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Our welcome home from the Gem: Review of January 13, 2010 cruise (with pics!)

Cubechick

By Cubechick,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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Day one:

 

NCL likes to say that when you sail with them you’re coming home to family (if you don’t know what I mean, check out the show performed the last night of every cruise). Being that this was our third time aboard the beautiful Gem at the exact same time of year, we certainly felt that sense of homecoming. You lose that anticipation of exploring the ship, (“Oh, no, we won’t be needing that map of the ship”), or exploring the islands, (“What are we going to do in Antigua this time?”), but that excitement is replaced with a deep sense of comfort. We know exactly what our cabin is going be like (a big YAY for the amazing Bliss bed), where everything on the ship is, and better yet, that we’re going to be sharing our vacation with old friends and familiar faces.

 

This year, we decided to hire a van service to take us from Massachusetts to the pier terminal in Manhattan. It turns out that people we sailed with last year were going to be on this cruise and we live only a couple of towns apart. The cost for the six of us to split the van was not much more than it would have been to get to Manhattan by other methods and was a whole lot more convenient. The van picked us up a little after 7:00 in the morning and we were at the terminal around 11:45 (would’ve been sooner except the van driver didn’t take the best route…and headed the wrong direction on the Henry Hudson Parkway).

 

We whisked through security and before you could blink we were being escorted to the VIP/suite passenger area (we were staying in an AE Penthouse) and handed our key cards. There was a flurry of activity at the desk where the concierge Adrian Bica had just arrived, so I waited for things to settle down before I asked him to make our dinner reservations for our first two nights. For the first time in 15 cruises, we decided to try Teppanyaki and would follow that up with Cagney’s the second night. Looking around the room, we saw another couple that we’d cruised with last year. Familiar faces already and we’d only been there for moments. Chatting with them, we found out they were doing a back-to-back (they make us look like we never travel!) and for the first time that they’d done a B to B, they’d had to leave the ship. They weren’t sure why, but assumed that it had something to do with security. We also found out that we’d be sailing with them in June when we all make the crossing on the Epic. Speaking of the Epic, NCL was making its latest invitation only “reveal” of the Epic on board the Gem that very day. Our friends confirmed that they’d seen some of NCL’s upper echelon on board. We made a note to keep our eye out and see who we could spot.

 

Announcements over the PA system announced that we would begin boarding at 1:00 and sure enough we were escorted to the ship at about that time. We went straight to Cagney’s for lunch (missing having that glad of welcome bubbly in hand). I have to admit that I wish the Cagney’s lunch menu went back to the old method where they have a new menu every day. Or perhaps they could have the static menu with a couple of specials offered daily. By the end of the week, this menu gets old. On the other hand, I knew exactly what I was having before I got on the ship, the grilled asparagus appetizer and the beef sliders. Ah, just as tasty as I remembered. The table next to ours was occupied by a number of very chatty, women who appeared to be enjoying unlimited martinis and wine. Due to the volume at which one of them was speaking, I realized that in the group was the Gem’s godmother Cindy Cardella (she was not the loud talker). She and her entourage must have been invited to the Epic reveal. Perhaps we’d encounter more people as the day went on?

 

Our first Cagney’s lunch behind us, we went down to our cabin. Ah, just as I recalled. The AE is a spacious suite with tons of storage space and our beloved Lavazza machine.

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We step out onto our balcony and look down to see the Gem surrounded by large shards of ice floating in the harbor. Well, that was a first and all the more reason to be glad that we were leaving the frozen tundra for 10 glorious days!

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We unpacked our carry on bags and walked around the ship. The muster drill was scheduled for 4:00, which meant we’d be leaving NYC a little behind schedule (we’re guessing to give the VIP’s for the Epic reveal time to leave the ship).

 

Strolling by Magenta who should we run into but Klaus and Prem. Klaus Lugmaier, is the VP of Shipboard Operations, who will be donning his uniform once again to bring the Epic out as one of two Hotel Directors. Prem Kainikkara is of course, the HD of the Gem. Klaus told us that he’d be joining the Epic in February as they begin sea trials. We’d had the pleasure of sailing with Klaus and Prem the last two times we’d been on the Gem, and although Klaus would only be with us briefly, it definitely felt like homecoming.

 

Continuing our roaming, we did see both Kevin Sheehan and Andy Stuart (recognized them from other podcasts). I was disappointed to discover that they didn’t broadcast the podcast on a channel on the TVs in the staterooms. (The CNBC episode that focused on the Pearl was played on a continuous loop when we were on the Pearl last June.) It would have been a great opportunity for NCL to share the latest information on the Epic. We found it ironic that we had to find out what the shipboard announcement was about by logging onto Cruise Critic.

 

Sticking with a personal tradition, we returned to our stateroom about a half an hour before the muster drill and cracked open the bubbly that comes with the suite. This time we received a full-sized bottle of sparkling wine as opposed to the half bottle of Moet Chandon that we’d received last year. As usual our muster station was in the Grand Pacific dining room. For the first time in our experience, we started to pull away from the pier while we were in the middle of the drill (they obviously didn’t want us leaving too late!).

 

A couple from our roll call had invited us to watch sail away with them from their balcony. They were in an AD Penthouse one floor up from ours. Their cabin was slightly smaller than ours, but with a balcony nearly double the size. Seven of us fit out there quite comfortably and had a wonderful view as we pulled away from Manhattan in the twilight.

 

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Off to Teppanyaki for dinner. On the way there, we passed by Magnum’s Champagne bar and saw one of our favorites bartenders from our last cruise aboard the Gem there. We said hi to Eli briefly, found out that he’d just boarded the ship as well and didn’t yet have a bar assignment, so we’d have to keep our eyes peeled to find him later.

 

I have to say that dinner was better than I’d anticipated. The meal came with soup, fried rice, fried vegetables with dipping sauces, the entrée of your choice and a dessert. We both ordered the beef tenderloin and jumbo shrimp and they were cooked perfectly. Our chef was very entertaining, making jokes and showing off his knife skills. I can now understand that if your chef isn’t very talkative this could turn into a dull dining experience. I would especially recommend eating here if you’re with a group. The tables hold up to eight people and that could be a hoot.

 

That first night was an early one for us. It had been a very long if happy day, and that Bliss bed was calling our names.

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DMH15

DMH15

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Cubechick-

 

I am enjoying your review very much. While I have never been on the Gem, I did sail out of Manhatten on the Dawn and it is a magnificent sailaway.

 

I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to return to cruise on a ship previously sailed on and be reunited with crew that had made the previous cruise so special. I've yet to do that. But I know I would love to see some favorite crew members again.

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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Hi Laura, great to finally meet you too! Hi Jim, I see that Alaska is getting closer and closer!!! :D

 

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I will be sure to post my next installment(s) this evening. Pesky work interferes with the review writing process! ;)

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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Days Two and Three - @ sea

 

Ahhh…yesterday it was 4 degrees at our house…this morning it’s 53. What a difference a day makes!

 

The first mission that morning was to put that Lavazza machine into action. DH ran up to the buffet to grab some milk for frothing and before you knew it we were in cappuccino and latte heaven. Happy campers (or I should say, “sailors”) we went to Cagney’s for breakfast (traditional eggs Benedict for me, filet and eggs for DH). Yum. We notice that there are some things missing from the Cagney’s breakfast buffet. No sliced strawberries, no yogurt, no cottage cheese. I’m sure we could have gotten these items had we asked, but it was disappointing to find them absent. Breakfast was delicious and needed to be walked off. So off to the promenade deck we go. Every day during the cruise we would find a portion of the deck blocked off for repair of some sort. Not once were we able to make a full circuit, which was not the end of the world, but annoying. Hey, throwing on a fleece and walking back and forth between the closed parts on the promenade deck was better than wearing the 82 layers we’d needed to walk in our neighborhood lately!

 

Our meet and greet was at 11:00 in LeBistro. We had an excellent turn out from our roll call and a number of officers were there including the HD, the Food and Beverage Manager (Tony Lockett who we knew from the Pearl), the Bar Manager, Restaurant Manager, the Executive Chef, and Cruise Director.

 

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During the M&G it came out that Prem would be leaving the Gem at the end of our cruise and transferring to the Spirit. The Restaurant Manager was leaving in Puerto Rico and was being replaced by Noel, who we’d sailed with numerous times on the Majesty. We’d later find out that over 500 crew joined us over the course of that week (including the Captain) but that going forward that number would drop to a more normal 40-50.

 

Afternoons on sea days consist of lunch, maybe a light walk, reading and naps. So this is what we did until our butler delivered our suite treat. Dilip had also boarded the ship the day before and was apologetic that he hadn’t had the opportunity to meet us before this (not that it concerned us). He was very nice, friendly and efficient and we were thrilled to learn that he too would be going to the Epic. We’ll have to look for him in June!

 

The VIP cocktail party was a 6:45 so we dressed for that and headed up. We met the Captain, Frank Juliussen, and had a nice time chatting with fellow passengers. I enjoy the atmosphere of this party. Everyone is happy to be on the start of his or her vacation and all is right with the world. Dinner was at Cagney’s and our waitress was a wonderful lady we’d sailed with on the Pearl. I have to say I was really pleased with our meal. We’d given Cagney’s a pass for dinner our last few cruises as it had become hit or miss quality-wise and we felt that LeBistro was the better restaurant. This time everything was delicious and perfect. So much so that we decided to go twice during this cruise.

 

After dinner, we roamed the Gem, looking for Eli our favorite bartender, but alas, could not find him. We ended up having after dinner drinks at Maltings and making a small donation at the casino before calling it a night.

 

The next day was much like the first…without the gatherings.

 

We skipped Cagney’s for lunch and went to the buffet instead. We’d heard that the Indian food served there was outstanding and we were not disappointed. DH would head straight to the Indian station each time we ate there.

 

Dinner was at LaCucina, which was packed as always. Actually LaCucina and Teppanyaki were the only two specialty restaurants that were full while we were on board. Although we made reservations just in case, at any time we could have easily just walked into LeBistro, Cagney’s, the Orchid Garden, or Tequila’s as they were never more than half full.

 

After dinner, we went to Spinnakers and caught a little of the “Battle of the Sexes” game that was going on followed by some karaoke. One girl who got up and sang “Crazy” by Patsy Cline was phenomenal. There was a little old guy who sang an old song that I recognized just enough of the chorus for it to become embedded in my brain for the rest of the cruise. Aaargh.

 

The White Hot Party was also in Spinnakers that night.

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.

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We threw on something white and went up for a bit. It was a good time, but still no sign of Eli. Was he a figment of our imagination?

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snorklinbarb

snorklinbarb

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What a lucky night - double treat hearing from both Cubechick & Coka!:D

 

Aimee, thanks for taking me on another great adventure. Sounds like you had a "fantabulous" time to quote Prem.;):)

 

Glad you discovered the Indian food on the buffet. At night they bring in some meat dishes, too.

 

Did you have a rough trip home? They told us on the one nighter that it rivaled the crossing.:eek::eek:

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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What a lucky night - double treat hearing from both Cubechick & Coka!:D

 

Aimee' date=' thanks for taking me on another great adventure. Sounds like you had a "fantabulous" time to quote Prem.;):)

 

Glad you discovered the Indian food on the buffet. At night they bring in some meat dishes, too.

 

Did you have a rough trip home? They told us on the one nighter that it rivaled the crossing.:eek::eek:[/quote']

 

Barb, boy did we. On the way home, Captain Frank told us that he thought the seas would begin to calm around 4:00 pm (it was noon when he made his announcement and the seas were around 14 feet). Well, by 4:00 the seas were 20+ feet!!!! It's the first time that I've cruised where we've had stuff flying off of the shelves and tables! Made for interesting packing!

 

Aimee

Like others, I'm enjoying your review and re-living our time on the Gem, along with you. What a shame work has to interfer with our fun.:D

It was wonderful meeting you and Dan!!!

 

We found Adrian Bica to be the best Casino Manager we have ever had when we were on the Gem in April - very customer service minded. I hope he is doing a great job as your concierge! Please tell him Cathy from Texas said hello!

 

Sorry, we're not on the ship anymore...

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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Day Four; San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

Had a late start this morning so we went to the buffet for breakfast where I had an egg-white omelet made at the omelet station. Maybe if I scatter in some good food choices I won’t gain too much weight on this cruise! Another back-and-forth walk on the promenade deck then lunch at Cagney’s. When we arrived at the reservation desk outside Cagney’s we were asked if we’d received our new keys. We looked at each other in confusion and said no. The guy at the desk flipped through a stack of envelopes and pulled out the envelope with our stateroom number on it. We exchanged our old keys for the new, which were programmed for the lock outside the Star Bar. We’d find out later that they had so many people going to the concierge lounge (which is the Star Bar) who weren’t VIP or suite passengers that they’d decided to lock the door. Wow. We’d never seen that happen. Of course it dawned on us at this point that we hadn’t seen the concierge (who’s normally at his desk right by the entrance) in days. Maybe that’s why they needed a little crowd control?

 

After lunch we went down stairs to watch our approach to San Juan. Showers have come and gone, but the sun is shining as we make our approach. We’re thrilled when we realize that we’re going to be docking right in Old San Juan rather than across the harbor.

 

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We’d be able to walk off the ship right into the thick of things, whereas we’d thought we’d have to take a cab. Nice! We walk off of the ship and within ten minutes the Heavens open up on us. What a deluge we were caught in! We were prepared for rain, wearing our water sandals and armed with umbrellas, but even so we had to take shelter under Old San Juan Gate with a number of other stranded souls.

 

The rain let up a bit so we continue onward. Our goal is El Morro (Castillo San Felipe del Morro), the sixteenth century fort that was built to protect San Juan’s bay. As we walk we realize that there are a vast number of people in the streets. We spy funny hats, masks and hear the sounds of numerous noisemakers. There are food stands lining the streets and there is a band playing on a platform. We’re in the midst of a full-blown festival. (We later find out that it was the San Sebastian Street Festival…that’s Saint Sebastian to us gringos.)

 

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We carefully make our way to the fort (I say carefully because the rain has rendered the blue bricks that make up the streets of Old San Juan very slick) and arrive in just a few minutes.

 

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The cost is $3 for adults to enter this edifice. El Morro is very large and from its perch atop a hill, commands an amazing view of the bay and Old San Juan. We probably spend an hour exploring the nooks and crannies of the fort. As we peer down the length of a rusted cannon we can almost hear the footfall of soldiers keeping watch.

 

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It is a wonderful spot to linger and think and absorb.

 

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We climb from the bottom of the fort to the middle level (76 steps if I recall correctly) and pop into the small gift shop to buy a mandatory fridge magnet. It’s nearing dinner time and we decide to eat on the ship. Dinner was the Garden Café and I was disappointed to note that NCL is no longer going for a “dinner” atmosphere here. Gone are the candles and placemats that used to adorn the tables in the evening. Well, the food is still good and the view of a lighted San Juan makes for pleasant ambiance.

 

Now we’d planned on hooking up with some fellow roll-callers for a pub-crawl. Seven of us gathered in the Crystal Atrium, as small but manageable group, and off we went. Well, the revelers that flooded the streets (and bars!) made the pub-crawl a challenge. It took us some time to find that first bar and wasn’t it closed? Drat! So we retraced our steps and nudged our way into a bar called Douglas’ that was standing on the corner. Two Coronas for four bucks and we were quenching our thirst…that’s the stuff! Onward to our next stop, we found ourselves in a tiny bar (I didn’t catch the name) that operates as a general store during the day. Sure enough, there were shelves lined with canned goods and sundries opposite a narrow counter that served as a bar. Two more Coronas (five bucks this time) poured into plastic cups. We quickly made our way outside as there were about 75 people trying to cram themselves into space for 20. The night sky is littered with stars, music is playing and all around people are just having a good time. It’s balmy out and that’s especially wonderful when you think that back home it’s probably 10 degrees outside!

 

Our final stop would be Senor Frogs. Just opposite the cruise terminal, I imagine it would normally be packed, but as the festival lured people away into the center of town, Senor Frogs was only half full. We found a table for the seven of us and ordered a round of drinks. Note to self: When the waiter asks if you want a large margarita say no. At $16 this drink made the cruise ship prices look like a bargain! Well, it was fun and we now have a plastic orange “yard” with a smiling frog adorning our bar.

 

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It was approaching 11:30 and time to board the ship lest she sail without us. I have to admit that I was very disappointed when San Juan replaced our beloved Barbados on the itinerary (turning our Southern Caribbean cruise into an Eastern Caribbean). However we had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the history of Old San Juan and being part of the celebration.

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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Great review and pics! How big was your balcony? Were there loungers or just chairs?

 

Our balcony was quite spacious. It ran the width of the cabin and had two wicker chairs, a wicker table, and a lounger. We spent as much time out there as we could!

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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I have to apologize...I just realized that since it was pouring during most of our stay in St. Thomas, I didn't take one picture!!! :eek:

 

 

Day Five; St. Thomas

 

I’m beginning to sense a theme here. We pull up to St. Thomas and the sun is shining. The moment our ropes touch the dock it begins to pour. We have an excursion booked, but it’s not until the afternoon, so we have a leisurely breakfast and wait out the rain. The sky clears somewhat and we head to the grocery store. We hit a couple of stores during the cruise to stock up on sparkling water. Much easier than trying to pack water for the entire trip (and lighter!).

 

The sun is out during our journey to and from the store and that is it. No more sun for us. In fact, the sky darkens, the rain starts to really come down, and the wind whips up. Well, at least it’s warm, right?

 

After dropping off our water at the ship we leave again to walk around Havensight Mall. We’re foolishly optimistic at this point, thinking that like most Caribbean showers, this will pass at any moment. Despite St. Thomas being known for it’s shopping, we’ve never checked out the stores before, so this is a pleasant diversion.

 

A quick lunch at the Garden Café, then it’s off to our room to get ready for our excursion. It’s a snorkeling excursion and we’ll just get wet anyway we reason, so why cancel? Well, we meet at the appointed spot and after a half hour or so of having rain pelt us, the captain from our excursion comes and cancels the trip. With the winds picking up rather than abating, he doesn’t think going out there is a good idea. We take this announcement philosophically (at least our gear will be dry for tomorrow’s excursion), but find it ironic that this is the second year in a row we’ve had the same excursion cancelled. Perhaps someone is trying to tell us something?

 

Back to our room, we dry off and turn on the TV to just in time to catch the kickoff of the NFC playoff game (the Vikings would trounce the Cowboys). There’s nothing wrong with spending a rainy day watching some football. We grab some wings at Blue Lagoon figuring that would go with the football theme for the day. :)

 

Being aware that NFL playoffs would be shown on the big screen in the Crystal Atrium, I made dinner reservations at Tequila. Two years ago, when both the New England Patriots and the New York Giants were playing their respective division championship games, Tequila was the place to be. I was therefore surprised to find the restaurant nearly empty. We enjoyed our complimentary margaritas as the chant of “J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!” filled the air. I had my back to the screen but with the New York crowd in attendance, I had a pretty good idea which way the plays were going at all times! We snacked on tortilla chips and the super delicious warm cheesy crab dip they provide (I’m glad to see they give you a bigger bowl of the dip than they used to!). The meal was very good, especially the beef fajitas. The meat was seasoned perfectly and arrived sizzling. Truthfully, I think was the best meal we ever had at Tequila. At only a $10 cover charge, it was quite the bargain.

 

We finish up the evening at Bliss, watching the Jets beat the Chargers. In an attempt at optimism, we call it an early night as we have an excursion booked in the morning. It’s an eco-tour with Adventure Antigua and we go to sleep with our fingers crossed that the weather gods will smile upon us.

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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We will be on the Gem next October in an AE penthouse. Was just wondering what deck and cabin number you had. Also, the bed in your pictures looks larger than a queen...was it? Thanks for you great review

 

We were in cabin 9670. You're right, the bed is a bit bigger than a queen. Very comfy and plenty of room! :D

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jimswims

jimswims

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Come on!!! It is cold up here in the Northeast. We need some more adventure and pictures, LOL!!!!!

 

I am enjoying the trip so far. Love the pictures from the Aft balcony. We are in an aft balcony on deck 10 on the Pearl for our August cruise.

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