dongordon

What are the lunch dining options on the Gem on Embarkation Day?

Leaving this Saturday.:D

My daughter is on an upcoming GEM cruise with me and she used to go to Daily Morning Deck Exercise on RCI.

She asked me if NCL has that.....I told her I would ask on these boards.

(I remember years ago they had it, but I don't remember seeing it in the "Daily" in recent years):D

Don

Can you purchase unlimited WIFI and use it for ECHO in your cabin for music?

What are the current prices of the GEM's specialty restaurants?

Is there a savings if purchased online before the cruise?

Don

They do

Does anyone have any suggestions for "HOT" slot machines on the Breakaway?;)

Thanks everyone for all the great information.

I can see how this cabin category would be great with the warm weather locations.

That being said, might be a bit chilly on the balcony heading down to the Caribbean from NYC..... but seems as though the views would be great.

Has anyone had a SE category cabin (Penthouse with a Large Balcony) on the GEM? I believe it is in the front of the ship.

Is there a lot of wind on the balcony when at sea and/or cruising in the Caribbean?

Any opinions (positive and negative) about this category cabin would be greatly appreciated.

Photos as well.;)

Thank you.

Not at all, plus you can buy them online and save $20 as compared to buying them on board.

How do you purchase them online?

I haven't noticed any ship excursions in St. Thomas on the NCL website.

Turtle Cove was my favorite and the one I was looking foron my upcoming January 13th NCL GEM cruise.

Any information on this fantastic excursion?

Don:cool:

The Jan 7 NCL Dawn originally had St Thomas as a port stop, then switched to St Croix after the hurricanes, and has now re-instated St Thomas again. So might be ship by ship and month by month.

 

I'm not expecting much to do in St Thomas when we arrive in January. Much of the island away from the immediate port area is still recovering from the storm damage. I even joked that there could be a new excursion, where cruise guests could be offered a chain saw or axe and work gloves to help clear away damaged trees from the roadsides.

I am also going to St. Thomas in January (GEM - January 13th) only from

8 AM - 1 PM and there have not been any excursions posted for that port.

I love the Turtle Cove snorkeling excursion and my family and I were really looking forward to that again.

Don :cool:

On the January 13th GEM..

Yes, the wait is disappointing and I am hoping that the wait is worth it and I am not going to the western Caribbean after writing two e-mails to Vivian.

I can't understand how RCI is all set and we are not.

Don

We love Spinnaker Lounge and the Great Outdoors. Both offer relaxing atmospheres and great views. On other NCL ships we've been on, those have been the most missed and noticeably absent.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

100%....most definitely the best two venues on the GEM!:D

Can't think of what I did not like about the GEM....I always considered it one of my favorite ships.;)

Don:cool:

We loved the Margaritaville option on the Escape last March... we’d go get a couple drinks using our UDP, and order chips and queso... which I think was like $2.99 or volcano nachos which was maybe twice that? I can’t remember exactly... but they were huge and yummy and a good deal as far as I am concerned. But we would have never hit the $14.99 per person with the UDP. I hope they keep it ala carte... for us it was a good afternoon snack place.

I agree 100%....Margaritaville last January on the Breakaway was a great option for lunch on sea days when it was a la carte. We would enjoy the Burgers and French Fries with a few margaritas and enjoy the view.

That being said, this February on the Breakaway I won't be going there if they continue with their $14.99 venue....can't imagine why they would continue this venue with such few customers.:confused:

It seems that NCL isn't making any money with this option and creating some very unhappy passengers!:mad:

Don:cool:

That is a fabulous idea...too bad NCL hasn't picked up on this yet. My hubby's favourite place to have his cigars at home is on the deck, under the stars...with a scotch. I'm less likely to join him in a closed off, smokey indoor venue.

Agree 100%...hate the indoor venue and love the outdoors for smoking a cigar.

I like my Irish Whiskey or Sambuca on the rocks with my cigar!;p

This my revised February 2nd Breakaway Itinerary and I love it!!

FriNew York, New York3:00 pm

SatAt Sea

SunAt Sea

MonAt Sea

TueOranjestad, Aruba8:00 am5:00 pm

WedWillimstad, Curacao8:00 am5:00 pm

ThuKralendijk, Bonaire8:00 am4:00 pm

FriAt Sea

SatFort-de-France, Martinique8:00 am5:00 pm

SunCastries, St. Lucia8:00 am5:00 pm

MonBassettere, St. Kitts8:00 am5:00 pm

TueAt Sea

WedAt Sea

ThuAt Sea

FriNew York City, New York8:00 am

Perhaps a bit disappointed about missing Barbados, but picking up Aruba and Curacao is fantastic and I do not mind the extra sea days. Just happy to stay in the eastern / southern Caribbean islands and not heading west!

I am a happy cruiser!:D

Don:cool::cool:

I get the fact that we all pick cruises based on itineraries, but getting mad at the cruise line for these changes is silly. There are a handful of popular islands that have been absolutely devastated by these hurricanes. The cruise lines don’t control nature. I’m not sure what else you’d like the cruise line to do...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I would like NCL to substitute other nice islands in the eastern / southern Caribbean as Celebrity Cruises did instead of sending people to the western Caribbean islands!

I could accept that as would others on my 10 day January GEM and February 14 day Breakaway cruises.;)

So many of my fellow cruisers on my Roll Calls are canceling.:(

Don:cool::cool:

You're right. For the BA in December I'm seeing the same prices you have. The info I copied was from the general shore excursion page on the NCL website. In the past they sold out quickly, I guess they have found a way to not sell out so quickly...:')

 

Not a bad deal if you have a few people to share the cost with, but for a couple it's quite steep. The last time we had one we shared the cost between 3 couples from our CC roll call.

Hi Margaret...

Thank you and the others for this information.

Should my family GEM cruise in January change itinerary and head west...GSC might be one of the cruise stops.

Give my best to Steve.

Don:cool::cool:

Great Stirrup Cay Cabanas:

What is the cost?

Are the Great Stirrup Cay cabanas available to everyone or only Haven guests?

What is included?

How are they purchased?

Before the cruise or on the cruise?

Thanks.

Don:cool::cool:

I'm booked on a 14 day January cruise on the Escape.

Don:cool::cool:

We loved our Haven Aft - Facing Suite on the Breakaway.

Yes, it is a long walk to the Haven, but we did not mind.

The huge balcony justified it.

I had plenty of exercise and my Fitbit was pleased!:D

I only gained 4 pounds on my 14 day cruise and that was great for me....since I loved my espresso martinis and great meals at the Haven restaurant and usually gain quite a bit more on my cruises.;p

Don:cool::cool:

1-Casual Dining

2-Lots of Days at Sea

3-NYC area departure...no flying

We had an aft cabin and it was a hike up to the courtyard and restaurant.

Great exercise...I only gained 4 pounds on my last 14 day cruise!:D;)

That is considered success for my cruise vacation. :cool:

Thanks so much for this great information...greatly appreciated!!;):)

Don

When planning a cruise in Alaska, is there any month(s) that is better than another or is it "hit or miss?"

To your last point, I did a cruise in January on the Breakaway with an aft-facing suite outside the Haven and it was great! You still had access to the Haven area with all the benefits, but also had a gigantic balcony!

I agree with you 100%....Having an Aft-Facing Haven Suite is fantastic.

Had three comfortable padded lounges, table for dining, a small table with chairs on a very large balcony with an aft and side view doesn't get much better than that for cruising.....and still enjoy the benefits of the Haven.:cool:

Don