Gem March 6th- Suite Review A2, AA, AB

[coffeecat]

Gem Fla/Bahamas March 6-13 review – A2, AA, AB

 

Back from the Gem cruise to the Bahamas and Florida…Overall it was a great cruise! This is a long review with a section on the suite rooms and perks at the end for anyone that is interested.

 

But first, thanks to everyone that takes the time to post on this board and for answering many of my questions in the past-your advice has been helpful.

 

This was family trip. The group included my husband and I (3rd NCL cruise, once on Pearl A4 and once on Sky AB), my dad and his finacee (previously also on the Pearl A4), and my older brother, his wife, and their two girls (5 and 8 yo). My brother and SIL had previously sailed on Royal Caribbean about 10 years ago and it was the first cruise for their kids. I had previously cruised on Royal Caribbean about 3 years ago on the Mariner of the Seas in a standard balcony cabin.

 

Embarkation: We arrived in two different groups and parked at the port. My brother dropped everyone off with their luggage where cars and taxis were unloading and then circled back around the block to park on the roof of the port. We drove straight to the top and there was a huge elevator that could take you down to where the check-in area was. This was super easy and saved a little bit of time. Check-in was a breeze. We were in an AA Owner’s Suite and were escorted directly to the room by one of the butlers which was very nice. My dad stayed in the A2 Deluxe Owner’s suite and they were taken directly there as well. The AB family suite was not ready but they were all able to leave their luggage in the A2. Lunch was at Cagney’s and it was delicious with outstanding service (as it was for every meal!).

 

The Ship/Staff: Very clean, modern, easy to navigate. I loved all the fun colors and bright décor in many of the areas, however, there were also many rooms with a more subdued and sophisticated look. I thought it was a fantastic ship overall. The officers were very visible and friendly. Wonderful staff (almost) throughout the ship. There were always a ton of activites which we enjoyed. Trivia was a lot of fun! We aren’t really into shows so can’t comment on them.

 

Meet and Greet: This was held on Sunday morning (1st sea day at 11:00). There were about 20 of us there. Many of the cruise staff attended and I really appreciated that they took some time to come to our gathering. There were snacks and coffee provided and it was fun to meet some folks from our roll call.

 

Food: Ranged from good to excellent. The first night we ate at the Grand Pacific. The staff were pleasant and hard working and the service was great. The food was good. NCL does a great job with appetizers and all of ours were delicious. The main dishes were a touch on the salty side (and I like salt) but still good. We also had one meal at the Magenta and again, great appetizers and good main dishes.

Having been on the Pearl previously, we knew that we would be eating most meals in the specialty restaurants and planned accordingly. My dad made some reservations for our entire group through Ruth (concierge) and we were able to get all dining times and days that we requested. For the most part, I think we gave her a couple days notice as well as a range of times. On a couple of nights we went last minute (no reservations) to Cagney’s and Magenta and had no problem getting a table for two or four. Two nights we ate at Le Bistro and I think this is the best restaurant on the ship and well worth the cover. The lobster there was wonderful and my favorite meal on the ship. The rest of our group did Teppanyaki and absolutely loved it.

 

Ports/Weather: We had some great weather on this trip and I feel like we completely lucked out. It was 53 F and sunny sailing out of NYC. People often say that it is a great place to sail from and we loved it. In Orlando, my husband and father went shopping while I stayed on the boat .

 

Great Stirrup Cay was AWESOME and my favorite day of the cruise. It was about 75 degrees and sunny. The water was warm enough for everyone but me. We got to board the first tender (thanks to Ruth) and therefore got to the island early (getting an early tender was a really nice perk because the island gets busy fast). My husband and one niece rode the hippo slide but my other niece was too short (there was a 48 inch height requirement and she was 47 inches-no exceptions -which was fine with us but she was, of course, bummed out). Only mentioning this to spare some families some crying kids in the future! Instead, she was able to get her hair braided in the straw market which was super cool. The girls loved the beach. It was a perfect day!

 

In Nassau we did the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter (4 people did the encounter and 4 observed). The tender over to the island was windy but, again, perfect weather with some amazing blue water and views. The encounter was fun, the trainers were nice, and the kids loved the dolphins. We were also able to walk around the lagoon and see the sea lions and a huge turtle. The lagoon/beach was also available to all of us (even the people that purchased only the observer pass so don’t buy a beach pass on top of this) and it was quite nice and was sheltered from the waves. I think this is a very nice option for families, especially those with smaller children, and much less expensive than Atlantis.

 

Spa: My husband got a haircut, I got a pedicure and a massage which was really nice. This was the first cruise that we did any spa stuff and, while it was relaxing, it was pricey…probably will skip this stuff in the future.

 

Kids Crew: The girls LOVED this! They never wanted to leave and they had a lot of fun. They were in two different groups and each seemed to enjoy the activities. NCL really did a GREAT job with this aspect of the trip and the kids had a ball. Staff was excellent.

 

Cabins: By category…

A2 Deluxe Owner’s Suite- One large open room with sitting area, lots of big mirrors, amazing view overlooking the pool, ENORMOUS balcony, separate bathroom. It is on the 15th deck above the Garden villas and there is no elevator access from the 14th floor. My dad dubbed the stairs leading up to the cabin “the stairway to heaven” which was right! It is also part of the villas complex so the courtyard, which was beautiful, was very close by. It was also conveniently located close to Cagney’s.

 

AB Family suite- This room was perfect for a family. My brother thought he was staying in a balcony room so when they walked in he was very surprised! The room was beautiful with a gorgeous master bedroom/bathroom, living area with table, a nice balcony, and a separate smaller bedroom with a second bathroom (shower, toilet, sink). The kids used the smaller room and loved it…there was one bed that came down from the wall and then a pullout couch. There wasn’t a ton of storage in this room but plenty for the two girls. I would happily stay in this room with another couple to get the suite perks.

 

AA Owner’s Suite- We were on deck 10. This room was spectacular-beautifully decorated, three TVs, a large side and forward facing balcony, comfy furniture, a nice dining area, a beautiful bathroom (great shower!) and an amazingly comfortable bed. There was also a computer in the room but you had to purchase minutes. Longer walk to the courtyard/Cagney’s which was fine for us but may not be the easiest for those with mobility issues. The forward balcony was useable on all but the first and last sea days as it was too windy and there was some rain coming back. It was actually very pleasant out there once we got further south and were traveling between Fla and around the Bahamas. I didn’t think we would be able to use it at all when not in port but this was not the case. The room was also directly below the bridge…it was fun seeing the officers up there from our balcony but the front balcony is not private. The side balcony was completely covered and well insulated from the wind, except the last sea day which was rainy and cold. The Bose sound system was awesome. We were able to hook our iPod up as well as the iTunes from my computer. It was a great set up and we loved the cabin.

 

We have previously stayed in an A4 on the Pearl (very cozy), and when price is factored in, we would probably select that cabin over the AA (we used the courtyard daily when in the A4). However, if going to some place like Alaska, I would pick the AA because of the views. There wasn’t a lot of noticeable motion until the last night sailing in (full gale winds-yikes!). I would also pick the AA over the A2 because of the layout and I liked the two balconies.

 

Suite Perks: We love NCL and are willing to spend extra for the perks, space, and serenity that come along with sailing in suites (no lines, Cagneys, reservations at the last minute, courtyard, concierge etc)…sailing in a suite just makes things EASY and HASSLE FREE so it’s worth it for us. There was a Captain’s cocktail party which was a lot of fun. We spoke to Bret, the cruise director for a while. He told us about his job and mentioned that he used to work for Royal Caribbean. We told him, we used to sail with Royal Caribbean J. There was also a cocktail party in the Courtyard later in the week which was very well done.

 

Our butler was Roy Peregrino and if you are lucky enough to have him you are in for a treat. He was just so lovely, personable, and very funny! He brought breakfast for us on two of the port days and also had a buffet lunch set up in the room (sandwiches, fruit, veggies etc) in the afternoon on two of the port days for 6 of us which was very nice. The room was also attended to perfectly (coffee, cream, sodas, ice and water appeared every day) and we had a couple other small requests that were greeted with a “no problem” and a huge smile. Roy was absolutely fantastic and made our vacation wonderful! Athena Ponce was our room stewardess and she also did an amazing job-very friendly and she worked very hard. The room sparkled and every little detail was taken care of. She didn’t miss a thing. We really appreciated Roy and Athena and all of their hard work. My brother, SIL, and kids LOVED their room steward James as he did a great job with their cabin and made some really creative towel animals for the girls. Michael, the steward for the courtyard and for my dad’s balcony, was also fantastic and he made their vacation even more enjoyable. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Michael as a butler one day as he was one of the most pleasant employees I have encountered on all of our NCL sailings. Everything he did was done with alacrity. James and Michael both were always happy to help out and performed their jobs with enthusiasm-it was great.

 

In contrast (okay, time for the popcorn), the butlers in the AB and A2 were not the best and, in my opinion, sub par. When my brother, who didn’t know he was in a suite until the day we got on the ship and therefore had no idea what the butlers did, asked his butler what he was able to do (which he said with a huge smile on his face as he was so thrilled to be there!) the butler responded, “Unfortunately, whatever you want” and seemed annoyed. What?!?! I don’t think this is what NCL had in mind with their slogan. Their coffee maker also broke and my brother (nicely) asked to have it fixed for two days. When fiancée explained to Ruth that it hadn’t been fixed Ruth said that she would take care of it. Magically that coffee maker was up and running in about an hour. Overall, he would say things that often made them feel like they were bothering him. My dad’s butler was similar…he just seemed put out/annoyed and he whined. This just seemed so strange when compared to our butler and butlers on previous sailings. There also just wasn’t the same level of attention to detail that we had with Roy. There was never a single incident overtly awful enough to have complained at the time, but it was more of the little things that added up to the point that, by the end of the week, you have a bad taste in your mouth…which is too bad. My father also spoke to another couple that had a very similar view and experiences with their shared butler. Why Roy Peregrino is not up in the Courtyard complex is beyond me…

 

Ruth Hagger was the concierge and she did an outstanding job! She helped with reservations, spa appointments, and tendering to GSC. We also met her on the last morning and were off the ship and through customs in about 10 minutes. She really did a great job and definitely saved the day on more than one occasion!

 

Overall this was great cruise with an overall fantastic crew and we had a wonderful time! It was a nice break from all the snow and easy to get to the port. Up next-Bermuda on the Dawn!

 

I will be happy to answer any questions…

Happy Sailings,

Coffeecat

[ImADaneFan]

We will be on the Gem in October for a TA from Venice to NYC. In the pictures I have seen of the A2, it shows a private hot tub, with a plexiglass wall around the front. My question is, can the deck and hot tub be used while the ship is underway?

[coffeecat]

We will be on the Gem in October for a TA from Venice to NYC. In the pictures I have seen of the A2, it shows a private hot tub, with a plexiglass wall around the front. My question is, can the deck and hot tub be used while the ship is underway?

 

I just checked out the itinerary...looks like a great trip! I have not done a TA cruise. The balcony in the A2 is huge and very very nice. On this past trip, it was used sailing out of NYC, the days while in port canaveral/nassau/GSC and was useable when at sea on the port days. The first day going down and the last day back it was very windy and not used at all (there was a sea day before the last one it was usable but I think the ship was moving a little slower). The plexiglass around the hot tub keeps it sheltered but it was too windy to go out there on the full sea days. If you don't mind the wind, you could still use the hot tub I would think.

 

For this trip I would think the proximity of the Courtyard/Cagney's would be a huge plus-it is really nice in there. Downside of the room is that you may not get a lot of use out of the balcony during the crossing (but probably would in between the ports). Also, there is a curtain that goes around the bed but it is essentially one large room.

 

Have you considered the AA? Even on the windiest sea day I was able to sit out on the side balcony (covered) but would not have done so on the A2. Also, the cabin itself is much larger. The bedroom is separate from the living area which was very large. For 14 days this may be nice. There was a curtain to separate the bedroom from the living room. The bedroom was almost completely dark as well. The bathroom (only on deck 10 I think) had a large porthole as well as a window that opened to the side balcony (which was on deck 9) which was really nice. There is an extra guest toilet in the room as well. There are no windows in the A2 bathroom.

If you are big balcony people and enjoy sitting out there daily etc. I would pick the AA because you will be able to use it the whole trip....and have the use of the courtyard hot tub as well. The views from the front of the ship going into port would probably be amazing as well. It is a longer walk to places though.

On this itinerary I would definitely pick the AA but that's just me.

Really though, both are absolutely fantastic rooms and you can't go wrong. You will love the Gem-great ship!

Good luck and let me know if you have other questions.

Coffeecat

[cynbar]

Yikes, we'll be in an A3 next month and now I'm a little worried about the butlers. Our butler last time in our AE was wonderful and really helped make our trip memorable-- this sounds like it might be memorable in a different way! I am not asking you to name them because I don't like seeing that on these boards, but do you know if one of them handles the A3s? Did your Dad or brother speak to the concierge or do anything else to try and remedy the situation?? I can't imagine a butler who makes the guest feel like he is in the way!!

[cookmg40]

Hi Coffeecat,

 

Thanks for the great review. I am so excited because I will be in an AA on deck 9 in 6 days! I thought the way you did - I would rather have the two balconies and still have access to the courtyard. Although the A2 did sway me a little bit (with the private hot tub). Maybe next time :).

 

Marilyn

[ImADaneFan]

I just checked out the itinerary...looks like a great trip! I have not done a TA cruise. The balcony in the A2 is huge and very very nice. On this past trip, it was used sailing out of NYC, the days while in port canaveral/nassau/GSC and was useable when at sea on the port days. The first day going down and the last day back it was very windy and not used at all (there was a sea day before the last one it was usable but I think the ship was moving a little slower). The plexiglass around the hot tub keeps it sheltered but it was too windy to go out there on the full sea days. If you don't mind the wind, you could still use the hot tub I would think.

 

For this trip I would think the proximity of the Courtyard/Cagney's would be a huge plus-it is really nice in there. Downside of the room is that you may not get a lot of use out of the balcony during the crossing (but probably would in between the ports). Also, there is a curtain that goes around the bed but it is essentially one large room.

 

Have you considered the AA? Even on the windiest sea day I was able to sit out on the side balcony (covered) but would not have done so on the A2. Also, the cabin itself is much larger. The bedroom is separate from the living area which was very large. For 14 days this may be nice. There was a curtain to separate the bedroom from the living room. The bedroom was almost completely dark as well. The bathroom (only on deck 10 I think) had a large porthole as well as a window that opened to the side balcony (which was on deck 9) which was really nice. There is an extra guest toilet in the room as well. There are no windows in the A2 bathroom.

If you are big balcony people and enjoy sitting out there daily etc. I would pick the AA because you will be able to use it the whole trip....and have the use of the courtyard hot tub as well. The views from the front of the ship going into port would probably be amazing as well. It is a longer walk to places though.

On this itinerary I would definitely pick the AA but that's just me.

Really though, both are absolutely fantastic rooms and you can't go wrong. You will love the Gem-great ship!

Good luck and let me know if you have other questions.

Coffeecat

Thanks for the info. We're currently in an aft AE, we chose it so we could hopefully use the balcony during the crossing. We were considering moving up to the A2 if we could use the balcony. We were in an AB on our PC cruise in February and the side balcony was OK, but it was really small. We were in the GV on the Star and the sun deck on deck 15 was great even while we were underway, so we were hoping the balcony in the A2 would be usable too. We had friends that had an AC and we were able to use the balcony as we were leaving port, but once we got to full speed it was pretty windy. Maybe we'll reconsider the AA. We really love the living rooms in the AA's. We have another couple we'll be cruising with and the living room will give us a lot of space to hang out if the weather is bad.

[NJ04SS]

What type of Lobster was served in Le Bistro?!?!??

Also What type of food/cuisine is in Teppanyaki? Any not to miss?!?

Do any snorkeling, if so how was it???

[noreddye]

Thanks for the review. We are booked in an A2 on the Pearl (Gem's sister ship) and was curious about the usage of the hot tub while at sea. Glad you had a great time.

[coffeecat]

Yikes, we'll be in an A3 next month and now I'm a little worried about the butlers. Our butler last time in our AE was wonderful and really helped make our trip memorable-- this sounds like it might be memorable in a different way! I am not asking you to name them because I don't like seeing that on these boards, but do you know if one of them handles the A3s? Did your Dad or brother speak to the concierge or do anything else to try and remedy the situation?? I can't imagine a butler who makes the guest feel like he is in the way!!

 

Don't worry Cynbar! Your trip will be wonderful. It is a great ship and the experiences with these butlers, believe me, were the only downers. Yes, one of the butlers also had A3s (at least one cabin had similar impressions). NCL has such a great product that we were just surprised with them.

 

The first day, we got that vibe from both of them but thought "hey, they are working their tails off" so no big deal. But it was the same type of demeanor for the rest of the trip...we just didn't want to complain at the time because, well, you just do want to be a complainer if you know what I mean-especially since there were just so many other great things, staff, and events to be happy about.

 

Long story short, my dad and brother did speak to Ruth regarding the coffee maker and my previous post was incorrect. That machine was actually fixed in 15 minutes (and not an hour!). I feel badly because my family mentioned several interactions and were condsidering saying something to Ruth but I discouraged them and told them just to not worry about it. In hindsight, immediately after some of these things happened we should have addressed it with the butler themselves (ideally) or taken it to Ruth if things did not change.

 

My brother and dad did speak to Ruth the last day about their experiences and she assured them that she would speak to them. I have no doubt that she did and I am sure you will not have these problems.

 

My husband and I have a cruise in a couple of months and we actually booked the day after we got home for the Spirit next year. If the butler on our first sailing was like my dad's or brother's I don't think I would be spending my vacation dollar with NCL. The point is that we still LOVE NCL but honestly, if we had butlers like this again I would be much more proactive for sure. NCL has such a great overall product and I believe they want people to have the best experiences possible.

 

Have a wonderful cruise! Ruth will still be on board and if there are any problems let her know ASAP and she will take care of it for you.

 

Coffeecat

[coffeecat]

Hi Coffeecat,

 

Thanks for the great review. I am so excited because I will be in an AA on deck 9 in 6 days! I thought the way you did - I would rather have the two balconies and still have access to the courtyard. Although the A2 did sway me a little bit (with the private hot tub). Maybe next time :).

 

Marilyn

 

Marilyn,

You are going to absolutely LOVE this room. Make sure you bring your favorite CDs or lap top or iPod as we were able to hook them up to the sound system (if you can't figure it out ask the butler...my husband didn't realize the attachment was there until the second day or so). This was the biggest surprise of the room (I just didn't recall reading about it on CC). That sound system was awesome. IMO, the AA is the best cabin on the ship! I have to admit though that I haven't been in a Garden Villa...someday.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

Coffeecat

[coffeecat]

What type of Lobster was served in Le Bistro?!?!??

Also What type of food/cuisine is in Teppanyaki? Any not to miss?!?

Do any snorkeling, if so how was it???

 

I didn't go to Teppanyaki myself but 6 other people in the group did and they loved it. There is not a similar restaurant even remotely close to where they live so it was novel. They did, however, rave about the food and the kids loved it. There were lots of courses (soups, salad (i think), dessert). I think the experience of the whole thing made it a lot of fun but they also thought the food was excellent.

 

Now the lobster in Le Bistro, that was amazing. The lobster is Cagneys I think is just served with some butter on the side (in the usual way, I did not have it but my dad did and he said it was excellent...I did have the King crab legs there which weren't great so if you are deciding go with the lobster at Cagney's)...but I digress...the lobster in Le Bistro was TWO decent sized tails with this amazing garlic/butter/cream sauce and artichokes - it was incredible and not what I was expecting at all (I was expecting similar to Cagney's). Best meal (among many) on the ship!

 

My dad did snorkeling at GSC and saw some fish. He had fun. We didn't snorkle anywhere else. If you are really into it this might not be the best place but if you are just a casual snorkler I am sure you will enjoy it!

 

Coffeecat

[coffeecat]

Thanks for the review. We are booked in an A2 on the Pearl (Gem's sister ship) and was curious about the usage of the hot tub while at sea. Glad you had a great time.

 

It's a fantastic room! We stayed in a Pearl A4 and on the disembarkation day were able to sneak up to the Pearl A2 to take a peak-WOW. The Pearl was also an awesome ship. You will have a great time!

 

Coffeecat

[cookmg40]

Marilyn,

You are going to absolutely LOVE this room. Make sure you bring your favorite CDs or lap top or iPod as we were able to hook them up to the sound system (if you can't figure it out ask the butler...my husband didn't realize the attachment was there until the second day or so). This was the biggest surprise of the room (I just didn't recall reading about it on CC). That sound system was awesome. IMO, the AA is the best cabin on the ship! I have to admit though that I haven't been in a Garden Villa...someday.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

Coffeecat

 

Thanks for all the information! I do plan to bring my ipod based on your review. Did you say previously that there was a computer in the room? I won't take my laptop with me but it is good to know if there is a computer there and I can keep in touch via email.

 

Thanks again.

 

Marilyn

[cookmg40]

Coffeecat,

 

Do you happen to have a copy of the liquor "menu" available in the suite? I understand 3 bottles are complementary.

 

Thank you.

Marilyn

[mafig]

 

 

 

In hindsight, immediately after some of these things happened we should have addressed it with the butler themselves (ideally) or taken it to Ruth if things did not change.

 

My brother and dad did speak to Ruth the last day about their experiences and she assured them that she would speak to them. I have no doubt that she did and I am sure you will not have these problems.

 

 

 

Have a wonderful cruise! Ruth will still be on board and if there are any problems let her know ASAP and she will take care of it for you.

 

Coffeecat

 

 

Coffeecat,

Does this mean the Concierge is "in charge" of the butlers?

 

:)

[coffeecat]

Coffeecat,

 

Do you happen to have a copy of the liquor "menu" available in the suite? I understand 3 bottles are complementary.

 

Thank you.

Marilyn

 

Hi Marilyn,

I didn't save the list but did copy it when I saw it on the boards 2-3 weeks ago....I don't drink liquor (husband does) so I didn't look at the list too carefully in the room but I think what is below is pretty accurate...they pretty much had one brand each of each type of popular liquor. We definitely saved on the bar bill. Also, there was a nice lap top in the room that is apparently wireless...they charge for minutes. We didn't use it but it will be there for you to post some reviews :).

 

Gin Beefeater

Scotch Teacher's Highland Cream

Finlandia Vodka

Jim Beam Bourbon

Seagrams VO

Rum Bacardi Silver

Jose Quervo Tequila

Vermouth Cinzano Dry white or sweet red

Sherry Harvey's Bristol cream

Port Sandeman's Reserve

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Benedictine

Kahlua

Courvoisier

Chardonnay

Savignon blanc

Coffeecat

[coffeecat]

Coffeecat,

Does this mean the Concierge is "in charge" of the butlers?

 

:)

 

Interesting question...

 

I think the only person on the ship that is for sure "in charge" is the captain:).

 

The concierge on this sailing, and others I have been on (3 in total so I am no expert!), seemed to be the suite liason and made things happen (within reason) all over the ship for restaurants, kids crew, spa appointments etc. They seem to be the point person and magic makers.

 

I will say that my SIL was in the room when the butler came to fix the machine. Again, SIL felt like butler was irked. Anyway, she talked to my dad later and told him the coffee maker was fixed and my dad told her they had spoken to Ruth and when they sorted out the time frame it really was about 15 minutes to get a coffeemaker that worked and previously two days had elapsed from when my brother had initially mentioned it.

 

So in short, I don't know when or if that machine would have been fixed had they not spoken to Ruth and after they did that machine was back in business ASAP.

 

Maybe the concierges are not "in charge" per se, but when they are involved stuff happens quickly.

 

Coffeecat

[cookmg40]

Coffeecat,

 

Thanks for the info. I am glad there's a laptop!

 

Marilyn

[jhbath]

Yikes, we'll be in an A3 next month and now I'm a little worried about the butlers. Our butler last time in our AE was wonderful and really helped make our trip memorable-- this sounds like it might be memorable in a different way! I am not asking you to name them because I don't like seeing that on these boards, but do you know if one of them handles the A3s? Did your Dad or brother speak to the concierge or do anything else to try and remedy the situation?? I can't imagine a butler who makes the guest feel like he is in the way!!

 

Cynbar, I am the father of Coffeecat (though where that name came from, I'll never know; she is Princess to me). The issue with my butler was more annoying than anything else -- it certainly did not spoil the trip. I think the most surprising thing about it was that on our trip on the Pearl last year EVERY question or request was met with a "No problem" from all crew members. Not this time. Our butler's whining was a surprise and it could have been avoided by a bit better planning on his part. However, I do think my son's butler's actions, from the comment that he "unfortunately had to do whatever" my son requested to the neglect in fixing the cappucino machine, were more than annoying. My son was getting up very early in the mornings and was really enjoying a solitary cup of coffee from his cappucino machine -- a pleasure not easily achieved at home in the hurly burly of everyday living. He had been told that it was not fixable and that there were no replacements. I called Ruth, the concierge, and told her about the problem and that Pam and I were willing to let my son have our machine as we could live without it (we weren't getting up until 7:30 am). She hardly let me finish when she said she would look into it. As Coffeecat stated earlier, the problem was fixed in 15 minutes, without our machine factoring into the solution. No, I don't know if the concierge is "in charge" of the butlers, but I can tell you that Ruth really knows how to get things done. She did a couple of other amazing things for me on this trip and I would highly recommend her. My son and I did discuss with her as we were waiting to disembark in detail our experiences with the butlers and she assured us that it would be addressed. Based on my experience with her on this trip, I have no doubt she took care of it. So, if I were you, I would not worry about the butlers.

[jhbath]

This is to answer those of you on this thread asking about the hot tub and sundeck/balcony for the A2 suites. My fiance and I loved this suite. It has sweeping views of the ship's pool deck and the ocean and ports. You are on top of the world. However, it can get a bit wild on the sundeck, depending on the waether, the ship's speed and the direction of the wind. We were in the starboard A2, so if the wind was from starboard we got hit, but, if from the port side, it was very negligble. On the last night, there were gale force winds and rain -- you did not want to be out there that night. Our weather in port was great and it was a real pleasure to have the sundeck and hot tub. On sea days in Florida and the Bahamas, the deck was usable a fair amount of time. The windshield on the hot tub helps considerably, but you have to figure that the windshield is there for a reason -- and not just for decoration.

 

Note one other thing -- this hot tub is NOT heated. It is, however, filled with hot water. You have to drain it and refill it to have it hot. It does not take long to refill. There is a black button you push to drain it and to fill it. There is a pool steward to take care of this. On the Gem his name is Michael and he is the one Coffeecat, my daughter, was singing the praises of. He was great. Let him get you started on the operation of the hot tub. Because it is not heated, when the ship pulls into a cold port like NYC, the pipes are disconnected in the hot tub so nothing freezes. I don't think you want to try and run the pump to fill the tub under those circumstances.

 

The A2 is an incredible suite and not to be missed if you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to occupy it.

[cynbar]

Cynbar, I am the father of Coffeecat (though where that name came from, I'll never know; she is Princess to me). The issue with my butler was more annoying than anything else -- it certainly did not spoil the trip. I think the most surprising thing about it was that on our trip on the Pearl last year EVERY question or request was met with a "No problem" from all crew members. Not this time. Our butler's whining was a surprise and it could have been avoided by a bit better planning on his part. However, I do think my son's butler's actions, from the comment that he "unfortunately had to do whatever" my son requested to the neglect in fixing the cappucino machine, were more than annoying. My son was getting up very early in the mornings and was really enjoying a solitary cup of coffee from his cappucino machine -- a pleasure not easily achieved at home in the hurly burly of everyday living. He had been told that it was not fixable and that there were no replacements. I called Ruth, the concierge, and told her about the problem and that Pam and I were willing to let my son have our machine as we could live without it (we weren't getting up until 7:30 am). She hardly let me finish when she said she would look into it. As Coffeecat stated earlier, the problem was fixed in 15 minutes, without our machine factoring into the solution. No, I don't know if the concierge is "in charge" of the butlers, but I can tell you that Ruth really knows how to get things done. She did a couple of other amazing things for me on this trip and I would highly recommend her. My son and I did discuss with her as we were waiting to disembark in detail our experiences with the butlers and she assured us that it would be addressed. Based on my experience with her on this trip, I have no doubt she took care of it. So, if I were you, I would not worry about the butlers.

 

Thanks, to both you and your daughter, for taking the time to so thoroughly reply to me. I think what I will do is keep a close eye on this situation and address it promptly with the concierge (hopefully it will still be Ruth) if it becomes an issue. We are looking forward to the courtyard and don"t want a whining butler (how can those terms even be used together?) to negatively impact us. NCL aggressively markets their suite amenities, and a negative attitude is definitely not included.