Sorta Live From the Gem - The good and the bad

[zqvol]

We boarded last Friday in Boston after having flown up from NC on Thursday. We left 95+ degree temps and landed in 52-degree weather. It has been cool to cold the whole voyage, with today, as we cruise the Gulf of St. Lawrence being the coldest. I don’t think it got out of the 40’s today.

The first two days, in Bar Harbor and Halifax were sunny. Charlottetown and Sydney were mostly cloudy and windy. Today as we were at sea was sunny, windy and very brisk on deck.

The good, the bad and the ugly so far.

 

Embarkation was easy, much easier than an NCL cruise that I have been on which includes Miami and New Orleans and Tampa. No boarding group numbers as you check in, they direct you to chairs, in order of arrival, and they board the ship that way. First day lunch had three venues open, one of the main dining rooms, O’Sheens, and the buffet.

Our excursion have been through NCL (I know). The excursion themselves have been good, but long. We had three back to back to back excursion that were each over 7 hours. That is a lot of bus time. It would not have been so bad if people had been on time, and not asked for special privileges like extra stops for pictures. I blame this on NCL as some of the crew encourage this to happen and were part of the delay.

 

We have tendered twice. The waits have not been too bad, and they haven’t packed the tenders too full.

 

We missed our M&G because it was scheduled on a port day when most of us were ashore.  

 

The ship is in good shape though a nice sand blasting and repainting outside is in order. I haven’t noticed any repair issues inside the ship, but if you know what you are looking for you can tell that it has been a while since carpets were changed.

 

We have had some issues with our room steward, the details of which are unimportant but NCL seems to have jumped right on it and resolved the issues. Nothing big, but just a series of little things that keep adding up. Time will tell if the issues are resolved. The officers and supervisors have done there best to resolve the few issues that we have had, and really that is all you can ask.

 

Food in Cagney’s and Moderno was nice, and the pacing of the meals was perfect. I’m not sure where the people who complain about Cagney’s have been eating but it is not the same place we dined. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about La Bistro. Bad food and bad service.

 

Tomorrow we have another seven-hour excursion, but it is on a boat, so we won’t be stuck in bus seats.

 

Some random notes. The NFL was on Sunday and Monday nights.

 

The Internet is slow but bearable, just barely. I could not connect for my two online classes, but email, and most web sites including CC are working OK. I can easily upload pictures to Facebook using my phone, but it is next to impossible using the laptop.

 

I will try to get back and answer any questions.

 

The cruise ends in Quebec City Friday, well it does for most people, we stay on for the return to Boston.

 

Edited October 10, 2019 by zqvol
add paragraphs

[cliffd64]

Hope you've enjoyed it overall...  🙂

 

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for taking the time to post your comments.

 

[newmexicoNita]

10 hours ago, zqvol said:

We boarded last Friday in Boston after having flown up from NC on Thursday. We left 95+ degree temps and landed in 52-degree weather. It has been cool to cold the whole voyage, with today, as we cruise the Gulf of St. Lawrence being the coldest. I don’t think it got out of the 40’s today.

The first two days, in Bar Harbor and Halifax were sunny. Charlottetown and Sydney were mostly cloudy and windy. Today as we were at sea was sunny, windy and very brisk on deck.

The good, the bad and the ugly so far.

 

Embarkation was easy, much easier than an NCL cruise that I have been on which includes Miami and New Orleans and Tampa. No boarding group numbers as you check in, they direct you to chairs, in order of arrival, and they board the ship that way. First day lunch had three venues open, one of the main dining rooms, O’Sheens, and the buffet.

Our excursion have been through NCL (I know). The excursion themselves have been good, but long. We had three back to back to back excursion that were each over 7 hours. That is a lot of bus time. It would not have been so bad if people had been on time, and not asked for special privileges like extra stops for pictures. I blame this on NCL as some of the crew encourage this to happen and were part of the delay.

 

We have tendered twice. The waits have not been too bad, and they haven’t packed the tenders too full.

 

We missed our M&G because it was scheduled on a port day when most of us were ashore.  

 

The ship is in good shape though a nice sand blasting and repainting outside is in order. I haven’t noticed any repair issues inside the ship, but if you know what you are looking for you can tell that it has been a while since carpets were changed.

 

We have had some issues with our room steward, the details of which are unimportant but NCL seems to have jumped right on it and resolved the issues. Nothing big, but just a series of little things that keep adding up. Time will tell if the issues are resolved. The officers and supervisors have done there best to resolve the few issues that we have had, and really that is all you can ask.

 

Food in Cagney’s and Moderno was nice, and the pacing of the meals was perfect. I’m not sure where the people who complain about Cagney’s have been eating but it is not the same place we dined. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about La Bistro. Bad food and bad service.

 

Tomorrow we have another seven-hour excursion, but it is on a boat, so we won’t be stuck in bus seats.

 

Some random notes. The NFL was on Sunday and Monday nights.

 

The Internet is slow but bearable, just barely. I could not connect for my two online classes, but email, and most web sites including CC are working OK. I can easily upload pictures to Facebook using my phone, but it is next to impossible using the laptop.

 

I will try to get back and answer any questions.

 

The cruise ends in Quebec City Friday, well it does for most people, we stay on for the return to Boston.

 

Yes the weather this time of the year can be very iffy heading up the NE coast and I feel your pain with the long excursions. The last time we did a similar itinerary we did it with Princess and the same story you are telling: very enjoyable but very long We were dang tired when the cruise ended. that being said, I would do it again in a heart beat.

Glad to hear the food and service has been good in both of the restaurants. 

 

[cementhands]

17 hours ago, zqvol said:

We boarded last Friday in Boston after having flown up from NC on Thursday. We left 95+ degree temps and landed in 52-degree weather. It has been cool to cold the whole voyage, with today, as we cruise the Gulf of St. Lawrence being the coldest. I don’t think it got out of the 40’s today.

The first two days, in Bar Harbor and Halifax were sunny. Charlottetown and Sydney were mostly cloudy and windy. Today as we were at sea was sunny, windy and very brisk on deck.

The good, the bad and the ugly so far.

 

Embarkation was easy, much easier than an NCL cruise that I have been on which includes Miami and New Orleans and Tampa. No boarding group numbers as you check in, they direct you to chairs, in order of arrival, and they board the ship that way. First day lunch had three venues open, one of the main dining rooms, O’Sheens, and the buffet.

Our excursion have been through NCL (I know). The excursion themselves have been good, but long. We had three back to back to back excursion that were each over 7 hours. That is a lot of bus time. It would not have been so bad if people had been on time, and not asked for special privileges like extra stops for pictures. I blame this on NCL as some of the crew encourage this to happen and were part of the delay.

 

We have tendered twice. The waits have not been too bad, and they haven’t packed the tenders too full.

 

We missed our M&G because it was scheduled on a port day when most of us were ashore.  

 

The ship is in good shape though a nice sand blasting and repainting outside is in order. I haven’t noticed any repair issues inside the ship, but if you know what you are looking for you can tell that it has been a while since carpets were changed.

 

We have had some issues with our room steward, the details of which are unimportant but NCL seems to have jumped right on it and resolved the issues. Nothing big, but just a series of little things that keep adding up. Time will tell if the issues are resolved. The officers and supervisors have done there best to resolve the few issues that we have had, and really that is all you can ask.

 

Food in Cagney’s and Moderno was nice, and the pacing of the meals was perfect. I’m not sure where the people who complain about Cagney’s have been eating but it is not the same place we dined. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about La Bistro. Bad food and bad service.

 

Tomorrow we have another seven-hour excursion, but it is on a boat, so we won’t be stuck in bus seats.

 

Some random notes. The NFL was on Sunday and Monday nights.

 

The Internet is slow but bearable, just barely. I could not connect for my two online classes, but email, and most web sites including CC are working OK. I can easily upload pictures to Facebook using my phone, but it is next to impossible using the laptop.

 

I will try to get back and answer any questions.

 

The cruise ends in Quebec City Friday, well it does for most people, we stay on for the return to Boston.

 

Did they have Zumba or similar dancing activities?

My wife and I are cruising on the Gem later this month and she can’t go 2 weeks without Zumba.

Are the activities fun?

Any theme parties?

Thanks.

[saretaj]

Go see Sherwin at Spinnakers!  He's the best!

[zqvol]

Very interesting turnaround day.

 

B2B passengers did not have to leave the ship. New key cards were issued yesterday if you were in the same cabin or this morning if you switched cabins. We got lovely "I'm Still on Vacation" stickers to wear around the ship. We were told to take passports ashore.

 

I managed to lose mine. Thank goodness I travel with a PP card too, now I just have the pain of replacing it when we get home. The consulate is right in Old Town Quebec, and it only took a few minutes to file the report., then I had to do it on line. At least it didn't happen in Europe. Oh, and BTW if you have a PP card they can look up all the info that is in you book.

 

Or steward forgot to leave shore excursion tickets, OBC forms or any of that other good stuff when the cabin  was made up this morning. After running into the supervisor and letting him look in the cabin the stuff appeared with in 90 seconds.

 

I'll try to remember to scan and post the B2B letter when we get home.

[zqvol]

On 10/10/2019 at 2:29 PM, cementhands said:

Did they have Zumba or similar dancing activities?

My wife and I are cruising on the Gem later this month and she can’t go 2 weeks without Zumba.

Are the activities fun?

Any theme parties?

Thanks.

 

I have all of last week's Freestyle Daily's. I'll try to look up the answer about Zumba later. We spent so much time off th ship that activites and theme parties were low on our list of things. I do not recall any theme parties, but considering the average age on the ship was over 70 I'm mnot surprised.

 

It was a very port intensive week. We took four 8 hour excursions. Most of the time it was too cold to be on the decks. Very much like late September AK cruise as far as temperature and like a Med cruise as far as port intensity.

[mking8288]

Thanks for posting.  Whew, those PP cards do come in handy ... you are sure about losing it & not getting pickpocketed ?  Were they checking for them while going ashore and/or upon returning to the ship.  Thankfully, it's a Friday & you found your way to the US Embassy.  

 

Are they serving the same old MDR Menu daily, every day for lunch - when we're on longer sailings, the chef managed to come up with a daily specials ... DW was just commenting about the lack of options for lunch, especially on sea days ... our next cruise is going to be on her. 

[cementhands]

1 hour ago, zqvol said:

 

I have all of last week's Freestyle Daily's. I'll try to look up the answer about Zumba later. We spent so much time off th ship that activites and theme parties were low on our list of things. I do not recall any theme parties, but considering the average age on the ship was over 70 I'm mnot surprised.

 

It was a very port intensive week. We took four 8 hour excursions. Most of the time it was too cold to be on the decks. Very much like late September AK cruise as far as temperature and like a Med cruise as far as port intensity.

Many thanks for your posting. We’ve enjoyed Alaska and Europe transatlantic just a little concerned about activities for my wife.

She loves dancing and Zumba. We chose the Gem because Luz was the cruise director but recently transferred to the Sky I believe. She was fantastic and tons of activities. Hopefully new CD has a great activities staff.

Enjoy your cruise. Try Moosehead beer in the Canadian maritime and the poutine French fries. They’re great together.

[Barb Nahoumi]

We have friends on this cruise as we speak.  They are also doing a back 2 back.

 

My husband and I have been on the Gem, Boston to Bermuda.  Hopefully, we'll be doing that cruise again soon.

[Gershep]

Thanks for posting your review.