My take on the Gem Garden Villa 14500 6/9-6/16

I am staying in a Garden Villa on Star this fall. Hope my experience is as wonderful as yours!

I’m sure it will be. Have a wonderful trip!!!:)

Great review thank you.

Loved the Gem and Elvina is amazing she. We were in the OS, we weren’t high maintenance at all but she went above and beyond for the whole 10 days. Would love to sail the Gem and with Elvina again (and in the GV!)

we have never gotten a towel animal on the first night. they are EXHAUSTED as turnover day is a very long and busy day, as every room is fully stripped, cleaned, made up for the next group coming in. they also have to deliver luggage, etc.

 

ive never heard or read on here that GV guests get a free specialty on their last night.

We got a free specialty dinner on the Star when we were in the GV but I don’t remember when we were in the villa on the Jewel.

we have never gotten a towel animal on the first night. they are EXHAUSTED as turnover day is a very long and busy day, as every room is fully stripped, cleaned, made up for the next group coming in. they also have to deliver luggage, etc.

 

ive never heard or read on here that GV guests get a free specialty on their last night.

Towel animal first night is hit or miss and I understand if they don't do one that first night. We had one first night on Escape a couple weeks back.'

In regards to "free meal" it has been mentioned by some GV folks that the concierge extends a "free" specialty dining to them during the trip, not necessarily the last night though.

So anyway...….after I stopped crying hysterically over the towel animal...LOL :rolleyes:...we opted to stay on the ship in Florida....loved GSC, and went to Atlantis in Nassau. As far as the shows went... Swing - the Musical wasn't my cup of tea, but I did think the dancing was amazing....We loved Blazin Boots....and most of my group loved the magician - but I didn't...lol...just being honest. We spent a lot of time in the casino and played in the slot invitational tournament (a whole 'nother story and thread :mad:) We spent ALOT of time in our courtyard and had an relaxing wonderful vacation.

 

Oh...We could have been picked up by limo at our home in jersey and driven back home after disembarkation, but pre-concierge never told us that, so make sure you ask up front if u stay in the GV. Elvina said they should have set that up with us, pre-cruise. We drove in and parked for the week like we always do, but being picked up would have been nice.

 

Overall this was an absolutely wonderful cruise....and we can't wait to do it again next year. The Gem is our favorite NCL ship and now the GV is our favorite room!!!

Unless that is new, the limo has always been only after the trip.

1A. While my family may prefer this, I am a bit of a foodie and will want items delivered from the various specialty restaurants at the same time. I hope this can be done without driving the butler and associated staff either crazy or to exhaustion.

 

We love the Gem (and NCL), but imho you should lower any "foodie" expectations. Yes, we've had some good food on NCL, but it's not why you cruise on NCL.

You must go to Teppanyaki. My husband is Chinese as well and he absolutely loved it!!..I don't know if they will bring that to your room, but I know you can ask for all the menus from all the restaurants and they will bring anything you want to the room...

 

I totally agree about Teppanyaki. The food really is good there (steak and shrimp, YUM) AND you should go in person, because a large part of the enjoyment is the chef making the food there for the entire table. (Skip the green tea ice cream.)

So anyway...….after I stopped crying hysterically over the towel animal...LOL :rolleyes:...we opted to stay on the ship in Florida....loved GSC, and went to Atlantis in Nassau. As far as the shows went... Swing - the Musical wasn't my cup of tea, but I did think the dancing was amazing....We loved Blazin Boots....and most of my group loved the magician - but I didn't...lol...just being honest. We spent a lot of time in the casino and played in the slot invitational tournament (a whole 'nother story and thread :mad:) We spent ALOT of time in our courtyard and had an relaxing wonderful vacation.

 

 

 

Oh...We could have been picked up by limo at our home in jersey and driven back home after disembarkation, but pre-concierge never told us that, so make sure you ask up front if u stay in the GV. Elvina said they should have set that up with us, pre-cruise. We drove in and parked for the week like we always do, but being picked up would have been nice.

 

 

 

Overall this was an absolutely wonderful cruise....and we can't wait to do it again next year. The Gem is our favorite NCL ship and now the GV is our favorite room!!!

The limo ride is only post cruise.

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We've stayed in the GV on the Jewel and the Star with my parents and children.

1. The purpose of the trip is to get the family together and have a relaxing time away from the craziness of the main ship.

A cruise in a GV is an absolutely fabulous way to have a multi-generational holiday, particularly if anyone has mobility issues.

2. My family are mostly not restaurant lovers and prefer good simple Asian cuisine.

Unfortunately, we were not very impressed by the "Asian Fusion" restaurants on either ship. Too much Fusion, not enough Asian, iykwim. Obviously a matter of taste. Fwiw, like some others on this thread, our family is partly Chinese.

3. We do want the escort to shows, escort on and off the ship etc., especially for my mother and father in-law

Escort on and off the ship should be automatic; your butler will help you with your carry-ons and to skip the lines at embarkation; the concierge will lead you off the ship to the luggage collection at disembarkation. The concierge or a butler should be present at the VIP section of the theater. Be aware that, while you won't have to get there early to get a seat, your seats will be on the side balcony, i.e., the view won't be as good as center orchestra.

1. Good Asian food delivered to the suite for most lunches and dinners. I know Norwegian makes a big deal of course by course meals but as long as there is a separation between the savory and the sweet, we would be fine.

Cagneys/Moderno is located immediately below the GVs. It is fairly easy for the butler to bring you breakfast and/or lunch from there if you choose. Or you can just walk down one flight of stairs.

We've had less luck having the butler bring dinner from the restaurants on Deck 7, such as the Asian Fusion restaurants or the other specialty restaurants. It's a longer schlep and the courses may wait if the butler is busy. The food often arrived cold.

1A. While my family may prefer this, I am a bit of a foodie and will want items delivered from the various specialty restaurants at the same time. I hope this can be done without driving the butler and associated staff either crazy or to exhaustion.

We loved the Teppanyaki restaurants. The show can be a bit cheesy, but the food is very good. I second the suggestion of the steak and shrimp, unless you are pescatarian or allergic to shellfish, of course. Imo, Le Bistro and Cagneys are also well worth a visit. I'm not so enthusiastic about La Cucina.

Obviously, Teppanyaki cannot be delivered. See my previous comment about having food delivered from Deck 7. It's theoretically possible for everyone to order an appetizer, a main course, etc., from different restaurants and have the butler deliver to the villa. However, I suspect the different kitchens may not coordinate very well on having the plates ready at the same time, so you would be even more likely to have some cold food.

2. A good hearty breakfast in the reserved restaurant to include some non-traditional (American) breakfast items such as fish dishes or noodle soups.

The reserved restaurant for breakfast is Moderno, just one floor down from the Haven. I don't recall their having fish dishes or noodle soups, but you can ask.

Our butlers brought a continental breakfast (muffins, croissants, fruit plate, juice) to the villa every morning. When we asked, he would also bring in hot dishes from Moderno. My parents also generally prefer a simple Asian breakfast, but my mother became surprisingly fond of filet mignon and eggs while my father developed quite a taste for the crab cakes. You never know; your parents may surprise you.

3. Drinks either delivered to the suite (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) along with mixers for the various bottles of alcohol provided.

Our butlers gave us a list at the beginning of the cruise from which to select the six bottles of alcohol. You get unlimited bottled water and soft drinks in the GV so just ask him or her to stock the refrigerator with your desired mixers.

3A. I would love a mixology lesson or two from a ship's bartender and I am sure my wife will want a conversation with a good sommelier.

Talk with the concierge.

One thing to remember: the butler and concierge are there to make your cruise more enjoyable. They will do their best to anticipate your wishes but they are not mind readers. Don't be shy; ask explicitly for whatever you would like and I suspect they will work wonders.

Ahhhh ty for the info as to the limo. I wish we had been told. Also, Do you recall being offered a specialty dinner on your last night of the cruise when you stayed in the Villa? I agree lol going to very hard to go back lol

We had many offers for dinner for Platinum Plus, Casino at Sea and from the Captain so I don’t know if it’s the norm.

Hi everyone!! We are a group of seven - myself, hubby, daughter, daughter's bf, my sister, niece and my boss. LOL...I know, I know...but we are a very close group :) We have been planning this garden Villa cruise of a lifetime for well over a year, so when the day finally came, we couldn't contain ourselves any longer....

 

We have sailed the Haven out of NY many times so we were familiar with the process...Haven lounge is at the end of the pier...as soon as we completed check in, we were ready to go right on board. Oh!!...so when we entered the Haven lounge we saw our Butler, Vergel from our last cruise on the Breakaway - DOS...We couldn't believe it!!! Were we lucky enough to get him again?..Well, he was assigned to the other Garden Villa - 14000, so we asked if he could possibly switch..he said he would try. So our Butler, Josephine (Loved her!!) took us to see our room, and then to lunch at Cagneys. It is true what everyone says....nothing can prepare you for walking into the Garden Villa for the first time and realizing this is your home for the week!...it was truly overwhelming. It was everything I expected and MORE...The icing on the cake was when Vergel arrived to tell us that Josephine actually had the other people in 14000 before and would be happy to switch!!!...This was going to be a great cruise..

 

more to come.....[/quote We were the group in 14000 that had Vergel first, so glad that both Josephine and he were able to switch. We have had Jo on MANY of our cruises, she is one of the best. I don't know how she does it, but she remembers just how I like my coffee in the morning an what we all want to eat. Is so much fun to be with without being intrusive. Have the same GV booked for Feb. 25th 11 day southern on Gem, hope we get her again.

We were the group in 14000 that were suppost to have Vergel. So glad they were able to switch. Josephine is one of the best butlers we have ever had. Have sailed with her MANY times. She never fails to amaze me on how she remembers all of us when we see her and knows just what our needs or wishes are. She is a joy to sail with. We have the Gem GV 14000 booked for 2-25-19, hope we can have her again.

We were the group in 14000 that were suppost to have Vergel. So glad they were able to switch. Josephine is one of the best butlers we have ever had. Have sailed with her MANY times. She never fails to amaze me on how she remembers all of us when we see her and knows just what our needs or wishes are. She is a joy to sail with. We have the Gem GV 14000 booked for 2-25-19, hope we can have her again.

Im so glad it worked out for both of us :)...Hope you had as great a time as we had....maybe we will cross paths again some time :)

Thanks for the review. Do you remember if the GV had the LAVAZZA espresso machine or the NESPRESSO machine?

It was nespresso, and I loved every cup!! Lol

Little late to the party reading your review. LOVE the GEM. I was on the same cruise and cabin crawl with BostonGal. Garden Villa is the NICEST cabin I've ever seen on any cruise, on any cruise line.

Glad you had a great time.

It was nespresso, and I loved every cup!! Lol

Thanks for the quick reply! Looking forward to using it this Fall...

Making final payment for our December cruise in the 14500 GV on the Gem. Looking forward to it. Have a nice day.

Making final payment for our December cruise in the 14500 GV on the Gem. Looking forward to it. Have a nice day.

Have a wonderful time!!! Enjoy every moment!!