odessy

Is there a bar at the observation area on the Joy? If so, does anyone know the hours and have any pics?

Thank you everyone

Can I get a key that will open 2 rooms that I have booked? Or will they just give me 1 key for whoever is in that room only. Myself and 1 son in one room, and my wife and other son in another room. So we would like the ability to be able to go  back and fourth with the rooms when needed. 

Do they still try and steer you into the buffet on embarkment day when you first board? I usually head straight to the Main dining Room. What does everyone else usually do?

45 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

You are welcome.   What ship are you interested in for the cabana?

45 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

You are welcome.   What ship are you interested in for the cabana?

Joy.

29 minutes ago, vacation44 said:

You cannot rent one for the day.   You have to rent one for the duration of the cruise and the prices have gone up recently.    We paid $599 for our Vibe cabana on the Encore in February 2024 but reserved it in July 2022.  At that time, Vibe passes on the Encore were $229.

 

I know that we are paying $659 for our February 2025 cabana on the Viva.   

Thank you…

What is the price to rent cabana for the day?

I see that they have umbrellas in the Vibe area, do they set them up for you if you ask?  Are the cabana beds extra money? 
 

Thanks for the clarification..

So if my wife and 1 child stay in one room, and myself and other child stay in a different room, both children are under 21. But we want drink package, how do they split it up?

I Was able to order myself an adult drink and a soda for my kids at any bar. Even at dinner they ordered shirley temples and they did not charge me anything. I guess because i was allowed to order 2 drinks at a time.

Anyone know what the drink of the day is on anthem for the first day of boarding?

We did the Southern Caribbean Gem and returned on April 7th. I loved the change of itinerary which had us visiting ports that we had very visited before. I was not impressed with the CD - it was the first time that we cruised that the CD and her assistant didn't wear name tags nor cruiseline attire. We ate in Grand Pacific the first day - nice and quiet. Disembarkation was not fun...did most of the trivia events. We love all the Jewel class ships...

I found the CD to be pleasant , and friendly and always saying hello, but I can agree that I have had better CD on other cruises.

We did trivia one day, It was fun..I probably ran into you at some point on the boat.

Dang......he is going to be mad

If you try LeBistro, They had Escargot , Scallops , and delicious shrimp dishes that were prepared soooooooo good. I Highly recommend that.

Can you tell me if they still offer Lobster in the main dining rooms ? Hubby is a Lobster lover, me, not so much. I had read somewhere it is not offered.

They do not offer anymore. I did 4 specialty dinings and I don't think they had them there either. I Also used to love the Lobster dinners. The food in Main Dining was OK, Not great, but OK.

I Actually preferred the Buffet at times instead of main dining room.

Does Gem have shower curtains or doors? Wondering about inside cabins specifically, thanks.

We had glass door on shower, I believe most rooms including insides are the same, someone can correct me if I am wrong. Bathrooms were not the most spacious but served there purpose.

We will be going on the Gem next year, Feb 25 - March 5, 2019. Have sone this trip back in 2008, it was a great trip. Hope the same crew will be on board. We have a balcony room deck 10. Let us know what ports you liked best. Didi you have a Roll Call on this cruise?

We really enjoyed Barbados and St.Kitts the best. The Beaches were really nice, and we did the Dolphin Experience which I highly recommend.

We did have a roll call, and I went to the meeting first day.

Thanks for the picture. We are booked in one of these next summer. I'm hoping prices drop or we can bid on something bigger, but as of right now upgrading to a balcony would be 50% of the OV we have reserved. How did it work out for the 4 of you? We will have 2 adults, a 15 year old (yikes) and a nearly 7 year old.

Honestly it was fine. We were in there to sleep. A little tricky with luggage, but for What we paid, I was more then satisfied.

In case anyone wonders how they get 4 people in a cabin , mind you we were 2 adults and 2 kids 11 and 9.

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Last time we were on the Gem they had a small breakfast buffet in one of the specialty restaurants. Do they still do this?

No I never saw this...

Do you know if they offer the shuttle to Ron Jon's and the beach? Thanks.[/quote

 

Not sure what this is, if this is a Florida excursion, we did not go to Florida.

You can get 2, We had no issues. In fact at the dining room, 1 waiter just kept pouring wine for me, I didn't even have to ask.

We stopped last week in Atigua on the Gem. I just cannot understand why they would choose that port to dock at?

The view from our balcony was sad, nasty and disgusting. It left me angry. I am sure a rundown large shack with 11 dogs (yes we counted them) on the water, with 2 half sunk small rusty boats in front of the back yard, is quite normal in their country. But for visitors it is not.... especially the 11 dogs that are very skinny, I am sure are not spayed/neutered, have lack of water & shelter.

 

We ventured ashore & it's close to the hassling locals you get in Nassau. 3 guys with baby monkeys, one guy squeezing a monkey by it's stomach, as he is walking around. "Taxi, taxi.... braiding, braiding..... trip, trip!" NOOOOO!

 

Nice tourist shops & we see 2 more dogs laying on the beautifully paved sidewalks. Both obviously having given birth sometime recently & one bleeding from it's backside. One of my daughters poured water for one of them & it lapped it up. Other one I was petting & it was very friendly, but did not look in good shape & coat was coarse. To them I guess it is just part of their life though. But if they would just spay them, this cycle could stop. The pups are probably dead somewhere.

 

Sigh.

 

I know you can take a cab or excursion to a beach over the other side. I won't get off the ship if we stop there next time, unless it is to do something to support/help the local animals. Not supporting locals who do not care.

We were on same boat, we just took a taxi to a beach and have to say, It was sooooooooooo relaxing and nice. There were a few people on beach asking if we wanted to ride jet skis or buy stuff, but were pretty good about not bothering us when we declined. I saw the dogs when we got back, I figure it is all they know, so they are used to living like that.

Sorry, Great Stirrup Cay. Did your trip include a stop at the private island?

Oh haha, I should have known that, I was there like 6 years ago.

This trip did not go there. It went to Barbados, St. Lucia, st.Croix, st. Kitts, and Antigua

Random question, but is milk at the buffet in cartons? Or do you fill glasses from a machine?

 

How is coffee in the buffet? From a syrup? Or brewed from grounds? Is there cream or half & half, or is it all non-dairy "creamer"?

 

Thanks much!!

Milk is in cartons by buffet, they may have had in machine, but I used the half and half creamers that were right there.

The free coffee is not that great, but I am not a picky coffee drinker. It was fine for me.

Not sure if it is home brewed or not, I am guessing not, but they do have Lavazaa if you prefer a more premium coffee , but there is a charge for that.