CONTEMPORARY CRUISE SHIP CHRONICLES:
MV NORWEGIAN PEARL
by Peter Knego

Published January 20, 2007. All images and text copyright Peter Knego 2006 (unless otherwise noted).

NORWEGIAN PEARL Tour, Page One: Decks 15 and 14

[NORWEGIAN PEARL page two]   [NORWEGIAN PEARL page three]   [NORWEGIAN PEARL page four]

Owners: Norwegian Cruise Lines
Built by Meyer Werft Shipbuilders and Engineers, Papenburg, Germany
Yard no: S669
93,530 gt
965 by 105 feet (28 foot draft)
Speed: 25 knots
Passengers: 2,394 (double occupancy)
Crew: 987

NCL's official press image of the NORWEGIAN PEARL, courtesy of NCL.

The NORWEGIAN PEARL is the latest in a series of ships that evolved from Malaysia-based Star Cruises' 1999-built 75,338 gt Meyer Werft built twins SUPERSTAR LEO (link) (now sailing as NORWEGIAN SPIRIT) and SUPERSTAR VIRGO. These handsome ships were by far the largest ever commissioned for an Asian operator and brought with them a cutting edge standard to the Asian cruise industry. Many of their design concepts were influenced by Feng Shui principles and great expense was invested in their fittings and appointments.

When Star acquired NCL in 2000, these ships were even more sophisticated and suited to NCL's newly fashioned "Freestyle Cruising" concept then NCL's mid-sized fleet at the time. "Freestyle Cruising" is a "eat/do what you want, when you want" alternative to traditional shipboard dining (usually in two seatings) at one formal restaurant with one or maybe two entertainment options at set times each evening. By offering a variety of free and extra tariff restaurants in addition to a tradtional dining venue and several different types of shows, the "Freestyle" concept naturally lends itself to ever large, multiple venue-laden ships.

The NORWEGIAN PEARL's grilled, crescent-shaped funnel is a trademark feature introduced by the SUPERSTAR LEO. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.

Thus, it was no surprise that Star Cruises' two under-construction "jumbo" versions of SUPERSTAR LEO, the SUPERSTAR LIBRA and SUPERSTAR SCORPIO, were instead finished for NCL in 2001 and 2002 as NORWEGIAN STAR and NORWEGIAN DAWN, respectively. These two 92,470 gt ships shared many of the LEO's features, and, if not quite as attractive externally, they certainly had a powerful presence with their distinguished "beaked" wheelhouses, foreshortened bows, and uncompromisingly built up sterns. As the NCL product was honed and refined, the next four ships ordered were further evolved and slightly bigger at 93,500 gt. The latest breed includes NORWEGIAN JEWEL of 2005, PRIDE OF HAWAI'I and NORWEGIAN PEARL of 2006, and the NORWEGIAN GEM, due later this year.

The NORWEGIAN PEARL's official builder's plate. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.

While the six Meyer Werft built NCL Panamax ships are physically similar, they are each distinguished by their own individual hull art. On the PEARL, this consists of a blue, yellow, green and red ribbon intertwined wtih a strand of multi-hued pearls strecthing from forepeak to midships flanks. On the PEARL, there is a rock climbing wall (move over, Royal Caribbean!) and certain layout modifications which will be carried over to the newbuilding GEM.

On the PEARL, there are twelve passenger decks, from the uppermost Deck 15 down to Deck 4, linked by three stairtowers and banks of elevators.

The quidripod radio mast as seen from the Deck 15 sunning platform.

Facing aft from the forward portion of Deck 15. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.

The 572 square foot Villa Suite 15001 on starboard Aft Deck 15, from top to bottom: the balcony facing starboard; the bedroom; sitting area; and closet.

Deck 15 is in two sections: the forward portion is a sunning platform (Freestyle Sun Deck) at the base of the radio mast and the after portion houses the Villa suites and adjoining private and public sun decks.

In the realm of forward Deck 14, from top to bottom: over the bow; the forward sunning area; facing aft along the starboard side; the aft portion, facing forward; a view over the pool from the Deck 14 terrace.

Deck 14 begins with a glass-screened sun and observation deck overlooking the bow and continues aft to face the midships pool area.

From top to bottom, the 572 square foot Courtyard Villa Suite 14008: bedroom, facing port; sitting area, facing starboard; bathroom; and spare bedroom.

The aft portion of Deck 14 begins with the Deluxe Owner's Suites, Garden Villa Suites, Courtyard Villa suites and their adjoining courtyard.

Top, the rock climbing wall. Above, facing aft over the games court from Deck 14.

Farthest aft, is the 30 by 19 foot rock climbing wall and bleachers overlooking the basketball and tennis court.

Click here to continue NORWEGIAN PEARL tour, page two, decks 13 to 12

Click here to visit related blog: "PEARL Of NCL-Dom"

[NORWEGIAN PEARL page two]   [NORWEGIAN PEARL page three]   [NORWEGIAN PEARL page four]

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