I think there are four of the class in service at the moment, or perhaps its three with the fourth coming very soon: Norwegian Star, N. Dawn, N. Jewel, Pride of Hawai'i, and a further one to come next year. Does anyone know if any more planned?

What is other peoples' views of them? And how well are they regarded in the industry?

The NCL fleet was a bit of a hotch-potch of different designs. Sister ships like Norwegian Dream and Wind are regarded by some as somewhat unexciting. They were not opriginally built for freestyle.

However, I think in the past few years, in part due to Stars take-over and the introduction of the ‘Jewel’ class, NCL are starting to look like a force to be reckoned with. This is especially the case with NCL’s innovations such as NCL America. It has had its hic-ups, but at least it is a brave idea. They are trying to carve out niches overlooked by the big two.

Although 'Freestyle' is not very popular with those who have not tried it, many that have tried it, like it.

Personally, I still think RCI are the market leaders in mass-market ship design, by a long way.

[ 11-16-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

I also remember someone saying that NCL has a whole new class of ships in developmentg right now...has anyone heard any information about it??

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In the actual "Star-Class," there is the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn. NCL decided they do some modifications to the design, and the new ones are the "Jewel-Class," consisting of the Norwegian Jewel, Pride of Hawaii, and two more unnamed vessel...

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Other changes include the modified Garden Villas and new Courtyard Villas forward the funnel. The aft part of the ship that had hosted the Fitness Center became MORE balconies. On the aft top deck, there is a new sports court with spectator seating which was absent on the STAR/DAWN. There seems to be less pool deck with the kids' pool moved to midship lido with the rest of the pools - gone are the tiered decks also. The atrium also got modified too.

I haven't been on a Star-class ship, but really would like to try the Jewel-class ships because I heard it is an improve of the former. I am hoping to go on the NORWEGIAN JEWEL next summer in the Meds !

[ 11-16-2005: Message edited by: Waynaro ]

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There is an extra deck above the bridge. The deck that had hosted the Spinnaker Lounge became the new Health Fitness and Spa center. The observation lounge got moved a deck higher into a new housing.

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OK. I'm not a Spa/Fitness Centre person, so I doubt if I ever looked at any of these places!

OTOH I do remember the Spinnaker Lounge. A great place to sit, especially late afternoon or evening to watch the sun go down. A good spot, my favourite bar/lounge on Jewel.

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Other changes include the modified Garden Villas and new Courtyard Villas forward the funnel.

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Sadly I'm not a Garden Villa person either....

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On the aft top deck, there is a new sports court with spectator seating which was absent on the STAR/DAWN.

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I remember standing watching someone shoot some hoops in the sports court early in the morning when we docked at Amsterdam, so I was probably in, or at the back of, the spectator seating area. Hmm - I suppose it might get some use when it's sunny, but in the English Channel - not really.

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There seems to be less pool deck with the kids' pool moved to midship lido with the rest of the pools

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There are some (small) flumes around the main pool area, and I did read somewhere that they're a bit different from the ones on Star/Dawn. In fact when I looked at the deck plan again, I was surprised at how little space on Jewel was dedicated to the pool - I think it's on the same deck as the Garden Restaurant (buffet) which is huge, and extends from midships all the way back almost to the stern. There's a bar with outdoor seating at the very stern which almost feels like an extension of the Garden Restaurant.

OK, thanks for all the info. Obviously there has been continual, steady development. It'll be interesting to see if Pride of Hawai'i is the same as Jewel, or represents a further development.

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Tom, I think you will find Celebrity 'Mercury' to be a very different kettle of fish to Jewel. She was of course 'big' and state of the art at the time of her float out, but not now.

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Well, we're actually going to be on Galaxy - I think that's the same size as Mercury, but bigger than Century. Not a lot smaller than N Jewel - I'm assuming I'll find Galaxy is closer to the NCL ship than to MSC Sinfonia. Older than both, of course.

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The food and service should be a notch or two higher and the overall experience should be more refined than NCL. The ships decor is what the Americans call 'understated' (compared to Carnival) allthough I'd call it a kind of 'modern art' contemporary feel.

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I thought the food on N Jewel was excellent - my issues were with the Freestyle Dining procedure; the food, once we got it, was excellent. As regards the overall refinement aspect, I'm getting a bit of a feel from other boards that the Century class ships are somewhat overdue a refit/refurbishment. Century is having a significant one this winter, but there's nothing scheduled for Galaxy or Mercury. I wonder if, in fact. it's the Millenium class on which Celebrity's reputation is now resting?

As regards the decor, I thought N Jewel was good! It was certainly bright & colourful, especially those carpets, but the materials used were very high quality everywhere, and (for me, at least) they hit just the right balance. I don't think it was anywhere near as garish as a Farcus interior for Carnival.

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:
And did someone say there are a further two? Or did that include Pride of Hawai'i? Where are the next ones being built?

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Pride of Hawaii - Spring 2006 - Meyer Werft
Unnamed - February 2007 - Meyer Werft
Unnamed - October 2007 - Meyer Werft

Well I was close. Galaxy is the slightly younger sister of Mercury. They are more or less identical, apart from decor.

As regards the decor, I thought N Jewel was good! It was certainly bright & colourful, especially those carpets, but the materials used were very high quality everywhere, and (for me, at least) they hit just the right balance. I don't think it was anywhere near as garish as a Farcus interior for Carnival.

Yes colorful without being too OTT, in most rooms. Royal Caribbean tend to have soem rooms which are a little glitzy, but other which are very tasteful - yet none as nausiating as Carnival's.

I'm not dissing Galaxy, we shall enjoy our cruise next summer very much. But you know how it is; I'm already thinking about the one after that....

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Correction:

Pride of Hawaii - Spring 2006 - Meyer Werft
Unnamed - February 2007 - Meyer Werft
Unnamed - October 2007 - Meyer Werft
SS United States ????????????????????????

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I was just looking at some of the artists images of the forthcoming MSC Musica, which is almost exactly the same size as N Star etc. I really don't like the look of Musica, but I like the look of the NCL ships. Looking at them I think it's this:-

a) I don't like the 'pinched-in' appearance of Musica, with its high, narrow superstructure; all those decks of balcony cabins, and the silly way the superstructure returns to full width at the bow and stern;

b) I don't like the standardisation of the cabin types, I prefer the range of cabin sizes and layouts on the NCL ship (and on many others, to be fair);

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Tom Burke wrote:
a) I don't like the 'pinched-in' appearance of Musica, with its high, narrow superstructure; all those decks of balcony cabins, and the silly way the superstructure returns to full width at the bow and stern;

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Not much different than may other newbuilds including QM2. It could be due to internal weight distribution and the high superstructure, and of course stability reasons. There may be other reasons as well.

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b) I don't like the standardisation of the cabin types, I prefer the range of cabin sizes and layouts on the NCL ship (and on many others, to be fair);

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Standardisation means less cost and easier maintenance. Also it may be due to the results of their market research and where the ships are deployed.

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c) and I like the way the lifeboats on the NCL ships are definitely recessed. On Musica they just sit there at the bottom of the superstructure.

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Again, there are other ships with lifeboats and tenders exposed, see: Spirit/Vista-class, QM2, etc. It could be that having them exposed they are easier to access in case of problems. Interesting to know the pros and cons.

******

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Originally posted by Beezo:

Pride of Hawaii - Spring 2006 - Meyer Werft
Unnamed - February 2007 - Meyer Werft
Unnamed - October 2007 - Meyer Werft

~Brian

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Hey, I have heard a rumor that the ship due in february 2007 will be named Norwegian Gem...i do not have any confirmation on this however...

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How soon should we expect NCL to announce the names of the other ships? One is due to enter service February 2007 (15 months away) and October 2007 (23 months away)...

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Just to resurrect this thread, the NCL forum on CruiseCritics is strogly suggesting that the Feb 2007 ship will be called Norwegian Pearl, and the one after that may be called Norwegian Jade.

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Originally posted by Tom Burke:

Just to resurrect this thread, the NCL forum on CruiseCritics is strogly suggesting that the Feb 2007 ship will be called Norwegian Pearl, and the one after that may be called Norwegian Jade.

And after that there are rumours of some much 'much bigger' ships.

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Very interesting...

I have heard the rumors of the ships being called Norwegian Gem and Norwegian Pearl, but this is the first for Norwegian Jade.

I cannot wait to see what NCL is planning for the next class of ships!

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Originally posted by Beezo:
There was also the design that was similar to that one, the class that only had a LOI with Aker.

~Brian

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The Aker design was a Panamax design and the lifeboats were a deck lower (which would not meet future SOLAS regulations). Also I thought this design looked similar to Carnival's Spirit-class.

The SUPERSTAR SAGITTARIUS II design was "born" at Meyer Werft. If I remember correctly, it was weighed in at 112,000grt.

This ship reminds me of an AURORA-based hull (but with a higher bow) and a Carnival Conquest foreward upper deck. I hope NCL do take this design, but alter it a bit so it won't look so "massive" with the Boeing 747 structure.

[ 01-03-2006: Message edited by: Waynaro ]

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NCL names its 2007 newbuilds
3/1/2006
Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem will be the names of the NCL Corp. newbuilds arriving in February and October 2007, respectively. Currently under construction at Meyer Werft, the pair will feature Freestyle Cruising features including multiple restaurants, family-friendly accommodations and Courtyard Villas.
‘Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem will be the ninth and 10th big new ships to join the NCL fleet since the fleet modernization began in late 1999,’ said NCL Corp. president and ceo Colin Veitch. He noted that once Norwegian Gem is delivered, more than 80% of NCL capacity will be ‘big, new and modern.’ The company aims to field the industry’s youngest fleet by 2010.

Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Gem will join Pride of Hawaii, arriving in April, and the seven big new ships built since 1999 and already in service – Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Spirit, Pride of Aloha, Pride of America and Norwegian Jewel.

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