Crusinmama Family Review of Gem to Bermuda 10/2-10/9 -The Suite Life with Dailies

[crusinmama06]

Great review Michele. Boy your girls have gotten so big.

 

Heyyy Wrona! I've missed you! :D Yes, I know, they keep growing no matter what I do! :eek:

 

Michele--This is a wonderful, wonderful review! I enjoyed it more than any other I've ever read! And thank you for all the great photos--absolutely loved them! Those videos were something! It was so nice feeling like I was back on the ship. Thanks again for all your hard work!

 

Hope to sail again with you some day.

 

Dolores

 

Thanks Dolores! Yes, we will have to sail again!

[CRUISEBUG1]

Your daughters are BEAUTIFUL!! I particularly love the picture of them looking at each other in their stunning blue dresses.

I have been lucky enough to be on the Gem (not the Suite Life) and I am enjoying your review as it brings back a lot of fun memories.:)

[European_CruiseGirl]

And third (and a bit off topic)--for the person above who wanted lots of food pics--I DO take photos of EVERYTHING I eat when I travel...so I promise a food-filled post at some point when I return. Sailing on the Gem tomorrow! :eek:

 

Wow - thanks! :)

 

I first thought that perhaps I should have blamed "english is not my first language" for my misunderstanding but nooo - I'm just a foodie... :D :D :D

[madelinerose]

Michele, this was a wonderful trip with your lovely family! You did a fantastic job! Thanks! ;)

[crusinmama06]

Your daughters are BEAUTIFUL!! I particularly love the picture of them looking at each other in their stunning blue dresses.

 

Awww thanks. Yes, there was one particular photographer, a guy with glasses, short dark hair, he was VERY good. We took LOTS of pictures - but his were very good and I bought them all. :D

 

Wow - thanks! :)

 

I first thought that perhaps I should have blamed "english is not my first language" for my misunderstanding but nooo - I'm just a foodie...

 

Nooo, your English is VERY good. Keep an eye out for that next review!

 

Michele, this was a wonderful trip with your lovely family! You did a fantastic job! Thanks! ;)

 

Thank you! And thanks for stopping by! :D

[macfin]

thanks for the report Michelle, our question is how long before you got the special for kids sail for 99$? How did you hear about it?

 

thanks

Mark

[Stickman81]

Thank you very much for taking the time to post all the pictures, video and you reviews. I just read through and really enjoyed everything, and gained a bit more knowledge. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of all the places you visited, your beautiful family and yes, the food. :D

 

We will take our first cruise in December on the Star. As you can see, I joined CC awhile back but have not had a reason to post until recently. :cool: We are looking forward to our first adventure and this thread of yours has shed some light into the unknown for us.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to post. I hope to do 1/16th as well when I review our cruise. :)

[SilentHill]

Some thoughts....

 

I never found that bag of money in my stateroom.... did you ever get around to asking the people in 9174 to leave it behind? I'm thinking the steward thought it was a tip.

 

I tried the "chocolate" sushi. It was white rice dies with green food coloring and had some chocolate and a strawberry on top. it was not good, but looked cool!

 

I loved the calmness of the water you guys left us with when we left on the 9th, however on the way back from Bermuda we had sustained winds of almost 50 knots (57.6 MPH) and close to 20 foot seas. I don't get seasick so it didn't bother me, but a LOT of pax were sick my wife, took motion sickness pills and even she was feeling a bit ill. You could literally feel weightlessness as the ship came down from a large wave at certain points.

Also the wind the last two days in Bermuda was wicked. The water at horseshoe bay was at least 4-5 feet higher than what you have pictured. that one big rock you have a picture of in the small bay area was in 4 feet of water when we were there. Again It kind of ruined my planning as we had no weather information. I wish NCL would put in some sort of weather channel, we don't need 10 channels about stuff to buy on the ship.

 

I'll post a full review later, but yours was great! It's nice to see someone put so much hard work into a review, mine will surely suck compared to yours lol.

[halos]

I'm happy that you enjoyed your cruise and I must say, the one thing I took away from your review that surprised me was how much your kids enjoyed the kids clubs. When family asks for a recommendation of cruise line (if they have kids) I steer them to CCL....now I know that NCL is great for kids as well, it will definitely change my recommendation.

[crusinmama06]

thanks for the report Michelle, our question is how long before you got the special for kids sail for 99$? How did you hear about it?

 

thanks

Mark

 

It was EVERYWHERE. NCL does a good job of getting the word out when a Kids Sail Free promotion comes out. You had to book the first week of May and then sail in Fall. So a new one should be coming out soon.

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to post all the pictures, video and you reviews. I just read through and really enjoyed everything, and gained a bit more knowledge. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of all the places you visited, your beautiful family and yes, the food.

 

We will take our first cruise in December on the Star. As you can see, I joined CC awhile back but have not had a reason to post until recently. We are looking forward to our first adventure and this thread of yours has shed some light into the unknown for us.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to post. I hope to do 1/16th as well when I review our cruise.

 

Well I am honored and somewhat shocked that you would use your first post on me. :eek::D Welcome to posting on CC! I hope you post more! Enjoy your cruise on the Star!!!!

 

Some thoughts....

 

I never found that bag of money in my stateroom.... did you ever get around to asking the people in 9174 to leave it behind? I'm thinking the steward thought it was a tip.

 

I tried the "chocolate" sushi. It was white rice dies with green food coloring and had some chocolate and a strawberry on top. it was not good, but looked cool!

 

I loved the calmness of the water you guys left us with when we left on the 9th, however on the way back from Bermuda we had sustained winds of almost 50 knots (57.6 MPH) and close to 20 foot seas. I don't get seasick so it didn't bother me, but a LOT of pax were sick my wife, took motion sickness pills and even she was feeling a bit ill. You could literally feel weightlessness as the ship came down from a large wave at certain points.

 

Also the wind the last two days in Bermuda was wicked. The water at horseshoe bay was at least 4-5 feet higher than what you have pictured. that one big rock you have a picture of in the small bay area was in 4 feet of water when we were there. Again It kind of ruined my planning as we had no weather information. I wish NCL would put in some sort of weather channel, we don't need 10 channels about stuff to buy on the ship.

 

I'll post a full review later, but yours was great! It's nice to see someone put so much hard work into a review, mine will surely suck compared to yours lol.

 

You mean you DIDN'T find the money! :eek: WHAT HAPPENED TO IT? ;)

 

Yes, the weather channel SHOULD be on the TV! That was one channel that I said they need. We had one bad night too. And my kids had to take bonine. Which they never had to before. A little weather channel to see if we were in the middle of a tropical storm or a monsoon would have been nice. ;)

 

Sushi - you are VERY brave, my friend. :p

 

I'm happy that you enjoyed your cruise and I must say, the one thing I took away from your review that surprised me was how much your kids enjoyed the kids clubs. When family asks for a recommendation of cruise line (if they have kids) I steer them to CCL....now I know that NCL is great for kids as well, it will definitely change my recommendation.

 

Yes, they LOVED it. And they are PICKY! And I grilled them about it. (you know me). I asked them a million questions because I want to make SURE they were having a good time. And they honestly loved it. And the counselors treated them with nothing but respect (which hasn't always been the case in the past with other kids clubs). HIGHLY recommend!

[ChimiChanga1020]

I wish out school district was cool about it but they have that as a big no no. I know some parents who have to go down to the "naughty room" at the school board. Some have even been fined. Often, my work schedule does not permit travel during the summer months. I prefer to cruise in Jan/Feb or Oct/Nov. Maybe one day we will do the week after Christmas with everyone.

 

It's great that you were able to have the discipline to do schoolwork while on vaca. I don't know if I would have been that diligent.

 

 

I am in total shock! We live in Canada and my son, who is in grade 4, didn't even get any homework to do while he was away. The teacher asked that he write a journal but said he could catch-up on the rest of the stuff when he returned. Now, I am actually considering pulling him out for a 3 week vacation in April and I won't think twice about it. Wow. I will now count my blessings and never complain about my school system again!

[Nice2MeetU]

Michelle...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and loved the photos of your NCL Gem Bermuda cruise. Lots of great tips and wonderful advise! Thank you very much for taking the time to post and offer so many details. :D

[mmastroserio]

Michelle

 

I have enjoyed all of your posts. thank you! My family is in the same room on the 11.6 sailing. We are new to sailing and NCL. You have given me some great information. i would love to hear how much you tipped the Butler, concierge and kids club personel. I realize this is personal but would love to hear your thoughts. thanks again.

 

mike

[Princess Patches]

Thanks for the wonderfully detailed review. I really enjoyed it. I missed Bermuda on a cruise a few years back and have always wanted to try again.

[sparkey2030]

WOW!! Now, that was one Great Review. If everyone gave a review like that for every Norwegian Ship, It would make CC the best for looking at reviews, and Nowegian would sell out every cruise.

 

Thanks!!!!!! :)

[iluvdoxies]

What's that I hear? Oh yeah, that's right...It's the Blue Lagoon calling our names...

 

Tomato Soup....

 

 

More Chicken Wings...

 

 

Tuna Melt...

 

 

One happy child...

 

 

Food in Blue Lagoon sounds awful to me - yuk - just not my taste.

[kcfoxy]

Dear Michelle,

 

Thanks for including us in your wonderful family cruise. Very much appreciated the scanning of the dailies...I always wondered when the Best of Lunch would be offered, (makes perfect sense on a Sea Day), and loved loved loved all the gorgeous photos as well. Lots of personality from your beautiful family comes shining through :D

 

Now one question, if I might? I noticed your photos are from photobucket, where I tend to store mine as well, but how on earth did you get them to show up here nice and full sized instead of those mingy little thumbnails that don't quite enlarge very much and are harder to see???

 

I will include one of my one little ones...this is one of our fur babies, Nikki R. Vixen, to demonstrate...I would love to post my own recent Sky review here but want to do the photo part right :p

[crusinmama06]

I am in total shock! We live in Canada and my son, who is in grade 4, didn't even get any homework to do while he was away. The teacher asked that he write a journal but said he could catch-up on the rest of the stuff when he returned. Now, I am actually considering pulling him out for a 3 week vacation in April and I won't think twice about it. Wow. I will now count my blessings and never complain about my school system again!

 

Yes, it is nice to live in an area that allows for it. We'll be on Epic together. Is your son sailing with us too?

 

Michelle...

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts and loved the photos of your NCL Gem Bermuda cruise. Lots of great tips and wonderful advise! Thank you very much for taking the time to post and offer so many details. :D

 

Thank you so much! You are so sweet! :D

 

Michelle

 

I have enjoyed all of your posts. thank you! My family is in the same room on the 11.6 sailing. We are new to sailing and NCL. You have given me some great information. i would love to hear how much you tipped the Butler, concierge and kids club personel. I realize this is personal but would love to hear your thoughts. thanks again.

 

mike

 

Yes, before I left, my mind was spinning with amounts. I won't give exact amounts because no matter what I say, some will think too little, some will think too much. :p So before I left, I saw some say anywhere from $50 for each for the service to $700 for the week if you received FABULOUS service. Somewhere between there pending on what you receive and experience will be fine. ;)

 

Thanks for the wonderfully detailed review. I really enjoyed it. I missed Bermuda on a cruise a few years back and have always wanted to try again.

 

Oh you have to go back! It truly is a beautiful place! Thanks for taking the time to read the review :)

 

WOW!! Now, that was one Great Review. If everyone gave a review like that for every Norwegian Ship, It would make CC the best for looking at reviews, and Nowegian would sell out every cruise.

 

Thanks!!!!!!

 

LOL! Thanks! That's funny! :)

 

 

Food in Blue Lagoon sounds awful to me - yuk - just not my taste.

 

I never thought so either and I never ate a hot wing IN MY LIFE! Strangly enough, yesterday I had a deep desire to go to a place with "21 varieties of hot wings" (I picked mild blue). I have no idea what came over me on that cruise. Usually I am a steak and seafood kind of girl. But on this cruise, I found the Blue Lagoon deeply satisfying for the quick snacks and lunches. VERY strange!

 

Now one question, if I might? I noticed your photos are from photobucket, where I tend to store mine as well, but how on earth did you get them to show up here nice and full sized instead of those mingy little thumbnails that don't quite enlarge very much and are harder to see???

 

That's an easy one. ;-) When you place them here on Cruise Critic, copy/paste the {IMG Code} for the big pictures. You are attaching a thumbnail and that's why you get the small pictures. Instead, go to photobucket, click underneath the picture where it says {IMG Code} and that should "copy" it, then come here to cruise critic, create your message and then right click and "paste it" into the message body and VOILA - big pictures. Just make sure you upload the pictures at MEDIUM (I think its 800x600) or less. If not, then the pics will be HUGE and you will have to remove them and you will have the other CCers yelling at you...LOL.

[iluvdoxies]

Yes, it is nice to live in an area that allows for it. We'll be on Epic together. Is your son sailing with us too?

 

 

 

Thank you so much! You are so sweet! :D

 

 

 

Yes, before I left, my mind was spinning with amounts. I won't give exact amounts because no matter what I say, some will think too little, some will think too much. :p So before I left, I saw some say anywhere from $50 for each for the service to $700 for the week if you received FABULOUS service. Somewhere between there pending on what you receive and experience will be fine. ;)

 

 

 

Oh you have to go back! It truly is a beautiful place! Thanks for taking the time to read the review :)

 

 

 

LOL! Thanks! That's funny! :)

 

 

 

 

I never thought so either and I never ate a hot wing IN MY LIFE! Strangly enough, yesterday I had a deep desire to go to a place with "21 varieties of hot wings" (I picked mild blue). I have no idea what came over me on that cruise. Usually I am a steak and seafood kind of girl. But on this cruise, I found the Blue Lagoon deeply satisfying for the quick snacks and lunches. VERY strange!

 

 

 

Craving chicken wings too funny !

 

We too were in a quandry as far as tips to the butler and concierge - the 1st week the conc. was great. checked on us 2x daily, escorted us to a show and did many other things---so we tipped her accordingly. The conc for the 2nd part was new and nice enough but really didnt DO anything special - exept escort us on/off the ship. And that's his job. So we tipped him a lot less.

The butler was amazing for both legs and we tipped him well - but nothing like 700.00 lol- we're not rich.

[crusinmama06]

Craving chicken wings too funny !

 

We too were in a quandry as far as tips to the butler and concierge - the 1st week the conc. was great. checked on us 2x daily, escorted us to a show and did many other things---so we tipped her accordingly. The conc for the 2nd part was new and nice enough but really didnt DO anything special - exept escort us on/off the ship. And that's his job. So we tipped him a lot less.

The butler was amazing for both legs and we tipped him well - but nothing like 700.00 lol- we're not rich.

 

I JUST read your review doxies - I am telling you, you received AMAZING treatment from your first week concierge (YOU HEAR THAT CARNIVAL! :p;))

 

Checking on you twice/day. Escorting you to "VIP reserved show seats" - yeah, if you read Doxie's review - we did NOT get that on Gem. ;) (YOU HEAR THAT NCL! :p:D)

[kcfoxy]

Thanks Michelle. you are a real peach! :)

 

[crusinmama06]

Thanks Michelle. you are a real peach! :)

 

PERFECT! You are a great student! :D I love the picture! :D

[Mooder]

Thanks Michelle. you are a real peach! :)

 

Great pic! And thanks for asking - and thank you, Michelle, for the instructions. I've been wondering the same and was able to adapt the instructions for my Picasa photos. All these years on CC and I can finally post a full size picture. :o Here's one of the Gem in one my favorite ports.

 

[crusinmama06]

Great pic! And thanks for asking - and thank you, Michelle, for the instructions. I've been wondering the same and was able to adapt the instructions for my Picasa photos. All these years on CC and I can finally post a full size picture. :o Here's one of the Gem in one my favorite ports.

 

 

You have been keeping a picture like THAT from us all this time? :eek: I wish you would have asked me sooner. ;) That is an AMAZING shot! LOVE IT!

 

I have noticed a real lack of pictures on THIS board -- but on the RCI board, we post them for everything. So let's hope this is the start of something here on NCL, spread the word :)

[Mooder]

You have been keeping a picture like THAT from us all this time? :eek: I wish you would have asked me sooner. ;) That is an AMAZING shot! LOVE IT!

 

I have noticed a real lack of pictures on THIS board -- but on the RCI board, we post them for everything. So let's hope this is the start of something here on NCL, spread the word :)

 

Thank you. I do love that shot - almost as much as I loved the view at the time because it was the realization of a lifetime dream. :)

 

I also hope more photos becomes a trend here. As your review proves, nothing tells a great vacation story like beautiful family photos!