"LIVE" from Norwegian GEM / March 7, 2009

[darkenstormy]

Hello everyone. . . It looks like the forecast is very accurate. Today is a sunny bright day, and the temps should rise to about 65f.

 

The Gem is now docked. It appears that she docked at about 945, so I am in no rush to get to the pier. I went across the street for a great cup of Starbucks this morning, and I will probably head over to the port by around 11AM.

 

I have cruised from New York a few times, and it appears that traffic heading to the pier is heavier on weekends, than it is during the week (at around 11-12)

 

I should hopefully be able to post a few pics before sail away.

 

Here are a few pics from the NCL Gem Bridge Cam, and from a cam across the street from the pier. (These cams are a little out of focus)

 

There is another Webcam at the Intrepid Museum at Pier 86 HERE

 

Thanks for tuning in. . .

 

Radio

 

Awesome post! Keep 'em comin'!

 

I'm on the TA NYC to Barcelona in April!

[tamtot]

So excited we get to cruise along with you again! Thanks for doing what you do, Radio!

[family4]

You are awesome!!! for writing a live report. We all 16 of us are leaving on 4/3/09 and can't wait. If you have the chance take some pics of the kids club areas. And the pool area, Let us know when you wake up tomorrow if the weather is warm, that is what I can't wait for... Warm weather....

 

Thanks again!!!

[cruzmom2]

We also can't wait. Any info on the specialty restaurants would be great!

Only two more weeks til we sail!

[Soon2Bmtnest]

Do you have any shore excursions planned?

[JEDIKNIGHT]

Radio thank you so much for taking the time to do LIVE reports. I've enjoyed many of them from you.

 

I'm going on the Gem in a few weeks and I'm scared due to reviews I've read here.

 

I'm really hoping you have a great cruise and quality experience!

 

Hope to read more from you soon.

 

Have a safe trip.

[Radio]

Hello everyone ! I made it on board. . . I left the hotel just a little before noon, and it took be about 15min to make it to the Lincoln Tunnel.

 

From there it should have only taken about 5-10 min to get to the pier, but I made a wrong turn when I came out of the tunnel, and I made out to the pier by around 12:45.

 

There was a lot of traffic at the pier. It was hard to believe that there were still hundreds of passengers waiting for cabs at 1PM.

Check in was no problem (Once I got in the Terminal) It was painless. I didn’t have much of a line, and I made it on board at around 115.

 

 

The décor of the ship is breathtaking. This ship is very beautiful ! There is a lot for me to do and see on this ship. . . and I hope that 7 nights will be enough.

We had the Muster drill at 330, and Sailaway is scheduled at 4PM. My connection seems to be very, very slow currently, so hopefully the pics will be posted.(It took quite awhile for me to upload them to my server)

 

The Internet Mgr has suggested that the connection speed always picks up after we are underway.

 

 

We will be passing Ellis Island National Monument, the Statue of Liberty, and Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The Captain said that we should drop off the Pilot by about 6PM, and then sail south.

 

I will have many pics to post later tonight. Thanks for tuning in !

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

Approaching the Lincoln Tunnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of New York’s Finest !

 

 

 

 

 

 

My first glimpse of Norwegian Gem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gem from the parking deck on Pier 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lost of passengers in the Terminal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This should be a great week !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[mickeysgal]

Is it just me? I can't see the pictures.

[TVLady3]

Is it just me? I can't see the pictures.

 

ME EITHER!:confused:

[Radio]

Sorry all. . here are the pics. . .

 

 

Ooops !

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

Approaching the Lincoln Tunnel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of New York’s Finest !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My first glimpse of Norwegian Gem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gem from the parking deck on Pier 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of passengers in the Terminal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This should be a great week !

 

 

 

 

.

[jaja]

radio...

just a note....the senior staff is very accomodating and anxious to please...(I had a minor problem (with bar set up delivery) and they went way out of there way to fix it!)

also..we had a meet and greet..and they did express desire to know what is good and bad...(of course we went last year-1st year and they told us to help them with the "shake out" of being new)

and they are well aware of cruise critic....as I remember.....;)

 

jaja

[mickeysgal]

Beautiful! Thank you! Love the last picture of the pool deck against that New York skyline.

 

Have a great time.

[cruizinwithkids]

It's going to be so fun to study the pictures to see if I can find my husband and son. It was beautiful weather as I dropped them off this afternoon.

 

I hope everyone on board enjoys.

[TVLady3]

Radio, pictures are great! Looking forward to the next ones. Have a great cruise!:)

[CruisnGram]

It's going to be so fun to study the pictures to see if I can find my husband and son. It was beautiful weather as I dropped them off this afternoon.

 

I hope everyone on board enjoys.

 

Wow, how depressed are you.....really? LOL Why aren't you with them?

 

CG

[cruizinwithkids]

Wow, how depressed are you.....really? LOL Why aren't you with them?

 

CG

 

I may end up missing them but right now I love my alone time. (Does anyone want my 17 year old daughter? LOL) The really funny part is how LITTLE my husband knows about cruising and NCL. He was asking me questions about tipping and other stupid things. If he has a problem and goes to reception they'll be scratching their heads as to how a Platinum latitudes member can know nothing about cruising. I am the planner. DH tells me I have control issues.:rolleyes:

 

I will be sailing with my daughter and her friend in April on the Dawn.:)

[Veronica Beaverhausen]

Hi Radio! I hope you will enjoy your cruise! Could you please let me know if the laundry rooms are still open as of your sailing? I will be leaving in 2 weeks and would rather pack light and do laundry mid-way. Thanks so much! Bon Voyage!:)

[Kwynot]

Wow Radio - have a wonderful trip. We were on her back in December & I was not disappointed. You also had wonderful weather for the start of your trip (we were just commenting on how the last time we were in weather this warm was on our trip on the GEM!!!)

 

I'll look forward to your posts as the week goes on. Hope you get to hang w/ the Giants players too:rolleyes:

[CruisnGram]

I will be sailing with my daughter and her friend in April on the Dawn.:)

 

Okay, so this is really neat. A dad/son cruise and a mom/daughter cruise. :)

 

CG

[biker@sea]

I'm not sure about mermaid etiquette but can you take Robbie's picture??

[mississauga]

Radio, thanks for taking the time to do a "Live" during your vacation. Look forward to cruising along with you!

[Radio]

Hello everyone. . .We left today promptly at 4PM, and the weather turned very cold. The temps were almost 70f this afternoon, but shortly after we left it became very cloudy, and cold. . .but no rain !

 

We are heading south at about 19knts, and we will be passing the cost of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

The Captain suggested that we should be off the coast of Cape Hatteras, NC by 8AM tomorrow. The temperatures will be increasing as we head down to Cape Canaveral on Monday (where we should feel some much needed 80f temperatures.

 

I don’t have any NCL Shore Excursions planned, have a car eserved for a trip over to Kennedy Space Center. I may try to get down to Cocoa Beach for a little bit as well. We are scheduled to arrive in Port Canaveral by noon.

 

The Gem had a great sail away BBQ on Deck 13 at the Tahitian Pool, and I had a very good dinner at Blue Lagoon, on Deck 8. I have to sign up for the Players Club at the Casino, and the Welcome Aboard show begins at 915 with the CD, Ray Carr.

 

Here are a few pics from sail away. . . More pics tomorrow !

Thanks for tuning in. . .

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

Pulling away from Pier 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Intrepid at Pier 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statue of Liberty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BBQ ON Deck 12(MID) at the Tahitian Pool

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cagney’s Steak House on Deck 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promenade Deck on Deck 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[tinker]

We just disembarked today. This will be so very interesting to hear Radio's perspective.

 

On a scale of 1 to 10, I would have to give our experience a 6. The ship was totally overbooked with it being Canada's spring break and we were told there were 3000 passengers and 503 kids. As I type the numbers I have to say it almost felt like there were 3,503 on that ship. Maybe there was? ! lol Everyone's nerves seemed frazzled after a few days. The Garden Buffet was a nightmare with that many people meandering around. To make matters worse, we hit a cold snap and it was only in the 60s most of the week in Florida and the Bahamas.

 

On a brighter note, we loved our cabin, 11112 balcony on deck 11, the food was very good and a friendly crew. The officers were very visable and could be seen daily walking through out the ship.

 

So hoping you have better weather, more elbow room and friendlier passengers!!! Looking forward to a virtual week on the Gem.

[CruisnGram]

and we were told there were 3000 passengers and 503 kids. As I type the numbers I have to say it almost felt like there were 3,503 on that ship.

 

Sorry it was so crowded. That happens all the time on spring break cruises.

 

Glad you enjoyed the food and your cabin though.

 

 

CG

[Studebaker59]

Hi Radio! I hope you will enjoy your cruise! Could you please let me know if the laundry rooms are still open as of your sailing? I will be leaving in 2 weeks and would rather pack light and do laundry mid-way. Thanks so much! Bon Voyage!:)

 

The guest laundry room was closed after our Jan. 25 -Feb. 4, '09 Gem sailing.