Gem Review - Spring Break - 3/22/13 to 3/31/13

[A1SusieQ]

Love the review and the photos.. Kadeek did not know when we got off the Gem on March 13th that he was going to be taking over for Florentina. That little secret was shared with us on the last day. We love 14010 it is our new home away from home. Not surprised about the diapers, we had a Haven full of them on our cruise along with a group that would have made your blood boil.

My husband is very jealous of your slot wins...he just cannot catch a break in the Casino..I stick to Roulette.

 

Andrea

 

 

Believe me, it is the first time I have walked away from an NCL Casino as a Winner and I get more than 10,000 points per cruise.

 

No one was more surprised than me. :)

 

14010 is the best room because it is right at the Haven entry and far enough from the elevators.

 

I heard about your cruise. People and staff onboard were still talking about the Haven being a Zoo during your cruise. :eek:

[alg7334]

Great review and love the pictures. Beautiful family. Would you mind sharing more about the Kayak, Hike and Snorkel excursion? My husband and I are are signed up for that excursion in about 2 weeks. Did you enjoy it?

[coffeecat]

Excellent review! Looks like you had a great time! You have a beautiful family.

 

coffeecat

[A1SusieQ]

Great review and love the pictures. Beautiful family. Would you mind sharing more about the Kayak, Hike and Snorkel excursion? My husband and I are are signed up for that excursion in about 2 weeks. Did you enjoy it?

 

 

The Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Excursion was very nice. My husband had a kayak with my younger daughter and I chose my older daughter foolishly thinking she would help me paddle.

 

She barely helped me paddle because it was too hard for her and she whacked me a couple of times with her oar, so I asked her to not paddle at all. LOL.

 

So it begins with an open air taxi ride (Very cool because they drive on the left side of the road and the roads are very hilly) It was sort of like a roller coaster.

 

We got to the office and were briefed about the trip and taken out by 3 guides.

 

There was a long kayak ride to an area where we pulled onshore a small island. Then we hike to a small water spout area and the guide took pictures that you could purchase at the end of the excursion.

 

By the time that hike was over, we were all pretty tired and sweaty and we hadn't even snorkled yet. But then it was time to snorkle.

 

You have to swim a pretty good distance in a lifevest which is much harder than swimming without a lifevest to the snorkle area. (The 8 year old chose to stay onshore with other small children who knew they didn't want to swim that distance.)

 

When I got to the snorkle area, we saw some fish, but not as many as if we were taken on a boat to the middle of the ocean.

 

When that was done, we had to kayak back the far distance to the beginning point.

 

If it were my husband and I in one kayak, it would have been a much easier kayak ride.

 

But I remember wishing that someone would tow me back to shore with a wave-runner. ;)

 

All in all it was a nice Nature encounter, but it is more physical than the description leads you to believe.

[maggie cruises]

CT. schools have their Spring Break around the 3rd week of April, near Patriots Day.

[A1SusieQ]

CT. schools have their Spring Break around the 3rd week of April, near Patriots Day.

 

 

I guess the Connecticut families I met must have pulled their children out of school or are in private schools.

 

Sorry for the error.

[tdc2673]

I enjoyed your review. Glad you had a good time. Great photos, you have a lovely family!

[alg7334]

The Kayak, Hike and Snorkel Excursion was very nice. My husband had a kayak with my younger daughter and I chose my older daughter foolishly thinking she would help me paddle.

 

She barely helped me paddle because it was too hard for her and she whacked me a couple of times with her oar, so I asked her to not paddle at all. LOL.

 

So it begins with an open air taxi ride (Very cool because they drive on the left side of the road and the roads are very hilly) It was sort of like a roller coaster.

 

We got to the office and were briefed about the trip and taken out by 3 guides.

 

There was a long kayak ride to an area where we pulled onshore a small island. Then we hike to a small water spout area and the guide took pictures that you could purchase at the end of the excursion.

 

By the time that hike was over, we were all pretty tired and sweaty and we hadn't even snorkled yet. But then it was time to snorkle.

 

You have to swim a pretty good distance in a lifevest which is much harder than swimming without a lifevest to the snorkle area. (The 8 year old chose to stay onshore with other small children who knew they didn't want to swim that distance.)

 

When I got to the snorkle area, we saw some fish, but not as many as if we were taken on a boat to the middle of the ocean.

 

When that was done, we had to kayak back the far distance to the beginning point.

 

If it were my husband and I in one kayak, it would have been a much easier kayak ride.

 

But I remember wishing that someone would tow me back to shore with a wave-runner. ;)

 

All in all it was a nice Nature encounter, but it is more physical than the description leads you to believe.

 

Thanks so much! It's just my husband and I going so I'll make him do the majority of the paddling!

[pixiedustdawn]

Great review!!

 

We had a great time at LeBistro with you. I am sure we will be seeing you again real soon.

 

Dawn

[Love my butler]

Does not taste as good as it looks. The Buffet pizza is much better.

 

 

The box has more flavor than the pizza.

[A1SusieQ]

Great review!!

 

We had a great time at LeBistro with you. I am sure we will be seeing you again real soon.

 

Dawn

 

Yes Dawn. Le Bistro was delicious and the company was even better!!

See you soon. :)

[A1SusieQ]

The box has more flavor than the pizza.

 

Why can't they make the room service pizza more like the Buffet Pizza??

[johnsak123]

I think it is very nice that Kadek is the concierge. When I sailed 12/31 he was the butler and very attentive and thoughtful. The concierge was Ryan and he was good for absolutely nothing. you hardly saw him and he acted like he was doing you a big favour when you asked him a question. I heard Sinan was back. He is the best. I remember when he was the bingo boy on the jewel. He makes sailing a joy.

I cant believe you didn't complain to the higher ups about the diapers in the pool That is not only inconsiderate of the parents but down right gross

Great Pics thanks

JS

[gcsmith]

The diapers in the pool I can't do anything about. But can you tell me more about the men in diapers so I can avoid it, or perhaps tell my wife to go see it while I do something else?

[A1SusieQ]

The diapers in the pool I can't do anything about. But can you tell me more about the men in diapers so I can avoid it, or perhaps tell my wife to go see it while I do something else?

 

 

LOL

 

That is a number performed by the Cruise Staff called "Fountains" It is hysterical. It is traditionally performed on the last night of the cruise.

[A1SusieQ]

I think it is very nice that Kadek is the concierge. When I sailed 12/31 he was the butler and very attentive and thoughtful. The concierge was Ryan and he was good for absolutely nothing. you hardly saw him and he acted like he was doing you a big favour when you asked him a question. I heard Sinan was back. He is the best. I remember when he was the bingo boy on the jewel. He makes sailing a joy.

I cant believe you didn't complain to the higher ups about the diapers in the pool That is not only inconsiderate of the parents but down right gross

Great Pics thanks

JS

 

 

You know when you are on vacation you just don't want to bring yourself down by complaining. I did talk to Kadek about it, but apparently he did not speak with them or they ignored him.

 

Yes Sinan is an excellent Cruise Director.

[sebas030]

LOL

 

That is a number performed by the Cruise Staff called "Fountains" It is hysterical. It is traditionally performed on the last night of the cruise.

 

 

Look it up on youtube...

 

Saw it on the Star last September.....funny...very funny....IF you are into people spitting on other people ;)

[camz]

Great review with beautiful pictures. The diapers in the pool scenario - YUCK! I too would have kept my children out of the pool from thereon out, no matter if NCL resolved the situation right there and then or not. I too wouldn't have wasted my vacation time complaining to customer service. But it is amazing how some passengers are so out of touch with reality or just incredibly self-indulgent and rude. Looking forward to the rest of your story. :)

[A1SusieQ]

Great review with beautiful pictures. The diapers in the pool scenario - YUCK! I too would have kept my children out of the pool from thereon out, no matter if NCL resolved the situation right there and then or not. I too wouldn't have wasted my vacation time complaining to customer service. But it is amazing how some passengers are so out of touch with reality or just incredibly self-indulgent and rude. Looking forward to the rest of your story. :)

 

 

Thanks Cam. I believe they were the self-indulgent type. :rolleyes:

[lv2travel98]

Really enjoying your review and pictures of the Gem. Your daughters are adorable. Looks like you all had a great time! I leave on the Gem April 18th. This will be my second time on the Gem but first time in a forward Penthouse Suite. Really looking forward to being spoiled. I noticed that our cruise is almost sold out. I thought by booking late in April I would miss the spring break crowds. You mentioned that CT was on spring break later in April. Wonder what other school districts are on break then. I guess maybe thats why our cruise is almost booked. Looking forward to reading the rest of your review, and you took home some of my donations from the casino!!! LOL :-)

[sparks1093]

Thanks for the review and pics (of course I can't show the Haven pics to DW, she would want to upgrade;).)

[skyedog]

You know when you are on vacation you just don't want to bring yourself down by complaining. I did talk to Kadek about it, but apparently he did not speak with them or they ignored him.

 

Yes Sinan is an excellent Cruise Director.

 

 

We were your neighbors on this cruise, in 14008. I think I took the picture of the 4 of you upstairs?

Agree 100% with everything you wrote. We had a great trip also, cannot wait to go again. My in-laws were also staying in the Haven. They said something about the diapers in the pool, but nothing was done to correct this. I know they drained the pool & hot tub and sanitized them every night. We made sure to swim in the morning, before the diaper kids went in. Other than that minor problem, everything else was wonderful.

[A1SusieQ]

We were your neighbors on this cruise, in 14008. I think I took the picture of the 4 of you upstairs?

Agree 100% with everything you wrote. We had a great trip also, cannot wait to go again. My in-laws were also staying in the Haven. They said something about the diapers in the pool, but nothing was done to correct this. I know they drained the pool & hot tub and sanitized them every night. We made sure to swim in the morning, before the diaper kids went in. Other than that minor problem, everything else was wonderful.

 

 

Thank you for the picture neighbor! It was a great trip. We just booked the GEM for 8/24/13, in the Haven again!

 

I wasn't aware of the pools being drained every night. That would have given me more comfort.

[skyedog]

Thank you for the picture neighbor! It was a great trip. We just booked the GEM for 8/24/13, in the Haven again!

 

I wasn't aware of the pools being drained every night. That would have given me more comfort.

 

You are very welcome for the picture. I saw the empty pools myself at night, we were very happy to see this. Have a great trip in August. My 2 girls are bugging me to book the next one.

[oklaviking]

Thanks for the photos and review of your cruise. I am glad you and your family had a great time. I am booked on the Gem in March of 2014. I am looking forward to sailing on the Gem and passing by the Statue of Liberty.