LAatl

Before I book, what was you cabin number -- port or starboard?

 

 

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Horizon villa 14000 starboard side.

That is a great dad gift, our kids are grown, so that's a pretty good reason to book the GV. Plus in looking at this the cost per sq/ft is reasonable compared to booking multiple cabins, as everyone after the 1st 2 people are really inexpensive considering the $ and benefits.

 

A number of these posts described that everyone knows the GV guests? That can be good (staff/crew) or not as good (passengers that do not appreciate if GV guests are treated differently); has anyone had any experiences with this?

 

I am really considering this as an XMass present, will see kids later this week, so thanks again.

 

 

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The staff in the main dining room knew us after the first day...when we were in Moderno for breakfast, we did notice that we got more attention from staff than some other tables...but, when you're paying that much for a room...I don't think it's a bad thing to expect exceptional service. However, I don't think other guests received bad service...I just think people went above and beyond for our group and the other villa.

Few pics of the bedrooms...if someone can help me with the correct way to upload pics without them rotating...let me know

After lunch...we were taken to the Garden Villa...This place is amazing! and pics don't do it justice. There are three doorbells to the villa and each bedroom door can be closed and you'll need a room key to get in. This makes it safe when entertaining and you don't want people in your rooms, or if you're traveling with several couples or families and you want privacy. We kept the doors propped open during the day (unless people were showering) and closed them at night.

When you walk in, there's a beautiful foyer with real paintings and a small toilet area off the foyer. Turn right and there's 3 bedrooms (all with their own full bathrooms and two with private balconies), the master bedroom has double vanity, garden tub, stand up shower and two sliding doors that go into the private courtyard. The space is laid out nicely, keeping the sleeping areas separate from the entertaining areas.

There is plenty of room in the smaller bedrooms for storage of clothes, suitcases and toiletries. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and even a pants presser to get wrinkles out.

I'll post more as I have time

So I'm not going to bore you with day to day stuff...because, unlike previous cruises...we really didn't do much on the ship except spend some much-needed time with each other.

So, here are some highlights...

We flew in a day early to stay in Puerto Rico. We stayed at the Caribe Hilton...very nice resort and worth it to not travel same-day. Our flight from Atlanta was uneventful and the taxi was very easy to snag and cost a flat $24 from the airport to the hotel.

The hotel is beautiful and has a couple of restaurants on site, and a starbucks and quiznos. We ate at a little place just outside the hotel (but still affiliated with it) I think it was named Pina Coladas. Good food (mostly bar and grill food)

The next morning we had a buffet breakfast (included with the room) and grabbed our shuttle to the ship. My brother arranged the shuttle beforehand.

There were some issues with getting people off the previous cruise...so we had to wait outside in the heat and humidity for just over an hour. NCL did eventually send people outside with water and flavored water to give to people waiting and there was a local vendor selling ice cream.

Once we got in, going through security was pretty easy...just make sure you have a pen handy to fill out the health form for everyone (each adult must have one and fill it out).

Once they started letting people through, we were the first in the Haven line. Again...we usually get balconies or mini-suites...so we've never traveled like this before. Once we were all checked in, they showed us to the VIP waiting area where we were given our room keys, first freestyle daily and some snacks. My son, who is 20, was upset because he still had the corner of his room key notched out (meaning a minor) and we had to go to the front desk once on the ship to get him approved to be able to drink. A parent has to sign a consent form on ship for this...and they can only drink beer and wine.

Someone from the staff came and got us and the other Garden Villa (as they take them on the ship first). My son was literally the first passenger on the ship...he loved it...and still has a swollen head from it!

We were taken right away to Cagney's to have lunch. I had the best intentions and started off my trip with the Caesar salad with chicken (warning...they not only make the dressing with anchovies (which I don't mind) but they put anchovies ON the salad unless you ask them not to). Very good salad!

Note: breakfast for suite guests is in Moderno and lunch is in Cagney's. Gem doesn't have a Haven restaurant.

Thanks. Happy you had a great time. Sailed Haven a number of times, never GV. Always had best service :). Wondered if GV guests service is different/better (not sure how it could be)? :cool: I know about the extra space, the 6 bottles, the car service (although that gets mixed reviews on these boards). What no one in many years has shared is a comparison of the little unseen things the staff does between GV and regular Haven suites. I have come close to getting a GV many times, but don't need car service, UBP makes the bottles not additional $10K special, and I like to see other people (people watching is part of my cruise experience). So that only leaves the space. So, I guess my question is . . . was there additional special treatment or is 7 days of extra space worth the extra $? I get the Haven extras (especially on the smaller ships), but can't see how it would be that different GV or not.

 

Could you also share the name of your Butler & Concierge and let us know how they impressed you?

Jayson was the butler (very attentive). Patrick was concierge (he's awesome). We are hard-working people, working full-time, with a son in college (who also works), who would never dream of getting the GV. But my dad paid for the trip and got a last minute upgrade at a fraction of the cost. We were supposed to stay in the haven in the 2-br suite. The alcohol was great becaus we didn't have to pay for the beverage package as 3 of us didn't get it for booking like the first two in our group. The butler would bring mixers (Bloody Mary, margarita, OJ and pineapple juice) so we mixed our own drinks and walked around the ship with them.

The service was spectacular. As for the space...there was 5 people in our group. So my dad and brother each got their own room, my hubby and I got the third room and our son slept on the couch in the living room. The extra room was awesome, because three people could shower and get ready at the same time (3 full bathrooms) and my son could play the piano at night or watch movies, or even come in late and not disturb anyone. It was like staying in an apartment for the week. No one was on top of anyone and we could all go to our rooms if we wanted some privacy. The private courtyard was so nice when we wanted to just hang out in our own hot tub.

And people treated us differently because we were in the GV.

Welcome home. I am sailing on the Gem this Thursday 12/29 First time in the Haven. I heard the sliding roof in the Haven pool was stuck at 95% closed. Was that the case on your cruise ? Also are there still DVD players/DVDs in the Haven suites ? I thought I heard they removed the DVD players are started offering complimentary pay per view movies.

Tell Patrick and jayson the Ainsley's said hello! They got rid of the 70's carpeting throughout. The decor is very tasteful...not what you've seen on YouTube videos

Gem Haven sliding roof ? I as on the Gem a couple years ago & I don't believe the roof had the ability to open unless something has changed. Now I've read some say it retracts others say it's a fixed roof ...now I'm super curious !! All I know is the week I was on Gem the weather was great & the roof was never open.

It was partially open every time I was in there. It created a nice breeze without feeling too humid.

Since we will be in the GV on the GEM in just a couple days' date=' we will look forward to your review and insights. cannot imagine it is anything but a fantastic experience. Our last experience on the GEM was incredible.

 

 

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To me, most of the eastern Caribbean ports are pretty much the same. We did excursions in st Maarten and st Thomas. But you really don't want to venture on your own away from the port shops in any of the ports I've seen. We love orient beach in st Maarten, though.

We had pay per view for free. And, yes, the haven roof was open part way, but I don't remember seeing water on the floor (and we had a bunch of rain) so I'm not 100% sure it didn't close.

Just back from a wonderful 8 days on the Gem in the Garden Villa. Feel free to ask questions. Once I have time, I'll upload pics of freestyle dailies and menus, as well as my breakdown of the cruise. But I wanted to start the thread

We're in the haven in December. Did they add a haven restaurant on this ship or do we still go to Cagneys for breakfast and lunch?

We're in the same two-bedroom suite but on the haven in December out of Puerto Rico. Can't wait. ThNks for the review!

Just curious as to whether the doors on the Gem balconies are the sliding type or the pull type?

The ships are now rigging the doors so that the air conditioning can't stay on while the door is cracked open. My hubby used to like to keep the balcony door cracked at night so he could hear the water.

New to NCL and I am just wondering why most people go to the Specialty Restaurants.

Is the food and service not good in the inclusive restaurants? Why spend the extra $$ if you don't have to? What would I be missing if I don't go to them?

I've been on a bunch of cruises...I'm not a foodie...but I know what tastes good and what doesn't. I've had food in the MDR that's been room temp (but they're trying to feed hundreds of people at once). I have never disliked my food in the free restaurants.

Having settled into my room (and asked my great room steward, Freddie, to empty the fridge)

 

Glad to hear you had a great time! I do have a question- what's with emptying the fridge? I have seen so many referring to this. What's in there that you all what out so badly? Flat soda? Old cheese? Dirty socks? :) Why do you want them empty?

 

Thanks for any help in clearing up my confusion! :D

We have the steward empty the fridge and then I store my perfume and face cream in there (nice and refreshing when you put it on). I also can bring back snacks for me to eat in my room like fruit or yogurt.

Just wondering what we are missing out on when it comes to rooms ... I know we are rookies when it comes to cruising, but, we just book an inside room and seem to have a whole lotta fun ... We went over our first cruise and found we spent minimum amounts of time in our room .. like sail off day, just put up stuff, showered and slept later ... around midnight or so ..then 1st cruise day, woke at 6 am. quick shower, coffee on pool deck, breakfast at 8, then changed clothes, swimming and buffet lunch, room at 5 ish, showered, back out , casino, exploring, ate dinner at 8 ish, lounge, comedy club, etc, etc, then sleep around midnight or 1 am, then, in am, shower, breakfast, excursion, back on ship later, shower, dinner, relaxed on deck, comedy club, karaoke laughs, etc, sleep midnight or so...

Was day after day like that, maybe it's us, but we really didn't spend much time in room .. is it cause we are new at it ?? Wife said she would sooner have a watch or some jewelry instead .. lol

what are missing out on ?? :)

You're not missing much...I've been in all kinds of cabins. Yes, the suite perks are amazing if you want to pay for them...balconies are great if you like to sit out there (my husband loved sleeping with the balcony door cracked to hear the water, but most ships have it rigged to shut off the air conditioner when you do that now). But, truth be told, most of the time, we're hardly in our rooms...so why pay for that? I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.

If we book our shore excursions before our cruise through NCL, do they charge our cc right away?

 

Thanks!

Don't forget there are reputable tours off ship as well. Search ones with good reputations and good reviews, but many times they'll be cheaper.

We have only had cruises with a balcony, but have wondered whether paying the extra for a suite would be beneficial or not.

Our problem however, is that as far as we can see, a suite comes with butler and concierge service. We could not think of anything worse than to have a butler to look after us and we do not even understand what a concierge actually does.

Does anybody know therefore if you can book an NCL cruise in a suite WITHOUT having butler or concierge service. We would love the extra space without the interference from a butler.

You can use them as much or as little as you'd like, however, they're still going to do services for you (like bring canapés, drinks, extras, special embarkation and disembarkation in ports and back home) and should be tipped to show gratitude

Firstly...you won't regret the 2-bedroom suite. We LOVED it! Loved the service...loved the perks...loved the room. Was worth the cost...now they've raised the price.

As for your itinerary...I think you're trying to pack in so much that it's going to take away from the purpose of the trip...being with your family and enjoying yourself. We did the trolley and a lot of walking in Boston. Did we fit in everything we wanted to see???...No. But, you'd have to spend a week there to do that. But we saw highlights that we decided on.

If you try to pack in everything you've listed...I think you're going to drive yourself crazy trying to stay on schedule. I'd suggest cutting your itinerary in half or by a third and decide what's most important to you guys. You're also going to be exhausted everyday just by being outside and walking so much.

Just my opinion...but I believe in quality time together...not adding more pressure to a vacation.

I was looking forward to going to cagneys again. But I think we will pass as I can easily go to the outback and pay less. To the poster who liked the lobster and shrimp it looked to me like it was over pasta and with a sauce Not the way I eat it. Of course I spend Lots

 

of time on cape cod so I am particular

You can order it without the pasta underneath. Just ask them.

Says it in fine print at bottom guess people ordering too many starters and sides and wasting them

This is actually what it says...so you can still order two appetizers and desserts. Just one entrée unless you want another one.

"$30 Cover Charge Applies...Price includes three courses. $10 per each additional entrée."

My brother and dad are on the Jewel and just took a pic of the new menu. It's not that clear, but you can get the idea of it.

I think it looks great and can't wait to try it in September on the Gem.

Looking forward to the new menu. I didn't really have a good experience last time.

I'm pretty sure the MDR wasn't open that day for breakfast. I know it was announced that you couldn't even get room service that morning.