Gem review - very good and really bad!

[beachchick]

danceman: I have no intention of diminishing your experience or opinions, just thinking that it might be a tad different from those who've only taken cruises as vacations. Sounds as if your experiences on the premium lines have mostly been as "working" vacations?

 

Like you, we enjoy the Radiance class ships, although we prefer the open Solariums on the Voyager class. We find the Radiance class Solariums to be too ornate and fussy, but that's just a matter of taste. We can't fault the overall appeal of them at all. And the Radiance class ships in general are among our favorites, partly for exactly the reasons you mention. We've also had very good service, food, and drinks, and decent entertainment on RCI. (We found NCL's shows to be the worst we've ever attended while cruising; we never even made through a full show. OTOH, we're life-long musicians and performers by avocation, from musical/artistic families, and admit to being very particular and picky in that area.) RCI is our favorite cruise line (so far). We also can't afford Crystal or other premium lines, but would love to get the chance to try them some day.

 

Anyway, I do dispute this:

 

Worst service....Pride of Hawii but everyone knows about that!

 

No, not "everyone" knows that! We were on PoH and had service comparable to other mass market lines, including RCI. The crew members were very hard working, pleasant, and trying to be a professional as possible. (With a few exceptions, of course, just like on most mass market ships.) We had a very positive experience on PoH. It is a shame that you did not.

 

I hope your next cruise is more to your tastes and preferences. I highly recommend that you not book it during summer or any school vacation/holiday periods. Unless you're on a long cruise or ship that doesn't offer much for kids, you will have kids "coming out of your ears" during peak family times. (That's a primary reason we don't cruise during the summer and vacation/holiday times--We've raised our DD and prefer to cruise when fewer kids are likely to be onboard. We also think cruising can be an excellent family vacation.) We do agree that there is no excuse for out of control kids onboard; OTOH, we think there's no excuse for out of control adults either. You should also consider the itinerary. If you don't want to cruise with a bunch of fill-in-the-blank, then don't book a cruise from that country's home port(s).

 

beachchick

[beachchick]

Sorry, tried to edit this in, but missed the time window.

 

As an FYI, we were in a Courtyard Villa, but that was before the days of color-coded ship cards. Everyone onboard had a plain white card. There was no way for general crew members to know what category of cabin we had unless they had to look at our card or look us up on the computer. Of course, we received incredible treatment from the concierge, butler, other Courtyard/Suite crew, and officers, as well as anyone who looked at our suite number (such as the woman who checked us in). That was a given. What pleased us was that the majority of the crew treated us well without knowing whether we were in the lowest category of inside cabin or the Garden Villa.

 

Here's an example of a general crew experience: We were about to leave Maui, so I walked out onto the outside area of deck 7 to watch them pull up the gangway and whatnot. A lovely young woman was out on deck cleaning the railings and other things. She smiled and said hello, then asked if there was anything she could do for me. I said no, but thanked her for asking. Then I leaned over to watch. She stopped for a minute and tentatively asked if I enjoyed watching the ship being made ready to get underway. I smiled and told her that I always find it kind of exciting. She relaxed and said that she always tried to be out on deck working during sailaways because she enjoyed it too. I asked her if she couldn't take a break for a few minutes to talk with me while we watched the ship get underway. She was so happy to have a passenger take an interest; we talked for about 10 minutes about travel, working on a ship, and general chit-chat. Then she said she'd better get back to work because the captain and her own managers expected the ship to be "ship shape" at all times. Off she went, smiling and working as hard as could be. That's just one of many examples of casual interaction with crew members. I swear, there always seemed to be at least 200 crew members just going around the ship making sure it was sparkling clean.

 

It's true that here were a few servers and others who shouldn't have been working on a ship--I think they had what I call "The Love Boat Syndrome," having been only exposed to the fantasy, not the reality. When they got the reality, they became disenchanted and it showed in their service and overall attitude. The American crew was slightly more "relaxed" and casual than the international crews. They were generally not as "subservient" as many of the international crew members tend to be, but they were not surly or unprofessional.

 

In any case, I don't think it's true at all that "everyone" knows PoH was so horrid. (And there are many good reviews of PoAm as well.)

 

beachchick

[kdee69]

I really hate this constant kid flaming.

Can you imagine if someone complained with the same consistency about obese people or old people or foreign people. There'd be uproar in a second!

 

Kids per se are not the problem, badly behaved children can be...as can badly behaved adults

[newmexicoNita]

I really hate this constant kid flaming.

Can you imagine if someone complained with the same consistency about obese people or old people or foreign people. There'd be uproar in a second!

 

Kids per se are not the problem, badly behaved children can be...as can badly behaved adults

so true...WE have rarely seen kids on cuises cause problems. Yes, we have cruised during vacation times when our granddaughters were younger and still in school. Yes, the ships were filled with kids and some I could have strangled, but mostly they were just having fun and not causing any problems. Our biggest problem with little ones was on NCL Sky (long ago) when the ship was filled with kids from Puerto Rico and So America. The parents saw nothing wrong with kids being in the casinos and at late night shows. We did see the crew ask them to leave, but within no time the parents returned with them. We had a similar experience on Celebrity during Thanksgiving week one year. Again, it was just a handful of kids.

Nita

[Jackielan]

Danceman - its not worth it - you dont have to justify your review, your life, or anything. The NCL groupies here obviously are above us when it comes to criticism - I will see you on the P & O side of the boards - keep the humor coming - laughter is the best medicine in life (apart from Bacardi Mojitos)

 

I cant wait for my next cruise on Ventura - Im anticipating 800 kids on board, I will be the mad mum hanging out around the life boats looking for some peace and quiet - now pick away at this paragraph at your leisure.

 

Jackielan out

[newmexicoNita]

Danceman - its not worth it - you dont have to justify your review, your life, or anything. The NCL groupies here obviously are above us when it comes to criticism - I will see you on the P & O side of the boards - keep the humor coming - laughter is the best medicine in life (apart from Bacardi Mojitos)

 

I cant wait for my next cruise on Ventura - Im anticipating 800 kids on board, I will be the mad mum hanging out around the life boats looking for some peace and quiet - now pick away at this paragraph at your leisure.

 

Jackielan out

you think NCL cheerleaders are bad, try criticizing Celebrity or Princess???!!!

[DocJohnB]

you think NCL cheerleaders are bad, try criticizing Celebrity or Princess???!!!

 

Nita,

 

Oh lordy, only one day and here I go again.

 

Nope it is definitely the NCL cheerleaders who are emulated.

[newmexicoNita]

Nita,

 

Oh lordy, only one day and here I go again.

 

Nope it is definitely the NCL cheerleaders who are emulated.

I don't think so, but again we disagree which we usual do. We can still be friends....LOL

[Gull]

We just got back Monday night from the 8/17 Gem cruise. (We had an extra week traveling.) I have to admit I was giggling reading Danceman's observations.

 

Since this was our first NCL cruise, but our fifth cruise, I wanted to post some of our observations as well. I'll do this as a separate thread since it will probably be on the longer side.

 

We were an extended family, multi-generational and multi-national group of 7 that traveled together. It was really interesting to hear feedback at the end of our cruise. I'm going to admit it - we really enjoyed this cruise. The only BIG negative is that we are 100% exhausted.

 

I'll write more this evening.

Gull

[coka]

Very refreshing and to the point, coka!! Love ya!

 

P.S. on Pearl we took your advice and had wine #660 that you recommended - Benzinger Merlot - and it was great that we had it again twice more times!

 

My local island store now sells it!

coka

[mbisson]

Once I started to ignore the comments that seem (at least to me) to be racist, I liked the review

[Zeno]

Once I started to ignore the comments that seem (at least to me) to be racist, I liked the review

 

I almost felt the same way except I always have a hard time when chauvinism and anglo-saxon snottiness are trying to "pass" disguised as "humor". Unfortunately it left a bad taste in my mouth and I ended up putting the review in my mental "don't respect this opinion" pile. Too bad -with a little less chauvinism, it could have been a really clever review. I did like the irony of someone travelling with 3 kids of their own complaining about the amount of kids on the ship - now that WAS actually funny.

[danceman]

No, im not just used to the premium lines and i do take my kids on most cruises with me. Ive been on the Norwegian Dream a number of times and its never seemed crowded, nor did the Norwegian Sea or even the Pride of Hawaii or Superstar Gemini for that matter.

 

Lets remember, i did like a lot about the Gem and i would sail on her again with a different itinerary and time of year ....would probably be great in Alaska as no one would be by the pool....mind you, the buffet would still be crowded!

 

I have been on a British orientated ship that i didnt care for much...one of the Thomsons ones...er, think it was the Sunbird....seemed like a lot of knotted hankies on heads and tattooed flesh around the pool....does that make me racist against tattoos?...it was crowded too!

 

....and ive just thought....i also didnt like the cheesy selling of Bingo tickets in the Gem's theatre while we waited for the curtain to go up .....does that make me a bingo racist or a bingo ticket seller racist?

[*Wink*]

Danceman ~ I didn't think you were being racist. I think Brit humour and American humor are different. Just ask people who love Monty Python and those who don't get it. My DH could watch that show 24 hours a day if he could.

 

LOL @ Bingo Racist. I happened to win $90 on our last cruise in Bingo, but I know what you mean.

[DocJohnB]

I almost felt the same way except I always have a hard time when chauvinism and anglo-saxon snottiness are trying to "pass" disguised as "humor".

 

And just how does that bit of descriptive writing make you any different that that of which you are complaining.

[excitedofharpenden]

 

Nope it is definitely the NCL cheerleaders who are emulated.

DocJohnB, I don't think it's a case of emulating, but there's far more of it here than on the Celebrity boards (maybe partly because of this sticky thread). There always seems to be a need to defend any negatives on the NCL board by a relatively small group of posters, to the point where it becomes personal.

 

I read a book by British golfer Colin Montgomerie once who was given a pretty bad rap by the US spectators, especially at one particular Ryder Cup. Looking back he concluded that his grumpy behaviour didn't make it any better. The more irritable he was the more the crowd goaded him. Mmmmm. I wonder?

 

Phil

[newmexicoNita]

DocJohnB, I don't think it's a case of emulating, but there's far more of it here than on the Celebrity boards (maybe partly because of this sticky thread). There always seems to be a need to defend any negatives on the NCL board by a relatively small group of posters, to the point where it becomes personal.

 

I read a book by British golfer Colin Montgomerie once who was given a pretty bad rap by the US spectators, especially at one particular Ryder Cup. Looking back he concluded that his grumpy behaviour didn't make it any better. The more irritable he was the more the crowd goaded him. Mmmmm. I wonder?

 

Phil

And you don't see this on Celebrity and Princess? I could almost name them: there are a handful on all boards that defend their cruise line, I am one on here and am not ashamed of it.

 

Nita

[Mooder]

No

I have been on a British orientated ship that i didnt care for much...one of the Thomsons ones...er, think it was the Sunbird....seemed like a lot of knotted hankies on heads and tattooed flesh around the pool....does that make me racist against tattoos?...it was crowded too!

 

....and ive just thought....i also didnt like the cheesy selling of Bingo tickets in the Gem's theatre while we waited for the curtain to go up .....does that make me a bingo racist or a bingo ticket seller racist?

 

I appreciated that you included the positive and the negative. But I too was put off by the bigotry. You can dislike disrespectful men crowding you in the pool. You can criticize rude fellow-travelers and over crowding. But as soon as you feel the need to identify their national origin, you come off as bigoted. It just isn't necessary since, as you point out, you are annoyed by fellow travelers of all nationalities - as we all are if they are rude and inconsiderate.

[DocJohnB]

And you don't see this on Celebrity and Princess?

Nita

Nita,

 

Of course you do, but the key part of Phil's post is this:

 

but there's far more of it here than on the Celebrity boards

 

And, I agree.

[mbisson]

I appreciated that you included the positive and the negative. But I too was put off by the bigotry. You can dislike disrespectful men crowding you in the pool. You can criticize rude fellow-travelers and over crowding. But as soon as you feel the need to identify their national origin, you come off as bigoted. It just isn't necessary since, as you point out, you are annoyed by fellow travelers of all nationalities - as we all are if they are rude and inconsiderate.

 

Thanks bermuder. That's exactly what I meant in my earlier comment, but you explained it much better than I did! :D

[CruisinGerman]

Dear friends:

 

Today we are in Civitavecchia. Unlike when the ship is travelling with a majority of Americans (who almost all go to see Rome because they've travelled so far to take this cruise), today very few people went into Rome since the ship is populated mainly by Spanish families with their children, who are approaching this week basically as a beach and pool vacation on the ship, and not as a European sightseeing vacation.

 

Both on the sea day and today, although the pool and deck areas are obviously crowded because the ship is full and the weather is sunny and beautiful, there are available deck chairs to be had even in key positions -- the double beds on the top deck above the pool are extremely pleasant today. There are loads of kids around the waterslide, but they are well-behaved and, in general, there is a very upbeat feeling to the day and to the cruise on a whole with everybody seeming to have a good time.

 

Please feel free to ask any questions.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

[newmexicoNita]

Nita,

 

Of course you do, but the key part of Phil's post is this:

 

 

 

And, I agree.

ok, gotcha!!!!

[Mooder]

Dear friends:

 

Today we are in Civitavecchia. Unlike when the ship is travelling with a majority of Americans (who almost all go to see Rome because they've travelled so far to take this cruise), today very few people went into Rome since the ship is populated mainly by Spanish families with their children, who are approaching this week basically as a beach and pool vacation on the ship, and not as a European sightseeing vacation.

 

Both on the sea day and today, although the pool and deck areas are obviously crowded because the ship is full and the weather is sunny and beautiful, there are available deck chairs to be had even in key positions -- the double beds on the top deck above the pool are extremely pleasant today. There are loads of kids around the waterslide, but they are well-behaved and, in general, there is a very upbeat feeling to the day and to the cruise on a whole with everybody seeming to have a good time.

 

Please feel free to ask any questions.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

 

Very interesting about the difference in sightseeing. Great to hear things are going so well. I loooooooooove the Gem! One question: why didn't you take me with you? I want to be there right now!!! :D

[Zeno]

And just how does that bit of descriptive writing make you any different that that of which you are complaining.

 

 

Good Point - I could have said it better - since my intent was not to attribute

"snottiness' specifically to anglo-saxons but rather to atrribute it to a "I am superior because I am anglo-saxon" point of view that I felt was being demonstrated. The same would apply if the point of view was "I am superior because I am French or Spanish or whatever" - it's the nationalistic chauvinism (other cultures are inferior to "mine" whatever "mine" may be) that I have a problem with.

[Zeno]

I appreciated that you included the positive and the negative. But I too was put off by the bigotry. You can dislike disrespectful men crowding you in the pool. You can criticize rude fellow-travelers and over crowding. But as soon as you feel the need to identify their national origin, you come off as bigoted. It just isn't necessary since, as you point out, you are annoyed by fellow travelers of all nationalities - as we all are if they are rude and inconsiderate.

 

Beautifully put! And obviously clearer than I put it.