NEW YORK CITY--Travel Agent was onboard Tuesday evening in Manhattan as Norwegian Cruise Line introduced its newest ship, Norwegian Gem, to journalists and travel agents. The 2,400-passenger vessel has a "ship within a ship" set of accommodations on its top level. These include two Garden Villas with their own private gardens and sundecks; 10 Courtyard Villas that share a courtyard, pool and sundeck; and two Deluxe Owner's Suites.
The Gem departs Saturday on a seven-day cruise to the Bahamas, which will be repeated the following week. It begins Caribbean service with a January 5 departure from New York on an 11-day southern Caribbean itinerary, calling at St. Thomas, St. John, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Additional departures will be January 26 and February 6. The Norwegian Gem will also operate a 10-day Southern Caribbean cruise from New York calling at St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, St. Maarten and Tortola, departing January 16 and February 6. It then resumes New York-Bahamas cruises for the rest of the winter. For full details on the Norwegian Gem, visit www.ncl.com. (JP)