UNDERCOVER coka: Return To Gem 8/7/11 Sailing!

[coka]

Oops, this did not copy correctly. Will post it again below.

 

coka

[Journey11]

Very entertaining review.

[coka]

UNDERCOVER coka: Return To GEM 8/7/11 Sailing!

Prologue:

Do not try this at home. I am a professional cruiser. Saturday, August 6, vacation was supposed to begin on the roof power washing molded maple sap dripped over time on the shingles. I went to Bermuda instead. Fortunate to open an email from Jimswims that very morning about a balcony opening onboard the Norwegian Gem the next day, grocery shopping for the week could also be forsaken. Nineteen hours later the third passenger to walk into the NYC terminal just behind a couple who took the red eye from Utah to also sail the Gem, the third of the Jewel Class ships built, Norwegian’s It Girl Ship, second to the youngest in the fleet, was me.

Below are musings and findings throughout the cruise. If you want the Reader’s Digest version, then read the first few and last few sentences of each paragraph. If you want the story that goes along with it, then read between the lines. Know ahead this is just one of many reviews written during a snapshot of life. I usually take more than one posting to finish but please feel free to ask questions along the way and I and others here will do our best to answer them.

Getting Ready For Some Freestyling!

Packing quickly for the trip was accomplished in true freestyle fashion baby! Having gained fifteen pounds all in my mid section, with longer more grey hair since sailing the Gem last, now wearing sparkly jeweled progressive glasses, there were no theme song, no dress up clothes, no fancy shoes, and no leopard thongs in my suitcases. And it was all Okay! I had my last minute freshly oxy-cleaned white Joe Boxer flip flops that cruise critic OceanDreams gave to me many years ago that dried in time to wear for the week. In my backpack was a swimdress, a toothbrush, and the cruise boarding ticket which appeared only two hours online after booking.

Getting luggage tags at the pier was no problem as they have extras available for which to put the stateroom location and name. The luggage bags had tops, shorts, skirts, sundresses, kakis, polo shirts, dress pants, dress shirts, swimsuits, snorkel fins/masks, and a white linen men’s suit thrown in last minute for the white hot party. Oh, did I mention Mr. coka was the fourth person to walk into the terminal? Finally! He returns to NCL! I hope he does not find out what I have been up to all these years. Placed on the first cart at the pier, the checked bags arrived outside our stateroom right after the muster drill.

Having been to Bermuda four times already, with the most recent on HAL’s Veendam just six weeks earlier, I had two goals for the trip in addition to just riding the ocean waves again with Mr. coka doing whatever whenever. The first was to keep a long term promise to cruise critic Jimswims. The second was to keep another long term promise to check in at least yearly on the Gem It Mermaid in the bridge viewing room. It had been nineteen months since last seeing her. Was she still there? Did Captain Hilden take her with him to his new assignment? I heard from a cruise critic the new officers onboard knew nothing about her. Was she hungry for charms? Was she aging well?

Embarkation

Since we were the third and fourth persons arriving to the port, the gals working the entrance made sure we were the third and fourth to check in once the terminal opened. I liked the pumping music playing on the promenade and the welcome aboard by the employees at the ship entrance. No longer having to wait until 2pm to get into the staterooms, information/literature was available for arriving guests to drop off carryon bags while the stewards finished getting cabins ready. Mr. coka immediately proclaimed that this ship was going to be so different from the one he just went on. My only worry on this trip was that if Mr. coka fell in a public bathroom stall, there would be no emergency pull chain that called for help as found on the HAL ship he recently sailed. The Gem, a full action ship with many entertainment venues scheduled, only has reminders to wash your hands and drink holders in the stalls of her public bathrooms!

Our Stateroom Balcony #9046

We ended up in balcony cabin # 9046 and Mr. Coka was very excited to see a refrigerator and a coffee pot in the stateroom. I was excited to see the 2.0 bliss Mattermoll bedding which meant not only was there a comfy mattress…but a comfy mattress topper…and another comfy topper on top of that (I looked)! To my knowledge, the Pearl and the Gem are the only two ships that have this on all their beds and oh my goodness, we had the best sleep/naps all week long. Mr. coka loved the shower/sink/bathroom set up while a feeling of familiarity returned to this 5’10” gal when my knees hit once again the bathroom wall when sitting down.

How To Dine At the Buffet

Since we were first on after the suite guests, the Harrah’s VIPS, the CAS VIPS, and the handicapped, we went to the Garden Café buffet where I explained how the action stations worked. One does not start at the entrance and work their way down the line. Instead, one goes to the station of their choice and moves around from there. You may see in other reviews that the writer thinks people are cutting the line…but they really are not. The buffet will get crowded as the day and week progresses. If one ventures further down the indoor buffet hallways, they will see more seating, more drink stations, and seating for little kids. If a seat is still not found…one can be found in La Cucina (for breakfast and lunch hours) as they open it up for overflow. Other buffet options include the Great Outdoors aft and in the Lido pool area where lesser options of food can be found. Lastly, more burgers, hotdogs, and fries are available on the upper deck by the Bali Hai bar during certain times. The freestyle daily always posts the dining option times, bar service times, and guest services times on the back of pamphlet.

Oh…An important breakfast tip in the buffet is more than one egg omelet station exists. The first one at main entrance is always crowded…but the ones further down the line are usually not. I also suggest getting your cold stuff first…ordering at the omelet station second…getting the rest of the hot food next…return to omelet station for your eggs. Time it well. I was too late one return and my over easy eggs were given to the next requester. If indoor omelet stations are crowded, go to the outdoors café…they make them there too. My secret tip is to just get up before everyone else does!

We’re Sailing Away!

The Gem is big enough to find just the spot you want during sail away from the NYC harbor along with a particular atmosphere. You get to choose. I suggest you explore the ship after embarkation to decide the atmosphere you want best whether it be quiet, loud, music playing, up high, on the promenade, in Spinnakers, or in the privacy of your balcony. Do not miss the moments from the ship leaving the pier until passing under the Verazzano Bridge. It was not my first time holding my breath , making a wish, and kissing a loved one for good luck wishes while passing under the bridge, but it was the first time doing it with Mr. coka so I was happy. Not that I was not when all the wicked sisters kissed. It is a Vermont family tradition traveling through our covered bridges so we extended it to open bridges as well. You now know a little more historical connection about the good luck mermaid, the protector of the Gem bridge guys, officers/staff/crew, and who brings good luck to NCL, and to the cruisecritics who sail her.

Our First Night At Sea

Lobster tails are served the first night in the main dining rooms. Double the order and get two. The lobster shell tails are great to hold the melted butter instead of having the waiter pour it over the meat. After eating that and the awesome bread and butter pudding for dessert, we realized we missed the spa raffle and the gift shop raffle I usually tell everyone not to miss because nobody ever attends because they are either getting ready or are already at dinner.

Mr. coka signed up for the 50 dollar soda pass for the week. He reports the bartenders and wait staff were very good about serving him. One must drink three or more sodas per day for it to be worthwhile. He brought crystal lite and lemonade packets with him to mix with the ship board water out of the tap, the cleanest water one can find anywhere. Know ahead that you only get fountain soda, not canned soda.

I suggested that he HAD to sign up for the Casino At Sea card (free) if he was going to gamble because of all the cruise critic postings that tell how cabins are sometimes comped to such members. Since we did not have a lot of cash since leaving last minute, I knew we could get it from the casino and have it added to our onboard account. Something new since last sailing was a three dollar transaction fee for every 100 dollars requested. Was something bad going on before that caused a decision to add a fee? What do they do with that extra three dollars? Perhaps it goes into the fund for crew morale that President Sheehan talked about when he appeared on the Undercover Boss show.

Once Mr coka got his Casino At Seas Card he ditched me for the machines while I unpacked, removed items from the refrigerator and placed on a never used top shelf, rearranged some furniture, and placed all 4 pieces of luggage under the beds. Balconies always feels like a second room to the stateroom and when indoor furniture is moved around or not needed chairs placed in the closet, the stateroom appears larger and is easier to maneuver. Mr. coka made it back to the stateroom in time to meet Andro, our fabulous steward for the week, and found out NCL does not have fruit in the room like HAL does. Who knew this was important to Mr. coka? He is somewhat of a male Damita so I offered to bring him fresh fruit from the buffet every day. That seemed to take his mind off what he just lost in the casino.

Bedtime Sample of Onboard Entertainment

We sat out on the balcony and Mr. coka finally got to experience the balcony at sea ambiance in comparison to the inside and ocean view staterooms he sailed before taking a long time hiatus from cruising with me. His last NCL cruise was on the Wind somewhere around 2000. I answered all his questions about what he was reading in the Freestyle Daily before getting ready to be snug in bed with the plush pillows, swiffer laundered crisp sheets, and best comforter of any line yet sailed. Answers included: “The welcome aboard show is a mix of what is offered throughout the week… Jeff Harms the comedian, is very funny…The ship actually has four bowling lanes but for 5 dollars per person per game not just per game…No, I can not remember having ever attended a single/solo social gathering…Toga Party gives out sheets to passengers and then they dance…Bliss Night Club?…Um, um, I don’t know about that nightclub but I am sure it must be fun (wink wink)…Heck, it is the ONLY nightclub in the NCL fleet that actually has the blessed mythological Norwegian Valkyrie statues attached to the bar and to the posts throughout…perhaps we shall check it out together sometime this week if we have time. WHAT?!… Next Stage is onboard? Let me see that freestyle daily…!”

I ditched Mr. coka, got dressed, pulled my hair back in a bun and put my Lily Tomlin one ringy dingy snort glasses on in case Jimswims and family were out and about because I wanted to surprise him next day that we actually made it, and went to Spinnakers to listen to the best band on the high seas and very possibly the best cover band on land. If you are a musician, you will appreciate their work. If you like a listening to a beautiful lead female singer who can get a crowd going, then you will appreciate her voice and her effort. If you love to dance, then bring your dancing shoes! Mr. coka asked what time he should begin to worry if I did not return to stateroom at a reasonable time. Looking at the freestyle daily, their set ended at midnight. “I shall be back within two minutes after twelve,” I replied. Although not cruising NCL with me in over a decade, he still knew to ask for clarification whether or not I meant noon the next day…

(Day 2 next up, Let me if know if this bold font is not okay...I can read it easier:o, but have no issue changing back).

Coka:D

[Lovely_Star]

Don't leave us hanging :D

[Sauer-kraut]

Okay Coka, you got me hooked on this one already!

I guess the font is okay, kinda squishes the words for me a bit but I manage with my multi-focal (but non rhinestone) glasses. :p:D;)

[AttilaTheFun]

Free stuff from raffles? Please tell me how to enter!

[BikerAl]

I was wondering if you were going to get around to a review on this cruise, and as always, I'm happy you did. Loved the tongue in cheek denials of knowing about Bliss and things like the White Hot party.

 

I hope you continue to give Mr Coka's input on his likes and dislikes.

 

Waiting patiently for the next chapter. Oh, I hope my use of bold answered that question. Didn't need my glasses to read it.:D

 

Al

[TPEINC1958]

The adventure begins.

 

Sorry, Jim, but Coka is a legend..

[hammer413]

Got me hooked too!! :) Can't wait for the rest!!

[DrFootball]

Ms. Coka I use A Mac (Purchased from Small Dog Electronics in your great state of Vermont BTW) SO FIRE AWAY On the BOLD!:D

 

Bill(DrFootball)

("An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools."

— Ernest Hemingway)

Bill's Brainiac Random Quote Generator V0.94 final beta for Mac

[collectingcoke]

After reading Jimswims review I have been anxiously awaiting your review. Love the bold so much easier to read.

[jimswims]

The adventure begins.

 

Sorry, Jim, but Coka is a legend..

 

No need to be sorry:). There is only one Coka! It has been my mission to cruise again with this legend since 2008! I have been waiting patiently and trying to force her into doing her reivew with everything thing I wrote :D

[jimswims]

I love it, Undercover Coka!

 

For the record, your incognito outfit worked. I had no idea that you actually were on-board until the meet and greet.

 

I am enjoying this. Keep it up and I am looking forward to reading more.

[TPEINC1958]

No need to be sorry:). There is only one Coka! It has been my mission to cruise again with this legend since 2008! I have been waiting patiently and trying to force her into doing her reivew with everything thing I wrote :D

 

...and it has been my goal, for a number years, to just meet this most charming of ladies just once. ;)

[crew mom]

Yeah! Love reading your reviews coka! Looking forward to the next chapter.

[Dilori]

Coka, we were at the Meet and Greet when you arrived but we are relatively new CC members and didn’t realize that we were in the presence of the legendary Coka. Had I known, I would have had a million questions about your cruising experiences. We had a wonderful time on this cruise made all the more rich by the efforts of Jimswims getting the roll call started and setting up the M&G. I have enjoyed reading his reviews and now yours. I look forward to upcoming installments. :)

[sparks1093]

Another coka review! Yippee! Glad to hear that mr. coka is back on the high seas.

 

...and it has been my goal, for a number years, to just meet this most charming of ladies just once. ;)

 

I'm practically her neighbor and haven't met her yet:(.

[biker@sea]

Isn't last minute cruising the best!! No waiting, no checking your price week after week. Got to love it if you can do it. :D

[Cubechick]

"Although not cruising NCL with me in over a decade, he still knew to ask for clarification whether or not I meant noon the next day… "

That made me LOL! I'm so glad that Mr. Coka went with you and am loving reading his feedback. We all know how you feel about NCL, cruising and the Gem!

Oh, you mentioned not having to wait to get into your rooms anymore (I saw another mention of this regarding a recent Spirit cruise)...what is this magic they perform??

Wishing I'd been able to join in on the reunion cruise!

[jimswims]

"Although not cruising NCL with me in over a decade, he still knew to ask for clarification whether or not I meant noon the next day… "

 

That made me LOL! I'm so glad that Mr. Coka went with you and am loving reading his feedback. We all know how you feel about NCL, cruising and the Gem!

 

Oh, you mentioned not having to wait to get into your rooms anymore (I saw another mention of this regarding a recent Spirit cruise)...what is this magic they perform??

 

Wishing I'd been able to join in on the reunion cruise!

 

We have some ideas for a reunion cruise cubechick! I guess I will have to tell coka about them though:D. Anxiously awaiting the announcement of the 2013 sailings!

[coka]

Free stuff from raffles? Please tell me how to enter!

 

AttilaTheFun, you enter the spa raffle the first day upon embarkation. They want you to see the spa first (worth checking it out at least) before giving you the raffle ticket to fill out. Then, the raffle is usually around 6 ish. On prior sailings they give away facials, manicure/pedicure, and sometimes a particular treatment. The ship stores also give out raffle tickets to encourage you to visit them throughout the week. The jewelry is sometimes a nice piece and the store is usually package of souvenir items…it all varies on each ship and each sailing

 

I hope you continue to give Mr Coka's input on his likes and dislikes.

 

Will include hubby’s thoughts and conclusions along the way too BikerAl!)

 

Ms. Coka I use A Mac (Purchased from Small Dog Electronics in your great state of Vermont BTW) SO FIRE AWAY On the BOLD!:D

 

Bill(DrFootball)

("An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools."

— Ernest Hemingway)

Bill's Brainiac Random Quote Generator V0.94 final beta for Mac

 

Dr. Football, I love all your quotes!

 

coka

[coka]

I'm practically her neighbor and haven't met her yet:(.

 

I keep looking for the car with the Lions sticker every time I visit my mom!

 

Isn't last minute cruising the best!! No waiting, no checking your price week after week. Got to love it if you can do it. :D

 

That was definitely the most last minute cruise ever attempted.

 

Oh, you mentioned not having to wait to get into your rooms anymore (I saw another mention of this regarding a recent Spirit cruise)...what is this magic they perform??

 

They used to do this years ago. They ask us to be mindful the rooms may not be ready.

 

coka

[coka]

Ms. Coka I use A Mac (Purchased from Small Dog Electronics in your great state of Vermont BTW) SO FIRE AWAY On the BOLD!

 

I hope this font and color are okay...the first post did look squishy!

 

 

I have been...trying to force her into doing her review with everything thing I wrote :D

 

Jimswims, I LOVED your review…even though it did not leave me much left to cover. The next musing posted will confirm that. Hahaha on the incognito...that is how I look now! :o

 

coka

[DrFootball]

AttilaTheFun, you enter the spa raffle the first day upon embarkation. They want you to see the spa first (worth checking it out at least) before giving you the raffle ticket to fill out. Then, the raffle is usually around 6 ish. On prior sailings they give away facials, manicure/pedicure, and sometimes a particular treatment. The ship stores also give out raffle tickets to encourage you to visit them throughout the week. The jewelry is sometimes a nice piece and the store is usually package of souvenir items…it all varies on each ship and each sailing

 

 

 

Will include hubby’s thoughts and conclusions along the way too BikerAl!)

 

 

 

Dr. Football, I love all your quotes!

 

coka

 

H/T to Coka! If you(or anyone else) would like a FREE copy of the Random Quote generator(and Your on MAC OS of Course) feel free to drop me an e-mail(askdrfootball@gmail.com) and I will provide you the widget! So far it works on BB's and Facebook, but not yet on e-mails or Word docs-I'm still playing with it.(prob. one or two more Beta releases before it goes "Golden MASTER.") It's an Automator script (OS 10.5.x and above) but I may be able to get it to work on Power PC based Macs running 10.4.x. All you have to do once you install the script is set up an RTF file with your favorite quotes....Here is a new quote below. yo uwill see it has some "personal" meaning because of who is quoted:D

 

Bill(DrFootball)

"Your about as Bright as a Dead lightbulb, are you Sure your MY son?"- Sgt. Maj. Alvin H.C.(My late father-long before he claims I "got" some smarts-which according to him was sometime after I put a Uniform on)

Bill's Brainiac Random Quote Generator V0.94 final beta for Mac

[coka]

…For the last ten years Mr. coka did not cruise because he said could not keep up me. I learned on the Epic sailing last year and since, that I can not keep with me either! Two minutes after midnight I was snug in the bliss bed to get up early. Ahhh, the early mornings when most vacationers and employees on cruise ships are still asleep, some of the most peaceful times on the outdoor decks while cruising the ocean waters can be found. Although, sometimes even odd unlikely events take place during the early dawn hours prior to those sunrise moments.

Such as seeing two laundry staff workers out on the promenade to see the sunrise! Hooray! Somebody finally let them out!! You have to see the interior laundry area on the Behind The Scenes Tour in order to appreciate how much these guys do. This was really good to see that while on break they could be out enjoying a peaceful beautiful sunrise coming up on the horizon. After taking a moment to thank them for the awesome sheets I began my 6:30am walk around deck 7.

　

The Promenade and Jonathon Meet and Greet

Deck seven. The promenade deck. The outdoor covered deck where the awesome curvy wicker loungers are held, where reclining chairs are found that do not fit through balcony #9046 corridor entrance door, where fun art work is painted on the exterior, where 2 and 2/3 times around equals one mile, I learned never to name a creature for which his fate is not known. Huddled in a crevice was a creature I named Jonathon. At first passing I thought he was just sleeping. At second passing I thought he was in distress. At third passing I bent over and leaned into the crevice and whispered, “Jonathon! Are you okay? Come out and see me, Jonathon!” Jonathon, a wounded seagull ignored by his flock for not conforming, it only was appropriate he chose an NCL ship to seek help and advice. He limped slowly on one leg towards me. I wondered whether to get assistance which meant somebody was going to have to get up out of bed, or if I should just throw the varmint that has crapped in my hair more than once overboard. Pausing, I figured Robbie, the Gem mermaid, would be ticked off if I did that so I stopped back inside at reception to inform them of the distressed gull and returned to my walk.

Two walking rounds later a restaurant server was out to observe Jonathon. Surely he was not there to assist, was he? “Fly Jonathon, Fly, or you could become one of NCL’s finest cold gull soup tonight!“ I urged. Scared as he was, he tried flying to no avail. Another round the financial officer’s assistant was out to observe the situation as well. “Should we tape some French fries and leftover chicken wing bones from the Blue Lagoon restaurant to his body? Perhaps then his flock that shunned him would show up in seconds and carry him away?” I asked. Next, a passenger photographed the tired, wounded, yet still posing for the pictures Jonathon. “Forgive him, Jonathon!” I encouraged. Next round I suggested Jonathon again to get the heck out of there and try to fly before the little kids onboard woke up and wanted to play with him. And the next passing he was gone. Everyone was gone!. A sense of sadness came about me and I looked over the side to see if he was flying away or if scattered white feathers were floating away in the wake.

What happened to Jonathon? Two power walkers informed me that Jonathon was going to be okay. They knew because an environmental control officer showed up to take the wounded seagull inside “to rest.” Ha! I thought. To rest in peace! Hey, I have been on more than one Behind The Scenes Tours each ship offers (definitely worth it), and know exactly what those guys are good at…waste disposal being one of them. Therefore, I conclude either of two things happened to Jonathon; Having a bird fly into my balcony cabin on the Spirit years ago, I know NCL ships have bird whisperers onboard to set wayward birds free; Or, there was going to be a few more white feathers added to Cruise Director Sinan’s wings worn during the White Hot Party, NCL‘s famous signature late night hot dance venue that now even kids are welcome at until a certain time when the adult version begins. To make myself feel better, I decided someone by the name of Chiang came to get him so either way was going to be okay for Jonathon.

 

Up Soon: All the Meet Greets!

coka;)