Earlier this month, I went on a seven-day cruise with some
friends. We traveled to the Bahamas on the Norwegian Gem. At first, I thought
that I would spend a lot of time sitting by the pool or relaxing at the beaches. Instead, the trip was filled with lots of activities and entertainment. Activities included rock climbing, shuffleboard, mahjong, bowling, and swimming. When we arrived at Port Canaveral on the third day, I spent most of my time shopping at the Cocoa Beach Surf Company and Ron Jon Surf Shop. From there, I went to the Sandbar Sports Grill for some fish tacos.
The next day, we arrived at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas. After taking the tender to the private island, we enjoyed an afternoon of snorkeling at the Fate of the Fancy Snorkel Adventure and riding the Hippo Water Slide. Before leaving for the day, we also played a few games of beach volleyball.
On the fifth day, we spent our morning shopping at Nassau in the Bahamas. By noon, we headed to the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter and the Blue Lagoon Island Beach. As the others were waiting for their pictures of their dolphin encounter, I went over to the Beach for a quick swim in the clear water by the beach. Just as we got our pictures, we had to get on the boat and head back to our ship.
Our time in the Bahamas was ending, but we still had two more days of fun on our ship as we headed back home.
The Norwegian Gem was the newest vessel in Norwegian Cruise
Line's fleet until the debut of Norwegian Epic on June 2010. Construction began
on June 7, 2006 at the Meyer Werft Shipyard of Papenburg, Germany. She was
delivered to Norwegian on October 1, 2007. Norwegian promoted the launch of
this ship via her own website, "Gem It Girl", which in addition to
providing details about the ship, also prompted previous customers' of Norwegian
to submit an entry to be chosen as her godmother.
As with the rest of Norwegian's fleet, Norwegian
Gem utilizes the "Freestyle" cruising concept, which allows
guests to dine in any number of restaurants, in casual attire, at times of
their own choosing.
Ship Specifications:
- Passenger Capacity: 2,394 (double occupancy).
- Gross Register Tonnage: 93,530.
- Overall Length: 965 feet.
- Max Beam: 105 feet.
- Draft: 28 feet.
- Engines: Diesel Electric.
- Cruise Speed: 22.5 knots.
- Crew: 1,101.
Nautical and Cruise Terms:
- Aft - the back or near the back of the ship.
- Bow - the very front of the ship.
- Forward - the front or near the front of the ship.
- Port - the left-hand side of a ship as one faces forward: opposed to starboard. Port - so named because the side toward the port (dock), since the steering oar (see starboard) prevented docking to the right.
- Ship - You always cruise on a "ship," never a "boat."
- Starboard - the right side of the ship while facing forward (bow).
- Stern - the very back of the ship.
- Tender - a boat for carrying passengers to or from a ship close to shore.
