All things NCL Gem

All Things NCL Gem

We are sailing her in April 2008, and I couldnt find a thread for "All Things" so I figured I'd start one!

Everyone who loves her, has been on her, is going on her, I (and everyone else who hasnt sailed her yet) would love advice!

Whats a must do? What can we skip? Where are the best places to eat, get a drink? How is the food? Entertainment? Ship itself?

What is your favorite place on the ship for a sunset? A sunrise?

I think that will get us started ...

Thanks!

Here is a link to my answer to a similar question. It includes my thoughts on best place for drink (martini bar), best place for sunrise is cappucino on the back deck of the buffet. I have also posted a very lengthy (3 part) review. But I'll be happy to answer any specific questions. The Gem is my favorite ship! Have a great time!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=734214&highlight=gem

I posted a review also. We loved this ship. Sunrise is on the balcony of our room as was sunset. Best meal we had was in Magenta believe it or not. Favorite breakfast was the Blue Lagoon. We also really enjoyed the Great Outdoors to hang out and watch the water flow by. The buffet was surprisingly good and fast.

Enjoy - I'd love to be cruising on the GEM again. :)

Here is a link to my answer to a similar question. It includes my thoughts on best place for drink (martini bar), best place for sunrise is cappucino on the back deck of the buffet. I have also posted a very lengthy (3 part) review. But I'll be happy to answer any specific questions. The Gem is my favorite ship! Have a great time!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=734214&highlight=gem

I just read your post.

I've read all the reviews. Since so much bad stuff is said, i figured id start an area where most would only have good things to say. I know that no cruise is perfect, but i'm sure alot of good things were seen and experienced vs bad things.

Were you able to try the bowling league? If so did you like it? Our Cruise critic group wants to do a bowling get together, i was looking into comments on people who bowled.

I posted a review also. We loved this ship. Sunrise is on the balcony of our room as was sunset. Best meal we had was in Magenta believe it or not. Favorite breakfast was the Blue Lagoon. We also really enjoyed the Great Outdoors to hang out and watch the water flow by. The buffet was surprisingly good and fast.

 

Enjoy - I'd love to be cruising on the GEM again. :)

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Is there breakfast offered every morning in blue lagoon?

Great Idea. Talk to you on the Roll Call

Kit

Great Idea. Talk to you on the Roll Call

 

Kit

Kit, i figured id get more info for all of us on the 4/19 cruise. One stop shopping! Hopefully more nice people will post alot of info. :D

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Is there breakfast offered every morning in blue lagoon?

Yes, the Blue Lagoon is open 24 hours a day. Breakfast from 7:30 (or 7:00) until 10:30 (I think)...then they have their regular menu which is "comfort foods" such as burgers, hot dogs, noodle stir fry, fried rice, fish and chips, shepards pie, hot wings, potato skins, tomato soup, wonton soup...and a few other things.

The only negative thing I have to say about our 3/1-3/8 cruise was that the service is the Blue Lagoon was bad.

We'll be going on the Gem April 5th, and I'll try to do a live review and get my pics up before your cruise.

This will be our first aft cabin and we're looking forward to something different along with exploring a new ship. We received an upsell email last week, but thought the price was way too high for a 7 day cruise.

I just read your post.

 

I've read all the reviews. Since so much bad stuff is said, i figured id start an area where most would only have good things to say. I know that no cruise is perfect, but i'm sure alot of good things were seen and experienced vs bad things.

 

Were you able to try the bowling league? If so did you like it? Our Cruise critic group wants to do a bowling get together, i was looking into comments on people who bowled.

I don't mean to be difficult but did you read all the reviews in the "official review" area or have you also read those in the messages? I ask because I don't think it's true that there is so much negative, just a few that happen to be recent so they get seen. But don't get me wrong, I think this is a good idea. Just because of one or two recent negative reviews, I would hate for people to miss all the truly wonderful things about the Gem. I don't know if the search feature is working, but if it is, you can find my full review by searching "Part 1" "Part 2" and "Part 3."

We did bowl on the Gem, but had friends who did and had a wonderful time. We bowled on the Pearl and loved it - we just didn't get around to it on the Gem. But I never got invovled with a group our league so can't answer your question.

One of my favorite things was to do a day pass in the spa. Sailing out of NY you will have most likely have a couple of cold sea days, one in each direction. The spa is a great way to relax and enjoy the jacuzzis, hot tubs, and therapy pool, and loungers with the best veiw on the ship. The treatmetns are expensive, but you don't have to do a treatment. For $20 a day, you can feel like you have your own personal villa.

My favorite meal was at Tequila. We shared El Popo and the dessert (cream puffs with coffee ice cream and fudge sauce) was the best we had all week. Plus the drinks there are so good - both the sangria and the margaritas.

Have fun!

Just off the Gem 3/1 and here are some of my tips:

1) The margaritas at Tequilas were much better than elsewhere on the ship... worth the trip to Tequilas bar area.

2) There is a $5 automated blackjack table in Spinnaker. DH is an amateur and not comfortable in the smokey casino playing high dollar tables with big time gamblers. Reason I point this out is he didn't find this table until half way through the week.

3) There is popcorn available in Spinnaker - again we didn't find it until halfway through the week but the kids LOVED it for snacks.

4) The lattes, capuccino from the automated machines are yummy!

5) Don't let a "long wait" at the dining room scare you. We were given a pager one night (lobster night) saying it would be upwards up 45 minutes. We were paged within 5 minutes.

6) If you experience any negative service in the dining rooms, talk to the maitre d -we saw them going table to table each night. We once had an issue with very delayed bar service and with a polite complaint it was taken care of immediately and very professionally!

7) All the menus for the day are available in the buffet each morning. Nice to quickly check the dinner menu at the main dining room to see if we may want to choose an alternative that night.

Have a great trip!

We were on the New Year's sailing and LOVED having a pre-dinner drink at Maltings. Wonderful entertainer, superior beer selection (great scotch too, I'm told) and right around the corner from Magenta. Dinner table not available? Grab a pager and head straight to Maltings for a treat!

I'll let you in on a secret but don't tell anyone. Go to deck 14 at the very front of the ship. They have these GREAT wicker beds. There is a wind barrier so you don't feel it and the sun bathing is great. You can fit several people in these beds but it's great to share with someone you love.

Great ship and crew! Loved it!...see my review on this board..:)

Come on folks. Let's give this thread a little more life. It is at the very bottom of page one. I'll be on the Gem end of this month and I'll have lots to say when I get back. If Gem is anything like her sis, Pearl, she is going to shine as bright as a diamond!!!

Come on folks. Let's give this thread a little more life. It is at the very bottom of page one. I'll be on the Gem end of this month and I'll have lots to say when I get back. If Gem is anything like her sis, Pearl, she is going to shine as bright as a diamond!!!

Diamond! Wrong cruiseline! Just kidding....

I'll let you in on a secret but don't tell anyone. Go to deck 14 at the very front of the ship. They have these GREAT wicker beds. There is a wind barrier so you don't feel it and the sun bathing is great. You can fit several people in these beds but it's great to share with someone you love.

The wicker beds sound like a great spot for an afternoon siesta! Come on you past Gem cruisers tell us more of your favorites on the Gem!

Thanks! Michelle

How many wicker beds?

Yes, the Blue Lagoon is open 24 hours a day. Breakfast from 7:30 (or 7:00) until 10:30 (I think)...then they have their regular menu which is "comfort foods" such as burgers, hot dogs, noodle stir fry, fried rice, fish and chips, shepards pie, hot wings, potato skins, tomato soup, wonton soup...and a few other things.

 

The only negative thing I have to say about our 3/1-3/8 cruise was that the service is the Blue Lagoon was bad.

While we were on our NCL Spirit sailing the Blue Lagoon service was slow. Sometimes it took them a while before they even bought you the menu and the food never came out all at one time. example i got my potatoe skins and hot wings and some others in our group didnt get theres till maybe 10 minutes later.

I do love the chicken wings with the blue cheese. Not spicy at all.

We'll be going on the Gem April 5th, and I'll try to do a live review and get my pics up before your cruise.

This will be our first aft cabin and we're looking forward to something different along with exploring a new ship. We received an upsell email last week, but thought the price was way too high for a 7 day cruise.

If you would that would be grate. I'd appreciate it!

We havent gotten an upsell offer, but my daughter was going to call today and ask what the prices are for an upgrade.

I don't mean to be difficult but did you read all the reviews in the "official review" area or have you also read those in the messages? I ask because I don't think it's true that there is so much negative, just a few that happen to be recent so they get seen. But don't get me wrong, I think this is a good idea. Just because of one or two recent negative reviews, I would hate for people to miss all the truly wonderful things about the Gem. I don't know if the search feature is working, but if it is, you can find my full review by searching "Part 1" "Part 2" and "Part 3."

 

We did bowl on the Gem, but had friends who did and had a wonderful time. We bowled on the Pearl and loved it - we just didn't get around to it on the Gem. But I never got invovled with a group our league so can't answer your question.

 

One of my favorite things was to do a day pass in the spa. Sailing out of NY you will have most likely have a couple of cold sea days, one in each direction. The spa is a great way to relax and enjoy the jacuzzis, hot tubs, and therapy pool, and loungers with the best veiw on the ship. The treatmetns are expensive, but you don't have to do a treatment. For $20 a day, you can feel like you have your own personal villa.

 

My favorite meal was at Tequila. We shared El Popo and the dessert (cream puffs with coffee ice cream and fudge sauce) was the best we had all week. Plus the drinks there are so good - both the sangria and the margaritas.

 

Have fun!

Thats the exact reason that I wanted to start the thread. Ive read alot of bad reviews and i've also read alot of the group boards messages.

I'm intrested in the good stuff people have to say. Not that the bad stuff isnt out there. I'm sure there is plenty to say about that as well. But I want to go on my cruise hoping for the best. If something happends that im not happy with ill deal with it on the spot and forget about it and move on. This will be our first experience to europe and i wont hold grudges for the entire trip if something does go wrong. Hey life is not perfect so why should we expect anything else to be? you just have to move on.

Were very excited and I love reading and hearing all the good stuff about the Gem.

I read that you can do the day pass in the spa for $75.00 the entire trip. Being that were on a 15 day would they still charge that amount? Or would it be the $20.00 per day you mention?

Tequila was one of our favorite restaurants when we went on our last Hawaii cruise. Do they still scream out Ole when they serve everyone the food?

Do they still have the Skirt steak on the metal rails for two people with the grilled pinapples?

We went to Tequila 4 times out of the 7 days we were on the cruise. Can you tell how much we liked it?

The Quesadillas were great as well.

I appreciate all your comments and your help with everything.

Just off the Gem 3/1 and here are some of my tips:

 

1) The margaritas at Tequilas were much better than elsewhere on the ship... worth the trip to Tequilas bar area.

 

2) There is a $5 automated blackjack table in Spinnaker. DH is an amateur and not comfortable in the smokey casino playing high dollar tables with big time gamblers. Reason I point this out is he didn't find this table until half way through the week.

 

3) There is popcorn available in Spinnaker - again we didn't find it until halfway through the week but the kids LOVED it for snacks.

 

4) The lattes, capuccino from the automated machines are yummy!

 

5) Don't let a "long wait" at the dining room scare you. We were given a pager one night (lobster night) saying it would be upwards up 45 minutes. We were paged within 5 minutes.

 

6) If you experience any negative service in the dining rooms, talk to the maitre d -we saw them going table to table each night. We once had an issue with very delayed bar service and with a polite complaint it was taken care of immediately and very professionally!

 

7) All the menus for the day are available in the buffet each morning. Nice to quickly check the dinner menu at the main dining room to see if we may want to choose an alternative that night.

 

Have a great trip!

Thank you so much for posting your tips. We will definately have to try the Margaritas.

Was the popcorn available at all times during the day? Was there a charge for it?

Weve also experienced the pager thing at the dining rooms and weve never had to wait too long either.

We love to check the menus on a daily basis that way we can make reservations where needed to make sure we get to eat something we really enjoy.

We were on the New Year's sailing and LOVED having a pre-dinner drink at Maltings. Wonderful entertainer, superior beer selection (great scotch too, I'm told) and right around the corner from Magenta. Dinner table not available? Grab a pager and head straight to Maltings for a treat!

Great!

I'll let you in on a secret but don't tell anyone. Go to deck 14 at the very front of the ship. They have these GREAT wicker beds. There is a wind barrier so you don't feel it and the sun bathing is great. You can fit several people in these beds but it's great to share with someone you love.

I had seen pictures of the wicker beds and were already planning on camping out if necessary to use them on one day :)

Come on folks. Let's give this thread a little more life. It is at the very bottom of page one. I'll be on the Gem end of this month and I'll have lots to say when I get back. If Gem is anything like her sis, Pearl, she is going to shine as bright as a diamond!!!

I love reading what people have to say about the ship. I for one am a cruise junkie. I cant get enough of it. I love checking out the ship from top to bottom as soon as we board in order to get a feeling for the areas that i like most. When we return i will also post alof of information that will help all cruisers that have not gone on her yet. :)