Norwegian Gem
“NCL's well-traveled workhorse — Caribbean winters, Mediterranean summers, and a price tag that undercuts the newer ships every time.”
Norwegian Gem entered service in 2007 as the third of NCL's Jewel-class ships, and nearly two decades later she remains one of the line's best-value sailings. Rather than staying put, Gem crosses the Atlantic every year — winters are spent on short Caribbean and Bahamas runs out of Tampa, summers on Mediterranean itineraries from Ravenna and Rome. At 93,530 gross tons and carrying just under 2,400 guests, she's noticeably smaller and more intimate than NCL's newer Prima and Breakaway-class ships, with an old-school cruise-ship layout, Freestyle dining across 15 restaurants and bars, and none of the queues that come with a 5,000-passenger megaship.
Gem is one of only a handful of large ships that genuinely repositions across the Atlantic every year, giving guests two completely different cruise experiences — Caribbean and Mediterranean — on the same hull within a single 12-month period.
What’s Onboard
Dining
- ✓Cagney's Steakhouse (NCL classic)
- ✓La Cucina (Italian)
- ✓Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse)
- ✓Teppanyaki (Japanese hibachi)
- ✓Le Bistro (French)
- ✓O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill (24-hour) plus Garden Café buffet
Pools & Recreation
- ✓Spice H2O adult-only pool deck
- ✓Aqua Park with waterslides
- ✓Two outdoor pools and multiple hot tubs
- ✓Basketball and volleyball sports court
- ✓Jogging track
- ✓Mandara Spa with thermal suite
Entertainment
- ✓Stardust Theater — Broadway/Vegas-style production shows
- ✓The Second City comedy improv
- ✓Bliss Ultra Lounge nightclub
- ✓Full casino
- ✓Live bands and karaoke throughout the ship's bars
- ✓Trivia and game shows
Cabins
- ✓Interior, Oceanview, Balcony, Mini-Suite & Suite categories
- ✓The Haven by Norwegian luxury suite complex
- ✓Spa Suites with thermal suite access
- ✓Family staterooms with connecting doors
- ✓1,197 staterooms fleet-wide
- ✓Courtyard Villas within The Haven
Family & Kids
- ✓Splash Academy kids' club (3–12 years)
- ✓Entourage teen club (13–17 years)
- ✓Family staterooms and connecting cabins
- ✓Aqua Park waterslides
- ✓Arcade
- ✓Complimentary Kids' Crew activities
Video Tour
NCL Gem | Full Ship Walkthrough Tour & Review 4K | Norwegian Cruise Lines
- ✦Value-conscious Caribbean cruisers
- ✦Travelers wanting a smaller, more intimate NCL ship
- ✦Mediterranean first-timers on a budget
- ✦Couples who want adult-only pool space (Spice H2O)
Passengers wanting the latest mega-ship features — Gem is nearly two decades old and lacks the waterslide-coaster attractions of NCL's newest ships. Also not for those wanting one fixed itinerary; her seasonal Atlantic crossing means very different offerings summer vs. winter.
7-night Caribbean from ~$700/pp (inside) to $2,200+/pp (Haven suite)