Norwegian Gem Cruise Reviews - Reviews

Took a cruise to my favorite part of the Carribean. St Thomas is my favorite island. Wanted my husband to see where I had been in 1984. So I took him for his birthday. It was nice to be able to cruise again.

It was a relaxing two weeks. My wife was totally spoiled by the Gem and its staff. it will be hard to talk her into sailing on any other ship. She's already looking at future cruises on the Gem!

Over all our cruise was amazing all the islands were beautiful. Masks are mandated on each port. The last day is when the problem started. At around 4pm there was a blackout for about 1-2 minutes and the lights came back on. At around 5pm there was another blackout for 1-2 minutes, then 15 minutes later another blackout for about 1-2 minutes. Once the lights returned the HVAC system didn’t come back on. It became very hot on the ship even the workers were walking around fanning themselves. After dinner at 8 we decided to go to bed because it was hot throughout the ship. Our room was warmer because of the air still was not working. At around 12am there was another blackout followed by 3 more. At that time I just said my prayers and went to sleep looking forward to disembarkation.

Food was very good and the peoplewere very friendly

We had a blast and met so many nice people (crew as well as guests). The ports of call were interesting but we felt sorry for the storeowners becuse they did not have many customers, However, they were very polite and not pushy or nasty. I am already looking forward to my next cruise !!!!

Overall this might have been one of the best solo trips I’ve ever taken. I met lots of new friends, had a blast every day, the staff were all INCREDIBLE, the ship was clean, food was amazing, pool deck was never too crowded and drinks were flowing thanks to the attentive staff. Gem is a smaller ship than the ones I’d been on before, and yet I still don’t know that I got to see everything or try all the bars and restaurants. Embarkation and disembarkation were both a breeze. The ports were fantastic - being the first cruise passengers since Covid at both St. Tomas and Great Stirrup Cay was wonderful - happy to bring tourism back to the islands. I can’t recommend this experience enough.

Nor. Gem 9/4/21 We boarded Gem around 10:45 am, and in this new era of post-covid cruising, NCL has it figured out, no fuss, no angst, and very inconvenience. We were courteously directed to the line for testing, handled extremely professionally by a crew from CVS. The testing process (the attendant handed you a swab, asked you to swab the inside of each nostril, and you handed it back to her, end of process). Afterward you were instructed to wait in the holding area, along with a card similar in size to a post card. When you saw your initials and birthdate on the screen (it was also announced through an audio system, for those with hearing disabilities), you held up your card, and a member of the CVS staff attached a pink armband to your wrist, and you were invited to board. From arriving at the pier to boarding (we're Platinum Latitudes members, so our priority status expedited the boarding somewhat, but only after a negative covid test, no priority status applied in the testing process) was approximately 35 minutes, including the obligatory "welcome aboard" photo, one we always purchase, a visual record of our personal cruise history. The cruise overall was pretty much as expected, albeit perhaps less congested than normal; the story among the passengers was that the ship was at 60% passenger capacity, something I noticed while waiting for my wife seated along one of the corridors on deck 7, noticing that observed at least as many crew members pass by as I did passengers. Needless to say, the reduced capacity made for an exceptional experience compared to normal, though with relaxed restrictions medically the trend will be to add passenger density. Understandable and desirable for committed cruisers like ourselves who miss cruising and have been longing for it's return. Food was its usual excellent quality aboard Gem (our first time aboard her, though we've sailed her sisters Pearl and Jewel in the past), and our Latitude status coupled with the deal most had on boarding enabled us to partake of 4 nights of specialty dining, in Teppanyaki, La Cucina, Le Bistro, and Cagneys. My personal favorite was Cagneys, though Teppanyaki was as much for the show as it was for the food. I personally wasn't impressed with Le Bistro, my tastes tending more toward traditional American cuisine. La Cucina was good, though I've enjoyed their offerings more on other NCL ships. Our sole dinner in the complimentary dining room, Magenta, was fantastic, making me wish we'd indulged more often than just the one night. We found the offerings in the Garden Cafe, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, varied and for the most part, delicious. Our 2 meals, lunch and breakfast, in O'Sheehans were fantastic. So many choices, too many for a 7 day cruise. We did 2 shore tours, both through NCL, and both were enjoyable and for our money, worth the cost. Both were snorkeling excursions, our personal favorite way to spend time on tropical vacations, and the waters were warm and inviting both in the Bahamas as well as the Virgin Islands. Our inside stateroom was smaller than I remember on Jewel class ships, and while it was adequate for our needs, it's got me wondering whether we might start booking balcony staterooms, or at least oceanview. We nearly always book inside staterooms, having had balconies and not finding them worth the extra money, preferring to save money on rooms and cruise more often, but with our upcoming retirement we may have to rethink our cost-saving strategy. Our shower was strange, perhaps something Maintenance could've fixed, but we struggled through. If you set the controls for more water pressure, the hot water was uncomfortably so, so you either had weak pressure and moderate temperature, or lots of scalding water pressure. We did the express self-assist debarkation, walking off with our own bags, Ubered to the airport (cheaper than the transfer busses), and was home in Texas by 5:30pm. All in all, a great trip, much anticipated after all the cancellations, and our personal first in 18 months, and we usually cruise at least twice a year, sometimes 3 times. We're looking forward to more relaxed cruising restrictions, hoping next year to book longer cruises, especially with our upcoming retirement. Cruznuts

I loved everything about the cruise. However the one thing I could not appreciate was the excursion to Roatan, Honduras. The excursion in and of itself was great as were the tour guides (Jorge and unfortunately I do not remember the boat guides name). Very informative and caring guides. What I didn't appreciate was the walk through the streets (which was unsettling for me personally especially in a foreign country) to get to the van that was parked in a parking lot some distance from the pier. We were harassed by others trying to find out where we were going while walking to our pick up point. I would have felt safer if the tour company (RT&T) had picked us up in the piers parking lot.

One of the best cruises I've been on. NCL is my favorite cruise line.

I would highly recommend this cruise. The snorkeling was amazing in Belize and Cozumel. We had to divert to a different destination due to weather and the new destination - Belize City, was a bit run-down, but we had a nice time none the less. The planned destinations were excellent, however. The ship was perfectly clean (and being cleaned constantly), the service of the staff, especially Johnathan, our ship steward, and Henry, in the Sushi Bar, were outstanding among many excellent staff members.

I didn't get off ship because of mask policy.Spent a lot of time in the thermal spa.

We've been on larger ships but they don't compare to the Gem. She is our favorite. We had a wonderful time!

Of all of my NCL cruises, this was the worst. The entertainment was horrible. The band's were horrible. They managed to ruin every song sang. The food was the same everyday. No change. No variety. Cagney's steakhouse was great but you must ask for food hot. Everything served is warm. Moderne was delicious. Hated La Cuchina. It was buffet food served nicely.

All the ports were great that we went to. We never got to St Thomas. We were denied entry. They told us it was the seas but I doubt it. Such great entertainment and all staff were amazing.

I was robbed by NCL. I have been booking with NCL all during Pandemic. I was under the impression that I could cancel at any time. That mistake cost me $750. Norwegian Cruise Line is refusing to return my 3 cruise next coupons. Once I use my remaining coupons, I'll never set foot on any of their old ships

This cruise was 10 days from New York City. Three days in everything on board changed due to the coronavirus. We were no longer permitted to serve ourselves in the buffet, to pour our own cup of coffee, there was nothing on the tables in the dining rooms, salt and pepper came in little packets. Washy washy was not only in the buffet anymore but everywhere on the ship. Faced with this challenge I believe the crew went over and above to keep everyone on the ship safe. NCL has always been my favorite cruise line but this put them heads above anybody else out there. I am truly grateful for the way they handled this. The crew is to be commended for the way they stepped up. NCL should be very proud of the crew on the Gem

Overall the cruise was amazing! I would do it all over again!

Great cruise with excellent weather, some stops would have benefitted from longer in port and the very much earlier disembarkation was irritating.

We had a great time Met a lot of people who we are still in contact with and plan to cruise again with them

Overall, very happy with the ports of call, the staff and the ship. Nothing will ever be perfect, but the 2 weeks we were aboard the Gem, we wanted for nothing and received the best treatment. Very respectful crew and fellow passengers.