xenagurl

Everything else aside the Gem is a few years newer than the Miracle.

I've been on both. The Gem is prettier IMO and I'd go on the Gem first hands down.

In the end it depends on what you're looking for, what means most to you and how much you want to spend. However if it were me, without question I'd go on the Gem. This is though the Norwegian Cruise Line board. LOL :D

Edit: Sinan Ulucay one of the BEST cruise directors ever will be back on the Gem then, that fact alone is worth checking out the Gem if you haven't already.

@canuckcruzingirl

Good grief what a bunch of sad people those women were. They were truly lonely because there hearts weren't open to being kind.

It was a good thing though, since you won! Hooray for you and the friendly table! :D

I've never felt awkward being solo, but I rarely feel awkward in general. However if you feel this way just try to relax. Most of the time people aren't paying nearly as much attention to us as we think they are. And if they happen to be, wink, smile and just be you! :D Enjoy your travels!

You never know OP! While I wouldn't assume it would, it certainly could for a variety of reasons. Whatever happens you'll certainly have a great cruise. :)

You know, I wondered the same thing. What if we were still in the pool, which was on the other side of the resort? :eek:

 

It was a ship run excursion. It was called something like South Beach Break.

Then this review would have started out with a very different title. Possibly being written in Honduras :D LOL Thanks for the info I think I'll skip that excursion company in this port.

Thank you for your review and photos!

Through my lenses most of your complaints seem like things that would have not sat well with me either, specifically regarding the room and balcony.

And good on you for not being rushed through your beer. Suppose you were no where to be found would they have left without you? LOL What tour company was it? Was that a ship run excursion?

Thank you! :o She met a young man on the cruise, and they have been Skype-ing for at least an hour a day since the cruise! Oh, boy!

LOL Awww too cute!

Technology is so cool, when I was 18, we sent post cards. LOL

I'm enjoying your review John. What a nice family vacation, you niece must think you're the best uncle ever! :D

I've been around the world and back again alone. That's my preference with travel though most of the time that's not the way I travel.

In the past 13 months I've been on 4 cruises solo and have not had an issue. Common sense, not getting drunk, and trusting your instinct will go a long way in keeping you safe.

Never feel bad about enlisting the help of a stranger if needed. Even if it's just a matter of pretending you know someone while the "undesirable" moves on, it can be useful to have "immediate" friends.

I enjoyed the comedy and magic of John-Pierre Parent on the Jewel.

We just had a chance to see Jean-Pierre again and he really is a great performer! Those tricks are awesome!

I had a chance to interview him on the Jewel:

http://travelxena.com/interview-with-jean-pierre-parent-magician-on-the-norwegian-jewel/

^^^ @Snippu

The comment about vanity is well stated!

So I checked out your trip reports, not to see what you look like but to read them and how cooool! Fun reports, awesome photos and you're lovely. :D

Sorry to see your thread go south OP. It was a fun lighthearted thread about dress and grooming in the fashion section. :)

Yes, I dress to impress. It is not for other passengers, but for how it makes me feel to be put together. When you look good, you feel good. I like to present myself well in public. I also want my husband to admire the view, and I love his compliments. I am very much into hair and makeup. If someone else is not, than that is their business. I just know what is acceptable for myself. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and makeup colors!

Well said. And kudos for leaving out snark. :)

Great review, thank you for sharing! The food looks delicious!

Congrats on your little one!

Can't believe he hasn't been mentioned yet. Stan Sykes (Star) is the best. The video says it all. Every night he had people dancing and singing.

 

I totally agree. After Teppanyaki dinner we were talking and heard music. So diners and servers alike walked over to the railing to see this awesome party going on, on deck 6. All due to Stan! It was great, we wound up singing and dancing along upstairs too. :)

Very cool! Thanks for posting, looking forward to reading more.

William Hicks' Soul Satisfaction on the Jade was great. They sang Motown melodies and had everyone singing and clapping along. Lots of fun!

I believe only Gold and Platinum have a cocktail party on the Epic but I could be wrong.

That might explain it! Now that you say that I think it was something like that.

I read on the NCL website where it lists member benefits that there is no Latitudes cocktail party on the Epic. Is that true, and if so, anybody know why they don't do it? Too many Latitudes members on board?

Are you referring to the "Members Only Cocktail Party"? If so that's different from the Latitudes party (I think). Sometimes Latitudes parties are split into 2 parties due to the amount of Latitudes members on board.

I was on the Epic in April for a Transatlantic sailing and there was a Latitudes party, I can't remember if they had the other cocktail party or not.

EDIT: Okay so I went and looked at the Latitudes Rewards section on NCL.com I guess the "Members Only" and Latitudes party are one and the same, but again there was one on the Epic when I was there, whether this was due to the fact that this was a transatlantic with less passengers than normal or not, I don't know, but there was one.

I was able to do an interview with them this past Saturday on the Star.

The video is embedded but here is the direct

I'll start a thread just for this, but I thought I'd put it here as well.

No particular order:

 

Drew DeFour saw him on the EPIC, we made almost every show even closed the place a couple nights. Very good musician he and his wife.

 

Leo on the GEM, same thing, we didn't miss his shows.

 

Sinan, what I can I say that hasn't been said. You really need to experience him for yourself. He annoyed me when he as ACD on the Dawn but he won me over on the GEM. Soo funny and the star of every show.

 

Fire and Ice/Rosie & Max, love them can't wait to spend every evening with them in Nov on the Jewel. Rosie even did a very good version of Alicia Keys No One (not an easy song) for our daughter who put in the request and she brought her DD (then age 5) on stage. Rosie has so much energy I don't know how she does it every night.

 

Oh one other memorable performer is Captain Roger on the GEM. If you are lucky enough he sometimes plays bass guitar and sings Wonderful Tonight at the Latitudes reception. Pics of Leo and Captain Roger are in the reviews in my signature.

 

Xenagurl why don't you join us for a thanksgiving cruise? Our M&G won't be the same without you.

Thanks for the invite, I know it would be fun, but I'll be on the Jade until Nov 10th and will spend a few days exploring afterward. But perhaps if I can talk hubby into it...:D

That's right bass playing Captain Roger. That was so cool! He was good too.

Shawn I'm going to look you up on YouTube!

For all of your Sharkbait fans out there, I'll be posting an interview with them on my blog soon. I'll post the link soon. :)

Okay in this order Patti and Jose, Fire and Ice, Emily and Arvin were okay, but because they were in a poor venue on the Spirit didn't have the same impact. I loved Rosie's, from Fire and Ice's Tina Turner show. Are they still on the Jewel? I'm on in September for the Panama Canal cruise- would love it if they were still on. I oved the Jean Ann Ryan dancers also. Not so happy with the new company they now use.Johnny Ibrahim as a CD was great also. I loved the way he joined in all the activities. Sinan does nothing for me-too hard to understand.

I've not seen Fire and Ice on the Jewel, but I've not been on her in a while, hopefully someone can chime in with that answer.

I haven't heard of Johnny Ibrahim before.

This was during a crew show on the Jade. Does anyone know the name of this young magician? He was really good!

Does anyone have some new people to add?

Links and video would be great!