REVIEW: July 4-11 Cruise to Florida/Stirrup/Bahamas. Also Gem vs. Breakaway!

[Sizzlechest]

If you’re a new cruiser to NCL, I suggest you read my review of the Breakaway from last year. Most of the tips and recommendations still stand except for pricing strategy.

 

I did Bermuda on NCL twice before (Star and Breakaway) and wanted to do something different. I never cruised on a jewel-class NCL ship so this was the perfect opportunity.

 

Gem vs. Breakaway

 

This topic comes up from time to time. The presupposition is that since the Breakaway is a newer ship, an older ship like the Gem is inferior. This is not the case. NCL ships go through upgrades approximately every 5 years. Some of the annoyances I experienced on the Gem due to the “old fashioned” video systems and photo purchasing should be resolved after the next planned dry-dock later this year…maybe. On the other hand, the newer NCL ships are designed to respond to what NCL believes are the best ways to get ships full of customers that will spend more money and enjoy doing so. Assuming they’re right, then newer ships will have features the old ones don’t that may be attractive to a majority of people.

 

What I found interesting is that this Bahamas cruise felt more like the Bermuda cruise I took on the Star a few years ago. Not just the ship’s layout, which would of course resemble the older ships more than the newer Breakaway class. The entertainment offerings, casino, lounges, activities, etc. were more like the old cruise even though the destination was different.

 

Many events on the Breakaway are held at the Atrium. On the Gem, the Spinnaker Lounge is used more often and is much more comfortable. The Breakaway has many more bars including an ice bar and are located on many different floors. It almost seems odd that the Gem has three of its main bars in a row on a single floor. I would guess the Breakaway was designed to inspire impulse drink purchases.

 

Freestyle on the Gem

 

In my 2014 Breakaway review, I declared freestyle cruising “mostly dead” on the Breakaway and I still stand by that. However, the prognosis on the Gem isn’t as bleak. Dining reservations (other than Teppanyaki) weren’t difficult to get, but should be reserved the day prior. The theater shows required no reservations like on the Breakaway. The pools were obviously more crowded on sea days, but still enjoyable.

 

The Breakaway class ships are bigger, but also have more exclusive areas that incur an additional charge. For example, the Vibe Beach Club doesn’t exist on the Gem. The Haven area on the Breakaway is much bigger with more amenities than on the Gem. The main theater on the Breakaway has fewer seats than the Gem, but that’s partly because of NCL’s decision to put TWO theaters (Breakaway Theater and Spiegel Tent) on the ship. These new exclusive areas take space away from the common ones.

 

If you don’t like planning and want an easy-going freestyle experience, the Gem is a great ship. Unfortunately for you, the newer NCL ships coming out expand on the Breakaway design.

 

BTW, I attended the CruiseNext seminar and the person presenting from NCL admitted there are complaints about the pool sizes on the Breakaway and offered upgrading to the Haven as a solution. (She also admitted the lack of a promenade on the Epic as a lead-in to the promenade on the Breakaway and Breakaway+ ships.)

 

Navigating around the Gem

 

The first cruise I went on was on a Carnival ship that was pretty much bisymmetrical. The port and starboard sides of the ship were essentially mirror images. The Gem is somewhat asymmetrical. The basic rule of thumb is to always travel on the starboard side since the port side may not allow passage from front to rear.

 

The other gotcha is the 6th floor. The small MDR (Magenta) blocks you from traveling any further to the rear. You’ll need to change floors to go further back. Therefore, I suggest avoiding the 6th floor until you get the hang of the ship.

 

To be continued...

[schlimazel_traveler]

Looking forward to hearing more. What put me off wanting to sail the larger NCL ships was the idea of having to pre-book meals, shows, etc., and the prospect of feeling like every venue was too small to accommodate the number of passengers. What I don't want on vacation is a constant sense of battling for turf and resources. I had hoped to hear this was not an issue on the smaller ships.

[CTSandy]

We sailed Breakaway to the Bahamas in April 2015. This was my first experience with one of the megaships. We made no reservations for dinners - longest we had to wait was perhaps 10 minutes. For the theater shows like Rock of Ages, we just got there a half hour before the show and never had an issue finding a seat. The only time we had the feeling that the ship was crowded was the last day sailing back to NY - it was a chilly and cloudy day and no one was outside. Casino on Breakaway always seemed to be pretty busy - just did Dawn to Bermuda two weeks ago and I thought it was interesting that the casino was less busy than Breakaway. Both were VERY smoky.

[Sizzlechest]

Casino

 

Table games like blackjack and craps have fallen by the wayside over the last few decades. Craps on the Gem is quite good with 3X/4X/5X odds. However, Blackjack has gone to the dogs. There are no $5 or $10 tables. The lowest denomination is $6 because of the horrible payout for a blackjack: 6 to 5. Getting a natural yields an extra $1 instead of $3.

 

 

However, I found something wonderful on the ship…video blackjack:

 

 

It uses just 6 decks, has a low $5 minimum bet, pays out 3 to 2 on a blackjack and allows late surrender! One downside is that the dealer hits a soft 17, but that’s a small concession. What was shocking is how few people played it. The $6 tables in the casino were often full while the video blackjack machine in the Spinnaker Lounge sat empty.

 

The Gem also has two roulette machines, but they were broken for most of the cruise.

 

This cruise was the first time I front loaded money using a certified check. The staff was very helpful, but the process was very labor intensive and took too long. I liked having NCL act as a bank for me to hold my gambling money rather than store it in the room safe. I just wish it worked more like an ATM. I don’t know if the process works more efficiently on the Breakaway.

 

Television/Video Systems/Photos/etc.

 

Yes, you don’t go on a cruise to stay in your room and watch TV. However, when the kids are in bed and put the Nickelodeon channel on, it would be nice if it wasn’t a loop of the SAME group of episodes for the ENTIRE cruise. I couldn’t verify my charges through the TV system like on the Breakaway either. The main TV at the Atrium was showing its age. There were a lot of broken pixels. I don’t think it can handle a high-definition video signal. Videos shown in the theater looked low resolution, too.

 

The photograph system on the Breakaway was great. Pick and choose the photos you want at a kiosk. The Gem has the outdated system where all the pictures are printed in advance, and you have to hunt them down in the display cases. Your pictures have thumbprints all over them from other people and staff handling them.

 

The iConcierge app doesn’t work on the Gem! Grrrrr!

 

I hope these systems are upgraded real soon.

 

Entertainment

 

The entertainment on both my Bermuda cruises was great, but different. The Breakaway has less variety, but the production values are bigger. The cruise on the Star a few years back was less extravagant, but every night it had a new show. This cruise was more like Star, but wasn’t nearly as good. This was not a reflection on the performers’ talent as singers and dancers. They were all excellent. The productions themselves were lackluster. There were three song and dance shows: 50s, 70’s, and world music. If this isn’t your cup of tea then you’re going to be unhappy. There was no musical production like on the older Star cruise. The magician was Sander & Allison’s “Magicka.” Their magic acts were really good, but most of the show was filler. They hawked their magic DVD TWICE during the performance. Really tacky. Sander isn’t as funny as he thinks he is. The audience participation part of the show was both annoying and cringe-worthy. No jugglers like

. There was no grand finale show like the “Elements” production on the Star. The one bright spot was the acrobats Rebecca and Philippe (Due Balskatt). They were they best I’ve seen at this kind of act. Even though Philippe’s accent made it difficult to understand what he was saying at times, his banter and interaction with the crowd were entertaining.

 

To be continued...

[Gershep]

Enjoying your review. We did the Breakaway and just got off the Gem. It is nice to see if someone else has the same opinion of the differences between the two ships. We had a balcony on the Gem and we were able to see our onboard account. It updated every night.

[Sizzlechest]

Enjoying your review. We did the Breakaway and just got off the Gem. It is nice to see if someone else has the same opinion of the differences between the two ships. We had a balcony on the Gem and we were able to see our onboard account. It updated every night.

 

Someone else I spoke to said the same thing while onboard, but the front desk said "it's a closed system" and getting it from the TV wasn't possible. :confused:

[Sizzlechest]

Food

 

I’ve always liked the buffet and MDR food on NCL cruises. I didn’t intend to get the UDP, but I ended up with it again. (Don’t ask, long story.) Sorry, I can’t give you a review of the MDR dinner menu, but I will say that overall, the food at the specialty dining locations has actually improved since my last cruise on the Breakaway.

 

Most improved is Teppanyaki. I loved the main course on the Breakaway, but I wasn’t impressed with the soup, salad and dessert. All three have improved immensely. I don’t care for green tea ice cream, so I got vanilla instead. Again, the waiter will not tell you this is an option, but you can get it. The cake that accompanies the ice cream is much better than it used to be. I mentioned in my last review that you can order whatever meats, fish, and noodles you want off the menu. Once again, I had the Lobster, Filet Mignon, Scallops, and Udon Noodles, but ordering it was confusing for the waiter. They’re not used to going off-script, but I think I can offer a solution. Find a menu item to base your dinner on. For me, it was the seafood Teppanyaki classic combination: Lobster, sea scallops, and calamari. Then I told the waiter to hold the calamari, and add filet mignon and udon noodles. That worked better than trying to make up a new combination “out of thin air.”

 

Moderno Churrascaria is even better than before. They’ve expanded the menu to offer more meat selections including fish. The meats served are not as salty. The salad bar is as awesome as I remember. The pasadores are careful to not duplicate selections like in the past. After you’ve gone through all the selections, the waiter/waitress asks if you’d like more of your favorites and brings you more of THOSE on a plate. This is a great idea! You don’t have to wait until it shows up again. At $20, it’s a steal. I used to call Moderno Churrascaria the most underrated specialty restaurant on the ship, but I noticed it was booked pretty solidly on this cruise. However, there is one tragedy I must convey: they replaced the fried bananas with fried plantains. Don’t get me wrong; the fried plantains are good, but they’re nothing compared to the old fried bananas. PLEASE BRING THEM BACK!

 

 

Cagney’s was better, but that’s not saying much. I STILL don’t get why Cagney’s is so popular. The ribeye that we had on the Breakaway was poor, so we avoided that cut. I got the 8 oz fillet and my wife got the NY Strip. I tasted hers and didn’t care for it at all. It tasted like a cheap cut of meat. However, my fillet was outstanding. It was tender and delicious. The fries at Cagney’s were really good this time, but everything else was blah. The onion rings were doughy and lacked flavor. The green beans were bland, too. The roasted mushrooms were musky. The wagyu beef sliders were okay, but not great. The wedge salad was terrible, but that was due to the dressing. NCL needs to change its blue cheese dressing pronto. Shrimp cocktail was still good, but three shrimps? Feh. Most of the sauces offered are “meh,” too.

 

Le Bistro is a great restaurant with a lot of variety. If you have the UDP, you can do Le Bistro on multiple nights and have something different each time. I didn’t care for some of the appetizers and desserts. The Les Quatre Cornets, Salade Gourmande, profiteroles and warm apple tatin were less than inspiring. However, the escargot, four mushroom soup, scallops, crème brulee, and chocolate fondue were amazing. Since I had the UDP, I took advantage of the bistro specials that would have incurred an additional cover charge. I had the Fruits De Mer and Homard Rotis Aux Beurre before and ordered it again. I always heard people rave about the 32 oz Rib Eye for two, but didn’t get a chance to try it last time. After the poor experience at Cagney’s, I booked Le Bistro for a third time with that main course in mind. All I can say about the steak at Le Bistro is: MIND BLOWN! This steak is what I’d EXPECT in a steakhouse specialty restaurant. It was great even without the sauces, but the Bordelaise and Béarnaise sauces are SO good!

 

To be continued...

[fstuff1]

about the Gem being dated: She was supposed to go into drydock in Nov 2014.

that got canceled for some reason and she sailed instead. :confused:

 

but since no one expected her to sail during that time, ncl had to offer CHEAP rates to fill her up.

I got a 11day carribean for $399, which included 3 continuous days in Puerto Rico instead of the usual 1 day! (see sig) :D

 

hopefully she goes into drydock this year and get the upgrades.

(have the other jewel class ships been upgraded yet? if so, what did they receive?)

Edited July 13, 2015 by fstuff1

[Sizzlechest]

MDR vs. Buffet

 

One is more relaxed and the other is more convenient and expedient. Everybody knows that. However, there are a few tips and observations I’d like to state.

 

La Cucina is a morning/lunch buffet oasis

 

There was always plenty of seating there. Grab your grub from the buffet and head on over there.

 

Try Grand Pacific for breakfast

 

I suggested doing breakfast in the rear MDR based on my experience on the Star a few years ago. There were very few people in there that day. I was offered a table close to the stairs, but requested a table at the back by the window. Apparently, this has become a popular thing to do because whenever we went to Grand Pacific for breakfast, everyone was seated by the rear windows.

 

Eggs benedict and scrambled eggs should only be eaten at the MDR

 

Buffet food items are quickly cooked en masse and kept under a heat lamp. Bacon can range from being floppy and fatty to being completely dried out and crumbly. If you want your foods cooked evenly and to your specification, then go to the MDR, not buffet for breakfast. I cut open three different poached eggs (from an eggs benedict) before I realized there was zero chance of getting a runny yolk. The scrambled eggs look horrid at the buffet. The ones served at the MDR are picturesque in appearance and wonderful in texture. Please don’t judge NCL food preparation by the buffet alone.

 

General food annoyances

 

These aren’t deal-breakers. Just improvements NCL should make:

 

• Hot dogs and ribs at BBQ are terrible. Are good ones really that more expensive?
  
• Brown mustard. I swear…I will bring packets of Gulden’s brown mustard on my next cruise if I have to. Yellow mustard is awful!
  
• Hard ice creams are really bad. I don’t know what brand NCL is buying, but they’re pretty blech. I’m not expecting Ben and Jerry’s, but come on.
  
• The blue cheese dressing tastes terrible and unnecessarily garlicy.
  

 

The Nickelodeon Pajama Jam

 

We didn’t do it this time and boy was I glad. Why? On day 6 there was a Nicktoons Meet and Greet at 5:30 in the Spinnaker Lounge. You get to meet ALL the characters and take pictures during a dance party with them. There, I just saved you a bunch of money. You’re welcome.

 

Free alcoholic beverage tastings

 

Tradewinds often has free liquor tastings. We’re talking a thimble’s worth of liquor. Still, it’s fun and free. You might discover something new you like. I bought more Sheridan’s since it’s incredibly good and cannot be purchased in the USA. They only way you can get a hold of it is at a duty free shop or from another country like Canada or the U.K.

 

 

Paid alcoholic beverage tastings

 

I don’t drink much, but I took advantage of the beer, mojito, and whisky tastings. There were other ones for wine and martinis, too. Each tasting event was only $15 and was offered on sea days. They were all fun and I’m glad I did them all. You get quite a bit of beverage for your money. Considering I never had much experience with different whiskeys and never had a mojito before, it truly was educational for me.

 

Tip: Learn some trivia about booze before you go. The beer tasting had giveaways and specialty drinks awarded to people who were able to answer correctly.

 

To be continued...

[Letsgo 2]

Someone else I spoke to said the same thing while onboard, but the front desk said "it's a closed system" and getting it from the TV wasn't possible. :confused:

 

We were able to see out account on our TV so did our adult kids, we checked it everyday, dont know why they told you that.

[Gershep]

Love my Sheridan's. On the Breakaway I paid $26 per bottle on the Gem I got two bottles for $37. I wish I had more room in my luggage or another set of arms because I would have bought a lot more at that price. Agree with you about the buffet and yes the yellow mustard has to go, lol.

[Seehund123]

 

[*]Hard ice creams are really bad. I don’t know what brand NCL is buying, but they’re pretty blech. I’m not expecting Ben and Jerry’s, but come on.

 

Picture of ice cream on the Gem dec 2013:

 

[Sizzlechest]

Florida Shore Excursions

 

BIG TIP: Bring your Driver’s License! I have passports for my entire family and didn’t drive to the port, but I always bring mine in case the ship gets diverted to a different port and I need to rent a car. Thankfully, my wife also brought hers because in order to get back on the ship, a picture ID with your address is needed. Passports don’t have your address on them. There were a few people who were unprepared at the time of the excursion. It’s more difficult due to security to get back on the ship from Florida than any of the other ports.

 

I had recommended doing your own excursions in Bermuda rather than paying triple through NCL. I went through the cruise line for this trip because of the short time the ship stays in port. I don’t want to get left behind due to traffic or a flat tire.

 

TIP: If you do go it alone, get the phone number to the ship. Yes, you can call the ship while it’s in port to let them know you are running late.

 

None of the Florida excursions with the possible exception of the Kennedy Space Center are worthwhile due to the limited time in port. We did SeaWorld with eyes wide open knowing that there would only be approximately 6 hours in the park plus an hour each way for traveling. My plan was to catch at least 3 of the shows and none of the rides. The bus is scheduled to arrive at SeaWorld at 1:30pm and the orca show is at 2pm. If we miss that, then there’s no chance of seeing all four shows and it will limit time available for the rest of the park. I wasn’t sure how long it was going to take to walk from the entrance to the stadium, nor did I have any idea how crowded it was going to be. I’ve heard that you should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to showtime to get a seat. I made a mental map of the park and planned my routes out in advance. We got to the entrance at 1:33pm and power-walked over to the 2pm show. We made it with time to spare and got great seats. We got to see two more different shows. We could have done the 4th show, but decided on seeing other things at the park instead. Do not attempt this excursion unless you’re physically fit and know how to get around the park. If we do this cruise again, we’ll do the KSC or stay on the ship. I can’t image that the folks who went to Disney or Universal had a worthwhile experience.

 

Private island

 

I wouldn’t mind it if NCL did a cruise that JUST went to their private island multiple days. I couldn’t care less about Nassau. The best part was that NCL brought the food to us. No need to go back to the ship for a bite to eat.

 

Nassau Bahamas

 

I had no desire to go sightseeing, but my wife got suckered into one of those shopping presentations that promised lots of freebies and raffles in Nassau. She spent an hour at one of these NCL presentations just to get coupons that they gave away later in the week at a kiosk on the ship. The freebies are junk. We went to the straw mart and haggled with a vendor for a wind-up turtle on a string. Fun. We went back to the ship early and enjoyed the empty pools and hot tubs. Best part of this cruise is NOT going ashore.

 

To be continued...

[Sizzlechest]

Picture of ice cream on the Gem dec 2013:

 

Found the website: http://www.sanbernardoicecream.com/

 

Never heard or saw their products before. I will say the macadamia nut was good, but the rest were not. Maybe I'm too much of an ice cream snob, but it wasn't palatable.

[Sizzlechest]

I finally got all the dailies uploaded. Enjoy!

 

Dailies: https://waa.ai/vFZV

 

 

One big zip file: https://mega.nz/#!W5hyhJBS!oEec5jFJzZIy0u2VYnduwqVM90z5jTKLYrJL18G7R3E

[Sandmanicon]

Thank you so much for the Dailies. Will be on her in 17 days and now I know what I have to look forward to.:):):)

[Sizzlechest]

Splash Academy

 

My kid didn't care for it. Looking at the activities, it was hard to get excited about the program. No Wii U like on the newer ships. I have a feeling he’ll like it better when he’s eligible for the teen group.

 

Conclusion

 

The weakest part of this cruise was the entertainment in the main theater. However, we enjoyed the private island and the time at the pool while the ship was in Nassau immensely. This is a relatively lower priced cruise, and it’s a great vacation for the money. I wouldn't mind doing this one again since it was much more laid back than the Breakaway cruise last year. I'm hoping by next year:

 

• The Gem gets its technology upgraded.
  
• NCL finds a suitable replacement for Nickelodeon.
  
• Better entertainment.
  

I'm hopeful for the first two, but not holding my breath for the last.

[Sotermarler]

Good review, thanks!