NCL Gem Review - With Pictures! 6/15 to 6/22

[js17]

@NYGirl1002 - Yay! I'm Glad

 

@Canadianweaselette - Thanks!

@rwandmw - Thanks, that would be a pretty cool future

 

@hp_slash - I know you'll have fun on the your Cruise!!!!

 

@Livemad - Wow, the Gem spends Saturdays practically in your backyard! All of the ships have great features, but sometimes they gimmicky, things you'll do once(like bumper cars). I bet you and your family would have fun on both the Gem and the Quantum. I would go for the Gem, but that's partly because of the terrible customer service Royal had after the fire on the Grandeur. But we enjoyed our cruise on the Enchant in 2011.

 

@callmebetty - No problem!

 

@Mrs. H. - Thanks!

 

@acruisingcouple - Yay! I'm working on day 3 right now, should be up Saturday!

[sjn911]

Oh this is Wonderful..so looking forward to trying NCL..thanks so much...Sarah

[js17]

Day 3: Port Canaveral, Florida

 

The hours for Port Canaveral were 12:00pm to 9:30pm. Kinda odd hours, especially for people going to the amusement parks, as you wouldn't get there until 1.

 

Anyways I headed to the Garden Cafe for breakfast. Then I walked up to the sundeck on deck 14 fwd. They have really nice cushy clam-shell like? round chairs all the way at the front of the deck. It provided a good view for sailing into Port Canaveral. You can start to see Florida by about 10 am. About 11:30 the ship started to entered the channel to dock. The Enchantment of the Seas and the Carnival Ecstasy both do short Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral on Mondays. The Enchantment OTS can be seen at CocoaCay, which is next to Great Stirrup Cay, and then on Wednesday in Nassau.

 

The shore excursion we did in Port Canaveral was the Cocoa Beach Beach/Shopping Shuttle. Let's just started by saying this, its quite the disappointing town. The shops, two surf shops, were alright, most certainly not worth seeing. The beach is basically the Jersey Shore, the water a brown color, and the sand also had a brownish tint. The weather that day was very cloudy. When we were at the beach it looked as if it was about to have a thunderstorm. I put the striped towel on the beach, and I went for a walk in the water. But as I walk away a wave comes up and covers my towel in sand a water. At that point I was pretty much done with Florida. I went to a local gas station for a plastic bag to put the soaking wet towel in and headed back for the shuttle. But before we left we took the Four Points hotel elevators of the 5th floor roof of the parking garage so we could see the ship in the distance. It was cloudy but you could still see it. It was a nice view, but the ship was very very far in the distance. We took the shuttle back and the driver gave us some quick tips for Nassau. He said nothing remarkable. (things like always haggle at the straw market) We were back on board by 3 in the afternoon.

 

The ship was not crowded as most people were ashore. I went and took a quick nap in the cabin. Afterwards I got dressed for dinner. There was no wait around 6:00 pm at Magenta. Magenta, while beautifully decorated inside. It seemed cramped and very noisy. Also there is a difference in dress between Magenta and Grand Pacific. We never ate at Magenta again on the cruise. We went up to deck 13 after dinner. There was lightning in the distance. You could see the amusement tours arriving between 8 and 9. We went to the show which was scheduled for 9:00, right before we sailed away. The show on Port Canaveral night is The Second City. This was by far my favorite show they had throughout the cruise. It was extremely funny. The Latin deck party afterwards was also fun. The pink lights on the pool deck made the deck very nice looking. They have late night snacks either at Great Outdoors or Topsiders Bar and Grill.

 

Note: I don't remember seeing red on the dining screen for ANY of the restaurants besides Teppanyaki. When going between 6 and 6:30 and leaving around 7:30 there was never a wait at Grand Pacific, and no wait on Port Canaveral night at Magenta. I would not enjoy freestyle cruising if it involves getting a pager and waiting for a table.

 

 

Photos of Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach Surf Company

 

 

 

Ron Jon Surf Shop

 

 

 

One of several Statues outside of Ron Jon Surf Shop

 

 

 

Inside Ron Jon Surf Shop

 

 

 

View of the Cocoa Beach

 

 

View of the Ship from Cocoa Beach

 

[lenquixote66]

We returned today from a week on the Gem .It was a GREAT cruise .

[js17]

Not my favorite place onboard. These were taken after an art auction. I'm off to some fireworks, I'll pick up on day 3 photos tomorrow!

 

Entrance

 

 

Inside:

 

 

[js17]

More Photos from Day 3

 

Sailing into Port Canaveral

 

Jetty and small beach area at inlet

 

 

Looking towards docks

 

 

 

Looking South

 

 

 

Enchantment of the Seas

 

 

 

Carnival Ecstasy

 

 

 

Port Canaveral

 

[mooshka]

Jerry, keep up the good work! I was on the Gem last year. It was a great cruise. So much fun. I attribute this to Sinan. He is very special.

[sparks1093]

Great review! Wish I was sailing next week instead of next year.

[wolfcel]

Not my favorite place onboard. These were taken after an art auction. I'm off to some fireworks, I'll pick up on day 3 photos tomorrow!

 

First I have to say your review is TERRIFIC!!

 

We were on the Gem 2 years ago and are doing this same itinerary in 53 days! I do have to agree with you, Magenta was nothing to write home about.

 

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip...

[OnTheGoMom921]

Loving your review and your photos. We really enjoyed the Gem last year, would love to sail her again. As a mom of a 15 year old (daughter) I commend your writing skills and you taking on a review. They are a lot of work...and hey, it's summer, who wants to write a long essay :p I Would love to get my own DD15 to try her hand at a review as well. Can't wait to see the rest! Keep up the great work :D

[lalise]

As someone who has been on the Gem many times....your review is right on point. Love it.

[js17]

Day 4: Great Stirrup Cay

 

Just a little information about Great Stirrup Cay. It is a small island that is part of the berry island chain of the Bahamas. It is about 60 miles or so from Nassau. Next to GSC is the island called Cocoacay, RCI's island, which used to be called Little Stirrup Cay. The Enchantment of the Seas was at Cocoacay the same day we were at GSC.

 

I'll Just start off by saying this was my favorite stop of the cruise. The island is beautiful and never felt too too crowded.

 

I forget the time that we could seen GSC in the distance but we anchored right on time. After a leisurely breakfast at Great Outdoors we went to the pool area to grab some tender tickets. We were Group #12, they said expect around 11:30 to get off the ship. Obviously there must have been a line when they started handing tickets out. We went back to our cabin to grab somethings so we wouldn't have too head back to our cabin before leaving. We looked at our shore excursion tickets which said that they were our tender tickets, leaving us pretty confused. We went back up to ask the woman at the tender ticket distribution area what that meant. She told us we could get off whenever we wanted. So we went down to deck 7. Where a large cluster of people crowding the stairs from deck 7 to deck 4. It was pretty chaotic. Crew members were trying to organize people, it was just not working. They had half the staircase roped off, and the cluster was in the roped area too. We joined the cluster and ended up pushing through to deck 4. We were some of the first people to get on the first tender to shore. Unethical, maybe, but if no one else can follow directions why should we. It's like chair-hogging, if you don't put your towel out on the chair you want, someone else will. Although on the Gem you can always find a chair. On another ship I've sailed on(Carnival Pride), good luck finding a chair, even on port days.

 

The tender ride was very nice. It certainly didn't take the half hour they said to allow for tendering. The water is such a beautiful color around the island. There is, what looks to be, a man made inlet to the tender docks. Once you enter the island there are two photo ops, one with a pirate, and one with a ship railing. To the right is the straw market and the hippo water slide, if you keep walking straight you will reach the main beach. With many chairs squished close together. But the area was too beautiful to complain. :D Our shore excursions(if you want to call rentals that) were a small float(for me!), paddle boarding, and the water slide. My brother did the paddle boarding, he said it was fun and not too hard to do. He actually got twice the time that we paid for, not really sure why. He also went down the hippo slide. I took my float towards the back of the cove and floated around. It was so relaxing and the water was so clear. I tried a little bit of "snorkeling"(swimming with goggles) and I saw a large school of yellow stripped fish and I even saw a huge stingray below me.

 

There are hammocks in little grassy areas around the dinning/beach area. The island has white sand throughout, such a pretty color sand.(but certainly not pink like a different island :p) The cabanas are up on a hill on a secluded second beach. It was much less crowded and there were many many less chairs. Beyond the second beach there is construction on a third beach.(maybe to accommodate Epic/Breakaway/Getaway mega ships, or that villa idea. So basically NCL would build villas on the island so you get on in say NYC get off in GSC, stay there for a week, and then re board the Gem again a week later. Sounds cool and sounds very pricey.

 

I skipped lunch that day, too busy floating around in the ocean. But I heard the lines got long but the food was good. My mother said the pizza was much better on GSC than on board the ship.

 

Around 3:30 we decided to beat the crowds and tender back to the ship. They handed out chilled towels and ice pops as we waited for a tender. I thought that was a nice touch. The tender right back was perfect for photos. I was standing up on the tender the whole way back(I know I'm terrible :D) and I was taking plenty of photos. We hit a wave getting near the ship(maybe the other tender's wake) and the tender rolled a bit, I almost lost my footing. When we got to the ship our lovely hotel director greeted us and they had a bin to drop our beach towels. A crew member was holding a silver platter of chocolate-covered grapes by the elevators. - A nice touch

 

This was my second favorite part of the cruise(next to the beautiful ship!) and they island is simply beautiful.

 

Photos in about ten minutes.

 

Thanks for remaining patient with this review. After the photos tonite. I'll have Nassau day up tomorrow.

[js17]

Photos of GSC Post 1 of 3

 

Sand kicked up by Norwegian Gem

 

 

Tender inlet

 

 

Entryway to the Island

 

 

Chairs with Gem in the distance(main beach)

 

 

More chairs!

 

 

Cove with Enchantment of the Seas in the distance

 

[boopsahoy]

Great photos, thanks for posting!

[js17]

GSC Photos Post 2 of 3

 

Tropical Tree on GSC

 

 

My NCL float. Super Relaxing Highly recommended

 

 

Second beach separated by small tree area with a picnic table

 

 

Tree area with Norwegian Gem in the distance

 

 

View of Enchantment OTS from Norwegian Gem

 

 

The tender. It was a tender that was originanly on the SS Norway. "little Norway I"

 

[wolfcel]

You have a great eye for terrific photos!!

 

LOVE THIS REVIEW!!

[js17]

GSC Photos 3 of "3"

 

Just kidding more about 5 posts of photos not 3....

 

View of GSC from the ship

 

 

Close of up the No Tug on Norwegian Gem

 

 

Close up of those towels. Funny story about towels on board. I left mine at Great Outdoors one day and I was worried about the 25 dollar charge. But our steward ended up adding towels, so we had about 6 or 7 in our cabin by the end of our cruise.

 

 

Second beach by cabanas

 

 

Second beach again with interesting lighting from the sun

 

 

Tender dock with parasailing boat and water slide in the distance

 

[js17]

Great Stirrup Cay sign

 

 

Look at the water!!

 

 

Tenders at the island

 

[boopsahoy]

The water looks gorgeous!

[js17]

Final addition for today!

Below are views of Norwegian Gem from the tender on the way back to the Gem

 

 

 

 

Ahh! I just realized I forgot to get photos of the back of the Gem from the shore in Nassau! oh well, that's an excuse to get on the Gem for another cruise. : - D

[js17]

@sjn911 - Thanks! NCL is great you'll love it

 

@lenquixote66 - glad you enjoyed your cruise on the Gem!

 

@mooshka - Sinan is very special, but I heard he might be leaving the Gem.

 

@sparks1093 - haha, hopefully the year will go fast!

 

@wolfcel - Thanks! I like Grand Pacific much better. Enjoy your cruise!

 

@lalise - Thanks, I'm glad you agree with my opinion! haha

 

@boopsahoy - No Problem! I've got plenty of photos

 

@wolfcel - haha It's probably my camera more than me! I'm glad you love the

 

review!

 

@boopsahoy - It was, wish I had they view as I'm writing this!

[NayRN]

Thanks for all the pictures....makes me impatient for my own cruise!!:D

 

Quick question.....The second beach by the cabanas...was it really rocky???

[js17]

Thanks for all the pictures....makes me impatient for my own cruise!!:D

 

Quick question.....The second beach by the cabanas...was it really rocky???

 

 

Oops forgot to mention the rocks. The main beach is very rocky. Its quite uncomfortable to walk on the sand and in the ocean. The second beach has some rocks but is overall much more comfortable than the main beach.

[js17]

Day 4: Evening

 

We ate in Grand Pacific, we had a table by the aft window, and we got to watch the Gem sail away from GSC. We went to both shows that night. The early show was World Beat(it was okay - not great) and Jeff Harms main comedy show. That was pretty funny, pretty standard cruise ship comedian, but funny.

[js17]

Day 5: Nassau

 

Arrival

 

We arrived early than 8:00, we went up to the Great Outdoors for breakfast while we were docking. We got off the ship and walked around a little, there were MANY tour guides bothering us as we walked around, so we simply got back on board until it was time for our shore excursion. Our shore excursion in Nassau was the Ardastra Gardens and Zoo. The Norwegian Sky followed us in and docked right after we did. The Enchantment OTS was already docked. The Gem was docked on the last slip. There are room for 4 ships in Nassau.

 

 

Freestyle Cruising insignia on Norwegian Sky:

 

 

 

Norwegian Sky:

 

 

 

A house across the channel(interesting i took a photo of the same house when i was there in 2009 on the Carnival Pride)

 

 

 

I think the Gem is prettier : D

 

 

 

Nassau

 

 

 

Norwegian Gem w/ gangway, tents, and our wonderful hotel director Jenny Lin

 

 

 

More to come later. Stay tuned