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Gem Again! 1/14/09 - 1/24/09 (LONG!)

Cubechick

By Cubechick,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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mrwindt

mrwindt

Posted
Posted

Great review. We just got off the Gem today and had a great time.

 

I have been on lots of cruises (over 20), but this was only our 3rd time on NCL. We were not in a suite, but ended up getting a few of the VIP perks. (Long story - but we were on the Gem in November 2007 and had met Prem at that time. After seeing him again this time, we ended up with a few treats.) It was great to get some of these perks - but since they were new and unexpected (and I'm not totally familiar with all NCL offers), I'm not sure what's the "norm" in VIP perks.

 

Can someone clarify a few things...

- What are the different levels of VIP perks?

- Breakfast/Lunch at Cagneys? What's this about? Who can go there? A charge? etc..

- What is the role of the concierge? What kinds of things can you ask for? (Having never had access to one, I'm not sure what's possible.)

- What other kinds of perks are there, besides the ones mentioned in this review.

 

Thanks for your input. Having just gotten off the ship a few hours ago - I am already longing to be back on-board. So reading your review helps me to feel that we never really got off the ship.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

Mary

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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Great review. We just got off the Gem today and had a great time.

 

I have been on lots of cruises (over 20), but this was only our 3rd time on NCL. We were not in a suite, but ended up getting a few of the VIP perks. (Long story - but we were on the Gem in November 2007 and had met Prem at that time. After seeing him again this time, we ended up with a few treats.) It was great to get some of these perks - but since they were new and unexpected (and I'm not totally familiar with all NCL offers), I'm not sure what's the "norm" in VIP perks.

 

Can someone clarify a few things...

- What are the different levels of VIP perks?

- Breakfast/Lunch at Cagneys? What's this about? Who can go there? A charge? etc..

- What is the role of the concierge? What kinds of things can you ask for? (Having never had access to one, I'm not sure what's possible.)

- What other kinds of perks are there, besides the ones mentioned in this review.

 

Thanks for your input. Having just gotten off the ship a few hours ago - I am already longing to be back on-board. So reading your review helps me to feel that we never really got off the ship.

 

Thanks for your input.

 

Mary

 

Mary, I'm glad you enjoyed my review. As far as the VIP stuff goes, I don't know that there's a "norm". The perks I mentioned, for the most part, were because I was in a suite: breakfast & lunch at Cagneys (no fee), butler service, invite to the courtyard, express disembarkation @ ports and at the end of the trip, access to the VIP area at embarkation & escort onto the ship.

 

The "perks" I get as a "gold" latitudes person are the welcome aboard fruit basket and bottle of wine, access to the concierge for dinner reservations, priority disembarkation (between VIP and the first group otherwise allowed off of the ship), I believe priority disembarkation at ports, and invite to a VIP cocktail party. You also get 2 treats delivered to your stateroom ("silver" on up).

 

However I've read that attaining "platinum" status doesn't automatically qualify you as a VIP. So I do think that there is a bit of "who you know" involved unless you're booked in a suite.

 

The concierge is primarily used for restaurant reservations and assistance in getting on and off of the ship. I'm sure someone else will chime in if there are other functions they can fill...

 

HTH!

 

Cube

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mbisson

mbisson

Posted
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So I do think that there is a bit of "who you know" involved unless you're booked in a suite.

 

Cube

 

OH CRAP. I'm sunk :eek:

Maybe I'll resort to name dropping. "Hi there, Aimee said you'd take care of us" ;)

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welove2cruise232

welove2cruise232

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Hi Aimee, great review! What a "fantabulous" time we had! It was great to see Klaus again after all these years! I could not believe the staff on this ship -- they were amazing! We ran into many staff members that we knew from other cruises -- Restaurant Manager Noel Chaves, Bar Manager Luis, Jun (head bartender) and his wife Elizabeth (bar server), Adina (Cagney's maitre'd), so many others -- it was like old home week!:D Like Klaus said, cruising on NCL is like "coming home to family!!" He is so right!

 

Captain Mike is one of the nicest captains I've met (he and Aage Hoodevik from the Dream are neck and neck).

 

We can't wait to get back on the Gem again -- in 7 weeks!:eek::D;)

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Cruisoholic

Cruisoholic

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Usually all the waiters at LaCucina are very efficient.Your waiter had to be having a bad day.Who knows what the problem was? Not feeling well? Exhausted from a 14 hr shift or a combination ?.I know they work long hours and are not paid that well. If management hears a complaint about an employee they can be severely reprimanded with loss of wages, or can be fired .Thats why I always give them a free pass if I have ONE unpleasant experience.

 

You had to be very vocal and critical to receive your bottle of wine.Sounds like your waiter was probably packing his bags when you were.

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snorklinbarb

snorklinbarb

Posted
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Usually all the waiters at LaCucina are very efficient.Your waiter had to be having a bad day.Who knows what the problem was? Not feeling well? Exhausted from a 14 hr shift or a combination ?.I know they work long hours and are not paid that well. If management hears a complaint about an employee they can be severely reprimanded with loss of wages, or can be fired .Thats why I always give them a free pass if I have ONE unpleasant experience.

 

You had to be very vocal and critical to receive your bottle of wine.Sounds like your waiter was probably packing his bags when you were.

 

This subject came up a couple of days ago in relation to a cabin steward who was not up to par and had an attitude.

 

Several HD's have told us that when management hears a particular crewmember is not up to snuff, it is an opportunity to offer additional training. It really has to border on stealing money to be fired on the spot or sent packing your bags.

 

In fact, at every CC meeting I've been to, the HD and team have sincerely welcomed CC'ers to contact them should any problem arise. Sometimes that does involve talking about what needs to be improved with specifics. Of course, it is also an opportunity to give some positive feedback about anyone you've encountered who's going above and beyond.

 

Really, it takes an awful lot for them to get sacked.

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cantwaitt

cantwaitt

Posted
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I agree food is very good at Tequila.

 

But, until this year the Tex-Mex was always included.

 

Now that it costs extra, I'll pass.

 

Don't want to be one of those NCL price gauging enablers.

 

I believe that in three years, all sit-down restaurants will be extra.

 

If you don;t want to pay extra, you will be able to eat in the buffet.

 

I also believe that the shows will cost extra, except for "B" shows in Spinaker's.

 

If this happens, I will know I did my part to prevent this from happening.

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Cubechick

Cubechick

Posted
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Posted
Usually all the waiters at LaCucina are very efficient.Your waiter had to be having a bad day.Who knows what the problem was? Not feeling well? Exhausted from a 14 hr shift or a combination ?.I know they work long hours and are not paid that well. If management hears a complaint about an employee they can be severely reprimanded with loss of wages, or can be fired .Thats why I always give them a free pass if I have ONE unpleasant experience.

 

You had to be very vocal and critical to receive your bottle of wine.Sounds like your waiter was probably packing his bags when you were.

 

As Barb said, (thanks Barb), the officers on the Gem really drill into your head that they want to know when a problem is happening...finding out some weeks later on Cruise Critic doesn't give them time to address anything.

 

Having been a waitress myself, I'm extremely sympathetic to what a tough job it is. And knowing the signs, that's why I wondered if perhaps our guy was new?

 

As for being "very vocal and critical" all my DH said was that we hadn't had any water in a long time. That was it. We didn't mention the rest of the mishaps (which in fact equals more than one unpleasant experience with this particular waiter). This again, makes the restaurant manager's reaction that much more spectacular. Again, we were more than satisfied with the fact that he brought water and saw to it that our entrees came in a timely manner. It just goes to show much the staff and management on the Gem cares about their passengers.

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Cubechick

Cubechick

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Hi Aimee, great review! What a "fantabulous" time we had! It was great to see Klaus again after all these years! I could not believe the staff on this ship -- they were amazing! We ran into many staff members that we knew from other cruises -- Restaurant Manager Noel Chaves, Bar Manager Luis, Jun (head bartender) and his wife Elizabeth (bar server), Adina (Cagney's maitre'd), so many others -- it was like old home week!:D Like Klaus said, cruising on NCL is like "coming home to family!!" He is so right!

 

Captain Mike is one of the nicest captains I've met (he and Aage Hoodevik from the Dream are neck and neck).

 

We can't wait to get back on the Gem again -- in 7 weeks!:eek::D;)

 

Hi Peggy, can I say how jealous I am of your quick return to the Gem??

 

Are you still looking at booking her again in January?

 

I agree with you about Captain Hoodevik. It's too bad he retired. I'd love to have the pleasure of sailing with him again!

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BarbCT605

BarbCT605

Posted
Posted

Wowser, I'm just catching up reading all the posts.

 

CChick, DH & I were on the Gem before you were (1/4-14).

 

At our CC meeting, Prem also stated that if we had any problems, to let him know. I know they would rather deal with any issues on the spot.

 

We were in the same AE as you - 8132. If I had known you were to be in the same suite, I'd have put a little "surprise" in the cabin for you.:D

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welove2cruise232

welove2cruise232

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Hi Peggy, can I say how jealous I am of your quick return to the Gem??

 

Are you still looking at booking her again in January?

 

I agree with you about Captain Hoodevik. It's too bad he retired. I'd love to have the pleasure of sailing with him again!

 

I can't even believe we're going back again so soon! This was totally unplanned, but DH wanted to take DD and the price was right, so here we go again! "My" cabin wasn't available, so we had to settle for a port-side AF...

 

We will probably book next January's Gem cruise when we're on board next month! I hope "my" cabin is still available! We also want to go to BDA on the Spirit this summer -- we usually go in July, and my sister wants to come with us. So maybe I'll be buying TWO future cruise credits...

 

I would venture to guess Captain Hoodevik won't stay retired for long -- he'll find himself a small ship to sail, I bet!

 

FYI, DD applied for her passport at our local Town Hall on Tuesday night (January 27th) and got her passport TODAY -- less than two weeks!

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