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Gem 4/28/2018 Semi-Live again, take #3 NY-Port Canaveral-GSC-Nassau, what's new !


mking8288
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Hi i enjoyed reading your report i went on the gem in 2016 we booked a 2 bedroom family suite but a day before ncl upgraded us to the yellow diamond suite! It was nice i have a video of it on my youtube channel at stevenwar30 if you want to check it out:)

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We took the shuttle outside on the pier building over to Coca Village, $15 p/p round-trip, last ride back to the ship is 7 pm with all abroad at 8:30 pm ... ship sailing at 9 pm. Go inside the building, restrooms & free WiFi (if you need to use one.) The beach is just down the road, 2 blocks away.

 

The beach shuttles running every 20 to 30 minutes for the 10 minute ride over & back to the ship as needed. We did not book it on the ship, simply "wing" it - and turned out they can be charged back to our Onboard Account (another good use of those non refundable OBC that many of us have ...)

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via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

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Walk this way toward Cocoa Beach - public access. McDonalds, opposite direction on the main road, a block away at the strip malls, with free but slow WiFi.

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Look - this is the gated entrance @ PC for crew members coming & going - apparently, quite a # of them leaving the ship here to start their leave/vacation, many flying home after being away for up to 8 months. Others returning are reporting back to the ship to work - with their luggage. Those with time-off gone into town to do shopping, coming back with shopping/grocery bags or whatever ... wait a minute, I see babies too (not pictured), families working & stay together onboard the ship (which I re-confirmed later on with a crew member, who just came back to resume a month earlier.) Capt. Lars wife is also living on the ship & traveling along.

 

Meanwhile, plenty of onions (or, bags of potatoes ??) among the supplies still waiting to be loaded onto the ship ... been ongoing all afternoon.

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via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

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Booked Moderno as Specialty Dining for 7 after we boarded on Saturday for Monday @6:15 pm, still good availability today (Day #3) ... we used our complimentary Platinum Dining for 2, the rest will be covered by non-refundable OBC associated with the staterooms. The salad bar seemed ?? to have fewer selections compared to the Breakaway, but it was good - skipped over the sushi rolls, 2 dining photos added to 2 others posted earlier.

 

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via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

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This was the roughest 4 or 5 hours at sea (Day 4, Wednesday evening) for the entire week of cruising, which was hardly anything at all to us ... as we left Nassau & set a course heading for NY.

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Look at how calm the Atlantic Ocean is ... this time of the year, amazing, and, feeling lucky.

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By early/mid-afternoon on Day #6, we sailed past Florida's coastal & a long way off South Carolina ... wave height, just 5 ft.

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via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

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Food for thoughts ... pictures, they do looked ... quite good.

From O'Sheehans -

Chipotie Chicken

02e81e0d8925bd21e775d37aed7ce5d9.jpg

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich

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Coney Island Hot Dog - Beef Chili topping, good !

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MDR - Vegetable Pad Thai

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Short Rib Ragu

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Grilled N.Y. Strip Steak (available as Every Day item for dinner)

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Footnote - it appeared, however, portion sizes as served in OSH have been "adjusted" toward slimmer & healthy eating. Big eater might wish to consider ordering an extra item or two, perhaps to share ... (subjective & personal opinion, YMMV, as always)

 

via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

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More food pictures ... starter items, breakfast, fruit plate & yogurt, fruit salad and my personal favorites - salmon on a half bagel & eggs benedict.

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Let's see, who is going on a diet ... BTW, we never got around to consider or call for Room Service to deliver. I did, however, observe/seen other folks leaving LeBistro with wrapped plates of dessert, apparently taken out to go back to their stateroom.

 

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From the vantage point high up, it surely looked packed but for several actually in the pool swimming ... Chair hogs looked to be out in force, except that it was half empty in the Haven's sundeck ... 18 steps up the (somewhat steep) stairs from Deck 14 to Deck 15 within Haven (no elevator access) might be a deterent for its own residents ?? I dunno - your thinking ??

 

More pictures during the cabin crawls.

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via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

 

We only went up to the Haven sundeck area twice - once on embarkation day and another in St. Thomas. No one else was there. We had our own large balcony so for us, there wasn't a need.

 

We did go through the Haven pool area many times a day and usually no more than 4 people in there, if that.

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Food for thoughts ... pictures, they do looked ... quite good.

From O'Sheehans -

Chipotie Chicken

02e81e0d8925bd21e775d37aed7ce5d9.jpg

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich

4929146826520cbb9610dbb167976d93.jpg

Coney Island Hot Dog - Beef Chili topping, good !

c6cfe736195e187d6f64cced5a03012a.jpg

MDR - Vegetable Pad Thai

1220a4507caedb492c131b1e8806eb0c.jpg

Short Rib Ragu

ad26a9a020dabe91394c7b2056870661.jpg

Grilled N.Y. Strip Steak (available as Every Day item for dinner)

82b11d23f407e067f5ec71b5d00ce89d.jpg

 

Footnote - it appeared, however, portion sizes as served in OSH have been "adjusted" toward slimmer & healthy eating. Big eater might wish to consider ordering an extra item or two, perhaps to share ... (subjective & personal opinion, YMMV, as always)

 

via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

 

How was the chicken sandwich? It looks really good and we'll have to try that on Escape if they have it. We used to get the grilled chicken sandwich and it disappeared for a trip or two.

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Food for thoughts ... pictures, they do looked ... quite good.

From O'Sheehans -

Chipotie Chicken

02e81e0d8925bd21e775d37aed7ce5d9.jpg

Open-Faced Turkey Sandwich

4929146826520cbb9610dbb167976d93.jpg

Coney Island Hot Dog - Beef Chili topping, good !

c6cfe736195e187d6f64cced5a03012a.jpg

MDR - Vegetable Pad Thai

1220a4507caedb492c131b1e8806eb0c.jpg

Short Rib Ragu

ad26a9a020dabe91394c7b2056870661.jpg

Grilled N.Y. Strip Steak (available as Every Day item for dinner)

82b11d23f407e067f5ec71b5d00ce89d.jpg

 

Footnote - it appeared, however, portion sizes as served in OSH have been "adjusted" toward slimmer & healthy eating. Big eater might wish to consider ordering an extra item or two, perhaps to share ... (subjective & personal opinion, YMMV, as always)

 

via dual sim QISKIW-L24 using AT&T or T-Mo on Tapatalk

 

How was the chicken sandwich? It looks really good and we'll have to try that on Escape if they have it. We used to get the grilled chicken sandwich and it disappeared for a trip or two.

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Wrapping up - hopefully - this "edition" of Semi-Live Gem 2018 tonight, I think ... more than enough info without overloading most CC "planners" and I'm glad quite a few finding it enjoyable to read, follow & maybe learning something new - that's what sharing & give back is all about.

 

It's hard to believe, 7 days or the week really flashed by in a hurry - but, we really saw 4 shows, including the solo vocalist & the acrobat pairs - all good & not too long. All without needing to make reservations, what a relief vs. mega ships and the seats are a notch more comfortable vs. the Breakaway's auditorium setup with the low ceilings.

 

Get Down Tonight show on Day 7 included the farewell by officers & crews ...and 2 special guests, so see it & pack your bags in-between, tell the dining team to fast track so that you get to see it.

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Atrium lobby/guest services - Deck 7, midship - just 3 random pictures of the ... O'Sheehan's just above those stairs (or, take the elevators one up) ... it's always busy & NCL put this space into good use. OSH is often quiet and never seemed too busy, it's a fairly quiet spot to sit by the windows to read, write & daydream - over coffee/tea and the warmed apple pie w. Vanilla ice cream was good enough for us.

 

Motorized scooter in use - making its way across the "lobby" area - there was a trained service animal onboard this time, we're told but never ran into the owner-pair. Also, a fair # of wheelchair users onboard - the hallways, compared to the Breakway, was much more "accessible" for passage, most of the time ... 3 banks of elevators also didn't hurt for folks to get around, we often take & walk down the stairs, easier & faster.

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NCL's Post Cruise Survey are here again - we got 3 of them for our address alone, scientific random samples or selectively chosen - I always wondered, as we "consistently" get them after each cruise. Going to fill them individuall, DW did hers - SIL is going to do hers and I'm going to do mine, now that I get time & chance to reflect and review all the happenings last week ... the good, the so-so and the "bad" ones.

 

As usual, it asked about whether we use/read/post on Facebook and on CruiseCritic ... only the 5% do matter & count, at least a little bit, and acting as if they care & listen/value our opinions. It's a pretty long survey, easily take 15 or 20 minutes to finish it ... and, at the end, blank space is provided to write in comments, suggestions & critics (count on it.)

Top/bottom of the chart - the disembarkation chaos ! for the 90% - not the other 5% or 10% as they are usually well taken of, as they should.

 

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Dexddd, yes, that Chiptole Chicken sandwich was good to very good, has just enough "kick" & a nice change vs. the old one, on a nicely toasted bun. I recommend you give it a try next month on your Escape run to Bermuda, worth sending the butler downstairs to fetch it - #wink #wink

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Skip - IMHO - the Fish & Chips, too high in sodium / salty for our taste buds, maybe it's de thick coating but whatever, disappointed & not impressed this time. I had it before on both the BA many times and also on the Gem ... they just ruined it. The Reuben on Rye ... definitely can't compete with Katz's on the Lower East Side ... good enough as the only place to get corned beef on a ship, I think.

 

Smoked salmon lovers - might wish to consider a doubled order of it on a half bagel, and, ask for extra cream cheese - only at breakfast time in the MDR. Chilled smoked salmon in Moderno and served once in the MDR, also, very good for me. For sit-down lunch, the Grouper Sandwich in the MDR is pretty good ...

 

Food serving temperature is always warm, sometimes hot - nothing "unsafe" and most definitely, never cold - unless "chilled" is the expected serving ... here's a surprise, advantage is OSH, soup of the day is always hot and the wings too.

 

Those little chocolate croissants in the buffet & upon request in the MDR for breakfast (also, via "free" Room Service delivery) are good - it's "addictive" ... what a nice way to start off the morning.

 

The Garden Cafe / buffet is a popular gathering place for folks to hangout, hogging up those highly prized window tables with seating for 2 ... a handful of them acted like the hogs on the outside pool deck, sitting there for hours in small groups - not nice at all. Thus, I recommend those who wish to eat there - to make use of LaCucina, portside for breakfast, snack time and for lunch when not set up for specialty dining ... it's a much longer walk to get food ... and, not even a beverage station in that area to get ice, water, flavored water, juices, coffee & hot water for tea, etc. - a little inconvenient but rewarded with spacious & comfortable seating, quieter

 

#cough #cough - bringing up a hot topic: the water station, where (unlike other cruiselines & cafeteria, etc.) - the filling and refilling of personal bottles & mini water tanks are getting a little out-of-hand & annoying, to say the least, creating long lines, splashes & wet floor (which, the poor crew members nearby, had to clean & mop up again & again ... all day long into the late evening.)

 

***** NCL***** how about adding info-graphics, universal signage about no direct filing into those assorted bottles, or bottle rinsing by passengers, not all of them read & understood English, some being visitors from other foreign places & unfamiliar with the rules. Selling "slightly" over-priced bottled tap water ** at nearly $4 USD a bottle, really, do not help with the boarding ban & captive pricing ... I know, this has been beaten to death 99 times already. The unsanitary & unsafe conditions can and should be avoided ... not good enough with "washy washy" alone - where I watched, easily 50% of the dinng guests walking in ignored & bypassed the hand sanitizor dispensor next to the host/ess station, checking in for dining.

 

OK, rnd of a brief lecture & preaching tonight for me, something that I've avoided bringing up in my style of "review" in the past ... someone will come along & attempt to hijack, please don't & go away.

 

P.S. Current price of a canned soda (Pepsi products only) - inventorized in those mini in-room refrigerator/cooler box has risen to $3.45 each + a 20% mandatory restocking fee/surcharge - bringing it to $4.14 per can. Just tell the Room Steward, when s/he get a chance, to empty & put all mini-bar items away safely - it's not covered by UBP or casino drink card.

 

These 2 bottled Aquafina (tap) water (20 oz. or 1.25 pt.) are free, complimentary to qualifying Latitude members, 1 per person, one-time only per cruise ... Plus get 2 bottles ... smaller than the 1 liter sized sold.

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On the GEM, a year ago - stayed on Deck 8 obstructed Oceanview, we're surprised to find that the bedside lamps got upgraded to LED and had an USB charging port next to each, a nice addition. It's very popular & common at better hotel chain properties everywhere around the world, in addition to those HDMI port for direct AV connection ... just not on cruise ships (yet)

 

It turned out, not all of the GEM's staterooms have them, at least not yet - it was a surprise ... luckily, yours truly is a well prep'd traveler ... my 6' USB extension cord plus the usual 3' or 1 meter usb charging cable - connected together was just long enough for me to keep the smartphone on the small night table - it's also the digital alarm clock. Bring one, and I recommend getting a 10' one - it will life easier, especially if you use a multi-port USB charging adapter, like me (1 of the 4 port was used for a mini-3-LED night lights)

 

That means, for most staterooms, expect no more than 3 electrical outlets - two 110 volts 3-prong US outlets, 1 on each side of the stateroom and the third outlet, being a 220 volts - Euro plug outlet, thus, most US users will need a simple & inexpensive adapter plug. I always carry one in the gadget/accessory pouch, just in case.

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With a single 4 port USB outlet and charging cables, it was sufficient for our needs - please disconnect them when leaving the room, for fire safety reasons. On the opposite wall, under the TV shelf is the other 110 volts outlet - had our Sony Viao notebook PC connected there - the adapter is dual auto-voltage, could've easily connected that to the 220 outlet with the adapter. That leave a 3rd. outlet open to connect another piece of equipment, i.e. CPAP ... newer *Away ships are better with this - 4 outlets, 2 with 110 volts and 2 with 220 volts.

Leave any surge suppressor extension cords at home - they are fire hazards and not permitted onboard.

 

HDMI port input and LG HDTV - well, unlike the Breakaway, the LG branded TV get its input signal via an ethernet cable ... the Remote TV cannot change or select a different input source, plus the HDMI ports were apparently firmware disabled (leave those high end Harmony universal remote at home, useless - nor could I get the App-based "Universal Remote" to connect & switch sources.

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It's either paying to watch PPV (Pay Per View) TV (choice of about 60 titles via "interactive TV" at $9.95 each rental) or "live" with the very limited "TV" channels as offered. Haven & suites get PPV options for free, included at no extra charge. Advantage of having mp4 videos stored on USB drives and a compact Bluetooth speaker, easy to listen & watch one's own preloaded media.

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Special Alert: for those with "Inside" staterooms & accustomed to leaving the TV on, tuned to the Bridge Cam channel ... this idea is not being "defeated" by energy-saver features of the LGTV, which timed out about xx minutes and will power down the screen ... can't no longer keep the lights (TV) on.

 

Complimentary, free bag of (wet) laundry for Platinum & Plus members - ours came back in a basket, neatly folded, clean & fresh, easily repack to take home and/or ready to wear again ... not dry cleaned. Otherwise, look for the mid-week (ask your RS) Bundled Laundry Special, all you can fit/stuffed into the large paper bag for $19.95

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On that last night, even the Garden Cafe / buffet quiet down a bit after 10:30 pm when I took a quick walk around Deck 12 ... crew members had sections roped off and began their cleaning operations ... never seen this area so "empty" all week long.

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Time to go to bed, get a few hours of sleep before arrival into NY ... guess what, we sailed past the Statue of Liberty around 3 am, northbound up the Hudson River and here's the Norwegian Bliss, as we began to turn into Pier 88's Berth #2.

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Day 8 - early Saturday morning, we quickly packed up, got dressed & met the "gang" outside the Grand Pacifica MDR, time to enjoy a leisure sit-down breakfast first. Hundreds are already starting to line up at 7 am ... hoping to the among the first 100 or 200 to get off the ship (after 8 am, expected time for Express Walkoff to begin)

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Actually, the ship wasn't cleared until close to 8:20 or 8:30 am with the announcement, then it was rush hour heading for the gangways. Platinum's color luggage tags - Yellow - wasn't called until closer to 9 am (definitely past 8;45 am). We sat above the atrium lobby in O'Sheehan's and waited patiently, as requested, before walking down 1 deck to look for the end of the line and join the exodus.

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It took a while longer to make our way outdoors into the promenade area ... hundreds, apparently still from the Express Walkoff - are ahead of us, lined up on the terminal's exterior walkway, almost from one end to the other. Took over an hour for us to finally reach the bottom of the escalators, and to walk over to find our luggage @ 10:05 am. What a mess !

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Homecoming - our week of cruising is officially over ... time to request pickup on the Carmel App, our car service of choice to take us back to Queens ... Took us less than 10 minutes from the luggage hall area with the porter grabbing all our bags, took us thru CBP - and found a spot to unload our bags on 12th Avenue ... it was about 10:15 am, wow !

 

It's a good thing that we aren't late running for a Greyhound, Amtrak or airport connections for an outbound flight, or else ... could be in serious trouble. Imagine being on a mega-ship and already late (and, sure enough ... it happened to the Escape coming back from Bermuda, the next day.)

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Thank you for the time and effort you put into the posts about your week on the Gem. We will be shoving off on May 12th and since having never been on the Gem you have given us much to look forward to. Enjoy the memories of your cruise and thanks again.....much appreciated.

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Good morning, great review of the Gem and we look forward to sailing on her in a few weeks. Do you know if they serve raw bar items in the MDR as an appetizer? Or if they are available on request? Was wondering about raw oysters or clams on 1/2 shell. Thanks for all your input!

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... Do you know if they serve raw bar items in the MDR as an appetizer? Or if they are available on request? Was wondering about raw oysters or clams on 1/2 shell.

Something similar to these that we just had ... in the city, yummy good. But not on the Gem - it's very difficult, if not possible to keep them fresh onboard the ship(s) and serve them, and to set reasonable upcharge pricing. Unless I am mistaken, since we skipped our free meal at Cagney/LeBistro this time around ... checkout the latest Specialty Dining Menus to see if anything changed. Most definitely, not offered at all in the MDR, even with an upcharge.

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Shrimp cocktails, available - typically in Specialty, can't tell you about Haven ... but, have a look at the other "review" in progress by fellow CC, graphicguy from Ohio - he has lots of great pictures, maybe he has better "intel" than us.

 

In the MDR last week, crab cake was very good (one of my favorite ... should've made it a double order) and the sushi rolls as a starter, good (better than expected) both w/o any upcharge.

 

I suggest making a stop pre- or post-cruise at the nearby Chelsea Market, 10 minutes taxi ride/drive from the cruise terminal south on 12th Avenue ... also, enjoy a nice walk on the Highline (Google it)

CM is an indoor, urban food court emporium - excellent availability & choice of fresh seafood.

 

... will be shoving off on May 12th and since having never been on the Gem you have given us much to look forward to ...

You are welcomed and I hope that all sailing on the Gem soon get the most & best out of it. Crew is friendly, helpful and smile often, working very hard.

 

Ship is on her way back to NYC now, I tracked again briefly yesterday - sailed out of Nassau a few minutes early (that usually meant, no pier runners stranded or left behind waving goodbye to the ship from land). Overall speaking, looking all good ... can't do much against Mother Nature - they did make it to GSC this week and I wish you success next week, our "luck" tendering not so much, but Mrs. M "scored" a minor win at both land casinos with our brief visit to subsidize our cruise, LOL ... no complaints.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

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Postscripts - some additional FAQ links from other (related or not) posts & threads, of interest & use to maybe a handful of newer CC'er - seasoned ones can skip.

 

Menus & Food - pictures (from 2017 - 2018)

Did this about 3 months ago, was hoping to get a chance to update it with new menus & images based on 2018 (seemed like the Bliss passengers are reporting seeing new items, but not on the Gem ... at least not yet, nothing exciting to share)

 

Here's the link anway, including Breakfast, Room Service (free ones & the hot entrees with a delivery charge) for O'Sheehan's and the MDR Lunch ... hence, that's as current then as it is now. This would be a safe, good & friendly ice-breaker question to ask if going to the CC Meet & Mingle, as the F&B Director is usually present and possible will answer - what's new to eat in 2018 ? How's that for an idea ... tell them we are sharing secrets here on CC, they supposingly read & follow us.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2594039&highlight=2017-18+menu

 

Driving to & Pier Parking at MCT - Pier 88/90:

The discount parking for Gem sailings has long been discontinued, since last Summer - it's a flat rate with no surcharges, taxes included - and being NY, still a nice deal if you can share the driving & park & split the expenses. On the East Coast Forum, we have a 411 for that - newer pictures amended/uploaded as the old links by the OP "expired"

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2057865&page=6

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Getting to/from NY's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - a special challenge due to long-term reconstruction, thru 2020 & beyond - again, we tried to maintain a 411 on it & deal with some of the Q&A. The link -

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2395969&page=3&highlight=LGA

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Given the chronic mess and fiasco lately at MCT, hoping that NCL will someday find a better way to manage this - been trying to do things differently for nearly 20 years, still not good enough, IMHO - allow plenty of time to make flight connections at area airports. If the ship is delayed, for whatever reasons - it's all hell breaking loose and a free-for-all.

 

We will find out - hear - soon enough how things are this Saturday for the Gem and Sunday for the Escape coming back.

 

Exclusive waiting area at M.C.T. - Pier 88

Meanwhile, for those that are Platinum/Plus or with Special Needs. These pictures were taken from the roped off area set aside to sit & wait, if you are there early. Just opposite the section for Special Needs - once they boarded Haven & VIP - the rest will follow.

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Edited by mking8288
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