beth5865

Just returned today from a 7 day cruise to Florida and the Bahamas. We had a wonderful time!! In the interest of clarity we upgraded to The Haven which certainly puts a extra shine on everything. Embarcation was very easy and efficient. The staff in the terminal were friendly and polite. We were a party of 8 with 4 in The Haven and 4 not. We all got on the ship within minutes of each other even though we were separated in the terminal. Our room was beautiful/clean with lots of storage and shelf space. Johnito (steward) kept the room in tip top shape and checked on us several times a day. Willie (butler) dropped off snacks every afternoon and also checked on us several times per day. We used room service through Willie multiple times with no problem. We ate all over the ship and never had a bad meal. The portions were huge and you could have whatever you want. We took the advice of other posters here and had the wings and omelets at Osheean's. Yumm!! We made good use of our UBP. My husband made it his goal to try all the specialty drinks. Loved them all but the Toma had a special place in his heart💖 The house Riesling was also delicious. The Casino was generous to my husband which certainly increased his happiness with the trip!! I did notice the smoke in the casino but didn't find it to be unbearable. It would be nice if there was a better way to handle it but it certainly wasn't a deal breaker. All the staff we encountered were very pleasant and helpful. As far as I could see if I started with a smile, I got one right back with a prompt response. You get what you give. There was plenty to do. If someone says they were bored, it's their own fault. Spent lots of time watching the shows in the Atrium. I do agree it can be hard to find a seat. We stood some of the time. Getting off the ship was no problem. David(concierge) was kind enough to allow all 8 of us to meet in the Haven and be escorted off together. What a stress reliever in terms of being able to stay together. They also allowed all 8 of us to stay together as we moved through the terminal. There were 6 Custom's agents on duty. The lines moved very quickly. We purchased Cruise Next vouchers. Can't wait to start planning our next trip😎

Our December 8th cruise was a mix of highs and lows. We bid for a upgrade to a suite which we got. The perks of a suite or the Haven are worth every penny in my book!! Interestingly, we were chatting over the balconies with our neighbors and they told us the Upgrade Fairy had called them and offered to move them to a suite for far less than we paid. Honestly, I think we would bid again anyways because we wouldn't want to risk not hearing from the Fairy. Just wanted to let you know she does still exist despite NCLs new bidding system. We had an Aft Penthouse. Cabin was great. We were on Deck 8. I was nervous about noise from Bliss, the engine or the wake. None was a problem. Our Butler and room stewards took wonderful care of us and the cabin. The bars were another story. The bartenders definitely varied in responsiveness and personality all over the ship. Osheehan's were the worst and the Atrium Bar were the best. I don't need Disney Happy from them all the time but, come on!! I have to wonder if their lack of responsiveness/personality is due to the tipping system? The perk of having our breakfast at Moderno and lunch at Cagneys can't be beat. The servers knew us by name after our first meal there. We ate at Cagneys, Teppanyaki, and La Cucina. Service and meals were excellent at all 3. The buffet was very crowded and had limited seating on bad weather days. Magenta was OK, nothing special. Osheehan's was a disaster for food. It is so disorganized!! We actually left one day after waiting 20 minutes for someone to acknowledge us. I know we're supposed to relax but sometimes you're in a time crunch for activities. The shows are just OK. The singing was outstanding. The dancers, not so much. They were so out of sink that it was almost uncomfortable. Maybe a little more practice is needed. There are fees associated with several of the supplemental activities. I don't think it would be any different on a different line. In the end I don't think we would sail the Gem again. Not because we hated it but, because we like the larger ships such as the Breakaway. We're on the Escape in May so we will be able to compare.