Norwegian Gem to Transatlantic

Billed as the company's 'It Girl' when she entered service in 2007, Norwegian Gem was the last- and the flashiest- of the five ship 'Dawn' class, the first new class of ship specifically designed for the company's then brand new 'Freestyle Dining' concept.

The brilliance of Freestyle is that it allows passengers to eat where and when they want, and with whoever. It makes for an altogether more casual atmosphere but, on the Gem, it gave nothing away in terms of quality.

Some of these restaurants come in at a nominal extra charge, with the French accented Le Bistro coming out top of the bunch. Norwegian Gem is a bright, busy ship that caters to honeymooners, families and solos alike with equal style. There are pools, a rock climbing wall, and clubs for little sailors running from toddlers right through to teens. In short, something for literally everyone.

Like the rest of the fleet, Norwegian Gem offers stellar entertainment, complete with a late night adult comedy club from Second City,  a large disco and a good sized casino. There are large scale floor shows and calming piano music. The ship is a floating playground, brimming with good things to do right around the clock.

Cabin wise, Norwegian Gem offers everything from small, perfectly primped insides to quite expansive suites. I felt that my balcony cabin was a bit tight on floor space in the room, but I loved the sliding glass door for the shower, and the balcony was a huge boon as a bit of a quiet get away from all the fun up on deck.

Inside, there are shops galore, often selling merchandise at hefty discounts on the last day at sea (by law, they cannot be open on the days that the ship is docked in port). Photographers are everywhere, just as on most large ships these days, but the prices are not at all cheap.

Overall, I loved Norwegian Gem, with her bright, bold colours and styling, and her breezy, fresh open feeling. Well worth a look.