Brief Remarks on my Gem Cruise

[Presbycruiser]

Just off the Gem from a 10 day cruise that visited San Juan and the Virgin Islands. This is not a detailed review but just a few remarks (I am happy to answer any questions people might have):

 

Overall, I had a very positive experience. My cabin, way down on deck 4, had a porthole. It was small (or it would be for two people) but the cabin was quiet, the bed was comfortable, and the bathroom, especially the shower, was fine. Had a wonderful cabin steward who kept the place spotless.

 

Food was also very good overall. I did buy a 3 meal specialty package and enjoyed it (chose Teppanyaki, Moderno and Le Bistro), but the food in the main dining rooms was good enough that I do not feel you "need" to eat in the specialty restaurants to have a really good meal. I especially liked the "All Time Favorite" striploin steak, a good-sized hunk of meat that was perfectly prepared to order. The worst meal was probably the Thanksgiving Turkey.

 

The buffet had a good variety of food and usually was of good quality (lots and lots of "ethnic" food such as Indian, Chinese, Latin American), although the atmosphere was "meh." Still, one could eat at the Great Outdoors weather permitting.

 

The buffalo wings at O'Sheehan's were great!

 

Desserts were variable. Some of them were bland, as other reviewers have mentioned. But some, especially the chocolate based ones, were very good.

 

Edit: one criticism of the food that I agree with is about the quality of the coffee. It tasted lousy. I drink Maxwell House at home so I am hardly a coffee snob but the ship's coffee was pretty bad.

 

The service overall was excellent. The crew members seemed happy and genuinely wanted to please us. They went to the trouble of remembering your name and greeting you individually. I really liked Drew, the cruise director. He was busy as heck but always found time to chat individually.

 

My fellow cruisers were a friendly and unpretentious bunch. They, and the crew, gave the cruise an excellent atmosphere.

 

Entertainment was fine although I did not go to all the shows. But they had a 70's style revue including performing some of the sit com songs of the era like All in the Family and the Brady Bunch. I loved it!

 

There were many activities on board although many of them cost money and others seemed geared to encourage you to spend money on something or other. That gave some of the activities a Ferengi vibe.

 

The ship itself was wonderful. I liked the renovations to many public areas including the Atrium, Spinnaker Lounge and Bliss Ultra Lounge. The overall effect is to give the ship a slightly more upscale and understated feel. And the Gem feels like a real ship, not a floating resort. There were plenty of places to walk around and breathe in the ocean air ... Deck 7 has a promenade deck that extends the entire length around the ship, and there is plenty of space up on Deck 12 (pool deck) and 13 (Sun deck).

 

Pools did look a bit small for the number of passengers.

 

The casino was an unattractive and smoky area, same as most ships. The atmosphere more akin to Wal-Mart when the Social Security checks come in than to the elegant casinos featured in James Bond movies.

 

I enjoyed the shore excursions I went on and there were tons of options although many were very expensive.

 

Overall, I am really glad I made this trip!

Edited December 4, 2015 by Presbycruiser

[Kingmaker_inc]

That gave some of the activities a Ferengi vibe.

 

That is the prefect description.

[plum24]

Thanks for the review! We are sailing on GEM on the 13th. Which excursions did you go on?

[jwalker314]

Was the Iconcierge app available while you were on your trip? This is something I imagine they are rolling out with the renovations. We are leaving on the 13th.

[www3traveler]

Do you remember who the Captain and Staff Captain were?

[Presbycruiser]

Thanks for the review! We are sailing on GEM on the 13th. Which excursions did you go on?

 

I did the city tour of San Juan which was good ... we had a very personable young lady as our guide.

 

On St. Thomas, I did the Coral World Ocean Park (?) which was a great place to be near nature. The animals were interesting, especially a very well trained sea lion! We were next to a beach we could use if we wanted to.

 

As for Phillipsburg/St. Maarten, I was signed up for the Maho Beach Transfer, which takes you to the beach right next to the airport. The planes, including some big ones, land almost on top of the beach for a very dramatic experience. I wasn't feeling well that morning so did not go, but others who went said it was great!

 

I did not sign up for any excursions on Tortola.

[sparks1093]

Glad to hear the Gem is still delivering!:)

[Presbycruiser]

Do you remember who the Captain and Staff Captain were?

 

The Captain is Lars Bengston (I think ... I definitely know he is Swedish). The Staff Captain is also Swedish and quite short but I do not recall his name,

[2boyzmom]

Great review. I agree that I want a ship that "feels" like a ship! If I want a promenade mall or Central Park, I wouldn't be cruising!

[MsTabbyKats]

 

The casino was an unattractive and smoky area, same as most ships. The atmosphere more akin to Wal-Mart when the Social Security checks come in than to the elegant casinos featured in James Bond movies.

 

 

Love that line, and probably true for all ship casinos!

[fshagan]

I'm glad you had a good time! We were on the Gem just before the renovations, and enjoyed the cruise quite a bit. We were apprehensive because of the negativity about changes in the cruise line, but we had a great time and reconfirmed that cruising is still a good vacation value for us.

[49erfan007]

Thanks for the review! Did you notice if the water slide and rock climbing wall were open for business? Also how was the crowds by the pool and sea days?

[Gershep]

Glad you enjoyed your cruise and the Gem.

[Adele1]

Glad to hear the Gem is delivering.

 

Do you recall who the Hotel Director was?

Thanks

 

Rhea

[Sizzlechest]

Thanks for the info about the excursions. Do you have any info about other excursions people did? Was there anything interesting to do sans-excursion in Tortola?

[Deedee85]

Thanks for the review! Did you notice if the water slide and rock climbing wall were open for business? Also how was the crowds by the pool and sea days?

The rock climbing wall was open for two hours at a time, twice per day once we hit day 3.

[Bonobochick]

Glad to hear the Gem is delivering.

 

Do you recall who the Hotel Director was?

Thanks

 

Rhea

 

Vuk Malobabic

[Jezo]

Oh that Norwegian coffee.. sweet nectar of the gods, torments me with every sip but in the abusive relationship I have with caffeine I cannot say no to it, no matter how terrible it tastes.

[Adele1]

Thanks Bonobochick - he is a new one to me!