Introduction: We are a middle aged couple from N.J. & have sailed over 15 cruises on Princess, RCCL, Celebrity and Holland America. We have sailed Alaska, Mediterranean, British Isles, Norwegian Fiords, Caribbean and Bermuda. This was our first cruise on NCL. We chose this cruise because of the proximity to home, the fact that it was a brand new ship and that we didn't have to fly during the chaotic holiday season. The itinerary would not have been our first choice but it was a compromise when taking the other factors into consideration.

Embarkation: Best we've ever had... easy, fast, efficient. Drove an hour to the pier and parked our car in the adjoining lot for $160. We were on the ship within 20 minutes.

Ship: Nothing beats sailing on a new ship during the inaugural season when everything is clean and sparkling. The Gem is a sophisticated mixture of bright colors offset by rich woods and dramatic lighting. Especially striking are the Spinnaker Lounge and the Grand Pacific Dining Room. The Bliss Lounge is lots of fun with beds, plasmas,& bowling. The Crystal Atrium is dominated by a huge screen tv that entertains with football games and Wii.The Great Outdoors(aft of ship) is a wonderful area outside the buffet to eat, drink or just sit and relax. Some design flaws include a poorly laid out buffet area (Garden Cafe)that results in organized chaos, a very small fitness center for the size of the ship and even smaller library. The Showcase Theatre was the worst of any ship we've sailed.. very cramped with small seats, no leg room or place to put a drink. There was never a seat to spare. Overall, though, we enjoyed the ship, its public spaces, and the design. We thought from the pictures that it might be tacky and garish but it was a wonderful mix or color and wood to create an upbeat, sophisticated atmosphere that was visually pleasing to the eye. Read more