ladybugpug

We were booked on the 12-14-13 9 day cruise on the Gem and had to cancel the first week in December because my youngest was extremely sick and ended up in the hospital for 5 weeks. Thank God we got the insurance.

So please make sure to get some type of insurance! I never would have dreamed that we would have to cancel due to illness. Please don't assume that just because the people in your group are young that something will not come up.

It also took nearly 2 months and letters from several physicians to get the refund. Don't assume that the insurance is just going to fork over the money happily.

Now we are thinking of planning a trip to Florida (maybe a resort?). Snow and ice here and I'm wanting sand and sun! :)

We booked a NCL cruise for our family of 5 (plus my son's friend) for December 14, 2013. We purchased the NCL insurance. Around 3 weeks prior to sailing my daughter was diagnosed with a VERY serious illness and was hospitalized for nearly 5 weeks. We cancelled the cruise right away.

Now we are jumping through hoops trying to get our money back because we have to prove we didn't know about her illness. Her pediatrician and specialist have both submitted letters stating that she was not under any type of doctor's care or treatment prior to the diagnosis.

Today I find out that that is STILL not good enough. They actually want copies of her doctor's case notes...private medical info. We cancelled the cruise over 6 weeks ago and have not received a refund.

Prior to this I loved NCL. Now I'm not in the fan club anymore. Now I guess to try to get the refund I have to hound the doctors for more very private medical info and hope NCL will eventually refund.

My husband spoke with NCL. They assured him that with a doctor note from my daughter's physician that we would get a full refund. We are hoping to maybe shoot for the January 1-10 cruise. I figured he and the other kids would just go on the booked cruise but he said that it is a family cruise and if we all don't go..then none of us go. The other kids are all understanding.

Thank you all for your info and advice and good thoughts. Having a sick child is the worst. Cruising right now is at the very bottom of my priority list. I'm hoping that the whole family can enjoy our next cruise soon!!

My family of 6 is booked for December 14. My daughter is very sick and her and I might need to stay behind and the rest of the family go on without us. She would have a medical excuse not to go but I wouldn't. I purchased the NCL insurance for all of us. If her and I can't go, will I get my money back? Also we would now need only one room and not two.

I would call NCL but I'm so upset right now I can't even talk on the phone coherently.

Well, so much for that! Here's the response I just got from NCL on the crappy cabin issue. Any thoughts, suggestions?

 

 

 

Thank you for your patience as we reviewed the issues that you had raised regarding your cruise aboard the M/S Norwegian Spirit.

 

We regret to learn that you were disappointed with the configuration of your stateroom. We understand that while a stateroom's size may not be a significant factor to some cruise passengers, it is important to others. For this reason, we offer a varied selection of stateroom sizes, locations and interior appointments. When booking a reservation, the passenger always has the option to choose a stateroom that may meet their personal requirements based on the available inventory. For future reference, it may be helpful to know that our reservation agents are available to answer any questions regarding a stateroom.

 

Our records indicate that the stateroom received is the one which was requested, booked and confirmed by your travel agent. This stateroom number 10006, in a BC category, is a balcony stateroom with a private balcony with two convertible lower beds. We would like to mention that the website does state that stateroom images, square footage, and configurations are representative only, actual accommodations may vary.

 

Our voyage report shows your contact with our guest services desk and our staff's efforts to resolve your concerns. Unfortunately, as the ship was sailing at full capacity they were unable to offer you another stateroom. As a gesture of goodwill, chocolate covered strawberries were delivered to your stateroom.

 

The photographs of the staterooms featured in our fleet brochure and website are general, non-specific representations of our staterooms and their amenities. These photographs and descriptions are not intended to be exact replicas, as it would be impractical to describe in detail, or depict each and every individual stateroom. We apologize for any misunderstanding in this regard.

 

We appreciate your patronage and hope we have fully addressed your concerns. When your plans to sail with us again are firm, please contact Guest Relations at 1-866-625-1164, so that we may arrange "welcome aboard" amenities in your stateroom. We look forward to welcoming you back.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

.........

Team Lead

Guest Relations

Wow, I would not be happy. After waiting weeks you basically got a blow off form letter. And chocolate covered strawberries.....

I am clueless on booking cabins. I'm hoping our mini suite in December is actually big enough for four. At least from reading on CC I DID know that a mini suite is not a suite at all.

Great review and pictures (you and your wife are so cute!!). Anyway I am taking this same cruise with my husband and kids in a few months. Your pictures of the ship and ports made me even more excited!

You need to put a warning on your review to not view while hungry lol. Amazing pics and it looks like you have a great time!!

Boo! I'll definitely miss the lobster bisque!! I loved that. :mad:

I have a question I was hoping someone could answer. Can you move the clamshells? I saw a picture of a whole row of them in front of the Cabanas, this is the beach I definitely want to be on since it seems quieter than the first, but I would like to be a little closer to the water than what the picture shows. I apologize if this seems a silly question but I have never used one before and this our first time at GSC. Thanks for any help!

When we were there last April, the clams could not be moved.

I did not know that the NCL "free" cruise was not actually free.

On our last Gem cruise the woman who won showed no real excitement and then stated that she was on the cruise because she won it at bingo on her last cruise!

I was most fortunate to win a free cruise at bingo on RCCL (I was so excited, I almost passed out) and we got to submit three dates and ships that would be "best available inside or ocean view" for caribbean cruises. They also did not include the New Jersey departures.

We had an amazing forward ocean view on Oasis and did not pay anything additional other than gratuities.

 

AND, I don't like the bingo machines. I always play on the paper boards.

I have heard before that the "free" cruises are anything but: and it sounds like this is the case. Booking at full price, paying port fees, airfare to Florida. Definitely no savings for me if I would ever win. Which I wouldn't because I dont play bingo lol.

All I can say is don't do it!!!!! :eek::eek::eek:

 

 

They are unbelievably hot, like a sauna....

 

 

The area is also very cramped and you have a view of nothing.

YES! I completely agree. We rented one last year and would not do so again. We stacked our belongings on the chairs in ours but not one of the 5 of us actually sat in it.

Does a clam shell come with a chair as well? I am not sure what they are?

We reserved a clam last April. It did come with two chairs. Besides piling our stuff on the chairs the clam shell was a waste of money for us. I personally would not rent one again because we just didn't use it.

It is for the adults in the cabin, but, you have to also buy the soda package for every child also. Make sure you factor that into your costs.

Thanks for the info!

The package seems insanely expensive to me; especially adding in the soda package for my two kids staying in the cabin with me and my husband.

you buy it onboard, its not offered during spring break, its 49 a day plus 15 tips [about 55 a day], everyone in your cabin must buy it to avoid passing drinks to each other and you must buy for the entire cruise

I'm hoping that means just for the adults in a cabin?

That was the best comment I have ever read!

I agree!!:)