Norwegian Gem Review

Gem of a bad idea!

Review for Nowhere Cruise on Norwegian Gem
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beachbummers
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Mar 2009
Traveled with children

My wife and kids booked the cruise as a birthday present for me.The kids,both under 10,were really looking forward to using their own money to purchase the birthday room decoration package as a present to me. Only they don't do it for the one day cruise. Nothing in the web site about that. The trip was booked at the last minute,so all that was left was a minisuite.Very nice cabin, plenty of room for 4. Total cost was $930.Over $240 of that cost was for government taxes and fees.

Check in was easy,on the ship at 12:30,dropped the bags off at the room,room guy was still cleaning room,slipped him $10 to make some towel animals for the kids. He never made them and we never saw him again. We went down the the Cafe buffet. It was outstanding! Nice selection, all good.By 1:30 there were no tables and people had to eat standing up. Went bowling for $40.

The one day cruise had an interesting mix of people.Some families,some who couldn't afford a full length cruise,some 18 or 19 year olds who were waiting for the ship to get 3 miles out ,so they could drink and gamble. But mostly it was a booze cruise type crowd. The temperature was in the 20's on deck and yet the hot tubs were always filled with drinkers. Funny how you never saw anyone leave to use the bathroom. Diner at Magenta was terrible. The drink waiter seemed annoyed we had kids and therefore wasn't going to get a big drink order from us. I ordered a drink that didn't arrive until we were leaving. I refused it and had it taken off the bill. My wife and I both had beef dishes that were disgusting. We waited for the kids to finish their food,chicken fingers and mac & cheese, than went back to the buffet for dinner. Our waiter didn't care.

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