NCL Gem Terrible Debarkation Procedure

[psupa]

Just want to give heads up info to anyone sailing on the NCL Gem out of New York. We had an absolutely terrible disembarkation; we need wheel chair assistance and this is where NCL fails miserably. It was the worst debark we have ever experienced on any cruise line.

 

You report to an area that was very congested and sign up and wait, but they just don't have enough personnel to assist passengers. We waited over 2 hours and were a few of the last people off the ship. When we finally got a wheel chair and into the terminal there were no porters. Our van service arrived at 11:00, but we were still in the terminal waiting for them to get porters to assist us. This is totally unacceptable.

 

Anyone who needs to use this service at the end of the cruise needs to know there may be a problem. My DH uses a walker and can only walk short distances, so we have no choice because the walk from the gangway to the terminal and then out of the terminal is not a short one in New York.

 

NCL's Special Needs Assistance on embarkation day wasn't any better and you will need to sign up and wait there too.

[searoses]

I have had good luck on the gem and dawn embarking and debarking from the dawn....debark from the gem was crazy....tho we were in time for a porter.....

[NMLady]

Sometimes paet of the problem is if immigration officials are late and/or if there aren't enough. Wheelchair disembarkstion from Star in San Pedro was horrendous because of this. It was 9:30am before disembarkation could even start. The wheelchair people were congregated in theater far from gangway.

Then the crew member calling names did not follow color groups and there were not enough wheel chair pushers and they were only allowed to push as far as the terminal. We then had to wait for a port escort pusher. The entire disembarkation was a nightmare. It was 11:30am before we were off the ship. We missed our transfer bus and had to take a later one. Luckily we had a late afternoon flight so didn't miss that.

 

On the other hand wheelchair disembarkation at Houston's Bayport terminal was a breeze. We were in a lounge near the gangway. The officials were on time which let disembarkation start on time. There were enough wheelchair pushers and we were called in correct order. We were off the ship by 9am. Amazing.

[ronrick1943]

Sorry, but things happen---don't use one time thing to make up your mind.

[QuickieGlenn]

I have been on the GEM 3 times and it always sucks getting off

There is such chaos and no one follows directions, and the colors are not even called and everyone just lines up. Being in the chair full time on the last cruise I was told to wait and we would be escorted off the ship, well we were one of the last to get off and then you have to go all the way around the building to the elevator in Febuary