Is this true on Gem? from the reviews...need confirmation thanks

Ok, found a few more questions about the Gem:

 

Is there live music on the pub crawls?? or in any pub onboard?

 

How's the shopping onboard -- besides the 2 shops, do they have tables set up with special items..you know, the cheap jewelry for $10, the pashminas, the t-shirts??

Yea tee shirts gold by the inch "jewelry" all the normal stuff. Usually right in the area by the main desk.

When we sailed the Pearl in 2008, NCL gave all of us at our Meet N Greet two free games of bowling. It was a lot of fun. Tough because of movement of ship. Got to adjust, but I rolled a 200+ game.

Seems ridiculous to spend $9 for one game. I'm sure there are specials. The Pearl had four lanes, two on each side of the Bliss Lounge. I remember them being regulation.

Thanks for the replies! Of course, I found another question...the galley tour...

Does NCL offer this on Gem? i have done a few for free and i had to pay for it one time...wondering if this is an option to tour the Galley...

My crew also asked if there's a midnight buffet or a dancing under the stars deck party or all night party?? anything of this sort?

The bowling alley thing has been bothering me so I started googling. I found a couple of sights that say basically the same thing, that the alleys on Pearl and Gem are only about 12 inches shorter than regulation. So, if you are just a throw 'em straight and hope bowler like me, then it will seem to be regulation size, but if you are getting ready for the pro tour and hooking the ball into the pocket, then you may be disappointed. Why would NCL make something so close, but not quite, regulation? Did they really need to save that extra 12 inches?

"Norwegian Pearl introduced the concept to modern cruise travel in late 2006 with the addition of nearly full-size bowling alleys (a spokesperson tells us the lanes are 12 inches shorter than regulation). NCL's alleys are also a fixture on Norwegian Gem"

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=3268

Live music that I saw consisted of a solo piano player, a solo guitar player, and a pop/rock band. There always seemed to be at least 1 venue, and often 2, with live music going in the evenings. Lots of karaoke too, if you are into that (do not worry, the karaoke is easy to avoid :)). The band even had a "jam with the band" night where they invited passengers to come up and join them. We only had a few minutes to watch and no brave souls ventured forth, but maybe someone in your group...

Thanks for the replies! Of course, I found another question...the galley tour...

 

Does NCL offer this on Gem? i have done a few for free and i had to pay for it one time...wondering if this is an option to tour the Galley...

 

My crew also asked if there's a midnight buffet or a dancing under the stars deck party or all night party?? anything of this sort?

Our behind the scenes tour (a platinum perk) included a tour of the galleys. There is another behind the scenes tour available for the general public for a charge. I don't know what the cost is.

O'Sheehan's is open nearly 24 hours a day. Not sure what time the garden cafe buffet shuts but I think it's around ten. There are late night parties.

thanks again to all replies...here's another odd question...pools ...are they fresh or salt water?

are there those freestyle Coke soda machines?

is there a free icecream self serve machine near the pool?

i can't make this stuff up folks..these are the questions from my crew..hahaha!

thanks again to all replies...here's another odd question...pools ...are they fresh or salt water? Salt

are there those freestyle Coke soda machines? No, Norwegian only sells Pepsi products.

is there a free icecream self serve machine near the pool? It's in the Buffet.

 

i can't make this stuff up folks..these are the questions from my crew..hahaha!

See answers above ↑. :)

thanks for the response!

how about the famous old fashioned 'midnight buffet' ... anything like that?

is there anything like the midnight buffet? dancing under the stars? deck party? anything outside going on after midnight on the Gem?

2 weeks to go...does anyone know if there's a midnight buffet (like back in the early cruisin' days)?

is there anything like the midnight buffet? dancing under the stars? deck party? anything outside going on after midnight on the Gem?

2 weeks to go...does anyone know if there's a midnight buffet (like back in the early cruisin' days)?

None of above, sorry. Buffet has some "late night" snacks but closes usually around 10pm-11pm, after that your food choices are room service and Blue Lagoon, possibly some snacks at the casino.

is there anything like the midnight buffet? dancing under the stars? deck party? anything outside going on after midnight on the Gem?

Bliss lounge and Spinnakers both have nightclub type parties on certain nights that go on well after midnight. Any deck parties tend to wind down fairly early.

This is my first time with NCL, but my 9th cruise. There are differences between the cruise lines so I don't want to tell my group the wrong info..thanks so much for the info above.

 

Also...does anyone know about the murder mystery for $20? worth it?

 

And...I may be mistaken, but can someone confirm the Asian restaurant is not additional $$?

My friends and I did the murder mystery on the Dawn back in October. It was held in LaCuchina, and we had a blast with it.

Known as the Orchid Garden, Asian Restaurant on the GEM is now free, like similar ones in the fleet. Sushi Bar remained a la carte pricing and not included - same for the Teppanyaki, specialty dining where reservations are a must.

Folks have reported a simplified (translation - fewer choices) menu, long wait & mixed feedback on the dining experience - set your expectations low, real low - IMO. Personally, we would not dine there except as a last resort if the buffet is 100% full and cannot get into a MDR or even O'Sheehans.