Review: Ben the Bendy Man's Gem of an Adventure, Dec 13 - Dec 22, 2012

[kylenyc]

Day 4 - Sunday, December 16, 2012 (Continued)

Exploring El Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan)

 

Ben wandered about, exploring the plazas, browsing menus of street cafes and restaurants, and watching the streets light up as the sun set on the city. He eventually made his way to a Starbucks for a cafe latte and the free wifi where he caught up on some research of this next destinations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Continued)

[kylenyc]

Day 4 - Sunday, December 16, 2012 (Continued)

Dinner and music

 

Ben returned to the ship where we met up with his Cruise Critic friends Barbara, Jack, Judi, Sabrina, Suzanne, Toni for dinner in the Magenta dining room, and then an evening of music with Pablo in Magnums.

 

Endive salad with cranberry and apple

 

Stuffed tenderloin

 

 

Magenta Dining Room on a quiet port day

 

The Magenta is the smaller and more intimate of two main dining rooms with a modern decor.

 

Here's picture of the Grand Pacific

Grand Pacific Main Dining Room (Google images)

 

Ben wrangles another towel animal

 

Next up - Day 5 in St. Maarten

 

Ben wishes everyone...

Happy New Year!

[LaPrincesa]

Happy new year Bendy Man

 

~ La Princesa

[Got Tequila?]

Happy new year Bendy Man

 

~ La Princesa

 

Hi Sabrina,

 

Happy New Year Bendy Man, where ever you are....:D:D:D

[sjnyc323]

Happy New Year Bendy Man. Hope you made it home from Samana

[sjnyc323]

Happy New Year everyone

 

Suzanne

[kylenyc]

Day 5 - Monday, December 17, 2012

Exploring Philipsburg, St. Maarten

 

The Gem arrived 8 am in St. Maarten. As was his habit, Ben skipped breakfast and instead busily put on sunscreen, packed essentials, disembarked, and after the leaving of the dock, made a bee line to the nearest information center. He casually browsed the local merchant wares and as soon as he spotted the entrance to the "water taxi" to downtown Philipsburg, he headed there, paid his $7 round trip fair, and hopped aboard. After a short ferry ride, he shuffled off and wandered about the beach, boardwalk, and Front Street, taking in the sights and sounds.

 

The entire stretch of beach was lined with umbrellas and loungers. Restaurants offered a bucket of beer and umbrella/lounger specials for about $20. US dollars are accepted by most merchants. St. Maarten/Martin boasts "37 of the most popular beaches in the Caribbean" (See Trip Advisor St. Maarten/Martin Top Attractions and Cruise Critic Day Passes in the Caribbean for information on other beaches and attractions).

 

\

Ben relaxes on the beach... err breathtaking cliffs... umm no wait ... Ben relaxes on a concrete boulder on the cruise dock in St. Maarten.

 

Water taxi to downtown Philipsburg

Water taxi drop off at Captain Hodge Wharf

?Great Bay Beach? in downtown Philipsburg

 

Boardwalk

 

Front Street

 

(Continued)

[kylenyc]

Day 5 - Monday, December 17, 2012 (Continued)

Exploring Philipsburg, St. Maarten

 

Front street has duty free shops and upscale jewelry stores, boutiques, storefront casinos, and all the stores recommended by NCL. There's a McDonalds on Front Street that has free wifi with a good connection.

 

Front Street - Sint Maarten Guavaberry Company - "The Original Wild Guavaberry Island Folk Liqueur"

 

Front Street - Pirana Joe - Ben is coerced by a giant orange fish into buying some souvenirs. (This display was hidden in the back behind other displays... A lost marketing opportunity for the proprietor Ben thinks).

 

Front Street - Pirana Joe - Ben narrowly escapes after buying a t-shirt and hat.

 

Back Street has regular stores run by local merchants - Banks, groceries, local eateries, beauty salons, variety stores, etc.

 

Back Street - Philipsburg Marketplace

 

Back Street - Bing Bing Store. Local convenience store and lottery.

 

Back Street - Unknown restaurant with tin roof. "Haitan Food" "No Credit"

 

(Continued)

[kylenyc]

Day 5 - Monday, December 17, 2012 (Continued)

Exploring Philipsburg, St. Maarten

 

After returning to the ship, Ben rejoined his friends for an enjoyable evening at La Cucina Italian restaurant. Ben's assistant once again forgot to snap a picture of the entree. He forgets whatever it was but had a vague impression it was very good. He then ended the evening with cocktails over music in Magnums.

 

Ben commandeers the bread. He just loves pesto sauce.

 

La Cucina - Tomato, mozarella, basil "Caprese" salad.

 

La Cucina - Minestrone soup.

 

La Cucina Italian Restaurant on a quiet port day

 

Pirana Joe sends Ben a reminder "Remember to buy more souvenirs and snap foodie pics... or else!"

 

Magnums Champagne Bar - Pablo Rodriguez jams with Groove International

 

Next up: St. Thomas and Samana

[Rhea58]

Am loving your report as I will be on this cruise in a month. Am confused re St. Martin. Does one have to take some type of transportation (water taxi or?) to get into the port of Phillipsburg? thanks in advance for any info.

[kylenyc]

Am loving your report as I will be on this cruise in a month. Am confused re St. Martin. Does one have to take some type of transportation (water taxi or?) to get into the port of Phillipsburg? thanks in advance for any info.

 

Thanks. The Gem arrives at the cruise dock and you just walk off. The dock is a couple of miles from downtown Philipsburg beach and boardwalk. The $7 ferry (water taxi) looked cheap and convenient so I took it. It's a small island with a Dutch side and French side and I've heard easy to get around by short taxi ride to many places. There's a tourist information center just as you exit the dock.

 

Maybe others can share what they did in St. Maarten and how they got around.

[YankeeFan4Ever]

Loving your review! Can't wait for more! :)

[Rhea58]

A big thanks Kylenyc. I have been to Phillipsburg twice before on another cruise ship but we docked as I recall so this info is good to know. I plan on heading over to Back Street & grabbing the $2 'bus' to go over to Margot for some French vittles.

[kylenyc]

Day 6 - Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A brisk walk around Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

 

Ben woke up bright and early around 7 AM to the sounds and vibrations of the ship dropping anchor. The Gem was anchoring in Long Bay while other cruise ships could be seen in the distance at the West Indies Dock. After his usual morning routine, he shuffled down to Deck 4 to take a tender boat into downtown Charlotte Amalie. The ride was short and smooth and he soon disembarked in tender drop-off along the Veterans Drive Waterfront.

 

Our intrepid explorer isn't a big duty-free shopper and so just casually browsed the stores along Dronningens Gate (Main Street). He then took brisk 20 minute walk down to Havensight Mall and the West Indies Dock to see the other cruise ships. He only briefly pause to admire from a distance the cruise ships and the Skyride Tram up to Paradise Point. He then shuffled back to the tender and returned to the ship, thrilled just in time to catch the end of breakfast service.

View of the West Indies Dock from aboard the Gem anchored in Long Bay, St. Thomas

 

Crew assist passengers into the tender boats which in this case are the ship's lifeboats.

 

View from inside the tender, calm waters, and warm morning breeze

 

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

 

Tender drop-off at the Veterans Drive Waterfront

 

(left to right) Cruise ships at the West Indies Dock and the Norwegian Gem anchored in Long Bay

 

(Continued)

[kylenyc]

Day 6 - Tuesday, December 18, 2012 (Continued)

A brisk walk around Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

 

Norwegian Gem anchored in Long Bay

 

Dronningens Street (Main Street)

 

Ben enjoys the smooth tender ride back to the Gem

 

 

 

 

Made-to-order eggs, smoked salmon, bacon, sausage, and country potatoes. Ben's thrilled that we was able to make it back in time for his first breakfast on board.

 

(Continued)

[kylenyc]

Day 6 - Tuesday, December 18, 2012 (Continued)

Bowling, drinks, and a movie

 

After breakfast, Ben explored the ship poking his photog to snap up lots of pics. Happy to find the Bliss Ultra Lounge empty on this quiet port day, he snuck in a game of bowling when no one was looking. After bowling a perfect game, he headed down to the Grand Atrium and Java Cafe to enjoy a rum punch while watching "A Christmas Story". He's only seen snippet of the movie here and there and never watched it all the way through. He found it hilarious especially with a Blue Moon Belgian White Wheat Ale and slices of orange.

Bliss Ultra Lounge

 

Bliss Ultra Lounge

 

Bliss Ultra Lounge - Bowling Alley

 

Strike! Ben bowls a perfect game.

 

Marisol mixes up a rum punch for Ben.

 

Ben laughs his socks off watching A Christmas Story.

 

(Continued)

[Cubechick]

Loving the review. Can't wait to meet you both on the Breakaway!

[kylenyc]

Loving the review. Can't wait to meet you both on the Breakaway!

Thanks! Ben can't wait to meet everyone. :):D:p Wow it's coming up fast!

[boopsahoy]

DH just said-Honey what are you laughing at, I thought you were reading cruise critic? :eek:

[HowardK]

enjoying your reviews; how do you like the GEM compared to the Epic? Did you do a studio on the Epic? I am tempted to do the Epic again even though I have the Breakaway and it is easier for me going from NYC

[kylenyc]

DH just said-Honey what are you laughing at, I thought you were reading cruise critic? :eek:

LOL! Priceless! Ben has that effect on some people. :)

 

enjoying your reviews; how do you like the GEM compared to the Epic? Did you do a studio on the Epic? I am tempted to do the Epic again even though I have the Breakaway and it is easier for me going from NYC

Thanks! Sorry, I didn't do the studio on the Epic. It was a while ago and my overall 10,000 foot impression was the food and entertainment on the Epic were wonderful. The Epic is a destination unto itself with so much to see and do. I really wish they had the same asian fried rice and noodle bar on all the ships. So, I'm really looking forward to the studio on the Breakaway. As I wrote earlier, I was disappointed with the Gem for only having the Solo Gathering the first two nights and at a late time and poor location. Cruise Critic M&G saved the day here. I'm guessing the Epic studio experience is much better for the solo traveler since it actually hosted and they have their own lounge. The Star was fantastic for having their solo gathering every single night at 6 pm at the champagne bar next to the music -- perfect for mingling with time to decided whether to go to an early dinner or show.

 

That said, I've enjoyed the entertainment on all ships and there's always some act on each cruise that surprises me. Layout-wise I prefer NCL's "smaller" Jewel-class (Gem, Jewel, Pearl, Jade) ships because I like being able to walk around the entire ship on the promenade walking deck and feel relaxed and comfortable in all the venues (bars, lounges, sundecks, etc.).

 

Don has a fantastic review of the Epic that got me hyped up again for mega-ships, and I've read other positive reviews of the Epic and the studio experience.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1386629

[ETski]

Ben and Kyle Love your review. Have been following it. Thanks for doing it. I do have a question regarding the tendering in St Thomas. We are also on the the Gem and will be tendering. Exactly where does the tender drop you off? Is it in Charlotte Amalie near all the shops or near the WICO dock? I need to know, as I thought we were docking at Havensight/WICO. We might have to change some of our plans.

[kylenyc]

Ben and Kyle Love your review. Have been following it. Thanks for doing it. I do have a question regarding the tendering in St Thomas. We are also on the the Gem and will be tendering. Exactly where does the tender drop you off? Is it in Charlotte Amalie near all the shops or near the WICO dock? I need to know, as I thought we were docking at Havensight/WICO. We might have to change some of our plans.

 

The tender drop-off was near Point A. Most of the NCL "Guaranteed Shops" are in this in this area. There's also a Vendors Plaza with local vendors. It's about 1.4 miles (20 min walk) to Point B - West Indies Dock where the other cruiseships were docked, the skytram to Paradise Point, Carribean Marketplace, and Havensight Mall . I guess there is a chance the Gem may dock there instead of tender. It depends on how many ships are in port at that time.

 

 

[kylenyc]

Day 6 - Tuesday, December 18, 2012 (Continued)

Exploring the ship, Departing St. Thomas

 

Ben enjoyed the quiet time exploring the ship, having his photog snap photos and watch a movie on his tablet wherever there was a quiet venue such as the Magnums, Maltings, or Star Bar when there isn't an event.

Lido Deck 12 - Tahitian Pools

 

Bali Hai Bar and Grill - Deck 13 overlooking the pools

 

 

 

 

 

(Continued)

[kylenyc]

Day 6 - Tuesday, December 18, 2012 (Continued)

Exploring the ship, Departing St. Thomas

 

Sun decks (including the Quiet Zone and the adult "Freestyle" Sun Deck), basketball/tennis court, and rock climbing wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Continued)