Norwegian Gem Tips

Avoid peak times at breakfast buffet if you can

Restaurants are extremely overpriced even for New York standards. Spinnaker Lounger too small to hold trivia,dance and contest shows. Smoking anywhere on board should be forbidden. Loudspeakers in sunbathing aft deck should be OFF!

If you think these cruise ships don't read or act on your comments, I complained after our Breakaway trip and our dinner at Moderno that nothing was marked at the buffet in it. This cruise? EVERY SINGLE DISH at the buffet was marked. If you are a fan of eating all types of meat, this din is great!

Purchase the drink card whether for just soda or alcohol

Bring a watch, our cell phones didn't know the correct time about an hour after we left New York until we got back.

Take time to walk the ship, really enjoy the buffets. Get to the Pool buffets early-they fill up fast.

Loved the great outdoors for breakfast and tea time!

Don't order 24/7 pizza they taste bad, not worth it! Early reservations at specialty restaurants is better than late. Iced teas and lemonades are free on the ship, but you have to ask! They have laundry specials after 2-3 days into the cruise, wait for those.

Do all the shore excisions by yourself.

A small an cozy ship. Very clean and well kept. Kudos to the staff. A nice fitness center, Very nice bars and lounge area. Love Bliss and the Spinaker Lounge

The best deserts are located at the Aft of the ship. eg. chocolate cookies, cakes and pies long after the main rooms desserts are picked over.

the food at the buffet was good but seating in the buffet was tough at times opening up the italian restraunt was helpful

Just don't go

We love the entire staff! They are like one big happy family and everyone took excellent care of us. Activities were fun and there was always something going on for everyone. I will definitely choose Norwegian for any future vacations!!

Spring for the balcony. Go to the Shows.

Expect to be overcharged for just about everything on board the ship. Gold member means nothing! As you are treated the same as a silver or bronze member! Cagney's steak house is now ala cart and over priced! If you get the free beverage package it's not free expect to pay 18% gratuity upfront!

For example: Restaurants are extremely overpriced even for New York standards. Spinnaker Lounger too small to hold trivia,dance and contest shows. Smoking anywhere on board should be forbidden. Loudspeakers in sunbathing aft deck should be OFF!

When you first board, you enter through a mini-atrium that is really nice. When I went, they also were giving out little cocktails to welcome you, so be sure to grab one!!!

The soups in the Buffet were terrible. Please improve on them. Please include spaghetti and meat sauce at the pasta station like you used to have on all my other cruises on the Gem. Please include Chinese dishes in the Buffet

They need more staff for the bars on this ship. It is inexcusable to have to endure long waits to get a drink or a soda every time on a cruise. Its vacation and I do not want that stress. My sole reason to not give this cruise a really good review is the long waits for refreshments on board.