We just cruised on the Gem to Bermuda. It was my first time cruising ever and I didn't feel like they were trying to nickle and dime me at every corner. They were pretty clear about what was complimentary and what was a paid service. I also felt like they weren't trying to sell us stuff at every corner. If you you go to an event, like an art history talk, expect them to invite you to the art auction. Or if you're at dinner, expect them to try to sell you beverages...like any restaurant or bar on land they make more off of drinks. We really liked our inside cabin. In-laws had a balcony that didn't seal properly the first couple of nights so it was noisy, but our cabin was pitch dark and quiet. They were very attentive to our food allergies and sensitivities at every meal, but we had few options for dessert outside of mixed fruit salad and lemon sorbet. Occasionally, they would bring us a specially GF dessert. The productions were awesome and entertaining. The magician was pretty run-of-the-mill. We had a crap bike excursion that was sponsored by NCL but that was more a problem with staffing from the outfitter.

Absolutely true the staff can make the difference between a not so pleasant cruise and a great one. I was recently on the Norwegian Bliss going through the Panama Canal and my attendant did so many extra things for my comfort. She was amazing. Ware as a comparison to the Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas indicates the staff are overworked, unfriendly, and inattentive. The food was also fantastic on the Bliss…lots of choices, venues, and good pricing.

thank you for this review. I am especially pleased with your review of the Spa and thermal pool/sauna. I realize NCL (as well as other cruise lines) are trying to upsell. I happen to be very good at turning off my hearing to the sales pitch. We are choosy about the shows and if they are not of interest, don't mind skipping them. So much other activities to do. We are content to sit on our balcony are just enjoy the peacefulness. We have only cruised the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships, Bliss and Getaway, and LOVED them both. Want to try the medium size and see if we like them. Your review has helped us lean towards the GEM. Again, thanks for the positive (and not so positive) comments. appreciate the honest take on this ship.

Heading to Bermuda on the Gem. While I do agree on the constant upsell pressure is sometimes exhausting it does not bother me much. The cost of the cruise compared to an all inclusive (especially in Bermuda) is an absolute bargain. And the food and service is much better on NCL. I have cruised with NCL 4 times and have never had a bad experience. JMHO…

Going on the gem in 3 days to Bermuda Thanks for the tips!

Thanks! We will be on this ship soon so this was great. We love NCL, their staff is above & beyond amazing!!! Our favorite ship of theirs is the Bliss. If you haven’t been on that one, make it your next! Bad WiFi and limited tv options don’t bother us, cruises are the only time we get our kids away from screens without a battle so I hope they keep the WiFi bad 😂

Thanks for the pros and cons rundown. We're booked on the Gem next late summer for a 7-day Canada/New England sailing in a balcony cabin; we've never sailed NCL, so this is all helpful to know ahead of time.

Agree about food and staff, didn’t try the thermal suite, and we don’t stay up late enough to see the shows. You’re right about the internet, and sometimes we heard the cruise director’s announcements and other times I had to open our cabin door to hear… The cleanliness was amazing and I miss having someone turn down the bed; ah, what a life..

Thanks so much, for the honesty. I plan to go on the Gem for Christmas and New year

Great, honest review. Thanks for posting this. We are about to go to Bermuda on the Gem in a month and this was a big help to us since this will be our first cruise. Others commented about the woman speaking over the guy, but we found it to be conversational and didn't even notice until we read the reviews.

I was on the ship 2 weeks ago and my son and daughter in law are on it right now.i had no gripes at all and my son tells me all is very good

Lollll,loved the send a pigeon😂😂😂

Great review! So sad to hear about the entertainment, because big Broadway shows are one of the things NCL is known for. It seems like some of their ships are prioritized over others with Beetlejuice and Summer on some ships and standard review shows on others. I've also heard about the nickel and diming on NCL, didn't realize it was so bad :(.

Thanks for the review. We were on the Jade in Feb 2024. I was disappointed with the food. Also had trouble finding somewhere to sit and quietly read a book. We are going on the Gem March of 2025 on the Blues Cruise. Looking forward to it.

Of all the things you said, I 100% agree with what you said about the internet. For $30-$40 a day, I expect that to work nearly flawlessly. I don't mind paying the charge, but I want to service to work. Everything else I know and expect to happen, and I really don't mind the upsell for future cruise credits because I like to cruise and the on board credit is nice as well.

Thanks for this thorough review! ❤

Thanks for sharing.! I will be on that ship on Friday.

Thanks for this review. I did a 15-day transatlantic on the Gem this past December. I take NCL because I can often get better base prices as a solo traveler. I have to do the math to see if the amount spent on the thermal spa and the internet offsets my room savings relative to sailing in a single room on an all inclusive cruise line. At this point, I'm still taking NCL because of their exotic cruises throughout Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and India. But I will stay open minded.

I love the dining room and the Chinese restaurant . The buffet wasn’t Great. The staff was fantastic . I thought the entertainment was above average. I really didn’t have any things I really hate. You’re right about your negative observation. I alway pay the tips and advance . What your opinion of one cleaning a day. The Gem did had the World Cup when I was on it.

Just got back from a four day cruise on the Jade it was outstanding, food was great, entertainment was great. The only negative was they had technical problems with their computer system and it would not read your card when it came time to get off the ship.

I just went on NCL Pride of America in Hawaii last month. My first NCL cruise. Shakedown was the perfect term! They totally nickel and dimed us. Everything you described about the Gem was the same on POA. We loved the cruise because of the destination, but we were left with a bad taste...sometimes from the restaurants. 😂 I don't know if I'll try another NCL cruise.

Is the Thermal room additional?

The sales pitch announcement problem sounds like it may have just been that cruise director. We've been on these ships and did not get that. However; we don't drink soda or alcohol and we ignore the shopping stuff. I think the internet on the Prima is upgraded. We usually only do the 7day trips.

I do hope you let corporate know all, this. They need to hear it. For any changes to be made.

When you ask for a can of Coke, insist that it be delivered Unopened, with a glass of ice cubes.

I really enjoyed this review on the Gem. We will be taking the same ship early next year. However, I do have a comment about how you both present the information, I find it very frustrating that the lady in the video keeps talking over the man, even if it’s just saying mmm hmm or interjecting comments. It would be, much better to follow the conversation if you both let each other finish speaking.

Agreed, I had experienced Norwegian gem food is best compared with other cruises.

Did they not have the free at see deal?

$40.00 per day for internet. OUCH. That is $1,200.00 per month. What do you pay at home?

I've sailed on the Gem and many other NCL I didn't have your experience. Every other cruise line I've sailed has nickle and dimed just as much if not more than NCL. Have you cruised much with other cruise lines?

Would you say its not good for someone in a wheelchair.

They are coming to Jacksonville in November. I have never sailed Norwegian. I'm platinum on Carnival and receive great deals. I'm curious about prices on Norwegian. I do want to try them if they aren't overpriced.

I hope you let them know!

Do they charge you extra for using the gym?

im on this ship in a week.....let me work on extra jokes!!!

To be fair - a cruise is an opportunity to 'dry out' from internet and TV. 👍

Mmmhmm

If the hallways were so narrow, what happened if two scooters met in opposite directions?

We love the Thermal Suites on NCL. We'll be on the Jade in May 2024 and wondering if it's the same as the Gem? It didn't appear to be the same. Anyone know for sure?

Just came back from NCL Gem cruise. Maybe they have cut back on the food quality, but I found it mediocre at best at the buffet section, main dining room okay, did one speciality restaurant, Le Bistro which was good. Seems like if you want good food you have to pay extra. The burger they served on the outside deck area was gross, precooked & just reheated, you added the cheese after. My inside cabin was the smallest I’ve ever been in, if you are are big person you might have trouble fitting on the commode. No hair conditioner, body lotion or robes, unlike my usual cruise line Holland America. Info about cruise ports were scant. This was only my 2nd cruise on NCL & don’t think I will be back unless it offers a real deal. The crew were all nice & room was clean.

Hate is a strong word!

hopefully the ncl gem will get starlink internet soon I know many of their fleet has it. I had it on the Breakaway last year. it's great!

Unfortunately, cruising was shut down for over 2 year and they lost a lot of money during Covid, so they are doing everything they can to recoup their losses. We've cruised the Gem twice since Covid. She's our favorite ship. We were on the Sun 2 weeks ago and had a great time (and good internet) but she's just not the Gem.

Did you guys have good internet in port?

bathrooms too small

Wow $40 A day!😲 That's A month to some. Speaker announcements are annoying if its all the time. Sounds like I'll be skipping this ship.

Sorry to be blunt. but the MMMMHHHMMMMMM is very annoying. FYI

I do agree about entertainment I was on the Sun,back to back Alaska the shows were deplorable very very very poor,the Comedian was NOT FUNNY...NCL spend a little on entertainment pleasssse

her constantly going mm hmm is annoying AF!!!!

All ncl ships have terrible internet

Please, stop interrupting him.That's so annoying!

Boring blog.