baseballalways Posted November 16, 2015 #451 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Thanks for posting the pictures. How did you get so up close and personal? I'm guessing you work for NCL? We sail on her on December 3rd. Really looking forward to it! Where on social media can we see these. Going cray cray over here trying to find more pics! Thanks again!! Pixiedustdawn does not work for NCL, but has many friends on the ship. - Connie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezo Posted November 16, 2015 #452 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Not at all impressed with the new waterslide. Doesn't look steep enough. [/color] Were you ever on the old slide? A favorite past time for everyone on this ship is to watch person after person get stuck on the slide. No one could make it down the original unless you knew to lift yourself up and lean on your shoulders. Every day on every cruise people would get about 5 feet and then have to use their hands to push the rest of the way down. I dont see how this could be any worse than than. The old one could be very fast if you did it right, but for the majority of people giving it a shot they didn't budge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Turtles06 Posted November 16, 2015 #453 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Were you ever on the old slide? A favorite past time for everyone on this ship is to watch person after person get stuck on the slide. No one could make it down the original unless you knew to lift yourself up and lean on your shoulders. Every day on every cruise people would get about 5 feet and then have to use their hands to push the rest of the way down. I dont see how this could be any worse than than. The old one could be very fast if you did it right, but for the majority of people giving it a shot they didn't budge. This made me laugh. Nearly six years ago, on a winter Med cruise aboard the Jade (same as the Gem), I tried the slide one day. Almost immediately, I was stuck. I definitely had to use the hand method to push myself down. Thankfully, it was winter and NO ONE was out on the pool deck (the only reason I'd even tried it), so I wasn't utterly embarrassed. :o I've sailed on the Gem twice since then, and haven't gone near the slide. :) As I said in an earlier post, I think the slides on the Jewel class ships are really meant for little kids. They were built well before the new mega ships and the advent of water slides being attractions for adults. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2swimwdolphins Posted November 16, 2015 #454 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Full disclosure ... Last Gem cruise I got stuck!! After whooping it up on the slides on the Breakaway I was optimistic ![emoji4] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezo Posted November 16, 2015 #455 Share Posted November 16, 2015 This made me laugh. Nearly six years ago, on a winter Med cruise aboard the Jade (same as the Gem), I tried the slide one day. Almost immediately, I was stuck. I definitely had to use the hand method to push myself down. Thankfully, it was winter and NO ONE was out on the pool deck (the only reason I'd even tried it), so I wasn't utterly embarrassed. :o I've sailed on the Gem twice since then, and haven't gone near the slide. :) As I said in an earlier post, I think the slides on the Jewel class ships are really meant for little kids. They were built well before the new mega ships and the advent of water slides being attractions for adults. The trick is to get a good start and get your butt off the slide. For guys anyway that caused all the drag. Ride on your heels, push your butt off and get your upper back / shoulders on there and you would rocket down that thing. By the end we were going so fast on the slide we werent sure if we'd be able to stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2boyzmom Posted November 17, 2015 #456 Share Posted November 17, 2015 So this Carlos is great? I hope so since we are boarding 2/11 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixiedustdawn Posted November 17, 2015 Author #457 Share Posted November 17, 2015 So this Carlos is great? I hope so since we are boarding 2/11 :) You may have Francesco when you board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimmo1974 Posted November 17, 2015 #458 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Can't tell you how the water slide is because it hasn't actually been open yet lol Always closed. Not sure why. There have been some glitches coming out in front dry dock that the crew is working it's hardest to correct. Not all suites have the portable phones that should have them. Minor issues like out faucet in the bathroom sink not secured. Our door to the bathroom doesn't stay closed unless it's locked which means it swing open and shut pretty much all the time...we've gotten used to it lol Honestly, Carlos is great but he needs help. Twice he's called our room with answers to questions we never asked because whoever is giving him messages is getting the room numbers wrong. The only thing we've asked for so far is to change a dinner reservation but I know there's people requiring much more effort then we have. I feel like there should be more then one concierge. Just my opinion though. We sailed last on the Breakaway and are definitely enjoying the Gem more. The food in the specialty restaurants has been excellent. We're not food snobs but I have an Italian who has two restaurants and takes food very seriously.. No complaints at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrrobby Posted November 17, 2015 #459 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Hey Mimmo, Considering your boyfriend is Italian and owns restaurant's I wonder what he thought about La Cucina? I always thought Cagney's and Le Bistro were much higher quality than La Cucina and Italian food is my favorite. Hopefully they have upped the quality in La Cucina. Enjoy the cruise. All the Best Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixiedustdawn Posted November 17, 2015 Author #460 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Can't tell you how the water slide is because it hasn't actually been open yet lol Always closed. Not sure why. There have been some glitches coming out in front dry dock that the crew is working it's hardest to correct. Not all suites have the portable phones that should have them. Minor issues like out faucet in the bathroom sink not secured. Our door to the bathroom doesn't stay closed unless it's locked which means it swing open and shut pretty much all the time...we've gotten used to it lol Honestly, Carlos is great but he needs help. Twice he's called our room with answers to questions we never asked because whoever is giving him messages is getting the room numbers wrong. The only thing we've asked for so far is to change a dinner reservation but I know there's people requiring much more effort then we have. I feel like there should be more then one concierge. Just my opinion though. We sailed last on the Breakaway and are definitely enjoying the Gem more. The food in the specialty restaurants has been excellent. We're not food snobs but I have an Italian who has two restaurants and takes food very seriously.. No complaints at all. Have a great day in Puerto Rico!! Glad to hear you are enjoying and realizing out of dry dock there will be some small glitches. Gem crew is fantastic and I am sure they are exhausted and doing the all that they can for you to enjoy your sailing! Thanks for coming in for an update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimmo1974 Posted November 17, 2015 #461 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Hey Mimmo, Considering your boyfriend is Italian and owns restaurant's I wonder what he thought about La Cucina? I always thought Cagney's and Le Bistro were much higher quality than La Cucina and Italian food is my favorite. Hopefully they have upped the quality in La Cucina. Enjoy the cruise. All the Best Rob Welllllll he doesn't love it. We tried it on the Breakaway and while he didn't complain I won't make reservations to go back. To be fair we typically avoid Italian restaurants when we eat out. Especially if I am taking charge of where we eat I stay away from Italian food. Then I get a lecture about Napoli and how he makes it blah blah blah. Lol Cagneys has been exceptional this trip to be honest. The rib eye I had the other night is one of the best steaks I've had. Anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boopsahoy Posted November 17, 2015 #462 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Welllllll he doesn't love it. We tried it on the Breakaway and while he didn't complain I won't make reservations to go back. To be fair we typically avoid Italian restaurants when we eat out. Especially if I am taking charge of where we eat I stay away from Italian food. Then I get a lecture about Napoli and how he makes it blah blah blah. Lol Cagneys has been exceptional this trip to be honest. The rib eye I had the other night is one of the best steaks I've had. Anywhere. I am Italian and hate to go to Italian restaurants-I am always disappointed! My husband loves anything with sauce and cheese though so we have been going at least once to Cucina-I have to say their osso bucco is delish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeter195 Posted November 17, 2015 #463 Share Posted November 17, 2015 I am a chef and have been to La Cucina about 8 times now on different ships and can honestly say that the only thing that has been good is the osso bucco, most times. But to be honest all you need is time(6-8 hours) to make it good. My wife likes chicken parm, but the sauce they make or open from a can is bad. Cagneys and teppenyaki and sushi are our favorites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2swimwdolphins Posted November 17, 2015 #464 Share Posted November 17, 2015 La cucina is a chicken parm factory. At best. Have a hankering for "Italian" ?order one of their pizzas and split a salad. Enjoy a glass of a hearty Chianti. That's the best bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boopsahoy Posted November 17, 2015 #465 Share Posted November 17, 2015 La cucina is a chicken parm factory. At best. Have a hankering for "Italian" ?order one of their pizzas and split a salad. Enjoy a glass of a hearty Chianti. That's the best bet. Their pizza is quite good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitnee1 Posted November 17, 2015 #466 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Honestly coming from the NY/ NJ area where Italian restaraunts rock La Cucina is a huge disappointment. As others have said it is a Chicken Parm factory with sauce that is really awful. Ate there a couple of times and have never been back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitnee1 Posted November 17, 2015 #467 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Really curious to hear of the cabanas on the Haven sun deck have to be reserved and if there is an additional charge. Do not see how there could be given what you are paying already for this area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tumblew467 Posted November 17, 2015 #468 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Really curious to hear of the cabanas on the Haven sun deck have to be reserved and if there is an additional charge. Do not see how there could be given what you are paying already for this area. I think in post 431 pixdiedustdawn said she hopes to find out by next week. I am curious about that as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2swimwdolphins Posted November 17, 2015 #469 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Yes! Their pizza is quite good. When we go we order one of their speciality pizzas. With that we are happy. I jar my own tomatoes and make my own sauce.... I'm picky. I admit it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jezo Posted November 17, 2015 #470 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Honestly coming from the NY/ NJ area where Italian restaraunts rock La Cucina is a huge disappointment. As others have said it is a Chicken Parm factory with sauce that is really awful. Ate there a couple of times and have never been back. The rest of the country things Olive Garden is a really good Italian joint. We are a special class of protected people who know good food, we just need to smile and let the rest of them enjoy their microwaved meals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2swimwdolphins Posted November 17, 2015 #471 Share Posted November 17, 2015 The rest of the country things Olive Garden is a really good Italian joint. We are a special class of protected people who know good food, we just need to smile and let the rest of them enjoy their microwaved meals. Olive Garden offends me! (but I respect people's right to eat there) Anyway, back to the thread..Can't wait to see the new and improved Gem! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP_Quebec Posted November 17, 2015 #472 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Has the climbing wall been reopened? if so, how much does it cost and is it better to bring your own climbing shoes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deedee85 Posted November 17, 2015 #473 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Has the climbing wall been reopened? if so, how much does it cost and is it better to bring your own climbing shoes? Great question! I was wondering the same thing. Also, has the bowling alley definitely been removed? I heard that it was going but haven't gotten confirmation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixiedustdawn Posted November 17, 2015 Author #474 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Great question! I was wondering the same thing. Also, has the bowling alley definitely been removed? I heard that it was going but haven't gotten confirmation. Yes it has been removed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixiedustdawn Posted November 17, 2015 Author #475 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Haven cabanas are first come, first serve for Haven guests only. No charge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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