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Just back from the Gem, the good, the bad, the ugly

49erfan007

By 49erfan007,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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49erfan007

49erfan007

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OK so I just got off the ship this morning and made my way back to CT. First I will start by giving you an idea who we are. So I traveled with my twin sister (50) my mother and her two friends (70's) and our aunt and her son (70's & 53). My aunt and her son had a 2 bedroom suite on the 11th deck. Mom, sis, and I shared a balcony on deck 10, and the 2 friends also had a balcony a couple of doors down from us. My mom, aunt and the two friends are all platinum members. My sister, my cousin , and I are all silver. with the exception of me, all have cruised many many times. We all had the dining package for the entire trip, aunt had all 4 packages (suite guests and up get that perk). Getting onto the ship was a piece of cake. We got on around 11amand we went straight to the Grand Pacific dining room. We started off with a great lunch. After lunch our rooms were ready, so we went to our room and unpacked our items. The suitcases, when they were empty fit nicely under our beds. After we all unpacked we wanted to explore the ship, although some of us had been on her many times. This was my 4th cruise, and my second on NCL, 1rst on the Gem. The ship was beautiful and it was obvious that it had just been refurbished.

We did the life jacket drill, which was much easier than I remembered in the past. (I haven't cruised in 9 years). Then we went to Spinnaker lounge for sail away. The views of the Statue of Liberty were amazing. After that we went for dinner which was at Le Bistro. Wow, what a meal we had. I had the lamb chops, best I have ever had! The food was amazing, the service was amazing! This was the best specialty restaurant on the ship, hands down. After dinner we decided to check out the casino, as I like to gamble. After one of our friends put money into a machine and announcement came on telling us we had to go bak to New York. The casino shut down, as someone needed urgent medical treatment and they could not get the helicopter in b/c it was too windy. It took a few hours to get back into New York and the rescue took place under the Verrazano Bridge. I watched the whole thing from my balcony. The coast guard rescuers are truly wonderful! (We heard rumors about the person that was taken off the ship, but I am not sure what is true. I just hope the person is alright) After the rescue, which took about two more hours, we were back on our way to the Caribbean. The next 3 days were sea days, day 2 we ate at La Cucina, which is the Italian restaurant. I had the Osso bucco (not sure if it's spelled right, but it's the veal). I personally was not crazy about it. To be honest I did not like the Italian restaurant. However, my mother had a great meal there, it just depends on the day. We did Cagney's the next night and that was also excellent! The Filet Mingon was perfect!!! Oh btw, all the deserts were to die for!!! We went to Moderno one night and, although it was an experience, we were not crazy about it. We also did Teppanyaki which was not only delicious, but fun as well. ( I will continue soon)

Edited by 49erfan007
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49erfan007

49erfan007

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Posted (edited)

OK so I just got off the ship this morning and made my way back to CT. First I will start by giving you an idea who we are. So I traveled with my twin sister (50) my mother and her two friends (70's) and our aunt and her son (70's & 53). My aunt and her son had a 2 bedroom suite on the 11th deck. Mom, sis, and I shared a balcony on deck 10, and the 2 friends also had a balcony a couple of doors down from us. My mom, aunt and the two friends are all platinum members. My sister, my cousin , and I are all silver. with the exception of me, all have cruised many many times. We all had the dining package for the entire trip, aunt had all 4 packages (suite guests and up get that perk). Getting onto the ship was a piece of cake. We got on around 11amand we went straight to the Grand Pacific dining room. We started off with a great lunch. After lunch our rooms were ready, so we went to our room and unpacked our items. The suitcases, when they were empty fit nicely under our beds. After we all unpacked we wanted to explore the ship, although some of us had been on her many times. This was my 4th cruise, and my second on NCL, 1rst on the Gem. The ship was beautiful and it was obvious that it had just been refurbished.

We did the life jacket drill, which was much easier than I remembered in the past. (I haven't cruised in 9 years). Then we went to Spinnaker lounge for sail away. The views of the Statue of Liberty were amazing. After that we went for dinner which was at Le Bistro. Wow, what a meal we had. I had the lamb chops, best I have ever had! The food was amazing, the service was amazing! This was the best specialty restaurant on the ship, hands down. After dinner we decided to check out the casino, as I like to gamble. After one of our friends put money into a machine and announcement came on telling us we had to go bak to New York. The casino shut down, as someone needed urgent medical treatment and they could not get the helicopter in b/c it was too windy. It took a few hours to get back into New York and the rescue took place under the Verrazano Bridge. I watched the whole thing from my balcony. The coast guard rescuers are truly wonderful! (We heard rumors about the person that was taken off the ship, but I am not sure what is true. I just hope the person is alright) After the rescue, which took about two more hours, we were back on our way to the Caribbean. The next 3 days were sea days, day 2 we ate at La Cucina, which is the Italian restaurant. I had the Osso bucco (not sure if it's spelled right, but it's the veal). I personally was not crazy about it. To be honest I did not like the Italian restaurant. However, my mother had a great meal there, it just depends on the day. We did Cagney's the next night and that was also excellent! The Filet Mingon was perfect!!! Oh btw, all the deserts were to die for!!! We went to Moderno one night and, although it was an experience, we were not crazy about it. We also did Teppanyaki which was not only delicious, but fun as well. ( I will continue soon)

Edited by 49erfan007
hopefully this is better
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katfer

katfer

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Posted
OK so I just got off the ship this morning and made my way back to CT. First I will start by giving you an idea who we are. So I traveled with my twin sister (50) my mother and her two friends (70's) and our aunt and her son (70's & 53). My aunt and her son had a 2 bedroom suite on the 11th deck. Mom, sis, and I shared a balcony on deck 10, and the 2 friends also had a balcony a couple of doors down from us. My mom, aunt and the two friends are all platinum members. My sister, my cousin , and I are all silver. with the exception of me, all have cruised many many times. We all had the dining package for the entire trip, aunt had all 4 packages (suite guests and up get that perk). Getting onto the ship was a piece of cake. We got on around 11amand we went straight to the Grand Pacific dining room. We started off with a great lunch. After lunch our rooms were ready, so we went to our room and unpacked our items. The suitcases, when they were empty fit nicely under our beds. After we all unpacked we wanted to explore the ship, although some of us had been on her many times. This was my 4th cruise, and my second on NCL, 1rst on the Gem. The ship was beautiful and it was obvious that it had just been refurbished.

We did the life jacket drill, which was much easier than I remembered in the past. (I haven't cruised in 9 years). Then we went to Spinnaker lounge for sail away. The views of the Statue of Liberty were amazing. After that we went for dinner which was at Le Bistro. Wow, what a meal we had. I had the lamb chops, best I have ever had! The food was amazing, the service was amazing! This was the best specialty restaurant on the ship, hands down. After dinner we decided to check out the casino, as I like to gamble. After one of our friends put money into a machine and announcement came on telling us we had to go bak to New York. The casino shut down, as someone needed urgent medical treatment and they could not get the helicopter in b/c it was too windy. It took a few hours to get back into New York and the rescue took place under the Verrazano Bridge. I watched the whole thing from my balcony. The coast guard rescuers are truly wonderful! (We heard rumors about the person that was taken off the ship, but I am not sure what is true. I just hope the person is alright) After the rescue, which took about two more hours, we were back on our way to the Caribbean. The next 3 days were sea days, day 2 we ate at La Cucina, which is the Italian restaurant. I had the Osso bucco (not sure if it's spelled right, but it's the veal). I personally was not crazy about it. To be honest I did not like the Italian restaurant. However, my mother had a great meal there, it just depends on the day. We did Cagney's the next night and that was also excellent! The Filet Mingon was perfect!!! Oh btw, all the deserts were to die for!!! We went to Moderno one night and, although it was an experience, we were not crazy about it. We also did Teppanyaki which was not only delicious, but fun as well. ( I will continue soon)

 

Looking forward to rest of your review! On Gem in October leaving from San Juan.Last cruise was also on Gem prior to dry dock. Do you have any pics of the new and improved Gem? Thanks!! Sounds like the best restaurants were Le Bistro,Cagney's and Teppeyanki. Any recommendations on what everyone liked the best? :D

:)

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Turtles06 Great Review Rare

Turtles06

Posted
Posted
I tried to change it 3 times, sorry I will see what I can do

 

Welcome back. Thanks for taking the time to post, and thanks for changing your post to black text, much easier to read. (Paragraphs with spaces between them help as well. :) )

 

We'll be on the Gem in ten days (third time on her but first since the dry dock), so I'm looking forward to the rest of your thoughts.

 

Thanks again for posting.

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thistimeplease

thistimeplease

Posted
Posted
Welcome back. Thanks for taking the time to post, and thanks for changing your post to black text, much easier to read. (Paragraphs with spaces between them help as well. :) )

 

We'll be on the Gem in ten days (third time on her but first since the dry dock), so I'm looking forward to the rest of your thoughts.

 

Thanks again for posting.

 

Really!!! I thought this was cruise critic not english class. Between complaints about the color of the text and now grammar if I were the OP I wouldn't write anymore.

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Turtles06 Great Review Rare

Turtles06

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Posted
Really!!! I thought this was cruise critic not english class. Between complaints about the color of the text and now grammar if I were the OP I wouldn't write anymore.

 

So happy with your correct use of the subjunctive, as it's really gone out of style these days. :)

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CateW

CateW

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Posted
Ohhh I want to read more!!!! we are on the Gem March 2nd. were you in warm weather day 2 or 3?

 

We did this cruise last February and we are on the February 21st sailing so we will be getting off the ship when you get on. We had a suite at the aft of the ship; we were out on our balcony on day 2, we had sun and no wind. It was quite breezy up on deck though. It really depends on the weather, which this year has been up and down, but hope springs eternal.

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lenquixote66

lenquixote66

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We did this cruise last February and we are on the February 21st sailing so we will be getting off the ship when you get on. We had a suite at the aft of the ship; we were out on our balcony on day 2, we had sun and no wind. It was quite breezy up on deck though. It really depends on the weather, which this year has been up and down, but hope springs eternal.

We too will be on the Feb.21 sailing and regardless of temperature I will be wearing shorts and a tee shirt on the first sea day.

 

The projected weather for Feb.21 is 27-45 degrees .It should be warmer heading south on the first sea day.

 

Lenny

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