship in the fleet. It resembles the Norwegian Pearl, which was launched in 2006. Ten of Norwegian’s ships have been built since 1999, giving the cruise line the youngest fleet among the North American cruise lines. The Norwegian Gem capitalizes on NCL's Freestyle Cruising concept, which was first introduced to the cruising public in May 2000. Freestyle Cruising is primarily characterized as significantly relaxing the structure and formality of traditional cruise ships by having no fixed dining times, no formal dress codes, up to 10 diverse restaurants, numerous bars and lounges, and relaxed disembarkation.

In addition to the Freestyle Cruising theme, the Norwegian Gem has some innovative features such as a four-lane bowling alley and some of the most luxurious suites in the industry. The Norwegian Gem also adds some new onboard activities such as a 30-foot high rock climbing wall and a Wiki Nintendo system in the Crystal Atrium. Using the giant high-definition projection screen in the Crystal Atrium to play a Wiki game adds to the excitement. The Norwegian Gem's fitness center is even open 24 hours a day for those who are jet-lagged or love to work out at odd hours.

Visiting Her Decks

The Norwegian Gem has a beautifully and sleek white exterior. The deck areas are nice, with two pools, deck chairs, and hot tubs. The small children have their own kid’s pool. We sailed on the Norwegian Gem on a short preview cruise out of Boston on a wintry December day. As you can see by this photo, the pool deck looks a whole lot different than you would expect on a "regular" cruise. In summary, the Norwegian Gem is a terrific new addition to the NCL fleet and to the cruise industry. Those who love "Freestyle Cruising" should certainly try this ship!

Visiting Her Interior

Most of the interior public areas of the Norwegian Gem are both very modern and contemporary. The Crystal Atrium is particularly impressive. NCL has added a two-deck high definition projection screen, which can show movies and popular sporting events (like bowl games), or be used to play Nintendo Wiki games. Even if you don't play the Wiki games, it's fun to watch your fellow passengers! The atrium has become a gathering place for passengers to have fun in this large, open environment.

 

 

The Ying & Yang Spa also has a special look. Mandara operates the spa, and it has a wonderful tranquil ambiance. All of the standard spa treatments are available in the spa, and you can even schedule a massage in your cabin. Next to the spa is the Body Waves Fitness Center, which is open 24 hours a day. This fully-equipped gym includes the latest machines and has floor to ceiling windows, so you can enjoy the sea views while working out. The fitness center also features yoga, aerobics, spinning, Pilates, and a variety of other exercise classes. For gamers, the Norwegian Gem has the Gem Club Casino, with all the latest games and more than 200 slot machines. But if you prefer you could alsospend your money in ship shops, the Trade Routes Boutiques offer a little of everything. It's fun to browse or to buy!

Dining On The Gem

On board Norwegian Gem guests find thirteen different restaurants without set dining times and opening hours from 5:30 pm to midnight (seating until 10:30 pm). Thus, they can choose when, where and with whom to dine. In fact, guests can dine in a different restaurant each night of their cruise, if they like to. Should they however prefer to dine at the same table and/or at the same time every evening, reservations may be arranged on board accordingly. Norwegian Gem features a restaurant seating guide, displayed on flat-screen televisions placed in key areas on the ship. They show each restaurant's current occupancy status as well as possible waiting times.

 

If a restaurant is fully occupied at a certain time and guests would like to wait for an opening, they will get a pager that works all over the ship informing them as soon as the table is available. The Norwegian Gem has ten distinctly different dining options, ranging from the elegant LeBistro French Restaurant to the entertaining Teppanyaki Room to the 24-hour casual Blue Lagoon diner. The cruise ship has culinary choices from around the world, so there is something for all tastes. Four of the restaurants have additional cover charges from $10 to $20 per person. The two large dining rooms are the Grand Pacific and the Magenta. They serve traditional cruise cuisine and are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

 

Cagney’s is an upscale American steakhouse, serving an array of steaks, chops, chicken, and seafood. Finally, the Garden Café is an "action station" buffet-style restaurant, with much of the food prepared-to-order and an outdoor dining area at The Great Outdoors The Norwegian Gem also has 24-hour room service and a private concierge lounge for villa, suite, and penthouse guests. Since the Norwegian Gem has open seating, the cruise line has implemented a restaurant reservation system that allows passengers to check the availability of each restaurant. Plasma screens placed in high-traffic areas around the ship and outside each restaurant provide the status of each of the ten restaurants.

Bars and Lounges

Like most large cruise ships, the Norwegian Gem has numerous bars and lounges scattered throughout the ship. All are filled with cold drinks and lots of fun. Starting at the top of the ship, the Spinnaker Lounge serves as an observation lounge, but also has a nice dance floor, games, and televisions for watching sporting events. Topsiders and Bahi Hai are both located near the pool deck and have outdoor seating, as does The Great Outdoors. One of the passenger favorites is the Star Bar; you can find it just off Cagney's Steakhouse. It's a little quieter and more romantic.

 

Moving down a few decks, you will find Bar Central on deck 6. This entertainment center has four interconnected bars: Maltings Beer and Whiskey Bar, Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar, Shakers Martini & Cocktail Bar and the Corona Cigar Club. Nearby on deck 7 is the Java Café located in the Crystal Atrium. In addition to bar drinks, it serves specialty coffees and teas. Finally, the most innovative lounge on the ship is the Bliss Ultra Lounge, aft on deck 7. Bliss has funky decor, with lots of crushed velvet and beds for lounging. Just for fun, Bliss has four bowling alleys and transforms into a busy nightclub when it gets late.

Kid's Areas

The Norwegian Gem is well designed for family cruising. The NCL Kid's Crew program is for kids from two to 17, with many complimentary activities. The Kid's Crew program is available year-round on days at sea (9 am - noon, 2-5 pm, and 7-10 pm) and on port days (7-10 pm). A group sitting service is also available (for a fee) each night from 10 pm to 1 am and during additional hours in port. The Norwegian Gem has specially designed activities for three age groups: Kid's Crew (ages 2-9), Tweens Crew (ages 10-12), and Teens Crew (ages 13-17).

 

Younger children have their own space on the Norwegian Gem in the Tree Tops Kids, while the teens will enjoy the Leopard Lounge and the Video Arcade. In addition to the specially planned activities for kids, they will also enjoy the large pool with water slide, rock climbing wall, bowling in the Bliss lounge, and the Nintendo Wiki game, which is available in both the Crystal Atrium and in the Kid's Crew facility. Kids on the Norwegian Gem even have their own dining area, with smaller tables and chairs, at the Kids Café.

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