Built by Meyer Werft at Papenburg, Germany, between 2005 and 2007, the four Jewel-class ships measure between 93,502 and 93,558 GT and formed the backbone of Norwegian Cruise Line's fleet in the Freestyle Cruising era. The design idea was choice: around a dozen dining venues, most of them small and several charging a cover, replaced the fixed seatings and single main restaurant of traditional cruising, while lounges, bars and entertainment were spread throughout the ship rather than concentrated in one showplace. Bright hull artwork made each sister instantly recognisable in port, and Norwegian Pearl added another first with the earliest bowling alley at sea. Headed by Norwegian Jewel, the class still sails intact for Norwegian.
