Mixed Bag - Mostly Good

Norwegian Gem Cruise Review to Panama Canal, Central America

Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 55

Overall rating:

3.8 out of 5
Verified Review
Norwegian Gem

18 Night Panama Canal Westbound (New York To Los Angeles)

Sail date: January 02, 2019

Ship: Norwegian Gem

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 9108

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

Lots of good things - lots of mediocre or poor ones. Great weather, especially in mid-winter. The Duplicate Bridge games organised by Ian were terrific. The Canal itself was "once-in-a-lifetime."

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5
The duplicate bridge games were excellent. The fitness center was too.

Entertainment

3 out of 5
Mixed. Some great (juggler,magician, acrobats, cast-shows). Some mediocre (singers, comedians).

Children's Programs

We have no Kids

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
Toilet paper, soap, and tissues once ran out, and we had to ask for them. But remedied quickly.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
This was a balcony stateroom -- not an Inside Cabin

Ports of call

New York, New York Did not visit port

We live nearby

Willemstad, Curacao

3 out of 5

Oranjestad, Aruba

3 out of 5

Santa Marta, Colombia

1 out of 5
Stay on the ship

Cartagena, Colombia

5 out of 5
We were welcomed by lovely dancers. A free aviary was at the port exit. It was WONDERFUL. Took our own taxi to the old town. The free Gold Museum was nice.

Panama Canal Transit

4 out of 5
The canal-lecturer could have been better. His voice was flat and droning. The canal itself was EXCELLENT.

Puntarenas, Costa Rica

1 out of 5
Stay on the ship.

Puerto Corinto, Nicaragua

1 out of 5
Stay on the ship. Scary place.

Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

1 out of 5
We took an excursion to the city of Guatemala Antigua. The Jade Museum was fine but the rest was terrible. For a World Heritage Site, there was little to get visitors engaged with the place, and vendors were everywhere, walking at your side. No historical markers and the guide (Aura) was poor.

Manzanillo, Mexico

2 out of 5

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

4 out of 5
Take a cab to the old town. $10 a person.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

5 out of 5
Take a local boat excursion to Lands End. Amazing. Costs about $15/person.

San Pedro (Los Angeles), California Did not visit port

Left ship quickly

Disembarkation

4 out of 5
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