Norwegian Pearl

The 2006-built Norwegian Pearl cruise ship is the third of NCL’s Jewel-class liners, together with Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, and Norwegian Jewel.

The vessel (IMO number 9342281) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309653000) and registered in Nassau.

On January 5, 2023, NCLH (shipowner) announced the new brand “Experiences at Sea.” This program is a partnership between NCL’s subsidiary Sixthman Festivals at Sea and NCL’s CM&I division (Charters, Meetings & Incentives). The brand annually schedules several themed back-to-back cruises on Norwegian Pearl, targeting corporate clients as well as affinity- and incentive-focused travelers across NCLH’s portfolio (NCL, Oceania, RSSC‐Regent). Managed by Anthony Diaz (Sixthman CEO and CM&I Senior VP), these voyages are themed primarily around music (Rock, Country, Pop, Blues, Broadway), LGBTQIA+ events (Atlantis), comedy influencers, sports, and other niche interests. Sailings are Caribbean roundtrips from Miami and all visit NCLH’s private islands—Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas) and Harvest Caye (Belize).

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 publicly traded (NASDAQ) and listed on the NYSE. NCLH’s major shareholders include Apollo Global Management (USA), Genting Group (Malaysia), and TPG Capital (USA). In 2017, NCL’s global market share was 8.7% (passengers) and 8.4% (revenue). NCLH owns the brands NCL, Oceania, and RSSC-Regent.

The 2400-passenger Norwegian Pearl was built with the concept of Freestyle Cruising—no formal dress code and no fixed dining schedule. She is a modern, amenity-rich ship and the first at sea to feature a full-size bowling alley.

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Pearl staterooms (1197 total, across 36 categories) include 182 Suites, 360 Balcony, 243 Oceanview, and 412 Inside cabins. Most staterooms range from 140–160 ft2 (13–15 m2). The largest accommodations are the 3-Bedroom The Haven Garden Villas (2320 ft2 / 216 m2, plus a 1035 ft2 / 96 m2 terrace).

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

Shipboard dining options – Food and Drinks

Norwegian Pearl offers a wide variety of dining venues, allowing guests to dine whenever and wherever they prefer. Traditional fixed-time dining is available upon request with the maitre d’, while the ship’s reservation system enables passengers to plan meals one day in advance. Several restaurants are complimentary, while others carry an additional fee.

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

• Indigo Restaurant (forward Dining Room; complimentary; Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (French specialty dinner venue; reservations only; US$20 cover charge)
• Lotus Garden (Asian restaurant; dinner only; complimentary since 2015)
• Sushi Bar (10-seat venue inside Lotus Garden; à la carte); Sake Bar (within Lotus Garden)
• Teppanyaki (Japanese Hibachi specialty; reservations only; US$25; open for lunch and dinner; live cooking)
• Summer Palace Restaurant (aft Dining Room; complimentary Freestyle dining)
• Blue Lagoon (fast-food buffet; complimentary)
• Sky High Bar & Grill (complimentary fast-food bar); Bali Hai Grill
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty dinner restaurant for premium steaks and seafood; reservations only; US$30 per person; complimentary Kids Menu)
• Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse; reservations only; US$20 per person; outdoor waterfront seating)
• La Cucina (Italian specialty; reservations only; US$15 cover charge; outdoor waterfront seating)
• Garden Cafe (complimentary buffet with multiple cuisine stations); Kid’s Cafe
• The Great Outdoors (outdoor buffet; complimentary)
• Topsiders Bar & Grill (poolside; complimentary)

Shipboard entertainment options – Fun and Sport

Norwegian Pearl features numerous bars, lounges, pools, fitness facilities, and a luxury spa. The standout attraction is the ship’s four-lane bowling alley—located in the Bliss Ultra Lounge on Deck 7—which transforms into the vessel’s late-night entertainment hotspot. Games cost US$5 per person, including shoe rental.

Other entertainment includes improv comedy by Chicago’s Second City troupe, production shows in the Stardust Theater (Decks 5–6), live music, audience-participation games, adults-only late-night comedy, 3 pools (including a kids’ pool) and 7 Jacuzzis. Additional shows include NCL’s FIREWORKS program, “Rock of Ages,” “Cirque Dreams,” and “Illusionarium” (magic show).

Additional amenities include complimentary 24-hour room service, the supervised “NCL Kids” program, Internet/WiFi access, laundry services, and wedding ceremonies conducted in the ship’s chapel. NCL Pearl’s gratuities are US$12 per person per day.

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

• Stardust Theatre (1042 seats; Broadway-style productions; two grand shows nightly)
• Bar City complex (Maltings Beer & Whisky Bar, Shakers Martini & Cocktail Bar, Magnum’s Champagne & Wine Bar); Corona Cigar Bar; Sugarcane Mojito Bar; Star Bar; Topsiders Bar
• Bliss Ultra Lounge & Nightclub
• Spinnaker Lounge (394 seats; floor-to-ceiling windows; disco and nightclub); Java Cafe
• Crystal Atrium (two-deck midship hub with LED screen, dance floor, and live entertainment)
• Atrium Cafe & Bar (specialty tea and coffee bar)
• Internet Cafe (24-hour); Art Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop
• LifeStyles Room; Library; Card Room
• Pearl Club Casino
• Trade Routes Boutiques (duty-free shops); Port O’Call (gift shop)
• South Pacific Spa (Thermal Suite, Snow Room, Salt Room, Medi Spa, Smile Spa, Treatment Rooms, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop); Body Waves Fitness Centre; Tahitian Beach Pool; Kids’ Pool
• Aqua Kids’ Club; Metro Center Teens’ Lounge & Disco; Video Games Arcade
• The Haven Courtyard Fitness & Spa (Villas-guests only; steam room, gym)
• Rock Climbing Wall; sports court; jogging track; golf nets; shuffleboard; giant chess

During the 2025 drydock, Deck 14’s forward section was transformed into the Vibe Beach Club—an adults-only sundeck with its own bar lounge. The venue features a large Jacuzzi, 54 plush loungers, and 7 private cabanas (2-person, reservation required). Complimentary amenities include chilled towels and fruit skewers. Access requires either a Vibe Pass or a private cabana rental.

Itineraries

Norwegian Pearl’s itinerary program is based on Alaska cruises from Seattle, Washington during the summer season. She also sails Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, Florida, as well as repositioning voyages through the Panama Canal.

Pearl is one of NCL’s Jewel-class liners, with sisterships Gem, Jade, and Jewel. Construction began on October 3, 2005. The ship was launched (floated out from drydock) on October 15, 2006, and christened in PortMiami on December 16, 2006. Her Godmother was Roseann O’Donnell (born 1962, US comedian, actress, author, and TV personality). The Inaugural Cruise/Maiden Voyage was on December 2, 2006, a transatlantic repositioning from Southampton, England to Miami, Florida.

An interesting fact is that Pearl is one of 12 cruise ships permitted to discharge treated wastewater in Juneau, Ketchikan, and other major Alaskan ports. These vessels are also allowed to release greywater (laundry, shower, and kitchen runoff) in these harbors.

Another notable fact is that Norwegian Pearl, like NCL Jewel, has been featured on television. In 2009, the CNBC channel aired the documentary “Big Money on the High Seas,” which included footage of Norwegian Pearl. She is also the first NCL ship equipped with a rock-climbing wall.

Ship’s Captain is Paul von Knorring.

Itineraries 2017–2018

For the 2017–2018 season, Norwegian Pearl repositioned from Miami to New Orleans (NOLA). From October 22, 2017, through April 1, 2018, she operated 7-, 8-, and 9-day Western Caribbean roundtrips. These itineraries visited ports in Mexico (Cozumel, Costa Maya), Honduras (Roatan), and Belize (Harvest Caye). Longer sailings additionally called at Grand Cayman and Guatemala (Santo Tomas de Castilla).

NCL Pearl refurbishments review

Drydock 2025

The ship’s most recent drydocking took place in November 2025 at Chantiers Naval de Marseille (France).

In addition to standard maintenance and classification works (safety inspections), machinery overhauls, and hull cleaning/repainting, the project included creating the Vibe Beach Club—an adults-only outdoor sundeck bar lounge—on Deck 14.

Drydock 2017

The 2017 refurbishment (February 14–26, in Freeport, Bahamas) resulted in the following deck plan changes, new amenities, and renovations:

• All cruise staterooms were refreshed with cool blue color schemes and received new furniture, carpeting, bed headboards, flat HDTVs with infotainment system, and USB charging outlets.
• More than 2200 new artworks were installed throughout the ship, including in all staterooms.
• The Haven suite complex received a refurbished Haven Courtyard with upgraded outdoor deck finishes, pool and hot tubs, plus new deck furniture and cabanas.
• The Haven suites and villas underwent extensive interior updates, including new wallpapers, furniture, finishes, carpeting, drapery, and artworks.
• Cagney’s Steakhouse was updated with new carpeting, artworks, upholstery, and window treatments.
• Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) received new tables and chairs, wall laminates, granite bar tops, and a redesigned glass-door entrance.
• O’Sheehan’s Bar and Grill was enhanced with new flooring, a refurbished granite-topped bar, new bar-back shelving, updated ceiling and lighting fixtures, new wall finishes, new tables and chairs, and expanded banquet seating for large groups.
• The Pool Deck received new flooring, and the whirlpools were refurbished. The “Great Outdoors” and “Sky High” bars were also upgraded with new flooring.
• During the 2017 drydock, Norwegian Pearl was retrofitted with new exhaust gas cleaning systems (“scrubbers”). The technology reduces the equivalent of approximately 1500 tons of sulfur oxide emissions. NCL was the first cruise line to retrofit in-service vessels with hybrid scrubber systems. The five new in-line scrubbers are lightweight and capable of operating in dry mode, as well as in open-loop and closed-loop configurations.

The 2017 drydock was part of NCL’s “Norwegian Edge” fleetwide upgrade program, a two-year initiative budgeted at USD 400 million. Each drydock under the program cost approximately USD 35–40 million.