Norwegian Gem Review
Rating by category
Additional details
Although my husband and I are not first time cruisers, this cruise was the first for us in a few ways: our first cruise with NCL, first time for both the Flynn Cruiseport in Boston and Bermuda and first time for me traveling with mobility issues.
Overall we had an enjoyable cruise. The Gem is a lovely ship and Bermuda a wonderful destination. We had beautiful weather for the most part and calm seas. The stateroom services by our cabin steward, Christian Paz, butler, Joaquin Dumipig, and concierge, Anoop Bhanu were exceptional. The Boston Cruise Port was convenient for us as we could drive there. The traffic at the Port is heavy, but we managed to sort ourselves out and use the parking garage and shuttle to deal with the car. Embarkation and disembarkation were made easy for us as because as Haven cruisers we bypassed the general lines which did seem to be congested. We also had a private waiting area and were then escorted onboard to Cagney’s for lunch while we waited for our cabin to be ready - only one of the perks for Haven level passengers.
Dining and drinking: Our promo package included 3 free specialty restaurants. We chose Moderno, Le Bistro and La Cucina. All three were superior to the MDRs. I loved the escargot at Le Bistro, but overall we found that La Cucina was our favorite. We found that the MDRs had problems with getting food to the table hot, or sometimes even warm. We gave up at our second night at Magenta when both the appetizers and entrees were cool to the touch. I will give credit to the manager for coming over to try to offer us something else, but it was too little too late. We also enjoyed having the promo Unlimited Beverages package.
Cabin Review
Owner's Suite with Large Balcony
The cabin is quite large and has two balconies. The large balcony forward can only be used while in port due to the wind while cruising, but the side balcony can be enjoyed any time. There is plenty of storage and could easily accommodate another person. There is also an extra half bath, toilet and sink, which comes in handy. There is an espresso machine for coffee or lovely teas from Tea Forte. Storage of my walker wasn’t an issue. Beware that doorway thresholds can be challenging to navigate with walkers. Also, if you would be more comfortable having a shower chair in the shower, request one from your cabin steward.
Port Reviews
Boston
The Boston Cruise Port was convenient for us as we could drive there. The traffic at the Port is heavy, but we managed to sort ourselves out and use the parking garage and shuttle to deal with the car.
King's Wharf
The dockyard is fairly flat, but the surfaces can be uneven. The tram that circles the Dockyard can accommodate walkers. The National Museum of Bermuda was only accessible for me on the lower level due to a fairly steep incline to get to the upper area. The exhibits on the lower level were interesting and watching the Dolphin Quest participants was fun, but I was disappointed that there wasn’t more accessibility support from the Museum.