Bitterman

Do not assume you use local time! We didn't when we were there a couple months ago. When I was planning I "assumed" that too. On the cruise I was waiting for the time change notice that never came. During the cruise ships staff started advising we're staying on ships time, especially the shore excursion staff, they went out of their way to make sure people knew that.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

When we were there at the end of June on the Norwegian Gem we went by ships time, not local. Not sure how RCCL does it though.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

You can't rent snorkel gear there but the last time were there you could buy it. We ended up buying two mask and snorkel sets and still use them here at home. But as mentioned Horseshoe Bay is not really good for snorkeling. We did end up using our masks and snorkels at Snorkel Park beach for a couple hours on sail away day though.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Check out Port Bermuda Webcam dot com. Great shots of the Dockyard and the camera is usually panning across both ships when there are ships docked. It varies all the time which way they moor. I watch the Norwegian Breakaway fairly often, comes in on Wednesday mornings and leaves on Friday afternoon and it seems almost a 50/50 split which way they dock.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

As others have said Saint John has some cool museums, parks, markets, and shops all within an easy walk from the pier. We walked around for a few hours and thoroughly enjoyed the city. Before the cruise we were thinking Saint John might be our least favorite port of call but we ended up loving it.

If you've never been to Halifax you should take a trip out to Peggy's Cove at least once. There are shops and restaurants by the pier but the streets can get a little steep walking into the city more, say up to the Citadel.

Enjoy

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Tough call, you will probably be ok if customs is efficient. They say to allow 45 minutes for tendering (I.e., if you want to be in Bar Harbor by 10 be ready to get on the tender by 9:15) but it didn't take us 45 minute, probably closer to a half hour. On our Canada/New England cruise we did customs in Portland and the customs inspection started at 9:00ish and we were done in maybe a half hour. Our excursion wasn't until 11:30 so we had plenty of time. Be sure to get your tender tickets early the night before Bar Harbor.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Thank you so much. Really appreciate the insight. We decided to try the brief Bar Harbor -Cadillac Mt tour in the morning and then will have the rest of the day to explore as we wish. Thanks again!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Hi there Bitterman---- we were just thinking of going on the Intimate Look at Acadia National Park and came across your comments about it. I see where you say it was disappointing (i.e.just driving around ---and I wondered whether we would have the same opinion) In your opinion, while you were driving around is it a lot of repetitious sights (i.e. trees, coastline) or was there enough in the way of scenery to keep one interested albeit from the view out the window? I'm trying to choose between this excursion and the Bar Harbor and Cadillac Mountain (about 1/2 the time and just goes through Bar Harbor and up to the top of the mountain) Thank you so very much---really appreciate your time

Hi McFins! Be glad to share our experience! It was literally our driver/guides first day on the job. I think his name was Larry. There was also a rep from the tour company onboard to help out and provide guidance, etc. They were both very nice. We were on a small bus that holds maybe 18 people or so. The bus itself was new and comfortable with big windows to look out of. Big windows are a good thing as you'll spend most of the tour on the bus, lol.

We first made our way up to Cadillac mountain. It was very crowded and then we had to squeeze a small bus into a car parking spot. We were only allowed 20 minutes off the bus, literally. They told us the park doesn't like them parking there for longer than that. While I get that it also made everyone feel rushed. I literally ran around the top of Cadillac mountain snapping as many pictures as I could so we would have some memories...since we didn't have the time there to relax and enjoy the views. I could have easily spent a couple hours up there walking around the trails and just enjoying the views.

We then headed down to Thunder Hole. Again, crowded and we had to park a small bus in a car parking spot. Also, we were again told that we could only spend 15-20 minutes off the bus to check out Thunder Hole. We had bad luck and got there at very low tide. So low that Thunder Hole was not thundering. It wasn't even wheezing, lol. Obviously this was not the tour companies fault.

After Thunder Hole we started heading back to Bar Harbor and heard stories of the rich and famous people that live there (Martha Stewart for example) and saw some mansions, etc., from a distance.

You really spend most of this tour looking out the bus windows. I certainly wouldn't call it "an intimate look at Acadia National Park." There are some good views for sure, especially if you've never been to the area before, but I don't know if that makes up for the lack of time at Cadillac Mt. or Thunder Hole. Personally I would not do this tour again if we cruised to Bar Harbor again.

Hope this helps!

Doug

We were also on the Gem this past May. On our last sea day our room steward asked if they could replace the carpet in our cabin and they would need about 2 hours. We agreed, left and returned a few hours later and had new carpeting, new throw pillows on the sofa and a new stool at the vanity. :)

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

We will be on a cruise next month and have a 9PM departure from Portland. We are thinking it would be a good chance for a fresh lobster dinner. Any suggestions for a good place near the cruise dock. (Celebrity Summit Oct. 5) Thanks too you all who give us so much good advice.

We were just there at the end of June. Awesome food. Lobster delivered fresh off the boat twice a day. Voted best lobster roll for the last couple years. You can sit outside but it does get busy and crowded.

It's an easy 5-10 minute walk from the dock on a flat sidewalk..

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Start checking your account in September. If you're fully paid with check in completed you should be able to print your eDocs and luggage tags at least 60 days out. We were on the Gem starting June 24th and I was able to print my stuff April 15.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

We were just on Halifax and Saint John a little over a month ago. I was going to get some CAD before we left on the cruise but never did. We found that within the touristy areas at least shops and restaurants gladly too US currency. The only caveat we ran into once or twice was that if we got change back from a cash sale we got it on CAD.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

We generally don't use our cell phones onboard but do when in port and/or ashore. Verizon has Travel Pass that lets you use your current cell phone plan while in other countries for just a daily fee. It's $10 per 24 hour period in Bermuda. We were just on Canada and Travel Pass worked great. Your phone will say Roaming but it's really using your existing plan. I believe AT&T has a similar plan. Enjoy your cruise!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

We've used it before, plenty of spots and you walk right down to the terminal. That being said if you can get a car service for around the $280 it would cost to park there for a week why drive!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

I hope it's not the wrong thread for it, I feel it's somewhat related. But I saw articles where NCL was trying new internet plans on 2 ships back in March. Any idea if it's been rolled on all ships? I supposed not since their website still show their crappy and super pricy internet plans. I was hoping for a social media package like most cruise lines offer nowadays.

 

Anybody got info on it?

 

Sailing from Boston to Bermuda in Sept and was hoping to be able to stay in touch with a few people but I'm unsure it's gonna be possible.

Not to get to off topic but I have not heard anything since March either. Verizon and other cell phone providers have plans that let you use your existing cell phone plan while in a foreign country for a daily fee. It's $10 a day while in Bermuda with Verizon. You might want to consider that instead of spending a lot of money on an internet package. Just use your cell phone for the two and a half days or so you're in Bermuda.

This is the info from a shipping news site about the new wifi. It's from March as well and doesn't have any dates but I don't think there's much info out there:

Global Eagle Entertainment has signed a multi-year strategic partnership agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) to provide internet and entertainment services across its Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) brand’s fleet of 14 ships.

Under the agreement, Global Eagle is implementing packages to offer Wi-Fi, texting and video on board, with guests expected in the near future to be able to use their own devices to access an integrated portal that includes TV programming, on-demand movies, games, and special event telecasts.

Monitoring of usage and dynamically adjusted bandwidth provision for each ship based on real-time demand will also be part of the system.

“Under this new agreement with Global Eagle, we’re looking to expand our onboard communication and entertainment experience for our guests,” said Ross Henderson, NCL’s vice president of onboard revenue.

“In addition, Global Eagle’s portal will enable us to manage our onboard revenue-producing services, entertainment and information more efficiently.”

Global Eagle has recently improved its at-sea web browsing capabilities by upgrading its SpeedNet system with Application Performance Enhancement Technology (APET), designed to improve the internet quality of experience (QoE) for passengers on board.

First introduced in 2012, SpeedNet uses predictive algorithms to automatically download the most popular websites to the ship’s local server, so they can be accessed simultaneously by multiple users. In side-by-side tests, this has been demonstrated to provide up to five times faster download speeds when accessing sites like Yahoo, BBC News, CNN News and ESPN over a satellite connection, the company says.

APET further optimises performance through dynamic intelligent bandwidth management. Data buffers are prioritised and tuned automatically based on bandwidth availability and the applications being used.

“When large numbers of passengers return to the ship after a port call, there is a tremendous surge in internet usage,” said Ole Kristian Sivertsen, president of Global Eagle’s cruise, ferry and yacht services.

“SpeedNet APET helps to manage these periods of high demand and ensure the best-possible user experience by automatically prioritising so as to provide the fastest speeds for the most important applications.”

“Protections are built into APET to provide the best QoE for users without compromising their security and privacy.”

Completely untrue. You have coverage until you are out of the harbor. The ships tower cannot be turned on until it is far enough away from land to not have any impact on people who are ashore.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

That's about right. When you get about 2 miles off shore. It takes about 50 minutes to get to the Verrazono Bridge and you will have cell service for another 20-30 minutes after that. You need to be able to see land (i.e. not buried on the inside of the ship as you get out to sea).

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

How could you not be paid in full 57 days out?

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

As JohnRich mentioned you have to be paid in full before they release the eDocs to you. Sounds like you should call NCL and see if there are any billing issues with the ruinh

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Mopek, check out this thread from late April. Lots of pictures of the gem, pics of menu's, pics of the Freestyle Daily's so you can get an idea of what goes on.

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2493296

Hi,

My family and I are thinking of booking an eastern Caribbean cruise with Norwegian aboard the Gem.

My kids are 4 and 10.

My questions are:

1- Do you have to reserve seats for the shows way in advance and are they appropriate for the ages of my kids?

2- Is the food really as salty as many of the reviews suggest or is there enough variety to satisfy everyone.

3- How are the seas from NY to the islands. Are they rough and do you feel it a lot?

4- Are there enough engaging activities for young kids throughout the many 'at sea' days to keep them busy ? (One of our biggest concerns)

5- Are there long line-ups for activities, shows, buffets etc...?

6- Do you have to pay for water or are there stations where you can fill a mug etc..?

Thanks in advance and any advice would be appreciated.

P

Hi we were just on the Gem for the second time about a month ago. As others mentioned there are no reserved seats for the shows, it's first come first served. Some shows may be family friendly, some are definitely adults only. You get the following days activity schedules every evening with the Freestyle Daily pamphlet so you can plan ahead some.

We found the food to be very good, with some terrible exceptions (coffee in the Garden Café, French toast in the garden café, and the scrambled eggs in the garden café, which were literally liquid many mornings). Otherwise we didn't find the food too salty at all and things like French fries definitely needed salt. Taste is very subjective and we like bold and strong flavors so maybe how they season is too much for some people but we didn't think so. Generally not long lines in the buffet when we went but you will want to make reservations for any specialty restaurants.

We haven't gone down to the islands but on a trip to Bermuda we had one slightly rough day where they locked people inside for a few hours. Other than that it was smooth sailing. You can't really predict the weather though.

They have Wii gaming time in the Atrium, and did ring toss and other games too. I would not recommend the arcade. It's small and very expensive.

You have to pay for bottled water. You can fill new/clean glasses with water in the buffet and then transfer it to your own bottle. As you're probably aware you can no longer bring aboard your own water or soda, etc., but you can bring aboard EMPTY water bottles, fill them, and put them in the fridge in your room if you like a stock of cold water. We did this and it worked very well. Keep in mind the water that comes out of the tap in your room is the same water that is dispensed in the buffet. We also brought with us Brita Sports Bottles to filter out the chlorine taste and to carry around with us. That worked very well too.

Enjoy your cruise!

p.s. We love the Gem. Fine ship and a great crew any time we've been on her. I just did a review of our last cruise if you're interested.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=584336

You can try calling NCL as well, which I what I ended up doing for our June cruise a few weeks ago as I couldn't find the right number of people for times I wanted too. The phone rep ended up making us reservations for more people than we needed and said when you get onboard just change the number of people. That worked ok on a couple of reservations but on a couple others they had to adjust the time too. And as stated a lot of time slots are held for when you get on board too, but they go fast. Finalizing our restaurant reservations was the first thing we did after we got on. Good luck!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

We did a Canada/New England cruise on the Gem about a month ago and never got an upgrade email nor a banner on out NCL account online. We initially booked a balcony room so maybe all the rooms above our class were sold out so there was nothing to bid on?

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

When we were on the Gem, shorts were not required in Manhattan. I got tired of arguing with my guys, they would show up wearing pants, and point out all of the men wearing shorts. Years ago on the Jewel, they did enforce it (ds was a tall 12 year old, and they questioned him about his age many times).

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

We also used Travel Insured for our last cruise about a month ago. Excellent coverage, which thankfully we didn't need, and a decent price...$144 for two of us.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk