This was my first cruise and I found it a bit expensive. There were a lot of hidden costs. Too much selling. I enjoyed the entertainment the most. I had a cabin to myself which was lovely. I was with friends but did a lot on my own. There was plenty to do. If I do another one I will choose a smaller boat without all the selling, if I can. I did not like the fact I had to pay for bottled water. It was a learning experience.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
A little confusing but over all good. And I don't need my photo taken.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
I liked the food. There was certainly plenty of it and a lot to choose from. Did not like the fact that you had to pay for a cappuccino though.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
You had a good choice. I was never bored. However did not care for the last day because it seemed the "selling" was their first priority.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
I loved the shows and other performers. Plenty of talent.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
My room steward was great and the personnel at O'Sheenan's and Magenta were very good. However many of the other personnel seemed to be annoyed when you asked them something. I had to ask three different people how to get to one place on the ship.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
To get to certain parts on Deck 13 was confusing.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Very clean and quiet. Slept well.
Ship tip
Be aware of all the extra fees. Don't buy anything until the end when it will be discounted.
I know there is not much choice regarding the tendering but I did not care for that part. Also I did an excursion but I feel I could have done better on my own. I would have liked to spend more time there.
Anyone who has complaints about a cruise didn't do their homework! If you plan with a travel agent, it's their responsibility to make sure that you understand what you're paying for so that you don't have any misunderstanding about costs. As far as "selling" is concerned, you don't have to "buy" anything at all unless you want to. The choice is yours. The choices are from "high end" to "budget" friendly and are usually a good deal either way.
Hated Norwegian Gem! Yes all they do is try sell everything to you. Try A Carnival cruise or other line. And get all the info on what is included. The restaurants that have a fee are pretty good when we took Norwegian Gem we hated it and there was no decent food except for the specialty restaurants and not enough planned activities.
If you had a lot of hidden costs on the ship, then you didn't plan properly. There are plenty of "all inclusives" that require nothing extra. If you are referring to shore excursions, then once again you didn't do your homework as they are not included
Next time try to do an all-inclusive vacation and an island in the long run it's a huge savings. No hidden charges everything is taken care of eat and drink whatever you want whenever you want
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
