Any GEM Secrets to Pass Along

[Clay Clayton]

The Freestyle deck has its access from deck 14 but it is a sunning deck where you can go topless if you like :D.

 

or bottomless or both:eek:

[Carissagem]

Thank you to everyone- I made a word doc with most responses, if anyone wants it, email me offline

[jrj972]

Thank you to everyone- I made a word doc with most responses, if anyone wants it, email me offline

 

Hi Carissagem :D

 

We're sailing on the Gem in July... I don't have your email address, but would love a copy of the list you compiled... please email me at jrj972@gmail.com

 

Thanks much!

 

JJ :)

[Carissagem]

Sure, I am bringing it together in terms of areas of tips and I"ll send it when I am done.

 

Remaining issues I haven't seen addressed here:

 

1. anybody bring kids and any tips on the junior sailor programs?

 

2. there is NO babysitting, right? Just the Jr sailors?

 

3. can anyone speak to how strict they are in terms of bags/weight of bags? We have to bring food for my daughter, rice milk/soy milk in boxes, they are heavy

 

THANKS

[Louiseec]

My sister and I are going on a cruise in June on the Gem and would love to get a copy of your word document when it is done. We have cruised in the past on the Dawn and the Spirit. One more question I have. When you eat at the buffet for breakfast and lunch, you mentioned you can go over to La Cucina to find a seat. Does anybody try to make you leave or is it just common knowledge that you may go in to the restaurant and eat. Any help you can be will be very much appreciated. My e-mail address is lecroizier@gmail.com

[terriberri268]

My sister and I are going on a cruise in June on the Gem and would love to get a copy of your word document when it is done. We have cruised in the past on the Dawn and the Spirit. One more question I have. When you eat at the buffet for breakfast and lunch, you mentioned you can go over to La Cucina to find a seat. Does anybody try to make you leave or is it just common knowledge that you may go in to the restaurant and eat. Any help you can be will be very much appreciated. My e-mail address is lecroizier@gmail.com

There is a sign with an arrow pointing the way. It is used for overflow seating at breakfast and lunch time.

[Louiseec]

There is a sign with an arrow pointing the way. It is used for overflow seating at breakfast and lunch time.

 

Thanks for the info. On the Spirit there was always enough seating (inside and outside). On the Dawn, not so much.:)

[bragstarr]

There was even coffee, tea and juices set out in La Cucina at breakfast time. They actually encourage you to eat in there. Right outside it, too (aft deck behind it) there is another buffet station where they make fresh eggs and omelettes, and no one was ever there. Walk all the way back, pick up your food outside, and go back onboard right into La Cucina for a quiet eating area!

[mnmfischel]

could you please send it to me also at mnmfischel@comcast.net?

[wolfcel]

When you first get on the ship... RUN, don't walk, to the spa to get your weeklong spa pass for $99 ($178/couple). Worth every penny on the Gem!

 

 

What is the weeklong spa pass??...what does it include?

Sounds like somthing we might want to try.

[hmbc1977]

I'd love a copy of your Gem tips document when it is done too! Thanks! heathermboylan@hotmail.com

[Gavinsmom712]

Sure, I am bringing it together in terms of areas of tips and I"ll send it when I am done.

 

Remaining issues I haven't seen addressed here:

 

1. anybody bring kids and any tips on the junior sailor programs?

 

2. there is NO babysitting, right? Just the Jr sailors?

 

3. can anyone speak to how strict they are in terms of bags/weight of bags? We have to bring food for my daughter, rice milk/soy milk in boxes, they are heavy

 

THANKS

 

NCL is pretty strict about the weight limit, but I want to make you aware of what I was told when I called NCL last week. We have the 3 bedroom villa for the week of May 8th. I called NCL to find out what type of snacks they have onboard. My son is obsessed with Nacho Cheese Bugles and they are very hard to find. I figured I would buy a few bags and bring them with us for him to snack on throughout the week. When I mentioned this to NCL, I was told that absolutely NO FOOD IS TO BE BROUGHT ON BOARD. Any food that is found being brought on board will be confiscated. I asked if I could bring food on the ship for dietary restriction reasons and I was told no again. If there is a dietary restriction that I should speak to someone on the ship ahead of time to make accommodations. You can bring bottles of juice or other liquids on board as long as it is in plastic bottles. My suggestion to you is to call NCL before you plan on anything, if you haven't already, and check with them about this issue. I am sure you will be fine with the rice milk, but check with them about any food.

 

Just don't want you to get on the ship and have anything taken away from you. Good luck.

[BahamaMama247]

could I also have a copy Carissagem?

thornlessrose21@gmail.com Sailing out in June with a group

[MelMazz]

Hi Carissagem! Could I also have a copy? 611lakeview@gmail.com. Thanks!

[andychris]

can I please have a copy

christine.miller41@verizon.net

thanks

[Richpontone]

Please email me a copy to richpontone@aol.com. I am leaving on the Gem to Bermuda in June. Thank you

[thebiggerthebetter]

can I please get a copy of the word document too, thanks!

poorbritney@hotmail.com

 

Going to Burmuda on May 29, anyone else?

[apmecruise]

Thank you to everyone- I made a word doc with most responses, if anyone wants it, email me offline

 

I would love this too when you get it done!! apme@nycap.rr.com Thanks so much

[apmecruise]

Deck 14 does have the large loungers that you are referring to but that is not the Freestyle deck. The Freestyle deck has its access from deck 14 but it is a sunning deck where you can go topless if you like :D. Thats why its called the "Freestyle Deck."

 

What loungers are you talking about and seriously people sunbathe disrobed!! We were on the Epic but never go to check out their free style deck but I heard that the naked or topless is just a myth!!:eek:

[Clay Clayton]

Can't speak for EPIC but it was no myth on Jade.

[Carissagem]

I haven't had time to email people, but here it is:

Sailing off

· Sailaway I like Deck 13 midships. You can watch the Sail away by the pool and still move around. NY skyline is on the Port (left) side on the way out, Enpire State building, Ground Zero and lower Manhattan. Starboord side is NJ, Weehawkin, Hoboken, Jersey City and the world's largest single faced clock, the Colgate Clock , Ellis Island and the Statue of liberty.

· Starboard, for sail away.

· Sail away--back of ship, Deck 11--hardly any one there.

 

Eating

· The buffet will be packed every morning , but you can take your food to the Italian restaurant. It's just across from the middle entrance to the buffet.

· ). Topsiders (deck 12 pool deck) has a "buffet" like set-up. There's a bar there but no soft drinks (ice tea, etc).

· The buffet is up to the crowd you are sailing with. Sometimes you sail with humans and other times you sail with people that are stocking up for there last meal and need that last pancake that you were just about to take when they swoop in from behind.

· Eat at least once in the French restaurant!

· Breakfast in the blue lagoon deck 8....not a huge choice, but freshly prepared. Only do this if you have time, for a quick brekkie best use the buffet on deck 12. Blue lagoon is also good for a return on board snack after a port day.

· Buffet--must have French Fries--the best.

Blue Lagoon--when you need to get off the ship early and everybody else is thinking the same. The buffet is crowded and crazy. Go to the Blue Lagoon and enjoy a quiet breakfast served to your liking. Not a lot of choices, but you don't have to fight for food.

· agenta is great for breakfast, get the Eggs Benedict.

Don't take the drinks they offer on boarding, they are not free.

· If you do have a bumpy ride, eat in Magenta rather than the Grand Pacific. More centered in the ship and much smoother ride. We made reservations for dinner all nights (and ate in Le Bistro and Tequila too) so we didn't ever wait, but I did find out from a fellow cruiser if you get to the MDR and there is a wait they give you a beeper and a two for one drink ticket. Not a bad deal. The buffet has some nice choices, the melon was horrible, but great pineapple. Never saw grapes or a berry. Cold fruit soups in both the buffet and MDR were super. Probably it's been mentioned but their bakery onboard is quite good, try the banana bread, pretzel rolls, chocolate croissants (breakfast). Sometimes when the buffet closes they keep the Great Outdoors (rear section of the buffet outside) open so check your newsletter and watch for that, and there is often a sign at the entrance of the buffet. Be prepared to have your hands sprayed with "washy washy" at every turn! The Great Outdoors stays very quiet, most people never find it, they have most of the breakfast spread and an omelette station out there, never waited at it while they were lined up in the front of the buffet. There is also a soft serve ice cream maker outside there in addition to the one inside the buffet, no one ever sees it. You have to stay in the buffet to get the hard scooped flavors, though. Tea and coffee stations all around, everyone pushes at the first one they see. Just walk back a bit. At breakfast and lunch in the buffet go to the rear stair area and cross to the port side to La Cucina, you can bring your food in there and sit, always a place. Another find--the Great Outdoors area serves "tea" from 2:30-5:30 and day three we discovered the BEST scones with cream and preserves. Check them out. Also good on the ship foodwise: smoked salmon (lox), baby lamb chops (in both Le Bistro and MDR), the best lobster tails I ever had on a ship in the MDR, the lobster tacos in the tex-mex were fabulous but beware, a lot of stuff in the restaurant VERY spicy, but I got the tacos without the peppers in them and they were mild and wonderful.

· The best kept secret is the tapas bar. Located in-between the Mexican restaurant and the blue lagoon at the tequila bar. No charge!! Every night at 5:30-9:30. we highly recommend it. The wings at blue lagoon are a great anytime snack, open 24/7. Walk to the back of the buffet for breakfast, plenty of omelet stations and seating

· Hang Loose, the Best Burgers on board

· Dont pay the extra money for the souviner glass with your drink.. reg glass much cheaper.

BaliHai bar above the pool is great for food and a cold beer during the day.

 

Spa

· When you first get on the ship... RUN, don't walk, to the spa to get your weeklong spa pass for $99 ($178/couple). Worth every penny on the Gem!

· Thallasotherapy pool, private hottub, sauna, steam room, heated lounge chairs. I think the best part of the whole thing is being able to lay in a lounge chair looking forward out of the ship

 

Basically just a very comfortable and QUIET place to relax, read, and unwind especially after a long day ashore.

Places to be

Spend the day at least once on one of the three huge 8 ft radius sunlounger beds on deck 14. You will need a strategy to get one of them though....we managed it on a port day when we stayed on board.

 

FREESTYLE DECK is topless

 

Best palce to sit and hang daytime is the Great outdoors. Night time is Bliss.

Getting around

· To keep from getting lost, the carpeting has fish on them and they "swim" facing forward (toward the bow). Deck 15 is the freestyle deck (no kids allowedKids free

Gambling/bowling

· There's also a few slot machines in the bowling alley (not just in the casino). Bowling was $5 a game. The large screen in the Atrium has limited seating and the casino is the smallest we've ever experianced (but manageable). That's all I can think of right now that may help you.

· Breakfast in the restaurants is fresh and hot and they will bring you all you want.

· Basketball deck 14

· Spinaker lounge has a roulette wheel and some pub games such as shuffleboard

 

· The fitness center is great, but it fills up on sea days (go early).

 

 

 

 

[Carissagem]

Hi All:

 

our travel agent is awful, and we have a suite - you would think they would kill for business when you can do it all on your own. Anyway, sometimes a NY cruise actually leaves from NJ in the past...is the GEM and NCL NY-Bermuda always a NY port?

[MelMazz]

Hi Carissgem! Thanks for posting that info! We leave Sunday and I'm SO excited!

 

As far as Gem and Bermuda, I wasn't sure but did a few searches and at least through the next year the Gem only sails to Bermuda out of NYC. Good luck with your TA! It can be frustrating when you feel like you are paying someone else to do your own work. :mad:

 

Happy sailing!

[Carissagem]

got this from another thread:

 

The cruise ship terminals on the west-side of Manhattan has an address of: (according to Google)

711 12th Avenue

NY, NY

 

Not sure why you need the address, but when I worked next door to the cruise terminal our address was noted as the pier number and cross streets. So for the cruise ship terminal is would be:

 

Pier 88 at 48th Street and 12th Avenue

or

Pier 90 at 50th Street and 12th Avenue

or

Pier 92 at 52nd Street and 12th Avenue

 

The cruise terminal uses piers 88 and 90 most often.

[andychris]

[/font]Dont pay the extra money for the souviner glass with your drink.. reg glass much cheaper.

 

I do have a question about this. We were on the dawn 3 years ago and did buy a couple of those glasses(they were plastic in a variety of colors). The bartenders would ask if you had a glass. We always had them in the beach bag from our last drink so they would exchange them for a new one. We would only pay for the glass once and got the drink for a regular glass price. Do they still do this? It wasnt a bad deal because the drink was a little large while you paid regular price.

Thanks