Advice please, re Gem #10504 AA

[JEDIKNIGHT]

Has anyone stayed on Gem's 10504, AA? If so, curious how the suite was for you.

 

Looking at the deck plans, it seems that above 10504 on Deck 11 is the "Bridge viewing room"...I'm wondering if that means alot of walking/foot step noise above us???

 

It seems AA 9504 is open....wondering if I should try to switch to that?

 

Would appreciate any advice.

 

Thanks

[angeljt]

We stayed in 10004 this past April on the Gem. We never heard anything overhead or from the room next to us. It is the mirror image of 10504 with a different color scheme.

We were more than happy with the AA. The Captain would wave to us once in a while from above when we were on the forward balcony. You will have the side balcony for more privacy, but you can also sit further back in the front balcony. I just like standing at the rail sometimes and looking out over that vast ocean.

Feel free to ask any other questions you may have.

You can see some of the AA pictures of 10004 here.

http://community.webshots.com/user/angeljt?action=publicAlbums

Lucky you!!!!

Jackie

[JEDIKNIGHT]

Thank you very much Jackie, I really appreciate the response and the link, and your detailed review. Ok, you did it. You said if I had any questions, ask away....

 

*AA Balcony: When at sea, is it just to windy to stand/sit on the balcony? Or is it comfortable? Also, is there some feeling of privacy on the balcony?

 

To clarify I understand embarking/disembarking. (I like to know what to expect...this way I'm not confused, and then I don't have to keep asking them questions while they are busy)

 

*Embarking: AA's and A4 would qualify for the shorter line. Ask to sit in VIP area if needed. Concierge will seek us out, and get us on the boat?

 

*Final morning: Concierge meets us at pre-planned time, and takes us to customs?

 

*Deck 10: No noise from above?

 

*Shore Excursions: Did Suite pax have an easier time leaving the boat and returning?

 

*Tipping: When during your cruise did you tip the concierge and butler?

 

 

*Butler meal service: You can order off any menu. Say you want a variation...ie instead of Chicken Parm on the menu, you prefer Veal Parm.....do you think the Butler can handle something like that?

 

 

(Normally I wouldn't worry about this stuff, but my elder in-laws will be with me, as will 10 month DD. We've never gone anywhere with DD other than out for lunch, so I'm kinda scared lol)

[BarbCT605]

Well, I'm not Jackie, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night...

 

My answers in red:

 

*AA Balcony: When at sea, is it just to windy to stand/sit on the balcony? Or is it comfortable? Also, is there some feeling of privacy on the balcony?

 

I found the front balcony too windy while underway, but some people brave it. Once you sit down on a lounge chair, you get protection from the rail/glass panel. The side balcony is usable 24/7.

Front balcony is fantastic when entering/leaving ports, though!

Front balcony: 0, zip, nada, zilch privacy.

Side balcony: Private. Next door is a BB balcony, so there could be other pax nearby.

 

*Embarking: AA's and A4 would qualify for the shorter line. Ask to sit in VIP area if needed. Concierge will seek us out, and get us on the boat?

It's *very* easy. Enter the terminal and there will be a sign for VIP/Penthouse just a few feet from the entry door. Your hand will be held all the way through. Eventually, you'll be sitting in a VIP lounge waiting to board.

 

*Final morning: Concierge meets us at pre-planned time, and takes us to customs?

 

Yes. Or, at least to the gangway and you'll follow the rest of the VIPs to customs. Again, very easy.

 

*Deck 10: No noise from above?

 

Don't know - I've only been in the OS on deck 9.

 

*Shore Excursions: Did Suite pax have an easier time leaving the boat and returning?

 

If you are tendering, such as for GSC, suite pax get a priority tender leaving the boat. You're on your own for returning. You could always talk to you concierge on what they can do for you. If you ask, he/she could escort you to the tender.

Not tendering? I've never asked the concierge for assistance. But you could ask if they could escort you out early if you have an early excursion. Just ask concierge.

 

*Tipping: When during your cruise did you tip the concierge and butler?

 

I tip them as I'm waving ba-bye, literally. At breakfast, I tip the butler. When I see concierge at disembarkation, I tip then.

*Butler meal service: You can order off any menu. Say you want a variation...ie instead of Chicken Parm on the menu, you prefer Veal Parm.....do you think the Butler can handle something like that?

 

They'll do their very best to accommodate your request(s).

 

(Normally I wouldn't worry about this stuff, but my elder in-laws will be with me, as will 10 month DD. We've never gone anywhere with DD other than out for lunch, so I'm kinda scared lol)

 

Relax -- the whole idea is for you to be pampered, and believe me, you will be!

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[angeljt]

You're very welcome!!! Glad to help if I can.

The front balcony is windy when you're at sea leaving from NY and going at a good speed. We used the side balcony after sailaway until we arrived in warmer weather, which wasn't that long. I don't know when your cruise is, but I doubt that you'll want to use it on your first night after sailaway or most of your first sea day. It seems that is when you're going at a good clip. You won't have any problems on the side balcony though, at least we never have. The side balcony is very private, but you will have neighbors on only on your right in the forward balcony. If you sit toward the back of the forward balcony you will have more privacy.

This is our forward balcony and you can see how the partition slopes down in the front.

This is the side balcony with a table, 4 chairs and 2 arm chairs. You can only see a little more than half of it in the picture, but it is the length of the 2 sets of sliding doors.

 

You will see this sign when you arrive in the terminal in NY. Is that where you're leaving from?

 

I'll be back to answer more in a minute, but thought I'd get started with this. No problem if you have other questions.

[runnerandme]

Friends had that cabin and said there was not a noise problem at all. The bridge viewing room is a quiet room. We went there several times, no one but us peeking in. They came back to the courtyard for lunch and to hang out on sea days. Your 10 month old will not be allowed in the pool or hot tub even with swim diapers, just to let you know. But with your big bathtub, she will have her own "pool". They loved the room and used the front balcony in port and when the ship was entering and leaving port. They said they would not hesitate to book that room again.

[angeljt]

Hi Barb!!! Thanks for the answers!!! We rarely do excursions, so I'm not much help there, and I barely remember going through customs.

We did not have a clue where to go after we checked in and walked all over the terminal lugging our carry ons. Make sure you ask the person who checks you in where the VIP lounge is located. It's across from the check in desks on the opposite wall, just about in the middle.

The concierge will show up there and take the VIP group onto the ship first. Make sure you all have a free hand for your glass of champagne. ( :

I don't remember any noise at all from above.

 

They do offer priority tendering for excursions, but we've never used that.

We always tip the last night or morning also.

 

Yes, you can order off any menu and you can order from different restaurants for dinner in your room. We had Cagney's breakfast in the room, in the Courtyard and in Cagney's. That's a great perk. There is a charge to order from the pay restaurants for dinner though. I don't know if they have veal parm, but you can ask. I don't think our butler ever said no to any request we made, but we're pretty easy.

 

How old are the elder in laws? I think the Courtyard will be perfect for them and you'll be able to join them there. It is very private in the Courtyard and we didn't see many people taking advantage of it.

 

You also get 3 bottles of liquor of your choice in the AA (off a menu that will be in your suite), unlimited bottled water and soda included. The espresso machine is fantastic too and also makes tea. The pods for the machine will be in the room along with the little creamers, etc. You can ask for milk also. Your butler will bring mixers for your drinks, but you have to let him/her know what you like. Tonic water, bloody Mary mix, olives, lemons, etc.

 

I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch of other things, but you'll enjoy the room and all that goes with it.

 

There is a Bose DVD player, a phone for you to carry with you which is great if you want to call your in laws or your room or if they need to get in touch with you when you're out and about.

Jackie

[BarbCT605]

Hi Barb!!!

 

There is a Bose DVD player, a phone for you to carry with you which is great if you want to call your in laws or your room or if they need to get in touch with you when you're out and about.

Jackie

Hi Jackie! :D:D

 

Oh, and the fan-tas-tic Bose sound system is surround sound. It's always amazed me how such great sound comes from those cube speakers.

 

Edited to add: Just in case no one holds your hand at the terminal in NY:

1) After you follow the sign for VIP suites (a person is always at the entrance where that sign is)

2) you'll go through x-ray scanner

3) Go to the first tables on the right (there'll be a sign for suite/vip check-in).

4) You'll be escorted to the VIP lounge.

[angeljt]

Hi Jackie! :D:D

 

Oh, and the fan-tas-tic Bose sound system is surround sound. It's always amazed me how such great sound comes from those cube speakers.

 

Edited to add: Just in case no one holds your hand at the terminal in NY:

1) After you follow the sign for VIP suites (a person is always at the entrance where that sign is)

2) you'll go through x-ray scanner

3) Go to the first tables on the right (there'll be a sign for suite/vip check-in).

4) You'll be escorted to the VIP lounge.

 

Yes, Barb, that Bose system was great! They give you CD's, but you can also bring your own. We had problems with the Bose coming on in the middle of the night a few times, but they came to fix it.

They didn't escort us to the VIP lounge and also gave us the wrong key cards, but our butler took care of it when we mentioned they wouldn't open the Courtyard doors. They were supposed to be red then, but I don't know what color they're using now.

Jackie

[BarbCT605]

We had problems with the Bose coming on in the middle of the night a few times, but they came to fix it.

:eek::eek::eek:

 

They were supposed to be red then, but I don't know what color they're using now.

Jackie

Silver (or is it platinum:confused:).

[angeljt]

:eek::eek::eek:

 

 

Silver (or is it platinum:confused:).

 

Was that the color when you went in January?

[BarbCT605]

Yep.:)

[JohnIreland]

If I am correct they close the bridge viewing room at sunset.

[JEDIKNIGHT]

Is the side balcony large enough for 2 people to eat lunch on? How about 4?

 

Thanks!

[angeljt]

I think so, but there is a lot more room at the dining table. You could have lunch on your forward balcony while in port also.

 

This is the side balcony and table.