Boston to Bermuda on NCL

Norwegian Gem Cruise Review

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 3
Helpful Votes: 39

Overall rating:

3.6 out of 5
Norwegian Gem

7 Night Bermuda (Boston Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 05, 2024

Ship: Norwegian Gem

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10560

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 month ago

Review summary

Many things could be improved but overall it is a very nice cruise.

Embarkation

1 out of 5
Three hours in an outdoor line with 39 degree temperatures with zero explanation or contact with any NCL personnel. Elderly and babies outside in line like this is unacceptable. Several people looked to be suffering on feet with hypothermia. Bad start here in Boston.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5
Food was good, deserts not very good. No cofee/juice/water service in Buffet area, which we have had on all past cruises. Cagney steakhouse was excellent dinner. Breakfast in main dining hall coffee was marginal with packets of so called half and half served ( yuck). Coffee in buffet area was much better with real half and half available ( self serve). The Great Outdoors was best option for buffet area and was nice.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
Pretty standard stuff.

Entertainment

4 out of 5
Stage show with 70s music was great, with live music from great brass group and drummer. Vince the comedian was quite funny. Great stage presence. Upgrade, the band, had a great guitar player and was an excellent band to watch and listen to. Great sax, trumpet and slide trombone group did some nice shows. Very good entertainment overall!

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Staff was all great. They were helpful to some elderly passengers who were somewhat abandoned on this cruise. I appreciated their kindness and empathy towards those folks.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
No issues.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5
Decent cabin with comfortable bed. Tiny television in corner of room. Overall, the room was fine.

Ship tip

The Great Outdoors is my favorite buffet area for food and sitting. Cagney steakhouse has great dinners ( deserts not so much). Get to theater early for seating, as it fills up for sure. Brace and prepare yourself mentally for embarkation and disembarkation and keep smiling.

Ports of call

Boston, Massachusetts

1 out of 5
The Ray Flynn Cruise Terminal is way below what a cruise port should be in a major city. This likely contributed to poor on and off boarding experience.

Royal Naval Dockyard, West End, Bermuda

5 out of 5
Pretty port, with many activities ( tours, taxis, shuttles and excursions) available and geared to cruise passengers. Shopping and swimming ( Snorkel Park) all within walking distance for most. Complementary mini shuttle always going back and forth from ship to shopping areas. Very nice.

Disembarkation

1 out of 5
Unbelievable how poorly they do disembarkation. I guess whoever comes up with the strategy needed to compete with the disastrous embarkation to see which would be most painful to the cruisers. I give it a tie for poor execution onto and off the ship. I guess this cruise line doesn’t realize the bad taste this leaves with their customers. Horrible.
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