NCL Gem Itinerary Change

Just received this today:

Dear Valued Guests & Travel Partners,

Norwegian Cruise Line has important information for you regarding Norwegian Gem's sailings departing from New York of December 12, 2017, December 23, 2017, January 3, 13, 23, February 3, 13, 24, March 6, 17 and 27, 2018. Guest booked on these sailings need to be aware of this change and travel professionals are asked to forward this information to their clients.

We are pleased to confirm that Norwegian Gem will now depart New York at 6:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions, please contact us at 800-327-7030 (Monday through Friday from 8am to midnight ET and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 9pm ET).

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you on board the beautiful Norwegian Gem.

Sincerely,

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Vivian Ewart

Vice President, Passenger Services

Thanks for posting!

I have always sailed with a 4 p.m. departure. I usually try to get to the cruise terminal between 10 and 11. Does this mean I should try for 12-1 p.m.? On the 4 p.m. departures they seem to start boarding around 11:30. What time will they start boarding for a 6 p.m. departure? I assume the muster drill will be moved from 3:30 to 5:30?

i wonder why they changed the departure time by about 2 hours.

Every time I have cruised out of NY I have noticed more and more ships utilizing a larger number of piers. First time I cruised on the Breakaway we were the only ship. My cruise last month there were 5.

I wonder if just increased traffic required shifting around some departure windows? Just a guess.

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I have always sailed with a 4 p.m. departure. I usually try to get to the cruise terminal between 10 and 11. Does this mean I should try for 12-1 p.m.? On the 4 p.m. departures they seem to start boarding around 11:30. What time will they start boarding for a 6 p.m. departure? I assume the muster drill will be moved from 3:30 to 5:30?

They should start boarding at 11:30 am or whenever they cleared everyone off & is ready for new cruisers.

Got this also. As stated it's affecting a lot of sailings, so probably isn't some inspection or something like that. However nothing was said about delaying or changing the time to arrive at the pier, so I have to figure that boarding will still begin somewhere around 11:30 or so.

Gem's special sailing yesterday returned to NYC around 7:30 AM for a quick & easy turnaround with just 28 pax onboard. Instead of sailing at 4 PM as scheduled, it left about 2.5 hours later or 6:30 PM, unconfirmed that a USCG inspection was being conducted.

Setting the departure time 2 hours later is good for those flying in on the day of embarkation (not that we recommend doing that for out-of-town folks) for better chance of making ground transportation connection, etc. and in case of flight delays.

If I am not mistaken, these are the longer 10 days Caribbean itineraries, where the ship has plenty of time to cover the longer distance running a little faster ... on its northbound return, not uncommon for the Gem is cruise at 15 knots.

NYS Taxation & Finance thank NCL as they will be collecting more sales tax for those beverages & other onboard purchases while ship is docked ... give new meanings to waterfront dining on a cruise ship in the Hudson, and, as it sail down the river - for those early birds.

How strange it says "I am pleased to announce...". Is leaving 2 hours later good, bad or ugly?

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How strange it says "I am pleased to announce...". Is leaving 2 hours later good, bad or ugly?

 

 

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I would say great !!!

There is nothing like sailing away from NY after sundown with both the NY Skyline and the Statue of Liberty so beautifully lit up.

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How strange it says "I am pleased to announce...". Is leaving 2 hours later good, bad or ugly?

 

 

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I thought that was strange too. I'm on the Feb 13th sailing an I'm disappointed about leaving 2 hours later. It will be dark during sail away so we won't have the great view of the statue of liberty as we sail past.

Lois

I have always sailed with a 4 p.m. departure. I usually try to get to the cruise terminal between 10 and 11. Does this mean I should try for 12-1 p.m.? On the 4 p.m. departures they seem to start boarding around 11:30. What time will they start boarding for a 6 p.m. departure? I assume the muster drill will be moved from 3:30 to 5:30?

I called Norwegian today and asked about arrival time. The person I spoke with said embarkation times are same. I am shooting for 10AM still. Looks like Gem is leaving later through March. My only problem is it will completely dark for sail away, but I love the NYC skyline anytime of day so I'll be fine.

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I thought that was strange too. I'm on the Feb 13th sailing an I'm disappointed about leaving 2 hours later. It will be dark during sail away so we won't have the great view of the statue of liberty as we sail past.

Lois

I have to admit at first I was thinking< why are they pleased to tell us that" but then thinking about the sunset, and the skyline, aaaaahhhhh NYC will be a beautiful sight!

I called Norwegian today and asked about arrival time. The person I spoke with said embarkation times are same. I am shooting for 10AM still. Looks like Gem is leaving later through March. My only problem is it will completely dark for sail away, but I love the NYC skyline anytime of day so I'll be fine.

 

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Thanks! Looks like if I arrive between 10 and 11, I should be fine. I just didn't want to wait around the cruise terminal for hours waiting for embarkation.

It's really weird that they start with the December 12th sailing. I am on the December 2nd -- 10 day Caribbean also -- and didn't receive any notice of this.

It's really weird that they start with the December 12th sailing. I am on the December 2nd -- 10 day Caribbean also -- and didn't receive any notice of this.

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Statue of Liberty & VZ Bridge at night ... took these from our pre-dawn BA arrival @ 5:30 AM.

The sights are actually quite beautiful.

Now, I wonder what they will do with the Breakaway & Escape in 2018.

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I understand business and the need for change, however I am disappointed that the sail away will now be after sunset. This was a factor in our decision to depart out of NY vs FL. Seeing the Statue of Liberty while sailing away at sunset is not only beautiful but has a spiritual sense as well.

The last few March sail aways will be before sunset. March 11th is the time change and sunset will be approx 7PM.

I would say great !!!

There is nothing like sailing away from NY after sundown with both the NY Skyline and the Statue of Liberty so beautifully lit up.

 

 

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In addition more cruisers will also be lit up with 2 more hours to get ready.