Deck 5/6/8 question on Norwegian Gem (or sister ship)

[andyandsue]

Hi~ This forum has been invaluable to me in planning our cruise. I'm hoping that someone who has sailed on the Gem before might be able to answer this question. We are finalizing our payment tomorrow and we can't afford to spend more than a picture window stateroom so that is what we are booking. As of this writing there are rooms available for us on deck 5 and 8. I read everything possible and I know they are not the best decks. I looked at the deck plans and found our options, which is why I have a few questions for anyone who might have Gem (or sister ship)experience.

 

On deck 8, the rooms are a little more expensive (by $180 total) and I'm not sure why. Rooms 8110, 8116, or 8010 are all available, I read the deck 8 reviews and 8110, which is very much aft, would be our choice when I looked at the map since it looks like it is over the deck and some sort of dead space rather than the nightclub.

 

On deck 5, available rooms are plenty, but we are trying to stay as mid-ship as possible without being directly over the dining room, so room 5590 or 5090 is our choice.

 

So my questions in this long-winded post are: Does anyone see an advantage to staying on deck 8 rather than 5 other than being more "in the middle of the action"? I don't necessarily want to be in the middle of the action traveling with our kids. A quiet hallway would be better for us.

 

Does anyone know what is at the aft end on deck 5? The plan shows dead space. Is this a dead-end hallway? Also does anyone know on Deck 6 what is in between the Magenta and Grand Pacific Dining Rooms? More dead space-is the kitchen between the two? What is that and Does anyone know if it will be a bother to be over that? There is also a little alcove on deck 6 starboard side between the dining rooms and I'm wondering what that might be.

 

I wish there was just a tiny bit more on the deck plans around, so I could figure out this deck 5/6 mystery!

 

Thank you!

[dach]

I just returned from Gem/Bermuda. Mixed experience, I just wrote up for CC.

 

As to your question, I believe all the "empty" spaces are crew areas. And any space between Magenta and Grand Pacific, are as you surmise, the industrial kitchen.

 

In general I think the sound muffling in the rooms is very good. I was in 4522, deck 4 stern, noticed some swaying, and once slight mechanical noise, but all in all never heard a peep out of neighbors above, below or adjacent, or moving outside the door.

 

Have fun.

[omc329]

I stayed on the Jade in a picture window under Le Bistro. It was fine. I once heard some very muffled sounds of vacuming at 2AM, but it wasn't enough to wake anyone up, I just happened to be suffering from jetlag and was awake already. I would never have known otherwise.

 

I found deck 5 to be quite handy for the theater, and not bad for dining rooms. Yes, it is a long way up to the top of the ship, but that's what elevators are for. And it was VERY handy for disembarkments at ports.

[cdisle]

We were on deck 5 of the Gem last week. It's not as far from the action as you might think. The only problem we had was that not every elevator goes all the way down to deck 5. But you learn to navigate quickly. We were mid-ship, inside cabin and felt very little motion. And it was quiet. I'd do the same thing again without hesitation.

[rrobynec]

Never stayed on deck 5, but have stayed on deck 4. I did not like being so far below. I had booked a outside GTY, and all that were left outside was obstructed deck 8 (just what I wanted!).

I was "upgraded" though to a picture window, deck 4.

I prefer to use the stairs, but it was not so fun on deck 4. Also, if you did use the elevators, you were always waiting.

Only downside to deck 8, are the zigzag hallways in some sections (pretty sure they on deck 8).

[GSLMOM]

Only downside to deck 8, are the zigzag hallways in some sections (pretty sure they on deck 8).

 

When we were on the Star, we had a very forward cabin on deck 8 and that zigzag hallway drove me NUTS!!! Glad to hear it mentioned by someone else!

[andyandsue]

Thank you all so much!! Our travel agent has us booked into one of the rooms right over Le Bistro, so I should follow her lead. I guess it's better to be over the restaurant than the bars, and/or casino/kitchen.