Savaann

Bring dish soap to wash bottles, cups etc! Also bring any infant medications (tylenol etc) because they aren't always available on board.

We were on the Gem and went to breakfast at Cagneys each morning. You can request for them to bring you items from the buffet for breakfast :)

We were on the Gem in May. Our kids (7 & 5) ordered from the children's menu when we ate at a specialty restaurant. On several occasions, it took longer for their food to arrive than ours. So we learned to order their food/juice as soon as we sat down. Our kids tried the mac & cheese (good portion size/full bowl). I think the chicken tenders, PBJ and pizza would be on the small side for a 12 year olds dinner. We didn't order any of the other options, chicken soup, hot dog and pasta with sauce I believe.

We were on the Gem in May and the movies were Norm of the North, The Spongebob Movie, Hotel Transylvania 2 and Pan.

Booking through NCL, our time for the IMAX movie was after the space center closed to the public.

Hi! We did this itinerary on the Gem in May and chose to visit Space Center. We were in port from 1-9 that day. We (myself and husband in our early 40's and 2 kids 5 & 7) purchased our excursion through NCL We were escorted directly to the bus so I can not recall seeing any taxis but I am sure there were some. The ride to the space center took about 45 minutes. The driver/tour guide spoke during the bus ride, giving us a map and explaining it, as well as played informative space related videos on the bus. If you chose to get there on your own, you will miss out on those bits of information which we felt was worth it.

When we arrived, our tour guide suggested we go straight to do the bus tour. It was only a few minutes of walking to get on line for that. The bus tour took an hour or maybe a little more but it was comfortable and air conditioned.

After the bus tour, we visited Apollo 8 and then went to Atlantis (skipped the movie to save some time). After a 5 minute gift shop run our group had to meet at the theater for a private screening of the IMAX movie before leaving. We really didn't feel that the day felt long or that there was much walking involved. My family really enjoyed our day at the space center and we wished we had more time to spend there!

Spaghetti isn't an option on the kids menu. Pizza, chicken tenders, mac & cheese and hot dogs. I believe there is one other choice but I can't remember it right now as my kids never tried it. We had the UDP and we could share our dinner with our kids but if they ordered off of the menu we would have to pay for them.

We were on the Gem so it could be different on the Dawn, but the kids menu items came from the main kitchen. There were several occasions where the adults had almost finished their dinners and the kids weren't served yet! It even took a while for apple juice to arrive since that came from the main kitchen as well. We learned to order the kids food and drinks as soon as we sat down so it would arrive faster.

Enjoy your cruise!

There was express walk off on the Gem when we were on her last month. I believe our ship arrived port at 8am and the walk-offs started shortly after. We had priority disembarkation and we were off by 9am.

My family was on the Gem for the May 14th sailing. When I registered my kids on the first day for the Splash Academy we were given a note that said there were a large number of children on the ship and that there would be times when space was not available for everyone. The notice did not say space was limited to 20. I believe this information would have been helpful to know. Many times while walking by I saw the notice posted that they were full. I can see how parents who were counting on it would be upset. Just to add, my kids (5 & 7) only tried the Academy for an hour and they preferred not to go back.

I've cruised from NY several times before in May and the ship was never full of kids. This was my first time cruising when the kids/3rd+ passenger sail free, it made a really big difference.

My family just cruised using a Haven upsell. We were 4 in a cabin (2 adults, 2 kids) and our kids were sailing free under the promo at the time. To upgrade, we only paid the upsell rate for the adults.

About the sodas - I never asked to get my kids soda, it was offered, which I declined anyway. I know I would have been mad if I bought the package in advance and then saw people getting soda for free. I read every board that I could before my trip which was incredibly helpful. Someone else who is considering getting the soda package for their children may be interested to know. Also, this only happened while seated in a restaurant not at a bar.

You are very welcome! Just to add, when we ordered off the children's menu at the specialty restaurants it took a long time for the food to arrive. At one restaurant we were finished eating and the kids food hadn't come yet! We did the cupcake decorating and the line was 30 minutes long to get in. If the ship is full, arrive early :)

Have a wonderful trip!

Sylvia

My son is also one week before turning 6, so he was in the turtles. He only went to the Splash Academy only once for an hour but he did really like it. The ship had a lot of children in that age range and I would often see the sign up that the Turtles program was full. I have the weekly schedule and will post it as soon as I can figure out how to post a picture.

We just got off the GEM this morning! My husband and I were traveling with our 2 kids, ages 7 and 5. We both had the UBP and my kids did not. Any time I asked for a soda the waiters would automatically say, would you like 3? So no need to buy a soda package for your children.

Also, the posted height requirement is 48" and 12 years old to go down the water slide. My son is shorter than 48" and both were allowed to go down by themselves, no questions asked!

Sylvia

Monica was great! I never met Vuk so I can't make any comments about him. Alvin is the CD. My opinion is that his humor is a little flat. I was traveling with small kids so I didn't get to go to a lot of the adult evening stuff but it was on the painful side when we tried to watch it on the TV the next day.

We just got off the Gem this morning. Concierge is Monica and the Hotel Director is Vuk.

Thank you for sharing this information. I am also sailing out tomorrow but have not received any email yet. Did you book directly through NCL? I had been preparing myself mentally that we would probably miss the island. Now this information gives me time to start planning out things and pack according to the new itinerary.

Sylvia

I just did my first upsell to the Haven yesterday. When I spoke to the NCL agent, she told me to be sure to print out new luggage tags and that I would get priority embarkation. I checked my edocs and my new luggage tags were available yesterday right after making the switch.

Thank you all for commenting! I called this morning and booked the Haven for $1500 more! My family is super excited :)

Thank you! Yes, it's $1500 total to upgrade. I made an offer of $1250 and she said no right away.

Hi everyone :) We are a family of 4 cruising on the GEM May 14th, currently booked in a MB mini suite. We paid $4000 for our trip (kids are sailing free, including the fees for the UDP & UBP). I've been calling the upsell line for 2 weeks and the price to move to the Haven 2 bedroom is $1500. There are 3 rooms left. I've never tried for an upsell before (or been in the Haven) so I don't know how good the chances are for the rate to go down even more. Should I just do it now or wait? Thank you for any advice that you can offer! Sylvia

If you haven't done so yet, call the Upsell line. You're 3 weeks away, there is a decent chance they have some offers available.

Thanks! I have been calling and the prices keep dropping! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will offer me the price that I want to pay!

I am seeing some available. 4 2bed haven rooms...only Havens available. I also checked minis and I see 5 minisuites.

 

If you are checking with 4 in a room that may be the issue. If your sailing is very full with quads they do reach a point when they will no longer book 4 in a room because of life boat space. They can only have say 400 people in a section and it doesn't matter if its 100 rooms booked with 4 in each or 200 rooms all with 2 in each room.

Thanks Jenjer! We are traveling as a family of 4 so that seems to be the issue! Thank you!!