Carol++

We're on the Gem's Feb. 1 sailing. I happened to be corresponding with NCL on something else, so I also asked about the slide. Here's the reply: Please be advised the Water Slide will not be available during your cruise and at this time we do not have information of [sic] the water slide.

 

Thank you for posting. Now I can stop sweating about it.

Can someone get an early color ticket to get off the boat first and then just stay on and leave when they want just saying "oops i missed my color?"

What would be the alternative? "Sorry, you missed your debarkation time, so you will have to stay on the ship for the next cruise"?

Because if so, I would try that. ;-)

When will they have time to remove and replace the slide? The ship has a zero day down time.. when's the next time the ship wont be with passengers?

This scares me, too. Will they do it while pax are on a cruise? If so, will there be times that the pool deck is closed while workers are taking down the slide? Will work hamper foot traffic to the buffet? If they do it at night, will it disturb pax in cabins below?

I thought an inoperable slide was a problem... might be a bigger problem if they have to take it down during a voyage.

Like Jezo, I wonder if management can wait until the ship has a few days of layover.

A simple online search will show several alternatives. $40.00 a day seems high. Found lots of nearby garages showing from $18.00.

Some indoor garages uptown are $16 per day, many good reviews. You'd have to take a taxi to and from the port, but even so, the savings compared to port parking (especially for a long cruise) are substantial.

ETA: Also, if it snows while we are away, parking indoors means you would not have to clean snow off your car, as you would have to if you park at the port.

Maybe its just me, but I don't get why this is such an issue. I have been to several theme parks where at least one ride or attraction is down for repair or refurbishment, and I never would have thought to ask, in advance, for notification that it wasn't working, let alone an explanation as to why or when it would be up, and couldn't conceive of thinking of compensation for it not working. Have you ever flown on a plane where one of the toilets doesn't work? Did you ask for notification in advance, or expect a refund for not being able to use it? I guess I'm just old fashioned.

Cheng, I admire you for your knowledge and for taking the time to share it here. That said, it feels disingenuous to equate the Gem slide situation with that of a single broken toilet or a ride at an amusement park. There are tons of rides at an amusement park. The Gem slide is the only one aboard. I would not tell a customer, for example: Sorry the Gem slide is out of commission -- why don't you try Karaoke?

Don -- I was looking on some other threads about restrictions for use of the slides on BA. To use the vertical slides on BA, the passenger must weigh no less than 100 pounds. There is an upper restriction also. (I am not sure about the restrictions for the other BA slide.) Does your younger grandson meet the height restriction (48 inches) for Gem?

My wish is that the new slide, when finished, will allow smaller kids to ride.

- Carol

Yes, I was on the BA and I believe there are two water slides and one of the slides is very steep. I am not sure about the other.

I hope it is not too steep for the 5 year old.

Both of them use my village pool water slides about 50 times a day when they visit.

I can't keep them off it! :D

That is why I know how disappointed they will be when they see it on the GEM and they cannot go on it.

 

Don

My 6 yo was at the time a very nimble, athletic and sturdy little gymnast. She was soooo disappointed (and angry) not to be allowed on the Gem slide. I was pretty angry also.

Hi Carol....

Most of these water slides have height restrictions instead of age requirements...at least the waterslide in my village pool does.

That being said, the ship might be different, but how could they be sure of the child's age? :)

 

Don

Yes, I guess it was height.

Didn't they renovate the whole old slide in less than two weeks during dry dock?

Something is very wrong here.

We know that NCL reads these Cruise Critic boards. Someone from NCL should clarify the situation and explain on these boards what happened and when it will be actually ready for use.

They do owe their future passengers at least this.

If the slide is not ready for my cruise in January for my two grandsons first cruise, I would like to know and switch to the Breakaway. I made the mistake of showing them photos of the slide and they were so excited!!

 

Don

Don, if I am not mistaken, there is an age requirement for the slides on all ships. I don't recall exactly what age, but I do recall that my 6 yo daughter was not allowed.

I've seen a few mentions of Fountains on here, can someone explain exactly what it is? Thanks! :D:D

Fountains is a very enjoyable, very cleverly choreographed number wherein cruise entertainment staff dress in togas and each have a pitcher of water. They come on stage solemnly to classical music. They pose like statues and spurt water out of their mouths. It sounds juvenile, but it is really clever and funny. The cruise staff obviously enjoy it because they are laughing throughout just as much as the audience.

You can probably find examples on Youtube.

ETA: I will be on the Gem in January and am very much looking forward to Fountains!

Thank you so much for your review.