JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The Norwegian Gem sailed off on its maiden voyage from Jacksonville on Friday.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the newest ship offering travelers excursions from the cruise ship terminal at JAXPORT. <\/p>\n
Action News Jax\u2019s Madison Foglio got to tour the ship before passengers boarded. <\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/a><\/p>\n The \u2018Norwegian Gem\u2019 made history as the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to call Jacksonville its homeport. <\/p>\n City leaders gathered with the ship\u2019s captain and Norwegian Cruise Line officials to celebrate the new partnership.<\/p>\n \u201cOur cruise industry has never been stronger. And I\u2019m already hearing that this is just the beginning,\u201d said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. <\/p>\n This ship will sail to destinations like the Caribbean and the Bahamas, just to name a few. City leaders say it will allow Jacksonville to serve as a gateway to international destinations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re very accessible if you talk to other people about how they have to get onto a cruise, it becomes quite the event. Here in Jacksonville, it\u2019s very easy,\u201d said Mayor Deegan.<\/p>\n \u201c20 years ago, you would not have called Jacksonville a cruise city with multiple cruise lines coming into Jacksonville. You can definitely call it a cruise city now,\u201d said Michael Corrigan, President & CEO of Visit Jacksonville.<\/p>\n