Norwegian Gem Cruise Reviews - Reviews

BECAUSE THIS WAS OUR FIRST USE (OUT OF 60) THAT  SCOOTER WAS

N ECESSARY WE REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT THE HELP OF THE STAFF

WAS.  THE GEM HAS BECOME OUR FAVORITE CRUISER AND THAT WAS 

CERTAINLY REINFORCED THIS CRUISE.   OUR GET-AWAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER NOW.

We had a nice relaxing cruise.  The downside was the food.  It seems as though  everytime we go on a Norwegian Cruise the food gets a little worse.   I'm sure they want passengers to eat in the specialty restaurants, which are much better.  The entertainment staff was great.  The shows they put on were good.  The comedians that they had such as second city were terrible.  The staff that ran the activities such as trivia etc. were great.  The ports were very good. 

We were on the gem on July 7 for 7 days so we could compare. This trip was somewhat disappointing from the buffet and at the la couchia as well as the dining room. A bettter grade of beef is needed to start. At the buffet there were curry dishes that were disappointing. The only reason I would book the Gem again would be for the Tahitian pool because the stairs getting in is a must for me. The help was very hard to understand.  I would like info on last minute cruise. We would only need 2day notice. Only out of Bayonne or Nyc. Bar and restaurants are overpriced and could not get reservations, so I guess it saved us money. Is the daun coming to NYC ?

the cruise was great.  The staff was exceptional. Plenty of variety for the food.   My only comment for improvement is people need to have more respect for the entertainers.  Showtime starts at 7 and 9 if you are not in your seats by that time doors need to be closed.  Not fair to the guests and also dangerous in the dark with the steps.  All in all great trip

Favorite part was time in ports except tortola would needed more time, switch times of PR with tortola would have been perfect cruise love the gem and therte staff

The itinerary for this trip was good, but the food on the Gem was not up to the standards of other NCL cruise ships. I don't know if it is because it is a smaller, older ship, or if NCL might be going to less inviting menus in the main dining rooms to entice cruisers to pay extra for other dining venues. found the buffet to also be bland and boring. I was disappointed that the main (free) dining venues had exactly the same menus every day for both lunch and dinner for 10 days. I think they should at least vary the menus every other day or so.

I was also disappointed in my cabin assignment. Although I chose to be assigned a cabin,I am a Gold Latitudes member and was expecting a much better cabin. I had two very narrow windows which offered only a very small view of the sky from only one of the windows. Perhaps it was because I was a solo traveler and they did not expect to make more money on only one person.

Most crew members were pleasant, welcoming and helpful. I would recommend that the shops on board offer more clothing items for sale ... not just items with the NCL logo.

The shows on board were entertaining. Overall, I enjoyed my cruise, but I probably would not go on the Gem again.

The attention to detail that everybody has and the enthusiasm with the greet you anytime of the day. I loved the way all the employees work so hard to make your experience the best one you can have on your vacation.

I have been on 3 cruises prior and loved the food. First time on Norwegian, on my honeynoon, and it was disappointing to say the least. Buffet was equal to bad cafeteria food, scrambled eggs consistency of loose oatmeal, they put muenster cheese and tomato on top of raisin bread and signed it as tomato, mozzarella on a baguette. Steak order medium-rare came out well done and like leather. Cake were very dense. Their  "american bar" which is like Applebee's can't make artichoke dip, they used a cream sauce as the base; tasted like cream only. List goes on. Service was spotty, sometimes would be served promptly other times your waiting 10-15 min for water. Photo was the worst service, they disregard you and make excuses as to why they can't help when they can very easily once management is part of the equation.

My family and I had a wonderful time on this cruise!  The staff was very friendly, ship was kept very clean, and there was a ton of things to do!  Getting off and on the ship was a very fast and easy process.  The only downfall to this cruise was we had to many days at sea.  We would definitely cruise with Norwegian again, but never take another cruise with so many days at sea.

My cousin has been on 46 cruises, has been wanting me to go w/ her for years.  Went w/ her on the Breakaway last year & hated it.  Too big; too crowded; too loud; could never get seats for anything; not enough entertainment.  But DID like the Gem:  Much more "manageable"; great shows; easier to get around.  Zack, the cruise director, made the entire ten days so much fun:  great spirit; always friendly; showed up everywhere, even to MC lots of the games that other staff members could have done.  I prefer a very different type of travel (Have explored - just me & my boyfriend - Vietnam, Cambodia, Israel, Jordan, & many more.  Spending the month of March in New Zealand, just us in a car).  But I would go on another cruise if I knew Zack was the cruise director.

The entertainment shows were excelent. We loved the night time entertainment, especially the philoppino group.

The walk off was poorly organized and run. You need todo a better job organizing the large number of passengers walking off the ship.

The service was not quite we are used to with Norwegian.Around the pool deck glasses, cups, and paper napkins left. The comedian was great, Tim Kaminski, always interacting with the passengers.

 Every night in the theater shows is the best! Also by the poolside.the food has BBQ and seafood style so tasty plus music and danc. The restrictions not only buffer but also special restaurants so many good food to choose. We had very good experience in NCL Gem at this time!

I have to say the cruise was relaxing and a great getaway. 

The staff was extremely accommodating and friendly. 

The entertainment was good but got old by the end of the cruise!

I was really disappointed that we were in the Carribean and could not enjoy the pools because they were colder than cold! The jacuzzi's weren't much better temperature wise that is if you could ever find a spot in one. 

The food really went down hill!! I love soup and the selections were horrible. When I go on a vacation I love to eat seafood, it was very scarce on the menu and were often combined with other fish which I can not eat due to an allergy. 

I really enjoyed the unlimited drink package. I normally do not drink but when I do I an very picky! Other than some of the fruity drinks which all had pineapple, I was happy drinking when I wanted to!! I am a water drinker and the water sucked!! They need to have a Spring water alternative!!! I wouldn't give Aquafina to my pets!! I had a birthday on my cruise and it was a pretty disappointing day! I had to pay for my dinner and almost had anaphylactic relation to a soup that had S almond in it and was not supposed to, thus I coughed through my dinner and could not enjoy it!

Service was great. Food was excellent. Entertainment was great. Definitely would take the cruise again. Just have fun. Everything is there for you to have a great vacation.

We just returned from our honeymoon cruise on the Norwegian Gem, which was a little like the State of Ohio, all the highs were in the middle, and the sea was round and rolling on both ends. The ship is beautiful, and the staff were amazing in their knowledge, helpful attitudes, and attention. The food in the main dining rooms was just average, and bordered on unsatisfactory. Not in quantity, but everything was a little bland in taste. The specialty restaurants, in comparison, were paragons of flavor and service! We LOVED all three we had dinner with, those being La Cucina, where the chef was accomodating to my Italian tastes, and prepared off-the-menu items per my request. Le Bistro was simply divine, the food was outstanding and the service magnifique! Cagneys was equal in every way as well.

The problems were with the weather, the waves and wind, and the fact that the onboard ship announcements were overall too short, too long on navigational info (who needs latitude and longitude numbers?) and short on useful and timely notifications as to the roughness we could expect, especially on our return leg to NYC.

Having said that, we enjoyed our port days, and the first sea day of the return was fun as well. The barbecues each day at the pool were great, the entertainment, both by marimba band outdoors, and the truly amazing talents of the stage shows in the Stardust Theatre, made the long days nights eventful, and going to bed was never easy, since we were enjoying ourselves so much.

By all means, sail the Gem and experience this cruise... just be aware that the sea days might be tough to take for those who get motion sickness!

Lots of activities to do. Except for Second City Comedy Show, all shows great. Good food and services. Ports warm, sunny and good to visit. Spent New Years Eve and day on ship really wonderful, fun party. Music of all kinds in different areas of ship. Something for everyone. Would do it again

ROOM WAS GREAT, BARTENDERS WERE GREAT. STAFF WAS EXCELLENT EXCEPT IN THE RESTAURANTS THE WAITERS COULD NOT SPEAK OR UNDERSTAND ENGLISH. THIS WAS A BIG PROBLEM WAITING FOR THE FOOD THAT THEY DID NOT WRITE DOWN ON ORDER.  THE MENUS WERE ONLY AVAILABLE IF YOU WENT TO THE RESTAURANT AND TOOK A PICTURE OR LOOKED AT THE MENU.  THIS IS NO GOOD TO WALK AROUND BEFORE DECIDING WHERE TO EAT FOR DINNER.  OTHER CRUISE LINES HAVE THE MENU ON THE TV IN THE ROOMS SO THE CRUISERS COULD DECIDE WITHOUT WALKING AROUND THE SHIP WHERE TO EAT.  THE 18 PERCENT GRATUITIES ON THE SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BILL.  WE ALREADY PAID THE GRATUITIES FOR DINNER.  WILL STICK TO ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES.

Service was great. The entertainment and food choices could be improved upon. I would like to see more diverse activities- not just western styles dances and comedy shows. When you can get staff from all over the world, why not, the entertainment? 

It was a great experience. 

Just one suggestion: Try to have more of family activities.

Also please try to improve the quality of "Roti" in Indian food.