Norwegian Gem Cruise Reviews - Reviews

Itinerary change  was a horrible decision. 

Disney cut short 6 hours to 3 could get anything done ruined my. Holds first time at disney....   Most people we spoke to had upgrades some from inside to suites and on board credits which we did not get offered.  The food was horrible got food poisoned on the 3rd day.... 

Overall may never go on  norwegian  again

This was my first cruise and now I'm hooked. Just imagine and top notch resort on the ocean. Everything was perfect!! The onboard shows and activities were awesome. The food was exquisite. Splash Academy keep my daughter engaged in safe and structured activities. Norwegian's excursion team helped us plan lots of engaging and memorable activities. It was evident that Norwegian Cruise Line values customer service as they go above and beyond to ensure you have memorable experience. I can imagine the challenges associated with satisfying over 2300 passengers at the same time. Some of the reviews I read were unfavorable, for us, we had a blast!!. No complaints. Planning to book another cruise for later this year.. 💖🍸💯

This was my first cruise and now I'm hooked. Just imagine and top notch resort on the ocean. Everything was perfect!! The onboard shows and activities were awesome. The food was exquisite. Splash Academy keep my daughter engaged in safe and structured activities. Norwegian's excursion team helped us plan lots of engaging and memorable activities. It was evident that Norwegian Cruise Line values customer service as they go above and beyond to ensure you have memorable experience. I can imagine the challenges associated with satisfying over 2300 passengers at the same time. Some of the reviews I read were unfavorable, for us, we had a blast!!. No complaints. Planning to book another cruise for later this year.. 💖🍸💯

The cruise was overall good.  The entertainment was very good...Nadeen Manuel, the SWING dancers, the dance contest, the club music were all AWESOME.

Downside, very few announcements in reference to returning to the ship when visiting Stirrup Cay and Nassau.  We had to keep asking other cruisers when we had to return to the ship. 

Restaurant menu could use more variety; some dishes were offered the entire week.  The food was mediocre.  Some choices were good; the fish dishes overall were overcooked and the steaks not tender. 

Last but not least, THE SPA is  a total sham.  You go in for scheduled pedicure and they did a terrible job.  Had to change my nail polish as soon as I got home.  These so-called professionals could not do a French pedicure....unbelievable.  The 18% surcharge is an insult.  I would like to tip based on service quality....so be it. The manicurists are nice and they are trained to talk a good game, however, their services are way below acceptable for the PRICE!

My biggest gripe was the SPA employees/massage/manicure/pedicure staff. They literally bully you into buying a ton of products that you do not really need and when they total up the bill, you end up paying over $300 for a massage!  They just don't take no for an answer and they have a slew of products that they swear you absolutely NEED.  I have had massages on cruises before and always loved them.  On this ship, I felt very uncomfortable. Seemed like a sales pitch for products from the minute you walked in.  Receptionist was not the friendliest.

This was our first Cruise and we did not know what to really expect.  I spoke to a few people who gave their expertise.  I wanted to see for myself this Cruise thing that every one seems to be beefing over.  We embarked from the New York City, Pier 88 at 55th Street and 12th Avenue.  I am a New Yorker.  I find it unnecessary to fly from NY to where ever to board a ship.  It was very important ant to me to leave from NY.  

Before the trip, I checked out where to park the car verses renting a spot at home in the Bronx due to alternate side parking will be on the days when we would be home.  The cost of a taxi cab going to the ship and returning home.  It was better to park at the ship port.  There was a 25% coupon offered to passengers who were Cruising with the Norwegian Gem.  The price for the seven days was $220.00 dollars.  The lot is opened with enough spaces between each car.  The Terminal Attendees were available to assist with the luggage.  The usually Security and Apparatus was in placed.  This is a secure place.  There were no damages to my car.  I will utilize this facility again.  

The entertainment was excellent.  Loved the shows.  Always something to do onboard which was great. Service and crew excellent. 

There was not enough time for the Magic Kingdom excursion which we did with our grandchildren. It was definitely disappointing.  The Atlantis Aquaventure was wonderful and I would do it again.  

Bring back the pizza in La Cucina because I am Gluten free and vegetarian and really used to enjoy it.  

The staff was great however my floor was not that great I was on the 4th floor and barely got any sleep because of the excessive amount of noise. There was strange odors and the noise was crazy barely any sleep back of the strange sounds.

We enjoyed every part of the vacation. Our room was fantastic and kids enjoyed being on the ship and shore excursions. Food and service was great. We enjoyed the pool and exercise room. The pool side barbeques daily were great and our kids were always smiling. The only thing I would ask is our room key and paying for things aboard. We were always nervous about carrying the room key around and if we lost it. We noticed that when we paid for things they never asked us for ID and if somebody got ahold of our key - they could do whatever they wanted. Not to bring up your competition but in Walt Disney World they have the Magic Band (Kinda like a watch) that gives you access to everything. YOu don't need you wallet. Once you swipe the band and enjoy your password - your done.

the crew was terrific on the ship, but i was disappointed with the quality of the entertainment, i remember sailing and looking forward to the nightly shows, they just did not have the same quality.

the menu in the dinning rooms now have prices for a "better" meal, it is a shame we will have to pay for food in the main dinning rooms for a "better" meal after spending what we do for the cruise. 

The drinks are very expensive and overpriced . You could also say that about the food you eat at the restaurant and also to play one of the activity like bingo was way to expensive . 

EVERYTHING AS GREAT ..AS USUAL. NORWEGIAN IS ALWAYS MY CHOUICE FOR CRUISING. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THEM !! I LOOK FORWARD TO MY NEXT CRUISE..ON NORWEGIAN OF COURSE !

This was our first cruise ever. Our favourite part of the cruise was the 7pm shows at the Stardust Theatre. My children looks forward to it everyday. It would be nice if movies are shown at the Stardust theatre instead of the Atrium. Atrium can become noisy with the bar nearby.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Grand Pacific dining room are always great. The place is gorgeous and the food are always delicious. We did not venture to the buffets because with the amount of food we eat at the GP, there is just no room left in the belly. Orchid Garden Chinese food is also good. Embarrased to say but we had breakfast at GP, Lunch at GP, Appetizer at 5:30pm at OG , 7pm show and then head to GP after the show for dinner. Reservation to dinners are required so plan ahead. Hold off paying for extra at specialty restaurant - the complimentary are just as good. Save those for other days AFTER the cruise. Kids had no soda for 7 days - Yay !

The excursions was nice but many are sold out fast. We had wanted to do parasailing but fully sold out on both Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau Bahamas. We explore Nassau Bahamas ourselves - turns out the $8 ferry took us to Paradise Island and we walk to the beach from there. Pretty easy even with young children in tow.

Rock Climbing twice daily is great - kept the kids busy.

Pool unfortunately is too small, too cramped and it is unfortunately too many incidents of cruisers leaving their towels on lounge chairs - letting it sit unoccupied for several hours preventing others from using the lounge chairs. Staff on deck should enforce some kind of rules reg this.

We have new found respect for staff on cruises - they work on contracts. Some lived on ships for as long as 1 year - I hope the mental well being of staff are never overlooked and that they are well cared for. Most does look genuinely happy to be onboard.

Bring first aid kit, bring sunscreen. And please, use the sunscreen. Sun is strong on deck, in FL and the Bahamas !!!

Overall, my first cruise was satisfactory. My wife, too. Especially, cabin and meals were very comfortable and various. Due to them, my wife, who are pregnant, was enjoying holidays easily. But, the weather of Florida was not my side. Heavy rain prevented us to enjoy the beach. In addition, there was some noise during sailing. It sometimes hindered us to sleep deeply. Except for it, we thinks the cruise travel was enough to us and if possible, we want to go again. 

We've cruised NCL 7 times in the past 5 years.  This was our second time on the Gem, last was in 2012.  Overall we had a good time.  Food was great, specialty restaurants great.  Entertainment was pretty good.  Second City needs to change up its act.  Last 3 years the skits haven't changed.  Switch it up each year.  There's enough material in the world to keep the show fresh.  Also a bit disappointed with the removal of the bowling alley.  I, as wwll as the kids enjoyed it.  We have been a bit spoiled sailing on larger ships like the breakaway but overall nice getaway.

My wife was attacked by a group of teenage passengers on NCL's private island, Great Stirrup Cay.  One teen threw a rock at her in the water, cutting her hand and requiring 4 sutures.  NCL's lifeguard did nothing.  NCL's security did nothing.  NCL pointedly REFUSED to investigate, saying this attack was not their concern.  NCL then charged us $838 for medical treatment, without our consenting to the charges or reviewing these charges and procedures beforehand.  Not an apology, a word of concern, an inquiry or a gesture on NCL's part.  If you are attacked, assaulted or raped on an NCL cruise, it is not their concern.  BE VERY AWARE.

The ports were good. The service on the ship was bad.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

I enjoyed the pool deck (12) and deck 13, especially when the bands were playing. Wish there was a steele band. Also, there should have been an equal variety of music being played, predominately Latin/Spanish music was played.

The speciality restaurants were amazing!

The one thing that was annoying was one of the crew would yell iinto the microphone she used, if using a mic no need to yell! I realize she was trying to pump up the guests, but the cruse director Alvin & the assistant cruise director Zack could pump up the guests and did not yell into the mic.

First I would like to start by saying that the staff on the ship (except the customer service desk) were amazing! Most people were so great to my sons when they walked past them, always greeting them and talking to them. The Brazillian restaurant Moderno was beyond amazing! We actually canceled our reservation for Cagneys to go to Moderno again 2 days later! However the negatives made my trip miserable! First- they lost our stroller which made the trip a living hell for me! My 3 year old son was born with clubfoot which requires him to wear braces on his feet 14-16 hours a day. Not having the stroller was a complete inconvenience, requiring me to carry him. When we went to the excursions we were unable to get a stroller at the Kennedy Space Center so it was very hard seeing he just turned 3 and still gets very tired and needs to sit! I was told that if I rented a stroller there that I would be reimbursed however because I didn't rent one I was given $50 on board credit for the inconvenience. When we went to Atlantis aquarium we rented a stroller (which was a VERY large jogging stroller that was not only hard to navigate and carry up all the stairs but was uncomfortable for my son) and when I returned to the ship I was told that I wouldn't be reimbursed because we were given the on board credit. The people at guest services were very unsympathetic even when I brought my son down to show them his braces and how hard it was. After returning home and speaking with someone at the headquarters I was told that I could only be reimbursed $50 seeing their maximum is only $100 (I already was given the $50 on board credit) seeing I didn't purchase the travel protection. I'm getting $100 for the over $200 Maclaren stroller that I purchased specially for this cruise seeing my son requires to sit a certain way with his braces! I am very disappointed in the lack of empathy that I received from the representatives at Norweigian and will never ever cruise with them again! This was my 2 cruise with them and I was very excited seeing my first was wonderful! I have shared this story with others and will let all mothers of children with disabilities know how unhelpful Norweigian is towards parents of children with disabilities and their customers themselves!  Second issue-- the kids academy seemed to have too many flaws which made the trip unenjoyable. When registering my sons I told them that the 3 year old wears a diaper, apparently no one gave him the appropriate sticker because as my husband and I sat down for dinner the first time he was in there, I received a call telling me that he took off his diaper (which he never does) when I went there I was told that they didn't realize that he wore a diaper and sent him to the bathroom during bathroom time. Another time I was called because my 6 year old looked tired and yawned. We  picked him up once they called at 8:30 and he was wide awake and up for 2 more hours. (This happened with my 3 year old also...and I was told from other parents they did it to them too) When I asked him if he told them he was tired he said no, he was just bored. To me it seemed like they were calling parents to get them to pick up the kids and get the kids to leave.  I love cruising and will continue to do so, just never again with Norwegian!

The food, drinks, ship & crew were all great! My first time on Norwegian & we all loved it! Thanks for the memories!  I loved Great Stirrup Cay, beautiful Island! 

My family of 4 (kids are 6 and 9) just returned from our 1st family cruise.  It was excellent.  My favorite port was Great Stir up Cay, BEAUTIFUL!!  We booked an early excursion, so we were on the 1st tender.  I heard from another family that they were on the 18th tender, and there were no seats or shade by the time they got to the island.  I recommend trying to get an early tender for an awesome beautiful experience. The staff was very friendly and the ship was clean.  The food was good.  Dining room for was good, but our favorite meals where when we upgraded to the Italian and Sushi restaurants.  The a la cart upgrade charge was reasonable, and cheaper than what we would have been charged at a restaurant.  We did not have any reservations, but never had an issue being seated.  The kids loved the buffet and would have eaten there for every meal, but I like seat down service.  There was plenty to keep all of us happy and entertained while on the ship.  The only drawback was the pool and pool deck, both very small for the number of people on the ship.  At 8:30AM there were already no seats to be had poolside.  We found that going to the pool around 3pm was better, as people started to leave more space became available.  All and all a great vacation, and we do plan on cruising again soon.