By Anita Dunham-Potter

Travel columnist

updated 12:11 p.m. ET Jan. 29, 2008

Anita Dunham-Potter Travel columnist • Profile • E-mail

Seven years ago, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) rocked the cruise world with its "Freestyle Cruising" model. The concept took the old style of cruising — formal, strictly scheduled and stuffy — and turned it upside down by offering flexible dining, multiple restaurants and casual attire aboard ship.

Now NCL has a new ship, its 10th new vessel in seven years. The last of the four 93,500-ton "Jewel"-class vessels, Norwegian Gem is currently the only ship in the fleet offering all the facets of Freestyle Cruising to its 2,400 passengers, including 12 restaurants, a bowling alley, a rock-climbing wall, the four-bars-in-one Bar Central, roomy "Courtyard Villas" and gigantic "Garden Villas."

Last year, private equity firm Apollo Management invested $1 billion in NCL, instantly making it a 50 percent owner of the cruise line. NCL said the cash infusion would help fund key areas, including fleet expansion and product enhancement. Sure enough, NCL recently announced new product enhancements under the Freestyle 2.0 initiative, including an additional $53 million investment in food alone over the next two years. NCL says lobster will be available every night in the main dining venues, each restaurant will have a signature dish, and a chocolate fondue tower will be placed in the Garden Cafe. Additionally, all cabins will get new bedding, duvets and towels, as well as tea and coffee makers.

The Freestyle 2.0 initiative will roll out over the next few months, and the changes should be in place on most ships by summer. Until then, Norwegian Gem serves as the poster ship for what's to come fleetwide.

Sparkling Gem
The first thing I noticed about the ship is a change in the décor. Compared to the other Jewel-class vessels, the colors are more muted and, to my eye, more pleasing. The toned-down colors let the details of the ship come forward, so they sparkle all the more.

The heart of the ship is the Crystal Atrium, whose ceiling is topped with multicolored crystals. A stunning Dale Chihuly chandelier takes center stage above the staircase. The ship's lobby is located in the atrium, as are several of the ship's specialty restaurants. There's also a two-deck-high LED screen, which displays nonstop videos and sporting events; this is also where Nintendo "Wii" enthusiasts can try their hands at a video-game tournament. Guests can grab a cup of coffee at the Java Café, sit back in a comfy chair and people-watch, or listen to one of the live bands that play throughout the cruise. Ringing the atrium area are the ship's Internet center and the reception desk, which displays a painting by Claude Monet, "Vétheuil in Sunshine." The picture is on loan from the collection of Tan Sri K. T. Lim, the chairman of Star Cruises, one of NCL's parent companies.

During the day, the most popular place on board is the Tahitian Pool area, which has two pools, four whirlpools, a waterfall and a bright-yellow water slide for kids.

Staterooms
The ship offers 32 stateroom categories — the most of any cruise line — ranging from standard inside staterooms and balcony suites to interconnecting cabins and luxurious villas that come with a butler and concierge service. With its vibrant Caribbean hues, my 340-square-foot mini-suite was cheerful and welcoming. Most suites have a queen-size bed, a separate living area with a dining table, and concierge service. A standard ocean-view stateroom with a balcony encompasses about 200 square feet; regular ocean-view rooms and inside cabins range between 140 and 160 square feet. All cabins have glossy cherry wood walls and furniture, a flat-panel TV, a coffee maker, a minibar, a safe and a duvet, and most have a bathroom with separate toilet and shower/tub areas.

Families or groups traveling together can choose from some 280 interconnecting cabins in a range of categories from standard inside rooms to suites. Cabins of different grades can also be linked to create two- to five-bedroom areas. On selected voyages throughout the year, NCL offers a family-plan discount on certain arrangements of adjoining cabins.

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NCL has also developed a "ship within a ship" concept that brings luxury accommodations to mass-market cruising. Guests looking for deluxe digs with their big-ship experience can stay in one of the two top-of-the-ship "Owner's Suites" or the 10 "Courtyard Villas," which come with their own butler and concierge. The villas ring a private, Balinese-style courtyard, which has rattan sun beds and hammocks, a plunge pool, a hot tub, a private sun deck and a gym. Each villa has two bedrooms and a living area and goes for around $5,800 per adult guest.

Want the biggest and best suite afloat? For $27,000 a week, you can stay in one of the two 4,400-square-foot Garden Villa Suites. For that hefty sum you get three bedrooms, three baths, your own private roof terrace, a private living room, a private garden, and a private hot tub and steam room.

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