Another new cruise ship docks at St. Kitts’ Port Zante

Basseterre, St. Kitts (CUOPM) — The second of the eleven new cruise ships scheduled to visit St. Kitts during the 2014/2015 Cruise Ship Season is in port.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,846 passenger Norwegian Gem docked at Port Zante this morning.

Norwegian Gem is a Jewel class cruise ship of Norwegian Cruise Line and is the last cruise ship of the Jewel class built by the German shipyard, Meyer Werft.

The Norwegian Gem was the newest cruise ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet until the debut of Norwegian Epic in June 2010.

Construction began on 7 June 2006 at the Meyer Werft Shipyard of Papenburg, Germany.

She was delivered to Norwegian on 1st October 2007. Norwegian promoted the launch of this ship via her own website, “Gem It Girl,” which in addition to providing details about the ship, also prompted previous customers’ of Norwegian to submit an entry to be chosen as her godmother.

As with the rest of Norwegian’s fleet, Norwegian Gem utilizes the “Freestyle” cruising concept, which allows guest to dine in any number of restaurants, in casual attire, at times of their own choosing.

The Norwegian Gem also is one of the four ships that has the Nickelodeon programme. The Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Breakaway also have the programme.

Cruise officials have organised a plaque exchange ceremony this morning (Monday).

According to the 2014/2015 Cruise Ship itinerary, the new ships range from the 100-passenger capacity Ms Serenissima to the 4,905 passenger capacity Quantum of the Seas. Visits range from a one-off call to 15 visits.

New ships are Holland America Line’s 1,653-passennger Amsterdam which makes one call the Artania, which makes one call and Carnival Cruise Line’s 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor, which also makes 1 call.

Costa Cruises, 3,470-passenger Costa Fortuna is scheduled to make 7 calls; TUI’s 2,114-passenger Mein Schiff 1 makes 11 calls and the 2,681-passenger Mein Schiff 3 has two scheduled calls.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s 3,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl, has 15 scheduled visits.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s 4,905-passenger Quantum of the Seas has 6 scheduled calls to Port Zante while Oceania Cruises 1,250-passenger Riviera and Louis Cruise Lines/Thomson Cruises’ 1,350-passnger Thomson Celebration is scheduled to make a total of 12 calls.