The ships have set new cruise industry standards in their cabins, with rich cherrywood finishing, tea and Coffee-makers in every cabin, and larger bathrooms than in the line’s other ships, with toilet, shower, and washstand compartments separated by sliding doors, television, safe, and hair dryer. Sixty-five percent of cabins are outside, and more than 70% of these have balconies. Cabins are furnished with two beds that convert to queen, and most cabins have a sofa bed or pop-up trundle bed for a third lower bed; some have a fourth pull-down berth. A large number of cabins (including suites and minisuites) interconnect to create a two-, three-, four-, or five-bedroom area suitable for families.
A steel-and-glass structure on top of the ships, aft from the main sun deck, is a fantasy world, unlike anything on any other vessel today. Meant to create a ship within a ship, two six-room Garden Villas on Star and Dawn each cover 5,750 square feet (Pearl, 4,390 square feet), and each
have a roof terrace and private garden and offer open-air dining, Jacuzzis, and totally private sunning and relaxing areas — all yours for a mere $26,000 per week. In addition, these ships have two Owner’s Suites, two honeymoon suites, 30 penthouse suites, and an entire deck of spacious
minisuites with balconies; and on Pearl, a new category of romance suites at the stern with floor-to-ceiling glass doors to enjoy sea and sunset views. Cabins for disabled passengers are available in various categories.
The ship-within-a-ship concept on Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl, has somewhat different configurations, demonstrating the enhancement and expansion of earlier NCL innovations. On Deck 14, a block of ten suites (which NCL calls villas) is grouped around an open courtyard with a small swim-against-the-current lap pool at the center. It
also has a hot tub, men’s and women’s steam rooms, and a small fitness area. Eight of the villa suites have separate children’s bedrooms. Both ships have two large three-bedroom garden villas with ultramodern decor. Each bedroom is furnished with a king- or queen-size bed and a luxury bath. One of the baths has a whirlpool tub and separate shower. The Pearl has even more Owner’s Suites and at the very top of the ship on Deck 15, two new Deluxe Owner’s Suites with private patios and fabulous views. All the top category suites have butler service and access to an exclusive concierge. Accommodations throughout the Pearl are
brightly decorated in orange, fuchsia, and teal, and if you have trouble remembering the direction of fore and aft, the carpeting in the corridors is designed with fish swimming forward.
Both Jewel’s and Pearl’s facilities for the handicapped are particularly outstanding. The 27 wheelchair-accessible cabins are available in various categories, including suites; all have collapsible shower stools mounted on shower walls and toilets with collapsible arm guards and lowered wash basin. Hearing-impaired kits are available on request. Cabin equipment includes such items as vibrating alarm clock, a light that flashes when there’s a knock on the door, television with closed captioning, fire alarm flashing light, and permanently lit emergency lights. Cabins and elevators have Braille text. In public rooms, there are dedicated wheelchair positions in the Stardust Theatre, which is equipped with hearing-impaired induction systems, and an electrical hoist for access to the pools and hot tubs. An NCL crew member will tour the ship with passengers on the first day to help them get oriented.
SPECIFICATIONS: Jewel/Pearl/Gem 360 standard cabins with balconies (205 square feet); 243 outside (161 square feet), 412 inside (143 square feet); 134 minisuites with balconies (284 square feet); 2 Garden Villas with 3 bedrooms (4,390 square feet); 2 Deluxe Owner’s Suites (928 square feet),
5 Owner’s Suites (750 square feet); 24 penthouse suites (572 square feet); 4 romance suites (288 square feet); 10 Courtyard Villas (572square feet); 27 wheelchair-Accessible.
Unofficial Guide © 2009
.jpg_thumb.jpg "Santorini sunset")
