1-Night Cruise on NCL Gem

I just booked the 1-night cruise on the NCL Gem. This is my first NCL cruise in many years. I am doing this as a Christmas gift/mini getaway. Since it is only a one-night deal, I want to try and see/do everything there is during our limited time and I am completely unfamiliar with NCL "freestyle cruising" so any tips/recommendations you can give would be great.

Here are a couple specific questions that I have:

The ship sails out of NYC, what time do you suggest we get to the port? we would like to get on as soon as possible.

It seems that all of the specialty restaurants charge a fee so I'm planning for us to just go to the main dinning room. Do we need to make reservations for this restaurant too?

Does anyone know about the shows that might be performed on a 1-night cruise? are there different shows going on in different venues? And if there are no set dinning times, how do they work out show times?

Does NCL allow you to bring a bottle of wine onboard with you?

Bowling - since there are only 4 lanes, do you make reservations to play?

Rock climbing wall? Since the cruise is in January, will this be open? If so, is there a fee?

Are there any must see/must do activities while onboard?

What time does debarkation happen? I think we are going to get dropped off at the Port and picked up so I want to try and set up a time.

Thanks for all the help and if there are anything else you can think of I should know about the Gem, please let me know.

We did a one night on the Dawn April 30 from NYC. We drove to the pier, parked right next to the ship, arrived about 12 noon and on board by 12:30. Had lunch at buffet but dining room was open too. Sat by the pool/explored the ship for the afternoon. Had CC M&G at 4pm in Star Bar Dinner in main dining room- no reservations required. Entertainment in every venue that evening and casino was open about 8pm. Band on the Run was at 9:30. Some parties started as late as 1:15 am. We left pier at 7pm and headed into Atlantic. We were back at the pier when we awoke. Went to dining room for breakfast and left the ship about 9:30 am. Could have hung around another hour if we wanted.

Wine requires a corkage fee, I think. Check on bowling reservations when you board.No fee on rock wall but availablity might be weather dependant.

I just booked the 1-night cruise on the NCL Gem. This is my first NCL cruise in many years. I am doing this as a Christmas gift/mini getaway. Since it is only a one-night deal, I want to try and see/do everything there is during our limited time and I am completely unfamiliar with NCL "freestyle cruising" so any tips/recommendations you can give would be great.

 

Here are a couple specific questions that I have:

The ship sails out of NYC, what time do you suggest we get to the port? Between 11am and Noon...no earlier. we would like to get on as soon as possible.

 

It seems that all of the specialty restaurants charge a fee so I'm planning for us to just go to the main dinning room. Do we need to make reservations for this restaurant too? No, you do not. The Main Dining Rooms (there are two), the Great Outdoors, the Garden Cafe, the Blue Lagoon, and Topsiders have no extra charge....none require reservations.

 

Does anyone know about the shows that might be performed on a 1-night cruise? Hard to say...these are usually different than those on "normal" cruises. are there different shows going on in different venues? No. The show will be in the Stardust Theatre. There will be other entertainment in other venues. And if there are no set dinning times, how do they work out show times? Unknown on the 1-day. Usually shows are around 7 and 9pm.

 

Does NCL allow you to bring a bottle of wine onboard with you? Yes. There is a $15 per bottle corkage fee.

 

Bowling - since there are only 4 lanes, do you make reservations to play? Not necessary...and I don't believe they take them anyway.

Rock climbing wall? Since the cruise is in January, will this be open? If so, is there a fee? No fee for this...whether or not it will be open is weather dependent.

 

Are there any must see/must do activities while onboard? Depends on what you like...but don't miss getting a good spot for sail away (Starboard side to see the Statue of Liberty), and check out Bliss.

 

What time does debarkation happen? Usually about 8am. I think we are going to get dropped off at the Port and picked up so I want to try and set up a time.

 

Thanks for all the help and if there are anything else you can think of I should know about the Gem, please let me know.

See the answers to your questions above. Enjoy your cruise!

THanks so much - that definitely all helps.

One question... what's Bliss? Is that the lounge with the bowling alley?

THanks so much - that definitely all helps.

 

One question... what's Bliss? Is that the lounge with the bowling alley?

Yes

You can disembark any time but have to be off by 10 so they can get ready for next cruise, I agree rock climbing is weather dependent, also you can be on the ship as early as1100 . I love the Gem have been on her 3times. A one nite cruise is a real party gambling cruise so be prepared and have fun

I like the Spinnaker lounge on this ship.

Debarkation was a breeze on a one-nighter.

Excellent news - I can't wait to see the ship. We've been sailing Carnival for the last few years and I'm excited to see a new cruiseline too.

What day are you sailing? Check my thread I posted - First time on a 1 night and we are going Jan 2 on the GEM out of NYC

What day are you sailing? Check my thread I posted - First time on a 1 night and we are going Jan 2 on the GEM out of NYC

We are going on the Jan. 23 sailing.

If we have to carry on our own luggage - which obviously shouldn't be a problem since it is just one-night, what time can we expect to be allowed into our cabins? I don't want to be lugging around our bags for the greater part of the afternoon.

Usually you can get into the cabin around 1pm or 2pm. Last time when we did a 2 nighter they had an area set up in one of the lounges or the casino (I don't remember where exactly) and you could leave your luggage there and they would give you a claim check.

Usually you can get into the cabin around 1pm or 2pm. Last time when we did a 2 nighter they had an area set up in one of the lounges or the casino (I don't remember where exactly) and you could leave your luggage there and they would give you a claim check.

Excellent - thanks for the info!!

We went on a one nighter out of NYC about a year and a half ago. It was NCL. We got there around 11 and were on the ship in no time. We went with another couple and their cabin steward allowed them to drop their luggage even though the cabin wasn't ready. Our cabin steward would not let us do the same. We ate lunch and within a short period of time, we were allowed in our cabin and put our luggage in there. We ate a total of 3 full meals. First lunch, then dinner and the next morning--breakfast. We gambled a long time in the casino. Lots of fun.

I would like to go on the Jan 2 cruise, but with port charges and taxes and whatnot, it's in the neighborhood of $480 for 2 people in an inside and I just think that is really expensive for 1 night away.

It is quite expensive on this 1 night in Jan, but we had $100 per person onboard credit to spend or we loose it.

Do you need your passport on this cruise?

You just need 1 copy of the Edoc for both cruisers correct?

It is quite expensive on this 1 night in Jan, but we had $100 per person onboard credit to spend or we loose it.

 

 

Do you need your passport on this cruise?

You just need 1 copy of the Edoc for both cruisers correct?

eewww $100pp is a very nice perk!! enjoy!! as for passport, I don't think you do need it. i don't recall bringing my passport when we did our one nighter.

We are going on the Jan. 23 sailing.

Join our roll call!

Is there a muster drill on a one-nighter? Since it's winter, will any of the hot tubs be open on deck? Do they take pictures of passengers on a one-nighter? Does the terminal charge only one night for parking, or do they whack you for two nights if you're there more than 24 hours?

Join our roll call!

I'm having computer issues - real slow... Can you post the link for the roll call - Thank you.

T.

I am not sure how to post the link, but I will try.

If I do it wrong, someone please help...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=22391632#post22391632/SIZE]

I think it may have worked!!

Meet ya there!

Dawn

Is there a muster drill on a one-nighter? Since it's winter, will any of the hot tubs be open on deck? Do they take pictures of passengers on a one-nighter? Does the terminal charge only one night for parking, or do they whack you for two nights if you're there more than 24 hours?

In my experience:

• No Muster Drill
  
• Hot Tubs open
  
• Not sure about the pix
  
• One night parking charge, $30
  

I am not sure how to post the link, but I will try.

 

If I do it wrong, someone please help...

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=22391632#post22391632/SIZE]

Found it.