mamagina

We just booked 12 day 1/17/16 on Breakaway today and received confirmation that it is a 12 day. Hmmmmm???

Plenty of food and drink. You can rent everything. We don't drink but those that do said drinks and beer were very reasonable. The beaches closer to the pier were actually very crowded. Ours over to the left was less because it was further from the central pier. The water taxi drops off and picks up from both. I thought I read that the higher bacteria count is only during the rainy months??? I don't think it rains much now. The beach was very clean. The water delightful. I'll let you know if I have any illness. I swam for over an hour at one point.

Go to plaza. It was perfect. Divi looked ok from the ship. The snorkeling was excellent at Plaza. You pass the Divi on the way. Check it out. If you don't like Divi just walk a few more blocks down to Plaza.

Picture of the Divi Resort as taken from the ship.

Water beautiful. We took the water taxi to the further dock. $7 pp round trip. Much less crowded even with 4 ships on port including Oasis. Rented two really nice chairs and an umbrella for $15 from Tyrone at Honky Tonk. Very nice people here. They get less business than the places closer to the central pier so they aim to please. Free Wifi too. Posting right from the beach!

Shade

The pool

The beach

Under this spot is the best.

The dock and some beach.

Posting live!

Sitting at the Plaza Resort right now. We asked for a cab here when we came off the ship and the dispatcher said it was so close we could walk. All sidewalks just keep walking to the right. Walk past the Divi resort. About a 15 minute very pleasant walk. $5 per chair or bed. Simply amazing snorkeling. We brought our own equipment from home. We had fins but many did not. There are docks and steps and ladders into the water. You could walk in if you had water shoes. We didn't so we went off the dock. Free wifi, bathrooms, showers, changing rooms, tiki bar and restaurant. Swimming pool. I never saw so many fish in all my 30 years of snorkeling. Just beautiful. The area around the broken part of the pier in front of the restaurant was the best. You can rent equipment and vests if you want. Really a great day. Very easy.

Beautiful perfect day at Sapphire Beach. Thank you Blue Water for all the helpful information. Very easy. $10 pp cab ride. $9 each for chairs. $3 for two coffees with tip! Here on the Gem and the Summit was also in port. PLENTY of space and shade. Thank you for the wonderful suggestion!

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Just had two cups of coffee brought over to us by a lovely woman on the beach. $3 with tip! It doesn't get better than this!

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Very easy and short flat walk to the beach from the cab. Very gentle waves. No drop, very gradual walk into the water.

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Thank you Blue Water and everyone else. On Sapphire Beach right now. Just beautiful and empty. $10 pp can ride from the NCL Gem. $9 pp for chaired at the dive shop. Empty beach, priceless!

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Wow! Thank you for the information! Great picture. Based on your pictures we may just skip the caves and head right to the beach form the parking lot. Yes, we thought about the one where you swim in but I also read that the water can be a little rough in the winter and if you swim in you are stuck on the beach for an hour or two with no towels or sunscreen. If you just get right on the ferry form the ship without the tender it seems like it really is the best way to go. Thank you. I'll tell you how we do when we get back on 1/21.

Beautiful! Thank you. It really seems like a place that should not be missed! We usually try to stay away from the ship tours because of what you experienced but I would be afraid to go in our own in this situation. Did you have to tender to Tortola first or did you get right on the ferry to Virgin Gorda from the ship? Was the walk through the cave claustrophobic at all?

Did you use the spa at all on the Gem? We usually book the cruise long package when we leave from NY in the winter. We have never been on the Gem so I don't know what the spa looks like. Wondering if it is worth it. I read that it doesn't have can indoor pool like the Dawn.

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Really excellent review. Thank you.

We leave Monday and my plan for San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Martin and Tortola are exactly what you choose to do. We have already booked the excursion to the Baths through NCL because I felt that it would be the only way to see them and it would give us something to do in such a short stop. Would you advise us not to go? Was it really too crowded to be enjoyed?

Thanks

As I walked down the hall looking into the cabins that were open as they were being cleaned I took a picture of the cabin number and then the balcony. Here is what is on my phone for 216

Here is 214

The steward and some luggage were in 214 so I didn't go in. But my husband and I said remember the one with the luggage because it was very open.

Hope that helps!

Happy thanksgiving!

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Glad it worked out. We rebooked on board also, canceling our "blocked" cabin. We booked a deck 9 D5 balcony, coming out even with the OBC. I just thought that the E-1s might be even less but they really seem not to be. The big balcony does look good

Love your shutterfly site and review! It was nice meeting you at your first cruise critic meet-up. I'm reliving the cruise through your posts.

Gina

Thank you!

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Yes we were seated for breakfast but then you went to the buffet for food and coffee.

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Radio, thank you for this great report. Do you think there is anyway you cold grab a few shots of either of the Two E1 balcony cabins that are towards the rear of your single balcony. Maybe as the doors are open for departure cleaning. They are supposed to have a couch but I've heard there is only a chair because they are shorter but they have wider balconies. Thanks for trying if you can.

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Happy to help! Lucky!!! I'm going keep looking for 200, 186 or 214 for our March 1 cruise. They were the least obstructed but not available for our sailing. A little more than 6160 that we switched to today. I also would love to see what an E-1 Cabin looks like.

I heard they are shorter/wider cabins with no couch but with a longer balcony. Does anyone have a picture? We just got off today and I wanted to look at one on our way off the ship but I couldn't find one.

Thanks!

Great Review so far!! I'm reliving the trip. I agree about the wristbands. Only worked sometimes and made my wrist sweaty. Mine also only opened the door. I liked it for using the pool and hot tub. Left the card in the room so I didn't have to worry about it.

I just put a bunch of pictures here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2018842&page=7

Can I add one--true, true, true from Wednesday morning 11/19/14 at Breakfast in Devinely Decadent (the healthy food option venue)--A woman was yelling at the crew member in there because she was "Diamond + and had bought a beverage package" and she wanted a cappuccino and regular food for breakfast there. Why wasn't that there!!!! The crew member actually had an omelette made for her and went and got her a cappuccino from some other part of the ship!! While he was gone, she kept complaining to the other crew members that she was going to leave because it was taking too long.