4-29-17 Gem 7 days NYC - Florida, GSC, Nassau. Dailies, essential tips, FAQ not semi-live

[mking8288]

Behind The Scene (BTS) Tours - for Platinum (Latitude) members ...

BTS tours on the GEM's 7 days NYC-Bahamas sailing for paying passengers are now scheduled on Day 5 at 10 AM (with additional tours on Day 6 as needed) The complimentary or free BTS tour is a shorter version for Platinum members is now on Day 6 at 8:45 AM ... and, no longer conflict with the Meet & Mingle for CriticCritic members. Thanks, NCL for listening & making the changes.

 

Our BTS-P tour covered 3 areas and lasted just a little over an hour (it is shorter than the Breakaway's BTS-P tour, that was longer by 30+ minutes on the last one we attended with more depth). There're just 10 members for this tour (BA, we had about 25 members, split into 2 groups - with ship security as escort ... none for the Gem): stop 1 - Backstage @ Stardust, stop 2 - laundry and stop 3 - down I-95 to see the gallery.

 

It's quite amazing to realized how little working space the production crew and performers have off the sides of the stage, and that their shared dressing rooms are on a different deck, up/down a series of stairs & turns.

 

The laundry center, it's not your average over-sized laundromat, giant washers & dryers that can handle 90 lbs to 275 lbs in a single wash cycle ... and, the roles of automation in drying, folding & stacking those napkins, sheets, towels & linens, etc.

 

(more pictures from BTS - continued below)

Edited May 7, 2017 by mking8288
Hi

[hansolosmom]

Thanks so much for your review and all the pictures. I was looking at taking my mom on this ship since it's smaller than Breakaway so she could see more of it walking around. She got very tired trying to walk around the Breakaway decks.

[mking8288]

Continued - more BTS-P tour pix

Lots of sorting, washing, drying and folding in this laundry center ... it's "small" compared to the *Away ship.

 

 

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Edited May 7, 2017 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Continued - more BTS-P tour pix

We left the front of the ship and walked along what's known as the ship's "I-95" that goes straight down, bow to stern ... where the crews walked daily to get to/from where they need to go. For us, we reached our 3rd. & final stop - the gallery, which served both MDR and is busy 24/7 - pictorial charts of the 14+ days menu in rotation are on the long wall for reference.

 

Our thanks to the 2 CruiseNext staff who took us on the tour and had the supervisors in each of the 3 areas spoke with us, answer questions & explain their areas of duties ... one learned something new on each BTS tour.

 

 

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Edited May 7, 2017 by mking8288

[mking8288]

... Did you decide on the Nassau tour when you got to Nassau or did you prebook that?

Do you have any experience with the shuttles at Port Canaveral? I have rented a van but we may just utilize the shuttle for convenience, I think the cost is about the same for our group of six.

Thanks & I feel good knowing that the pix, comments & reviews are helping a # of you, especially those new to NCL or not sure if the "smaller" 90,000 tonnage ships are good. IMHO, both DW and I - and the rest of our small group of 7 (being Gold, Silver & Bronze in Latitude status) all agreed that they like the smaller ships ... it truly exemplified the spirit of freestyle cruising, not having the need to make show & dining reservations.

 

Our sailing might've been full & sold-out for all staterooms but did NOT feel crowded at all ... not even during the mandatory safety/muster drills (try that standing near O'Sheehan's or the atrium lobby on the Breakaway ... wall-to-wall passengers). Stardust Theater was maybe 95% full but there're seats open & available even for those arriving late ... ditto for the MDR's

 

We've been to Nassau quite a few times and on our last 3 visits, simply just "wing it" and did not pre-book this time. The Nassau tour is available on pier and drivers all spoke English, friendly & helpful - he took 11 of us (7 in our group + 4 others in 2nd. group) in a 15 seater van for the 2.5 hour island tour @ $30 USD p/p - which is about 50% of what NCL would charge as a ship tour (and, didn't go as far). We drove thru different sections of Nassau, explaining key landmarks to us, passing the new casino going pass the downtown Hilton & beaches, and with a 45 minute stop at Atlantas so that everyone can take a walk thru the casino & look for their ideal photo spots, etc. before returning us to the ship (the other 4 went onward to the nearby beach, as it was still early)

 

Ditto for Port Canaveral - there are plenty of local taxis & shuttles, they charged a regulated price for "transfers" to Coca Beach and/or Coca Village, for less than NCL's going rates - you can leave the ship whenever & return whenever, before All Abroad time of 8:30 PM local/ship time, of course (or, whatever time posted) It's about a 15 minutes trip back to the cruise terminal from nearby ... just don't become a Pier Runner or missed the ship, and ended up with your luggage & belongings taken off by security & given to the NCL Port Agent. That apparently happened to several pax who missed their return (or, maybe they didn't care) as we didn't leave until 10:15 PM (was scheduled for 9 PM sailaway) ... holding up the ship full of pax & crew, and dock workers, etc.

 

It is unfortunate, with the shortened time/stay in PC, that many pax simply did NOT care for considering a trip into Orlando, whether it's for Disney ,Epcot or even downtown ... just not a good return on "investment" of time & money, for a family of 4 to spend 3 or 4 hours at most at the pricey theme parks + transportation. We stayed on the GEM this time, just like the last 2 times on the Breakaway.

 

The Florida destination sub-forum here on CC has plenty of useful info, tips & latest advice on what to do, where & how, etc. - along with local expertise to best ... suggest.

[mking8288]

Another batch of Gem pictures, more food pix ... followed by GSC

 

 

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[Gershep]

I hope the next group of performers will be as good as the shows you saw. I guess it is safe to say that Ted Kaminski (was he on your ship) and Leo will be leaving too.

 

I noticed your green TA luggage tag, I have the same ones.

 

Thanks again!

[mking8288]

GSC - noticed 2 types of blue clamshells, the mesh type are best for ventilation when it is hot. They are set up near the tender Pier. Some loungers are next to shades & trees but further away from the beach front. Be sure to bring SPF protection & hats and wear proper footwear as the sands can be hot under the midday sun. First Aid station is on the island, including rescue/first responder gears on wheels, with 2-way radio communications (Motorola).

 

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Edited May 8, 2017 by mking8288

[mking8288]

GSC pix - set #2

Looks like tent city ... Life is a beach.

For ships like the Gem, the private island did not seemed too crowded, plenty of loungers and clamshells. Wheelchairs designed for the beach were stationed by the tender pier.

 

Bonus info/tips - one of the first "structure" I noticed as the tender approached the island pier is the cellular antenna towers, mounted high - including satellite receiver. It's a good time that I always carried my smartphones (to use as cameras & camcorder) - our Nexus picked up solid Project Fi signals - YAY !!! and the backup BLU (dual-sim) R1HD picked up both T-Mobile & AT&T roaming signals, on DigiCel and BTC, woohoo !

 

It also picked up the ship's (Gem) WiFi signal ... quite a distance away, nice - what a big surprise that was. I am guessing that they might've used repeater gears or possibly microwave signals to bounce off for coverage.

 

For those who worried about being disconnected, this might be your answer - to be confirmed, especially those with unlimited WiFi plan coverage. I can positively affirm that my Project Fi/T-Mobile cellular 3G and 4G signal works quite well, there're some dead zones or spots with poor reception, where it dropped to 2G or Edge speed, but overall it was quite good & very much usable. Thanks, NCL.

 

 

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Edited May 8, 2017 by mking8288

[mking8288]

For our entire 7 days Gem cruising, we managed to be stay online while on GSC for about 10 hours & another 10 hours while in Nassau costing us about $5 USD only - both on & off the ship - not a typo ... not bad at all, at 3G and 4G speed for data, far superior than satellite at higher costs. Thanks to Google's Project Fi, saving us money. The options are still limited while at sea and depending on orbiting satellite for basic coverage.

 

T-MOBILE prepaid lines now have roaming ship coverage but it is still expensive. These info intended mainly for tech geeks only as mostly beyond the average ship pax on a cruise once a year. But very interesting & I thought sharing among the 5% within the 5% CC community.

 

Screenshots:

 

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[mking8288]

I hope the next group of performers will be as good as the shows you saw. I guess it is safe to say that Ted Kaminski (was he on your ship) and Leo will be leaving too.

I noticed your green TA luggage tag, I have the same ones ....

Thanks & you are very welcomed. Ted & Leo were both still on the Gem last week, not sure of when they are going on vacation. Besides the performers, some of the very friendly F&B staff are taking their vacation, one lady told us that she's going home for 2 months ... been away for a while but not sure which ship she will be on next. Happy for them and they earned their time off.

 

Mark, the CD from the U.S.A. has only been on the GEM for about 2 months - he's staying & not going anywhere (I know dexddd asked of my opinion of him ... he's okay, personality that's very different than that of "Dan Dan" that's been on the Breakaway & other ships lately.)

 

Good spotting of those unique TA tag ... hiding on the bottom is a good old Red Carpet Club tag from the old UAL days, living out of the garment bag some 30 years ago. Had someone asked me where I got those little NCL plastic tags too ... LOL, the old days.

 

I swear that I'm getting those sea legs vibration this evening before going out to dinner, sitting rock solid inside ... need to start another countdown to cruising, it's a long one but booked ... took advantage of the "Tax Sales" last month & reduced deposit, even selected our stateroom # & deck location, something we don't ordinary do or really care for/matter to us.

 

Let me get back to finish uploading the remaining pictures this evening. Regards.

[mking8288]

Suffice to say, our table was busy playing smartphone as our group has international or roaming coverage at GSC during early dinner in Grand Pacific and we were sailing later than 6 PM due to late arrival.

DH also realized that the ship's casino was open while anchored at GSC and she was off & gone for a while. I was free to do whatever. Well, later that evening, she scored a little jackpot playing pennies, lots of it, actually. Won again the next day, but at the end ... still made a bit of donation to NCL.

For those wondering what TV stations are available, here they are ... plus PPV, free for suite & Haven guests.

Pictures of the lobby area by Guest Services & O'Sheehan's upstairs on Deck 8

 

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[mking8288]

Arrival into Nassau on Wednesday morning, docked about 7 AM and cleared about ,7:30 for pax to go ashore.

 

Later on, cold towels & iced water to welcome us back under the tents next to the ship on the Pier.

 

Our departure time was 6 PM, local & ship time - Guest Services paged about 6 pax to contact them about 20 minutes before that ... just once. We went to early dinner so didn't go outside to look for any "Pier Runners" and didnt hear any names being called again inside the MDR (GP) - assumed they managed to return to the ship in time and/or accounted for, as we pulled away within 5 minutes of 6 PM ... virtually on-time, unlike Canaveral. Homeward Bound.

 

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[mking8288]

Pictures toward (gift shop & duty-free) Tradewind, Deck 7 Fwd near Orchid Garden, Sake Bar, Sushi Bar. Downstairs next to Le Bistro is the piano lounge, often packed full when Ted & Leo are on, very popular pair.

 

As for the production shows in Stardust Theater, we felt Swing was just okay. Blazing Boots, the Russian Duo (acrobats), and Get Down Tonite were all very good to excellent - all subjective opinions, of course & Y.M.M.V. Best is not having to worry about reservations, just plan to show up & arrive a little early.

 

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Edited May 8, 2017 by mking8288

[Gershep]

The only cure for post cruise blues is to book another cruise, good for you.

 

Dan Dan is our favorite CD.

[dexddd]

Behind The Scene (BTS) Tours - for Platinum (Latitude) members ...

BTS tours on the GEM's 7 days NYC-Bahamas sailing for paying passengers are now scheduled on Day 5 at 10 AM (with additional tours on Day 6 as needed) The complimentary or free BTS tour is a shorter version for Platinum members is now on Day 6 at 8:45 AM ... and, no longer conflict with the Meet & Mingle for CriticCritic members. Thanks, NCL for listening & making the changes.

 

Our BTS-P tour covered 3 areas and lasted just a little over an hour (it is shorter than the Breakaway's BTS-P tour, that was longer by 30+ minutes on the last one we attended with more depth). There're just 10 members for this tour (BA, we had about 25 members, split into 2 groups - with ship security as escort ... none for the Gem): stop 1 - Backstage @ Stardust, stop 2 - laundry and stop 3 - down I-95 to see the gallery.

 

It's quite amazing to realized how little working space the production crew and performers have off the sides of the stage, and that their shared dressing rooms are on a different deck, up/down a series of stairs & turns.

 

The laundry center, it's not your average over-sized laundromat, giant washers & dryers that can handle 90 lbs to 275 lbs in a single wash cycle ... and, the roles of automation in drying, folding & stacking those napkins, sheets, towels & linens, etc.

 

(more pictures from BTS - continued below)

 

Always fun to see the cryptology machines for generating the little yellow stickers that go on the clothes.

 

Mking - interesting how they happened to be pressing your blue jacket with the gold wristbands as you were doing the BTS tour.

 

You mentioned something about the lunch menus - did they only have one or did they still have the two?

[mking8288]

Always fun to see the cryptology machines for generating the little yellow stickers that go on the clothes. Mking - interesting how they happened to be pressing your blue jacket with the gold wristbands ... did they only have one or did they still have the two?

The little yellow stickers are easiest to peel off once we get home, I found old ones from BA last year on a pair of socks & it's much harder to take off ... months later. A different alpha-numeric system on the Gem vs. the BA. This time, we barely stuffed the paper bag full, used a hotel plastic laundry bag as a liner - as it's almost all summer weight clothes & short sleeves.

 

The navy blue blazer was from one of the ship's senior officer and the jacket with the gold bands belong to the Captain ... amazing how they steamed press it with hot air & it's done and ready in 30 seconds.

 

As for the MDR lunch menu - no, it's just one menu for all 7 days, nothing to alternate (plus, MDR was closed on 2 port days - GSC & Nassau ... it was either go to the packed buffet or O'Sheehan's) While doing the BTS tour, we noticed the 14+ days MDR dinner menu posted but forget to check for the lunch posting ... perhaps they only do that for 10/11 and 14 days sailing.

 

On breakfast, the limited choices in selections on the complimentary items are better than what we had on the BA last year, so that's a plus - although we didn't take advantage of it. Yogurt is available along with fresh fruits, for a healthy one.

 

Dirty dishes & plates in the hallways, we hardly noticed that at all and certainly not a problem - we left ours inside the room and RS (hello, Hernane - thanks !) would remove & clear them during his round of refreshing our stateroom. Only saw non-breakfast Room Service delivery like twice while we're walking around on our deck & a few "door hangers" for breakfast at late night coming back to our stateroom.

 

For those staying onboard & doing lunch - it was adequate for a 7 nighter to mix it a bit with the MDR, OSH and the buffet. For those in Haven & Suites, the lounge on deck 13 is the preferred option.

 

What wasn't cool was someone left an empty glass on the Mid-ship Stairs - someone walking could've been hurt kicking it by accident. DW removed it & placed it in a much safer corner spot for pickup by a crew.

[mskaufman]

At Port Canaveral were there taxis at the pier that might take you to Cocoa Beach or Village?

[mking8288]

At Port Canaveral were there taxis at the pier that might take you to Cocoa Beach or Village?

Yes, most definitely - they are licensed/regulated locally and available outside, without need to pre-book ... just on a walk-up basis, to both CB and CV. Taxis, mini-vans, full-sized vans and mini-buses and their approved fare rates are posted ... huge signs on a per person basis,

 

It's about 10 to 15 minutes ride away - get the name of the driver & his/her business card/phone # to call to pickup for the return trip back to the ship. Fares are competitive and lowered than NCL's port transfer rates ... in fact, when we're on the Breakaway in 2014, Shorex onboard lowered their rates to match the local rates for taxi shuttles.

[rjmols]

The little yellow stickers are easiest to peel off once we get home, I found old ones from BA last year on a pair of socks & it's much harder to take off ... months later. A different alpha-numeric system on the Gem vs. the BA. This time, we barely stuffed the paper bag full, used a hotel plastic laundry bag as a liner - as it's almost all summer weight clothes & short sleeves.

 

The navy blue blazer was from one of the ship's senior officer and the jacket with the gold bands belong to the Captain ... amazing how they steamed press it with hot air & it's done and ready in 30 seconds.

 

As for the MDR lunch menu - no, it's just one menu for all 7 days, nothing to alternate (plus, MDR was closed on 2 port days - GSC & Nassau ... it was either go to the packed buffet or O'Sheehan's) While doing the BTS tour, we noticed the 14+ days MDR dinner menu posted but forget to check for the lunch posting ... perhaps they only do that for 10/11 and 14 days sailing.

 

On breakfast, the limited choices in selections on the complimentary items are better than what we had on the BA last year, so that's a plus - although we didn't take advantage of it. Yogurt is available along with fresh fruits, for a healthy one.

 

Dirty dishes & plates in the hallways, we hardly noticed that at all and certainly not a problem - we left ours inside the room and RS (hello, Hernane - thanks !) would remove & clear them during his round of refreshing our stateroom. Only saw non-breakfast Room Service delivery like twice while we're walking around on our deck & a few "door hangers" for breakfast at late night coming back to our stateroom.

 

For those staying onboard & doing lunch - it was adequate for a 7 nighter to mix it a bit with the MDR, OSH and the buffet. For those in Haven & Suites, the lounge on deck 13 is the preferred option.

 

What wasn't cool was someone left an empty glass on the Mid-ship Stairs - someone walking could've been hurt kicking it by accident. DW removed it & placed it in a much safer corner spot for pickup by a crew.

 

 

Hi was the Hali Bar and Grill not open for lunch?? If so what kind of food did they serve there?

And just to say your review was fantastic - so helpful - we are sailing her next week so a great big thank you from the UK

[mking8288]

The only cure for post cruise blues is to book another cruise, good for you.

Dan Dan is our favorite CD.

True, ha ha - thankfully, we booked & done before we sailed, took advantage of the Tax-Free deals, on top of other promo's available to us ... and used a CruiseNext certificate.

 

On the morning of disembarkation, it was organized & helped to be back at Pier 88 earlier than announced. We went to MDR for breakfast at 7:15 AM and saw the lines formed on the AFT stairs.

 

Express/limited Breakfast Menu - only for Disembarkation @ MDR (O'Sheehan's closed - buffet is open, of course; atrium lobby has coffee/tea). Skipping the smoked salmon this time, just yogurt, fruits, scrambled eggs w. toast, orange juice & coffee.

 

Since we've given VIP status and with Platinum status, we got special "Gold" luggage tags with #4 and had our two 22" rollers picked up before 11 PM on the last night (cutoff time). Went to the designated FWD place to wait & when ready, Elvina's (concierge) team took us around the shortcut and we followed pax with special needs being assisted in wheelchairs to swipe our cards one last time, used the Fwd gangway on deck 7 - and quickly toward the back of the terminal, down the escalators into the luggage hall. That's Priority Disembarkation available usually to Haven & Suite guests only ... and by the time we got there, there couldn't possibly be more than 25 waiting to get off the ship. Of course, it's quite possible that some of them did the Express Walkoff with their luggage and long gone.

 

 

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Edited May 9, 2017 by mking8288

[mking8288]

Hi was the Hali Bar and Grill not open for lunch?? If so what kind of food did they serve there? ... we are sailing her next week so a great big thank you from the UK

You are welcomed, just sharing the tips so that fellow CC'ers can make the most of their cruise ... on the Gem, one of our favorite NCL ship & more so than the mega-ship.

 

Assumed you are on your Roll Call, enjoy the Meet & Mingle, it's fun - regardless of the turnout. I was afraid of a small gathering until a week or two before sailing - but, it turned out just fine. Attendance was better than my last time on the Gem in 2012. The group stayed around and we chatted for a while.

 

Hali Bar and Grill was open & it looked like they're serving, from a distance while I was roaming around deck 13 AFT - the action was outside/midship by the pool, where they're doing the BBQ almost daily (I think) - my BIL/SIL were hanging out there on most afternoon with a full stomach by dinner time, LOL.

 

As for what food being served - I supposed it's the same complimentary items as those in the buffet ... most definitely not "clam bake" or alike, as those would set off a "riot" with long lines in that small area. As you can see from this picture, it wasn't too crowded and shaded, much less busy than the pool deck below.

 

P.S. - And, I hope you folks can successfully tender & make it ashore to GSC. Just checking MarineTraffic site & Gem's live shipcam ... looked like she's aiming at Nassau now, doing about 16 kn. and skipping GSC today, where she's supposed to be anchored by now - for whatever reasons & not tendering.

 

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Edited May 9, 2017 by mking8288

[mking8288]

... looking at taking my mom on this ship since it's smaller than Breakaway so she could see more of it walking around. She got very tired trying to walk around the Breakaway decks.

A picture is worth a thousand words ... and it's so much easier to take and then upload tons of pictures. Got a batch off DW's smartphone - have yet to get a hold of my BIL/SIL's collection of pix, they got mega-tons more; and, I will sort & select some good ones. I just realized that mine are missing of the newly redone Bliss Lounge, Deck 7 AFT - it looked great each time we walked by going to/from the MDR, too busy to poke my head inside, ha ha.

 

I see that you are sailing the BA this month for a 2nd. time, enjoy - that ship is fine too but like you said, no so nice if you have an AFT or FWD extreme staterooms - with just 2 sets of (smaller) elevators. When we're on the BA in 2015, DW counted 140+ steps from the Fwd staircase to our balcony ... lots of walking, good as daily exercises but not if one is challenged with weak knees & motion. I understand and thankfully, this time on the GEM, we had a pretty good MID-ship/Fwd location (deck 8 does have moderate inclines) ... making it easier to get to almost everywhere easily. The hallways are wide enough in most places, even when housekeeping or stewards are working with their carts & gears along the passage/corridors to get thru. And, the stateroom doors open inward ... none of them that swing out & possibly block the hallways (as that's true for some locations on the BA, but not a safety hazard).

 

If you are planning to take mom on a future Gem sailing & haven't booked yet - look for a mid-ship stateroom location ... smoothest ride and short walks to the MDR, buffet & atrium, etc. from the MID elevators. Look above - there are hand railings to hold onto and pause while walking around (this is near our Deck 8, midship - portside location ... where there are sideway Inside staterooms)

[mking8288]

Gem's "current" satellite WiFi inTERnet plans/options (as of April 29, 2017) - as of this writing ... pretty much nothing has changed for the faster/newer/better 3-tier WiFi plan w. the social media option, etc. Following is F.Y.I. and for future reference.

 

We had the complimentary 30 minutes option as part of Platinum perk and elected at the time of booking, to select the Free At Seas, 250 minutes plan to use - as that would've given us 300 minutes while at sea.

 

Most, if not all, NCL ships have already deployed the iConcierge App functions onboard and that only need access to the ship's WiFi inTRAnet - it does not need to register the device(s) and/or create an account for log-in and log-out, billing associated & charged to one's Onboard Account.

 

The ship's internet cafe is located on deck 12, Fwd inside the Library with 3 terminals (Asus micro slim PC) with USB port access (for media transfers) with the browser, no softwares installed or user-accessible (and, presumably with a security/firewall suite running) and connected to the server wirelessly. There is no advantage to using theirs if you bring along your own hardware - commercial/industrial grade wireless router/access points (by Lucent) are situated all over the ships, i.e. a tablet or iPad with a bluetooth keyboard would be just fine, regardless of platform, for those tech savy.

 

There are basically 4 plans being offered as paid options: the 100 minutes plan, 250 minutes plan, the PAYG by the minutes (95 cents/min) plan or the unlimited plans (only offered on Day 1 or Day 2, priced adjusted @ $29.95 per day). Bonus minutes are offered under specific conditions and "smaller" plans were advertised onboard during the last 2 sea days before disembarkation. Printing is optional at extra charge per page, I did NOT see a printer nearby, however. Internet Cafe manager has posted office hours downstairs, near the Art Gallery - Deck 7 AFT, portside, just around the corner from entrance to Grand Pacific MDR ... go there to get help and have your free promotion setup & activated, not really a DIY option on the Gem.

 

For our 30 minutes, I used 20 minutes on session #1 and used about 5.3 MB worth of data and session #2 lasted about 9 minutes for about 7 MB worth of data (it was a little faster ... mainly with uploads) - with 1 minute unused at the end. Screenshots attached.

 

Was it slow as barely better than dial-up/analog days, no - it was not. Definitely not fast compared to better DSL (folks are still on them) or basic cable ISP, not quite and can't compete with Fios (I know, spoiled by 100 GB quantum or 150 to 200 GB speed on a ultra-fast connnection ... it will not reach those anytime soon, if at all, not with satellite infrastructure). It's improved and usable, that I agree. Compared to the Breakaway, it is still much slower - only about 1/3 or 1/4 of what the BA was delivered, almost a year ago - we had 250 minutes or 1GB (1,000 MB) free MB data to use on our Bermuda cruise.

 

Our friends on the sailing needed to use the PC to check email & messages online; and send a brief message - paid the $3.95 one-time setup/activation fee with PAYG. Was able to log-in and read his email/messages, but his one & only outgoing email message ended out timing out twice, failed to upload & he gave up - wasted about $10 in total for nothing (didn't bother with requesting a refund ... could've and should have).

 

Plan B, they had Sprint & enabled international services, made cellular calls onboard for 20 cents a minute and their "slow" 2G/Edge data speed associated with international roaming worked just fine - survived the rest of the cruise with it (also at GSC as its coverage now !! plus Nassau with BTC being the carrier).

 

For us, we spend big on our internet coverage via cellular by Project Fi (Google) and with 2 devices, our next billing would be about $5 USD extra, that's about it - for about 450 MB worth of 3G, sometimes, it dropped to 2G/Edge - much faster & low latency compared to ship's since it was cellular. Very happy with this, just like last year on Bermuda with DigiCel on the island ... was expected the promised 4G speed, not LTE, it could be a matter of definitions & standards. Uploads & downloads were pretty good - and, given how little this extra costs were - can't really "moan" about it at all.

 

Calling (outgoing) from the Stateroom is $4.99 a minute, inbound call is at higher rates (last check @$7.99 a minute). iConcierge App has a built-in Dialer App for VoIP calls, outgoing is 79 cents a minute, but, I strongly caution relying on that if it is for emergencies or urgent and important business matters as it might or might not get thru, they could possibly not hear your end of the conversation.

 

If you travel with a cellular or smartphone, check with your provider/plan about voice calling rates - do not confuse it with using data (as those are always more expensive) - for those ICE (In Case of Emergencies situations) at sea and/or at foreign ports.

 

 

... to be continued, next part on some of the fine prints on iConcierge & calling with the App - instructions as shown, while being connected on the Gem.

 

Dexddd, thanks for the heads up & you're spot on.

[mking8288]

To those that never used the NCL App, must download & install it first from Apple, Google or Windows Store. One onboard, turn on Airplane mode, turn on WiFi, and look for the NCL GEM 's SSID signal, 5 GHz band is better & less crowded. Have fun with the free features, as they do not need paid WiFi data or require log-in with your account info, once your device is registered.

 

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