AwesomO

My family will be sailing on the Gem in February. It's a school break week for local kids so I'm guessing there will be a lot of families on this sailing. I'm hoping that equates to a full offering of Splash Academy services, but I realize that might also mean it will be in high demand. I have some questions. From my understanding, Splash Academy likely doesn't open until 7pm on port days, correct? (I learned this after I made my dinner reservations 🤦‍♀️). More or less, anyway. I read late port days might mean a morning session for Splash Academy. And sea days, it still doesn't open during "dinner hours" but might have a morning and afternoon session, if I'm understanding correctly. Do my kids needs to be there at opening time in order to make sure they get in? Like say I don't actually need them there until 8, but if I want to make sure there's space I'll need to take them at 7 anyway, right? Anyone know what the capacity has been, approximately? My kids are 5 and 9. I know previously they would be split into different age groups, but it looks like the current set up is that they can be together. Is this correct? My 5 year old gets very nervous in new social settings. He's not a social butterfly. He's never done this sort of thing. I think he will like it once he tries it, but getting him to try will be difficult if he has to be split from his sister. In that regards, I'm trying to hype it up for him. What sort of activities are usually offered? I saw a photo of cupcake decorating which he would LOVE, and I think there are video games? They both keep asking me what things are there to do, but I have no idea. I don't want to hype them up on outdated info (but I'll still be sure to emphasize that none of the activities are guaranteed, just that they're things they've offered in the past). Any other tips or suggestions? I know the Gem is a smaller, older ship and doesn't have a lot of the extra add on activities that some of the bigger ships offer so I think the Splash Academy will be the most fun and interesting place for them with 3-4 sea days, so I really don't want to mess this up haha

check the roll call, it has the image of the full change posted. But short story-- they dropped Grand Turk and St. Maarten and added San Juan and Bermuda 😑

I'd love to visit as well, so hoping others have some recent experience! I've heard there are other bakeries just as good and closer, but the name of this bakery has special meaning so it would be fun to visit.

Maybe some others have input as I haven't been yet, but I was looking at going to Taino Valley when we cruise in February, also sailing with my kids, the youngest being 5. https://www.tainovalley.com/landing-page-ga?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1bqZBhDXARIsANTjCPIYzRc9H8wkEZsbAmOhrQ3dK7n1z_5Bg9_pngfOnjpfKllYzTJULd8aAkOTEALw_wcB Looks fun for kids and has good reviews. The ship doesn't offer an excursion, but it looks like you can arrange transportation with them for a few dollars each.

I haven't been yet! We sail in February, so thank you! I still haven't decided yet but this is good info. I was worried the boat wouldn't pull up all the way to the beach and we'd have to swim to shore or something. So we only have to worry about swimming if we want to snorkel it sounds like?

I know this is completely pointless to even bother arguing at this point, but here I go anyway... @RocketMan275 1. Why exactly do you think passengers should not be required for training? Military and police units do simulated trainings with hired individuals so that they can also practice what they've learned with real bodies. It requires the shut down and immobilization of whatever area they're using for the day, and obviously payment to those individuals. As @chengkp75already mentioned, that could technically be an option if we're considering alternatives (but we're not, since your opinion actually has zero relevance here, regardless of what you wish; write it on the survey card all you want), but then that's potentially lost vacation time for passengers. With multiple ships and multiple crews, this stands to be a real hassle. Regardless, you've already shut down this idea (claiming it's pointless for passengers, which makes zero sense since they're not passengers anymore and are instead paid for the job, but I digress) 2. Why do you think clearing the ship for disembarkation is comparable to clearing the ship during a muster drill as far as crew training goes? Granted, I've not been on many cruises, but generally they're cleared out slowly with an assigned time slot. They can wander around, grab breakfast, etc. It's not an emergency type of situation and takes place over the course of a couple hours. 3. Why do you think your opinion on this matters at all? Obviously you are entitled to your opinion, but to be constantly arguing as if it has any actual validity is mind boggling. Why you think writing your opinion on the survey will change anything is also mind boggling. These regulations come from outside entities, not NCL themselves. Even if they wanted to, they can't change it just because guests hate it. If they don't follow these regulations, they can't sail. Simple as that. Certain concessions were made for COVID but those are all slowly being pulled back. Take it up with whoever makes those regulations; it's not NCL, or any one cruise line.

We sailed out of NY on the Gem in January. The first and last day, you could definitely feel the ship moving. Nothing was sliding around, but the pool was sloshing everywhere and sometimes you'd have to adjust your step. They also had to close access to the outside decks. The weather can occasionally be pretty rough around that time of year (Nor'Easters) so no way to be sure. I'd bring meds just incase. Better to have them with you than to have to buy it on-board with the markup. We felt the weather was pleasant by the 2nd day at sea. It wasn't hot, and not pool weather, but much nicer than the cold winter weather we left behind in NYC.

If you hate it so much, just don't cruise. Show them your dissatisfaction with your money, etc etc. Land based hotels and resorts don't have these "wastes of time" so go there. I don't get it.

I haven't eaten at most of them (we did do Cagneys several years ago), but for our upcoming cruise, I'm choosing the ones that most scream "I'm on vacation!" to me. We can fairly easily get authentic Italian cuisine (La Cucina) and hibachi (Teppanyaki) when not on vacation, and for prices that aren't too crazy. But French (Le Bistro) is harder to find, and steakhouses (Cagneys) tend to be $$ so I'm going with those for our cruise. We're also doing Moderno, but I don't know if that's on the Getaway. We'll be on the Gem so Ocean Blue isn't a choice for us.

I have to shlog to work and risk covid at work, my kids risk covid at school. might as well risk getting covid doing fun things, too. Vaxxed, boosted, masks, etc. isn't going to prevent anyone from getting it at this point, but people aren't dying from it at even close to the rate as they were before. COVID is here to stay for the long haul, just like the flu. We just have to learn to live with it and move on. I suspect the 5 day isolation period for positive cases will also disappear by the end of next year. They'll just say you can go back once you are fever free for 24 hours like we do for all other viruses.

We very well may, but I wanted to explore this as an option as well. I like the idea of a more quiet, isolated island than the view of the ship from shore. Plus my husband and I can take turns seeing the sting rays if the kids end up too nervous. I'd like to give them the chance to try, though.

Just wondering about the Gibbs Cay excursions with the stingrays. When I look at the shop excursion description (NCL), it states that participants must be able to comfortably swim with water over their heads. However, when I look at other tours elsewhere, the water is only 2-4ft deep. Can we just choose to do the excursion and remain in the shallow areas? I have a 9 year old who can swim, but I wouldn't describe her as a strong swimmer, and a 5 year old who cannot. We're not interested in snorkeling so much. We're really just looking to hang out at a beautiful beach and see some stingrays. I don't really have an interest in the "up close and personal" where we hold them, kiss them, etc. Quite frankly, I'm not sure my kids will actually want to get near them at all and may prefer to remain on shore.

I don't drink much alcohol but I do love my Starbucks. Honestly, I could even dump my beverage package now and just get the starbucks and be a happy camper! or cruiser, rather. 😁

Thanks! I'll look into the champagne cat or something similar! I imagine the Skyride might also be busy? Or is there a reservation system that keeps the time waiting in line down?

My family and I will be going on a cruise with NCL in February 2023. We have St. Thomas as a port of call, but the timing is a little off as it's noon-7pm. Unfortunately, there are scheduled to be 5 ships in port that day according to the port schedule and most of those ships will be there before we arrive. I imagine this means many places will be quite crowded. Would you recommend a ship excursion? Private excursion? Just a taxi to a beach? For reference, we have 2 children, ages 5 and 8. We've only been to St. Thomas once and we went to Coral World and Coki beach and loved it there, but I can't imagine it being too pleasant being so small with so many ships in port.

The original image in the first post is no longer showing up. Not sure if its just me. Does anyone else have it, or can someone direct where to find it since it's not on ncl.com yet?

Hm. I booked before 1/18/22 but I'm not using the airfare promo. I wonder if they'd let me apply it in that case. Not sure if I want it yet anyway, but considering it.

With a lack of internet connection, lots of free time, and while traveling with family, playing board games sounds like a great idea, especially as we will have 4 days at sea. I hadn't even thought of that and I'm glad to see there are some games available on board! I don't often get to ay board games with my kids in the hustle and bustle of daily life. And while there are plenty of other things to do on board, not all of them are particularly interesting to children (who may or may not have limited activities available with the splash academy). I'm definitely going to add it to our list of things to do on board and I know my children will be hyped about it.

A cruise with a toddler is actually a great way to vacation with a young child, in my opinion. A child doesn't have to be old enough to appreciate the destination in order to go some place. Plus the beach heavy ports are a ton of fun for many littles. They can also enjoy spending time with their family. Plus, it's great when the kid is tired and over stimulated, you can just head back to your cabin without having to drive to your hotel, or worse, sit in the car while the child naps and the rest of the family continues on (been there many times). Obviously, it is a very different experience cruising with a toddler compared to cruising without (we did the buffet almost exclusively for the flexibility and convenience), and did a lot less of the organized activities, but it was good. Much better than some of our land based trips that feel too busy and stressful sometimes. It's completely fine if that doesn't sound like your idea of a vacation, but it's kind of weird that you can't even begin to fathom that someone else might actually be able to have a good time still.

I can't speak for everywhere and I don't have any stats on on board cases, but NYC is seeing a huge surge again right now. If cruise ships aren't there yet, I'm sure they'll be following soon (which is what happened last surge). Hopefully it's short lived.