1night gem -- freestyle & short review

[travel_lover]

Just got back from a 1night Cruise on the Gem...was nice they had plenty to do...a little crowded. Actually very crowded...you had to see the line in the dining room for Breakfast...never seen anything like it. They had food all day and night..can't complain there...always good food available with a lot to choose from. The Gem is so beautiful was glad to be back on her. They still had Christmas decorations up which was nice. Would I do it again? Yes if the price is right...I wouldn't spend too much for 1night....Below I have posted a link to the Freestyle, if you read everything it shows you the new price for bowling which is $10per game....also the new tips charge which is $12pp pd. Sorry if this is fast and not much information i'm sick been sick since yesterday afternoon and I need to go lay down. I thought there was lots to do on the 1night. Too bad I couldn't do much because of how I felt. It was a nice night away!

 

http://i43.tinypic.com/2ikw49j.jpg Freestyle page 1

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http://i41.tinypic.com/v8mxyp.jpg page 3

http://i43.tinypic.com/4t7kg7.jpg page 4

http://i41.tinypic.com/xazbpi.jpg Debark information!

 

Ask me anything I will try my best to give an answer!

[Dorene1]

I just finished writing my review for this cruise. I must say the only thing I can agree on is how crowded it was, now the food? wow that another story. I don't think I will sail the Gem, would love to have the Dawn and the Spirit back for all year sailing again. This cruise was not a happy one.

 

Dorene

[travel_lover]

I just finished writing my review for this cruise. I must say the only thing I can agree on is how crowded it was, now the food? wow that another story. I don't think I will sail the Gem, would love to have the Dawn and the Spirit back for all year sailing again. This cruise was not a happy one.

 

Dorene

 

It was really crowded....when we were eating in Blue Lagoon (which I noticed a change on the Menu since April) people were watching the game on the big tv, when it lost signal they started screaming and cussing...I know people love their sports...but you're not at home must you really make a scene? For me food is food...I was sick so I didn't eat much...I saw a lot to choose from.

[Dorene1]

I hope you feel better, my sister just returned from a cruise yesterday and is not feeling well herself, I don't think it was from the cruise at all......it is just that time of year.

 

Food is food, but on cruised choices are important. I didnt see hardly anything for a vegitarian......but maybe salad......you seem to sail many NCL and RCCL........I have been on over 40 cruises, I just think the service and food was poor on this particular cruise.......I found it very expensive too........(drinks )

 

Dorene

[hazeleyes]

We parked for $30.00 for the night on the pier. Thought that was expensive too, but it sure beat taking mass transit and freeze while walking.

[hazeleyes]

I felt that the one nighter is probably better for party people. For the cost we paid i thought it was a bit much, but if your a party person and take advantage of everything offered then it is worth it, were not party people so i thought for us it was expensive since we didnt do much of the activities offered.

[Dorene1]

I just went on the Dawn for a cruise to nowhere in April, the price now is almost double. I am really disappointed with NCL. We were up late, drinks were expensive so if you chose to do the activities it cost you. A few months ago, the bowling was only $5.00 a game, now it is $10.00.

 

Dorene

[Host Kewlguy]

Just got back from a 1night Cruise on the Gem...was nice they had plenty to do...a little crowded. Actually very crowded...you had to see the line in the dining room for Breakfast...never seen anything like it. They had food all day and night..can't complain there...always good food available with a lot to choose from. The Gem is so beautiful was glad to be back on her. They still had Christmas decorations up which was nice. Would I do it again? Yes if the price is right...I wouldn't spend too much for 1night....Below I have posted a link to the Freestyle, if you read everything it shows you the new price for bowling which is $10per game....also the new tips charge which is $12pp pd. Sorry if this is fast and not much information i'm sick been sick since yesterday afternoon and I need to go lay down. I thought there was lots to do on the 1night. Too bad I couldn't do much because of how I felt. It was a nice night away!

 

http://i43.tinypic.com/2ikw49j.jpg Freestyle page 1

http://i39.tinypic.com/5lcpcj.jpg page 2

http://i41.tinypic.com/v8mxyp.jpg page 3

http://i43.tinypic.com/4t7kg7.jpg page 4

http://i41.tinypic.com/xazbpi.jpg Debark information!

 

Ask me anything I will try my best to give an answer!

 

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well Amanda. I hope you get well soon. Get lots of rest.

[Host Kewlguy]

I just went on the Dawn for a cruise to nowhere in April, the price now is almost double. I am really disappointed with NCL. We were up late, drinks were expensive so if you chose to do the activities it cost you. A few months ago, the bowling was only $5.00 a game, now it is $10.00.

 

Dorene

 

It was $5.00 per person per game the last week in October on the Dawn. We thought that was pricey and certainly wouldn't pay $10.00.

[orangeh3]

It was $5.00 per person per game the last week in October on the Dawn. We thought that was pricey and certainly wouldn't pay $10.00.

 

When did the Dawn put bowling alleys in? :D

[Host Kewlguy]

When did the Dawn put bowling alleys in? :D

 

My mistake. I meant the Gem in April. When you cruise 7 times a year they can get confusing. :)

[bcruzin]

I just returned also. We had an excellent time. It was nice to see her again,see looked well. We did have a sewer smell in our cabin when we first arrived but was corrected with some water in the traps. I guess this is an common problem on the Gem in some cabins.

We had lunch and breakfest in the Grand Pacific, food was OK, staff was very nice but it took forever for the meals to arrive. We were in no hurry so it didn't bother us.

We had dinner in Cagney's. Excellent

We watched a nice show after dinner dropped off some funds at the casino and hung out at a few bars. It was a nice get away for the day and I look forward to going again.

We did not have a lifeboat drill. They announced the info over the PA system .

[CruisnGram]

I think that the problem is that people go on the one night cruises expecting a "cruise" experience. That's not what it is. It's a floating party. Most people don't even sleep from what I've been told. They're always extremely crowded and I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if prices of on board items/activities are pushed up just for that night.

 

You can't let a one nighter influence whether you sail a particular ship, or a particular line because it is completely different from a "real" cruise.

 

CG

[Dorene1]

I think that the problem is that people go on the one night cruises expecting a "cruise" experience. That's not what it is. It's a floating party. Most people don't even sleep from what I've been told. They're always extremely crowded and I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if prices of on board items/activities are pushed up just for that night.

 

You can't let a one nighter influence whether you sail a particular ship, or a particular line because it is completely different from a "real" cruise.

 

CG

 

It's not my first cruise to nowhere it's my 3rd so I can compare it with something. And yes those other two were party times. The food was cold and did you have breakfast in the dining room or in the buffet, if you had it in the dining room, I couldnt even get out of the elevator because there were so many people standing there......I never saw anything like that before, and if you had the buffet........did you enjoy the cold food? I am not new to cruising (over 40) and not new to NCL this was my 5th cruise.......

 

They shouldnt do these cruises if they can't support the crowd.

 

Dorene

[cruisegal98]

This was my 14th cruise and only 2nd 1 nighter. I also thought it was way too crowded everywhere. We waited 45 minutes to get into dining room. Breakfast was crazy crowded. I was on spirit in October for 1 nighter and it was much more organized. The casino was crazy too , waited about an hour for a drink. These are great party cruises and we had a great time except for crowds. Food was ok and sevice was just ok too. I just felt that the lines all over were because of the lack of organization. I am not sure if I would do another 1 nighter with NCL might try another line next time.

[newcruiser08820]

We are both in mid 30th. We have been on two cruises before – Holland America’s Noordam ( 11 nights) and Cunard’s QM2 ( 4 nights). So I was comparing everything on NCL Gem with two previous trips even thought it was only 1 nighters.

I found ship very cramped and boring. There are s no open spaces, no wide halls. And whatever space was available in mini atrium, it was taking by photographers.

We ate dinner at Magenta and breakfast in Grand Pacific Dining room. Food was nothing special at all. I checked buffet on the deck 12. Food for lunch and dinner was totally the same. And again, very boring.

Show at 9.15 was just OK. After that we went to White Party. Female entertainment staff (who was dressed in white with angel wings) hardly was engaged with the dancers. The men from entertainment group were just standing around. I also didn’t like the music so we left pretty soon. I though it will be crowded since pretty much nothing else was going on after the show, but only about 100 people showed up and half of them actually danced.

We had inside cabin which was tiny. I can’t even imagine going on 7-10 night cruise and have inside cabin especially with kids.

I booked this trip through SeaMiles travel agent by using some points. So at the end we got a good price. If we would stay one night in NY, see the show and ate few times out, we would pay three times more.

I don’t think we will be cruising with NCL any time soon.

[cliffd64]

.... question answered....

[Host Kewlguy]

.... question answered....

 

Ok.

[cliffd64]

It's not my first cruise to nowhere it's my 3rd so I can compare it with something. And yes those other two were party times. The food was cold and did you have breakfast in the dining room or in the buffet, if you had it in the dining room, I couldnt even get out of the elevator because there were so many people standing there......I never saw anything like that before, and if you had the buffet........did you enjoy the cold food? I am not new to cruising (over 40) and not new to NCL this was my 5th cruise.......

 

They shouldnt do these cruises if they can't support the crowd.

 

Dorene

 

Gotta tell you... experienced NONE of those things.

 

All six of us had a WONDERFUL time with good food. As for breakfast... knowing the "Express Breakfast menu" that is usually served on debarkation days is not usually the best, we opted for the buffet... No cold food here... had an omelet made to order right in front of me.

 

I'm sorry you felt there were not enough vegetarian choices for you... but honestly, if the main dining room's one vegetarian entree was not adequate for you, there were SEVERAL on the buffet. As a vegetarian, you can't expect more than the normal amount of vegetarian entrees (1 every night) in the main dining room. In 18 cruises with NCL over the past 6 years, the menu for each night has only included one true vegetarian entree per night.

 

One nighters can SEEM crowded, because everyone tries to cram as much fun into less than 24 hours. It's only natural that everyone tried to go to breakfast at the same time ...

 

One-nighters are not everyone's cup of tea... but the six in our party had a great time :)

[Jerzzygirl]

Just a silly question... In the freestyles it says pool and jacuzzi are open weather permitting, I didnt realize they had a indoor pool?? Or just a joke? LOL What about the sail away BBQ? We will be on the Jan 24th one nighter and I am pretty sure the temps wont reach much above 20 or 30.

[Islandlover21]

Jerzzy:

It was quite nippy last night. With wind chills it had to feel like the teens or 20s. The pools and hottubs were open and there were about 20 people that I saw using the tubs and cooling off in the pools. No way, I was cold just watching them ! The sailaway buffet was poolside along with the band. I guess it will be the same for your sailing unless it's raining or snowing.

 

About the other posters comments...

Yes it was crowded but I expected that when no one is outside b/c of the cold. I also agree about poor food quality. I also thought the portions were laughable. The chef salad at Blue Lagoon had to have less than 1 cup of lettuce and the ham must have been frozen or something b/c it was very wet and as white in color as the turkey. The soup had one wonton in it and the spinach and artichoke dip was inedible. One in our party said it tasted like cream of mushroom soup with spinach in it minus the salt. Someone posted the food in the buffet was a better bet for breakfast. Go figure, we ate in the diningroom. We were afraid the buffet would be a zoo. The "pancakes" consisted of TWO 3"diameter cardboard discs. Bacon was plentiful though ! Dinner at Orchid Garden was the best food we had but thought portions were a little small also.

 

We thought the house chardonnay was quite good and the prices on some liquor was reasonable. Johnnie Walker Blue for $16. is much less then we'd pay locally.

 

Our friends had an inside cabin and it was pretty dark in there. OK for one night but thats it. We had a minisuite and it was very nice. Decent storage, well thought out bathroom pretty comfortable bed and decent size balcony. Overall we thought the ship was very nice and found it to be clean. Not sure I'd do another one nighter or not just yet.

[Grandpaul]

reading these comments reminded me of one of Yogi Berras lines; "No one goes there. It's too crowded".

[travel_lover]

I hope you feel better, my sister just returned from a cruise yesterday and is not feeling well herself, I don't think it was from the cruise at all......it is just that time of year.

 

Food is food, but on cruised choices are important. I didnt see hardly anything for a vegitarian......but maybe salad......you seem to sail many NCL and RCCL........I have been on over 40 cruises, I just think the service and food was poor on this particular cruise.......I found it very expensive too........(drinks )

 

Dorene

 

Thank you, I know the weather changes so much everyones bound to get sick.

 

I must say with NCL I have already set my standards low because I never expect much maybe that's why I didn't notice anything? I always found them to just be okay....their prices are great. I wish I could Cruise with RCCL more but their expensive compared to NCL.

[travel_lover]

I just went on the Dawn for a cruise to nowhere in April, the price now is almost double. I am really disappointed with NCL. We were up late, drinks were expensive so if you chose to do the activities it cost you. A few months ago, the bowling was only $5.00 a game, now it is $10.00.

 

Dorene

 

$10 is extreme!!!! For the 1night on drinks their are no specials, for example the souvernier cups....you know how they discount you on your next drinks, nope not on one nights...or the beer helmet package...not on one nights either.

[travel_lover]

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well Amanda. I hope you get well soon. Get lots of rest.

 

Thank you so much Anthony!