Beware of Hidden Charges
Norwegian Gem Cruise Review to Europe - Western Mediterranean
7 Night Western Mediterranean (Barcelona Roundtrip)
Sail date: June 08, 2008
Ship: Norwegian Gem
Cabin type: Suite
Traveled as: Family (older children)
Reviewed: 15 years ago
Review summary
Freestyle cruising is a great option for people who want a flexible schedule and to operate on their own. But beware of the "free" in freestyle. We just sailed on the Norwegian Gem and racked up a significant tab in ancillary charges. We started in the main dining room which has no additional cover charges. We found the menu to be sparse, the food bland, and the service slow. As a result we decided to book reservations in one of 6 specialty dining rooms, but the cover charges alone added $150 to our daily tab. We believe that Norwegian cruise lines intentionally downgrades their main no charge services so passengers will be motivated to use the for charge restaurants. Watch those movies in your room as well. Where most cruise lines have one or two movies for free, the Gem charges $11.95 for any movie you might watch.Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Entertainment
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ports of call
Livorno (Florence & Pisa), Italy
Pros: Flexibility of setting your own schedule
Cons: Hidden charges from premium dining rooms