"LIVE" from Norwegian GEM / March 7, 2009

[3rdtimecruising]

Hello Again Radio,

 

I have a question about the breakfast at Cagney's pic. You said you were on deck 11 and it looks like you may have a mini suite. We have one on the 28th and were wondering if you were able to eat breakfast there each morning. The cabin looks beautiful. I must say you are as neat as my beloved husband of 36 years. LOL... Have a great last day.

 

Ann and Bernie

[tabby313]

Radio,

Thank you so much for all of the information you have provided. My family and I are about to leave on the Gem tomorrow (our first cruise ever :eek:) and are getting excited and a little anxious. We were so grateful for all of your postings and photos. It was really nice of you to take time from your day to do this. I love your positive attitude! We are totally looking forward to leaving this cold weather here in Connecticut and getting some sun! If anyone else has any tips for some cruise virgins feel free to post! We are also on Deck 11.

[Radio]

:) Hi Radio Great Live Post. I have been following along for a few years now. Radio I did the same cruise as you on the Majesty, you in Jan. me in Feb. I'll tell you after reading your live post from the Gem I think that it would be worth the xtra $$ to go on the Gem, almost the same itineraries. What do you think? Radio thanks again for your effort and I hope you kill them in the casino tonight. Bye for now radio i enjoyed tuning all week.

 

I think that the Gem would be a great choice. . .You will get many more dining choices, and a beautiful contemporary ship. I would definitely sail Gem again.

 

The Majesty however is coming back to Baltimore on May 24 for the summer so . . . . I may be back with her again ?

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Maryfrei]

Thanks again Radio. The pictures were so powerful, the wake of the ship leaving Freeport and heading back to New York brought tears to my eyes!

 

I also agree that the Gem is a beautiful ship with an outstanding crew, and that Prem is a wonderful Hotel Director.:)

[Radio]

The Internet connection has been a little weak today.

 

We are scheduled to docked at Pier 88 by 9AM tomorrow. The first passengers are scheduled for debarkation at 945AM. All passenger should be off by 1145AM.

Hopefully we will have a sunny ride up the Hudson River.

 

The weather and wave conditions have been a little rough. NCL has placed a lot of the “Ooops, I got sick” bags around the ship, and stairwells.

 

I forgot to mention that there are 4 Casino areas on board. The Main Casino, There are Slots in the Bliss Lounge, and Spinnaker Lounge, as well as the Pool Casino Table Games.

 

 

Here are a few pics . . .

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

A Rainy day at Sea is still better than a Sunny day at Work !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Mikeal Hilden, HD Prem Kainikkara, and CD Ray during the Officer’s Profile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I liked this Statue in the Grand Pacific Dining Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View from my cabin. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bliss Nightclub

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Cucina (Italian Dining Room on Deck 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[Radio]

Radio,

Thank you so much for all of the information you have provided. My family and I are about to leave on the Gem tomorrow (our first cruise ever :eek:) and are getting excited and a little anxious. We were so grateful for all of your postings and photos. It was really nice of you to take time from your day to do this. I love your positive attitude! We are totally looking forward to leaving this cold weather here in Connecticut and getting some sun! If anyone else has any tips for some cruise virgins feel free to post! We are also on Deck 11.

 

Thanks for the nice comments tabby313. . . My advice is simply to relax, and enjoy yourself.

 

 

 

You will love your cabin !

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Radio]

Thanks again Radio. The pictures were so powerful, the wake of the ship leaving Freeport and heading back to New York brought tears to my eyes!

 

I also agree that the Gem is a beautiful ship with an outstanding crew, and that Prem is a wonderful Hotel Director.:)

 

Thanks Mary. . . I have many many more pics to post once I return home !

 

I will try to post many of them here on Cruise Critic !

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Radio]

Hello Again Radio,

 

I have a question about the breakfast at Cagney's pic. You said you were on deck 11 and it looks like you may have a mini suite. We have one on the 28th and were wondering if you were able to eat breakfast there each morning. The cabin looks beautiful. I must say you are as neat as my beloved husband of 36 years. LOL... Have a great last day.

 

Ann and Bernie

 

 

Ha ha. . .Mrs Radio has turned me into a "Keep your Cabin Clean freak"

 

I was invited to Cagney's by the Concierge Mgr.

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Frankie C]

Radio,

 

I wanted to say great job and thanks for the "insider's look". You definitly should get some sort of pat from NCL, you'd make a great salesman. Either way, enjoy your evening.

 

-Frankie

:cool:

[welove2cruise232]

Radio, thanks again for taking us along! We are boarding the Gem in two weeks for our second cruise on the Gem in two months, and are so excited to be back on this beautiful ship again!

 

So glad to see that many of the same senior officers and crew are still on board! I already warned Prem that "we'll be back!!!:eek:"

 

Have you had a chance to speak with Noel (Restaurant Manager), or Luis (Bar Manager)? We met both of these wonderful people on the Majesty! Also, Jun (head bartender) and his wife Elizabeth (bar waitress) are from the Majesty, as well as another bartender in the Spinnaker (his name escapes me right now). We're looking forward to seeing all these great staff members again!

[JBug]

Radio,

Thank you so much for all of the information you have provided. My family and I are about to leave on the Gem tomorrow (our first cruise ever :eek:) and are getting excited and a little anxious. We were so grateful for all of your postings and photos. It was really nice of you to take time from your day to do this. I love your positive attitude! We are totally looking forward to leaving this cold weather here in Connecticut and getting some sun! If anyone else has any tips for some cruise virgins feel free to post! We are also on Deck 11.

 

come join our roll call! i know we leave tomorrow but it's not too late : )

we're having a cruise critic meet and greet at 11AM on sunday at magenta if you would like to come. it's good to meet some of the cruise staff and get their cards to contact them if something goes bad on the cruise.

[Radio]

Hello everyone. . .I guess it’s time to start packing. I had dinner tonight up in the Garden Café’ and went to watch the Close Up Magic with Bob Trunell Show.

 

It was interesting how his show went. . . He was down on the floor below the stage, with a TV Camera on him that showed a huge image of his Up Close show. He asked for volunteers from the audience to sit with him, and a very large video showed up on the stage. It was very nice, and I thought his tricks were great !

 

I am sure I will get up early tomorrow, and will probably be one of the last ones off. I am driving home tomorrow, so I am in no hurry to leave the ship.

 

NCL will let passengers hang out in the cabin until their color is called.

 

 

Here are a few pics from tonight. . . More pics tomorrow from New York !

 

Thanks for tuning in. . .

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

The Atrium Lobby was filled with passengers enjoying their last night of the Cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up Close Magic Show in the Stardust Theatre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teppanyaki was a passenger Favorite !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not to many passengers were at the Pool today. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a quiet night on the Promenade Deck too. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Current position, we should be home soon !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[tabby313]

come join our roll call! i know we leave tomorrow but it's not too late : )

we're having a cruise critic meet and greet at 11AM on sunday at magenta if you would like to come. it's good to meet some of the cruise staff and get their cards to contact them if something goes bad on the cruise.

 

How do we do that?

[cruiser12]

Radio, We will be sailing on Gem very soon. Thank you for sharing and taking the time to help us get ready for our own trip. Excitement is filling the air.

[hophead]

I think I read where you said you purchaces the 250 minute internet package. Did you use all the time?

[watchdiva]

Hi Radio - thanks for taking us along on your cruise:). The GEM is a beautiful ship and we'd love to sail her one day - she just needs to be sailing from Miami for that to happen.

 

I noticed empty seats in the picture of Teppanyaki - did you get a sense that fewer passengers were opting to pay the extra $$? Teppanyaki is usually completely booked all seatings and the empty seats surprised me:eek:. DH and I prefer to eat in the specialty restaurants and have NO problem with the additional $$ - we build it right into our budget from the beginning.........

[Radio]

Hello everyone. . . We made it back to New York. We docked at just about 9AM.

 

We passed the Verrazano Bridge at about 8AM, Staten Island Ferry at 815, and the Statue of Liberty at 830AM.

 

It is a very cold morning here in New York City (38f), but the sun is coming up, and I only have to drive about 3.5 hours to Maryland. I will have lots of pics to post, and in a few days I will also post all of the Freestyle Dailies from this week.

 

When I get home today, I plan on reading the whole thread again, and answering any questions I may have missed. . .

 

The first passengers will begin debarkation around 945AM. That last passenger should be off of the Gem by 1145AM or 12Noon.

 

I think that whoever boards this ship today or anytime, will be very pleased. I loved this Cruise, and I plan on sailing again with the Beautiful Norwegian Gem.

 

 

Thanks for all of the nice comments ! Thanks for tuning in. . .

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

Approaching the Verrazano Narrows Bridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staten Island Ferry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statue of Liberty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heading up the Hudson River

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are almost home. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made it !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[joschwin]

Radio: I love reading your reports. I know you have sailed the Majesty also. I have sailed the Dawn last June from NY to Bermuda, and loved the ship. This July I have a chance to do the Majesty. We do not need glitz or fancy rooms. I do want the comfort of the beds of the Dawn. We like nice bar areas, crap tables, and good food. We would probably even eat in town the nites we are in port. I am ok with paying the additional for the pay restaurants. I like the idea of being in St George for this trip. Your honest opinion please if I will be disappointed with the Majesty? IS she run down?

Joan

[timeforadaiquiri]

Radio - glad you got back safe and sound. Thank you so much for all of your reports. I've enjoyed it so much and look forward to more pictures.

[PreciousPetal]

Thank you for taking your precious vacation time to allow us to join in on the fun. I have taken quite a few cruises with you over the years via your posts! I agree with you that the Gem is a wonderful ship and experience...

[Radio]

Ooops. . .Here is the photo that didnt show up. . .

 

 

Radio

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

 

 

 

 

We made it !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

[angeljt]

WELCOME HOME, RADIO!!!

Thanks again for sharing with us! On your web page, you mentioned that RC was your favorite line. Just wondering how you like NCL compared with RC. I'll be going on my second RC cruise in May and I'm wondering if I'll like going back to assigned seating after Freestyling it for the last few cruises. I loved RC when we cruised with them last time and I'm sure I'll love it again.

Glad you had a great time!

Jackie

[vinman13]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

You made the week fly by for me. I felt like I was right their with you all week. Thank you so much for taking the time out to do your daily post. I can't wait to look at your updated website once you update it. If you had to pick the one BEST part of your cruise the not to be missed thing, what would it be? I just don't want to miss out on what you thought was the best part of your cruise when I cruise in less then a month.

Thank you Again

Vinman13

[Hart10]

Great pics. Helps us plan our Ships. A great effort appreciated.Thanks

[jpf]

Radio, I just to add my name to the many cruise critic members in giving thanks to you for your insightful, informative posts and photo's. That you took the time out to provide us with the updates and pictures is commendable, and dare I say remarkable, in this age of selfishness, and 'me first'. The trip you were on, allowed all of us to almost be on it with you, and the insight you provided allowes us to plan for our own cruise. Again, as I said in an earlier post....THANK YOU...YOU ARE THE MAN! :)