Just back from the Gem -- some miscellaneous comments

My spouse and I have just returned from the Gem's one-week sailing out of New York to Port Canaveral and the Bahamas. This was our 6th cruise on NCL (among other cruises), our second on the Gem, and the second time doing this itinerary. There's so much info out there about the Gem and her sister ships that I don't think a full review is needed, but I wanted to put up a few comments in case they are helpful to anyone sailing soon.

The bottom line is that we had a wonderful cruise, one that exceeded our expectations based on past experience (particularly as to the food). So anything I say below that is negative just means that nothing is perfect, and it certainly did not spoil our excellent vacation. Here are my comments in no particular order:

Food: We thought that the food in the MDR and the buffet was quite good, which was a very pleasant surprise for us, as we'd found the food in those venues to be mediocre when we first were on the Gem back in 2011. Breakfast in the buffet in particular was excellent for what it was (and I am always happy when I can get someone to make me an omelette to order :)). We also had a terrific dinner in Le Bistro. (My new favorite dessert: order the chocolate fondue, ask the server to bring vanilla ice cream with it, and pour the chocolate on it. It will harden into a yummy Brown Bonnet.) Our only truly negative dining experience was dinner at Orchid Garden. I wrote about that separately at the following thread, so I won't repeat it here.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2207263&highlight=orchid+garden

Favorite places to hang out: We discovered the "Quiet Zone" on our first Gem cruise (Deck 14, all the way forward), and it's still a favorite place for us. You can't beat those round two-person pods on a cool day; just wrap yourself up, read, or watch the sea. When we weren't interested in being in the sun, the Great Outdoors was another favorite spot. For some reason, we didn't spend that much time in the Spinnaker Lounge this trip, but it's a great place and I hope NCL never does to the Gem what it did to the Star. Also, we love the Promenade Deck, and it's such a shame that newer builds don't have one.

Entertainment : NCL is usually pretty good or better on this score, not so much on this trip. We went to two production shows, and while the cast was energetic, the shows were lame at best. (And memo to the producers of "World Beat": "Whatever Lola Wants" is not music from Spain or Mexico, it's from the Broadway show "Damn Yankees.")

We also went to guest artist Jeri Sager's show. She was billed as a Broadway singer and actress who was going to sing Broadway show tunes, and we were very much looking forward to that. Sadly, although Ms. Sager has a very good voice, she spent far too much time talking and not singing. She also made the show more about herself than anything else. For example, the second song she sang was her own altered version of "Liza With a Z" (she never mentioned that, and I suspect many folks in the audience did not know the real song), which she set up by claiming people often call her Teri, and she sang "It's Jeri with a J, not Teri with a T," the whole Liza song altered for her. Sorry, Ms. Sager, you aren't famous, you aren't a legend, and that song does not work for you. By the time she launched into what felt like a 20-minute monologue about Grizabella (a role she played in "Cats"), people were walking out. C'mon, stop talking and sing "Memory." I think she maybe sang five songs in the entire show. Again, she has a good voice. I just wish she had put it to better use, she really could have done a great show.

Staff and crew Friendly and attentive. I particularly enjoyed the Q and A with the Captain, the Chief Engineer, the Hotel Director, and the Executive Chef. Our cabin attendant wasn't the best we've ever had, but he tried hard and he got the job done.

Embarkation and Disembarkation: Both were quick and easy. This was our first cruise as Gold Latitudes members, and we were given boarding group 1 upon arriving at the pier around 9:30am. We've also learned from prior cruises not to do the self-walk off at the end in New York, which we've found to be disastrous. We waited till about 9:30am to disembark and availed ourselves of a porter, which I'd learned from Cruise Critic gets you into a separate line for immigration; it did and we breezed through. We were literally off the ship and in our car in about ten minutes (and never had to lift a suitcase except to put it in the trunk).

The ports: In Port Canaveral, we visited the Kennedy Space Center, which was a truly amazing experience and I highly recommend it. At Great Stirrup Cay (our first time there), we rented a small cabana. This was a great decision -- shelter from the sun and the little bit of rain we had. And in Nassau (our third time there and not one of our favorite ports), we actually enjoyed ourselves doing our own walking tour of the downtown historic area and having lunch at a fabulous place called Bahamian Cookin', which serves true Bahamian food. Don't miss the conch fritters, macaroni ad cheese, and the fruit punch. A memorable lunch for us.

The weather: Okay, NCL had nothing to do with this, but we had great weather, and I hope you do too!

Please feel free to ask any questions, which I'll do my best to answer.

excellent, thank you and the honest is great. many frown upon honest reviews but i appreciate them. will be inside her in less than 2 months, looking foward to it.

i did have one question,,was the new room service fee applied? because on the website it states breakaway and getaway has the new room service menu and fee.

i did have one question,,was the new room service fee applied? because on the website it states breakaway and getaway has the new room service menu and fee.

Yes it was, except for "continental breakfast" items. The website is out of date. What else is new? :)

Yes it was, except for "continental breakfast" items. The website is out of date. What else is new? :)

Did you need to complete an order for continental breakfast the night before and hang out-side ?

Who want's a "continental" breakfast?? I want eggs, sausage, french toast, etc....go to the dining room!!!!

By any chance did you have the UBP? I am wondering if the stickers were on the key cards and also about the soda plan and stickers. Thank you!

I was there with you and have to agree. I wanted to go to the Q&A, but had some decent weather at the pool, so didn't get there. I usually enjoy that. I was disappointed with most of the shows. I enjoyed the comic and that was about it. There's usually some kind of acrobatic show or cirque and there wasn't any of that. I like magicians, but none of that either.

I'm booked on the Gem again next April and hope the shows get better. Spent too much time in the casino since the shows bored me.

I don't think I ever went passed deck 13. I'll have to check out 14 next time.

I still had a great cruise and hated going back to work today.

Just curious how strict they were with enforcing the "no taking food back to your cabin from the buffet" policy.

Not sure what others found, but my husband brought me breakfast and ice cream a few times to the room or the pool. No problem

Great review - thanks!

Do you need to complete an order for continental breakfast the night before and hang out-side?

Yes

By any chance did you have the UBP? I am wondering if the stickers were on the key cards and also about the soda plan and stickers. Thank you!

Sorry, we did not.

Just curious how strict they were with enforcing the "no taking food back to your cabin from the buffet" policy.

I saw people in the passageways bringing plates of food into their cabins. The policy is still very new, so it's unclear how much the staff even knew.

I was there with you and have to agree. I wanted to go to the Q&A, but had some decent weather at the pool, so didn't get there. I usually enjoy that. I was disappointed with most of the shows. I enjoyed the comic and that was about it. There's usually some kind of acrobatic show or cirque and there wasn't any of that. I like magicians, but none of that either.

I'm booked on the Gem again next April and hope the shows get better. Spent too much time in the casino since the shows bored me.

I read your comment to my spouse and she said maybe that's NCL's latest revenue raising plan -- make the shows so boring people will spend more time in the casino. :)

So that was the plan. I even read Derek Sanderson's book and still spent too much in the casino.

I just received a post-cruise email survey from NCL. One of the questions asked if I've ever heard of Cruise Critic. :p

I just received a post-cruise email survey from NCL. One of the questions asked if I've ever heard of Cruise Critic. :p

Now THAT is VERY interesting....;)

The ports: In Port Canaveral, we visited the Kennedy Space Center, which was a truly amazing experience and I highly recommend it. Please feel free to ask any questions, which I'll do my best to answer.

Great review! Thank you so much! Heading out this Saturday and sooooo looking forward to exploring the Gem! My questions are in regards to visiting KSC in the future via a Gem shore excursion:

Were you able to book upon cruise boarding or pre-cruise?

Was it run by a private tour company?

Do you get dropped off at the Visitor Center then board the free KSC tour bus that runs every 15 minutes and have free time afterward?

If private, did you see a lighthouse on the tour?

I ask about the lighthouse because the Then & Now $25 behind the scenes bus tour listed on KSC website leaves at 12:20pm and we would never make it (not to mention tickets for this tour are sold out already). Plus I just learned the lighthouse itself doesn't run tours due to budget cuts. :(

Thanks in advance!

Great review! Thank you so much! Heading out this Saturday and sooooo looking forward to exploring the Gem! My questions are in regards to visiting KSC in the future via a Gem shore excursion:

 

Were you able to book upon cruise boarding or pre-cruise?

Was it run by a private tour company?

Do you get dropped off at the Visitor Center then board the free KSC tour bus that runs every 15 minutes and have free time afterward?

If private, did you see a lighthouse on the tour?

 

I ask about the lighthouse because the Then & Now $25 behind the scenes bus tour listed on KSC website leaves at 12:20pm and we would never make it (not to mention tickets for this tour are sold out already). Plus I just learned the lighthouse itself doesn't run tours due to budget cuts. :(

Thanks in advance!

We did KSC on our own, there's certainly no need for an NCL tour or any private guide (not to mention that the NCL price includes about $50pp just for the transportation to and from KSC). We used Executive Limousine for our transportation; they were a little later than they should have been picking us up at the ship, but otherwise fine. (I'd be a little more stern with them about the pick up.) They charged us $100 total for a mini-van (we had five people).

Because the ship doesn't arrive at Port Canaveral till noon, by the time you get to KSC, you'll have about 5 hours there (depending on when they close that day). This was sufficient for the two most amazing things at KSC: the bus tour of the complex and plenty of time at the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The bus tour is guided, and drops you at the don't-miss Apollo/Saturn V Center. This is extraordinary and includes a re-created launch of Apollo 8 in which you sit in the Firing Room for the countdown and launch, with the actual consoles used for the launch. Goosebumps!

Atlantis is the other don't-miss experience. Truly awesome and dramatic in the lead up to the display and the display itself. We ended the day with the Shuttle Launch Experience, a simulator in which you are launched into space aboard the Shuttle. Great fun!

We never saw a lighthouse nor was I aware of one until your question. But frankly, and I say this as someone who loves lighthouses, I would spend my limited time at KSC seeing as much as possible of the Space Center operations and exhibits. (Obviously, with a full day or two days there, that would be different.)

I hope this was helpful, and I hope you have a terrific cruise!

Yes it was, except for "continental breakfast" items. The website is out of date. What else is new? :)

thank you. second question were you threatened to be removed for bringing cookies back to your cabin? lol

thank you. second question were you threatened to be removed for bringing cookies back to your cabin? lol

Ha! (Actually, we never brought any food back to our cabin on this cruise, although we have done so in the past when we wanted to eat on our balcony. The whole furor over this new policy emerged while we were on this cruise and blissfully disconnected from the internet.)

Terrific review. We sail on the Gem in January.

Going on the GEM next month to NE and Canada. Am thinking about buying a spa pass for the first time ever. Looks like spa "stuff" is separated between males and females. Is there a "meet in the middle place" or are you in there totally separate from your significant other? Also, is there an indoor pool in the spa?

Hate to hear that the entertainment wasn't good. Son & daughter-in-law are going with us and I really wanted NCL to make a great impression on them. If the entertainment isn't good, and they don't gamble....not sure what kind of impression they'll get! Glad the food is better, too, but we have the Ultimate Dining package on our cruise so we'll be taking full advantage of that in specialty restaurants every night!

Thanks!

 

 

Entertainment :We also went to guest artist Jeri Sager's show. She was billed as a Broadway singer and actress who was going to sing Broadway show tunes, and we were very much looking forward to that. Sadly, although Ms. Sager has a very good voice, she spent far too much time talking and not singing. She also made the show more about herself than anything else. For example, the second song she sang was her own altered version of "Liza With a Z" (she never mentioned that, and I suspect many folks in the audience did not know the real song), which she set up by claiming people often call her Teri, and she sang "It's Jeri with a J, not Teri with a T," the whole Liza song altered for her. Sorry, Ms. Sager, you aren't famous, you aren't a legend, and that song does not work for you. By the time she launched into what felt like a 20-minute monologue about Grizabella (a role she played in "Cats"), people were walking out. C'mon, stop talking and sing "Memory." I think she maybe sang five songs in the entire show. Again, she has a good voice. I just wish she had put it to better use, she really could have done a great show.

Ahhh! I was on the Sun in February and saw her. Same routine you just described. I hope she's gone by the time I board the Gem for my June 7th cruise!

I have no problem seeing a show more than once...which happens often as NCL moves entertainment from one ship to another so many times I've already seen it on another NCL cruise ship I was on.

But Jeri with a J.....nope, don't wanna see that again!

Harriet

Ahhh! I was on the Sun in February and saw her. Same routine you just described. I hope she's gone by the time I board the Gem for my June 7th cruise!

 

I have no problem seeing a show more than once...which happens often as NCL moves entertainment from one ship to another so many times I've already seen it on another NCL cruise ship I was on.

 

But Jeri with a J.....nope, don't wanna see that again!

 

Harriet

LOL. The sad thing is this -- she just needs a music director or someone else to give her a little bit of advice -- sing the hits people are looking for, give them a nice hour of music, and don't make it about you. Her show could so easily be fixed.

I hope you enjoy your cruise!

Did you experience any rough seas while sailing down the East Coast? Or on the way back up to New York? I am considering changing to this cruise next June and wonder about weather issues.