"Downgrading" to Gem after nothing but away ships, what are the cons?

[AlexandNessa]

Just now, raitch said:

 

That's gonna be the case for ANY cruise out of Boston, for better or for worse.  We're simple people and Sweet Caroline is the ace in the hole for every musical act.  

😭😭😭😭

 

Sigh. All our Gem cruises were out of NYC. 

 

Still didn't need to be played a half dozen times every. Single. Night. 

 

#WorstSongEver

[raitch]

1 minute ago, AlexandNessa said:

😭😭😭😭

 

Sigh. All our Gem cruises were out of NYC. 

 

Still didn't need to be played a half dozen times every. Single. Night. 

 

#WorstSongEver

Interesting... when I've cruised out of NY it's been New York State of Mind.  Different song, same never-ending loop.

[perditax]

Trying to decide if it's better or worse than the Katy Perry song that followed me around on my first several cruises on GA and Escape ...

[graphicguy]

10 hours ago, perditax said:

OP here. I am really grateful for everyone’s comments, but I’m running into a few sticking points, one of which I touched on in the original post.

 

I travel solo, and I really enjoy my solitude on these trips and being able to follow my own schedule. That makes the all-day buffet on the away classes very appealing to me. It sounds like Gem closes down the buffet for a few hours before meal times.

 

I usually avoid MDRs because they take so long, but it also sounds like the dining rooms on Gem don’t have a lot of two tops, and thus solo passengers will often be asked to share a table. (Again, have a high stress job, and cruises are a way for me to be alone with my own thoughts for a precious few days.)

 

Anyway, still mulling it over (and roundtrip airfare to Boston is much cheaper for me right now that NY), thanks again.

I travelled solo on the GEM last year, as mentioned.  Never requested to eat alone, but when I wanted to, it was available.  One of my favorite things to do on the GEM was to grab some snacks, and a beer (or three) and hand out at the Great Outdoors and watch the people and water drift.

 

That said, I had a whole lot of fun in Escape’s District Brew House and 5 o’Clock Somewhere bars.  Also liked getting a beer (or 3) and hanging on the WaterFront.

 

Sailed Escape solo, also.

 

Tough choice, but I would not hesitate sailing the GEM, again.

[mugtech]

1 hour ago, AlexandNessa said:

While I love the Gem, I hope your idea of entertainment is singing along to Sweet Caroline. There are usually 3 singing acts that play around the ship, and they all love that $&! #? song. Been on the Gem 3x and can't get away from it there. 

 

Night time is definitely more sedate. Entertainment more limited. O'Sheehan's has like 5 bar stools so not a really fun place to hang out like on the larger ships. 

 

What's better? Poolside BBQs and the Great Outdoors. 

Never heard Leo do Sweet Caroline.  He is the best solo act I have seen on any ship, glad to hear he is still on the Gem.

[mugtech]

1 hour ago, AlexandNessa said:

While I love the Gem, I hope your idea of entertainment is singing along to Sweet Caroline. There are usually 3 singing acts that play around the ship, and they all love that $&! #? song. Been on the Gem 3x and can't get away from it there. 

 

 

Is the song of the Boston Red Sox, don't go to Fenway Park.

[Vyhanek]

I hear Sweet Caroline on every NCL ship.   No matter leaving from Boston or Miami.    It's pretty much played nightly on every ship and shouldn't be a factor.   At all.

[AlexandNessa]

29 minutes ago, perditax said:

Trying to decide if it's better or worse than the Katy Perry song that followed me around on my first several cruises on GA and Escape ...

 

A small thing, yes, but NCL really needs to be more cognizant of this type of thing. Some songs are really, really annoying and there seems to be a direct correlation to how annoying a song is and how many times and in how many different venues NCL will beat a single song to death. 

 

 

[BaWBarmy]

We last cruised the Gem in 2015 and the Escape last year. Both times we shared a balcony cabin with our youngest daughter, who is in her twenties. Not a direct comparison as we had one of those covered balcony things on the Gem and a midship on the Escape but there was more room in the cabin on the Escape.

 

Having said that the Gem wins on just about everything else, and if the Great Outdoors isn't the best area on any ship, then I don't know what is. 

[Zippeedee]

I cruised solo on the Gem. The Great Outdoors was my favorite place to sit, read etc. When the main buffet closes, they put snacks outside. There was always a good variety, some sandwiches, salads, cheese, cookies, etc.  A lot of people never walk back that far to find it.

The spa is much smaller than the "away" ships. It is still nice, and the sauna looks out on the bow so there is a great view. There are saunas and small hot tubs in the dressing rooms, and a bigger hot tub and pool in the main area. No salt room, etc. The pool only has a ladder, no stairs if that matters.

 

[rmurray847]

On 6/3/2019 at 12:32 PM, dongordon said:

 

Both of you nailed it in your comparison.  The Spinnaker Lounge and the Great Outdoors are the best!!

 

Yes and yes to this.  LOVE the Great Outdoors.

 

OP, you said that the buffet on Away ships is open 24 hours a day. I've done Breakaway and just got off the Bliss.  This was not the case.  Both closed at midnight and didn't open until 6 or 6:30.

[perditax]

14 minutes ago, rmurray847 said:

Yes and yes to this.  LOVE the Great Outdoors.

 

OP, you said that the buffet on Away ships is open 24 hours a day. I've done Breakaway and just got off the Bliss.  This was not the case.  Both closed at midnight and didn't open until 6 or 6:30.

 

OP here—I believe I said “all day”, but that’s still ambiguous. What I meant was “they open around 6:30 and don’t close until 9:30 or ten pm, and there’s never a point where the doors are closed and you can’t get some snacks, tea, or a drink refill”.

 

I didn’t fully appreciate this until my first (and last) Oasis cruise where I had to wait in line just to enter the Windjammer during their very limited hours.

 

Meanwhile, I still really appreciate the ongoing input. I doubt anyone’s become really invested in my decision, but I’m still pretty intrigued by the Gem, and now it’s coming down to which week I can swing for vacation time from work. And which of these (early July) cruises might price drop and give me a sailaway deal. 

[Gershep]

I would take the Gem over the away ships.

[hawkman402]

On 6/4/2019 at 9:22 AM, raitch said:

Interesting... when I've cruised out of NY it's been New York State of Mind.  Different song, same never-ending loop.

 On our first cruise they were playing the song from Titanic in the MDR.

[Surfsup2017]

On ‎6‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 11:37 PM, perditax said:

OP here. I am really grateful for everyone’s comments, but I’m running into a few sticking points, one of which I touched on in the original post.

 

I travel solo, and I really enjoy my solitude on these trips and being able to follow my own schedule. That makes the all-day buffet on the away classes very appealing to me. It sounds like Gem closes down the buffet for a few hours before meal times.

 

I usually avoid MDRs because they take so long, but it also sounds like the dining rooms on Gem don’t have a lot of two tops, and thus solo passengers will often be asked to share a table. (Again, have a high stress job, and cruises are a way for me to be alone with my own thoughts for a precious few days.)

 

Anyway, still mulling it over (and roundtrip airfare to Boston is much cheaper for me right now that NY), thanks again.

I am smiling at the responses:  you were looking for the cons and all you got were the pros!  I am also a Gem fan, love the convenience of travelling out of NYC, and have travelled both solo and with a companion so maybe I can address your question.  As an alternative to the 24 hour buffet (I didn't realize that there was such a thing), there are two 24 hour options.  One is O'Sheehan's and the other is the lobby bar.  I love eating breakfast by myself at O'Sheehan's in a both by a window.  There are plenty of tables for 2 in the MDR's, and I have never felt uncomfortable.  I also have a high stress job and went away on the Christmas/New Year's cruise, and had to constantly decline offers from groups to join them (I did occasionally and had fun).  The best thing about the Gem is the plentiful deck space around and above the pool, which is the focal point of daytime activity.  The adult pool is actually somewhat swimmable.  My perfect day is breakfast at O'sheehan's, daily walk, day on deck 14 overlooking the pool with a good book and sunscreen, cocktails on the back deck (the great outdoors), maybe another before dinner cocktail, dinner, and either some cards in the casino or lounge entertainment.

[Zippeedee]

I had pretty much written off the Gem as too small and a bit boring. You are all convincing me to start price watching for later this summer. My office is five minutes from the pier. Hmmmm....

[mamajean1113]

Been on the Jewel and loved it.  Also went on the Breakaway and Escape, not fond of the bigger class ships.  Too crowded, you have to make reservations, we don't participate in rock climbing, the pool area is way too small for the amount of people that the ship holds.  Going on the Gem in February 2020 and can't wait.  I want a relaxing cruise, no hustle and bustle, nor having to make reservations for shows 3 months in advance.  Now if I was traveling with teens not sure they would embrace the smaller ship.  There is not a one size fits all when it comes to cruising - it is a personal preference.  

[njhorseman]

4 hours ago, Surfsup2017 said:

As an alternative to the 24 hour buffet (I didn't realize that there was such a thing)

You didn't realize there was such a thing because there isn't on NCL. I believe later in the thread the OP said he/she didn't really mean open 24 hours, but rather just being open continuously during its hours of operation. To make matters even more confusing somehow the OP has thrown his/her experience with another cruise line, Royal Caribbean, into the mix rather than just comparing offerings on smaller NCL ships to larger NCL ships.

Edited June 5, 2019 by njhorseman

[Birdnutty]

I'll add another plug for the Gem.  Our last bunch of cruises on NCL were the Epic, Breakaway,& Escape.  They definitely have their plusses.  The entertainment (like the Blue Man Group for instance) was a real treat, but having to sign up was a real pain.  I have always loved the shows on NCL.  But the AWAY ships were something special.  The first time.  And maybe the second.  But since the shows are so expensive and expansive, they keep them on a ship for years, so if you repeat a sailing, you've pretty much seen all the big entertainment. And I disliked having to sign up in advance for it.  However, I did learn that once the theater is open and all the reservationed people have gone in, it's open to everyone, so there was always an open seat or three easily accessible for us to fill.  Took me several cruises to figure that out. (duh!) On the Gem, we did enjoy having several seatings on the same night for the same show.  And the whole ship has a more intimate feel to it.

 

One thing I thoroughly dislike is the use of the Atrium on the big ships for EVERYTHING.  Dance classes (talk about being on display!) on a floor that's too small, and many other activities that on the smaller ships are in the smaller,  more intimate spaces, like the Spinnaker Lounge on the Gem.  There's not enough seating around the Atriums of the AWAY ships- by a long shot.  Several hundred people that try to watch an event with only 50 seats. And some folks that park themselves in some of the only seats and never move all day.  So there's several decks worth of people crammed along the edges of the glass trying to catch a glimpse of what's going on.  And to make up for the lack of seating and viewing area, they turn up the sound.  ALOT.  It is seriously loud, always, to the point of being dangerous to people's hearing.  The Gem's Atrium is too loud too (for me, anyway), but not as bad as the mega ships.

I am very much looking forward to our next trip on the Gem, with its intimate Spinnaker Lounge and upper level staff that are out and about with the passengers.  Rarely did I see any officers on the mega ships.  On the Gem, they were all over the place, recognized me after a few sightings, and frequently went out of their way to talk to us.  (and we're not Haven people or anyone special).  Can't wait to go again.

[salzdt]

On 6/3/2019 at 3:18 PM, njhorseman said:

Add us to the list of people who prefer the Gem to the big ships. We like it well enough that we spent about a month and a half on the Gem this past winter, and will be spending  three months on her this coming winter. We wouldn't think of doing that on the Escape, which we find barely tolerable because of the size and crowding.

We will be sailing the Gem again in February 24, 2020.  Will be looking for you!

[cementhands]

On 6/3/2019 at 1:11 PM, perditax said:

Still have a couple of unused Cruisenext certs and have been trying to decide what to do with them. I was looking at the Escape out of NY. I've been on Escape many times. I've never been on the older ships. Gem seems to have decent reviews. I'm just curious about the main differences one might notice, in terms of crowds, service, food, ship cleanliness, adequate staffing levels, etc. For example, I like that the buffet is open all day on the away ships, versus limited/set hours on other lines (like RC). Does Gem have that? The thermal suite also looks comparatively tiny, I assume the passes don't cost as much?

We are in the same situation. Next cruise credits expiring so we are looking at the Gem out of Boston for 13 or 14 nights. We’ve enjoyed the epic and Dawn quite a few times as well as the Spirit out of NYC twice. We’ve been doing RCL lately. But looking forward to the Ncl experience.

Does the Gem offer daily Zumba or similar? Are there many dancing opportunities? I know Second City is gone but are comedy stand up in it’s place?

 

[chapchap]

1 hour ago, cementhands said:

We are in the same situation. Next cruise credits expiring so we are looking at the Gem out of Boston for 13 or 14 nights. We’ve enjoyed the epic and Dawn quite a few times as well as the Spirit out of NYC twice. We’ve been doing RCL lately. But looking forward to the Ncl experience.

Does the Gem offer daily Zumba or similar? Are there many dancing opportunities? I know Second City is gone but are comedy stand up in it’s place?

 

here you go! :) 

[McFins]

Really enjoyed all NCL cruises on the Away, Escape, Pearl and Gem....but would have to say my favorite is the Gem.   Really like the more laid back vibe.   Prefer the Gem Thermal Spa over the Away and Escape spas (quieter and less crowded).  With respect  to the  the buffet .....we found that those times when the indoor buffet was closed there was a smaller buffet available in the Great Outdoors.   The only thing that would make the Gem even better in my opinion is if it also had Howl at the Moon

[aceparty]

Hard Question to answer.

 

Away: Pros: More stuff to do.

                     Entertainment, more of and I feel is better

            Cons: TOO MANY PEOPLE. some areas get real crowded

 

Gem: Pros: LESS PEOPLE

                    Great Outdoors

                    Spinaker Lounge

           Cons: Not as many options, Howl at Moon, District brew bar,etc

 

I would go on either again, we actually just booked a 21 day panama canal cruise on the GEM

[kitty-sail]

On 6/3/2019 at 2:17 PM, mjkacmom said:

The Gem also has the Great Outdoors with outdoor seating and a variety of food options that they change up throughout the day. No reservations for shows, you can show up right before they start and get a seat. I prefer it over the Breakaway.

I love the Great Outdoors. Great to sit looking out back of ship in am with coffee. Drinks at bar in evening.  Unique venue.