Norwegian Gem

We have taken the Norwegian Spirit this year, enjoyed her, and plan to take
the Norwegian Gem on a Mediterranean cruise this September.
Has anyone here been on her recently who can give me a report on her?

TIA,
--Jean


"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples'
money."

Margaret Thatcher

The Gem experience is similar to the Dawn. Unlike the Dawn, the Gem has
its spa in the front of the ship. With huge windows we found it the
perfect spot for sail away in January.

Other differences

One lounge has a bowling alley
the Blue lagoon is above the atrium which is very noisy.

The atrium has a HUGE video screen for Wii tournaments, videos and
commercials. There is no such thing as quiet or peace there.


Absolutely loved the Spirit and the Dawn. Prefer both to the Gem but
overall a decent ship. You'll have a good time.


Paul


In article ,
"Jean O'Boyle" wrote:

We have taken the Norwegian Spirit this year, enjoyed her, and plan to take
the Norwegian Gem on a Mediterranean cruise this September.
Has anyone here been on her recently who can give me a report on her?

TIA,
--Jean


"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples'
money."

Margaret Thatcher

"Paul Krause" wrote in message
news
The Gem experience is similar to the Dawn. Unlike the Dawn, the Gem has
its spa in the front of the ship. With huge windows we found it the
perfect spot for sail away in January.

Other differences

One lounge has a bowling alley
the Blue lagoon is above the atrium which is very noisy.

The atrium has a HUGE video screen for Wii tournaments, videos and
commercials. There is no such thing as quiet or peace there.


Absolutely loved the Spirit and the Dawn. Prefer both to the Gem but
overall a decent ship. You'll have a good time.

Paul


Paul, did you take the Mediterranean itinerary while on the Gem?
I just wondered if the itinerary might make a difference as far as the quiet
and peace on the ship.
Thank you for responding to my inquiries.

--Jean

One lounge has a bowling alley

I have to ask: doesn't the sound from the bowling alley bleed through
the decks and cause some annoyance for at least a number of the guests?

Is that the sort of room you get when you go with the cheapest choices?

Ohioguy wrote:
One lounge has a bowling alley

I have to ask: doesn't the sound from the bowling alley bleed through
the decks and cause some annoyance for at least a number of the guests?

Is that the sort of room you get when you go with the cheapest choices?

I haven't been following the Gem, so can't answer your question about
this ship. Noise on any ship is the reason experienced cruisers pick
their cabin carefully. The best cabins to pick are the ones that have
cabins above and below yours and we never book a cabin that is under the
dining room, lido deck, theater, lounges etc.

sue

On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:11:56 -0400, Sue Mullen wrote:

Ohioguy wrote:
One lounge has a bowling alley

I have to ask: doesn't the sound from the bowling alley bleed through
the decks and cause some annoyance for at least a number of the guests?

Is that the sort of room you get when you go with the cheapest choices?

I haven't been following the Gem, so can't answer your question about
this ship. Noise on any ship is the reason experienced cruisers pick
their cabin carefully. The best cabins to pick are the ones that have
cabins above and below yours and we never book a cabin that is under the
dining room, lido deck, theater, lounges etc.

sue

Good points, Sue. I pick my cabin though in hopes of getting some long
and hard stuff from my cabin boy!

-- Jean

now deleting entire thread

On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:11:56 -0400, Sue Mullen wrote:

Ohioguy wrote:
One lounge has a bowling alley

I have to ask: doesn't the sound from the bowling alley bleed through
the decks and cause some annoyance for at least a number of the guests?

Is that the sort of room you get when you go with the cheapest choices?

I haven't been following the Gem, so can't answer your question about
this ship.

sheesh

Noise on any ship is the reason experienced cruisers pick
their cabin carefully. The best cabins to pick are the ones that have
cabins above and below yours...

Then you would never book the Garden Villa? Or the Grand Suite Deck 10
on the Jewel?

We did and it was one of the finest staterooms we have ever had.
--
Talk about F-Cars - www.ferrarichat.com/forum/member.php?u=89702

On 6/20/10 7:58 AM, Ohioguy wrote:
One lounge has a bowling alley

I have to ask: doesn't the sound from the bowling alley bleed through
the decks and cause some annoyance for at least a number of the guests?

Is that the sort of room you get when you go with the cheapest choices?

They'd probably put something like that in an area where it wouldn't
impact cabins around it. Like the ice rinks on Royal Caribbean Ships.

As far as cheapest choices, cabins without windows are the cheapest, and
they could (and likely are) on all or many of the decks that have more
expensive cabins, like those with windows, those with private balconies,
and suites. It's a matter us using the available space, regardless of
where it is.

--Tom

On Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:17:31 -0500, "Jean O'Boyle"
wrote:

We have taken the Norwegian Spirit this year, enjoyed her, and plan to take
the Norwegian Gem on a Mediterranean cruise this September.
Has anyone here been on her recently who can give me a report on her?

I was on the Gem in December - my report is at
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=22624783&postcount=4232.

It was a good cruise for the price. They have changed the menus and
some of the other amenities since then.

There are no quiet covered spaces on the ship that I could find (except
for the library). I didn't like the spa as much as the one on the Pride
of Hawaii, but getting the spa pass was still a good idea.

Food was not as good as on the Celebrity Infinity or the Pride of
Hawaii, but was about the same as on the Mercury. The specialty
restaurants were good.

The crew was good.

I might do another cruise on the Gem, but I didn't fall in love with it.

"Jack Hamilton" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:17:31 -0500, "Jean O'Boyle"
wrote:

We have taken the Norwegian Spirit this year, enjoyed her, and plan to
take
the Norwegian Gem on a Mediterranean cruise this September.
Has anyone here been on her recently who can give me a report on her?

I was on the Gem in December - my report is at
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=22624783&postcount=4232.

It was a good cruise for the price. They have changed the menus and
some of the other amenities since then.

There are no quiet covered spaces on the ship that I could find (except
for the library). I didn't like the spa as much as the one on the Pride
of Hawaii, but getting the spa pass was still a good idea.

Food was not as good as on the Celebrity Infinity or the Pride of
Hawaii, but was about the same as on the Mercury. The specialty
restaurants were good.

The crew was good.

I might do another cruise on the Gem, but I didn't fall in love with it.


Hi Jack,
Thank you for your thorough and informative review on the Gem. I have a
feeling she won't be as good as we found the Spirit to be.
The Gem really was not our first choice, as we have done the Mediterranean
on the Renaissance 7 when she was still under the previous ownership and
also the newer HAL Westerdam and they were both extremely enjoyable. Our
daughter, who is with a medical team in Africa, is meeting up with us in
Venice several days before we all sail together... our itinerary is Split,
Croatia and the Greek Isles. Living in and traveling throughout Africa, she
has no need for a formal wardrobe and so we will have to go with a mixture
of smart casual/casual on this one and for that reason we chose NCL Gem. She
has never been to Venice nor the Greek Isles so we are excited about sharing
this with her.

I hope the noise level will be lower than what you experienced on your
journey. Our balcony is on the ninth deck midship with cabins above and
below us; hopefully making it a quieter location.

Thanks again!

--Jean