Published: 16 May 2019
Those watching the river Thames on the 9th of May had a surprise as one of the widest cruise ships to ever travel through the river sailed past them, leaving many watching in awe.
The Norwegian Pearl is the longest ship to travel to the London International Cruise Terminal at Tilbury, photographers captured images of the ship arriving from the opposite side at Gravesend – where a full view of the ship was available.
The ship was launched 13 years ago, this was the first time it ever arrived at the London Cruise Terminal since it initially set sail. The ship belongs to the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) company, commonly sailing across Alaska along with the Caribbean.
Construction on the ship took place in 2005, until it was sent out from the Meyer Werft Shipyard in 2006. It is one of NCL’s four Jewel-class ships, spanning a metre longer than the Mein Schiff 3, this vessel held the terminal’s last record for largest ship when it arrived through the Thames in September 2017.
Arriving in Southampton in November 2006 the cruise ship took its first voyage throughout December, travelling to Miami, Florida – where the ship was based for the season. During the summers, the ship usually offers week-long journeys across Alaska.
During winters it cruises across Panama, the Caribbean and Miami. This summer, the ship is due to travel various trips across Amsterdam, Rome, Civitavecchia, Barcelona and Venice. Carrying 2,394 passengers, a crew of 1,099 and spanning the length of 965ft, the ship departed from Tilbury’s terminal in the evening on the 9th of May.
Along with hosting the ship, the London Cruise Terminal has hosted many esteemed guests like the Her Majesty The Queen, Cliff Richard and novelist George Orwell. Many productions have also filmed in the terminal, including Indiana Jones, Batman Begins and Wonder Woman.