markf

I am platinum on NCL, but  haven't  cruised with them for  3  years.  I have been in suites  the  last few  cruises.

The  ship is a traditional ship, nice  to be able  to go to the  show  with no reservations and  walk in at show time and find seats.

They had ample  music around the ship  each night, and shows  were Ok.

The  staff seemed to be over worked, under trained, but  trying.

The  food  while tasty , was  served very slowly, never delivered  hot, even in Cagneys which is not understandable, even a baked potato request was a chore and  delivered luke  warm.

We ate  Grand Pacific  2x, choice of  food was not at par  of  earlier years, when things like  salmon were a  staple. Each meal was  1  1/2 hours don't  understand  why!! 

Breakfast for  suite members  was great, but service  slow.. if  you are listening NCL, coffee  needs to be  served  immediately, not  in 10 minutes or  more.. Also butter  should be on the table!!  

Buffet for some lunches were  extremely  repetitive in choice, although a nice salad bar !! Desserts  all tasted the same, cut up fruit was canned  fruit!!  I remember the  days  when they sliced fruit in front of you. Sandwiches  were mainly pre  made. Couldn't get a scoop of tuna fish or  chicken salad etc, it was all made for you, clearly to save $.

That was the  theme I picked  up overall

10  days and  essentially the same menu in the buffets, I walked thru  most nights to check the  menu.

Lobster is a thing of  the past--

At  the Italian restaurant, past  one  night  was way over cooked, the  2nd time  asked  for  Al dente, I  got a look of --what am I talking about..

Staff seems  to be untrained, and struggles  with English, many  from China which I have not seen on past  cruises. Even the  CD had a heavy accent, but  she  improved  during the  week

Also must bring up the internet service, for  some reason once you are on the ship, even when docked, you must go on NCL  system, which is costly and  unpredicitble and slow.

Definite need for investment in better service, the  young generation will not tolerate sporadic service. Cant  understand  why I cant use  my  phone or  service while  docked in NYC  or San Juan etc..

Overall I  would  rate  the  trip 8 out 10 ---

any  questions  ???

I was on the  Gem that returned  this morning.  Yes it docked  at 10 am almost to the minute.

I had  priority debarkation and  didn't  get off until after  11 am  with baggage  at the  pier, not carry off.

I was  told  that Coast guard was  doing  a  drill, but want sure what it entailed.

I am thinking that NCL  has arrived  late , simply to cut back on dockage fees.

it clearly puts  stress on staff, to turn the ship around in 6 hours..

The staff seemed  stressed  and not  trained as they were in the past.  

seaside YC is  all contained , cabins are on 2 floors and the  restaurant is on the  higher of  the 2 floors, which you can access from the front of the  ship where the bar  and lounge  is, and walk up a flight . or  you can enter  from the back of  the  restaurant on the  cabin side.  

My  idol --

just  curious  if  you are  going for  82 days, have  you considered an around  the world cruise -I  realize NCL  doesnt offer one--

I  suppose it is more  cost effective  to cruise  than maybe go to florida  for the winter  months--

I may have written this  else  where, I do remember  all of the  above  list.

But  I also remmeber  going  to a  CC meeting and each person got free  bottles of wine and free dinners in specialty  restaurant.

Also when the eliminated the  midnight buffet, they had  the chocolate buffet  once  during te trip

Looking  for  people  that went on  GEM cruise  in 2019, and their  review on food, enetertainmnet , etc.

Very  little  written in the  last 2  months 

very little  discussion on GEM , curious as  to   why??

I  would like to hear as well 

Gem has a 10 am arrival in NY  port --I  assume most  of the time  they arrive much earlier..

If  they do arrive  at  10 AM , obviously they are not loading new passsengers at  1130 AM--

Unless  someone  else has information

thanks   

I guess I wasnt  that clear, I will only use  the  phone to make  phone calls  in port.

just wanted  to be able  to get  emails while at sea.

But  I see that I can use WIFI to make  calls  and  bypass  the  costly fees

yes  I will use  the  NCL package --

but  put on   airplane mode  

any other settings??  to get  emails  and  not use  the phone

I forgot what  to do once on board to get emails on my I phone  

Airplane mode--data  off?

I  know  in port I can use  the phone with international service at 10  per day --not on sea days .

any help  I have  ATT --apple  I  phone --Thanks

thanks--going  soon  I am  not  expecting to be  wowed!!

Chose the  cruise  due  to being in NY, less than an hour  to the pier  

Dissapointing  to hear the deteriration as  NCL was  our go  to  cruise--now it  is  MSC  in the  YC , but  we will deal with it!!!

Would  like  to hear some  reviews  from the  Gem that returned a day late.

Not so much about the last day but  the  crusie  in general--food, enetertainment  etc..

Unfortunately  the  web  cam  isnt  current 

I am certain that St Martin is  cheaper than the duty free on board--I  also believe  it may be  cheaper  than St  Thomas

I need  to  take the tip  from you and make walking so important--sounds like it is the most important part of  your  day

NYC price  for  a pack of cigarettes  is  over  $15

we  find  st martin, dutch  side  the best price, they  don't  advertise , so  you have to hunt  for it on the main street,

do we  need to make  a reservation for  Limerz  or  can we just  go .?

I have not  seen any recent  threads  on GEM.

Quality of food, condition of  ship, activites, entertainment. 

Leaving in about  a month 

you brought up a point in this thread that I  forgot.  On YC Divina we ahd the  same  table  each night and  they encouraged  you  to keep to your  dining  time that you indicated the first day.

on Seaside YC we  seldom had  the  same table  and there  was  no issue if you cam 30  minute  after  the time you suggested.

I am thinking Seaside  had more  tables  than people , assuming  a  2 x turn of the  table.

also on divina the Maitr d , was  much more involved nd cooked  pasta each night --not on Seaside!!

One  other point---the  pool in YC  on Seaside is a  constant  6 feet deep not very  user  friendly .

On Divina  it is  a normal depth pool .

In addiiton the ladder on Seaside is somehwat difficult to maneuver to get out of the pool 

Curious , I booked  thru CAS but upgraded to a full suite.

I assume  the  Suite  line is  a better place to check in in NYC--any  thoguhts?

here are some answers from an OctoBer  YC  cruise.

10 30 AM IS a  good  time to arrive  , you may not be  first, but  they  usually  don't allow  people on the  ship until 1115 am -  1130Am.

The cabanas  sat empty all week , there  is not much too  them, they use bamboo huts with covering on  all sides.

You have  access to thermal suites.

we had  the  wrist bands  for the elevators, but they were not  always reliable.

There is  afull bar just below the  YC  restaurant open at least  18 hours  a day, the  restaurant  is upstairs .

I heard  much about  Arthur, I  believe he was on vacation during our cruise 

I am envious, you  will find  the  YC to be  your  future favorite cruise  line  of  choice.. I  will follow  along.

I have been on 2  YC crusies  and  various  others --