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This sparkling cruise ship is the perfect choice for year-round cruises in style. Sail to the The Caribbean, Bermuda, or Bahamas from New York and Boston and toss your timetable to the breeze. Or stroll along postcard-perfect scenery in the Mediterranean. With tonnes of dining choices and no set dining times, Norwegian Gem has it all. Chill out by the pool, get lucky in the casino, unwind at the spa, and make the kids happy with spaces built with them in mind. Accommodations range from the luxurious multi-room or romantic suites to spacious and affordable staterooms.
This was a very good Panama Canal cruise. The servers and bartenders were great in personality and efficiency. We also enjoyed the entertainment, both song and dance shows and the headline comedian, Andrew Kennedy. The only negative was the food quality and selections in the main dining rooms. The food was overly salty. Cagney's was a worthwhile specialty restaurant, but the real star was Le Bistro which we enjoyed twice. Don't miss the lamb shank with Moroccan spices and if you're up to it, the steak tartare was the best either of us had ever eaten. Unfortunately, Sushi wasn't worth the splurge and we'd wished we had used our last specialty restaurant night elsewhere. The sashimi was fine, but both of the rolls were disappointing. Our favorite place was Shaker's Martini bar. The bartenders were great- you can tell that they enjoy their coworkers and their jobs. Plus, there's a soloist musician every night which was enjoyable.
Good cruise, once the dreaded embarkation process was over! I am a Diamond Latitudes member and I had quite a wait so don't know how bad it was for other, newer, cruisers. On the arrival info we were asked to give boarding times but must say I was not asked what time I was due. Don't know why NCL persist in that as no-one takes any notice of it. Passengers arrive and are disappointed to have to hang about for too long. Don't know the answer, this is one of the smaller ships, but with over 3000 passengers arriving at the same time, the sooner an easy method for arrival is discovered the better. I would add that it's not only an NCL problem. The Atrium was attractive and had all the necessary - front desk, restaurant and excursion reservations, Latitudes office, Starbucks (payable), stage area etc. The ship was clean all over, with workers constantly vacuuming and glass cleaning etc. Pool area standard, with a couple of hot tubs, beds, tables, towel area and buffet quick food area. Quite a choice in all restaurants. The main dining rooms have the same menu but are decorated differently. There is also quite a few pay for restaurants - Steak, Italian, French, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican and possibly a couple I have missed out plus of course the Buffet restaurant and pool fast food outlet. I never had a bad meal, think the Italian was my favourite. The evening entertainment was okay but not really fantastic - some better than others. As it is one of the smaller ships the "Broadway" experience cannot be expected. As a single, must mention that they have a good Solos meeting every evening at 5.00 pm with the same member of the Entertainments team attending each time. I've been to several of the NCL Solos, some work, some don't - this one worked well. The first night there were 40+, which did go down. The lady Entertainments Officer (sorry I can't recall her name) would ask if any of us wanted to eat together in one of the main, free restaurants and count the number who said Yes - she then booked a table for us all which was fun, and gave us the chance to get to know each other. During the meeting she also had a range of silly but funny games for us to play, we even won prizes!I I ended up in a floating group of around 8 - which also worked very well with no problems if you did not want to eat together every evening. I would ask any solos sailing with NCL to go at least one evening - you will not be tied up in anything if you don't want. You are not expected to get "Best Friends for life" but to enjoy it on the cruise although if you do keep contact after the cruise, why not? I had a solo balcony cabin - with a 6ft bed! Nice, clean room with comfortable, if large, bed, bathroom adequate and worked just as it should. Ample room for one - just a small complaint, there were 3 long, angled mirrors but, because the bed was so large, it was impossible to view oneself in full as the bed cut all views below hip height. I surely can't be the first to remark upon that. The balcony was different in that there was the usual door out but then not a 100% opening to a sea view. A very large (much, much bigger than a porthole) oval shaped section was cut out which was half glass?plastic? at the bottom and open at the top section. I quite liked it as it was rather more shaded from wind etc., but definitely different. One problem which many remarked upon is - where have the little fish that swim towards the front of the ship gone, so that we passengers do not go the wrong way and then have to walk back again? The new carpet looks rather patchy, as though bleach had been randomly spilled onto it. NCL - take that very seriously - we all LOVED our little fish!!!!!! This is NOT to be taken lightly! The crew were all very friendly and helpful - they work long hours and were very friendly. Apart from some of the above problems and comments, it was a lovely cruise. There were some good excursions -the Panama experience was very good, we went through one lochof 3 sections , which is fascinating. Cruisers were looking down at what appeared to be a 6 inch gap - although it was probably much more than that. We visited some of the more unusual Caribbean/Atlantic islands - love Cartagena with the pier, free to see, their "zoo" of parrots, flamingos, iguanas, monkeys, peacocks etc. etc - they are all completely out in the open and parrots can be talked to and they even answer back. Must end with the disembarkation - that seemed to go very smoothly, probably because NCL are the organisers. NCL - I will be back in February on the NCL Jewel!!
NCL Gem to New England and Canada Oct 18-25 2024 Overall, we were very pleased with the cruise, despite coming in with low expectations. Bar Harbor was our big destination and the rest of the ports seemed like nice areas to walk around. Some previous reviews were quite horrible, but were not valid, IMHO. For the flight, we did what is not recommended and we rarely do: we flew on the day of the cruise. This cruise was one of our minor cruises, and I wouldn’t have been heartbroken if it hadn’t happened. Fortunately, we got a direct flight in the early morning and arrived around 9 AM, took an UBER and were ONBOARD, finished with our muster check-in and made our restaurant reservations, and ate at 10:55 in the buffet. Amazing! Cabin: We opted for an inexpensive inside cabin that was just fine: clean, comfortable bed and pillows, etc. Our cabin attendant never introduced himself until the night before we disembarked (he was hoping to remind us about the tip, but he kept the room clean. However, we asked him NOT to clean the room for two days when I was nursing a knee injury all day, so he got less work from our cabin. BTW: Check down the hallway if your luggage is not at the door. We have had that happen several times in the past few years. Food: We ate at three specialty restaurants that were all very good. It seems the quality of the filet mignon at Cagney’s has decreased just a bit. Oscar, the meat server at La Moderno was a hoot. We had three meals at the MDR and two very good, with only one that included white fish being subpar. The buffets for morning and afternoon meals were very good, with interesting and diverse menu options. I especially enjoyed what appeared to be freshly made corned beef hash instead of that canned stuff other cruise lines serve. Loved the paninis at lunch. Orchid Garden was delightful, and we really enjoyed our experience there. The food was excellent, and there was often very nice music playing in the lounges below. Entertainment: Boy, was this a mixed bag. Theatre: They had the same comedian for FOUR nights! We went once (his second show), and he was pretty good, but then his next two main shows were the adult version, and we chose not to attend. The production company is pretty mediocre, with the typical grinding dances and adequate vocals. They had two shows. It's probably the least inspired dance company I have seen on over 40 cruises. We didn’t attend the last night’s cabaret show and chose to listen to Los Paisanos. The highlight was the trio Los Paisanos, which played in lounges like the Bliss, Spinnaker, and Magnums. Their repertoire was varied, and they had great voices. They looked like they really enjoyed their job and had great charisma. The Sea Shakers provided good quality entertainment with mostly a rock/disco vibe. The house band was a bit disappointing. They were more into “jamming” and went into solos that were not fun to listen to. You couldn’t dance to them because of the jamming and changing the beat during a song. The other solo acts varied and were mostly background sort of music in lounges. Game shows seemed to be a big hit with this crowd. They were mildly interesting. Karaoke was a mixed bag. Some passengers had wonderful voices, and some had charisma, and that made up for talent. One man, who had none of these attributes, kept going up to ruin whatever song he attempted. It was like the next time Richard came to the mic, people would use that opportunity to leave. Richard’s friends: don’t encourage him. Fellow passengers: everyone we spoke to was very nice and seemed to be enjoying the cruise. No complainers. The many people with scooters created some problems with their speed. How ironic that a person who likely has to walk very slowly and gingerly feels it is okay to zoom too fast on their scooter around many who had trouble walking with canes or with other physical disabilities. Many scooter people had never used one (they were rented), and drivers were not skillful. There were also MANY scooters and wheelchairs, possibly 50-75. Far more than any other cruise we have ever seen. Embarkation and Disembarkation went very well and was quick. Immigration: For those of you on this itinerary, know that one of your port days is going to be significantly disrupted by mandatory immigration. I had called NCL and they told me that because this was a Rt from Boston, there would be no immigration. No one could explain why other itineraries don’t do this (Alaska, Carib.) It ended up that they could not give a good explanation, but we have to suffer through it. Unfortunately, we were in the last group to be called, projected to be around 2 PM, so we just stayed onboard. Portland didn’t seem that interesting, and nighttime starts between 5-6 PM. The actual immigration was just facial recognition, and you didn’t talk to any officer. Some itineraries experience this in Bar Harbor, which makes people VERY angry as it is a favorite port. Ports: We had great, sunny weather with mild temps each day. That makes a difference! Charlottetown: a very pleasant walking town. We walked to the St. Dunstan Cathedral and then walked to the battery on the boardwalk. Lovely homes and a well-kept city. Then we went to the Chip Shack by the floating restaurants/bars. It was very good and the server was so very pleasant and efficient. I think she is a part octopus with her ability to handle so many tasks with a big smile. Be aware that their service ends at the end of October. Most places by this one had already closed. We sat and enjoyed lobster roll and fish and chips on the outside benches. Very walkable and safe town. Sydney is a pleasant small town with little to do except walk around or take a tour. We walked to the pharmacy. Halifax is a bigger city. We walked to the Maritime Museum, which we both agreed was pretty boring (and I love history.) Then we wisely took a taxi for $10 to the Citadel. It’s up a steep hill from the port. This was worthwhile and well attended by the Highland Guard regiment, who were very accommodating. We were going to go to the Botanical Gardens, but my knee was giving out. Portland was a disappointment, mostly because they sprung a “immigration and customs” meeting on all the passengers. Quite disappointed since we all thought the customs forms for Canada that were filled out at the terminal would suffice. After asking irritated customer service people why we had this meeting, I was given no satisfactory answer. We don’t do this in Alaska or when we travel to the Caribbean from Florida (even with a US Territory like the US Virgin Islands. I believe it was a Canadian mandate. Bar Harbor was lovely for my husband. My knee was too delicate to go on a tender boat and up and down stairs, so I stayed behind on the ship. He took Olie’s Trolley to Acadia NP, which was very gracious enough to cancel my reservation and book him an hour earlier. It was cheaper than the NCL excursion and there was just enough time at each stop at the Acadia NP to get some great photos. I highly recommend Olie’s! Almost always better to do an independent, private excursion. The Medical Center was very competent and kind. The doctor did everything I thought she could do for me (shots, meds, knee brace, and cane) with the appropriate follow-up and recommendations. I had travel insurance. I called the travel insurance company to arrange wheelchair transport and some other accommodations, such as allowing us to check our carry-on luggage. It took quite a while and lots of communications asking for lots of details and info. It's a good thing I’m reasonably competent with technology, like doing screenshots on an Android. I was surprised that they required so much, but they also wanted the full medical report, which I wasn’t given until the evening before disembarkation. I sent them photos of my meds with all the proper names and the doctor’s name and the date, a photo of my knee brace and cane, and my ice pack on my knee. That wasn’t enough. Geez, it wasn’t like I was trying to get early boarding for twelve friends and relatives. They approved the wheelchair assistance at 7 AM on the day of departure. In the end, American airlines handled my transfers very well at the three airports. It’s just that when you are sick or injured, their requesting so many details seem burdensome. Overall, it was a good cruise, although I have to admit that some of the stops were not all that interesting. That’s the problem when you have traveled the world extensively. A port town that started in the 1800s isn’t all that interesting to me. The ship experience exceeded our low expectations, though. I wouldn’t hesitate to sail on the GEM. Poor reviews that I had read were quite unfair. Also interesting is that most of the Canadian ports were still pretty green in mid-late Oct. Only Bar Harbor’s trees were spectacular. This was mid to late October! Keep that in mind.
The Haven
Located at the top of the ship, The Haven features the most luxurious, well-appointed accommodations on board. Enjoy 24-hour butler service, concierge service and private sundeck.
Suite
A true experience of luxury and privacy. Enjoy spacious suites accented by only the finest touches throughout. And enough room to make a lifetime of amazing memories.
Club Balcony Suite
Our spacious Club Balcony Suites feature a sitting room, giving you extra room to spread out. Sliding-glass doors open to your balcony, and amazing views. Includes luxury bath and shower.
Balcony
See the world like never before. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to your very own private balcony. Stylish and sophisticated appointments enhance these modern rooms.
Oceanview
Experience stylish decor in a comfortable oceanview stateroom. All come with nice, smart touches enhanced by a large picture window with clear views of the sea.
Inside
Cruise in cozy comfort and smart style. Modern inside staterooms are accented with appointments like a TV, sitting area and more.
COMPLIMENTARY DINING
Every cruise fare includes beautifully crafted menus in our two main dining rooms, a help-yourself buffet and a variety of casual cafés, grills and on-the-go choices. From fresh-baked breads, desserts and pastries to our chefs' original dishes made with the freshest ingredients, your dining can be as fine or fun as you want.
SPECIALITY DINING
Dining aboard Norwegian is about having choices. Enjoy delicious comfort foods as well as more exotic choices from our many complimentary dining options. Or widen your palette further and choose from our speciality restaurants for a cover charge or á la carte. Whether it's a cheeseburger you have a desire for, or Coq au Vin, your dinner is ready when you are. And if you book a Speciality Dining Package, you can savour an array of our speciality restaurants for one special price.
Listen and learn in a lecture held by a guest speaker, Norwegian Cruise Line ships have much to offer to enhance your learning and senses.
You won’t believe your eyes or even your ears. Norgwegian Cruise Lines have brought Broadway to sea with blockbuster shows, music, dancing, cabaret, comedy and more. You can party all night, grab some great casino action and find your favourites among up to 22 bars and lounges, from electrifying nightspots to cosmopolitan bars and easy-going pubs. Every night is a night on the town.
Feel free to follow your spirit, whether that takes you to a superb fitness centre, a sun lounger by the pool or to the serenity of a luxurious spa. Get the adrenaline soaring by conquering the climbing wall or ropes course high above the ocean. Flex your muscles on the sports court or treat yourself to something special in the boutiques. Catch a fun, informal lecture. Take the plunge in the Aqua Park.
Families play better together on Norwegian. From dodgeball to cupcake decorating, there are lots of activities all over the ships. Plus, with complimentary youth programmes, kids can learn to juggle at Circus School in Splash Academy and teens have the coolest themed parties in Entourage. Add exclusive NickelodeonTM entertainment at sea for kids of all ages – even the grown up ones – and your family holiday gets awesome. While the kids are having fun, so can you, indulging in a spa treatment, enjoying a leisurely meal or just switching off. And when it comes to bedtime, family-friendly accommodation gives everyone the elbow room they need. Night, night.
