Norwegian Gem

The 2007-built Norwegian Gem cruise ship is the fourth and final vessel in NCL’s Jewel class, with sisterships Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, and Norwegian Pearl. Norwegian Gem cost US$390 million to build and was last refurbished in 2015.

The vessel (IMO number 9355733) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309951000) and registered in Nassau.

History – construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, NCL is a publicly traded company listed on NASDAQ and the NYSE (NYC). NCLH’s major shareholders include Apollo Global Management (USA), Genting Group (Malaysia), and TPG Capital (USA). In 2017, NCL held a global cruise market share of 8.7% (passengers) and 8.4% (revenue). NCLH owns the brands NCL, Oceania, and RSSC-Regent.

The 2400-passenger Norwegian Gem is the newest Jewel-class ship, designed and built by the German shipyard Meyer Werft. She incorporates all signature Jewel-class features, offering a wide variety of amenities and services for guests.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Gem’s staterooms (1197 total, across 36 categories) include 182 Suites, 360 Balcony, 243 Oceanview, and 412 Inside cabins. Most staterooms measure 140–160 ft² (13–15 m²). The largest accommodation is the 3-Bedroom The Haven Garden Villa (2320 ft² / 216 m², with a 1035 ft² / 96 m² terrace).

The vessel has 15 decks, of which 12 are accessible to passengers and 8 contain cabins.

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

Norwegian Gem offers 13 dining venues with flexible hours, open seating, and attentive service. There are no assigned tablemates or fixed dining times. Restaurant availability is displayed on plasma screens throughout the ship. When certain time slots are fully booked, alternative reservations are suggested on these screens. Reservations may also be made onboard, and it is recommended to book early, especially at smaller venues or for group dining.

Complimentary coffee, hot tea, and iced tea are served with meals. Bottled water, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are available at an additional charge.

Below is the complete list of Norwegian Gem’s restaurants and food bars:

• Magenta Restaurant (forward Dining Room; complimentary; Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (French specialty, dinner only; reservations required; US$20 cover charge)
• Orchid Garden (Asian restaurant, dinner only; complimentary since 2015)
• Sushi Bar (10-seat venue within Orchid Garden; a la carte); Sake Bar (inside Orchid Garden)
• Teppanyaki (Japanese Hibachi specialty; reservations required; US$25; open for lunch and dinner; live cooking demonstrations)
• Grand Pacific Restaurant (aft Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill (sports bar; 24-hour American fare including burgers, steaks, desserts; complimentary)
• Bali Hai Bar & Grill (complimentary fast-food bar); Blue Lagoon (buffet)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty dinner venue for premium steaks and seafood; reservations required; US$30 cover charge; complimentary kids’ menu)
• Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse; reservations required; US$20 cover charge; outdoor seating available)
• La Cucina (Italian specialty; reservations required; US$15 cover charge; outdoor seating available)
• Garden Café (complimentary buffet restaurant with multiple stations); Kids’ Café
• The Great Outdoors (complimentary outdoor buffet)
• Topsiders Bar & Grill (poolside; complimentary)

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

Norwegian Gem offers numerous entertainment venues, including bars, nightclubs, a fitness center, a rock-climbing wall, and a jogging track. For quieter activities, guests can visit the library, card room, or lifestyle room. The ship’s Haven Garden Villas are among her most distinctive features and are often booked by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey.

The vessel provides plenty of open spaces, 7 Jacuzzis, and 3 swimming pools (including the Sapphire Kids’ Pool). Entertainment options also include the Stardust Theater, offering musical productions, as well as NCL’s signature shows such as “Rock of Ages,” “Cirque Dreams,” and “Illusionarium.”

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, the supervised “NCL Kids” program, Internet/WiFi, and laundry services. Daily gratuities are US$12 per person. Onboard weddings are permitted.

Below is the full list of Norwegian Gem’s lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Stardust Theatre (1042 seats; Broadway-style productions; two main shows nightly)
• Bar City complex (Maltings Beer & Whisky Bar, Shakers Martini & Cocktail Bar, Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar); Corona Cigar Bar; Star Bar; Sugarcane Mojito Bar
• Spinnaker Lounge (372 seats, floor-to-ceiling windows; disco and nightclub); Java Café
• Atrium (two-deck midship hub with large LED screen, dance floor, and live entertainment)
• Leopard Lounge & Disco Club
• Atrium Café & Bar (specialty tea and coffee bar)
• Internet Café (24-hour); Art Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop
• LifeStyles Room; Library; Card Room
• Gem Club Casino
• Gem’s Trade Routes Boutiques (tax- and duty-free shopping)
• Bliss Ultra Lounge & Nightclub
• Ying & Yang Spa complex (Thermal Suite, Snow Room, Salt Room, Medi Spa, Smile Spa, treatment rooms, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop); Body Waves Fitness Centre
• Tahitian Beach Pool; Sapphire Kids’ Pool
• Tree Top Kids’ Club; Video Games Arcade
• Courtyard Fitness & Spa (exclusive for Villas guests; Steam Room, Gym)
• Rock Climbing Wall; Sports Court; Jogging Track; Golf Nets; Shuffleboard; Giant Chess

Itineraries

Norwegian Gem’s itinerary program is based on cruises from New York (Manhattan Cruise Terminal), visiting destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, the Bahamas, and the USA/Canada (including “Fall Foliage New England” sailings).

In January 2024, JAXPORT’s Board of Directors approved a 3-year seasonal homeporting agreement with NCL for Jacksonville, Florida (November–April annually through 2028). Starting November 2025, Norwegian Gem operates roundtrips to The Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. Bookings opened on February 15, 2024.

Norwegian Gem’s ex-Jacksonville 2025–2026 inaugural season schedule includes mainly 4–5-day Bahamas itineraries (Great Stirrup Cay, Freeport, Nassau) plus three 12-day and two 11-day Eastern Caribbean itineraries (Great Stirrup Cay, Puerto Plata Dominicana, St. Thomas USVI, St. John’s Antigua, Basseterre St. Kitts, San Juan Puerto Rico).

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in early April 2021, NCL announced revised deployment for Jade (7-day Mediterranean-Greek Islands from Piraeus-Athens, starting July 25), Joy (7-day Caribbean from Montego Bay, Jamaica, starting August 15), and Gem (7-day Caribbean from La Romana Dominicana/Punta Cana, starting August 15).

• Previously planned restarts: Joy (October 19, 2021 – Caribbean from Miami), Gem (October 29, 2021 – Bermuda from NYC), Jade (January 2, 2022 – South Africa from Cape Town).
• Late May: NCL canceled Joy’s ex-Jamaica schedule (Aug 7–Oct 9).
• Early June: NCL canceled Gem’s ex-Dominicana schedule (Aug 15–Oct 10).
• In July 2021, several Sixthman music-themed cruises were transferred from NCL Jewel to Gem. For details, see the ship’s Wiki section.

NCL promoted the Gem’s launch through a dedicated “Gem It Girl” website, where the company shared details about the newbuild and invited customers to submit entries for the chance to become the ship’s godmother. Mrs. Cindy Cardella was selected.

NCL Gem is the last of the fleet’s Jewel-class liners, with sisterships Jewel, Jade, and Pearl. Her Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage) departed on October 6, 2007. This 2-day mini-cruise (Oct 6–8) was a roundtrip from the homeport of Dover, England, to Amsterdam, Holland.

Following the COVID-related suspension of operations, NCL Gem resumed service in 2021 with a short Caribbean program of 7-day roundtrips from the Dominican Republic (August 15 through October 10).

Prices ranged from USD 500 to 700 per person (double occupancy). However, the Dominicana homeporting schedule was canceled in early June, and the ship subsequently restarted service on November 13 from NYC, operating cruises to Bermuda.

For 2021, Sixthman (a USA-based travel agency specializing in festivals and music cruises) scheduled the following Miami roundtrips for NCL Gem:

• October 21–25 (Triple Whammy Chris Jericho’s Rock N Wrestling Rager at Sea) to Grand Bahama Island
• October 25–29 (SS Neverender) to Nassau
• October 29 – November 3 (The KISS Kruise X) to Harvest Caye, Belize, and Isla Roatan, Honduras
• November 3–7 (Soulshine at Sea) to Great Stirrup Cay
• November 7–12 (The Rock Boat XXI) to Great Stirrup Cay and Puerto Plata, Dominicana
• November 12–18 (The Melissa Etheridge Cruise IV) to Great Stirrup Cay, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Nassau
• Note: These music-themed voyages were originally scheduled for the NCL Jewel.

NCL Gem refurbishment 2015 review

The deck plan changes implemented during the ship’s October–November 2015 drydock refurbishment include:

• Penthouse Suites renovation
• Refurbishment of Horizon Lounge and the Spinnaker (observation lounge)
• Addition of a new dining venue, O’Sheehan’s Bar & Grill
• Relocation of Moderno restaurant (from deck 8 to deck 13) and replacement of the Blue Lagoon restaurant with the new O’Sheehan’s Pub (deck 8)
• Relocation of Cagney’s Steakhouse on deck 8 to create space for the new Brazilian restaurant “Moderno Churrascaria” and the Mojito Bar “Sugarcane” (replacing Star Bar)
• New custom-crafted furnishings and updated relaxation deck furniture (decks 11–12)
• New wall coverings, LED lighting, and carpeting
• Installation of new original artworks in public areas

During the 2015 drydock, the vessel was also retrofitted with new exhaust gas cleaning systems (“scrubbers”). This technology reduces emissions by the equivalent of approximately 1500 tons of Sulfur Oxide. Norwegian Cruise Line was the first cruise company to retrofit vessels in service with a hybrid scrubber system. The five new in-line scrubbers are lightweight and capable of operating in dry mode, as well as in open- and closed-loop configurations.