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Leisure World

Former names: fantasy world, asean world, shangri-la world, skyward.

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Specifications of Leisure World

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Leisure World Review

Review of leisure world.

The 1969-built (as "MS Skyward) cruise ship Leisure World entered service on December 10, 1969. Together with the sistership Starward (1968-built/2018- scrapped as Aegean Queen/Louis Aura ), both vessels were purposely built for NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line .

The vessel (IMO number 6921828) was owned by the Hong Kong China -based New Century Group (via the subsidiary New Century Maritime Ltd) and operated by New Century Cruise Lines (travel brand and part of the subsidiary New Century Tours Corporation Pte Ltd).

When operated by New Century Cruise Lines, Leisure World was initially Tuvalu- flagged (MMSI 572282000, registered in Funafuti) and later reflagged to Panama (MMSI 374139000, registered in Colon ).

History - construction and ownership

The 800-passenger ship Skyward (Leisure World) was operated by her original owners until 1991 when she was sold to Johnson Sembawang Shipmanagement in Nassau and received the name "Shangri-la World". The boat was used mainly for voyages out of Singapore . Over time, the vessel changed her name several times until she received the name "Leisure World" after a renovation in Jacksonville Florida USA . The vessel was last drydock-refurbished in 2013.

( accidents ) In 1973, many of the ship's passengers became ill due to infected water. In 1979, a boiler room fire caused the ship to shut down its engines and all passengers were transferred to MS Starward.

During its service, the ship was named Skyward (1969-1991/owned by NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line), Shangri-La World and Asean World (1991-92/operated by Johnson Sembawang Shipmanagement), Fantasy World (1992-93/Johnson Sembawang), Leisure World (1993-2021). Shipowners change in 1995 (when NCL sold it to Queenstown Investments Ltd) and in 2000 (when Queenstown Investments sold it to New Century Group's Queenston Maritime Ltd).

The vessel was built by AG Weser Werk Seebeck (in Bremerhaven Germany ) and had min passenger capacity 580 (lower berths), max capacity 900 (all beds), 9 passenger-accessible decks (4 with cabins), powerplant with 2x MAN diesel engines (total power output 12,8 MW), propulsion system based on 2x CPP (controllable pitch propellers), service speed 14 knots (max 16 KN).

As a casino ship, Leisure World's itinerary program was based on cruises to nowhere leaving roundtrip out of homeport Singapore .

In late-April 2021, New Century Cruise Lines (NCCL) retired two of Asia's longest-serving cruise ships - Leisure World (52-year-old) and Amusement World (54-year-old). Commenting on the disposal of both vessels, NCCL said that the COVID crisis had severely affected the operations of the cruise ships, which had been unable to generate charter revenue while at the same time continuing to incur maintenance costs. Coupled with strong scrap steel prices, the company decided to sell the boats to realize its investment in an uncertain market environment.

• Leisure World was sold to NKD Maritime Ltd (India) for USD 3,59 million (~EUR 2,98M/~GBP 2,59M), gaining ~HKD 6,37M (~USD 0,82M) on the sale / based on its book value HKD 21,3M.
• Amusement World was also sold to NKD Maritime Ltd.
• Both ships were sold for scrap metal and departed their anchorage (off Singapore) heading to Alang India .
• Leisure World's AIS transmitted for the last time on July 2, 2021 (at 1:51 UTC), showing the boat at anchorage off Alang's coast.

The New Century Maritime-owned cruise ship Aegean Paradise (1990-built as "Orient Venus") was sold to Victor Restis (Greece) in 2015 for USD 22 million.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Leisure World's Atlantic Deck was devoted to standard Inside and Outside cabins for overnight passengers who purchased a stateroom for a nominal fee.

Leisure World Restaurant (an original Skyward venue) was adjacent to the Galley (kitchen and storage rooms) at the aft end of Rainbow Deck. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, Chinese buffets were available for a nominal charge, with stations in the dining room's forward and central sections. The simple but pleasant restaurant had picture windows on both sides.

The boat was very popular among older Singaporeans, who paid only $23 on weekdays for a day trip with price-inclusive unlimited buffet meals. Those under 55 years old had to pay $43. Another appeal was the low minimum bets at Lido Casino's 40 gaming tables. Bets started at $2 - rather than $25 minimums at Singapore's land-based resorts. Unlike its land-based casinos, the Lido Casino didn't require Singaporeans to pony up $100 to cross the threshold.

The ship's Lido Casino also had 200 gaming machines, but they were less popular.

Photos of Leisure World

Leisure World ship related cruise news

New Century Cruise Lines' ships Leisure World and Amusement World sold for scrap

The Singapore-based company New Century Cruise Lines (NCCL) retired two of Asia’s longest-serving cruise ships. The vessels join CruiseMapper...

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Cruise History - Remember the Starward?

By Kartgv , September 4, 2013 in Ask a Cruise Question

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For those of you who are 'old-timers' like us, and have fond memories of the Starward, USA Today online has a nice photo history of the ship and all of its changes over the years. We have such great memories of our first cruise together on the ship in 1981. Here's the link:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/09/03/photo-tour-orient-queen-cruise/2756909/?

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I never cruised Starward. My first cruise experience was on another NCL ship....Sunward II.

But as for the former Starward, I saw her last year in Santorini. She was looking pretty good.

CrusinCyndi

We did not sail on the Starward, but today just came across old brochures for our very first cruise on the Star Line....they had 2 ships, the Queen of Bermuda and the Bermuda Star...23,000 tons, 600 ft long...those were the days! I was looking at the prices back then and ya know what, cruises today are really not much more than what we paid 25 years ago for a 6 day cruise.....crusing IS the best value out there!

yes, great memories. My first cruise was on the Sunward II and we later were on the Southward and Starward. We lived those ships and thought they were huge. Funny how times change. Hank

VegasCrossfire

OMG.....we sailed on the Starward 3 times - in the 70's and 80's. We loved that ship, along with the Skyward. We are now getting ready to go on the Star for the first time and are wondering how different the "new" NCL ship will be compared to the Star. No comparison, I know...as all ships have transformed.

Thanks for the memories!

Those old ships had beautiful lines unlike some of the floating apartment blocks of today.

yes yes yes took the southward ,starwood and I think skyward. at the time NCl would take a booking for a weekend, sat or sun ,and NCL would select the day and ship. never did get credits for those cruises. we had outside cabins. don't remember any balconies.

P.S. perhaps ask this over at the NCL board

Our very first cruise was on the SEAWARD. 1989 :D

Here's a short little "review" with pictures I did on it a few months ago:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1890671

In 1978, it was my first cruise! Mediocre food and a "dog eat dog" world for the workers. Good thing, we followed up with the Fairsea, or we may have never cruised again.

Recall the name, never cruised Starward. Our first cruise was on the Song of America, RCCL, 1982.... later did another curise on NCL Norway. We tended to cruise new ships generally.

Thanks for sharing, it is nice to remember these earlier ships.

Thanks for the memories--first cruise was Seaward in 1981. So different from today, but surely hooked me on cruise vacations.

We cruised on the Seaward back in the 80s. I think they were then experimenting with a speciality restaurant. Our tablemates had been gifted by their TA with a meal in that space. Until then it had not been a part of cruising.

Thanks for the memories--first cruise was Seaward in 1981. So different from today, but surely hooked me on cruise vacations. Barb

Maybe a different Seaward?? It didn't come out until 1988. :confused:

Now that ship, the Seaward, I have fond memories of. That specialty restaurant was Le Bistro and I remember eating in there also.

After 2 fantastic cruises on that ship, we cruised her a third time under the Norwegian Sea name. It was when they first went to Freestyle and it was a disaster. It was such a mess and the service was so bad, it was 10 years before we tried a NCL cruise again.

bettyboop16

Our first cruise on NCL Seaward 1996 out of San Juan...loved it!:)

• 4 years later...

Our very first cruise, our honeymoon in May 1993, was on the NCL Starward, 7 days out of San Juan, Puerto Rico and a full itinerary...Barbados, Martinique, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Thomas. Those were the days when we had to book vacations through a travel agent and I knew nothing about cruises, I just knew I wanted to go on one and this was the one that the travel agent picked. It included the airfare from DFW and was $2400. We had an inside cabin and when we went to look for our cabin, we looked at the signs that pointed left and right, showing the cabin numbers and which way to go...the numbers ended and our cabin wasn't on there and we had to ask where it was! I think they made a closet into our cabin! The side thrusters must have been going out and directly below us as each morning, very early, when coming into a port, we were awakened and shaken by the horrendous noise from the thrusters. We had such a blast and that addicted us to cruising and we just returned from our 14th cruise <3:ship:<3

Our very first cruise was on the SEAWARD. 1989 :D   Here's a short little "review" with pictures I did on it a few months ago:   http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1890671

We took our first cruise on the Seaward 1996. Loved it!.....still cruising today! Great review! brought a lot of fond memories. :)

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Norwegian Ships by Size [2024] with Comparison Chart

By jeremy camosse dec 2022.

Norwegian Ships by Size - from biggest to smallest. You'll find all of NCL's ships stacked up against each other. Do you prefer the big or small ships?

Below you'll find a complete list of Norwegian Ships by Size . From their smallest, active ship (NCL Spirit) to the largest Norwegian cruise ship (and recently launched), the NCL Encore. You'll find a sizable difference between NCL's largest and the smallest ships in their fleet. In fact, the difference is over 2x the gross tonnage!

We've created a new post to see how these ships rank on a global scale. Norwegian has only one ship that made the list of 20 Largest Cruise Ships in the World . Click to find out which vessel made it and where it ranks. There, we also analyze Norwegian's average ship size versus all other lines!

First, a little clarification is needed before viewing our sizing chart. We're measuring Norwegian ships size using the metric, "Gross Tonnage." This always causes a bit of confusion amongst our community members. It's not simply "weight" that determines this size measurement. The definition is technical and boring, but we'll provide it anyway.

GROSS TONNAGE

A nonlinear measure of a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is calculated based on the moulded volume of all enclosed spaces of the ship and is used to determine things such as a ship's manning regulations, safety rules, registration fees, and port dues, whereas the older gross register tonnage is a measure of the volume of only certain enclosed spaces.

Are you still awake? Good. So why do we use this measurement to determine Norwegian Ships Size? As noted above, it's used for safety rules and whatnot. As such, it's the standard across this cruise line and all others. Every passenger cruise ship will have this measurement . That makes it easy to compare ship size across ship, class, line and more.

Additionally, you'll find a number of other stats in our ship list. These include ship length, beam, draft, passenger count, and a few others.

Ok, we're done with today's maritime measurement course. Here's the good stuff.

Norwegian Ships by Size

Largest to Smallest

Click above to  pin this Norwegian Cruise Ships by Size Infograph to your cruise planning board , so you can refer back to it when choosing your next ship!

That's every NCL Cruise Ship currently active in their fleet. You can see the vast difference in ship size. This is particularly dramatic when looking at Norwegian's biggest ship, the NCL Encore, vs the smallest Norwegian ship ever built! Here's a visual representation showing the smallest in the fleet's history vs. their behemoth!

The experience on these two ships will be completely different! On the largest, Norwegian Escape, you'll be lucky to experience half of the venues on the ship. Whereas the smaller ships offer a more quaint and personal experience. In just a day or two, you'll have your bearings and likely a fixed routine on these ships. Which is better? That's all going to depend on personal preferences!

Here's a menu of all Norwegian Ships by Size . Click on any for quick access to ship stats for that vessel.

Below we've listed all Norwegian Ships by size, including a bit more info.

Norwegian Ships

• 1) Norwegian Encore
• 2) Norwegian Bliss
• 3) Norwegian Joy
• 4) Norwegian Escape
• 5) Norwegian Epic
• 6) Norwegian Breakaway
• 7) Norwegian Getaway
• 8) Norwegian Prima
• 9) Norwegian Viva
• 10) Norwegian Jade
• 11) Norwegian Pearl
• 12) Norwegian Gem
• 13) Norwegian Jewel
• 14) Norwegian Dawn
• 15) Norwegian Star
• 16) Pride of America
• 17) Norwegian Sun
• 18) Norwegian Sky
• 19) Norwegian Spirit

Below we've listed all Norwegian Ships by size, including a bit more info. You'll find the following metrics: gross tonnage, ship length, year built, total staterooms on board, passenger capacity, and crew members.

Norwegian Encore

1) norwegian encore size.

The Encore has a construction date of 2019 and a total size of 169,116 gross tons. The ship measures 1,094 feet ( 333 meters) in length and falls in line as number 1 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Encore is included in Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Encore holds 5,733 passengers. That includes 3,998 cruise vacationers and 1,735 staff members. The Encore total number of staterooms is 2,040 .

Norwegian Encore Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 169,116 GT
• Length : 1,094 ft (333 m)
• Beam : 136 ft (41 m)
• Draft : 29 ft (9 m)
• Max Speed : 26 mph (23 kn)
• Year Built : 2019
• Years Served : 2019-present
• Capacity : 3,998
• Crew Members : 1,735
• Total on Board : 5,733
• Total Staterooms : 2,040
• Flagged Country : Bahamas
• Ship Cost : 920 Million
• Status : active

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Encore age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Encore Deck Plans .

Norwegian Bliss

2) norwegian bliss size.

The Bliss has a construction date of 2018 and a total size of 168,028 gross tons. The ship measures 1,094 feet ( 333 meters) in length and falls in line as number 2 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Bliss is included in Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Bliss holds 5,720 passengers. That includes 4,004 cruise vacationers and 1,716 staff members. The Bliss total number of staterooms is 2,043 .

Norwegian Bliss Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 168,028 GT
• Year Built : 2018
• Years Served : 2018-present
• Capacity : 4,004
• Crew Members : 1,716
• Total on Board : 5,720
• Total Staterooms : 2,043

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Bliss age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Bliss Deck Plans .

Norwegian Joy

3) norwegian joy size.

The Joy has a construction date of 2017 and a total size of 167,725 gross tons. The ship measures 1,094 feet ( 333 meters) in length and falls in line as number 3 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Joy is included in Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Joy holds 5,625 passengers. That includes 3,804 cruise vacationers and 1,821 staff members. The Joy total number of staterooms is 1,902 .

Norwegian Joy Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 167,725 GT
• Year Built : 2017
• Years Served : 2017-present
• Capacity : 3,804
• Crew Members : 1,821
• Total on Board : 5,625
• Total Staterooms : 1,902

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Joy age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Joy Deck Plans .

Norwegian Escape

4) norwegian escape size.

The Escape has a construction date of 2015 and a total size of 167,725 gross tons. The ship measures 1,069 feet ( 326 meters) in length and falls in line as number 4 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Escape is included in Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Escape holds 5,999 passengers. That includes 4,266 cruise vacationers and 1,733 staff members. The Escape total number of staterooms is 2,175 .

Norwegian Escape Size & Stats

• Length : 1,069 ft (326 m)
• Draft : 28 ft (9 m)
• Year Built : 2015
• Years Served : 2015-present
• Capacity : 4,266
• Crew Members : 1,733
• Total on Board : 5,999
• Total Staterooms : 2,175

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Escape age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Escape Deck Plans .

Norwegian Epic

5) norwegian epic size.

The Epic has a construction date of 2010 and a total size of 155,873 gross tons. The ship measures 1,081 feet ( 329 meters) in length and falls in line as number 5 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Epic is included in Norwegian’s Epic Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Epic holds 5,824 passengers. That includes 4,100 cruise vacationers and 1,724 staff members. The Epic total number of staterooms is 2,114 .

Norwegian Epic Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 155,873 GT
• Length : 1,081 ft (329 m)
• Beam : 171 ft (52 m)
• Max Speed : 25 mph (22 kn)
• Year Built : 2010
• Years Served : 2010-present
• Capacity : 4,100
• Crew Members : 1,724
• Total on Board : 5,824
• Total Staterooms : 2,114
• Ship Cost : 1,200 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Epic age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Epic Deck Plans .

Norwegian Breakaway

6) norwegian breakaway size.

The Breakaway has a construction date of 2013 and a total size of 145,655 gross tons. The ship measures 1,068 feet ( 326 meters) in length and falls in line as number 6 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Breakaway is included in Norwegian’s Breakaway Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Breakaway holds 5,620 passengers. That includes 3,963 cruise vacationers and 1,657 staff members. The Breakaway total number of staterooms is 2,014 .

Norwegian Breakaway Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 145,655 GT
• Length : 1,068 ft (326 m)
• Beam : 170 ft (52 m)
• Year Built : 2013
• Years Served : 2013-present
• Capacity : 3,963
• Crew Members : 1,657
• Total on Board : 5,620
• Total Staterooms : 2,014
• Ship Cost : 840 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Breakaway age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Breakaway Deck Plans .

Norwegian Getaway

7) norwegian getaway size.

The Getaway has a construction date of 2014 and a total size of 145,655 gross tons. The ship measures 1,068 feet ( 326 meters) in length and falls in line as number 7 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Getaway is included in Norwegian’s Breakaway Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Getaway holds 5,609 passengers. That includes 3,963 cruise vacationers and 1,646 staff members. The Getaway total number of staterooms is 2,012 .

Norwegian Getaway Size & Stats

• Year Built : 2014
• Years Served : 2014-present
• Crew Members : 1,646
• Total on Board : 5,609
• Total Staterooms : 2,012
• Ship Cost : 780 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Getaway age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Getaway Deck Plans .

Norwegian Prima

8) norwegian prima size.

The Prima has a construction date of 2022 and a total size of 143,525 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet ( 294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 8 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Prima is included in Norwegian’s Prima Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Prima holds 5,338 passengers. That includes 3,950 cruise vacationers and 1,388 staff members. The Prima total number of staterooms is 1,647 .

Norwegian Prima Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 143,525 GT
• Length : 965 ft (294 m)
• Beam : 135 ft (41 m)
• Year Built : 2022
• Years Served : 2022 - present
• Capacity : 3,950
• Crew Members : 1,388
• Total on Board : 5,338
• Total Staterooms : 1,647
• Ship Cost : 850 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Prima age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Prima Deck Plans .

Norwegian Viva

9) norwegian viva size.

The Viva has a construction date of 2023 and a total size of 143,525 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet ( 294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 9 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Viva is included in Norwegian’s Prima Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Viva holds 5,338 passengers. That includes 3,950 cruise vacationers and 1,388 staff members. The Viva total number of staterooms is 1,647 .

Norwegian Viva Size & Stats

• Year Built : 2023
• Years Served : Future - 2023

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Viva age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Viva Deck Plans .

Norwegian Jade

10) norwegian jade size.

The Jade has a construction date of 2006 and a total size of 93,558 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet ( 294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 10 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Jade is included in Norwegian’s Jewel Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Jade holds 3,439 passengers. That includes 2,402 cruise vacationers and 1,037 staff members. The Jade total number of staterooms is 1,201 .

Norwegian Jade Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 93,558 GT
• Beam : 125 ft (38 m)
• Draft : 27 ft (8 m)
• Max Speed : 29 mph (25 kn)
• Year Built : 2006
• Years Served : 2006-present
• Capacity : 2,402
• Crew Members : 1,037
• Total on Board : 3,439
• Total Staterooms : 1,201
• Ship Cost : 390 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Jade age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Jade Deck Plans .

Norwegian Pearl

11) norwegian pearl size.

The Pearl has a construction date of 2006 and a total size of 93,530 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet ( 294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 11 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Pearl is included in Norwegian’s Jewel Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Pearl holds 3,466 passengers. That includes 2,394 cruise vacationers and 1,072 staff members. The Pearl total number of staterooms is 1,195 .

Norwegian Pearl Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 93,530 GT
• Capacity : 2,394
• Crew Members : 1,072
• Total on Board : 3,466
• Total Staterooms : 1,195

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Pearl age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Pearl Deck Plans .

Norwegian Gem

12) norwegian gem size.

The Gem has a construction date of 2007 and a total size of 93,530 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet ( 294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 12 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Gem is included in Norwegian’s Jewel Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Gem holds 3,464 passengers. That includes 2,394 cruise vacationers and 1,070 staff members. The Gem total number of staterooms is 1,197 .

Norwegian Gem Size & Stats

• Year Built : 2007
• Years Served : 2007-present
• Crew Members : 1,070
• Total on Board : 3,464
• Total Staterooms : 1,197

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Gem age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Gem Deck Plans .

Norwegian Jewel

13) norwegian jewel size.

The Jewel has a construction date of 2005 and a total size of 93,502 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet ( 294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 13 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Jewel is included in Norwegian’s Jewel Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Jewel holds 3,445 passengers. That includes 2,376 cruise vacationers and 1,069 staff members. The Jewel total number of staterooms is 1,190 .

Norwegian Jewel Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 93,502 GT
• Max Speed : 30 mph (26 kn)
• Year Built : 2005
• Years Served : 2005-present
• Capacity : 2,376
• Crew Members : 1,069
• Total on Board : 3,445
• Total Staterooms : 1,190

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Jewel age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Jewel Deck Plans .

Norwegian Dawn

14) norwegian dawn size.

The Dawn has a construction date of 2002 and a total size of 92,250 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet ( 294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 14 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Dawn is included in Norwegian’s Dawn Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Dawn holds 3,372 passengers. That includes 2,340 cruise vacationers and 1,032 staff members. The Dawn total number of staterooms is 1,170 .

Norwegian Dawn Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 92,250 GT
• Draft : 38 ft (12 m)
• Year Built : 2002
• Years Served : 2002-present
• Capacity : 2,340
• Crew Members : 1,032
• Total on Board : 3,372
• Total Staterooms : 1,170
• Ship Cost : 400 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Dawn age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Dawn Deck Plans .

Norwegian Star

15) norwegian star size.

The Star has a construction date of 2001 and a total size of 91,740 gross tons. The ship measures 965 feet ( 294 meters) in length and falls in line as number 15 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Star is included in Norwegian’s Dawn Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Star holds 3,379 passengers. That includes 2,348 cruise vacationers and 1,031 staff members. The Star total number of staterooms is 1,174 .

Norwegian Star Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 91,740 GT
• Max Speed : 28 mph (24 kn)
• Year Built : 2001
• Years Served : 2001-present
• Capacity : 2,348
• Crew Members : 1,031
• Total on Board : 3,379
• Total Staterooms : 1,174

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Star age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Star Deck Plans .

Pride of America

16) pride of america size.

The Pride of America has a construction date of 2005 and a total size of 80,439 gross tons. The ship measures 920 feet ( 280 meters) in length and falls in line as number 16 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Pride of America is included in Norwegian’s Pride of America Class. At full capacity, the Pride of America holds 3,113 passengers. That includes 2,186 cruise vacationers and 927 staff members. The Pride of America total number of staterooms is 1,101 .

Pride of America Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 80,439 GT
• Length : 920 ft (280 m)
• Beam : 106 ft (32 m)
• Draft : 26 ft (8 m)
• Capacity : 2,186
• Crew Members : 927
• Total on Board : 3,113
• Total Staterooms : 1,101
• Flagged Country : Hawaii
• Ship Cost : 450 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Pride of America age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Pride of America Deck Plans .

Norwegian Sun

17) norwegian sun size.

The Sun has a construction date of 2001 and a total size of 78,309 gross tons. The ship measures 848 feet ( 258 meters) in length and falls in line as number 17 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Sun is included in Norwegian’s Sun Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Sun holds 2,842 passengers. That includes 1,936 cruise vacationers and 906 staff members. The Sun total number of staterooms is 968 .

Norwegian Sun Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 78,309 GT
• Length : 848 ft (258 m)
• Beam : 123 ft (37 m)
• Capacity : 1,936
• Crew Members : 906
• Total on Board : 2,842
• Total Staterooms : 968
• Ship Cost : 330 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Sun age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Sun Deck Plans .

Norwegian Sky

18) norwegian sky size.

The Sky has a construction date of 1999 and a total size of 77,104 gross tons. The ship measures 832 feet ( 254 meters) in length and falls in line as number 18 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Sky is included in Norwegian’s Sun Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Sky holds 2,903 passengers. That includes 2,004 cruise vacationers and 899 staff members. The Sky total number of staterooms is 1,002 .

Norwegian Sky Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 77,104 GT
• Length : 832 ft (254 m)
• Year Built : 1999
• Years Served : 1999-2004 & 2008-present
• Capacity : 2,004
• Crew Members : 899
• Total on Board : 2,903
• Total Staterooms : 1,002

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Sky age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Sky Deck Plans .

Norwegian Spirit

19) norwegian spirit size.

The Spirit has a construction date of 1998 and a total size of 75,904 gross tons. The ship measures 880 feet ( 268 meters) in length and falls in line as number 19 among the 19 active ships that make up the fleet. Norwegian Spirit is included in Norwegian’s Spirit Class. At full capacity, the Norwegian Spirit holds 2,930 passengers. That includes 2,018 cruise vacationers and 912 staff members. The Spirit total number of staterooms is 1,025 .

Norwegian Spirit Size & Stats

• Gross Tonnage : 75,904 GT
• Length : 880 ft (268 m)
• Beam : 121 ft (37 m)
• Year Built : 1998
• Years Served : 2004-present
• Capacity : 2,018
• Crew Members : 912
• Total on Board : 2,930
• Total Staterooms : 1,025
• Ship Cost : 350 Million

To see how this compares, click through to see Norwegian Spirit age and stats vs all Norwegian ships. There you’ll find graphs showing length, capacity, tonnage and more for this ship vs all in the fleet.

To check out the ship from top to bottom, click here for Norwegian Spirit Deck Plans .

We're constantly asked about NCL's ships and size statistics. Here are the most frequently asked questions for your convenience!

Norwegian Cruise Ships by Size Most Often Asked Questions

The NCL Encore is the largest of Norwegian's 19 cruise ships. It has a gross tonnage of 169,116 and spans 1,094 feet (333 meters) in length. It was built in 2019 and holds 6,038 passengers (including crew).

Norwegian's smallest, active cruise ship is the Spirit with a gross tonnage measuring 75,904. She's served with the fleet since 2004 and measures 880 feet (268 meters) in length.

NCL's fleet varies in size as seen from our chart. The smallest, active ship holds 2,930 total passengers (including staff) and measures 880 feet in length. The newest NCL ship, the Encore, is significantly bigger. It holds 5,733 passengers and spans 1,094 feet in length. For reference, the Eiffel Tower is roughly 900 feet high! See our chart above for everything in the middle.

Often we're asked if size affects price. The cost of a Norwegian cruise isn't directly correlated with size. You won't find that the bigger the ship, the more the cost. Nor will you find the opposite. You won't necessarily pay less for the largest NCL ship vs the smallest. It will all depend on the specific itinerary and often the ship age. Newer ships tend to be more expensive to sail.

We hope that the above list of Norwegian Cruise Ships by size help you to find your ideal ship.

If you enjoyed this, feel free to check out our post, Largest Cruise Ships in the World .

Please use the "Share" buttons below to help other NCL fans find this sizing info!

Five Things We No Longer See On Cruise Ships

Cruising, like everything in the world, is constantly evolving.  Certain things about cruising however are engrained in the minds of those who experienced them first hand, or even by watching The Love Boat.  To this day for example not a cruise goes by that I don't hear someone, often younger than I, asking if they still have a midnight buffet.  Let's take a quick glimpse at five of the things we just don't see on cruise ships any longer.

Skeet Shooting (aka Trap Shooting)

It's not hard to understand why cruise lines don't want to hand loaded shotguns over to random passengers walking away from pool bars, but this wasn't always the case.  For many years, a popular onboard activity was skeet shooting.  This usually took place towards the aft of the ship on a sea day.  Manned by an officer, guests could pay a few dollars and try their hand at shooting clay pigeons out of the air as they sailed over the ocean.  Obviously, when this activity was going on, everyone knew it, as the sounds of shotgun blasts tends to stand out on a serene Caribbean cruise.

I don't recall seeing this much past the very early 1990's, and have heard people mention environmental concerns as one reason.  While I try to be an eco-conscious person, I really think this may have come down more to lawyers finally realizing that this was actually happening.

Ice Carving Demonstrations

Passengers weren't the only persons on deck wielding potentially dangerous equipment.  Ice carvings, still seen around ships at times, used to be an event to be witnessed.  While the occasional ice carving now happens in the galley, or at least, with little fanfare on deck, this was once an activity that drew big crowds.  Talented chefs would come out, often in the late afternoon, and place large blocks of ice on the pool deck.  Then, in a matter of minutes, they'd dazzle passengers as they turned the boring blocks of ice into unicorns, dolphins, birds, or even cruise line logos using chain-saws and sharp knives.

While it was an impressive display, my guess is that the popularity waned as other activities competed for the attention of passengers.  Additionally, I can't help but think the talented chefs occasionally needed a mulligan, or suffered quite the challenge lugging the carved ice back to the galley for freezing before display at the midnight buffet.  That in mind, as shown in the picture above (taken sometime since 2008), it still occasionally occurs, but isn't the staple of cruising it once was.

The Ocean As Your Driving Range

Not everything flying off the stern of a cruise ship resulted in a loud "boom", as driving golf balls off the deck into the open ocean was a popular activity until the mid-nineties.  Similar to skeet shooting, passengers would pay a few dollars for golf balls and use of a club.  The passenger would then don a safety harness of sorts as a section of railing was removed, allowing a clear path from the deck to the water below.  I never understood this activity, as there was no goal - even a child could manage to get the ball into the ocean, and there was no way to measure distance or accuracy.

Here, the environmental concern was real, as new studies demonstrated how long the golf balls lasted in our oceans (hint, they're still there from the Love Boat days).  Eventually a company did come along with bio-degradable golf balls, but the cost was high.   Newer and cheaper formulations came about later, but by then the magic of watching one-self waste time and golf balls had passed as ships now feature virtual driving ranges that allow golfers to simulate various courses, and judge their performance.

Midnight Buffets

As mentioned earlier, it's still not uncommon to hear passengers asking about the midnight buffet.  I remember as a child eagerly awaiting midnight, as I, wide awake, would beg my parents to sleepily drag me to the midnight buffet so I could take in all it had to offer.  This didn't just mean food by the way, but the ambiance too.  An entire area of the ship was often redecorated for the event, where presentation was as important as the feast.  Ice carvings, fondue, intricately carved fruit, hand dipped chocolates - any over the top delight you could think of.  

The midnight buffet was a staple of cruising since the early days of ocean liner crossings, so what made it go away?  Ironically, the 24 hour availability of food is largely to blame.  As more ships entertained crowds later into the night, offering pizza and other snacks around the clock, deserts outside of nightclubs, etc, the justification for such a time and labor-intensive feast simply faded.  You do occasionally see similar events on ships these days, but usually just one night out of a cruise, if at all.

Low Ceilings

Number five on our list isn't an event or even something necessarily good, but those of us who cruised prior to the mid 1990's know exactly what I am talking about.  Technology today has really made the sky the limit when it comes to cruise ship construction.  There was a time however when not only were there no surfing simulators and planetariums on ships (imagine that!), but the engineering limits of the vessels were something you could literally feel, just by reaching up.  Ceilings in staterooms and public areas were generally only seven to eight feet high.  This meant that an average size adult could stand up from his or her chair at dinner, reach up, and touch the metallic ceiling panels, lights, sprinklers, etc.

These days ships have eight story atriums, and public areas generally have ceilings no lower than ten or twelve feet high.  Even our staterooms are taller (believe it or not, our stateroom bathrooms are much larger too - but that's a story for another time).  If we were to visit ships of the past now, I'm sure we'd feel terrifically cramped by the layout, especially the low ceilings, but until twenty or so years ago, this was all we knew.

In Conclusion

We tend to look back on things with great love for the way they used to be.  I'm certainly guilty of this, even when it comes to cruising.  Sure I miss some things, like midnight buffets, but even the uncomfortably low ceilings remind me of amazing and wonderful times that have long passed.  The great news is that the second I step onto a ship now, I immediately fall in love all over again with the experience - and it's the experience of cruising that keeps me going back. It's the new amenities and technologies on today's ships however that allow me to form even greater memories that I'll look back on in another twenty years when we're shocked at how we used to cruise in 2016.

What do you miss (or not) from cruising of the past?  Remembering something important that I've missed?  Have a story to tell?  Let us know below, or reach out on Facebook or Twitter .

View the discussion thread.

• What Ever Happened To........???

NCL Starward

By bcruiser , February 10, 2005 in What Ever Happened To........???

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Does anyone know what happened to the NCL Starward ?.

I sailed it in August 1994 on my honeymoon. At that time I heard it was leaving the fleet. Small older ship.

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dougnewmanatsea

NCL sold her to Festival Cruises (marketed as First European in the US) in 1995. They renamed her BOLERO and operated her until they went under in 2004. Subsequently she was laid-up at Gibraltar. She has since been renamed ORIENT QUEEN and was reported sold to Lebanese interests, though her registered managers are now an Austrian firm in Cyprus. She has left Gibraltar but I have not heard any news of her since... I'm going to dig around and see what I can find out as she seems to have just "dropped off the radar".

cruizinwithkids

I went on the Starward in 1988 for my honeymoon. It was the first cruise I had ever been on and the ship was the biggest thing I had ever seen. I couldn't even find my way around it. I don't think there is ever anything like your first cruise. I've been on a bunch since then and of course get even more lost.

She was the 3rd or 4th ship for me, but much newer and more modern than the earlier, older ones. She made a big impression on me. It's interesting to know more about her.

It's interesting to know more about her.

There's a lot to know about her!

She's a very historically significant vessel, as some claim that she was the very first purpose-built Caribbean cruise ship, ever. Personally I attribute that to her sister SKYWARD, because I consider STARWARD in her original form to have been a cruise ferry (and indeed her designer, Tage Wandborg, describes her as "a cruise/ferry hybrid") and thus ineligible for the title.

Most passengers never knew it, but in her very early years (from her entry into service in 1968 through the mid-1970s), STARWARD had a car deck. She was an evolution of the very first NCL ship, SUNWARD of 1966, which was originally built by Knut Kloster (whose family controlled NCL until their mid-1990s financial crisis) for a cruise ferry service from Britain to Spain and Portugal, a venture called Klosters Sunward Ferries. This did not work out and Kloster teamed up with Ted Arison (who later left and founded Carnival) to form Norwegian Caribbean Line. SUNWARD ran a 7-night cruise/ferry service from Miami to various Caribbean ports, carrying both cruise passengers and, on her car deck, trailers with cargo bound for the islands. The larger STARWARD was indeed built for the Carribbean, but as she too had a car deck, I do not consider her to truly be the first purpose-built Caribbean cruise ship. SKYWARD was built without the car deck, and by the mid-1970s NCL was out of the business of carrying trailers, but the design of the ships clearly carries on the legacy of ferries. Modern cruise ships, in their design, owe far more to ferries than to the ocean liners of yore, and ships like SUNWARD, STARWARD, and SKYWARD are direct links between ferries and cruise ships. (The design history of ferries and cruise ships continues to be intertwined to this day, to the point where it is almost impossible to say whether the cruise ship evolved from the cruise ferry or vice versa - it's almost a "chicken/egg" dilemma with each one borrowing from the other with 40 years of cross-incubation.)

It seems that she has indeed been sold to a Lebanese firm, as her destination after leaving Gibraltar was Beirut, where she is now laid up. At this time it is not known what her future holds.

The mamouth Caribbean/Florida-based cruise industry we have today, what I call the Golden Age of Cruising, was birthed by these really wonderful early ships that came on line in the late 60's and early 70's. They were wonderful, beautiful, dream-like ships the likes of which we had not seen before.

I have been cruising since I was a lad, starting in 1964 or 65, and I still have a warmer place in my heart for these early ships than I do for the fabulous ships we sail in today.

It is great fun to come here, read about them and share experiences about them. Thanks,

• 2 months later...

GeraldOfHouston

My first cruise was on the Starward in 1981. I remember thinking that the cruise was great but I probably wouldn't want to do that again. This October I will go on cruise No. 25 on the Explorer of the Seas. I guess cruising just gets in your blood.

One thing I remember about the Starward is that there were no TV's in the cabins, and the Starward had a large movie theater (which I believe was later converted into cabins). The cruise was in September, and it had to go about fifty miles off course to avoid a hurricane.

• 1 month later...

I just found this thread and had to add my two cents. My first cruise was on the Skyward in 1969 and I don't remember too much about it. I do remember the dining room with a nice window by my table and my cabin with twin beds and a window (not porthole) between them. I really thought it was something then. I wonder what the tonage was? Fun to compare to the Voyager class today.

SKYWARD's and STARWARD's tonnage was somewhere in the region of 15,000 GT (each, of course).

So roughly 1/10 the size of QM2, or a little more than 1/10 the size of a VOYAGER.

SKYWARD is now a low-end gambling ship out of Singapore called LEISURE WORLD.

Thanks for the STARWARD history Doug. I just came across this thread and it's quite timely! Sailed on her for our honeymoon 17 years to the day! It has been our only cruise up until next month when we take the kids to Alaska. Great site and "boatloads" of information.

Just to add a little bit more to what Doug has so expertly reported:) : The Orient Queen, former Starward, is supposedly operated by Merhi Cruises out of Lebanon and is also supposed to be cruising between Beirut and Dubai via the Suez Canal.

Take care and be safe

Just out of curiosity, where did you see this?

I must be getting "out of the loop" as I haven't heard that she's entered service!

Hi John,   Just out of curiosity, where did you see this?   I must be getting "out of the loop" as I haven't heard that she's entered service!

I got part of it from the www.nedcruise.info/fleetlist.htm website but I'm trying to remember where I got the routing plans from. I'll get back to you on that.

STARWARD was our first cruise and even though the ship was old, small, and run-down, we loved every minute of it --she was able to do a more exotic itinerary due to her small size (st. bart's!). It seems that most of her former passengers have fond memories. I remember we were so low in the ship that the waves splashed on our porthole! Our room was no small that two people could not get dressed at the same time....sounds awful, but you know what? She will have a special place in our hearts always...

Wow, I love hearing about the Starward. When I was 16 in 1976, I went to work on the Starward for the summer as a deckhand. I do remember driving cars off in Haiti. We unloaded other cargo as well in this port. She was a great ship. I use to think it was such a huge ship but compared to the ships of today, its doesn't have enough space to hold the crew of today's ships. Thanks for all the posts on her, I am not sure I would like to see today pictures of her today as alot of these older ships don't get the money they need to keep them looking good. Hope the old great Starward is doing well.

To update the information that John posted earlier:

ORIENT QUEEN is operating from Beirut to Port Said, Limassol, Kusadasi, Rhodes, and Mykonos.

Web site here with lots of information.

Guest Jaxmania

Our first cruise was on the Starward in 1983 for our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We paid $900.00 per person for a small room with a porthole.

In Oct. we go on the Mariner of the Seas in a balcony room for $845.00 per person. We loved the Starward but no comparison between the two ships.

Cruising not only gets better and better but, to us, is the greatest value in the travel industry; have 27th and 28th booked. We are addicted.

• 3 weeks later...

For images of the Starward in her original (NCL) and later (Bolero, Orient Queen) incarnations, check out this postcard site ...it has up-to-date pictures. :)

Also, for Skyward, her names have been Shangri-La World, Asean (or Asian) World, Fantasy World, and now Leisure World. She is operated out of Singapore by New Century Cruises and she is one of the oldest passenger ships still afloat .

• 4 weeks later...

I too am visiting this thread for the first time; & I have so much enjoyed hearing you all talk about your early experiences w/ NCL. My first cruise (at the age of 17) was on the Starward in 1969. My second was a year later on Skyward. Coming from landlocked TN, I thought the idea of a "floating hotel" was a dream come true. We had a suite, which by today's standards would be a tad smaller than your average Carnival cabin. And how cool were those bamboo basket chairs hanging from the ceiling by the pool? Years later (1986) I was sailing on Carnival's Jubilee when we were docked beside the Starward in Cozumel. I was amazed at how terribly small she looked next to the Jubilee. And in today's world, she wouldn't even warrant a second glance. But she was special indeed!

my_god_its_full_of_stars

Just happened to spot this thread..... We sailed the Starward twice ..... our very first cruise back in 1983 (and we actually thought in our naïveté that the ship looked "new"!!! haha). We had an inside cabin, and I can remember that my very first thought upon seeing our cabin was "oh no way.... this HAD to be a mistake.... we reserved a CABIN, NOT a closet!!!" But, the trip turned out to be a blast. We were quite the "odd" table at dinner, but by the time the cruise was over, everyone was exchanging numbers and addresses.

We decided, after taking some other cruises, in 1988 to sail her again after a supposed "retrofit"..... not the same feeling about her. She was smaller than other ships for sure this time. But some of the crew (especially the casino employees) were the same from before.

We didn't have such a great time on her the 2nd time, and unfortunately, at that time, we decided not to cruise again...... We waited again until two years ago (2003) to sail again (another line), but we are looking forward to trying out NCL again in August 2006 on the Star in Alaska.....

Somehow, I think the experience may hit the same note as our very first on this old Starward....

If you haven't been on NCL since 1988, well, you're in for a surprise! Forget that it's supposedly the same line - only the name is the same, and everything else is very different. If you ask me they've changed for the better - but you can judge for yourself!

Certainly a shiny new behemoth like NORWEGIAN STAR is a far cry from STARWARD... And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Thanks Doug.

Although we've seen all the pictures and read all the reviews, we're still a bit apprehensive given the last NCL (Starward) cruise.

We kind of have an idea of what the new "megaships" offer since we took the Carnival Miracle [great ship, wrong crowd] out of FLL 1 1/2 years ago, but that old NCL image is still in our heads.

I appreciate you taking the time to answer and ease my concerns. :o

We're really looking forward to this Alaska trip since it's somewhat out of the norm for us --- we're die-hard Hawai'i lovers, with the occasional Caribbean and European trip thrown in.

For me, it's not going to be so much about all the excursions and "seeing" Alaska, as it is exploring and enjoying the "journey" aboard our floating hotel. I'm hoping we'll enjoy the new "freestyle" dining (it sounds tailor-made for us), and all that the new NCL Star has to offer.

that old NCL image is still in our heads.

Well, it really is very different now. I can't guarantee that you'll like it, of course, but the current NCL experience is very, very far from what it once was. And food, service, etc. are a far cry from what they once were (I mean this in a good way).

And of course there is no comparison between ships like NORWEGIAN STAR and STARWARD.

I have visited her sister NORWEGIAN DAWN and I think they are very nice ships - they are a little "different" from the Carnival and RCI megaships (more unconventional, partly owing to the Freestyle Dining which requires a rather different ship design with lots and lots of restaurants) but all in all I think they are very nice vessels and I hope you enjoy her.

Does anyone know what happened to the NCL Starward ?.   I sailed it in August 1994 on my honeymoon. At that time I heard it was leaving the fleet. Small older ship. Bryan

My brother and his wife sailed on her in 1991. We were on the Grand Princess Sept 30th and we saw her in Mykonos. We talked to one of her crew and she is sailing out of Beirut, Lebanon. She is the Orient Queen and here are two photos of her I took that day.

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