Fantastic family cruise on Gem-August 4-11, 2012

[Educators2]

It’s hard to believe that our family cruise, planned more than a year ago, is now a wonderful memory. Our cruise, August 4-11, 2012, on the Norwegian Gem was a perfect family-friendly vacation. This review will focus on the intergenerational aspects of the cruise and the steps we took to plan this vacation celebrating our milestone birthdays.

 

Planning

We’ve done a family cruise every five years. The first, ten years ago, was for six-- our children and their spouses and us. The second, in 2007, saw an additional four grandchildren ranging in age from one through four. This time, we were eleven with five grandchildren ranging in age from four through nine. Now that the grandchildren are in school, we had to travel during summer vacation (aka high season) and coordinate with different school schedules and summer camp.

 

We decided on five rooms. Each family had two connecting balcony cabins and we had a balcony cabin. The price for a third person in the room at $899 plus port taxes made it a simple decision to have two rooms per family. Even with booking more than a year ahead, the five rooms were not together but that worked out okay.

 

Our daughter designed t-shirts, Susan and Ira’s Birthday Cruise 2012 in blue and orange, the colors of New York City and the New York Mets. Everyone noticed the shirts from port workers to Gem performers and fellow cruisers.

 

Demographics

There were at least 850 children on the cruise. The cruise director, Ken, organized many family-friendly activities, game shows, etc. There were lots of intergenerational groups on board and most of the children seemed to be school-age. We’ve been on the Gem four times and saw considerable more kids and teens and a lot fewer strollers. I must say that the children and teens were very well-behaved. (Both of us were career educators at the middle school level.) I never saw or heard any teens running through the halls, making mischief, congregating on steps, etc. I attribute that to all the fun activities that were available.

 

Activities

Every day, there were lots of organized activities for children and families—more than on any of our cruises in January or in the off-season. In addition to the Kids’ Camp, there was Nickelodeon on board under the direction of John, a phenomenal high-energy leader, and his staff. It was amazing to watch the Nickelodeon team in action at the Nickelodeon trivia, and at the pool party complete with balloon sculptures, face painting, and special games. Our granddaughter took great delight in participating and getting slimed (doused with colored water). Our grandchildren all attended the breakfast ($15) that was a super-lively pajama-party. The Spinnaker Lounge was bedecked in colored balloons, the characters were there for photos (included in the price) and there was dancing and favors for the children. The adults would have preferred something other than multi-colored pancakes, donuts and pigs in blankets but the kids all loved it. Nickelodeon also sponsored craft activities (free) where the children decorated t-shirts with fabric crayons—very nice and not crowded. Our daughter spoke highly of the Dora storytelling session. On several evenings, the costumed Sponge Bob and others paraded around the ship to the delight of the youngsters.

 

This was the first time I ever saw circus workshops where families were able to practice stilt-walking, plate spinning, juggling, etc. On the last day, 100 children from the Kids’ Camp performed a circus in which Ken, the cruise director, was the master of ceremonies. It was quite impressive and a fun activity for the children. On one evening, our daughter and granddaughter were chosen for Family Feud (for youngsters) and had a ball. There was also cupcake decorating, pizza making, a Family White Hot Party, etc. It would be hard to imagine a child not having fun on the cruise. Even the Under 2 Zoo had organized family activities (not available five years ago). Our children and grandchildren were very impressed with the all-out effort to make this a special week for them.

 

Dining

We ate together every night but one when our children and their families went to La Cucina after a shore excursion. They were very happy with their dinner there. La Cucina and Teppanyaki were the most popular of the specialty restaurants.

 

For those looking for specials, if you dined in the specialty restaurant at 6 p.m. or earlier, you were given one complimentary bottle of wine for every two adults. Since we ate in the Asian restaurant, Moderno (Brazilian barbecue) and Le Bistro (French) at 6 p.m. we had lots of wine! Children eat free in the specialty restaurants if they choose from the kids’ menu and at half-price if they choose selections from the children’s specialty menu at each venue. All the specialty restaurants had wonderful service and great food and ambience. The main dining rooms accommodated our requests to be ready for the early show. On debarkation morning, we ate in Grand Pacific. It was most enjoyable and the French toast was delicious.

 

We’re early risers and never faced a crowded buffet but our kids found it easier to eat with their children in the dining room-fewer choices, less hectic, etc.

 

If you have a big group, make your reservations in advance. I realize this is counter to free-style but you get the time you want and don’t have to wait. That works for me but others might prefer to “go with the flow.”

 

Miscellaneous

We were most impressed with the service. Our room attendant was friendly, came early to fix up our cabin and provided us with nightly towel animals. The shopping consultant, Chantal, was very lovely after I won a door prize at the latitudes party. Whenever we had any request (fix our safe, check our on board credit), the staff accommodated us immediately.

 

I think the children would have preferred the Chocoholic Buffet to be held mid-afternoon or earlier than 9:30 p.m. I would have preferred Progressive Trivia to be held late in the afternoon rather than 5:30 p.m. when I couldn’t participate because it interfered with dinner and the early show.

 

If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer.

Susan

[Hikini]

Glad you had a good time. Sometimes traveling with a larger group, even when everyone gets along, can be a little hectic. Glad it all worked out!

[NYGirl1002]

Great review! There's nothing like going away with your children and grandchildren. I'm glad you had a good time.

 

What did you do on the ports?

[vivavegas]

Welcome Back! Glad you had a good cruise! Thanks for sharing your review!:)

[Educators2]

Our kids loved Atlantis and the private island. Nickelodeon had more "slime" activities at the private island that the kids enjoyed. we really didn't do anything special. We found a Starbucks in Nassau to check our email.

[Studebaker59]

Terrific review! It answers many of the questions people sailing with children or large groups often ask on CC.

 

Delighted you all had such a good time.

 

What did you win at the Latitudes' Party?

[Educators2]

I won a stone necklace on a cord. Always fun to win but there were a lot fewer prizes than in past years. Also, there were many new cruisers to NCL. There were 800 Latitudes cruisers on board and that counts all the children who sailed before.

[wurm914]

did any of your group use babysitting service on the cruise? If so, how did that work?

 

thanks,

 

deb

[www3traveler]

Were there any Staff members who stood out??

[Educators2]

My kids used the Kids' Camp at night. It was free til 10 p.m. there was a per hour charge after that. One night they had an ice cream party.

 

Ken, the cruise director, was everywhere. He did a great job at kids' events.

 

The most impressive staff member was John from Nickelodeon. Both our son and daughter mentioned his energy. If you saw him and his staff in action, you knew immediately that they were the A Team.

 

The ship's officers were always around, too, and we're very accessible.