Gem Transatlantic Review

[SANDPEBBLES]

Greetings to my fellow Cruise Critics! I bear happy tidings about sailing the Gem from Barcelona to Boston and hope this review will be helpful to you.

 

The short version is: Don’t miss a chance to board “The IT Girl.” She’s a beauty!

 

TA Flight:

 

Our group of four took the nonstop Delta flight from Atlanta to Barcelona. Time in the air: approximately 8 hours.

 

We landed slightly ahead of time in Barcelona on December 3, 2007 at 7:00 a.m. Yes. I know. We were cutting this very close because The Gem was set to sail that evening!

 

All of us made sure we purchased trip insurance – something we do for every trip we take. Additionally, we were counting on Atlanta having temperate weather (It did), and the nonstop flight reducing problems and complications (It did). We were thrilled with how smoothly everything went. Absolutely no issues at all.

 

Our experience in the Barcelona airport was very pleasant. We were processed in an expeditious way, found our luggage easily, and were ready for the next step of our adventure.

 

In order to keep our passports, credit cards, and money secure, I wore both a neck pouch and fanny pack. Both had the type of wires that can’t be cut by a pickpocket.

 

As it turned out, we had no need to worry because our driver from Angie’s Taxi was right where he said he would be, holding a sign with my name on it.

 

Tour of Barcelona with Angie’s Taxi:

 

After lots of research (done by my cousin SolidGoldCruiser), we decided to use Angie’s Taxi for a tour of Barcelona and subsequent transportation to the ship.

 

For those who are considering using Angie’s Taxi, may I urge you to book with confidence. Angie went out of her way to communicate with us and design the tour to suit our needs.

 

We had the option to hire a certified guide but decided to just take the tour with our driver. We’re glad we did because he did a fine job.

 

After such a long, cramped flight, we were delighted to be ushered to a modern, clean, and roomy minivan. All luggage pieces fit easily in the back. Two of us occupied the first back seat while two of us occupied the “second” back seat. It was time to lean back and enjoy our tour of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

 

We weren’t sure how much of Barcelona we would be able to see in a mere two hours. The good news is we saw all the major sights and/or sites. It’s true we didn’t go inside the various gorgeous buildings and cathedrals, but we were too jetlagged to care.

 

Throughout the tour, our driver talked to us about his hometown. He may not have been a certified guide, but he certainly knew his history and had a good grasp of the modern political situation. Fascinating.

 

For those interested in booking with Angie’s Taxi, we’d like to let you know that our cost of the two hour tour for four passengers + luggage was 150 Euros (total). We were driven to the pier where we gave our driver a well deserved tip.

 

Angietaxi33@yahoo.com

 

Gem Embarkation:

 

For this cruise, my husband and I were booked in an AE Penthouse Suite. Our concierge, Claudio, greeted us with a broad smile. (Claudio was our concierge on the infamous “Animal House at Sea” spring break Spirit cruise in February 2005. I don’t know what we would have done without him. He truly saved us from the 800 out of control University of Florida college students. Boy! Was I disappointed in my alma mater, but that’s another story. :eek: )

 

Anyway, this was a new day and a new cruise on a new ship. It was clear Claudio was proud of the Gem and eager to make our voyage as perfect as possible. We enjoyed the VIP treatment as he escorted us onto the ship.

 

The Gem’s interior is funky and fun – much like the Pearl and Jewel. We’ve sailed all three ships now and love the bold color choices and wild designs. This is not a ship for those who insist on quiet elegance. Instead, every inch of the Gem invites you to, “abandon your inhibitions and play, play, play!”

 

AE Penthouse 9670:

 

Anyone who books this aft penthouse is in for a treat. It was our first time booking an aft cabin, and we loved it!

 

Penthouse Cabin Design:

 

Bed, end tables, and long table positioned at the foot of the bed. This sleeping area can be curtained off.

Reading lights on each side of the bed.

Loveseat, chair, and glass table. This area can be curtained off as well.

Small dining table with four chairs.

Double sided closet. By “double sided,” I mean the closet has entrances on each side which is very nice.

Private vanity area with strong blow dryer and makeup mirror.

Bathroom with tub/shower combination. (This isn’t a whirlpool tub but it’s a nice size.)

Toilet is separated by a sliding glass door.

Two safes (his and hers).

An incredible coffee/tea machine that makes anything your heart may desire!

Fridge.

Shelves with various types of glasses.

Plenty of drawers and two great cubby holes (located above the vanity area.) I loved those cubby holes!

A beautiful verandah from which we had an amazing view.

A cell phone! It was wonderful to carry around and stay in touch with each other!

Chilled champagne, fresh fruit, and flowers.

 

Penthouse Suite Amenities:

 

Of course, the most important perk was having a butler. Maxi was ready to serve us immediately. For a Sail Away Celebration in our suite, Maxi served dinner (all courses) for five people. Everyone had a great time.

 

We are Platinum Latitudes Members so I sometimes get confused about whether we’re receiving extras because of the Platinum status or the Penthouse Suite booking. (We rarely book a penthouse so this was a real treat for us.)

 

Anyway, throughout the cruise, we received special invitations to LeBistro (twice), complimentary wine, various “event” party invitations, appetizer plates daily, and access to Cagney’s for breakfast and/or lunch. Additionally, Klaus (hotel director), Claudio (concierge), and Duncan (Latitudes Services) made themselves available to help in any way. We truly felt pampered!

 

Penthouse Cabin Stewards:

 

Kudos to Johnson and Susanna! My goodness! They kept our cabin spotless and went out of their way to make us comfortable.

 

My husband found the bed to be too firm. We requested a foam “egg crate cushion,” and it made all the difference in the world.

 

Each night we returned to the cutest towel animals and chocolates on our pillows. We could not have been more pleased.

 

Our Butler, Maxi:

 

I must commend Maxi for being so wonderful to us.

 

In the mornings, I like to eat breakfast in the cabin. The Butler’s Menu allows you to order bacon, ham, sausage, cheese omelets, plain omelets, scrambled eggs, pastries, rolls, muffins, yogurts, fresh fruits, three types of juice, cereal, milk, etc. Maxi never missed serving us at our requested time of 6:30 a.m.

 

One morning, I discovered the remote to the flat screen television didn’t work. My husband was already working out in the gym so I decided to ask Maxi for help when he brought breakfast. In no time, he had my favorite news station playing for me and called the electronics expert to come and fix the remote. Within an hour, everything was repaired, and we encountered no more problems. (Evidently, the problem was more than a rundown battery.)

 

In addition to serving us for our Sail Away Party, Maxi did a beautiful job of serving all of us again for a second dinner party.

 

Moreover, I can’t forget how helpful Maxi was during my mild bout with sea sickness the last two days of the cruise. (I was so proud of myself for not having to wear the patch and marveling at how well I was feeling UNTIL I woke up sick Sunday night. :eek: Application of the patch ultimately helped but was too late to completely stave off the nausea. )

 

By Monday afternoon, I was still feeling queasy so I called Maxi with a request for a ginger ale. In no time, he arrived with four cans of ginger ale, a full basket of saltine crackers, and a whole box of gourmet crackers! I must say this remedy worked, and I was feeling much better by Monday evening. Thank you, Maxi!

 

The Gem Spa:

 

Of all places on the ship, this was my favorite. For $95, I purchased access to the spa for the entire cruise.

 

Where do I begin?

 

In the “community area” for both men and women, there is the most amazing heated pool. Press the buttons of your choice. If you want to lie in the half-submerged lounge and be massaged by water jets, press a button. If you would like to stand under an incredible waterfall for a fantastic back massage, press another button. If you want your whole body massaged in every direction, press the button, move to the center, and hang on to the rings. Utter heaven!

 

Heated tile lounges provided a marvelous way to relax and read a good book. Equally comfortable lounges looked out on the sea and sky.

 

The Ladies’ Only area was beautiful. We had access to two full-sized, heated tubs with massage jets. (Again, press the buttons for your chosen massage.) Also included in this area are: Sauna, showers with bath gel and shampoo, ocean view lounge chairs, and private lockers. Self-serve water was always available.

 

At all times, the spa was kept gleaming. Thanks to this amazingly restful place, I was able to complete my 400 page Gem library book in complete comfort.

 

Gem Dining:

 

We did not try all the restaurants, but I can provide feedback on those we tried.

 

Tequila:

 

We LOVED this Tex/Mex restaurant! Service was outstanding and choices were available for the die hard Tex/Mex fan to the less enchanted with spicy foods (me). Our highest recommendation is that you try an order of Il Popo. Excellent. We ate at Tequila twice. There is no special charge for this restaurant, but make sure you take time to make reservations.

 

Magenta:

 

Menus for this restaurant change on a daily basis. I wish I could recall exactly what I ordered, but my memory is faulty. I remember being pleased with the service and the meal. Like Tequila, there is no cover charge for Magenta.

 

Note: Lobster night did not happen on the Gem. Instead, a seafood extravaganza that included lobster tail was offered. Because I opted for the duck (which was quite good), I’ll leave reviews of the seafood extravaganza to others.

 

La Cucina Italian Restaurant:

 

For SolidGoldCruiser’s dinner party, we were served from La Cucina. The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered veal marsala and was not disappointed.

 

The menu provides lots of pasta choices, and my fellow cruisers seemed to enjoy everything they ordered.

 

La Cucina is not a specialty restaurant but do make reservations.

 

Le Bistro:

 

Le Bistro is a specialty restaurant, and the food is superb.

 

We were especially impressed with the escargot, mushroom soup in sourdough bread, lamb, and beef dishes. Don’t miss the chocolate fondue! Delicious!

 

Shore Excursion:

 

I must use the singular because we had only one port of call – Funchal Madeira, Portugal.

 

My husband and I elected to go on the “Taste of Madeira” NCL excursion. Although we aren’t fond of bus tours, this was a good way to drive through the mountain ranges and learn about Madeira from a certified guide. The cost of this excursion was very reasonable at $49 per person.

 

Madeira is a place of striking beauty. At any time of the year, it is both harvest and planting time. To say the island is lush is an understatement.

 

In early December, it was a real treat to see various flowers in full bloom and trees, heavy with fruit. Our day was especially nice because the temperature was comfortable and the day sunny.

 

Our guide told us the lowest temperature in winter for Madeira is 50 degrees at night. The highest summer temperatures hover around 82 degrees.

 

Madeira has so much to offer, and we were sorry we couldn’t stay longer to explore. Our tour gave us a chance to view the sea and lush vegetation from various high vantage points. We also had to opportunity to taste wines and enjoy breads and cheeses.

 

We would love to return again and really explore.

 

The Laundry Mat:

 

Here are some tips about washing clothes in the Gem’s washers.

 

There is no charge for using the three washers and three dryers in the laundry rooms.

 

These washers are computerized. Once you press, “Start,” the door locks, and you can’t go back. Therefore, don’t press “Start” until you’ve selected all the correct settings.

 

These are front loading washers, and they will become overly sudsy if you pour in a whole box of Tide. (Small boxes of Tide are on sale for 4 quarters. The instructions on the Tide box tell you to pour the whole thing in the washer. DON’T! Half a box is more than enough with these washing machines.) My cousin put the whole box in and had to run her clothes through twice in order to get them properly rinsed. I brought my own travel packets of Woolite. Next time, I will try to remember to bring dryer sheets. :rolleyes:

 

Be mindful that the laundry room can be a busy place. If you leave your clothes, please return in a timely manner. I brought a book and stayed the whole time. (When I arrived, all washers and dryers were in use, and I was behind two other people, waiting to get started.) It was disconcerting to see a washer and/or dryer end its cycle and no person present to remove the clothes.

 

Summary:

 

We could find very few faults with the Gem and our transatlantic adventure. The days flowed in a seamless fashion. Opportunities for onboard activities were plentiful.

 

If we HAD to complain about something, it would be the tightness of the slot machines and the lackluster payouts. (I guess you can tell we didn’t have good luck in the Casino! )

 

The suggestion we put on our comment cards was: My husband would like to see more recumbent bikes added to the gym.

 

Overall, we loved our cruise, and we loved the NCL Gem. We are Freestyle cruisers who get a huge kick out of the wild colors and designs you will find on the Gem. (After sailing on both the Jewel and the Pearl, we were more than prepared for The It Girl.)

 

 

I hope this review was helpful to anyone planning a cruise on the Gem. I suspect there will be many reviews posted on Cruise Critic that provide different views of the same experience. That’s what makes such interesting reading (in my opinion). :)

[buddyjo143]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

Your review was just what I have been wanting. Others have posted reviews of the other sailings that Gem did around Europe but yours was the first to address my interests.

 

My DH and I are due to sail on Saturday on the two day CTN out of Boston. Hopefully the weather will improve and the seas will stay calm.

 

I am hoping to purchase a pass for the spa on Sunday and relax for an hour or ten;).

 

Do they limit the number of passes that they sell and how quickly do you have to purchase it? Should I go directly to the spa when we board? I don't want to miss out on this.

 

We are veteran Carnival cruisers and so many people complain about the "loud, bright" colors. Sounds like we will be right at home on the Gem.

 

Finally, can my DH really wear jeans in one dining room per night and some of the specialty restaurants? He really doesn't want to have to go shopping tomorrow night. :eek:

 

Thanks.

[BarbCT605]

Maxi is the best!

 

Thanks for your review of the baby Gem.

[RSWBADGER]

Thanks for taking the time to write a detailed review of your cruise, thanks for sharing in words your adventure.

[SANDPEBBLES]

Buddyjo143, I don't think there is a limit on the number of spa passes issued. At least, I never heard anyone mention limits.

 

Some passengers purchased their spa passes immediately. I waited until the second day of the cruise because I was totally jetlagged. Just to be sure, I would visit the spa right away and purchase your pass to pamperville.

 

Yikes! I can't help you with the jeans issue because I didn't pay attention to what others were wearing.

 

Can anyone help with this question about jeans? :rolleyes:

 

On another note: We are so lucky to have flown out of Boston one day before the snowstorm hit! I hope everything is clear by the time you leave for your Gem cruise. Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

[buddyjo143]

 

On another note: We are so lucky to have flown out of Boston one day before the snowstorm hit! I hope everything is clear by the time you leave for your Gem cruise. Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

Thanks. You're near Atlanta right? Most of my family lives outside of Atlanta and they rub it in my face that the weather is a balmy 70-something.

 

It is storming here right now; got about 6 inches of snow and it is still coming.

 

We just hope the ship sails somewhere on Saturday. I look forward to sitting in a luxurious spa looking out at a cold ocean. ;)

[markf]

How were the shows--who was on the ship as far as piano players--was Vladamir on the Gem?

[happy cruzer]

Thanks for the report on the Delta flight! And your tour of BCN.

 

And I will keep the NCL in mind for future TAs. I love the crossings.

 

Great Review!

[coka]

Thank You Sandpebbles and welcome home! It sounds like you had a blast! I am printing out your review!

Coka

[snorklinbarb]

Hi SANDPEBBLES,

 

You're so fast - good for you getting a review up quickly. I will put one up, too, and hopefully a lot more will also!:D Let's just say I had one heck of a time and loved the Gem like you did.

 

To answer the jeans question, one of the DR's allows them (Magenta), the other doesn't (Grand Pacific).

 

Markf, Vladimir wasn't on. There was a pianist in the Bar City area (no singing), a woman who sang & played guitar in Maltings and later at night (10:30ish) piano with singing (and events like Irish singalong) in the Crystal Atrium. No trio in the atrium, rather a solo guitarist.

[Jana]

Thank you for the fabulous review! I love the way you wrote it.

 

(I agree, Maxi is a GEM!)

 

Jana

[Len3]

Thanks so much for the fine review. It will be our turn in February - can't wait!!!

[redcruzer]

do you have to buy a whole day pass in order to use the services there? can you buy a half day?

[SANDPEBBLES]

Redcruzer, I think you buy spa passes for a full day. Sorry. I'm not exactly sure about that.

 

After enjoying the spa on the Pearl, I knew I would be purchasing a pass for the entire Gem cruise so I confess I didn't look at the various options that may have been offered.

 

Can anyone else answer Redcruzer's question? Snorklin'Barb?

 

Coka, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and have been voting! I keep visualizing you and your family enjoying the Gem. Go get 'em, It Girl!!

 

Thanks to everyone who is reading the review.

 

Anyone who has answers to questions, please jump in! It's a beautiful ship with so much to offer. For example, I can't comment on the shows because I saw only one - which was fantastic, by the way. :)

[almtyrob]

Thanks for the in depth review. I'll reciprocate after my January 5th trip.:D

[cruise4kicks]

Redcruzer, I think you buy spa passes for a full day. Sorry. I'm not exactly sure about that.

 

After enjoying the spa on the Pearl, I knew I would be purchasing a pass for the entire Gem cruise so I confess I didn't look at the various options that may have been offered.

 

Can anyone else answer Redcruzer's question? Snorklin'Barb?

The only options presented were a day pay for $20 or length-of-cruise pass for $95.

[angeljt]

Sandpebbles, what a great review! Thanks! Sounds like you had a great time.

We'll be in 9170 for our April cruise on the Gem, and it's good to hear how much you enjoyed your AE. We've only been forward in the past, so we're lookiing forward to a new cruising experience in an aft cabin.

I haven't forgot about my story I was going to tell you. If you want to hear it, you can email me at my name here at aol. It's long and probably not appropriate for these boards, even though we did get a free cruise. ;)

Jackie