Derek King

We're you able to rent a car with carseats? Thanks.

Yes it wasn't a problem. Ive done it a few times in different locations.

We used the Hertz based on the local message board here. If you have AAA and use Hertz you get the car seat for free. If not i think its $10.

We are very diligent about car seats so i dropped my wife and our son at the ship and then returned the car and took the rental shuttle by myself.

It was maybe 5 minute ride to rental location.

I know you mentioned other options. We rented a car and took our 2.5 year old to the Brevard Zoo based on some recommendations on this board. He loved it.

They have a separate toddler area.

https://brevardzoo.org/animals/paws

It was about a 30 min drive.

was on july 4th week sailing GEM in 2013 and the 2nd day was pretty rough on the way down. it didn't bother me but I was with some first time cruisers and they had some issues. No real problems the rest of the week or the way back though.

I think there was a storm around on the way down. It's really subjective to the weather.

Oh and ask your room steward for loungers for the balcony because they will fit as people have mentioned. But they don't normally have them in the regular balcony rooms.

I believe we were in 10668 on the Pearl (sister ship). and the balconies on 10 are the largest in the aft. I actually measured it and it was 10 x 8! It fir 2 loungers and 2 chairs with a small table. I wish I could search the forum but it is disabled as I had posted a review and pics. It is a great cabin with a great balcony!

Been in this cabin on the pearl and the gem and it is bigger than regular balconies for sure. It is very far from casino, but very close to great outdoors..a quick walk to aft stairs then 2 flights up. You also get great bakery smells on the aft balconies. Enjoy!

We are taking the NCL Gem Eastern Caribbean cruise next week. can we do yoga without taking the class? Are the golf driving nets free or is there a charge?

Nets are free but usually only open certain times of day. Check the dailies when you get on. Dont know about yoga

Going on this in a few months...

was the casino packed? were the limits high?

IMO the tourney format and take out is a joke also.

i think last time i checked you can't even figure out what they are taking out because they don't tell you how many buys/rebuys have been made. They might have changed that though.

But the structure/blind levels are so bad it becomes an all-in fest at the end.

Like most live games, players are pretty weak. But i've noticed it seems to depend on the itinerary/season you go. A younger crowd on a summer sailing weaker than an off season europe/new England cruise.

Similar to time of year/time of day you would play in casino.

Good luck.