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WARNING: This Gem review will likely last longer than the cruise did!

Tralfie

By Tralfie,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Tralfie

Tralfie

Posted
Posted

Now, if you want a short-but-sweet version of this review, which is of my time on the Gem from September 6-13, here it is: Awesome sauce.

 

But chances are, if you're reading reviews, you're looking for something a tad more in-depth. Well, you came to the right place. (I'll be posting over the next few days as I cobble this review together; once it's done, I'll post the whole thing -- with the same title -- in the "Reviews" section, in case you want to read it in one sitting -- good luck! -- and sans interspersed reader comments/Q&A's).

 

First, a little info about myself: I'm a 25-year-old trapped in the body of a 50-year old who, in olden days, would have been referred to as "a confirmed bachelor." I only discovered his love of cruising a year or so ago. I'm a solo/single traveler, and wouldn't have it any other way. I've previously done an overnighter on the Gem (which was a whole different animal, about which you can read if you follow the link in my signature) and a week on the Breakaway. I'll tell you right off the bat, Gem is more my style. She's smaller, feels less crowded and simply feels more "home-y" to me. Breakaway's a great ship, and I really enjoyed my week aboard her, but Gem is the shining jewel of NCL in my (limited) experience.

 

So let's dive in, shall we?

 

DAY 1

 

From the start, it was an awesome experience. Got to the port around 10, was checked in by a very friendly guy with a fantastic attitude whose name I failed to get. Because I'd purchased both the Ultimate Dining Package and the Ultimate Beverage Package, both stickers were placed on my key as soon as I received it. As a result, I was ready to go! Around 11:30, they began the boarding process, and I was in the Grand Pacific dining room by noon with a cocktail in one hand and the menu in the other. This was the only time during the week I was in a MDR, but I have to say: the meal (calamari, an arugula-and-shrimp salad, and fish & chips) -- combined with the daily lunches I had at the buffet -- left me thinking I could cruise without the Dining Package.

 

Nah. I'm too spoiled. And I love my specialty restaurants far too much.

 

Anyhow, by the time lunch was over, the announcement had been made that our rooms were ready, so off I went to check it out. And this is the one area where I'm going to give the win to Breakaway over Gem. But not by much.

 

On both boats, I had an aft-facing balcony. On Breakaway, I was lucky enough to book what has become known amongst some of us as "the Gambee balcony." For those not in the know, fellow Cruise Critic member Gambee wrote one of the most impressive Breakaway reviews ever, featuring great photos from around the ship... including the aft-facing balcony. When I walked into that room on the Breakaway, I practically cried. The balcony is ridiculously huge. It's deep, holding several lounge chairs and tables easily.

 

The Gem aft-facing balcony (I was in room 9174) was awesome, but... well, it wasn't the Gambee balcony. It seemed, far as I could tell, about the same size as regular balconies aboard the Gem. Perhaps a little bigger. The other difference was bed placement. On Breakaway, I loved that the bed was placed right next to the sliding door leading to the balcony. On Gem, the bed and the doorway were separated by the couch/sitting area.

 

That said, while I preferred the Breakaway aft-facing balcony, there's still absolutely nothing better than sitting on a balcony, watching the wake go by. And sure enough, at some point during the trip, I caught that legendary scent: fresh, sugary breezes wafting up to my deck from the bakery! Because, you know, the one thing you need more than anything when on a cruise is something prompting you to eat even more!

 

Having settled into my room (and asked my great room steward, Freddie, to empty the fridge), I wandered up to the spot that would wind up being my go-to hangout for the week: The Great Outdoors bar. Not only does this bar at the very back of deck 12 have an incredible view, but bartender Adam was, as NCL likes to say, my "vacation hero." Adam is new to NCL, only a few weeks into his first contract, and he represents everything a great bartender should be. He's personable, and has a fantastic philosophy: "Don't ask me if I have something, tell me what you want, and I'll do my best to provide it."

 

Over the next seven days, Adam would develop something of a fan club; a group of us who would gravitate to the bar by late afternoon each day, and wind up staying there until either leaving for our dinner reservations... or missing said reservations in order to continue hanging out.

 

I should mention at this point that the boat did not feel at all crowded. Almost immediately, I noticed that -- unlike my time on Breakaway in March -- there were few children on board. This is likely because school had started the week before. While a lot of folks are willing to take their kids out of school for a vacation, not many seem to do it a week into the school year! Heck, this alone makes me glad that I'm already booked on this same cruise, with this same itinerary, NEXT September.

 

Eventually, I tore myself away from the bar and made my way to Cagney's for dinner. On Breakaway, this was one of my favorite specialty restaurants, so I knew I was in for a good meal. And it didn't disappoint! I started with a pretty standard shrimp cocktail, then moved on to the baked potato soup. Bar the door, we have a winner, kids! This soup is thick and creamy, with a dollop of sour cream, some chives and a little bit of bacon floating on top. Scrumpdillyicious. This was followed by a huge ribeye with Cajun seasoning that gave it a little bit of a kick and Cagney fries. Now, on Breakaway, I wasn't a fan of the Cagney fries, which seemed soggy and over-cheesed. I heard from several people this was NOT how they typically tasted/were served, so I gave them another try... and what a difference the Gem makes. These were meaty yet crisp, and with just the right amount of seasoning/cheese on them. All in all a fantastic meal. And as I did every night but one on this cruise, I walked away without dessert.

 

Because, you know, that legendary Oreo cheesecake was the only thing standing between me and gaining 20 pounds, right?

 

After dinner, I went back to my room to await a maintenance guy. It seems the previous occupants of the room left the safe locked. Obviously, I would need access so that I could store the millions and millions I'd be winning in the casino somewhere safe!

 

When the maintenance man left, and I sat on the balcony for a while, watching the wake, until I hit the sack early. Yes, it was barely even 9:30 p.m., and yet I'd been eating and drinking for hours! I also, no doubt as a result of the gluttony, was feeling a little blue, missing my best friends/housemates.

 

But surely, this was just the bourbon talking, right? I wasn't going to spend a week walking around boo-hoo-hooing because I missed my friends, was I?

 

Stay tuned...

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boopsahoy

boopsahoy

Posted
Posted
Now, if you want a short-but-sweet version of this review, which is of my time on the Gem from September 6-13, here it is: Awesome sauce.

 

But chances are, if you're reading reviews, you're looking for something a tad more in-depth. Well, you came to the right place. (I'll be posting over the next few days as I cobble this review together; once it's done, I'll post the whole thing -- with the same title -- in the "Reviews" section, in case you want to read it in one sitting -- good luck! -- and sans interspersed reader comments/Q&A's).

 

First, a little info about myself: I'm a 25-year-old trapped in the body of a 50-year old who, in olden days, would have been referred to as "a confirmed bachelor." I only discovered his love of cruising a year or so ago. I'm a solo/single traveler, and wouldn't have it any other way. I've previously done an overnighter on the Gem (which was a whole different animal, about which you can read if you follow the link in my signature) and a week on the Breakaway. I'll tell you right off the bat, Gem is more my style. She's smaller, feels less crowded and simply feels more "home-y" to me. Breakaway's a great ship, and I really enjoyed my week aboard her, but Gem is the shining jewel of NCL in my (limited) experience.

 

So let's dive in, shall we?

 

DAY 1

 

From the start, it was an awesome experience. Got to the port around 10, was checked in by a very friendly guy with a fantastic attitude whose name I failed to get. Because I'd purchased both the Ultimate Dining Package and the Ultimate Beverage Package, both stickers were placed on my key as soon as I received it. As a result, I was ready to go! Around 11:30, they began the boarding process, and I was in the Grand Pacific dining room by noon with a cocktail in one hand and the menu in the other. This was the only time during the week I was in a MDR, but I have to say: the meal (calamari, an arugula-and-shrimp salad, and fish & chips) -- combined with the daily lunches I had at the buffet -- left me thinking I could cruise without the Dining Package.

 

Nah. I'm too spoiled. And I love my specialty restaurants far too much.

 

Anyhow, by the time lunch was over, the announcement had been made that our rooms were ready, so off I went to check it out. And this is the one area where I'm going to give the win to Breakaway over Gem. But not by much.

 

On both boats, I had an aft-facing balcony. On Breakaway, I was lucky enough to book what has become known amongst some of us as "the Gambee balcony." For those not in the know, fellow Cruise Critic member Gambee wrote one of the most impressive Breakaway reviews ever, featuring great photos from around the ship... including the aft-facing balcony. When I walked into that room on the Breakaway, I practically cried. The balcony is ridiculously huge. It's deep, holding several lounge chairs and tables easily.

 

The Gem aft-facing balcony (I was in room 9174) was awesome, but... well, it wasn't the Gambee balcony. It seemed, far as I could tell, about the same size as regular balconies aboard the Gem. Perhaps a little bigger. The other difference was bed placement. On Breakaway, I loved that the bed was placed right next to the sliding door leading to the balcony. On Gem, the bed and the doorway were separated by the couch/sitting area.

 

That said, while I preferred the Breakaway aft-facing balcony, there's still absolutely nothing better than sitting on a balcony, watching the wake go by. And sure enough, at some point during the trip, I caught that legendary scent: fresh, sugary breezes wafting up to my deck from the bakery! Because, you know, the one thing you need more than anything when on a cruise is something prompting you to eat even more!

 

Having settled into my room (and asked my great room steward, Freddie, to empty the fridge), I wandered up to the spot that would wind up being my go-to hangout for the week: The Great Outdoors bar. Not only does this bar at the very back of deck 12 have an incredible view, but bartender Adam was, as NCL likes to say, my "vacation hero." Adam is new to NCL, only a few weeks into his first contract, and he represents everything a great bartender should be. He's personable, and has a fantastic philosophy: "Don't ask me if I have something, tell me what you want, and I'll do my best to provide it."

 

Over the next seven days, Adam would develop something of a fan club; a group of us who would gravitate to the bar by late afternoon each day, and wind up staying there until either leaving for our dinner reservations... or missing said reservations in order to continue hanging out.

 

I should mention at this point that the boat did not feel at all crowded. Almost immediately, I noticed that -- unlike my time on Breakaway in March -- there were few children on board. This is likely because school had started the week before. While a lot of folks are willing to take their kids out of school for a vacation, not many seem to do it a week into the school year! Heck, this alone makes me glad that I'm already booked on this same cruise, with this same itinerary, NEXT September.

 

Eventually, I tore myself away from the bar and made my way to Cagney's for dinner. On Breakaway, this was one of my favorite specialty restaurants, so I knew I was in for a good meal. And it didn't disappoint! I started with a pretty standard shrimp cocktail, then moved on to the baked potato soup. Bar the door, we have a winner, kids! This soup is thick and creamy, with a dollop of sour cream, some chives and a little bit of bacon floating on top. Scrumpdillyicious. This was followed by a huge ribeye with Cajun seasoning that gave it a little bit of a kick and Cagney fries. Now, on Breakaway, I wasn't a fan of the Cagney fries, which seemed soggy and over-cheesed. I heard from several people this was NOT how they typically tasted/were served, so I gave them another try... and what a difference the Gem makes. These were meaty yet crisp, and with just the right amount of seasoning/cheese on them. All in all a fantastic meal. And as I did every night but one on this cruise, I walked away without dessert.

 

Because, you know, that legendary Oreo cheesecake was the only thing standing between me and gaining 20 pounds, right?

 

After dinner, I went back to my room to await a maintenance guy. It seems the previous occupants of the room left the safe locked. Obviously, I would need access so that I could store the millions and millions I'd be winning in the casino somewhere safe!

 

When the maintenance man left, and I sat on the balcony for a while, watching the wake, until I hit the sack early. Yes, it was barely even 9:30 p.m., and yet I'd been eating and drinking for hours! I also, no doubt as a result of the gluttony, was feeling a little blue, missing my best friends/housemates.

 

But surely, this was just the bourbon talking, right? I wasn't going to spend a week walking around boo-hoo-hooing because I missed my friends, was I?

 

Stay tuned...

 

 

I love the Gem! Can't wait to hear more!

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Miadessa

Miadessa

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Posted

Having settled into my room (and asked my great room steward, Freddie, to empty the fridge)

 

Glad to hear you had a great time! I do have a question- what's with emptying the fridge? I have seen so many referring to this. What's in there that you all what out so badly? Flat soda? Old cheese? Dirty socks? :) Why do you want them empty?

 

Thanks for any help in clearing up my confusion! :D

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computerworks

computerworks

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I do have a question- what's with emptying the fridge? I have seen so many referring to this. What's in there that you all what out so badly? Flat soda? Old cheese? Dirty socks? :) Why do you want them empty?

 

Thanks for any help in clearing up my confusion! :D

 

The refrigerators are stocked with soda, drinks and snacks as a minibar. Anything you consume is added to your onboard account.

 

These goodies leave little room in the fridge for personal stuff.

 

Upon request, you can have the room steward empty the fridge of all the "consignment" items, to allow you to use it for your own purposes.

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bphman

bphman

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Posted

We chose the Gem, after several recommendations, as our first NCL cruise after a disasterous cruise on the Norway. I looked at Breakaway but decided it was too big. We have 28 cruises under our belts and have developed certain tastes. I swore NCL off but decided to try her again as out January getaway. We didn't want to fly in the winter again after our flight this year was canceled for weather. We have a short drive to the port. Can't wait for NCL to win me back.

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bbyost

bbyost

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Posted

Love your review! Can't wait for the rest of it!

I have a question for you...does the ship stay on EST in the Canadian ports or switch to the port time zone? I'm trying to plan for the tides in Saint Johns. The itinerary states we are in port from 10am-6pm, but I didn't know if that was ship's time or port time.

 

Thank you!

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kimyk69

kimyk69

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Posted
Having settled into my room (and asked my great room steward, Freddie, to empty the fridge)

 

Glad to hear you had a great time! I do have a question- what's with emptying the fridge? I have seen so many referring to this. What's in there that you all what out so badly? Flat soda? Old cheese? Dirty socks? :) Why do you want them empty?

 

Thanks for any help in clearing up my confusion! :D

 

 

Agree - we are traveling the GEM in November - not sure what empty fridge means....and why?

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Turtles06 Great Review Rare

Turtles06

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Agree - we are traveling the GEM in November - not sure what empty fridge means....and why?

 

There's a mini-bar in each cabin (a small fridge) stocked with stuff that you have to pay for if you consume it (as in a hotel). Many folks upon embarkation ask their cabin steward to empty this out, which then gives them a little fridge to keep their own stuff cold. We do this all the time.

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Hikini

Hikini

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Looking forward to reading more.

 

And we also enjoyed the shrimp and arugula salad, the calamari and the fish and chips in the MDR on the Jewel. In fact, I wish a waiter would show up with an order of the calamari (including lime wedges) right now!

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boopsahoy

boopsahoy

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Posted
Hello Boopsahoy,

 

Are you still joining us on 1/2/15?

 

Tralfie, looking forward to reading more of your review.

 

Meryl & Peter

 

No! My new job nixed the date-they said its too busy (REALLY??) SO I am taking the same cruise although just 9 days in December!

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boopsahoy

boopsahoy

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Boopsahoy,

 

Sorry that you're not cruising with us. Have a great cruise! We'll be looking for your review when you return. Be sure to post some pointers.

 

Meryl & Peter

 

Im sorry too! I also lost the room I had booked 9 months out. Had to take a forward PH instead of aft-anyone have any inside info on the forwards as opposed to afts?

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bonniboo1

bonniboo1

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I had 10500 on the Gem in May. Loved it so much that I book a Similar suite just a few doors down. The balcony was huge. We had 11 people on it after our cabin crawl. It wasn't windy at all, just wonderful. Enjoy your cabin Boopsahoy.

OP come back...I love your review.

 

Bonni

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