Just off Gem / Any questions?

[mjkacmom]

Rookie family going on Gem next week-- question-- they made us book our rooms with one parent and one child in each (our kids are 13 and 15) but the kids will be sharing. Will we just be able to switch room keys or do they have your picture on them like they did on the Disney cruise we did last year?

Go to guest services and get extra cards.

[hillfolk7551]

10 was not a normal time to get back, usually it is earlier. I contacted our driver when I got my luggage, and he picked us up across the street from pier. So at 8am the traffic should be pretty light

 

Thanks Odessy, we have been nervous about choosing a pick up time. And about crossing the street with luggage but maybe that early on a weekend it won't be an issue.

 

Did your trip make it to GSC?

[katiemylady]

I'm sure I could find elsewhere but quick question, what are the prices like for laundry?

[odessy]

Thanks Odessy, we have been nervous about choosing a pick up time. And about crossing the street with luggage but maybe that early on a weekend it won't be an issue.

 

Did your trip make it to GSC?

Whats GSC?

[mking8288]

Gem's 25% parking discount has been discontinued since last Summer, been posted here & on the East Coast forum, sorry.

 

Anyone with success following the Gem's live ship webcam in the last 2 days, the URL or link seemed to be down ... offline, has been out for me since early Saturday.

 

BTW, Gem did came in rather late this past Saturday, she is usually earlier than 10 AM docking ... when things are running smoothly - full stop at the pier around 7 or 7:30 is "common" but never a guarantee.

 

AIS data on MarineTraffic showed her getting into Port Canaveral about 1 hour early today, docking about 12 noon for its scheduled 1 PM arrival.

 

As for the stormy ride going/coming - that's mother nature, we're on her in 2012 with a Nor-Easter, 30' to 40' plus waves & very rough seas for 15+ hours, strong rain-driven cross-bow gale-force wind (that was right after Sandy) - had fairly good ride last April, had a few hours of 15' seas on a sea day coming home. She's built to handle the Atlantic and tough, capable of 24+ knots speed and we're doing 25 knots+ once the wind was on our backside, for a little extra push. Just go with the flow.

[odessy]

I'm sure I could find elsewhere but quick question, what are the prices like for laundry?

 

I did the fill the bag for 20 dollars, if I were to do individually, it would be closer to 45-50 buck. So its a bit high in my opinion if you dont take advantage of the Fill the bag offer.

[daffodiliaz]

10 was not a normal time to get back, usually it is earlier. I contacted our driver when I got my luggage, and he picked us up across the street from pier. So at 8am the traffic should be pretty light

 

Thank you for all the info you're providing. What car service did you use and where specifically were you picked up? I've read car services can't pick up at the taxi stand across the street at 12th Ave/48th St. Did your driver give you specific instructions on where you'd be picked up?

[OctoberSky]

Random question, but is milk at the buffet in cartons? Or do you fill glasses from a machine?

 

How is coffee in the buffet? From a syrup? Or brewed from grounds? Is there cream or half & half, or is it all non-dairy "creamer"?

 

Thanks much!!

[hillfolk7551]

Whats GSC?

 

Sorry, Great Stirrup Cay. Did your trip include a stop at the private island?

[odessy]

Thank you for all the info you're providing. What car service did you use and where specifically were you picked up? I've read car services can't pick up at the taxi stand across the street at 12th Ave/48th St. Did your driver give you specific instructions on where you'd be picked up?

 

We used a local driver, it sure if I am allowed to say name of company, but he picked us up in smithtown, 145 each way.

He told us to meet between 48th-49th, we saw him, he saw us and it was a quick pick up.

Police are there, but pretty good about letting people get dropped off or picked up during embark or disembarkment.

[odessy]

Random question, but is milk at the buffet in cartons? Or do you fill glasses from a machine?

 

How is coffee in the buffet? From a syrup? Or brewed from grounds? Is there cream or half & half, or is it all non-dairy "creamer"?

 

Thanks much!!

Milk is in cartons by buffet, they may have had in machine, but I used the half and half creamers that were right there.

The free coffee is not that great, but I am not a picky coffee drinker. It was fine for me.

Not sure if it is home brewed or not, I am guessing not, but they do have Lavazaa if you prefer a more premium coffee , but there is a charge for that.

[odessy]

Sorry, Great Stirrup Cay. Did your trip include a stop at the private island?

Oh haha, I should have known that, I was there like 6 years ago.

This trip did not go there. It went to Barbados, St. Lucia, st.Croix, st. Kitts, and Antigua

[trivia addict]

We were on the March 17 cruise. The ship was rocking one day out and one day back, but nothing so bad that objects were moving or people were complaining. However, we had to skip our stop in St. Thomas so that the captain could steer around an Atlantic storm. (And people were complaining about that!)

As has been said, you can’t predict Mother Nature and each cruise will be different.

For disembarking, we crossed the street in front of the pier, and walked down to the next corner. It was less congested there.

We took an Uber to Farmingdale, and were charged $160. We were two couples tho, and each paid $80.

[kateissiobhan]

It was terrible. We were supposed to get in by 10, but got in around 10:30 ish. First was passengers with own luggage, around 11 ish, then they started calling color tags for people who put luggage out night before, at around 11:30ish

The big problem about disembarking is that very few passengers follow the instructions. We were on in March and it's been the same for previous NYC disembarkation. People packed themselves into the areas where they were asked Not to, clogging walkways and refusing to budge when asked. It's a frenzy. No wonder things get clogged up when picking up luggage and customs. Yes, they could use more custom agents but that isn't up to NCL. I noticed that many people did not have their documents ready or incorrect documents despite repeated announcements prior to disembarking. Our experience (10+ cruises) is that the disembarking progress takes about 1-1 1/2 hours for both the Gem and Breakaway. We generally are in the group of the last 50 people off the ship and the process is about 15-20 minutes before we hit the cab stand. It is a crazy and stressful time and can be quite overwhelming especially travelling with children or vulnerable people. I wonder after all the careful planning for the cruise and such if we all could plan disembarking a bit better to lower the stress levels.

[Crusinwithfamily]

Just finished 11 night Caribbean. I will post my review soon, but does anyone have any questions?

 

Do you know if they offer the shuttle to Ron Jon's and the beach? Thanks.

[ETski]

Last time we were on the Gem they had a small breakfast buffet in one of the specialty restaurants. Do they still do this?

[odessy]

Do you know if they offer the shuttle to Ron Jon's and the beach? Thanks.[/quote

 

Not sure what this is, if this is a Florida excursion, we did not go to Florida.

[odessy]

Last time we were on the Gem they had a small breakfast buffet in one of the specialty restaurants. Do they still do this?

 

No I never saw this...

[salzdt]

We will be going on the Gem next year, Feb 25 - March 5, 2019. Have sone this trip back in 2008, it was a great trip. Hope the same crew will be on board. We have a balcony room deck 10. Let us know what ports you liked best. Didi you have a Roll Call on this cruise?

[Rob031]

Hi All,

Sailed the Gem multiple times but not since she has been refurbished. If anyone has sailed her before and after the re-furbishment can you please describe the changes. is it just cosmetic? or did they change or reduce public spaces to add more rooms like they have done on other re-fubished ships? Did they add a Vibe Beach club? Did They add or delete any entertainment areas? saw on the site thru their edge program that they added a new casino area Is the old casino area still in the front of ship believe deck 6 or 7? Few years ago went on a ship believe it was the star and they removed the spinnaker lounge to add more rooms. Thanks for help Happy sailing!

[CrusinCyndi]

Can you tell me if they still offer Lobster in the main dining rooms ? Hubby is a Lobster lover, me, not so much. I had read somewhere it is not offered.

[vince_g]

Lars ????

Can’t remember his last name. Very funny...loved his announcements.

 

Lars Bengston. He really is funny when he talks about being in the middle of nowhere.

[OctoberSky]

Does Gem have shower curtains or doors? Wondering about inside cabins specifically, thanks.

[odessy]

We will be going on the Gem next year, Feb 25 - March 5, 2019. Have sone this trip back in 2008, it was a great trip. Hope the same crew will be on board. We have a balcony room deck 10. Let us know what ports you liked best. Didi you have a Roll Call on this cruise?

 

We really enjoyed Barbados and St.Kitts the best. The Beaches were really nice, and we did the Dolphin Experience which I highly recommend.

We did have a roll call, and I went to the meeting first day.

[odessy]

Does Gem have shower curtains or doors? Wondering about inside cabins specifically, thanks.

 

We had glass door on shower, I believe most rooms including insides are the same, someone can correct me if I am wrong. Bathrooms were not the most spacious but served there purpose.