We always book online and check out the various cruiseline websites for their special deals. This one came up with NCL and the airfare from Ottawa to NY was half of that to Florida. So we decided on the NCL Gem. First time cruising 'Freestyle'. Not sure if we'd like it but we did. We also like the time on the ocean and it was three days sailing down to E. Caribbean and two days back with four ports. We booked WestJet flights, booked the Wellington Hotel on 7th Ave close to the port and Central Park. Boarding was fast and easy and we were on board by 1.30. This ship is in the Jewel class with only ~ 2300 passengers, medium size. It takes a few days to learn how to get to places on board as it's easy to 'get turned around' when you get off the elevator. Never had to wait very long for elevators. We were midship Deck 11, mini-suite port side and it worked for us. One deck up to the pool and cafe.

This ship is absolutely spotless, everywhere. No concerns there. The Garden buffet has something for everyone each meal. The buffet seating inside is a bit crowded but the outdoor area was nice. The two main dining rooms' service was impeccable. All staff on this ship have a genuine smile and hello everywhere you go. We ate in four upscale restaurants - Churriscaria - Brazilian bbq - which was nice. Cagney's - steak house, even better. Le Bistro was our favourite - wonderful food and ambience. Teppanyaki was ok, but a bit hokey and the 'Japanese' chefs were not that wonderful. Little food and don't have the green tea cake and ice cream! Each night's entertainment was top notch. One broadway show had to be re-scheduled for ship movement and another cancelled, which was ok with us as it was for the safety of the performers on a moving stage! There are literally hundreds of activities you can do if you want. The pools area on Dec 12 was not our favourite, going on other cruise ships' experience. There is no solarium pool (no solarium at all) and when seated or laid on a deck chair, you can't see anything in the pools for the hot tubs and the central stage. The live and DJ music was unbearably loud and drove us away sometimes. But the young ones like it. There is little shade for relaxing on the pool deck. So most of our relax time was spent on the stern open deck, which did have shade and a bar, and no overwhelming music. This ship doesn't look like an amusement park on the top deck. However, it would be an asset to have a crazy golf course where the basket ball court is. More people would get more fun out of that than watching a few teens shoot baskets.

Service was faultless. The IT manager was a star, getting us set up on line. The Front Desk were courteous and helpful to us, unlike some ships we've been on. Bartenders were really, really good everywhere, except in O'Sheehans we thought. Read more