jammed with cruise ships teeming with thousands of visitors to Bermuda's shores.

And, throughout the week, countless locals pass the luxury liners without giving a thought to what life is like on board. But this month's At Home With ... offers a glimpse into one of the pristine cruise ships which make weekly voyages to the Island.

The Royal Gazette's Nicole Williams Smith stepped aboard the Norwegian Crown to discover what life is like at sea.

When the Vikings braved the waves in tiny longships they could never have dreamt of the luxury liners their descendants would one day crew.

For the Norwegian Crown cruise ship is a floating palace going full steam ahead for maximum enjoyment.

Just 11 years old, the 616-foot vessel boasts 10 decks, two pools and four whirlpools.

A staff and crew of 450 cater to the 1,209 passengers' every whim and endeavour to make it the ultimate home away from home.

When the vessel is not sailing across the Atlantic from New York, it is docked in the bright blue waters of Bermuda.

On boarding, passengers find themselves encased in the golden splendour of the embarkment area -- home to the all-important reception and shore excursion desks.

And it's here The Royal Gazette set sail for a whirlwind tour of the ship, guided by youth programme director Sandra Berry.

She said: "It is an easily laid out ship,'' she noted of the mid-sized ship, "There's the entertainment deck, the information deck and then the guest rooms.'' The Bahamas-registered ship offers travellers an assortment of activities to wile away the hours when not in port.

Deck seven, the entertainment deck, is home to an assortment of boutiques, one of the ship's two pools and the Star Dust Lounge which hosts comedy and stage shows.

For those who like to play the odds, the Monte Carlo Casino, open only outside Bermuda's 12-mile limit, is also located on deck seven.

Deck eight is home to the all-star Sport's Bar as well as the warm and inviting peach-coloured library and card room.

"The sports bar is very popular at night,'' she said. "And every week when we are in port, we have a golf pro come in and hold workshops in there.'' And the Norwegian Crown is the only cruise ship sailing the seven seas at the moment that has a movie theatre on it -- the two-story Coronet Theatre.

But the jewel in the ship's crown is the Top of the Crown Lounge -- a shimmering lounge/disco whose massive central skylight and ceiling to floor windows offers guests breathtaking panoramic views.

"The disco has a 360 degree view,'' she said. "It's gorgeous and the views, especially at sunset are spectacular.

"There are tiny lights in the ceiling and when they are turned on at night they look like tiny stars.'' One of the main reasons why so many people choose to cruise is the food and the Norweigian Crown has an ample staff of chefs ready to cater to each passenger's culinary wish-list.

"We have an executive chef, a sous chef, first cooks and then the galley cooks,'' she explained.

And each Norwegian Crown chef is a member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs gourmet society.

To feed more than 1,000 passengers breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, the culinary staff work with traditional naval precision -- the Gala buffet dinner alone requires 400 man-hours to prepare.

"Guests can sit down and eat in the Seven Continents Dining Room or they can enjoy an open breakfast or lunch buffet in the Yacht Club,'' said Ms Berry.

"And every day we serve a high tea.

"There are two seatings for dinner in the dining room. The first seating can sit up to 600 people. The menus change each night and we even have vegetarian menus and spa cuisine for those who wish to watch their weight.'' Those with a sweet tooth cannot resist indulging their chocolate cravings with Norwegian's decadent chocolate nights -- a feature unique to this ship. And should anyone get a hankering for something to nibble on during the middle of the night, the ship offers 24-hour room service.

To work off all of the food, the ship has a spacious fitness room and spa complete with an indoor pool, juice bar and sauna.

But according to Ms Berry, what sets the Norwegian Crown apart from her competition is not the amenities -- it's the staff.

"It's a nice crew and there's a friendly atmosphere,'' explained the seasoned veteran who has worked for several cruise lines. "With some larger ships, you tend to get certain cliques and segregation amongst the staff.

"What makes this ship different is that there is a family atmosphere -- the crew is a nice size so its personal.'' She added: "We all work together and help each other out. For example, if I see something on the deck I will put it in the trash because I know the cleaning staff are busy, they are always cleaning.'' The ship spends its season plying its trade over the Atlantic from New York to the Island.

The ship spends Monday in St. George's, Tuesday and Wednesday in Hamilton before sailing back for New York on Thursday.

And Ms Berry said the New York-Bermuda cruise was a big hit with passengers, especially those with children.

"A lot of people like Bermuda, but they do say that it is expensive,'' she said. " It's a good Island for kids because it is safe and there are a lot safe places and beaches for parents to take their children.'' And she said that the ship's youth programme, which includes fun-filled activities like pillow fights and treasure hunts, helps children adjust to and enjoy life on the open seas.

"We have a kids room that is nice and open,'' she explained. "You can clear out all of the chairs and play dodge ball.

"They also use the room to have church services.'' And Ms Berry said a life on the ocean waves was as close to heaven as she'd get jobwise.

"For me, its the best job in the world,'' she said. "I've been doing it for four years. It is a wonderful opportunity to travel and see the world and you get paid while doing it! "You get hooked and you can't imagine doing something else. You either love the life or you don't, but I think it is something everyone should try.'' Room with a view: The view of Hamilton as seen from the deck of The Norwegian Crown . A cruise ship can offer passengers some spectacular views.

Masterchef: A team of top chefs are on board ready to prepare delicious fare around the clock. Most cruise liners offer several meals a day to passengers.