Background Information This was cruise number 35 for us and the 11th on NCL. Our cruising experience has included transatlantic, Baltic, Alaska, Bahamas Mediterranean along with both Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. We have also sailed numerous times with Holland America, Carnival, Celebrity and Disney, in addition to NCL. This 7 day Christmas cruise was the inaugural US cruise for the GEM with the itinerary set for Florida, NCL's private island and the Bahamas.

Ship Information The specific information can be read about on NCL's website if you are interested in length, tonnage and cabin location. The ship is new and beautiful as you would expect a new ship to be. It was kept spotless by the crew who constantly polished, vacuumed and cleaned.

Embarkation This was our first experience with the renovated Manhattan terminal. The area is newly painted and carpeted with decorative banners etc. There are also new and larger escalators and passenger ramps leading to the ship. This is a much need improvement to the terminal. The registration was quick and painless and within minutes we were on the ship. I give credit to NCL for providing Purell hand cleaning gel dispensers, along with a crew member to remind passengers, for sterilizing hands prior to boarding the ship. This dispensers and crew members are everywhere on the ship. Read more