Sailing the Gem next week - what do you want to know?

[saretaj]

If anyone wants pics / info about this sailing let me know and I will post!  (Dailies / menus etc).   We so far have Cagney's, Teppanyaki and La Cucina booked for specialty dining so other specialty dining menus may not be available to us.

 

I plan to do videos of our suites (9502 and 9002), as I have not found much on these rooms.

[Sand and Seas]

I would love to know which nights have the shows 'Blazing Boots' and 'Swing'.   I've heard they are good shows and I want to plan our dinners around those nights.     We will be on the Gem in two weeks so this is good timing for us 😎

I'm looking forward to seeing the menus for Cagney's and La Cucina too!

[CBRad929]

Also would like to know what night is the seafood night at the buffet.  Please and many thanks!!!  🙂

 

 

[yearsofcruising]

My GEM of a ship..Five times a charm. Just love the size , convienence of everything , simple , fun.

Been to all specialties ( la cuccina not my favorite ) ( teppanakki becomes noisey ) but all adequate.

Pool hogs are normal...shows are fine..casino and activities keep you busy.

Will book again for March after I return in 3 weeks..lol

P.S. I always do deck 9......

Edited August 16, 2019 by magicmawk

[Turtles06]

OP: one thing that doesn’t get mentioned much about the forward-facing Penthouse suites is how great the stargazing is at night because of the lack of light pollution in the bow. 

 

We love the Gem; have a great cruise! 

[Named-Tawny]

12 hours ago, saretaj said:

If anyone wants pics / info about this sailing let me know and I will post!  (Dailies / menus etc).   We so far have Cagney's, Teppanyaki and La Cucina booked for specialty dining so other specialty dining menus may not be available to us.

 

I plan to do videos of our suites (9502 and 9002), as I have not found much on these rooms.

 

How does ordering work at La Cucina?  I know at most of the a la carte specialty restaurants with the SDP, you get one entree - but do they count pasta as an entree?  Or are you allowed to eat in proper italian style (antipasti, pasta, main and side, salad, desert?)  Is it difficult to get them to serve the salad after the main?

[saretaj]

I will be sure to get all of this info to you all!  

[amberjohn]

Have a great cruise.  We went in 2018.  I'm curious if the shows and other

entertainment is different?  If possible, could you list the shows?

[meglet]

Since you're staying in a suite OP all the specialty restaurant menus should be somewhere in the room.

[fiftyguy]

Hi

Since you’re in a suite can you tell me who the concierge is for your trip and whether he/she will be doing the Canada trips in September/October? 

Much appreciated.

[cementhands]

On 8/15/2019 at 9:55 PM, saretaj said:

If anyone wants pics / info about this sailing let me know and I will post!  (Dailies / menus etc).   We so far have Cagney's, Teppanyaki and La Cucina booked for specialty dining so other specialty dining menus may not be available to us.

 

I plan to do videos of our suites (9502 and 9002), as I have not found much on these rooms.

Thank you for the information in advance. We would love to see Daily activities schedule. Specifically if there is Zumba or similar. Same thing for line dancing activities by pool.

My wife and I are going out for 14 nights on the Gem in October to use up expiring credits. Also who’s the cruise director. How many themed parties. Food and service quality?

Enjoy your cruise experience and thanks again for any information.

[melis]

On 8/16/2019 at 8:04 AM, yearsofcruising said:

My GEM of a ship..Five times a charm. Just love the size , convienence of everything , simple , fun.

Been to all specialties ( la cuccina not my favorite ) ( teppanakki becomes noisey ) but all adequate.

Pool hogs are normal...shows are fine..casino and activities keep you busy.

Will book again for March after I return in 3 weeks..lol

P.S. I always do deck 9......

Hi, can you book shows in advance, or only after you board? We were on the GEM last year and loved it!!!!!  I just can't remember the show info. TIA!

[yearsofcruising]

We have been using a PCC for our cruises. He books all SDP & platinum meals . Show seats are not reserved just the booking for show & times.

Did a 4cabin 8people family cruise and he booked everything including tbs mdr's.

They do come in handy..

[saretaj]

On 8/15/2019 at 11:50 PM, Sand and Seas said:

I would love to know which nights have the shows 'Blazing Boots' and 'Swing'.   I've heard they are good shows and I want to plan our dinners around those nights.     We will be on the Gem in two weeks so this is good timing for us 😎

I'm looking forward to seeing the menus for Cagney's and La Cucina too!

"Swing" was on Day 2 (Saturday) - 7 and 9pm at the Stardust Theater.

 

"Blazing Boots" was Day 5 (Tuesday)  - 7 & 9pm Stardust Theater.

 

We did not attend these shows but I heard they were great!

[saretaj]

On 8/16/2019 at 3:54 AM, CBRad929 said:

Also would like to know what night is the seafood night at the buffet.  Please and many thanks!!!  🙂

 

 

Seafood night was Saturday at the Buffet.  My daughter's BF had some kind of seafood pot pie thing (they were small) and said it was one of the best things he's ever eaten 🙂  

 

[saretaj]

On 8/16/2019 at 10:13 AM, Named-Tawny said:

 

How does ordering work at La Cucina?  I know at most of the a la carte specialty restaurants with the SDP, you get one entree - but do they count pasta as an entree?  Or are you allowed to eat in proper italian style (antipasti, pasta, main and side, salad, desert?)  Is it difficult to get them to serve the salad after the main?

We ate here last night.  I wasn't too impressed.  But from what I gathered (sorry forgot to take a pic of the menu) - one app, one main, dessert.  There were no sides that I saw.  There were 2 (I believe) salads in the app section.  I ordered the antipasti, filet with blue cheese ravioli and cannoli for dessert.  The filet was amazing.  My daughter got some penne dish and said the sauce was WAY overpowering.  Daughter's BF got a mussel dish and really liked it ,but again, way too much sauce.  Service was fantastic.  I was underwhelmed with the ravioli.  

[saretaj]

On 8/21/2019 at 6:21 AM, amberjohn said:

Have a great cruise.  We went in 2018.  I'm curious if the shows and other

entertainment is different?  If possible, could you list the shows?

Do you mean main shows?  I have the dailies.  Main ones were:

Friday - Sailaway dance party

Sat - Swing

Sun - The Magic of Titou

Mon - Comedian Sam Fedele

Tues- Blazing Boots

Wed - Chernov Brothers (Circus Dance show) (and the Glow Party later in Spinnaker)

Thurs - Get Down Tonight

[saretaj]

On 8/21/2019 at 6:47 AM, meglet said:

Since you're staying in a suite OP all the specialty restaurant menus should be somewhere in the room.

This was not the case!  They were displayed in the buffet area though.  I supposed I could have asked but we just walked around and took a look.

[saretaj]

On 8/21/2019 at 10:42 AM, fiftyguy said:

Hi

Since you’re in a suite can you tell me who the concierge is for your trip and whether he/she will be doing the Canada trips in September/October? 

Much appreciated.

Anoop Bhanu was our Concierge (I had very little interaction with him but he seemed very nice).  Ravi was our butler (he was AWESOME).  From what I gathered it sounded like all staff would be staying on for the Canada trips, then doing the 14 night to Caribbean in November, then they get a couple months break.

[saretaj]

On 8/22/2019 at 2:34 PM, melis said:

Hi, can you book shows in advance, or only after you board? We were on the GEM last year and loved it!!!!!  I just can't remember the show info. TIA!

Sorry I have no idea!  We only did the smaller shows (at Spinnaker / Bliss).  My daghter wanted to go to the comedy show and asked our concierge to get them in but he said it wasn't sold out and they "could just go right down".  She ended up not going, so I do not know how true this is.  I do know the circus act was very popular and saw a line to get in.

[fiftyguy]

3 minutes ago, saretaj said:

Anoop Bhanu was our Concierge (I had very little interaction with him but he seemed very nice).  Ravi was our butler (he was AWESOME).  From what I gathered it sounded like all staff would be staying on for the Canada trips, then doing the 14 night to Caribbean in November, then they get a couple months break.

It’s very nice you got answers to my question and others. Thank you.

I’ve sailed with Anoop as the concierge and he is very nice. I do use his services for restaurant reservations and other things outside the cabin. I’ve also had the services of Ravi and would love to have him for our trip. I hope you enjoyed your trip to bermuda. I’m heading out to Canada 9/20.

thank you again for answering my questions.

[saretaj]

Just now, fiftyguy said:

It’s very nice you got answers to my question and others. Thank you.

I’ve sailed with Anoop as the concierge and he is very nice. I do use his services for restaurant reservations and other things outside the cabin. I’ve also had the services of Ravi and would love to have him for our trip. I hope you enjoyed your trip to bermuda. I’m heading out to Canada 9/20.

thank you again for answering my questions.

Of course!  I asked so many questions here I wanted to reciprocate.   I had only used 2 of my 3 SDP and forgot to make a third reservation (last minute cruise).   I called him Tues am and asked for Cagney's Wednesday night - before 8pm as I have a 6 year old in tow.  He called me back a couple hours later and got us in for 7pm.  He even came to visit us during dinner to be sure we were ok!

[fiftyguy]

2 minutes ago, saretaj said:

Of course!  I asked so many questions here I wanted to reciprocate.   I had only used 2 of my 3 SDP and forgot to make a third reservation (last minute cruise).   I called him Tues am and asked for Cagney's Wednesday night - before 8pm as I have a 6 year old in tow.  He called me back a couple hours later and got us in for 7pm.  He even came to visit us during dinner to be sure we were ok!

I hope you had Ravi get gummy bears and/or m&m’s for your 6 yr old. My grandkids enjoyed lots of kid friendly treats from the butler.

[saretaj]

1 minute ago, fiftyguy said:

I hope you had Ravi get gummy bears and/or m&m’s for your 6 yr old. My grandkids enjoyed lots of kid friendly treats from the butler.

Yes!  He brought both the first night and kept us stocked.  He also brought cookies, sandwiches, lots of yummy treats.  He got a good tip!