Help me decide Escape vs Gem

[melsmom303]

ok i have a comped oceanview cabin from a land based casino i want to go in october out of ny or boston so i dont have to fly both are bermuda my choices are the escape out of ny or the gem out of boston i know the escape is a mega ship i have sailed breakaway. we really dont need all the bells and whistles its just hubby and myself what would you recommend

[jbethel11]

4 minutes ago, melsmom303 said:

ok i have a comped oceanview cabin from a land based casino i want to go in october out of ny or boston so i dont have to fly both are bermuda my choices are the escape out of ny or the gem out of boston i know the escape is a mega ship i have sailed breakaway. we really dont need all the bells and whistles its just hubby and myself what would you recommend

As always, I would choose the Escapee. Not only is the Escape newer with more bars and dining venues, but New York is the best sail away port in the world. 

[cruisinsc1]

Are you sure you want to go to Bermuda during hurricane season?

 

[jbethel11]

1 minute ago, cruisinsc1 said:

Are you sure you want to go to Bermuda during hurricane season?

 

Actually, Bermuda is better than the Caribbean during hurricane season. 

[cruisinsc1]

18 minutes ago, jbethel11 said:

Actually, Bermuda is better than the Caribbean during hurricane season. 

I took a transatlantic last October and there were 4 hurricanes in the Atlantic. Outside decks were closed and the ship was rocking pretty good.

Edited July 13, 2019 by cruisinsc1

[PortFees45]

There are rumors the forward facing decks on the Gem have been closed off to general passengers. You can still get a bow view on the Escape, if that makes a difference. 

[melsmom303]

im not scared of hurricane season heck i dont care what island i end up at lol just need a vacation ....... i could do canada in late september but i think its too cold lol. i could have also picked breakaway out of miami with the free air also but wasnt sure if i wanted to do all that when i can sail from close to home

[Nclgetawaymenhoney]

Since you gamble, I suggest the Escape, I've been on both ships but the gems casino is much smaller, can get overly crowded easily plus after 10 at night their are lots more things to do than on the gem

[Barb Nahoumi]

Since we live in Massachusetts. we choose ships out of Boston when we go to Bermuda.  Why?  because we don't incur any major transportation or hotel expenses.

Yes, we could drive or take Amtrak to New York, and we have.  But that was for cruises other than Bermuda.

 

The Gem is a very nice ship which has enough bells and whistles for us.  Two main pools, a climbing wall, Spinnaker Lounge with huge viewing windows,  and you don't have to make reservations for the main dining room or shows.  I heard that ressies are required on the mega ships, and we don't want to be bothered with that.

 

You'll choose the ship that's perfect for you, and have a great cruise.  We love Bermuda.

 

 

[Sand and Seas]

The Escape is a great ship with lots of fun entertainment.  Good shows almost every night.   Easy to say that's a good one to pick.   Sailing out of NY is fun, but much tougher to get to and from the port.   We sailed four times on Escape but all were out of Miami.   We have cruised out of NY twice but find it not as relaxing as Boston or Miami as a departure port.  

 

Sailing out of Boston is also fun for us.  We have met some really great people on these cruises and I understand most of them have are somewhat local.  Makes us really enjoy the cruise with the very friendly people we have met on our Boston cruises.    The Gem is a nice smaller ship but doesn't have the WaterFront area to enjoy.   No Broadway type shows, but according to recent cruisers, there are some very good shows on board (Blazing Boots and some others.)  Another thought, when you are docked in Bermuda you are not competing with as many others and will find less crowded beaches.

 

It's been a few years since we were on the Gem, but we have also enjoyed this size of ship many times.  (We did the same cruise on the Dawn.)    A friend just got home from the Gem and had a great time.  We will be on the Gem in a couple of months and are looking forward to going back to Bermuda again.  

 

Bermuda is a great place to visit.  Depending on what type of cruise you are looking for, both ships are good choices😎

[Barb Nahoumi]

We cruised out of Boston to Bermuda in May.  Everything was very nice on the Gem.

[dznymom]

I have been off the Gem for 8 days and I am missing her terribly.  I haven't sailed the Escape, but have done Breakaway and Getaway, and I definitely prefer the Jewel class ships.  The Gem will be a much more relaxed cruise than the Escape, and you can pretty much wing everything (Freestyle Baby) unlike the Mega ships where reservations are needed and things feel very crowded.  I was a casino guest, and the casino had enough to keep me content.

 

It really depends on your style of cruising, but either way, you can't go wrong.  

[PortFees45]

1 minute ago, dznymom said:

I have been off the Gem for 8 days and I am missing her terribly.  I haven't sailed the Escape, but have done Breakaway and Getaway, and I definitely prefer the Jewel class ships.  The Gem will be a much more relaxed cruise than the Escape, and you can pretty much wing everything (Freestyle Baby) unlike the Mega ships where reservations are needed and things feel very crowded.  I was a casino guest, and the casino had enough to keep me content.

 

It really depends on your style of cruising, but either way, you can't go wrong.  

Do you recall if the forward sun deck (the one above the Spinnaker lounge) was open to all passengers, or if it was closed off for Haven access only? 

[dznymom]

7 minutes ago, PortFees45 said:

Do you recall if the forward sun deck (the one above the Spinnaker lounge) was open to all passengers, or if it was closed off for Haven access only? 

I didn't notice anything that looked to be closed off, but I honestly didn't pay attention.  I definitely didn't hear anyone complaining about it onboard.  

[TenForward]

We'll be on the Escape (again) in October to Bermuda and looking forward to it.  Sail away out of New York is gorgeous.  I've only been on two ships (Breakaway in 2017) and prefer the Escape.  Pinchos, District Brew House, the grotto in Spice and the water slides make this ship our favorite.  

[dcipjr]

The Escape and the Gem are two of my favorite ships. In this case, I’d pick the Escape because of the better itinerary.

Yes, they both go to Bermuda, but the NYC-Bermuda itinerary is better:

 

• It leaves on a Sunday (letting me do last minute packing and prep on Saturday, less traffic too).
• Coming out of NYC, there are two sea days on the way to Bermuda and one on the way back—preferable (in my mind) to one sea day on the way down and two on the way back, which is what Boston-Bermuda does. I prefer to have those two sea days at the start of my vacation, to allow me to unwind on the way down. Plus once the ship leaves Bermuda, I always kind of feel like my vacation is coming to a close, so those two sea days aren’t as fun (for me) on the Boston itinerary.
• The Gem arrives in Bermuda at noon on a Sunday, and everything is closed. You can’t get to St. George since the ferry there doesn’t run on Sundays. The Escape is there on Wednesday-Thursday-Friday, and everything is open, plus there’s Harbor Nights on Wednesday evenings throughout much of the season—this may be over by October, though.
• Going out of New York requires one less vacation day, since Boston leaves on a Friday and returns on a Friday. 
• Balcony cabins on the Escape are typically cheaper, since there are more of them to go around.
• The sail out of Boston is nice, but it’s not sailing down the Hudson, past Manhattan, and past the Statue of Liberty. It’s pretty spectacular going out of New York, even if you’ve done it many times.

So, the Escape wins here on itinerary alone. Both are great ships, and I’d welcome sailing on either again.

[ThxMomnDad]

Well I'm happy to see that a lot of people in this thread chose the Escape, since I just booked an October Bermuda cruise on the Escape!!

[Sand and Seas]

Escape is a great ship!   Enjoy your cruise😎

[mking8288]

While I agreed with everything said thus far, DW and I don't need all the extra bells & whistles, and as much as I can pull strings to get shows & dining reservations on a mega ship if we must, it's nice to stick with easier freestyle dining & walk-up directly into the Stardust Theater, and not worry about booking nearly everything in advance - just wing it.  

 

If seas are choppy & weather god isn't nice, that Atlantic crossing to/from Bermuda can be rough sometimes - Gem will easily handle it - as ships will be closing its outdoor decks for safety reasons ... and the Escape's atrium lobby & O'Sheehan's overhang above will be jammed pack, standing room only with folding chairs set out already.  Gem has the Fwd Spinnaker Lounge on Deck 13, a great observation place to sit back, relax & enjoy the views - bar service just behind you for those with UBP ... I'm fine with my contigo thermo mug filled with iced coffee to relax.  

 

Driving into downtown Boston, parking & logistics are better in MA vs. coming into NYC & rooftop parking is easy, simle but more expensive.  You get the same # of sea days but somewhat less "quality" time on the islands of Bermuda but not everyone venture out late in town anyway.  For non-Haven/non-suite guests, ships like the Gem have a better crew-to-passenger ratios, regardless of cutbacks & short staffing, and it's what we would lean toward again ... nothing against the Plus class ships.  Faster/easier embarkation & disembarkation with 2,500 pax vs. 4,500+ on a given sailing ... 

 

It comes down to a matter of expectations.  

[graphicguy]

Have sailed both.  Both are great, but for different reasons.

 

GEM is obviously much smaller than the Escape.  I think the entertainment on the Escape really trumps any entertainment on any ship on any cruise line.  Choir of Man is stellar.  Escape also has a rotation of extremely good talent in the Supper Club.  On my Escape Cruise  a few weeks ago it was Melinda Doolittle, who was outstanding.

 

That said, the GEM, while not having big name entertainment, had lots of good entertainment, just not the level of the Escape.

 

Escape also has some cool "hang out places" that you won't find on the GEM, like 5 0'Clock Somewhere and the District.  Plus, my favorite feature, The WaterFront.  Again, nothing really like it on any smaller NCL ship (smaller than "Away" class)  or cruise line.

 

I liked both cruises.  If you want a more intimate cruising experience, the GEM is a beautiful ship with great crew.  If you're looking for lots and lots to do, the Escape would be my choice.

 

Oh.....on the GEM, the Haven area is quite small.  It doesn't extend into the bow (or front of the ship).  

[Brandi7240]

Having cruised on the Escape and the Gem, I find it somewhat easy to sum up a comment.  Basically, it depends on your style of cruising and your expectations.  

 

The Gem is a fabulous ship if you want to relax.  There are plenty of places to enjoy and the food was outstanding.  If you were undecided about your choice for dinner, the waiters brought you both.  The crew did everything they could to assist whatever needs you might have had.  The Casino was smaller, but I found it more forgiving and not nearly as crowded as the casino on the Escape.   Being on the Gem is an experience you will not forget.

 

The Escape is a different story.  Although the cruise was good, it was much toooo crowded for me.  Trying to get an elevator could be very difficult.  The activities for the kids were great and plentiful, but walking the plank and ziplining are not what I need on a cruise.  The Casino was always very crowded and the machines were tighter than tight.  It was often difficult to get reservations at the Specialty restaurants, but they were good if you got lucky.

 

Both ships were clean and comfortable and there were many places to order a drink if you wanted one.

 

Hope you have a great cruise, whichever ship you pick.

 

[melsmom303]

i actually picked the gem ...........hubby picks escape cause its got a sooner date omg  lol

Edited July 15, 2019 by melsmom303