Norwegian Pearl

As the third of the Jewel class series of vessels, the Norwegian Pearl was built in 2006 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. Along with its sisters, Jewel, Jade and Gem, the Pearl is an attractive vessel with a carefully designed interior and plenty of options to suit passengers of any age.

Like many of the other vessels operated by the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the Pearl can be easily identified by its attractive hull art - in this case, a giant string of pearls is painted along the front half of the ship.

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Norwegian Cruises has also made its Freestyle Cruising concept available on the Pearl, meaning that passengers can feel free to enjoy their cruise in a way that best suits them.

The Pearl splits its time between both sides of North America, offering Alaskan cruises, which depart from Seattle, as well as voyages from Vancouver to Los Angeles. It also travels to the Caribbean - via the Panama Canal - and makes regular departures from Miami.

Ship stats and features

Passenger capacity: 2,846
Year entered service: 2006
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

At meal times, passengers will find a bountiful range of food options to choose from. With 18 restaurants on the vessel - many of them no-charge establishments - the hard part will be deciding where to go.

There are two main dining rooms, which are called the Indigo and the Summer Palace. These both offer a more traditional dining experience, with lavish surroundings and multiple-course dinners. There is no dress code, however, and guests can choose when and with whom they dine at every meal.

One very popular eatery on the Pearl is the Blue Lagoon. It's a 24-hour buffet that offers a vast range of options at any time - making it a favourite spot for midnight snacks and late-night revellers.

For something a bit more up-scale, options include Cagney's Steakhouse and Le Bistro, a French restaurant. If you enjoy Asian cuisine, there's the Lotus Garden, which provides a fusion of Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese fare.

There's also a sushi and sashimi bar and if you enjoy a bit of entertainment at your meal, why not try the Teppanyaki option? Tables are situated around a cooking station and you can watch skilled chefs prepare your meal with dramatic style.

Other options include:
• Garden Cafe
• Great Outdoors Bar
• La Cucina
• Mambos
• Sky High Bar and Grill
• Topsiders

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

On-board entertainment and activities

Passengers of any age will find plenty to keep them entertained - there are colourful shows in the Stardust Theatre, exciting gambling is available in the Pearl Club Casino and there are plenty of lounges and bars for relaxing drinks and vibrant conversations.

Live music is offered around the vessel throughout the day and night and activities like quizzes, karaoke and bingo are also available.

NCL has a partnership with Nintendo and children will love playing Wii games on a two-storey-high screen in the large, central atrium. Films, concert videos and sporting events are also shown on the screen.

Other options include spending time on the water slides and there's a climbing wall with a number of different difficulty levels. - the first on any NCL vessel. Younger cruisers will also enjoy the kids' club - there's a large play area and organised activities. Meanwhile, a dedicated hangout area and disco will be sure to keep teenagers entertained.

Spas and fitness facilities

To really unwind on your cruise, a trip to the sumptuous South Pacific Spa and Beauty Salon is the perfect choice. A broad spectrum of indulgent treatments are available, such as massages, aromatherapy, facials, manicures, pedicures and body wraps. You can also get a new hairstyle, or a makeover, and options are available for men.

There's a large fitness centre that includes treadmills, stair climbers, cross trainers and other cardio machines, as well as weights and resistance equipment. An aerobics studio is also available, which hosts classes to get your heart racing, as well as more subdued options like Pilates and yoga.

Other options include bowling, shuffleboard, ping-pong, golf and a multi-sports court. A jogging track is available, as well as swimming pools, and if you're looking for other ways to relax, then why not try a dip in one of the hot tubs, or spend some time in a steam room or sauna?

Cabins

As a large resort ship, the Pearl has nearly 1,200 rooms to choose from, spread out over 32 price ranges, so there's sure to be something to suit any requirements - whether you want to save money with a low-cost cruise deal, or splurge on something extremely lavish and luxurious.

No matter which type of room you choose, you'll enjoy comfortable furniture and plenty of space. They all have televisions and private bathrooms and nearly a quarter of the rooms have interconnecting doors, providing a number of convenient options for families and groups.