Disappointed with NCL

Item: Norwegian Gem
Rating: 3.2
Author: JellyBean604

Norwegian Gem Cruise Review to Canada, New England, New York

JellyBean604

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 11

Overall rating:

3.2 out of 5

11 Night Canada & New England (New York To Quebec City)

Sail date: September 08, 2018

Ship: Norwegian Gem

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10106

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

We picked this cruise for the itinerary and were pleased with the ports. We have never sailed on NCL and will never again.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Embarkation very quick and efficient coming from a handicapped perspective. My husband walks with a cane and was well treated during embarkation.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Food was just okay compared to HAL and Celebrity. The only time we would rate a four star would be for La Cucina and Cagney’s.

Orchid Garden Asian Restaurant

1 out of 5

Terrible food and service!

Onboard Activities

2 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Children's Programs

2 out of 5

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

Our room steward was very efficient and polite. After that everything went downhill. The waiters were very non chalant. Some were outright rude and it looked like this was a ship of a crew ‘in training’. The only bright shining star 🌟 was Atika Tomas (from Grenada) in the Magenta dining room. She had a bright sunny disposition and went out of her way to please. Someone make her an Officer as the ones we encountered just didn’t seem to care.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

Ship tip

If you are looking for exceptional service from an attentive crew with great accommodations then look elsewhere.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

New York, New York

3 out of 5

Thumbs Up 1

Newport, Rhode Island

5 out of 5

Thumbs Up 1

Boston, Massachusetts

5 out of 5

Thumbs Up 1

Bar Harbor, Maine

5 out of 5

Beautiful port, atrocious weather. We were on the tender from hell, #7, and spent 2 hours In choppy seas with no communication from staff about what was happening.

Thumbs Up 3

Saint John, New Brunswick

4 out of 5

Thumbs Up 1

Halifax, Nova Scotia

4 out of 5

Thumbs Up 1

Sydney, Nova Scotia

4 out of 5

Thumbs Up 1

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

4 out of 5

Thumbs Up 2

La Baie, Quebec

4 out of 5

Thumbs Up 1

Quebec City, Quebec

4 out of 5

Thumbs Up 1

Disembarkation

3 out of 5

9 Comments

cruisereckoning 4 years ago

Thanks for the review and sorry for your disappointment. I haven’t ever cruised on Norwegian.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

doctorfager 6 years ago

That's too bad.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

dwright323 6 years ago

Well some people experience different things right? The food for us was great everywhere we went except for Cagney’s which was probably the single worst food or service we have ever encountered. I have no idea at this time why you would not go NCL again as your post doesn’t explain it fully?

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

jleslie48 6 years ago

I can't comment on the Chinese restaurant, as when I looked at the menu it looked just like the one at any local Chinese restaurant we have in town, so I have never bothered going to it on any of the half a dozen times I've been on the Gem. I've always found the Main Dining room to be wonderful though. I have also never eaten at the buffet so I can't comment on that, but I do know that getting a drink at the pool is tough. All the other bars is no problem.

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

KatyBee 6 years ago

Agreed. We were on board the cruise to Canada and the service levels have gone down hill. The bar service took forever! Average wait was 15-20 mins for a drink at the Great Outdoors Cafe. We found that the entertainment was below par too. Angel the guitar player / Singer was good though. The entertainment director wasn’t taking charge of her staff and the onboard activities were boring. I think the standard of the performances weren’t that good. There was just something lacking on the cruise and I think they have cut the staffing levels and the food budget too. A lot of people weren’t happy on board the ship! But, we enjoyed the ports and the excursion were fantastic though! The ladies on the shore excursions desk were all very helpful, but again, long wait time to book them at the desk and they could do with another pair of hands. I’ve always recommended NCL, but this was my 6th cruise with them and I think that it may have been my last!

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

dreniere 6 years ago

It's unfortunate that your experience was disappointing to you. Dinning on all NCL ships is casual and I admit sometimes too casual, but it is what it is. Comparing HAL and Celebrity to NCL is like comparing apples and oranges

Thumbs Up 2

Flag

4kids4me 6 years ago

I was on this cruise & enjoyed it, although the food at the buffet wasn't too impressive.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Canadachick 6 years ago

Can you say why? I did NCL too and just felt it didnt offer anthing that made it stand out.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

mmcb081818 6 years ago

Why was is so bad? I’m going for my first time on NCL in October

Thumbs Up 3

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

New England/Canada Cruise

Overall, the cruise was very enjoyable. The cruise staff were very nice and helpful.

Norwegian Just So So