Average at best

Norwegian Gem Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 78

Overall rating:

3.1 out of 5
Verified Review
Norwegian Gem

7 Night Bahamas & Florida (New York Roundtrip)

Sail date: November 03, 2018

Ship: Norwegian Gem

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 9549

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 6 years ago

Review summary

It was the lowest rating we have given of our 17 cruises. The drink prices were unreal if you didn't have the drink package ($13 after mandatory tip per drink). The food was very basic and the main dining didn't have the usual "special" entrees most other ships have and were very slow service. They held some of the big activities in the one large bar instead of the Show hall which caused standing room only most times. The private island was great along with the lunch they served while there.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

Orchid Garden Asian Restaurant

4 out of 5

This was a great choice for complementary dining but wish they had more entree choices.

Garden Café

2 out of 5

Very few food choices and had the same stuff every day.

Great Outdoors Bar

1 out of 5

This outdoor buffet was pathetic.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Spa

4 out of 5

Expensive as usual especially with the mandatory 20% tip. But they did provide a good product. Had hot stone massage and shave with facial/head massage and both were great.

Entertainment

3 out of 5
Dancers/Singers were decent but shows were average. The comedian only had a "family" show and just performed one night, yet was on the ship the entire cruise. The acrobat show was mostly watching a screen show and not live action.

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5
The inside cabin was average size with not much space to move around. The beds weren't together at the start like they were suppose to be but that was Cruise 411's fault. The shower was the biggest that we have ever had in an inside stateroom. The room attendant was pretty good.

Ship tip

Expect an average cruise and nothing exciting. Layout was okay but you can only go end to end on one side of the ship so hallways are crowded. Food was nothing special and buffet always had weird dishes that nobody touched.

Ports of call

New York, New York

3 out of 5

Port Canaveral, Florida

1 out of 5

Great Stirrup Cay (Cruise Line Private Island), Bahamas

5 out of 5

Nassau, Bahamas

3 out of 5

Disembarkation

4 out of 5
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4 Comments

Cruisers4Lyfe     5 months ago

Thanks for sharing

pgmcruise    6 years ago

So sorry about your cruise. I will be on the Gem in June, all of the reviews I have read are wonderful. I am a seasoned cruiser, usually 3 a year, all on NCL, different ships. I have never had 1 complaint.

graham123    6 years ago

DerekMire    6 years ago

No previous cruises but been on 17

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