Secrets of the Norwegian Gem

[wezie]

Does the Gem have the unlimited internet package?

[SandyAtSea]

So nice to know this room exists. I read in a previous post in this thread that someone paid +$600 pp for this type of suite, so seeing your prices made me gasp ($1300=>$2900), +$1600pp X 2 plus kids, wow !! That is one heck of a premium to get free booze and dining etc. Not sure I would want to part with that kind of coin, especially since the Mini Suite is really nice.

 

Thanks for the info !!

 

Unfortunately I think they said $600 more than the SF suite they had originally booked. My experience (from looking, not actually booking) has been that suites typically start about double the price of the balconies and mini-suites. I had an upsell to a suite once for a few hundred more but it was a last-minute upsell on a transatlantic and of course no guarantees you are ever going to get a call like that.

[Adele1]

Mrdrdoso: It is the Grand Pacific that is open for lunch when we board.

 

Best

 

Rhea

[2boyzmom]

Unfortunately I think they said $600 more than the SF suite they had originally booked. My experience (from looking, not actually booking) has been that suites typically start about double the price of the balconies and mini-suites. I had an upsell to a suite once for a few hundred more but it was a last-minute upsell on a transatlantic and of course no guarantees you are ever going to get a call like that.

 

We are a family of four who just booked two connecting cabins (B3) vs. the 2 bedroom suite. It is almost $4000 extra for the Feb 2016 sailing and just cannot validate the additional $ for the suite perks even though we love it :(

[mrdrdoso]

Mrdrdoso: It is the Grand Pacific that is open for lunch when we board.

 

Best

 

Rhea

 

thank you i didn't think it was the magenta but wanted to make sure:)

[neilsak]

2BoyzMom:

 

I hear you, and it's even tougher for us. I think I mentioned this before, but the family I travel with (MIL, FIL, wife, Aunt) are all queezy people, and therefore you must have a Mid Ship room, irrelevant of price, else they will not sail. But they are rock solid once on the ship, and with their sea sickness pills in hand.

 

The problem is that we have gotten used to sailing in Balcony and Mini-Suite rooms. So I think for us, the possible option in the future would be to consider connecting balcony rooms vs one of these higher end 2BR suites.

 

The issue is that we only have 1 child (9YR old), and while he sleeps solid at night, we are aware that as time goes on, mom and dad won't be able to have romantic time, unless the grandparents take him during the day. Since he is an only child, paying for a 2nd room can get expensive too, it's not like he would have a brother or sister to hang out with, and we would be worried having him alone in the room too.

 

So while the discovery of this suite is cool (the 2BR Mini-Suite not the Haven one), I too don't see us spending double the price just to get a little more secure privacy at night. I guess having the grandparents around will be key as time goes on.

 

In fact, when we traveled with friends and cousins on a cruise last year and this year, we took charge of taking their kids during the day to give them alone time, and they did the same for us as well, so I guess that works over a $4k+ 2BR suite. And I am already used to sleeping on the pull-out, which works, I am an easy sleeper, don't have to have the cushy mattress to pass out.

[maxwellito]

Not sure if you are staying in the Haven but if you are there is a back entrance to the haven so you don't have to pass everyone in the courtyard or even see the room stewards, butler or concierge if they are in the hallway. My room was the last room so it was easier to get to thru the back entrance.

[Letsgo 2]

Is there food available out there or is this just an additional seating area? Do you have to get your food from the main buffet first and then go out there to sit and eat?

 

There is food

[mrdrdoso]

so the gem does have the 7.95 room service fee, you can get coffee, tea and pastries at no charge still at no charge but not fruit or yogurt. I like having it for a extra wake up call on port days.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

The Asian restaurant is now free but the menu is very scant and not nearly as good as before. And worst of all - no more banana pancakes or triple flight creme brûlée :eek:

[gwsster]

Just remembered something else, I am laughing just thinking about it. Read the Daily Planner the night before, and highlight (with a yellow highlighter of course), the events that interest you. This helps you plan your day better, but without stressing, if you can make it somewhere then great, if you miss it, oh well.

 

One of those events during our last cruise (GEM) was a Master Chef, Iron Chef type event held in their big dance club called Spinnaker. We went there thinking it would be some serious cooking show. Turned out to be just as funny as that Fountains show. It was their headliner comedian, the ship's captain, and the extremely funny entertainment director, all supervised by the ship's head chef. The goal was for them to make their own version of a black forest cake. OMG was it hilarious, I cried and LOL. The entertainment director had a bottle of vodka or rum next to him, and told us he was building a volcano black forest, and built it up like a volcano, with a hole in the center, and kept pouring alcohol into the center of the cake. Add more whip cream, add another layer of cake, build up more whip cream, pour in more alcohol. There was so much alcohol poured into this cake, that the comedian asked if it was normal that his cake was leaking all over the floor.

 

When they finished, the comedian and captain's cake looked presentable, even though they did funny things with it while making it, but the ED's cake was a sight to see, and worst than that, you could smell the alcohol way out into the crowd.

 

But the best part was when the show was over, you can go and take pictures with them, and they were actually cutting the cakes and offering it up to the crowd. I kid you not, the longest line-up was for the ED's cake, I was sick just looking at it and smelling it, but I guess when you love your alcohol, anything goes.

 

My point here, try not to miss events that seem like a waste of time, they can be the best part of your cruise !! Daily Planner !!

 

Neil

 

 

I hope the chef thing is still going on In September. I would have skipped this had I not read your post....Thank you. Oh I am going to pack a highlighter too.

[jjikids]

I hope the chef thing is still going on In September. I would have skipped this had I not read your post....Thank you. Oh I am going to pack a highlighter too.

 

They had it in 2013 and 2014 so looks like they will. Seen it twice and it is different depending on who they for the "chefs".

[2boyzmom]

2BoyzMom:

 

I hear you, and it's even tougher for us. I think I mentioned this before, but the family I travel with (MIL, FIL, wife, Aunt) are all queezy people, and therefore you must have a Mid Ship room, irrelevant of price, else they will not sail. But they are rock solid once on the ship, and with their sea sickness pills in hand.

 

The problem is that we have gotten used to sailing in Balcony and Mini-Suite rooms. So I think for us, the possible option in the future would be to consider connecting balcony rooms vs one of these higher end 2BR suites.

 

The issue is that we only have 1 child (9YR old), and while he sleeps solid at night, we are aware that as time goes on, mom and dad won't be able to have romantic time, unless the grandparents take him during the day. Since he is an only child, paying for a 2nd room can get expensive too, it's not like he would have a brother or sister to hang out with, and we would be worried having him alone in the room too.

 

So while the discovery of this suite is cool (the 2BR Mini-Suite not the Haven one), I too don't see us spending double the price just to get a little more secure privacy at night. I guess having the grandparents around will be key as time goes on.

 

In fact, when we traveled with friends and cousins on a cruise last year and this year, we took charge of taking their kids during the day to give them alone time, and they did the same for us as well, so I guess that works over a $4k+ 2BR suite. And I am already used to sleeping on the pull-out, which works, I am an easy sleeper, don't have to have the cushy mattress to pass out.

 

Happy to say I saw a price drop $2000 for the 2 bedroom suite in addition to all the extra perks (grats, udp, ubp, excursion promo) so went for it !!

[mrdrdoso]

OK, we are finally sailing on NCL on the Gem. What should we know about this ship? Any advice, tips, little known areas, secrets about this ship, recommendations?

 

don't miss kenosis or leo playing, kenosis band is amazing and her tribute to alicia keys and whitney will give you goose bumps. we love them

[jkneern]

I am not sure, but I did read that someone brought magnetic hooks and a shower curtain to make a make-shift privacy curtain....

I remember that, it was to enclose the baby's crib...very clever