Norwegian Gem

The last of the Jewel class ships to be built, the Norwegian Gem was launched in 2007 as part of the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) fleet. The vessel has a similar structure and interior decor to its sister ships, the Jade, Jewel and Pearl, but features a wide range of unique amenities that guests are sure to enjoy.

What makes the NCL's ships truly remarkable, however, is the company's Freestyle Cruise concept, which allows passengers to set their own schedules. No more set dinner times, or the mad rush for departure on port days. Instead, guests are free to come and go as they please.

Watch more videos here

Overall, this gives the ship an elegant, yet casual feel that many modern cruisers - especially those travelling with families - are sure to appreciate.

The Gem is generally based in New York and departs on voyages along the eastern coast of the US and Canada, with ports of call in Halifax, Quebec City, and Nova Scotia. Caribbean cruises are also available, stopping at destinations like San Juan, St Thomas, Antigua and St Maarten.

Ship stats and features

Passenger capacity: 2,846
Year entered service: 2007
Beam (ship width): 105.6 feet
Draught (ship depth): 26.9 feet
Length: 964.8 feet
Tonnage: 93,530
Crew: 1,100
Maximum speed: 25 knots
Number of passenger decks: 12
Number of lifts: 12
Number of swimming pools: 2
Number of cabins: 1,197

Food, cuisine and dining

As part of the Freestyle Cruise programme, none of the restaurants on the Gem have the set meal times or group sittings that are generally found on ships from other cruise lines. Instead, you can choose to eat where you want, when you want and with whomever you want. And there are twelve restaurants for you to choose from, although some will incur extra charges.

To make selecting a venue easier, there is a high-tech electronic reservations system available on displays located around the ship. These will tell you how busy each dining room is and allow you to make reservations on the fly.

There are two main dining rooms. The Grand Pacific is a top-quality restaurant that harks back to the golden days of cruise travel. There's space for up to 558 guests and there are plenty of tables for two. Magenta is a more modern space with colour-changing lighting and seating for 306.

Some of the fee-free alternatives include Blue Lagoon - a buffet that's open 24 hours a day and which offers mainly simple fare like hamburgers and stir-fry dishes - and the Garden Cafe, another buffet that serves food on a made-to-order basis. It also has a salad bar, a desert bar and a miniature buffet especially for kids.

Other options include:
• Cagney's Steakhouse
• Great Outdoors
• La Cucina
• Le Bistro
• Orchid Garden
• Sushi
• Teppanyaki
• Tequila Tapas
• Topsiers

Room service and pizza delivery are also available 24 hours a day.

On-board entertainment and activities

The main show lounge is the Stardust Theatre, which has a huge number of seats and offers a broad range of productions - from cabaret and sing-alongs, through to Vegas-style shows and Broadway revues. And if you prefer something a bit lower key, then many of the bars and clubs offer live music in a more intimate setting.

If you're feeling lucky, there's a huge casino, with card games like poker and blackjack, as well as roulette, craps and slot machines.

If you want to get in a bit of shopping - either as a treat for yourself or gifts for your loved ones back home - there are a number of shops where you can pick up everything from branded souvenirs and postcards, through to fine jewellery, clothing and toys.

There are also plenty of child-friendly activities and the kids' club is an ideal choice for younger cruisers. On port days, there's also group babysitting, giving parents the chance to get out and enjoy the sites without having to worry about the little ones.

Spas and fitness facilities

If you're looking for a way to relieve all your tension, there are plenty of options on the Gem. The Yin & Yang spa and beauty salon is fully equipped to help you feel pampered and relaxed. Spend some time in a steam room or sauna, or get a professional massage or facial from a trained specialist.

Alternatively, the Body Waves gym has a host of exercise equipment. Elsewhere on the ship, you can also find a variety of activities to get your adrenaline flowing - like the climbing walls, sports courts, jogging track, bowling alley, water slides and swimming pools

Cabins

If you're thinking about booking a voyage on the Gem, you'll have a variety of rooms to choose from. The ship has nearly 1,200 cabins, including a number of suites, with the largest measuring as much as 5,000 square feet. Meanwhile, more basic accommodation options are ideal for those seeking low-cost cruise deals.

The standard cabins measure around 160 square feet and are decorated in vibrant, friendly colours. You can choose from rooms with or without views, while balconies are also available. Most of these feature the split bathrooms - where the commode is in a separate room from the shower - that are popular features of NCL liners.

In addition, all cabins come equipped with flat screen televisions, comfortable beds and plenty of storage space. Most are suitable for two passengers, while family accommodation and wheelchair accessible staterooms are also available.