Sky - May 25-28, 2012 Pictures Including Cabanas at GSC

We arrived in Miami on Thursday, May 24 and stayed at the InterContinental. We paid $20 to have our room "upgraded" to port view. We had Floor 19 overlooking the port. The last picture (my dd and my mom) shows a CCL Ship in the background.

We had lunch at the restaurant at the InterContinental and had dinner at Bayside Marketplace. It was rainy and very overcast when we arrived but by the time we were finished with lunch, the sun was out. We walked to Walgreens and picked up water (about $3.50 for a case), 3 bottles of Monet Champagne ($11.99) and Diet Coke.

We got on the ship and was in Cabin 9077. Very back of the ship. Our cabin was clean and we never saw our guy. I did leave a Post It note for him asking if he could keep our NCL Beer Bucket filled with ice (I found it left all alone and took it) along with our ice bucket filled day and night, which he did. We would see each other in the hall and say hi but that was the extent of our interaction and we both really didn't need each other so it was fine. I did clean out the fridge when we got there and put the items above the TV and put in our champagne, water, soda and my mojitio RumRunners and restocked when we took out of the fridge.

Two of my bags were in the Naughty Room but one had just water/soda, which they checked each water bottle and my luggage containing my RumRunners, was just looked in (I use the packing cubes so everything is neat) and not opened and given my luggage back. While we were waiting for our cabin to be called so security could check our luggage, we were rewarded with champagne while waiting :)

We hung out by the pool, had a few drinks, went to muster drill (look at the guy behind us in the picture LOL), went to sailaway and ate dinner in the MDR with no wait at about 8 pm. We asked to be seated by ourselves and had a nice meal, which included the lobster.

We tendered over about 10:30 am to go to our cabanas.

It was my birthday and we had a wonderful day, relaxing, going in the water and eating. That is all we did. We took the last tender back and was with the captain and his girlfriend and crew.

The night of GSC, we had dinner in LeBistro which was wonderful. We danced one night and the other night we went to the comedy night and then danced. In the Bahamas, we hung out on the ship and my dd wanted to go to Senor Frogs so off we went (she had asked before we cruised like this was an excursion for her LOL).

My mother and I were worried but we had a great time and so did my dd (we didn't tell my husband she did the congo line for free shots!!!).

I have pictures somewhere of Cagneys and LeBistro but can't seem to find them right now.

We had a great cruise and it was a wonderful getaway!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

We are sailing on the Breakaway next year and can't wait. We usually crusie RCCL and this was a very welcome change for us. I also LOVED that you can check your carryon bags when you go on the ship. Something so small but SO appreciated, at least by my mom and me.

We tendered over about 10:30 am to go to our cabanas.

It was my birthday and we had a wonderful day, relaxing, going in the water and eating. That is all we did. We took the last tender back and was with the captain and his girlfriend and crew.

Cabana pics! YEA! Thank you!!

You didnt happen to take a pic of the menu did you?

Happy belated birthday :)

Cabana pics! YEA! Thank you!!

 

You didnt happen to take a pic of the menu did you?

 

Happy belated birthday :)

I am SOO sorry I did not think to take a picture of the menu.

There was a drink menu and a food menu.

The food they gave us, we thought, would be what you would get for 6 people, even though it was the 3 of us. We took our own alcohol onto the island and used the cooler that was in the cabana filled with ice to keep it cold. 6 water bottles were included but they were on the table when we arrived and we put them in the cooler too.

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

I am SOO sorry I did not think to take a picture of the menu.

There was a drink menu and a food menu. Dont be sorry. Im thrilled with the photos and I have 6 months to find a menu.

 

The food they gave us, we thought, would be what you would get for 6 people, even though it was the 3 of us. We took our own alcohol onto the island and used the cooler that was in the cabana filled with ice to keep it cold. 6 water bottles were included but they were on the table when we arrived and we put them in the cooler too. An included cooler...more great, new info to know. Thanks!

 

Thank you for the birthday wishes!

You're welcome. :)

Thanks for the review! We'll on the Sky on June 15th - and although it's a short cruise, it's much needed for me (not taking the kids!). Glad you had a nice birthday cruise.

Thanks for the review! We'll on the Sky on June 15th - and although it's a short cruise, it's much needed for me (not taking the kids!). Glad you had a nice birthday cruise.

Yes, that is how we felt. A short but much needed cruise. My dh and ds were home for baseball and it was nice just being with girls, especially my dd since she will be going off to college and is busy doing her own things.

Yes, Hopes4, there is a cooler in the cabana filled with ice and you can use it as you see fit.

This Island, IMO, doesn't compare to RCCL Labadee or DCL Castaway Cay but the cabana made it worthwhile. We really didn't venture farther than the bathrooms or the water :)

Thank you so much for the review and the pictures of the cabana. I'm looking forward to the sushi! :) Do you happen to remember if they had the full sushi menu, or was it just rolls?

Thanks again! :) I appreciate the daydream material!

Thank you so much for the review and the pictures of the cabana. I'm looking forward to the sushi! :) Do you happen to remember if they had the full sushi menu, or was it just rolls?

 

Thanks again! :) I appreciate the daydream material!

I believe it was just the rolls but don't fully remember.

It was VERY fresh and was told it was made when we were ready to have it.

Thanks for the Cabana review. Did you get to choose which cabana you were in?

We just went on the Disney Dream and had a Cabana on Castaway Cay...does the cabana on GSC compare?

We are on the 7/28 Gem sailing and I just booked the cabana. I hope we enjoy it!

Thanks for the Cabana review. Did you get to choose which cabana you were in?

 

We just went on the Disney Dream and had a Cabana on Castaway Cay...does the cabana on GSC compare?

 

We are on the 7/28 Gem sailing and I just booked the cabana. I hope we enjoy it!

Hi. The location and island of GSC does not compare to CC. IMO, CC and Labadee are far superior to GSC but that said, we did enjoy our cabana and would do it again.

The island is very rocky and if you have small and/or active children that are young, you will never use the cabana. They are very far from the water or any children activities. The island

is not as "pretty" and not set up as nicely as CC and Labadee. It just looks like a very congested island that they threw together. But, the cabanas are far so it doesn't get too crowded where they are.

When we went to the Excursions desk, I asked to be on an end cabana. The lady at the counter told me that they book from the middle out since the middle has the best views (which when I was there I made a note to look and she was correct). They start booking from No. 5, which is in the middle (that is what we were in and we were the first to book the cabana that day since it could not be done online). We were on the Disney Dream last July with my family, my mom and my sister's family and had a great time, although my dd and ds, who are older teens and in HS and college, prefer RCCL. We are sailing on the Breakaway next July but if we were to go back again to GSC, I would certainly still book a cabana.

Enjoy!

Thank you for the review - we will be on the Sky for DH's birthday in Sept. and are looking forward to some beach time - our last 4 or 5 cruises have been intense "siteseeing" so some down time on the beach will be welcomed.

I know you booked the cabana - but did you happen to notice if the Clam Shells had an up charge, or if it was first come, first served?

Thank you for the review - we will be on the Sky for DH's birthday in Sept. and are looking forward to some beach time - our last 4 or 5 cruises have been intense "siteseeing" so some down time on the beach will be welcomed.

 

I know you booked the cabana - but did you happen to notice if the Clam Shells had an up charge, or if it was first come, first served?

Hi. Enjoy your cruise.

You had to purchase the clam shells and they could be done before you board the ship (on the NCL page), on the ship or on the island. BUT, I would sugget doing it before/on the ship since it give you "priority" boarding. The clam chells and loungers are lined up in rows

and if you don't get one up front, you end up looking at a clam shell in front of you instead of the water.

You didnt happen to take a pic of the menu did you?

I was on the GEM 5/19 - 26 and also had a Cabana. Here is the menu. They are fantastic and I would not only recommend, but I would do it again.

Cabanas.pdf

I was on the GEM 5/19 - 26 and also had a Cabana. Here is the menu. They are fantastic and I would not only recommend, but I would do it again.

Thanks for the menu pic! Was the $50 credit only good for this menu? I was hoping to get a frozen daiquiri :p from one of the bars on island.

Thanks for the menu pic! Was the $50 credit only good for this menu? I was hoping to get a frozen daiquiri :p from one of the bars on island.

Credit is good for this menu or drinks on the island ONLY! if you don't use, you forfeit. There is a bar near the cabana's, plus the standard frozen drinks.

Thanks for the menu pic! Was the $50 credit only good for this menu? I was hoping to get a frozen daiquiri :p from one of the bars on island.

There is a food/drink menu so you will easily be able to spend the $50 :)

Credit is good for this menu or drinks on the island ONLY! if you don't use, you forfeit. There is a bar near the cabana's, plus the standard frozen drinks.

THANKS! Love this news!

I knew the credit was only on the island, but I was hoping I could use it at one of the bars on the island for frozen beverages.

I was on the GEM 5/19 - 26 and also had a Cabana. Here is the menu. They are fantastic and I would not only recommend, but I would do it again.

Thank you :D

Hi. Enjoy your cruise.

You had to purchase the clam shells and they could be done before you board the ship (on the NCL page), on the ship or on the island. BUT, I would sugget doing it before/on the ship since it give you "priority" boarding. The clam chells and loungers are lined up in rows

and if you don't get one up front, you end up looking at a clam shell in front of you instead of the water.

JS - do you know how much the clam shell costs?

$29.99 for the day. Get there early to get a front row or you will be looking at the back of the clamshells in front of you as they are lined up in rows. They have two lounge chairs inside of them. As a side note, as the sun rotates by mid afternoon half of the inside of the clamshell was exposed to the sun rays.

Hey JS, great review and pictures. We have enjoyed looking at them and reading your review. I have a question about the aft cabin balcony doors. I have only seen the cabins on the side and they seem to have a door that opens and a port hole. Are the aft balcony doors the same?

Thanks so much!

Bluejai