Seas2mountains

Disembarkation was smooth and easy except for one person in port. We got off the ship a little before 8am and used the priority line. The concierge on the Gem, Leo, is a true professional and you will be lucky if he is in charge of anything on NCL as he was always available and engaged. He sometimes found us at dinner to follow-up. One person working to direct people in port tried to stop us from using the priority line and also tried stopping other Haven/Suite guests, too, but we insisted and he finally backed down and let us use it after showing our cards. We were in a taxi across from Pier 88 soon after and got to LGA about 9am as there was a lot of traffic. We were able to move our 2pm flight to one departing about 12 Noon. Overall, we had a fantastic cruise thanks to the wonderful crew working so hard. The Gem leadership impressed us as they did try to be visible and we know a great crew doesn’t exist if there aren’t great leaders involved. We think NCL is doing the right thing to eliminate the in-person muster drill as we found it did not add to understanding what to do in an emergency. Our next cruise is about two months away on the Escape with similar port stops but we are taking family with us. Honestly, we’d rather be on the Jewel in Alaska but family wanted beach related stops. Oh well. Thanks for coming along. It was fun to read comments.

Here are some final sunset photos from our last night and another treat photo.

NCL did a really nice job on our first cruise with the new military recognition. This was in our cabin when we embarked. We did not attend the military recognition reception but heard it was really nice and well attended.

Last dinner in Cagney’s. Delicious with excellent service as usual. Appetizers Oysters Rockefeller Shrimp Trio Entrees 5 ounce filet mignon with lobster tail Lamb with lobster tail Broccoli Mushrooms Onion Rings Spinach There were some issues connecting to Cruise Critic but not to other websites.

A funny situation. When we were docked in Tortola, we were walking on deck 7. I needed to use the restroom so I approached the nearest women’s restroom. A woman was standing outside the restroom and whispered and asked me not to enter. I asked why. She whispered that her husband was inside using the multi-stall restroom and I should use the handicapped restroom instead. I was intrigued as to why he was using the women’s restroom and asked her if the men’s restroom was being cleaned. He walked out and admitted that because they were late for an excursion, he was “too lazy” to walk down the hall to the available men’s restroom. So if you are feeling lazy or are in a hurry, grab the one you feel like using regardless of inconveniencing other guests.

Thank you so much! While I have not spoken to Paquito but did see him and did appreciate the cruise staff who did a great job with trivia and other events, here is a visual trivia photo of him for a bonus question. I’ll see if I can spot him tonight to say hello. What is the cruise position/role of the other person you asked about?

If you get to cruise on the Gem in the Haven/Suites and eat in Moderno/Cagney’s for breakfast/lunch or in Cagney’s in the evening for all, I can assure you will have fantastic service by all. The Host/Hostess during breakfast or lunch is Ernille who is the happiest and one of the kindest persons you will meet who has a contagious smile. Ernille works in Magenta for dinner. We observed as some guests tried to sneak in to seat themselves at preferred window tables and Ernille was so professional despite how rude a few guests could be. Next, Ivy is a strong leader who makes magic happen for so many guests as the maitre d’, She isn’t afraid to dive in to take guest orders during peak times and help to get tables ready quickly for the most demanding and picky guests. I do think NCL will benefit from continuing to promote her and I won’t be surprised when she is a future food and beverage manager. She is so engaging and you can see that she has a high level of emotional intelligence which is needed in this demanding position. The servers of Leah, Wayan and Nikhil tended to be our primary servers for breakfast and lunch and we are so blessed to be placed in their sections as they were accurate and efficient and they remembered our preferences. We did write vacation hero cards for all and did tip them, too. While we appreciate the great service and had some friendly conversations with other guests, many of these NCL crew deal with some real jerks as we unfortunately witnessed but were amazed and how the crew members remained professional and calm when a few guests were rude and demanding. Maybe the crews kindness and humility will make some realize they can take a deep breath and be kind in return. We can wish.

It’s a cold and rainy morning but the rain appears to be stopping as we make our way back to NYC for our final day and sea day. We tried sharing the shrimp toast at breakfast which was excellent. I think they ran out of the little super yummy hashbrowns as we had this substitute which was not as good. We went to the spa right after breakfast to enjoy the thermal pool and hot tub one more time before the crowds. The heated lounge chairs were available for us to use on all visits despite a few chair hogs who tried reserving them for an extended time period but fortunately this was minimal on this cruise compared to others with the thermal spa.

We alternated between listening to Nathaniel, the Gem show band and Sea Shakers. All restaurants and lounges were crowded even with two shows of a great singer in the theater. The guest who plays the saxophone was there again with the Sea Shakers and another talented guest helped with singing for one half set. Both were really great and added to the performance. We enjoyed some quiet time in the cabin finishing a movie we had started The movies are free in the Haven and Suites.

Last night, dinner was at Grand Pacific. French Onion soup - me Strawberry Spinach salad - hiusband Entree- Prime Rib with mashed potatoes, broccoli and corn - both of us We skipped dessert. My husband said it was the best salad he’s had on the cruise. The soup was good, too. The prime rib and sides were tasty. The roasted onions on the prime rib were delicious and a nice addition. The service at dinner was better than at lunch.

One other “new to us “ feature we noticed were appetizers being handed out in the Atrium on embarkation day. Tonight, a server was handing out appetizers again in the atrium. A nice touch.

Yes, that dining room is beautiful. I’m sorry I don’t know any prices for the lazy river.

Thank you! We have had some past disappointing snacks but it was before we knew what to expect and that we could ask for changes. Maybe they could provide a menu and checklist for the snacks? We do feel spoiled not only by the butler but all staff in restaurants and lounges.

I uploaded a bunch of photos which appeared to be there before clicking on “submit reply” but now I can’t see any. I may wait until we get back to add them but only if anyone wants to see them.

We did receive a refundable credit of $21.37 per person for the missed port of Bermuda. These was given as a cash refund at guest services.

Bliss Lounge photos Yes, there is an area with slot machines but am not sure if they are open when the casino is open?

Grand Pacific dining room photos. Very nice ambiance in here especially with the glass windows and aft view.

Spinnaker Lounge photos - these are all mostly comfortable. The only complaint is they put too many pillows on the sofas and most people tend to remove them or they are in the way. Photo of new carpet in staircase areas towards end. Photos don’t always load in the order that I select.

Magnum’s Lounge photos. These are some of the most uncomfortable chairs. I volunteer to test future seating updates. The interior designer or the team of people who selected these must be young and out of touch with older adults. These are located directly outside of Le Bistro. One photo of the casino is at the end.

We attended the Captain Q&A this morning. He did say that more people than usual were transported off the ship at every port by ambulance due to medical issues. We have cruises frequently and don’t remember seeing ambulances at the ship as often as we saw on this trip. Several people asked about why we missed Bermuda. The captain explained the rough seas to get to Bermuda and that we might not have been able to dock due to wind conditions. Even after he clearly answered the question, it was asked again. It was a very informative Q&A. He did say the recent Gem refurbishment cost about $60M to update common areas. The common areas look great but as previously reported, some seating is low to the ground which is uncomfortable and difficult for older people which tends to be the target market for this class of ship.

Afternoon treats. We can say for sure the the treats and snacks have far exceeded our expectations and those from previous cruises in the Haven or Suites. My husband wrote a list of treats we liked and those we did not care to eat. The butler checked with us each day to see what we liked and didn’t like. We did stop these for one full day and we are having trouble keeping up with eating them.

Lunch at Grand Pacific dining room to have some variety for the menu choices vs. Cagney’s. We had a nice table by the window. Spinach Caesar salad. Scallops Gratin. Beef Moussaka Ribs

Garden Cafe decorations.

Day 10 At sea with beautiful weather and temps about 78 degrees.