NCL Gem Transatlantic Review ... longest review

[juried]

My husband and I took the NCL Gem Transatlantic from NYC to Barcelona on April 19, 2008. This was our 19th Cruise.

In all of our NCL cruises we have never complained about anything and we have sailed in regular balcony rooms, suites and villas, so we thought we knew what to expect.

On all of our previous NCL cruises we felt like welcomed guests but this time around, something had changed … I felt NCL treated us more like potential customers, never missing a single opportunity to sell us “something more” and IMO, the captivity of being on the Gem was exploited to its full potential.

The NCL stock holders must be thrilled.

 

Summary:

The Good: Embarkation, Food, Staff, Casino, Ship condition, Bar Service

The Great: European Itinerary, People, Poker, Weather (perfect at every port), the very coolest Club ever “Bliss” with a Bowling Alley.

The Not so good: TV, lack of free things to do, music, bad seating layout at the Buffet, No Cinema, Never seemed to be enough seating at Spinnaker.

The Very bad: My own personal balcony situation, feeling nickel-ed and dime-d to death and just a general lack of respect.

 

Here goes … the longest review in History ….

 

We decided since we were able to fly directly back to Boston, we would take the Entertainment Tours shuttle from Boston to NYC. We arrive at South Station in Boston by 6:20am. We have to leave the vehicle at the curb while our son drops us off and helps us carry luggage up to floor 3 (via elevator and escalator) to Entertainment Tours gate 23 which is hidden behind the Fung Wah desk. There is no sign or rep from Entertainment Tours but luckily we see a crowd of NCL Spirit cruisers and get in line behind them. We are the last in line and the bus is full. This was a warm, rather stuffy ride, we are at the very back of the bus, directly beside the toilet and chemical smells and traffic of curious children awaiting their turn to try the potty. Because the bus was full, it did not make the scheduled stops in RI and CT.

Upon arrival in NYC, our driver never once was stuck in traffic, it was a Saturday and the Pope was in town so there was much anxiety over changed traffic patterns and added security, but it did not slow him down one bit. So we arrived at the cruise port by 11am. All but one other couple was sailing on the Spirit and after the crowd of Spirit Cruisers debarked from the bus, the 4 of us and our luggage were driven to the next pier to the Gem.

We tip the porter who took our luggage and went into the terminal.

A bit chaotic with so many people getting off the ship while so many more were just arriving but honestly it was very well choreographed. Following the sign for Latitudes Member / Suites we get in a very short, fast moving line. We go through quickly, show the passports, give the credit card, get the photo for the key card and because we are so very early we are invited to wait in the VIP lounge. The Lounge is large with lots of seating, coffee, juices and cookies. There are a dozen or so people waiting. This was nice and easy. We sit and snack and wait. The assistant concierge “Dawn” introduces herself and gives us a fold out map of the ship and today’s Freestyle.

At 12:30 we all follow the concierge rep onto the Gem. We bypass the line of guests still in line registering but we miss the opportunity for a Welcome Aboard photo. This is not good (I would have liked a photo) and as soon as NCL realizes the lost revenue, I am sure they will change the route.

We are offered the complimentary glass of champagne. DH takes one, I pass.

We read in the Freestyle that the cabins will not be ready until 2pm and we are directed to the Garden Café but from reading the Cruise Critic message boards, we know that the Grand Pacific Restaurant is open, so we go there and are seated at table 17. A great window table for 2. I love this table but we are never able to sit there again.

 

Now this is new: We go to the Grand Pacific and they now ask for your room key, swipe it and you wait for an escort to your table. This was not a problem at the moment but later on during the cruise this became a major nuisance with many passengers asking “why do you need our room key? We are guests on the ship, and this is a free restaurant.” This process only served to slow down the seating and anger guests.

Anyway, we enjoy a very nice relaxed lunch and we eat slowly enough that when we leave to find our stateroom it is 2pm and the cabin is ready.

 

We have a cabin Category AC which is considered a “Penthouse” suite and is located at the very front of the ship. I was very unhappy with this cabin due to the fact that the balcony was unusable for the majority of the cruise, I ended up posting my vent on cruise critic and had my *ss properly handed to me. The bottom line: I paid much more (about 6X more) for a balcony that was not usable, it was a joke. I have huge problems with NCL over how they disregarded my concerns and boldly lied to me on more than one occasion. I met with everyone I could think of and even wrote to NCL while onboard. In the end I was offered an inside cabin, with a chuckle, (idiots). I will not bore you with the details…. And surprisingly this “Balcony Situation” did not affect my most awesome European adventure.

 

My Cabin Number 9502 Fwd: first impression: reeked of cigarette, so I tell the room steward about the smell, no problem he “fabreezed” the room and then it smelled like wet dog…(?). I met my butler Made who was very pleasant and I requested that he empty the refrigerator, take out all the liquor, snacks, etc. There is very limited storage around the fridge, it is mostly taken up by a huge espresso machine:D (which my husband enjoyed very much) so I was surprised the Made filled all the cabinets with the stuff from the fridge…(?) :confused: but at least we were able to put the beer and juice in the fridge.

Good news: The bar service we pre-ordered was already in the cabin.

A nice little floral arrangement and a bottle of champagne were also in the cabin, The TV screen is large, the DVD player worked and the huge bed is very comfy.

What stunk:

The TV programming on this cruise is the very worst ever. I do not cruise to watch TV, HOWEVER transatlantic cruises are different, many sea days, a slower pace and you are in your cabin a lot more, so TV becomes much more important. The guide states besides the 9 NCL info channels and 7 TV channels:

CNN (only on day 1)

Fox News (came in very poorly and the audio was lousy)

ESPN: 2 nights only and even then soccer or golf

Cartoon Network: Never (my husband had a joke that there was a smurf marathon on the Cartoon Network because the screen was solid blue, very funny)

TNT: never

Turner Classic Movies: Yes and it continually showed Citizen Kane, Singing in the Rain and The Wizard of Oz.

Sports: Occasionally, but not in English.

Now, to be fair, the second week, while we were in the Mediterranean, TV programming improved quite a bit with added news channels like Euro News and the BBC. But now that we were off the ship all day, it didn’t really matter as much.

I had brought some new DVD’s with me and watched the entire series of Hero’s, which I highly recommend as mindless indulgence and great fun.

 

Alright, here we go… if you do not want to hear my “rant” about my cabin (poor me, I know stuck in a Penthouse, in the Mediterranean, blah, blah, blah) Just skip the RED text... I read the notice on the balcony door about keeping the door closed while at sea and I am upset. The sign on the door reads All Capitol Letters on the sign: “ WARNING – DANGER STONG WINDS, OPEN AND CLOSE DOOR WITH EXTREME CARE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY, OPEN ONLY WHEN THE VESSEL IS IN PORT. TO AVOID DAMAGE KEEP THIS DOOR LOCKED AT SEA. I tell my butler no way can that be the case, he says I can open the door with caution and to be careful not to let it slam and upset the neighbors or cut my fingers off… yeah thanks pal. (Note about the balcony door/s. It is not a lovely sliding glass door like a regular balcony but 2 doors, the interior is nice solid high gloss wood much like the rest of the cabin but when you open this door you are faced with a large heavy insulated metal structural door resembling something from a WWII naval movie. This door is truly hard core, weighs about a ton and not easy to open. (A GREAT DOOR SHOULD A ROGUE WAVE HIT US) Once open it locks in place, so that is good. There is also a 6 inch lip at the bottom that you need to step over to get onto the balcony, not a big deal unless it is dark and you forgot to step up and you fall face first … ouch, I might not have fallen if I was able to put a friggin light on, you must keep the drapes closed and the balcony dark or the light can reflect above you, no kidding, the sign reads: “Due to the Bridge being above your suite, we kindly ask your cooperation in the evening (whilst at sea) by keeping the drapes closed. This is due to the light from your suite reflecting onto the bridge, minimizing night vision).” No big deal here, since the winds are too much for me stand out there and the door is too heavy to open, and the sign tells you not to go out there anyway… jeeesh)

Truth be told, for its limited usability, the balcony is the best part of the cabin, it is about the same size as the cabin and has a 6 foot sofa, end table, coffee table, 2 lounge chairs, 2 upright chairs and a trunk to stash the cushions in while at sea all made of lovely beige rattan (or faux rattan?) Either way it is very nice looking and quite comfortable. My glorious Red Sox Banner fit perfectly on the railing and a sunbathing (whilst in port) topless neighbor to boot. Now, nobody complained about the topless neighbor and she sunbathed directly below the bridge, no problem with me, I say “if you got it, flaunt it” but I was a bit concerned with all the officers staring down, we might hit an iceberg, joke here, lighten up. :D

Once we got to the Mediterranean the winds calmed down and the balcony was more usable.

It was great to have your coffee out there in the AM, go on your excursion and return to toast the city goodbye as we cruise out, until we hit such speeds that you cannot stand out there any longer…

 

Cabin:

The good: Nice looking (a bit too pink for my personal taste but nice, just the same) , huge HDTV Screen, DVD Player, Espresso machine, nice hot water, great water pressure, flowers, champagne, comfy pillows and duvet.

The Cabin looks nice. But the layout is lousy, I hung up my own clothes (plenty of closet space, easily accessible by both sides and plenty of clothes hangers!) and I folded my husband jeans and t shirts, tried to fit them into the drawers and cabinets but they did not fit, the drawers and shelves are too shallow so I ended up re-folding, practically rolling his shirts and pants. The vanity area is very narrow and if you sitting down to do your make up and someone opens the bathroom door the handle can easily whack you in the back, especially if the ship is being slammed around by high waves, which was the case for the first 4 days of this cruise.

 

Speaking of waves, we hit some high seas on the journey over. This was made so much worse by being at the front of the ship. For comfort we went to the Atrium where we did not feel it nearly as much. I would never choose a front cabin again.

 

The bed can be blocked off by curtains, much like a hospital, but what good is that? The TV faces the bed, so if you want to sleep and your DH wants to watch TV, well he would have to sit in an upright chair. The small loveseat is very uncomfortable and useless, and does not face the TV, plus it is too small to lie down on and has no designated lighting for reading.

I cracked my knee on the first night on the bench at the foot of the bed, because you do not see it when you are coming from the bathroom through the narrow hallway / vanity area. I moved the bench towards the other end of the bed and did not hit it again.

 

Ships lobby: I miss the central glass elevators and the drama of a grand atrium. It has been replaced with a giant screen constantly showing crappy cartoons or wii… ok the first time you see it, it looks cool but it gets old and them what? It would be nice to see a movie or sporting event.

Dining in the Grand Pacific, if you are lucky enough to get the coveted rear window seating you cannot have a normal conversation because the Bowling Alley is directly above your head, no kidding, and you hear bowling balls and pins slamming, woops again on the design.

 

Shows… I only saw one Second city and I loved it. I heard the singer doing a Tammy Wynette “Stand by your Man” and that was my excuse to walk on by… no offense she may have been great, not my cup of tea.

On this cruise “Freestyle” meant “no style”, it was not like you had all these choices of activities, there was nothing TO DO. Unless I wanted to do a puzzle with fellow guests… or Spinning class $$, bingo $$, Art auction $$, beer tasting $$, margarita clinic $$ black jack $$ or slot $$ poker tournament $$.

They make a big deal that this looks like a schedule (gasp!) BUT THERE ARE NO FREE CHOICES WORTH DOING.

 

Food: I loved all the food on the Gem. Especially Tequilas. I am not a particularly fussy eater but I truly enjoyed all of the meals.

I hate to wait in line so when I could not get reservations I either did not eat or my DH went to the buffet for me. (He scoffed a tray from the Blue Lagoon) He loves me and loves to feed me and who am I to take this joy away from him?

I had concierge services but when I called Lisa for dinner at 12 noon on Wednesday for 6pm at Le Bistro or Cagney’s on Thursday, she could not get back to me until late the following day, which made it difficult to make plans.

Also they made us wait 45 minutes at Le Bistro and when we finally were seated most of the restaurant was empty. Which only led me to believe that they were deliberately not seating people early because of the 2 for 1 discount.

 

Casino was a bit too warm (temperature wise) and smoky and they played the same Mary J Blige CD over and over.

 

Service: My room stewards Ronald and Phillippe were great. I got cute towel animals and nightly mints, etc.

 

Butler Made was fine, always friendly and accessible, we only asked for breakfast one day and room service once. But we got plenty of ice and treats and canapés delivered daily along with a ton of junk mail. We got invitations to everything from Art Auctions, Spa Specia,s Captains Party, Latitude Party … etc. We never went to one of them.

 

Concierge Lisa was kept very busy on this cruise, but not by me. I did call her 4 times: twice for dinner reservations and twice she arranged for us to use the Academia Room for a private poker tournament. I only saw her walking swiftly through the Atrium a couple of times or on a deck and she never made eye contact with me, but over the phone she was all smiles. My husband made arrangements through Lisa for flower deliveries and they were huge and gorgeous. I also used her printer one time and that was good.

Music was lacking unless you like string quartets or classical piano. I would prefer a loud sing along or Jimmy Buffet. It was just a bit too hoity toity for moi’. But most of the older guests seemed to really enjoy it.

 

People: We meet the best people on cruises and this one was no exception. We toured Florence with 6 fellow Cruise Critics and Brian and Debbie were just great to arrange this for us.

We toured Rome with an awesome young CC couple Shawn and Mike from New Jersey.

 

Bowling: My husband has become a huge bowling enthusiast. We had never bowled big balls before (being from New England where candlepin is king) But DH really dug it. I broke a nail and I just am not a good bowler.

 

Spa: Pedicure, for the first time, I had a rude, angry attendant scraping away at my feet. She never spoke a word to me except at the end to scold me and say that I need to take better care of my feet and I should have another pedicure before the cruise ends, yeah sure. No thank you.

I over-tipped her thinking she must just be having a really bad day, and then she was all smiles walking me to the elevator, offering me a drink and “ Ma’am, wouldn’t you just prefer to sit and relax while your toes dry..?” A little cash goes a long way. ;)

 

I played poker every night with a multi-lingual group from Germany, Montreal, Russia, Belguim and Israel. It was a blast and after 15 nights, I am a much improved cash player and ended the cruise about $300 to the black. Usually I was the only woman. I would say here that the Casino staff was great but the rake was huge, 10% is a lot with no risk. So because I brought the chip set, we had several private tournaments and even a couple of cash games. The casino offered Casino at Sea card holders free drinks during play a few hours each night, so that was nice, plus an added benefit was: free drinks really loosened up the play, making more money for the house. Very smart play indeed.

 

Ports:

I had never been to any of these ports before and I decided to pre-book NCL Excursions via the NCL website, at all ports EXCEPT Rome and Florence where we hired a driver with other CC members. And I was very glad we pre-booked because every day there was a long line at the Excursion Desk and many tours were sold out.

All Tours met at the Stardust Theater and I thought this process went very smoothly.

 

I got 2 great pieces of advice from the ships excursion coordinator: First: :"Be travelers, NOT tourists", which I liked and secondly: “Lower your expectations”, which was meant as a joke and many took too literally, but was still good advice.

I was very excited to finally get there:

Ports:

Ponta Del Gada Azores, Portugal:

Weather: Perfect, 65-70

Excursion booked through NCL: Fire Lake & Ribiera Grande Level 1, $52 each. 3 ½ hours.

Drove to the lovely picturesque village of Ribiera Grand, guide was great explaining the history of the Azores. Bus ride through mountain scary, steep roads, we were supposed to see a lake but the fog and clouds did not allow it, then off to a pineapple plantation which was just a small series of greenhouses with a little gift shop. I loved it. The town we walked through was quaint and picturesque. An interesting side note, a young man (late 20’s I would guess) looking a bit scruffy, toting a backpack and wearing flip-flops walked up to us in a park where we were just hanging out while the rest of our group was liquor tasting. I walked over to take a photo of the landscaping and my husband gave this “local” a US $2 bill, thinking he was broke… no big deal, my husband does this kind of thing.

Well, that night in the Casino, I’m playing poker and I see this same “scruffy” guy walk by. I had not seen him prior to this day, but whatever, I mention to my DH that he blew it, he gave a fellow passenger a handout, not a homeless Portuguese guy like he thought and we have a good chuckle. How embarrassing really.

Well, we see this same fellow the next morning in the atrium lounging out on a sofa. He was looking a bit bewildered and I just assume he is enchanted and I have a particular respect and empathy for this condition, so I just smile at him and we go on our way… that night he is in the Casino again, waiting for the food at 11pm, he grabs a plate, piles it high and then he is gone.

We later find out that this man is a stowaway, and was caught and sent off in cuffs in Spain.. The rumors fly that he had stolen a wallet in the Azores and got on board… I do not know the details. But many people noticed him and we actually spoke with another CC couple about him while at dinner and they noticed him too. We actually joked that maybe he was not really a passenger …

 

Lisbon, Portugal:

Weather: Perfect, Sunny 70-75

Excursion booked through NCL: Monumental Lisbon Level 1, $55 each: 4 Hours.

We had a lovely guide, a very young woman who sang Fado to us at the end of the tour. It was very touching. As the tour implied we saw a LOT of monuments. I had no expectations of Lisbon and was pleasantly impressed. Lisbon was awesome, so much history and discoveries. More walking up narrow Moorish streets and stairs than I thought a level 2 would have. I felt bad for the many older passengers with walkers and canes. At the end of the tour we got to walk around the city center where my DH was politely offered several times for a variety of controlled substances. We do not partake, but thank you anyway.

 

Cadiz, Spain:

Weather: Perfect, Sunny 70-75

Excursion booked through NCL: White Villages & Countryside $55 each: 5 Hours. Level 2.

This was not a good tour. This should most definitely be a level 3. We had a terrible guide (oh well, it happens) named Victoria, who I think did not speak English. She had a loud, dull, raspy voice and spoke slowly like she was reading the script, one word at a time, no use asking her a question, she did not understand. She constantly chatted in Spanish with the young male driver. We get to the white village, and walk up a very steep long hill where the bus cannot drive. We stop midway to hear her tell us some history but Victoria is the only tour guide without a microphone and speaker and she does not wait for the rest of the bus before beginning her spiel. To top it all off, we get to the top and heart of this charming village only to find more than 95% of it is closed.

I felt very unwelcome. The people who live and work here cannot bother to open their shops and cafés for the hundreds of tourists on a Sunday than they obviously do not want us there. It was awkward to say the least. NCL should know better. If you bought a ticket to Disney and when you got there found it 95% closed, take the hint. NCL should not sell this Excursion on a Sunday.

The tour continues on through what is called a “natural” forest with pine trees planted in exact rows, nothing “natural” about it, but still beautiful. Now because the White Village was mostly closed and we had extra time to kill, we took the beach route. We drove by Trafalgar Beach where some historic battle was waged in the 1800’s but the bus driver has no permission to stop so he slows down to allow folks on the left side of the bus a chance to take a photo. We do stop at a seaside town of sorts, again, mostly closed and the driver parks as far away as possible so that the passengers waste more time walking. A terrible tour indeed. BUT Cadiz was beautiful.

 

Malaga, Spain:

Weather: Perfect, Sunny 73-78

Excursion booked through NCL: Amazing Caves of Nerja $55 each: 4 ½ Hours. Level 2.

Awesome tour guide Juan, spoke perfect English, had the hand held microphone speaker thingy and best of all it was a Monday so everything was open. We stopped at the town of Nerja and a white village with the most excellent “Balcony of Europe” breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, truly charming village. Then off to Nerja where Juan bought tickets, I did the first half of the caves, and the giant stalagmites and such were fantastic but once it got too dark, damp, and I could not see daylight or feel fresh air, I had to bail. I am not complaining, I know my limits, tons of stairs and humidity… I’m just not built for it, but I am very glad I went. We had an awesome lunch at the café with unreal views… wow.

 

Ajaccio, France: (Corsica)

Weather: Perfect, Sunny 70-75

Excursion booked through NCL: Introduction to Ajaccio $65 each: 3 ½ Hours. Level 2.

Lovely tour, everything Napoleon, lots of statues and photo ops. Our tourguide was lame, too quiet, I could not hear her. Lots of walking in Corsica, finally got to spend some Euros. She dumped us in the center which was fine. We caught a quick lunch along the waterfront and shopped. There was a hint of anti-Americanism here. Folks speaking English were not seated as quickly and on the tourist trolley they said the English version of the tour was not working but at the end of the tour, someone hit the wrong button and over the PA “Welcome to Corsica ….” clear as day, in perfect English. Woops.

But I still loved Corsica.

 

Nice, Villefranche, France

Weather: Perfect, Sunny 75

Excursion booked through NCL: Highlights of Monaco & Monte Carlo $78 each: 4 Hours. Level 2

Very nice tour, gorgeous day, tour guide Utta was great. Learned a bit about the Monarchy, very tough walk uphill to the awaiting bus. Monaco is an absolutely gorgeous place. Tons of photo ops, too bad the Monte Carlo Casino was not open. Plus they were getting ready for the Formula One race and installing inconvenient chain link fences everywhere. We walked through an awesome park, the grand church and narrow little lanes and shops. Everything Ferrari. But clean and pristine, looked more like a movie set than an actual neighborhood. We had to wait on the bus almost 30 minutes for our fellow passengers to get back from the American-style Casino (slots) which I thought was inconsiderate. I can understand 10 or 15 minutes but a half hour was too much. AND now that I recall, this type of thing happened often. Only in Lisbon did the driver leave 9 passengers after waiting about 10 minutes.

 

Rome: We had the very best driver Vincent from Rome in Limo. I cannot say enough about Rome only to say I cannot wait to go back there. 9 hours off a cruise ship is a tiny taste of a grand feast and my next vacation will either start or stop in Rome for at least 4 nights. I am so charmed by Italy I am going to learn Italian. We were in Rome on May 1 which was a Holiday so many things were closed. But honestly we just were so busy doing the things that were open, I did even not notice and plus now I have an added excuse to return. What was apparent was the amount of people; it was crowded, like Times Square NYC on New Years Eve X 10.

 

Florence, it was also crowded, we joined fellow CC’s on a tour which included the best Tiramisu Gelato ever, parks, piazzas, squares, David, Duomo, Pisa, etc. Too much to say and if I were an Art buff, then Florence would have been Mecca. It was truly a fantastic and memorable day.

 

I will most definitely cruise the Mediterranean again but unfortunately this will be my last NCL cruise, unless they respond to favorably to my letter. I am only requesting for a partial refund for the very limited use of the Balcony and most importantly I want full disclosure. I want it noted on all TA websites as well as the NCL website that the category AC has limited balcony usage … that’s all. Complete and honest accountability and you know what? IF they had taken the time to let me know this ahead of time, I would never have reason or right to complain.

Well, I warned you it was a long one...

Till next time,

Juried

Go Sox!

[electricron]

Looks like you had a grand time on your Med cruise.

 

As for the AC suite balcony situation, it's fairly common knowledge here. Believe it or not, you're not the first to report it.

 

But, as you admitted, the heavy door is there for a reason.

And front facing balconies are windy when the ship is underway.

That's why you read often around here the suggestions to book aft facing suites.

 

I hope it didn't ruin your cruise.

[Guest Anorak33]

Having done a few NCL Transatlantic cruises I can only say that pretty much all the things the OP complains about are par for the course and well documented, the OP obviously had not researched in advance.

 

I have had 9502 as a cabin, great big balcony, not on a Transatlantic though, I book a rear facing AE for that, cheaper and the same cabin. This "problem" hardly needs documenting, its at the front of the ship, the shp does 20 knots or so and there is often a 35 knot wind so you don't have to be an advanced mathematician to realise that balcony may be windy when steaming across the Atlantic. We are getting into the realms of labelling coffee as "this may be hot" here. Ditto with the movement of the ship being worse at the front than midships.

 

I wasn't on Gem T/A but Jewel T/A at the same time and we had a busy time on there generally, and the CC group made some of their own entertainment. That was an excellent cruise.

 

I can't see anything in this post which I would not have expected (except the stowaway) or complained about.

 

Pretty much a non-event IMHO.

[happy cruzer]

Great Review!

 

I think your points about the balcony are very valid. If the cruise line can bother to post warning signs in the cabin; then they should do the same on the website or any booking method. We're not all saavy experienced cruisers that know all the details about ship speed and wind. Obstructed views in outside cabins are noted, at sea unusable balconies could be noted too.

 

Again thanks for the review, I love TAs and the NCL itenarary looks great!

[wendilyn5]

Great review, go ahead and complain it's your right! About playing poker, where did you play. We would love to do this on our upcoming Gem cruise, but I can't handle the smoke in the casino!

Thanks!

Also, can you open the balcony doors on the regular balcony suites? We're in

9528.:confused:

[blackerbys17]

Well Juried, I for one can sympathize. I am sorry that you spent so much on your cabin and weren't able to really enjoy your balcony. I think you are right, there SHOULD be a disclosure regarding the limited use of your balcony and having to keep the drapes closed because of the light, etc. Could you have researched this here on CC or elsewhere? Sure. Should you have to research the usability of your balcony, NO, you shouldn't. I'm not sure how much compensation if any you will get for your troubles but if you get them to post a disclosure or something regarding the front balcony cabins, that would be satisfaction enough for me.

 

At least you were able to enjoy the rest of your cruise. I hope you give NCL another try and from now on, stay in aft cabins. It is SOOOO much nicer back there! :)

[hazeleyes]

My husband and I took the NCL Gem Transatlantic from NYC to Barcelona on April 19, 2008. This was our 19th Cruise.

In all of our NCL cruises we have never complained about anything and we have sailed in regular balcony rooms, suites and villas, so we thought we knew what to expect.

On all of our previous NCL cruises we felt like welcomed guests but this time around, something had changed … I felt NCL treated us more like potential customers, never missing a single opportunity to sell us “something more” and IMO, the captivity of being on the Gem was exploited to its full potential.

The NCL stock holders must be thrilled.

 

Till next time,

Juried

Go Sox!

 

Hey Guys! Nice to read your review about the cruise we all took. I saw you guys from the 12th deck one day while we were in port, i looked down and saw your husband taking pictures etc. :) I didnt see the topless tanner, and im glad i didnt lol. My husband on the other hand would have gotten a kick out of it for sure if he saw her.

 

So sorry to hear that the cabin wasnt all you wished for, its truely a shame when you pay alot of money and you cant use the room the way it was intended to be used. But I agree with you the ports were amazing! I would do the same cruise next year if the price is right. I'm keeping my eye on it and when it meets the same price i got it for this time i'm jumping on it for sure!

 

I really enjoyed bumping into you two all over the place. My husband is still talking about the baseball that he got from the gift exchange from you guys.

 

Now about our friend the stowaway! lol Wasnt that something, even funnier that no one on Cruise critic has posted it as a news story. I guess NCL kept that nice and quiet right?

 

We too saw him that same night after we got back from the first port. We were doing laundry at 4am, (you know how hard it was to use the laundry rooms on normal hours) lol, we were comming out of the laundry room on deck 5 since the machines on deck 9 were always broken between 8pm and 9am. So anyway, were comming out of the laundry room and walking to the elevator and here he is comming off the elevator, he looked like someone who really didnt belong. At first i told my daughter he looks like a homeless person, he was scruffy and dirty looking. We smilled at him and kept going about our business. Then the next day (Day at sea) I saw him by the pool deck on a lounge chair he was talking to himself, so i mentioned to my husband that he was wearing the same clothes the previous day, and that he looks like he doesnt belong. Then after boarding back on the ship getting ready for sail off (at the next port) we go to the 7th deck and were hanging out waiting for sail off and the police are questioning him etc. You heard the captain announce that there is a problem with someones papers and we have a delay.

 

We kept waiting and waiting and finallly they take him off the ship in handcuffs and put him in the police car. When we saw it was him we knew immediately that he was definatly a stowaway.

 

He had found or stolen a wallet and got on the ship at our first port by using the ID (cruise card). Obviously security doesnt really check you to make sure your card picture and you look the same.

 

I found it stupid that he got off at a port, if he would have stood on till the end of the cruise he would have made it to Barcelona for free lol.

 

Can you believe that? It was stilly of him to try and reboard the 2nd time, that was risky and he got busted.

 

We cant complain we sure had alot of drama on our ship, besides the stowaway then they left that group of people in Pisa and waiting about 20 minutes for them, to then leave them behind, once again we were on deck 7 waiting for sail way finally the ship starts to leave, when all of a sudden you see a taxi van driving very fast to the area where the ship was docked, you see 4 people fling the taxi van doors open and they start screaming etc. The left them behind but it was no fault of ncl on that part they did wait 20 additional minutes for them.

 

Then there was the fist fight in the laundry room. Obviously those machines got on peoples nerves and two women went at it and security had to be called to deck 9 a few doors from where my cabin was.

 

I tell you alot of people have short tempers.

 

I hope we get to meet you two on one of our other cruises! See you around the boards!

[CruisnGram]

I too agree that NCL needs to make it clear that the forward balcony's are unusuable when you are at sea. Yes, it can seem to be common sense, but sometimes in the excitement of booking a cruise, people don't think about every little detail. If someone comes back and complains that their balcony was windy, then I'd have a little less sympathy...duh, you were on the front of the ship, what did you expect? But how are people supposed to know about the huge, steel doors? Or that they are TOLD not to use the balcony while underway? It's plain wrong and people should be told. By not disclosing this, I think NCL is causing bad feelings and it is poor customer relations.

 

I also don't think that this is a "typical negative review" as someone else wrote. The majority of it is postive concerning the ship, the food, etc. Yes, some of the things that bothered the OP wouldn't bother me at all, but it is her opinion which she is entitled to. Compare it to those that rant about EVERYTHING, have nothing positive whatsoever to say, and this review pales in negativity.

[salty dingo]

This is one of the best reviews I have read, and if the OP was unhappy about the balcony, it is certainly fair to report that.

 

About being niclen and dimed - that is so much the norm nowadays, it is hardly worth mentioning. People learn to expect this and those who are thrifty know how to avoid it.

 

I don't care if they are trying to make a buck. Walk down any city street and you will find the same thing. If they did not do that, fares would be higher because they would make less money from people onboard. I am fine with how it is now.

[Minoushka]

I'm glad you spoke out . I count on other people to tell us what is wrong with something in order to not fall in the same trap.So thank you .I will be on the Gem in the fall . Really looking forward to ITALY

I speak French Spanish and dabble in Italian so I'm hoping all will be easier .

I hope NCL treats you right

good luck

Michele

[Sea Hound]

I too agree that NCL needs to make it clear that the forward balcony's are unusuable when you are at sea.

 

I have and will continue to use my forward-facing balcony on the Spirit. As long as I close the drapes and the inner door so the lights don't bother the bridge, there's really no problem. I found it to be a little windy if I stand up but, when I sit down in the chairs, I am pretty much below the plexiglas windscreen and it is quite enjoyable.

 

That's just me, though!;)

 

Sea Hound:D <-- likes to play "king of the world" on his front-facing balcony

[Cuizer2]

Looks like you had a grand time on your Med cruise.

 

As for the AC suite balcony situation, it's fairly common knowledge here. Believe it or not, you're not the first to report it.

 

But, as you admitted, the heavy door is there for a reason.

And front facing balconies are windy when the ship is underway.

That's why you read often around here the suggestions to book aft facing suites.

 

I hope it didn't ruin your cruise.

 

Well, I going to offer a different opinion based on personal experience. I spent 13 nights with an AC front facing balcony. My review was 28 pages long, which makes it longer than the review you are commenting on. Since you read my review there is no need to go into further details on the "longest" review.

 

Regarding the big heavy door. It is there for a reason as you noted. However, it is on hinges and like another other door, does open with a push.

 

As to wind, it might be windy by the rail, but stay back next to the bulkhead and there is very little wind. A fact which I commented on in my review.

 

As for the light, I was able to function by keeping the lights next to the door and windows off, and just turning on the lights that were smaller and deeper in the cabin. And I keep my curtains open, and just used the sheer curtains. All I had to do was make sure I was not casting a shadow and I made it through 13 nights without any calls from the bridge.

 

Yes, there is a warning. However, the problem only exists if you leave the entry door open when you open the balcony door. Otherwise it was not a problem.

 

I spent several sea days on my balcony and several nights typing my review. So I am familiar with the balcony both day and night while the ship is under way. I've been on ten cruises, six with balconies, including two other suites with large balconies (one a wrap-around balcony) and the balcony on the A/C suite I had on the Jade was the best balcony I have ever had.

[ktpc2005]

I find it alarming that someone was able to use another person's ID to get on the ship. The security person must have been sleeping on the job because everyone gets their picture taken and if the picture and the person dont match, that should sound an alarm off in their head.

 

On the other hand its could be kind of easy to stow away on a cruise ship because there are so many things to do. You could stay up all night, sleep on the lounge chair during the day, eat at the buffet, and no one would probably question you.

[Cuizer2]

I too agree that NCL needs to make it clear that the forward balcony's are unusuable when you are at sea. Yes, it can seem to be common sense, but sometimes in the excitement of booking a cruise, people don't think about every little detail. If someone comes back and complains that their balcony was windy, then I'd have a little less sympathy...duh, you were on the front of the ship, what did you expect? But how are people supposed to know about the huge, steel doors? Or that they are TOLD not to use the balcony while underway? It's plain wrong and people should be told. By not disclosing this, I think NCL is causing bad feelings and it is poor customer relations.

 

One person reports it was windy and you believe them. I was had an A/C cabin on the Jade, and I spent several days and nights on the balcony with no problems. I loved that balcony. Here is my review (and unlike the review in post number one, my review really is long) ...

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=38933

[carontori]

Thanks for your review. I like you , didn't realize that the forward balcony would be unuseable while sail. Yes it was disappointing, but also like you, I did enjoy it when I was able. I hope you are able to get a satisfactory response from NCL. I agree, that it would be of great benefit to those cruising in that cabin to be aware of its drawbacks in advance so as to make an informed decision.

[terrymtex01]

One of the best reviews I have ever read. Loved it. It was extremely informative. Discusses both positives and negatives, disappointments and joys. Thank you so much for posting it.

[Host Kewlguy]

One person reports it was windy and you believe them. I was had an A/C cabin on the Jade, and I spent several days and nights on the balcony with no problems. I loved that balcony. Here is my review (and unlike the review in post number one, my review really is long) ...

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=38933

 

There's a BIG difference between the cruise you were on and a transatlantic. Speaking as someone who's sailed five transatlantic's in the past three years I can assure you the wind you will experience crossing the Atlantic is like nothing you will experience during a typical Caribbean sailing. Also since I was on the same cruise as the OP I can confirm her statements regarding the severity of the wind until we reached the Mediterranean. I also feel many of the responses to this review are rude and uncalled for. IMHO it's a fair and balanced review.

[CruisnGram]

As to wind, it might be windy by the rail, but stay back next to the bulkhead and there is very little wind. A fact which I commented on in my review.

 

As for the light, I was able to function by keeping the lights next to the door and windows off, and just turning on the lights that were smaller and deeper in the cabin. And I keep my curtains open, and just used the sheer curtains. All I had to do was make sure I was not casting a shadow and I made it through 13 nights without any calls from the bridge.

 

 

I'm glad that you enjoyed that balcony. I'm sure many people would. However, I still maintain that there are issues that go along with this type of balcony room that many do not consider. You said that you were "able to function" by selecting specific lights. Some people simply don't want to have to deal with a situation like that.

 

Obviously, these rooms are enough in demand that NCL doesn't have a problem selling them, so why would there be an issue with them stating somewhere the idiosyncrasies of this and other cabins just like it. Seems simple to me and then, no one would be surprised when they had such a cabin.

[CruisnGram]

One person reports it was windy and you believe them.

 

 

 

Uh, why wouldn't I believe them? And the others who have posted here the same basic info about those cabins, especially on TA cruises? Your cruise was Caribbean correct? Big difference then being out in the open Atlantic. Also, it's more then wind...it's having to keep your curtains closed to to light reflecting on the bridge.

 

Just because it wasn't windy when you sailed, doesn't mean that it's normally that way as other have written here. And I still maintain that if NCL wants to keep their customers happy, they should warn people about the problems they might encounter with wind, and how they need to keep the curtains closed at night.

[VoyageVirgin]

Good review - I too can understand your frustration at not being able to use the balcony - unfortunately if it hadn't been the TA you may have enjoyed it as much as you did during the Med. portion of you trip. We've sailed forward suites (Caribbean) previously and actually liked them - a bit of a pain getting that darn door open - but what are men for? :D I couldn't budge the darn thing myself (When we were under sail). Our first cruise with Norwegian was a forward suite - now the Sun had sliding glass doors as opposed to the bulk head door - a little easier to slip out there and catch the breeze, but still caused quite the vortex in the hallway when the cabin door was opened. We obviously ignored the written warning posted in the room :o As much as I liked it on the Caribbean there was no way we were going to book it on the Transatlantic crossing. But then we had the experience with them to know it wasn't going to be feasible. I do hope you can resolve with NCL, but I'm thinking they won't put that disclaimer in print on their website. Hope I'm wrong.

[hazeleyes]

I find it alarming that someone was able to use another person's ID to get on the ship. The security person must have been sleeping on the job because everyone gets their picture taken and if the picture and the person dont match, that should sound an alarm off in their head.

 

On the other hand its could be kind of easy to stow away on a cruise ship because there are so many things to do. You could stay up all night, sleep on the lounge chair during the day, eat at the buffet, and no one would probably question you.

 

I was very concerned about it also. On the following day we attempted to get off the ship by using each others cards, example my husband took mine and i took his. He stood several persons behind me. I got off the ship by using his card with no problem, but he on the other hand was questioned when he scanned my card for exit. He waved me back in and then the person knew he was wrong since he really didnt check me out before letting me exit after he scaned the card.

 

I'm sure its difficult to check every single passenger exiting and entering, but with all the problems going on around the world they really should take the time to make sure everything checks out each time.

 

I agree with you it was easy for the stowaway to go unnoticed for the couple of days he did, you can easily fall asleep in a lounge chair by the pool deck and no one will bother you.

[VoyageVirgin]

That it can happen is somewhat disturbing - but from the sound of the previous posts the person was noticed as "being out of place". I do know when we docked in Ponta Delgada we arrived back to the ship really early (12:00 all aboard was 4 or 5:00) and when we tried to access the ship there was no one there - so I can see how it can happen - we did wait about 2 minutes (bathroom break/shift change maybe) and were keyed in to enter the ship. Didn't even have a second thought about a stowaway having the same opportunity. :eek: Mind, I would think it would be easier for them to do when there was a crowd trying to push to get back on the ship as opposed to a slower period. I also wonder if he hitched a ride back on the bus or walked his way over. :D

[CC Help Michell]

An interesting, well-written review. I really enjoyed your description of the ports of call.

 

I am sorry that your pre-cruise concerns that you wouldn't be able to use your balcony (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=741812) were justified during the TA part of the trip, but glad it improved once you reached the Med. Thanks for taking the time to post your review.

[hinkley]

That it can happen is somewhat disturbing - but from the sound of the previous posts the person was noticed as "being out of place". I do know when we docked in Ponta Delgada we arrived back to the ship really early (12:00 all aboard was 4 or 5:00) and when we tried to access the ship there was no one there - so I can see how it can happen - we did wait about 2 minutes (bathroom break/shift change maybe) and were keyed in to enter the ship. Didn't even have a second thought about a stowaway having the same opportunity. :eek: Mind, I would think it would be easier for them to do when there was a crowd trying to push to get back on the ship as opposed to a slower period. I also wonder if he hitched a ride back on the bus or walked his way over. :D

 

If the "stowaway" boarded with a stolen ships ID card ,what happened when the real owner came to board & reported it stolen !!! surely they should have checked the PC, I shudder to think if a terrorist used this method to boared a ship .To me this was a huge slip up.& this is the place where NCL should give some assurances as to what they have done to assure our safety on their ships in the future.

 

Jean.

 

 

 

 

 

i

[halos]

This is one of the best reviews I have read, and if the OP was unhappy about the balcony, it is certainly fair to report that.

 

About being niclen and dimed - that is so much the norm nowadays, it is hardly worth mentioning. People learn to expect this and those who are thrifty know how to avoid it.

 

I don't care if they are trying to make a buck. Walk down any city street and you will find the same thing. If they did not do that, fares would be higher because they would make less money from people onboard. I am fine with how it is now.

 

Ditto what Salty said. :)