Norwegian Jewel is a New and Shining Example of Norwegian Cruise Line's Future
August 05, 2005
One day ahead of schedule and almost two years after the first keel was laid, the German-based shipyard Meyer Werft handed over the 93,500-ton cruise ship Norwegian Jewel to Norwegian Cruise Line in the Dutch port of Eemshaven on August 4th, 2005. It's completion marks the first of many steps that Norwegian Cruise Line is making to update their fleet with the most modern and stylish family of cruise ships at sea. They're not waiting long to get out into the blue yonder either; as early as August 5th, passengers who have booked their cruises will get onboard for two mini-cruises to Amsterdam and Dover.
Norwegian Jewel is the first of four cruise ships that Meyer Werft is building for Norwegian Cruise Line. However, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship was to have been constructed by the Finland-based shipyard, Aker Finnyards, a company that has produced over a quarter of all the cruise ships within the last ten years. But with too much many projects on Aker Finnyard's schedule, the company would have been unable to complete the ship in time, so NCL and Aker Finnyards decided not to work together on Norwegian Jewel.
Because of the fact that the soonest Norwegian Cruise Line could have had Norwegian Jewel had Aker constructed it was 2008, they therefore, decided to move their letter of intent to Meyer Werft. Aker spokesperson Sinikka Railo says that the cancellation took place in a "spirit of good understanding," and that "further cooperation between Aker and Norwegian Cruise Line" is very possible in the future.
Norwegian Cruise Line and cruisers alike have been excited about the NCL Jewel for quite some time, and it is already breaking records. For one, it is the biggest passenger vessel that has ever been built in Germany. This NCL Jewel will also be the biggest "Panmax" ship in the world, meaning it is too large to fit through the Panama Canal. That fact in itself doesn't mean that it is the largest cruise ship in the world, however; it means that its beam is more than 32.2 meters in the beam, making it impossible for it to travel through the Canal.
Besides being state-of-the-art technology of the diesel-electric pod propulsion system and the interactive communication systems, onboard, the Norwegian Cruise Line Jewel presents a multitude of special features and "freestyle" activities that spell comfort for the passengers. Over two-thirds of the cabins are outside cabins, and the majority of them have their own balconies.
Norwegian Jewel will be one of Norwegian Cruise Line's elegant vagabonds, masterfully constructed by Meyer Werft, and offering passengers several itineraries with cruises to Europe, Canada & New England, and the Caribbean. You can reserve your space onboard this great and innovative ship through Cruise Network right now.
