odessy

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.

Thank you for all the info you're providing. What car service did you use and where specifically were you picked up? I've read car services can't pick up at the taxi stand across the street at 12th Ave/48th St. Did your driver give you specific instructions on where you'd be picked up?

We used a local driver, it sure if I am allowed to say name of company, but he picked us up in smithtown, 145 each way.

He told us to meet between 48th-49th, we saw him, he saw us and it was a quick pick up.

Police are there, but pretty good about letting people get dropped off or picked up during embark or disembarkment.

I'm sure I could find elsewhere but quick question, what are the prices like for laundry?

I did the fill the bag for 20 dollars, if I were to do individually, it would be closer to 45-50 buck. So its a bit high in my opinion if you dont take advantage of the Fill the bag offer.

Thanks Odessy, we have been nervous about choosing a pick up time. And about crossing the street with luggage but maybe that early on a weekend it won't be an issue.

 

Did your trip make it to GSC?

Whats GSC?

Rookie family going on Gem next week-- question-- they made us book our rooms with one parent and one child in each (our kids are 13 and 15) but the kids will be sharing. Will we just be able to switch room keys or do they have your picture on them like they did on the Disney cruise we did last year?

I dont know there policy in this regard, you k ow your kids best, and if I had to bet, I would say if they are well behaved and don’t cause issues, no one will say anything, but again I don’t know there policy.

We are going on The Gem for the first time in a few weeks. Have sailed on The Pearl and loved it so we expect to enjoy her just as much. Have never sailed from NYC before. Any advice where to have driver pick us up when we return? It sounds like disembarkation was rough. Ten o'clock arrival is late. Our eDocs say we will return at 8:00 am. Thanks for the post, look forward to your full review.

10 was not a normal time to get back, usually it is earlier. I contacted our driver when I got my luggage, and he picked us up across the street from pier. So at 8am the traffic should be pretty light

Yes, same guy. His name was Richard, I met him at cruise critic meet and greet. Saw him around the ship a few times. Nice guy.

How was the weather and seas? We went on the Gem out of NYC on the 11 day stretch and we had about 30' seas in the Atlantic for about 20-24 hours our first day out. It was insane! I've never been in weather like that! Everything in the bathroom was crashing around and you could hardly walk around the ship! Once we got passed that storm we had beautiful weather! Just wondering if that was an "off" day or if others had that experience?

 

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We also had rough seas the first 24 hours, plates crashed in buffet area, wife was sick, but after that weather was fantastic, a. It chilly the second day as well. But seas were calm. I was on Gem around 6 years ago out of NY , and we also had rough seas first 24 hours. So maybe that is normal.

what size is everyone using to post pics? I am using my ipad, and I tried changing resolution but pic looks terrible. I like how some have the ability to just add pic to thread, how do you do that?

Yes, same guy. His name was Richard, I met him at cruise critic meet and greet. Saw him around the ship a few times. Nice guy.

Here is a pic of him

Thanks for sharing - same good old MDR dinner menu, same Everyday Lunch menu that never changed - am I calling this right ?? Was hoping to hear about 2018 menu changes being rolled out, I guess not - or at least not yet.

 

Sailing very soon on her and wouldn't mind a little changes. Anything that stand out from the MDR ? Anyone noticed O'Sheehans doing Daily Specials, i.e. Prime Ribs, BBQ, etc. like the mega ships.

 

T.I.A.

Lunch and breakfast pretty much the same in MDR, I heard there was a prime rib night in O’Sheehan’s , but if there was I did not see it. Every time I went there it was the same menu.

They did have a roasted pig in buffet on oriental night, that was a first I ever saw on cruise.

Were there any photography stations in the atrium (or other location) the evening of embarkation?

I don’t remember seeing them in atrium first night, we did use them in atrium a few days in and saw them every night. We did have pics taken right before boarding at pier.

Did they still have the cookouts on deck for lunch?

Yes, during lunch time by the pool. Good steak and chicken and they had this green sauce with a little zing that tasted so good on steak,

Do you happen to have copies of the Menus?

I do not. I have to say food in main dining room for dinner did not impress me, it was ok.

The buffet and specialty places were very good. We ate at Le Bistro 3 times, and Cagneys once. We ate in main dining room twice for dinner and it was just eh , for lunch and breakfast we enjoyed main dining room.

We also enjoyed wings, Rueben , nacho chips, at O’Sheehan’s

Just reading the posts before me. Yes, Lorena was her name. Funny how everyone perceives differently. Obviously a difference of opinions. It was the cruise before us that got in so late. That, in turn made those of us on my cruise very late in boarding. No one was happy that day!

I left March 27th and just got back yesterday. At first I wasn’t crazy about her, then I started getting involved in activities and felt she was always around. Plus every time we saw her, she always said hello to me and my wife. We were impressed with her.

Does anyone know if they have kids movies during the day or early evening sometimes? That is more my speed. [emoji16]

I did not see any.

Is there a low traffic ("secret") deck? A good place to sit and view the water?

 

We won't have a balcony unless our upgrade bid is accepted.

Great outdoors , in back of ship. Plus if you went up one deck from there, there are 2 large round lounge chairs. If you can grab one it is nice, but there is the basketball court right there so it may not be as quiet as great outdoors.

10:30pm OMG I can't stay up that late! LOL

No I'm not an old lady, it's just that my toddler gets up at 6:30. [emoji23]

Haha same here, we stayed up late the last night onboard, my kids crashed by 9:30-10 every night.

who was the cruise directer

Her name was Lorena, I don’t remember last name. She was fantastic.

How was disembarkation? What time did it start? Thank you.

It was terrible. We were supposed to get in by 10, but got in around 10:30 ish. First was passengers with own luggage, around 11 ish, then they started calling color tags for people who put luggage out night before, at around 11:30ish

Thank you! about how long after sail away do you get to the Statue of Liberty?

I would say a good 20 minutes. We hit spinnaker lounge first then went outside to see bridge and Statue of Liberty.

Who is currently the Captain?

Lars ????

Can’t remember his last name. Very funny...loved his announcements.

Did they have painting classes?

 

Do they show movies? If so, where, the Atrium?

I don’t remember any paint classes.

Yes they have movies in atrium starting at around 10:30pm

Was on the Gem a few weeks ago, I forget his last name, but the Hotel Director's first name was Richard.

Yes, same guy. His name was Richard, I met him at cruise critic meet and greet. Saw him around the ship a few times. Nice guy.

Wines by the glass? Have they changed since last year(or recently)? I read somewhere they were adding some. Thanks.

There were a few different options by the glass. I tried there North South blend and it was very good. Not a huge selection but something that should please you.