We highly recommend the Gem's Western Med cruise. We were in an inside cabin on the 5th deck and got a great deal for less than $500 apiece. Because of that we were able to do shore excursions, eat at the specialty restaurants and go to the spa.

THE SHIP The decor is colorful and fun, befitting of the ship's name. We found it to be clean and gleaming new, with plenty of seating pretty much anywhere you wanted to go, and enough loud and quiet hangouts to accommodate many different types of vacationers and moods.

THE DRINKS/FOOD The garden cafe quickly became our favorite food establishment. Because we were only two, it was always easy to get a table. Groups of more than four might have problems during peak hours. The buffet was elaborate two different types of eggs benedict each morning! Unfortunately we didn't discover this until the second day. We ate at the sushi bar and the french restaurant as well, although we could probably have done without. Having been to very nice french restaurants in france, it just wasn't worth it for me. The food was mediocre. Sushi bar was good too fresh but not fancy. The specialty restaurants are good if you're not expecting higher than what would probably correspond to a 20-21 on Zagat. Resist the urge to tip extra in those places. I was tipping way too much in the beginning. And it added up fast. Read more