All about the Norwegian Gem

Norwegian Gem cruise ship
Norwegian Gem

The Norwegian Gem was built in 2007. It was renovated in 2015. It's considered a small size ship. Coming in at 965 ft long and 125 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.7 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 11-story building.

Norwegian Gem Overview

Norwegian Gem Size and Passengers

The Gem can hold 2,394 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Gem has a space ratio of 39. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average.



Norwegian
Gem
ClassJewel
Gross Tonnage93,530
Length965
Beam/Width125
Passenger Decks11
Passengers (double occupancy)2,394
Crew1,070
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.2
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)39
Norwegian Gem Space Ratio
30 39 52

The Gem is one of four Jewel-class ships currently sailing with Norwegian. The Gem is very similar to its sister-ships; Jewel, Pearl and Jade, although each ship may have some differences.


Norwegian Gem Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Norwegian Gem. You have 14 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 7 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 7 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 50% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.

RestaurantRestaurant TypeCostType of Food
Atrium CafeQuick serveA la cartCoffee
Bali Hai Bar & GrillQuick serveIncludedAmerican
Cagney's SteakhouseSit downA la cartSteakhouse
Garden CafeQuick serveIncludedBuffet
La Cucina ItalianSit downA la cartItalian
Le Bistro FrenchSit downA la cartFrench
Main Dining RoomSit downIncludedDinner
Moderno ChurrascariaSit downFlat feeBrazilian
O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & GrillSit downIncludedIrish Pub
Orchid Garden Asian RestaurantSit downIncludedAsian
Sushi BarQuick serveA la cartSushi
TeppanyakiSit downFlat feeAsian
The Great OutdoorsQuick serveIncludedAmerican
Topsiders Bar & GrillQuick serveIncludedAmerican

Norwegian Gem Bars and Drinks

Maltings Beer & Whiskey Bar on the Norwegian Gem
Maltings Beer & Whiskey Bar on the Norwegian Gem

Norwegian Gem has 16 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail.

BarLocation
Atrium BarDeck 7See Menu
Bali Hai Bar & GrillDeck 13
Bliss Ultra LoungeDeck 7
Casino BarDeck 6
Corona Cigar ClubDeck 6
Great Outdoors CafeDeck 12
Magnum's Champagne & Wine BarDeck 6
Maltings Beer & Whiskey BarDeck 6
Moderno BarDeck 13
O'Sheehan's Bar & GrillDeck 8See Menu
Sake BarDeck 7
Shakers Martini & Cocktail BarDeck 6
Spinnaker LoungeDeck 13
StarbucksDeck 7See Menu
Sugarcane Mojito BarDeck 13See Menu
Topside BarDeck 12

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Norwegian also serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Norwegian Gem

The main pool on the Norwegian Gem
The main pool on the Norwegian Gem

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Norwegian Gem has a total of 3 pools and 5 hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools are adults only. 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Norwegian
Gem
Total Pools3
- Pools - General Access1
- Pools - Adults Only1
- Pools - Exclusive1
Total Hot Tubs5
- Hot Tubs - General Access4
- Hot Tubs - Adults Only
- Hot Tubs - Exclusive1


Norwegian Gem Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Gem. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Norwegian
Gem
ArcadeA la cart
BasketballIncluded
CasinoA la cart
Cigar BarIncluded
Climbing WallIncluded
Fitness CenterIncluded
Jogging TrackIncluded
Shows - musical reviewIncluded
SpaA la cart
Thermal SuitesFlat fee
Water slidesIncluded

Cruise Costs

Norwegian is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Norwegian Gem Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Norwegian ship.

Norwegian
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$20.00
Tip added to drinks & services20%
Soda Price$3.50
Domestic Beer Price$7.00
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$109
Learn more
Internet Plan$29.99 - $39.99 per cabin per day, with $5 for each extra device
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers a More at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the More at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.


Compare the Gem to Another Ship

First ship:

Second ship:



About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.