My mom and I took a New England/Canada cruise together on the Gem, sailing out of Manhattan in October of 2013. As a point of reference, I am a youthful and active 47 year old woman, mom is also youthful and active, age 70. We are both seasoned cruisers with about 6-7 cruises each under our belts. I have been on Celebrity (3 times), Carnival (once), and Holland (once) in addition to this Norwegian cruise and mom has been on Norwegian a couple of times, as well as Holland and Celebrity (a few times).
THE GOOD
The ship is in great condition, with great public spaces. Entertainment was top-knotch, particularly with respect to the singers and dancers who appeared to be Broadway-quality. The shows are, of course, hokey, but fun nonetheless. There are nice variety of evening activities - different types of themed dance parties, game shows, karakoke, etc. and for the most part they are a lot of fun. With the exception of the rude and hostile Manhattan Norwegian port staff, the rest of the staff were friendly, warm and lovely people who work hard to give great service. The restaurant service is friendly and efficient, although not particularly sophisticated or polished. The cabin was small, but very well designed and the beds were super comfy and plush, with quality (Egyptian cotton?) linens and super plus pillows. It was like sleeping in a cloud! We absolutely LOVED the outdoor pool which was very nicely heated (maybe 90-95 degrees) so we could enjoy it, even though the weather was cool. Oh, and a special mention for the sun deck ("Quiet Zone") with round wicker lounges on the top forward outside deck. BLISS!!!