bermudagal56

Is there a special order getting tendered off the Gem? do you have to sign up ahead of time? Last year on the breakaway we had to sign up and got a number in the order to get off.

Thank you so much for all your posts, updates and pictures! I will be on the gem next week. Just a quick question. Is there a special order of getting tendered to GSC or is it first come ? did you have to sign up and get a number? Last year on the breakaway we had to sign up and got a number assigned.

I also get my free cruises from Harrah's in Philadelphia. It does include the Bahamas cruises from New York. I went on the breakaway last year and doing the gem soon.

what are the times with shows? do they do them twice a night to accommodate dinner times?

I would like to know too!

Hello, I have been offered an upgrade bid for my gem cruise in May. I have never done this before. How does it work? If I bid and win do I get to choose the cabin or do they just assign it? I have an inside cabin on deck 11 and I like my location. I would love to get a balcony on the same deck.

How far in advance do you usually find out if you won the bid?

What would be the lowest reasonable bid that would give me a chance to get a balcony?

thank you!

Ricanicole-- I also like the convenience of being dropped off! I decided to book the park and cruise with Hilton garden for $219. I think its worth it. They also pick you up after the cruise. I don't want to drive into ny and I don't want to take any chances of train delays or any traffic jams.

I did an inside last april with my cousin, also on the breakaway 11th deck mid ship. it was small but we managed. Just a heads up, there really are no drawers to put your clothes in. you have the closet to hang clothes and also a few shelves on the inside of the closet on the side. I had read about that before we went so we purchased those material covered cardboard bins that are collapsible that lay flat in your suit case at the dollar store. we bought lots of them and it really came in handy and did the job. My cousin put hers on the shelves and I put mine on the top of the closet. we didn't want to live out of our suitcases and there really was no room to move around if we kept them out. (stored under the bed) I know its hard but try not to over pack.

On the other hand, we were surprised that the bathroom was not a bad size for an inside cabin. they had a few shelves under the sink to store things.

Have fun and enjoy your time with your daughters! I am doing a mother/daughter trip on the gem this year.

Cruising on the Gem out of manhattan. we are coming from the Philadelphia area. Can anyone recommend a reasonable place to park our car on the jersey side on the way up and then a ride service to the pier?

OR

a reasonable hotel suggestion for the night before along our route on the jersey turnpike (don't want to go out of our way too much off the turnpike) that would offer parking there while on the cruise and ride service to the pier?

I have stopped at that port several times and I always end up doing the same thing. Purchase the transfer tickets from the ship to cocoa beach and purchase them early so you will be one of the first ones off the ship. (I have also just taken the bus outside the port but too many stops along the way) Enjoy a few hours on the beach. Its very nice. You can rent chairs there. After the beach, there are 2 surf shops- one is the Ron John shop and I forget the name of the other and they are near each other. They are one block to the beach. The shuttle from the ship drops you off at that surf shop so you can do that first if you want but if you buy anything you have to carry it to the beach.

i am not going until april but I would also like to see the dining room menu. Anyone have them?

Thanks for all this info! You mention that you ate only in complementay restaurants, which is what we plan to do, as well. Did you make reservations or just show up, and how did all that work for you?

I would like to know this too. did you prefer one over the others?

Of the 3 dining rooms, does anyone recommend one over the others and why? This is first time sailing on Norwegian and not familiar with them. Do you recommend making dinner reservations for the whole week? is it really necessary?

I would like to know also. Anyone know?

thank you also!