I would like to cover the positives before I get into the negatives. The Norwegian Gem is a beautiful ship. It is well laid out, tastefully decorated and beautifully appointed. Overall, a very nice boat. The staff were always polite and friendly. The weather was great. This, unfortunately is where the positives end. Listed below are detailed descriptions of the negatives.

Overall Cost: Everything onboard is very expensive. To provide a few examples: draft beer=6.50, laundry- t shirt= 4.95, internet access= .40/minute, in room movie rental= 12.00, etc. In addition, every corner you turn on this ship, there is somebody trying to sell you something. Everything from drinks to jewelry and spa treatments. They actually had the girls from the spa working the pool area trying to get people into the spa. I can see having someone outside the spa soliciting business, but to have them hawking business poolside was just tasteless.

On Board Activities: The Second City Comedy Act was decent, but everything else was pretty lame. It's almost impossible to see a show without getting to the theater at least 45minutes before the show. The theater fills quickly. There were a variety of other activities for a price, Bingo=29.00, Beer Tasting=15.00, Margarita tasting=15.00. There were free activities too, mostly seminars on how to buy jewelry during the Ships stops. Are you starting to see the common theme? I felt like I was being nickle and dimed every day on this ship. Read more