Gem - Pros & Cons

[my3sonsnj]

Can someone that has been on the Gem recently review and confirm that I have accurate information on this spreadsheet?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IwhHuxFGVf8GRxIe1V30Bj0elmkPLRuQUxOpmI8LiFE/edit?usp=sharing

 

Thanks so much!!!

[HuliHuli]

I was just on the Gem for the first time earlier this month.

Pros:

- Fantastic live music every day in various areas of the ship

 

Cons:

- Specialty restaurants were all booked up by the end of the first day

 

Could someone comment on the types of live music that are played, e.g., steel pan, cello quartet, etc?

If the Specialty Dining is booked, are walk-ups still possible?

[JamieLogical]

Could someone comment on the types of live music that are played, e.g., steel pan, cello quartet, etc?

If the Specialty Dining is booked, are walk-ups still possible?

 

I would NOT attempt to walk-up to specialty dining. I would HIGHLY recommend booking on the first day on board if you don't pre-book through My NCL.

 

As for live music, the ones we liked were a french woman who sang and was accompanied by a guitar and upright base player... believe they were called Sunset Trio? Then there was a band composed of a female and male singer and a couple of guys playing various instruments that did a pure Beatles tribute concert and then a lot of other pop/rock covers at their other performances. There was also a pianist who did a lot of Frank Sinatra-style music.

[HuliHuli]

As for live music, the ones we liked were a french woman who sang and was accompanied by a guitar and upright base player... believe they were called Sunset Trio? Then there was a band composed of a female and male singer and a couple of guys playing various instruments that did a pure Beatles tribute concert and then a lot of other pop/rock covers at their other performances. There was also a pianist who did a lot of Frank Sinatra-style music.

 

Thanks Jamie - so nothing particularly Caribbean in genre. Booked Specialty Dining today. :D

[JamieLogical]

Thanks Jamie - so nothing particularly Caribbean in genre. Booked Specialty Dining today. :D

 

 

Well, to be fair, we were on a Canada & New England cruise....

[luvbeaches5]

I think the challenge on my specific sailing was that we were doing Canada & New England the first week of June and some days were VERY cold (like 40 degrees). So when the only food available was outside at the Great Outdoors or Topsiders, it was miserable.

 

I've been on the Gem seven times and in my experience, O'Sheehans has only closed from 11:00 am to 11:30 am for cleaning and transitioning from breakfast to lunch service. I will be on her again in March and I am hoping that this will still be the case.

[luvbeaches5]

Also, there is always a small section of the buffet that is open throughout the day on the Gem.

[lenquixote66]

We were on the Gem in 2013 and 2016 and may go back in 2019.

[JamieLogical]

Also, there is always a small section of the buffet that is open throughout the day on the Gem.

 

 

That was not true on our sailing in June. The indoor buffet was closed for some period of time between meals and the only food was available outside at The Great Outdoors or Topsiders, which I am sure is fine on southerly cruises, but wasn't great when it was 40 degrees out as we sailed to Canada.

[Ottawa_Cruiser]

That was not true on our sailing in June. The indoor buffet was closed for some period of time between meals and the only food was available outside at The Great Outdoors or Topsiders, which I am sure is fine on southerly cruises, but wasn't great when it was 40 degrees out as we sailed to Canada.

 

Also not true on our late July sailing. The buffet definitely closed at about 2:30 and again at about 9:30. Then either Great Outdoors or Topsiders was open.

[amydandrea]

We love the Gem and have cruised in March. We LOVE the crew, they are fantastic. the ship is very manageable, although I do agree it is kind of chopped up in terms of getting from deck to deck. We LOVE the spa, I've done mega ships and loved those spas as well, but Gem is very comfortable. Had an OV , deck 5, have had deck 8 as well OV, and balcony before as well as one interior, all on the Gem. I prefer balcony, but for the price I can't refuse the OV sometimes! Service in Cagney's is excellent as well as Le Bistro. Don't love Cucina, but it is less crowded than main dining so we visit once per trip. Pools are what you would expect, nice but small, so we sit one deck up for sun, and come down to cool off. Shows were excellent this past trip, comedy was good. Bars are always busy at night but never had a problem getting a drink, and the atmosphere was fun. Casino is very small but I spent only a little time in there this go around. Have fun!

[jcCruiserNYC]

I will be on the Gem in November. I like cool/cold weather, so I think I will enjoy this cruise better than my last one, in June, on the Escape (the sea days were fine, although a bit rainy and the water was rough; it was miserably hot and humid in Bermuda.) Looooove the stunning ship though.

 

From what I've read on the NCL site, it seems there are more (and more varied) complimentary dining venues on the Gem (than the Escape), which is a great thing (I love to eat. ;) )

 

Since I don't like gambling, and I don't drink, a lot of the regular "adult" activities and venues are moot for me (although I am an adult.) What I particularly love on the Escape were the Rope Course and the water slide. What are similar types of activity on the Gem? And is there any requirement for engaging in such activities?

[mjkacmom]

I will be on the Gem in November. I like cool/cold weather, so I think I will enjoy this cruise better than my last one, in June, on the Escape (the sea days were fine, although a bit rainy and the water was rough; it was miserably hot and humid in Bermuda.) Looooove the stunning ship though.

 

From what I've read on the NCL site, it seems there are more (and more varied) complimentary dining venues on the Gem (than the Escape), which is a great thing (I love to eat. ;) )

 

Since I don't like gambling, and I don't drink, a lot of the regular "adult" activities and venues are moot for me (although I am an adult.) What I particularly love on the Escape were the Rope Course and the water slide. What are similar types of activity on the Gem? And is there any requirement for engaging in such activities?

Get the spa pass. There will be tons of kids from NJ on that sailing due to the teachers convention. The additional free food would be at the the Great Outdoors all day, and the pool deck bbq’s on sea days and sail away. The Gem is my favorite ship, and I’ve been on the Breakaway. Spinnakers is also a great place to relax when there isn’t anything scheduled there.

[callmebetty]

I will be on the Gem in November. I like cool/cold weather, so I think I will enjoy this cruise better than my last one, in June, on the Escape (the sea days were fine, although a bit rainy and the water was rough; it was miserably hot and humid in Bermuda.) Looooove the stunning ship though.

 

From what I've read on the NCL site, it seems there are more (and more varied) complimentary dining venues on the Gem (than the Escape), which is a great thing (I love to eat. ;) )

 

Since I don't like gambling, and I don't drink, a lot of the regular "adult" activities and venues are moot for me (although I am an adult.) What I particularly love on the Escape were the Rope Course and the water slide. What are similar types of activity on the Gem? And is there any requirement for engaging in such activities?

There is not ropes course, but there is a rock wall (if memory serves me correctly, I should remember after 3 gem trips, but...). The open hours are listed in the dailies. The waterslides aren't as passable as the breakaway, some of my friends had to scoot down the slide. The Gem continues to be our favorite ship because of the size and crew.

 

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