Our One Night on the Gem 2-11-11

[LoraJ]

My husband and I were on the Cruise to Nowhere Friday night and really enjoyed it. We've never been on NCL before but had a great experience overall and would not hesitate to sail with them again.

 

I thought everyone on the staff was very friendly and helpful. We had a couple of issues with our cabin #10570 (beds not pushed together and the remote didn't work) and they were both fixed within a couple of hours.

 

The ship seemed to have plenty of places to hang out and was easy to navigate around. I liked all of the funky chairs and loungers.

 

The buffet was okay. A bit confusing. No one seemed to know what to do and if they were being rude or not jumping in front of people. Typical cruise buffet food. We had dinner at Cagney's. I had posted here asking what everyone would pick and the overwhelming response was Le Bistro. But my husband saw the lobster and I was vetoed. Well, my filet was really good and his lobster was tough. He said it was good, but just disappointed. Now I will just have to wonder if he would have like Le Bistro more.

 

I had breakfast in the dining room and enjoyed it. Watched the Jewel sail in while I was eating my eggs.

 

Entertainment-wise, I just did the comedy show which was okay. He was funny but didn't seem to have enough material to fit into the 45 minute window. I was going to stay for the Quest thing but felt a bit intimidated when they said we'd be getting in groups.

 

My husband enjoyed the casino. I couldn't stand being in there for more than 10 minutes due to the smoke.

 

I am planning a European cruise in Sept. 2012 and so far the Epic is my front runner and may stay that way if nothing on Princess has the right ports, ship and length.

 

I put together a little video of our one night cruise that is basically just sailing down the Hudson sped up and a tour of the ship.

 

I would love to do another one of these CTN's. It was a lot of fun. Of course way too short.

[Journey11]

Great review and great video. It only made me more eager to cruise on the GEM later this year. Thank you for posting it.

[wg6530]

thanks for the review. I have heard the 1 night CTN can draw quite a party crowd, all trying to pack a lot into one night. Were the clubs and casino very full? Noisy or rowdy at all?

[NJ Johnny]

Thanks for sharing your video with us. We'll be on the Gem the end of June and can't wait.

[LoraJ]

thanks for the review. I have heard the 1 night CTN can draw quite a party crowd, all trying to pack a lot into one night. Were the clubs and casino very full? Noisy or rowdy at all?

 

It was a bit of a party crowd but it didn't affect us at all. My husband said the casino was crowded but manageable. He got a seat at the bar with the video poker machines so that kept him happy. I went into Spinnaker Lounge about 30 minutes before the comedian (karaoke was going on then) and it wasn't that crowded at all but got very crowded by the time the comedian came on. The people behind me were talking through the whole set which was very distracting. Don't understand, if you're not going to watch the comedian, why not hang out in one of the many other bars on the ship? We walked through the Bliss Ultra Lounge and the crowd didn't seem too bad. There are so many places to hang out on the ship that everyone seemed to be spread out.

 

I was most worried about there being noise late at night when everyone was drunk and coming back to their cabins (which happens every time we are in Vegas and Atlantic City) but if there was noise I slept through it.

[Feelin' Nauti']

I'm taking the 2 night cruise in Sept for the first time on NCL.

 

Thanks for your review and sharing your video.

Very colorful ship. :eek: :D

Can't believe the girls in the hot tub in Feb. :eek:

[FLAHAM]

Always a mistake to order lobster on NCL. Fortunately, lots of better choices.

[jdvmd]

Glad you had a nice time! I would love to do a one- or two-night cruise sometime just for the experience. It seems like you got to do a lot of activities.

[Feelin' Nauti']

Always a mistake to order lobster on NCL. Fortunately, lots of better choices.

:eek::eek::eek:

 

Please tell me your pulling my leg.

That's my favorite thing to order on a cruise.

[njhorseman]

:eek::eek::eek:

 

Please tell me your pulling my leg.

That's my favorite thing to order on a cruise.

 

If you're looking for a cold water lobster, such as one from Maine, the poster is correct. What you get in the NCL main dining room is half of a small warm water lobster tail. Some people like them...most who are used to cold water lobsters don't.

[Feelin' Nauti']

If you're looking for a cold water lobster, such as one from Maine, the poster is correct. What you get in the NCL main dining room is half of a small warm water lobster tail. Some people like them...most who are used to cold water lobsters don't.

I'm a lobster tail eater...and know what you're talking about.

Doubt you'll ever see a nice size maine tail ever again in the MDR.

You have to "pay" for it ;) :rolleyes: in the specialty dining rooms.

[FLAHAM]

I'm a lobster tail eater...and know what you're talking about.

Doubt you'll ever see a nice size maine tail ever again in the MDR.

You have to "pay" for it ;) :rolleyes: in the specialty dining rooms.

 

I have sampled the lobster tail in Cagney's once on the Jewel and once on the Epic. Both were generous in size, had been removed from the shell in one piece and doused in a buttery sauce. On both occasions, the tails were overcooked: tough, chewy and relatively flavorless. I found the lamb, roast beef and some of the steaks to be much better choices.