Tell me why I will love the Gem..

[TraJon9]

I know this is a strange request..

 

My husband and I love the Breakaway.. Usually a balcony room towards the aft elevators. We take things at our own leisure. We love to gamble. Typically spend our days in the sun, speciality dining 5 of the 7 nights later in the evening. So I booked a Aft minisuite for the repositioning cruise next October 15 to San Juan on the Gem, 2016. Now I know we won't have vibe which we love but that's okay. We were going to stay in San Juan two days. Free plane and marriott hotel stay (so many miles) This is a 9 day cruise.

 

I just found out that Anthem of the Seas will be in NJ. Just as convenient for us. They have a few Caribbean cruises 2016. Balcony room same price as we are paying for a The Gem. But we will lose the UBP. So that would be a 400 dollar loss. This would be a 11 day cruise.

 

What would you do? And do please talk me into the Gem..

[Demonyte]

This is a 9 day cruise.

....

But we will lose the UBP. So that would be a 400 dollar loss.

 

With current price UBP for 9 days is $576pp, $1152 for two people (gratuities/bar service charge not included as those would most likely need to be paid anyway).

 

Can't help you with why you would love Gem though - for me personally Jewel class ships are the best in fleet, I prefer them even over Breakaway class ships that are second.

Edited October 5, 2015 by Demonyte

[sparks1093]

I know this is a strange request..

 

My husband and I love the Breakaway.. Usually a balcony room towards the aft elevators. We take things at our own leisure. We love to gamble. Typically spend our days in the sun, speciality dining 5 of the 7 nights later in the evening. So I booked a Aft minisuite for the repositioning cruise next October 15 to San Juan on the Gem, 2016. Now I know we won't have vibe which we love but that's okay. We were going to stay in San Juan two days. Free plane and marriott hotel stay (so many miles) This is a 9 day cruise.

 

I just found out that Anthem of the Seas will be in NJ. Just as convenient for us. They have a few Caribbean cruises 2016. Balcony room same price as we are paying for a The Gem. But we will lose the UBP. So that would be a 400 dollar loss. This would be a 11 day cruise.

 

What would you do? And do please talk me into the Gem..

 

The Gem was a great ship and we had a wonderful time onboard but if I could book another cruise that is two days longer for the same price I would probably book that one, unless I couldn't swing the vacation time.

[CruisinHarvey]

I can't help you. As already stated it's a Jewel class ship. Not as many entertainment venues, rock walls, or ropes courses as the breakaway class ships. O'Sheehan's is a converted 24 diner, so there's no games. like darts or pool. They do have murder mystery lunch in Le Bistro one day, which is fun. Otherwise, it's a more relaxing traditional set up and atmosphere. So I guess it comes to what you like to do on your cruise.

[gwsster]

I can't help you. As already stated it's a Jewel class ship. Not as many entertainment venues, rock walls, or ropes courses as the breakaway class ships. O'Sheehan's is a converted 24 diner, so there's no games. like darts or pool. They do have murder mystery lunch in Le Bistro one day, which is fun. Otherwise, it's a more relaxing traditional set up and atmosphere. So I guess it comes to what you like to do on your cruise.

 

The Gem does have a rock wall for climbing. They have darts in the Spinnaker lounge. There are bowling alleys up in the Bliss lounge. There are basketball courts, a small golf pad, pools, spa's, library, game room, and a casino with a few slots also in the Bliss lounge for those that don't tolerate cigarette smoke.

We loved the Gem, even on a rainy day last week the common areas didn't feel over crowded. We had a Mini Suite..basically a Balcony plus that was spacious and the balcony was great. I want to try the aft Mini Suite. I don't think I would do the forward Suites, the wind is too much under sail.

We like the Jewel class ships and the folks that had the UBP were very "happy" on the ship and thought that was a better value for them over other perks.

I am sure which ever cruise you take will be fine. There was something for everyone. You won't love everything about any ship, we found some that thought the freestyle cruise wasn't dressy enough. This was an older crowd New England cruise and they preferred set dining times (this can be arranged with NCL if you like). We like not having to pack suits and cocktail dresses. In fact did this cruise with carry-on luggage:) One nice thing is the GEM will be undergoing dry dock renovation in November of 2015 with new lounges, carpet, furniture and of course the mechanics of the ship.

[CruisinHarvey]

The Gem does have a rock wall for climbing. They have darts in the Spinnaker lounge. There are bowling alleys up in the Bliss lounge. There are basketball courts, a small golf pad, pools, spa's, library, game room, and a casino with a few slots also in the Bliss lounge for those that don't tolerate cigarette smoke.

We loved the Gem, even on a rainy day last week the common areas didn't feel over crowded. We had a Mini Suite..basically a Balcony plus that was spacious and the balcony was great. I want to try the aft Mini Suite. I don't think I would do the forward Suites, the wind is too much under sail.

We like the Jewel class ships and the folks that had the UBP were very "happy" on the ship and thought that was a better value for them over other perks.

I am sure which ever cruise you take will be fine. There was something for everyone. You won't love everything about any ship, we found some that thought the freestyle cruise wasn't dressy enough. This was an older crowd New England cruise and they preferred set dining times (this can be arranged with NCL if you like). We like not having to pack suits and cocktail dresses. In fact did this cruise with carry-on luggage:) One nice thing is the GEM will be undergoing dry dock renovation in November of 2015 with new lounges, carpet, furniture and of course the mechanics of the ship.

 

OP is correct they do have a rock wall. Sorry about that, It was closed when we were on, and I forgot about it. Yes they have dart board in the Spinnaker lounge. but, it's not in O'Sheehans. The newer breakaway class has games, like darts, pool table in the restaurant, so it feels more like a pub. The Spinnaker, which doesn't exist on the breakaway class ships. It's your more traditional lounge you find on most ships. It's up high and in the front of the ship for a good view. It's also where evening music and dancing are.

[Barb Nahoumi]

I haven't been on the Gem yet, but will be next spring. I have been on other Jewel class ships, and never needed to make reservations for shows or the MDR. Others posted that this was needed on the mega-ships.

 

When we on the Explorer of the Seas, we found somethings missing that NCL still does for pssengers. For instance, RCCI does not have the MDR open for embarkation day lunch. All had to fend for themselves in a crowded buffet. NCL greets passengers returning to the ship after tours in hot weather, with cold drinks and icy face-cloths. Royal does not. These little things mean a lot.

 

Yes, DH and I are looking forward to our 10 day cruise on the Gem next April.

[antmaril]

I was on the Gem last week (my first time on NCL). I have to disagree with a previous poster who said the common areas didn't feel crowded. I thought the exact opposite. The common areas almost always felt crowded to me. I think the atrium is tight and it was nearly impossible to get a seat at Magnum's unless you got there an hour or more before something was scheduled or absolutely nothing was going. Getting a seat in the buffet in the morning was challenging. My friend and I went into La Cucina to sit for the first few days, but then people caught on to that and it was full too. Of course, if you go into the buffet very early or very late for breakfast, it would be fine. However, if you want to eat around 9:00 be prepared to hunt for a table.

 

We never had to wait for a table at either of the dining rooms. There was usually a few people ahead of us in line, but it took almost no time at all to get a table. We thought the food was very good. No real complaints. Desserts are lacking, but we still ate them 😀

 

I think the dry dock will help because I felt like some of the furniture was "tired". That will be remedied soon, which is good.

 

We had a mid-ship mini-suite on Deck 11, which we found quite roomy, with lots of storage.

 

I haven't been on the Breakway, so I can't compare.

 

The crew on the Gem is fantastic. Very nice and eager to please.

 

We had the UBP and I loved that. I would not pay for it because I don't drink enough to make it worthwhile, but it sure was fun not to have a bar bill at the end of the cruise.

[Red-Sol]

This thread comes at a perfect time for me. I will be following closely. We are just off our third sailing on the Breakaway and are looking at a 10 day sailing on the Gem (which we haven't been on yet) next March/April.

 

Entertainment is important to us. On the Breakaway we have seen Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor multiple times. While very good shows we have started to feel that the need to make reservations (which were often changed once onboard) along with having many shows/events in the Atrium (which ends up being too crowded for those)...to be somewhat of a hassle.

 

So my specific question is what do people think of the quality and types of entertainment on the Gem? Are all events held in the theater? Do they change nightly? Are they good?

 

TIA

Edited October 5, 2015 by Red-Sol

[antmaril]

This thread comes at a perfect time for me. I will be following closely. We are just off our third sailing on the Breakaway and are looking at a 10 day sailing on the Gem (which we haven't been on yet) next March/April.

 

Entertainment is important to us. On the Breakaway we have seen Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor multiple times. While very good shows we have started to feel that the need to make reservations (which were often changed once onboard) along with having many shows/events in the Atrium (which ends up being too crowded for those)...to be somewhat of a hassle.

 

So my specific question is what do people think of the quality and types of entertainment on the Gem? Are all events held in the theater? Do they change nightly? Are they good?

 

TIA

 

We only saw three shows on the Gem -- two musical productions and The Second City. I thought the performers were very talented. I honestly felt like this was the first time I really enjoyed a show on a cruise ship. The shows themselves seem a bit dated, but the performances were excellent. These young people could really sing and that was refreshing. I fell asleep during the Second City and my friend didn't care for it at all. We spoke to others on the cruise who hated it. I don't think this was the right crowd for that show (a lot of older people on our cruise, including me and my friend - early sixties).

 

Except for The Second City, I think the passengers really enjoyed the entertainment on the Gem.

 

Hopefully, others who have been on the Gem will give you their thoughts.

[Turtles06]

This is an interesting thread for me, as my spouse and I have sailed twice on the Gem, as well as once each on the Jade and Jewel, two of her sister ships. We will be boarding Anthem of the Seas in three weeks for her inaugural transatlantic (so excited!), and have a 10-night cruise booked on the Gem for February.

 

Here are my random thoughts in response to the OP's question. I love the size of the Jewel-class ships (and have no real interest in sailing on the Breakaway). Our most recent cruise on the Gem was in May; we were joined by family who had never cruised before, and we all had a fun time. I like NCL's freestyle dining and relaxed atmosphere. The Gem has some wonderful places to hang out outdoors, including the Great Outdoors and the sundeck all the way forward as high as you can go. And there's a promenade deck, something that newer builds just don't have.

 

Entertainment is usually a big plus on NCL, but I found it fairly disappointing this last time around on the Gem. RCI has gone all out with Anthem -- a full production of We Will Rock You, plus a couple of other special shows (in addition to the usual assortment of hypnotists, comics, etc.).

 

I can't comment on Anthem in terms of personal experience since we haven't sailed on her yet, but comparing her to the Gem is comparing apples and oranges. Anthem is not only a much newer ship, but she's twice the size, and in some ways is more amusement park than ship. (Bumper cars! Simulated sky diving! North Star! Flowrider!) From what I can tell, very few places where you can really be outdoors and feel connected to the ocean. Lots of pre-cruise work to make dining reservations and then juggle them all again when entertainment became available to book and created some conflicts. Those are not pluses in my mind. All that said, I think we are going to have a fun and fantastic crossing, and we're really looking forward to it. But it's hard for me to imagine being on this mega-ship for a "regular" cruise, potentially with lots of kids. I could be totally wrong, though, about what that would be like, and for sure plenty of cruisers have had great time on Anthem this summer. And the OP did enjoy Breakaway...

 

OP, I guess it depends on what types of ships you like, what you enjoy doing, etc. Whatever you decide, have a great time!

[mommyto2girls]

We have sailed both but the Gem many many more times. We love it. the size is perfect. It is like our giant yacht at sea. The Casino is 100% better than the BA much more personal and the crew is always amazing. We are not big on shows we spend more time in the casino. I really dislike the size of the BA too many people for me.

[Crusin6]

I like the gem and like ncl but if I could sail rccl for 11 days for the same price you can bet I would be trying them out

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[fshagan]

So my specific question is what do people think of the quality and types of entertainment on the Gem? Are all events held in the theater? Do they change nightly? Are they good?

 

They change nightly, but are not as high quality as the full production shows on the Away ships or the Epic. We saw Blue Man Group on the Epic and went back again. It was the best show we have ever seen on a cruise ship. We haven't been on an Away ship yet so I can't speak to them specifically.

 

The Gem has a production staff that is very good, both singing and dancing, but the shows are basically medleys .... an hour of songs and dances related only by a theme and not a story line per se. So they aren't really shows with a story line as much as they are .... well, I guess like a old time TV variety show with music. The Epic had a closer-to-Broadway type of show with a story line. I don't know if Rock of Ages is more Broadway than TV variety show.

 

The Gem has a more intimate feel, and has great musicians ... on our cruise there was a celtic music trio (Cynthia MacLoed), a piano player / singer, a house band that did popular music (latin, pop, rock, etc.) They had a magician / illusionist show that was a couple who did a number of aerobatic acts, and Second City (which has never, ever been funny, but continues to get booked. I may be exaggerating). Acts were spread out across the lounges, bars and theater. I felt there was always something to hear and do.

 

If entertainment were really, really important to me, and I preferred big blockbuster style entertainment in the the theater over the more intimate setting in a lounge, the Gem would be second choice to the newer ships. But I actually prefer the more intimate feel and the ability to talk to the performers before or after their set.

[Turtles06]

.. and Second City (which has never, ever been funny, but continues to get booked. I may be exaggerating).

 

I agree. Not funny. Don't understand why they keep getting booked either.

[bbryan5]

I agree. Not funny. Don't understand why they keep getting booked either.

 

Agree 100%. We have given it 2 chances, had to walk out both times. Not funny at all.

[Turtles06]

Since we've mentioned entertainment on the Gem, probably one of THE best entertainers we have ever seen, on land or at sea, was on the Gem -- Laurie Anne Gardner. She's a piano bar entertainer, and just phenomenal. So good that we went back to see her every night. Alas, I think she's given up cruising, but one thing about NCL is that they do continue to have this sort of entertainment on board; it's really wonderful, after dinner, to just sit in a lounge and listen to some live music.

[cdBevermann]

I was on the same recent cruise as antmaril and fshagan. I've cruised with other lines, but this was my first time on NCL.

 

There were three things I really liked about my experience on the Gem: the live music, relaxed NCL dress code, and the eagerness of the staff to please the guests.

 

LOL, I think I was one of about 10 guests on the ship who actually enjoyed The Second City.

 

Numerous crew members displayed the very highest levels of professionalism and courtesy. Luz (assistant cruise director), Hadi (waiter), and Leo (musician) were among many who made our vacation enjoyable and memorable.

 

Only 2-3 crew members with which we had direct interaction did not display an attitude of customer service, which IMO, is outstanding for a crew of 1100.

 

I was a little bit disappointed in the lack of educationally-oriented activities (such as lectures or a formal organized viewing session for the lunar eclipse), but this would not necessarily prevent me from cruising with NCL again.

 

I was on the younger end of the scale for this particular cruise (late 30's), but I had a great time. Most of the other passengers were pleasant. Only a few were extremely rude or cranky, and they were generally easy to avoid.

 

Regards,

C.D.

Edited October 6, 2015 by cdBevermann

[NOSaints1]

What months does the Gem sail out of NY?

[Red-Sol]

For the most part the Gem Homeports and sails out of New York. There are different itineraries based on the time of Year for either the Bahamas, Canada/New England, or the Caribbean. Different numbers of nights as well depending on the Itinerary.

 

For a period of time between October and December 2016 the Gem will be sailing from San Juan much of that time.

[Red-Sol]

We have sailed both but the Gem many many more times. We love it. the size is perfect. It is like our giant yacht at sea. The Casino is 100% better than the BA much more personal and the crew is always amazing. We are not big on shows we spend more time in the casino. I really dislike the size of the BA too many people for me.

 

This is good to hear since we spend a lot of time in the casino as well. (Probably too much since recently we have been doing bookings through CAS and getting certain comps :) )

 

I also don't like the overall layout and feeling of the Breakaway casino...like you said it just isn't personal enough.

[mommyto2girls]

This is good to hear since we spend a lot of time in the casino as well. (Probably too much since recently we have been doing bookings through CAS and getting certain comps :) )

 

I also don't like the overall layout and feeling of the Breakaway casino...like you said it just isn't personal enough.

 

We book through CAS as well and we love the Casino on the Gem, they have a great staff and we love feel of the room as opposed to the awful layout on the BA.

[Red-Sol]

They change nightly, but are not as high quality as the full production shows on the Away ships or the Epic. We saw Blue Man Group on the Epic and went back again. It was the best show we have ever seen on a cruise ship. We haven't been on an Away ship yet so I can't speak to them specifically.

 

The Gem has a production staff that is very good, both singing and dancing, but the shows are basically medleys .... an hour of songs and dances related only by a theme and not a story line per se. So they aren't really shows with a story line as much as they are .... well, I guess like a old time TV variety show with music. The Epic had a closer-to-Broadway type of show with a story line. I don't know if Rock of Ages is more Broadway than TV variety show.

 

The Gem has a more intimate feel, and has great musicians ... on our cruise there was a celtic music trio (Cynthia MacLoed), a piano player / singer, a house band that did popular music (latin, pop, rock, etc.) They had a magician / illusionist show that was a couple who did a number of aerobatic acts, and Second City (which has never, ever been funny, but continues to get booked. I may be exaggerating). Acts were spread out across the lounges, bars and theater. I felt there was always something to hear and do.

 

If entertainment were really, really important to me, and I preferred big blockbuster style entertainment in the the theater over the more intimate setting in a lounge, the Gem would be second choice to the newer ships. But I actually prefer the more intimate feel and the ability to talk to the performers before or after their set.

 

We saw the Blue Man group twice on the Epic and I agree it was definitely very good!

 

Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor on the Breakaway are more similar to Broadway type shows. They are both very good and worthwhile to see. Neither beats Blue Man though! :) IMHO

 

The way you described the Gem Entertainment is what I thought it would be. Actually I am OK with that though as it will be nice not to need to book any times in advance. I will definitely like that aspect of it for sure. We are actually easy people to please when it comes to entertainment and don't feel that any type of entertainment that isn't of a "Broadway Production Quality" isn't worth seeing. I think based on your description the entertainment offered on the Gem will be just fine for us!

 

We also enjoyed the Cirque Dinner Shows on both the Epic and Breakaway and will probably miss those a little.

 

Off topic a little but we were in Las Vegas awhile ago and went to a show there called Le Reve The Dream...it was the most fantastic show I have ever seen anywhere...just great!

[fshagan]

I was on the same recent cruise as antmaril and fshagan. I've cruised with other lines, but this was my first time on NCL.

 

There were three things I really liked about my experience on the Gem: the live music, relaxed NCL dress code, and the eagerness of the staff to please the guests.

 

LOL, I think I was one of about 10 guests on the ship who actually enjoyed The Second City.

 

You mentioned you are in your late 30's, and I'm 59, so it might be a generational thing with Second City!

 

 

I was a little bit disappointed in the lack of educationally-oriented activities (such as lectures or a formal organized viewing session for the lunar eclipse), but this would not necessarily prevent me from cruising with NCL again.

 

Now that I think about it, I don't think NCL has educational lectures on any of their cruises. Not even the ones to Alaska, where a naturalist would be potentially interesting. Disney and Princess do, but I don't know about others.

[fshagan]

The way you described the Gem Entertainment is what I thought it would be. Actually I am OK with that though as it will be nice not to need to book any times in advance.

 

The Away class ships are getting a reputation for having public spaces and venues too small for their ~4,000 passengers. The Jewel class ships have larger theaters in comparison to the passenger capacity, and we never have made reservations or been unable to find a seat for a show.

 

Dining was easier as well. We made reservations because we were worried the specialities would be filled with all the promos, but all except Teppanaki were taking walk ups most of the time.

 

antmaril mentioned that the lounges were crowded for the popular acts, like the Cynthia MacLoed Trio, and she's right. The Magnum's lounge they were performing in is a small venue, with seating for a few dozen people, and they proved to be more popular than the venue's capacity. We were able to grab a seat as people left during one performance, but otherwise stood at the fringes. They did have the Trio in the Spinnaker Lounge on Thursday night, and there was plenty of seating in there for the new fans of their music.