NCL Gem Review 4/28 to Orlando and Bahamas (pics)

[graphicguy]

Enjoying your well-written, beautifully photographed review! Just curious, do you have to order coffee and tea in advance? I thought the suites were stocked with it.

Thank you. Ya’ know, that’s a really good question. I had called the NCL Concierge phone line to ask about something else and the concierge asked me if I wanted to designate my coffees, teas, sweetener types while we were on the phone together. Sure!

 

I stipulated no “caffeine free” coffees, that I wanted cream instead of milk, that I liked “ginger teas” and that I didn’t need anything in my mini-fridge.

 

Sure enough, when I got to my cabin, all of that was taken care of.

 

I would imagine you could tell your butler to do the same things once on board, though!

[MAM69]

Hi, I've really enjoyed hearing about your cruise and seeing your photos. I'm sailing on 7th July with my husband and son. I was just wondering what time you disembark once back in New York?

[graphicguy]

Hi, I've really enjoyed hearing about your cruise and seeing your photos. I'm sailing on 7th July with my husband and son. I was just wondering what time you disembark once back in New York?

Thanks!

 

We arrived back in NYC early. But, customs doesn't open until 8:00 a.m. So, figure sometime around 8:30 a.m. (maybe a shade earlier) to be able to disembark. You have a couple of choices for disembarkation.

 

First, self carry your luggage. You can leave as soon as the ship's been cleared.

 

Second, you're able to set your luggage outside of your cabin the night before you disembark. If you do this, there are set times you can disembark as stipulated by the color of the luggage tag they give you.

 

In general, they like to have EVERYONE off the ship no later than 9:30-10:00 a.m. And, the longer you stay on board, the more stress you put on the cabin stewards to get the cabins ready for the embarking passengers. That said, there are always a few stragglers.

 

Give you another bit of advice. Once you have all of your luggage, grab a porter at the port to carry your luggage to customs for you. If will cost a few dollars, but they go right to the front of the line to get you through customs.

 

Hope that helps.

Edited May 9, 2018 by graphicguy

[MAM69]

Thank you that's great! Especially advice about the porter!!!

Our flight home to the Uk isn't until around 7pm in the evening so I am looking at what to do during the day in New York before going to the airport.

[graphicguy]

Thank you that's great! Especially advice about the porter!!!

Our flight home to the Uk isn't until around 7pm in the evening so I am looking at what to do during the day in New York before going to the airport.

One of the shore excursions offered by NCL is a tour of NYC the day you disembark. Not sure how that works with luggage that needs to be stored, but you might want to check into that.

 

After the tour they drop you off at the airport. Might work well for you if interested.

[graphicguy]

Tsurita was an excellent solo performer, singing and playing guitar.

 

She was performing during the day in the Atrium, and sometimes at night outside Magnums..

 

 

IMG_0147 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0167 by D J, on Flickr

 

Took a lot of these sort of shots. One of the highlights of having so many outside areas.....

 

IMG_0152 by D J, on Flickr

[MAM69]

One of the shore excursions offered by NCL is a tour of NYC the day you disembark. Not sure how that works with luggage that needs to be stored, but you might want to check into that.

 

After the tour they drop you off at the airport. Might work well for you if interested.

 

Thank you. I will have a look.

[graphicguy]

Moderno......being in a Penthouse Suite, this is the place I had breakfast every a.m. Not sure how it differed (or IF it differed) from having breakfast in the MDR, but it was relatively quiet and the service was great.

 

This is also where our Concierge set up shop to help Suite guests with everything from dinner and show reservations, to billing snafus.

 

IMG_0153 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0154 by D J, on Flickr

 

Obviously, it turned into the Specialty Dining venue as a Brazilian Steakhouse.

[graphicguy]

Outdoor overflow from the Garden Cafe....

 

IMG_0156 by D J, on Flickr

 

Basketball Courts....with the rock climbing wall in the background. There were also a few "loungers" you could use to watch the activities.

 

IMG_0158 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Setting up for the outdoor grill out....

 

IMG_0160 by D J, on Flickr

 

Magnums....

 

IMG_0165 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0166 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

The "Official" NCL Dress Code suggestions....this is probably one of my favorite reasons for sailing NCL.....

 

IMG_0168 by D J, on Flickr

 

Guest Services....even though the Concierge took care of nearly all of my reasons to contact guest services, I never saw much (if any) line there....

 

IMG_0179 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Finally, (a little) food porn. This is from one of my FAVORITE dinners at LeBistro. As you can see, I started eating before I remembered to take a pic (oops).....

 

IMG_0172 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0173 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0174 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0175 by D J, on Flickr

 

I'm not going too far out on a limb in stating that the main course of shrimp and desert of creme brûlée were probably the best shrimp and brûlée dishes I've ever had......ANYWHERE!

 

Both were simple, yet delicious!

[graphicguy]

Can't recall if this was the Suite or Lattitudes reception....but drinks flowed at the exec staff were quite engaging, listening to compliments and suggestions, at least seeming intent on it registering.

 

IMG_0178 by D J, on Flickr

 

As an aside, during the CC Meet and Great, upon hearing of some guests' sadness over not having lobster available anymore, they distanced themselves, stating they would love to have it. But, the decision was not theirs, but someone at corporate.

[graphicguy]

Our first port was Port Canaveral. Been there many times. Have taken the trip to Disney and the Space Center, just roaming around for shopping did not appeal. I'm not a huge NASCAR fan. But, I know Daytona is the Holy Grail of NASCAR. When I saw it available as an excursion, I jumped on it. Frankly, it's probably one of my top 3 port excursions I've ever taken, and I've taken a lot of them, all over Mexico and the Caribbean.

 

IMG_0201 by D J, on Flickr

 

P4300018 by D J, on Flickr

 

P4300023 by D J, on Flickr

 

The actual pit lane....

 

IMG_0206 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

More Daytona....

 

If you pre-arrange (something I wasn't aware you could do), you can actually either ride or drive a few laps on the track (with classes and another experienced race driver beside you).

 

IMG_0208 by D J, on Flickr

 

Current Daytona 500 winning car on display...

 

IMG_0214 by D J, on Flickr

 

IMG_0216 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

More Daytona (museum)....

 

IMG_0216 by D J, on Flickr

 

Brock Yates' actual 1st Cannonball Run Dodge Challenger....this is the stuff of legends...worth Googling if you get the chance as they've written books and made movies about it.

 

IMG_0220 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

Henry Ford's first race car (which had a hand in launching the current Ford Motor Company)....

 

P4300024 by D J, on Flickr

 

Engine right in front of you, uncovered (which I'm sure spewed oil and exhaust all over the driver). The transmission right between your legs (with visible moving parts). The electrics right above that, exposed. And, a tiller for a steering wheel.....skinny tires and a handbrake. What could go wrong??????

[DuckTollerFans]

Great review! I think your cabin was actually my favorite on the crawl. What a nice group of people, too!

 

I've been feeling blah since the cruise (not enough washywashy? Too much pollen?) so looking at these photos is a delight.

[mking8288]

DW dialed 00 on her phone and couldn't get thru to Guest Services today. Laundry needs to be done. Gallery was provisioned on Monday.

 

My other brother in law just message me - a picture of this. He wasn't even on the Gem last week with us, they just came off the Escape on Sunday.

 

Oh dear, I think I understood what he wanted me to do for the group, again ... right ?

 

Keep those pictures coming ... never enough of them.

[graphicguy]

Great review! I think your cabin was actually my favorite on the crawl. What a nice group of people, too!

 

I've been feeling blah since the cruise (not enough washywashy? Too much pollen?) so looking at these photos is a delight.

Thanks! Couldn’t agree more.....the nicest, most fun group of CC-ers I’ve had the honor of sailing with.

 

Would leave for the pier tonight if I could sail with all of you, again!

[graphicguy]

DW dialed 00 on her phone and couldn't get thru to Guest Services today. Laundry needs to be done. Gallery was provisioned on Monday.

 

My other brother in law just message me - a picture of this. He wasn't even on the Gem last week with us, they just came off the Escape on Sunday.

 

Oh dear, I think I understood what he wanted me to do for the group, again ... right ?

 

Keep those pictures coming ... never enough of them.

I know, right? Why isn’t my laundry sitting in a nice, neat, folded, and clean pile sitting on my nicely made bed?

 

Somebody get me a beer!

 

LOL!

 

Been looking at deals for a Sept sailing.

 

YIKES!

Edited May 11, 2018 by graphicguy

[DuckTollerFans]

We are looking for a Sept. 2019 for the Canada/NE sailing for a big anniversary. Though I'd love to go this year, of course!

 

It is a bit annoying having to fix our own meals, no one to place a napkin on our lap, having to PAY at the end of a meal.

[graphicguy]

Given the proximity of my cabin (aft) and the deck it was on (8), coming or going, I had to pass O'Sheehans. As such, I either stopped for a "good night" cocktail, or a "good morning" Bloody Mary every day, depending on the time of day.

 

This was taken while sipping on an evening cocktail as I sat on my balcony during sail away from Port Canaveral.....

 

IMG_0232 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

About this time, things began to get a little funky. Sailing in the Atlantic is always a bit rougher than sailing in the Gulf or the Pacific, at least in my experience. It doesn't bother me, but sometimes things get sideways on NYC based cruises. Probably coincidental....or maybe I'm a jinx sailing from NYC.

 

Anyway, Grand Stirrup Cay was next on our itinerary.....Until.........Capt Lars came on the PA to announce we weren't going there because of winds/rough waters. I'm on a cruise. You can't make me have a bad time.

 

OK....so, now what? Really had no plans for GSC, except for "beaching" it. I'm flexible. I can roll with the changes.

 

Wellllllll.....as a result, we went steaming towards Paradise Island to dock there overnight. Cool! I'm OK with that.

 

Did little more than find a driver who took us around to see the sights. I've been to the Bahamas many, many times. I know it relatively well. I still find something a bit different whenever I visit, but overall, it's familiar.

 

Hanging on the beaches and tooling around works for me....

 

We're on our way.....

 

IMG_0235 by D J, on Flickr

[graphicguy]

There was more than one ship that had the same idea as Capt Lars.

 

We had a Disney and two (older) RCCL ships docked next to us....

 

IMG_0241 by D J, on Flickr

 

Someone mentioned that we had Steve Wynn's yacht docked next to us, too. Didn't see anyone who resembled him roaming around, but makes for a neat story, nonetheless...

 

 

 

IMG_0239 by D J, on Flickr