Norwegian Gem Review

4.0 / 5.0
2,589 reviews

Mixed emotions on the Gem

Review for the Bahamas Cruise on Norwegian Gem
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jimbob98
First Time Cruiser • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Feb 2009

This review is based on my experiences as well as those from other members of my group. I'm a radio morning show host, and every year for the past 11 years we have done a group cruise with our listeners. We are from Southern New Jersey, and on a previous cruise we sailed out of Bayonne on RCCL. The listeners loved not having to fly, so our TA booked this particular cruise from Manhattan.

The embarkation was smooth. We arrived at 11:30am, fast check in and we were onboard by 1:15pm. My cabin was not ready, and the door was propped open with the room still a mess. Taking advice from the CC boards, we skipped the Garden Cafe (standing room only) and enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the Grand Pacific dining room. After lunch we were notified that our rooms were ready. Unfortunately, not the case with my room. My steward finally got to straightening the room around 4pm. It was not cleaned at all - there was a distinct urine smell in the bathroom and the counters were filthy. My calls to housekeeping were answered with promises, but no one ever came to finish the job. The bathroom was finally wiped down the next afternoon. All week long it was like this. I have never had such a terrible room steward in my dozen or so cruises on any cruise line! Later in the cruise, I was charged for a soda from the mini-bar. However, I never used the mini-bar all week. I guess it was the people from the week before. I called the front desk three time, and was assured that it would come off the bill, but they never took it off. Front desk would promise something and never deliver. Whatever it took to get you out of the line and off their back. I will say that other cruisers in my group did not have any steward problems, so I chalk it off to some bad employees.

Food - Garden Cafe Buffet may be the best buffet on any ship I've been on. Hot and delicious, a wonderful variety and friendly staff. The various stations worked well. It did get crowded during peak times, but no more than other ships. The dining rooms were beautiful, especially the Grand Pacific, probably my favorite cruise ship dining room, decor wise. Food was good, service was spotty. Some servers were outstanding and some couldn't care less. Is this a result of the freestyle dining? Specialty restaurants got a mixed review. La Cucina mostly got "don't bother". Cagney's got high marks, especially the Oyster Rockefeller. The Sushi restaurant was highly recommended from one cruiser.

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