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NCL Gem What We Loved And What We Hated

Grounded Life Cruises
Grounded Life Cruises
πŸ…Authority
πŸ‘οΈ 82K viewsπŸ“… 3 years ago⏱️ 17:18

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

The creators provide a detailed review of their experience on the NCL Gem, characterizing it as one of their favorite cruises of the year despite several significant drawbacks. They highlight several positive aspects, including high food quality with diverse options, exceptional staff members who provided personalized service, and a spacious walking track on Deck 7. They also praise the thermal suite for its impressive amenities and the convenience of the ship's embarkation and disembarkation processes. Additionally, the 24-hour Oceans restaurant is noted for its breakfast and specialty menu items. However, the reviewers express frustration regarding the ship's focus on monetization. They criticize the expensive and unreliable internet, high daily gratuities, and frequent sales pitches during announcements. Other complaints include narrow hallways, underwhelming entertainment, limited television variety, and perceived cost-cutting measures regarding beverage service. Ultimately, while they thoroughly enjoyed the cruise, they advise future passengers to prepare for extra expenses and a constant push for additional spending.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

How This Review Compares

This review's score for Norwegian Gem
Solid Strip
All-time creator consensus for Norwegian Gem
A Nibble

This review is more positive than the all-time creator consensus.

What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsFull Ship ReviewπŸ…Authority Creator
❀️ Best for CoupleCaribbean · 11 nightsFrom New York CityVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

overall it was one of our favorite cruises over the past year I think

the food was great it was not cheap at all

the staff was amazing it's a noticeable difference between that and other ships

it is possibly the worst internet at Sea that we've ever used it's horrible

Creator's Tips & Advice

βœ“Ask for the can of Coke instead of a glass to get the full product you paid for.
βœ“Set a budget and plan for your money because the ship will try to upsell you constantly.
βœ“Be aware that internet packages are expensive and slow; plan accordingly if you need to work.

πŸ†•New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

High cost of internet and tips β€” Budget for additional expenses; internet is expensive and slow, and tips are higher than other lines.
Constant sales pressure β€” Set limits and know what you want to spend; be prepared for frequent upselling.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat did the creators love and hate about the NCL Gem?
QIs the NCL Gem worth the cost despite the negatives?
QWhat are the main operational issues on the NCL Gem?

Topics Covered

Value Pricing3Β½ Sad BaconWifi Connectivity4Β½ Sad BaconService Crew4 Happy BaconDining Specialty3Β½ Happy BaconSpa Fitness4 Happy BaconEntertainment Shows3 Sad Bacon

Port Highlights

Bermuda2Β½ Happy Bacon
Puerto Plata2Β½ Happy Bacon
Puerto Rico2Β½ Happy Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon β€” creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon β€” creators took issue with this
Meh β€” no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = β€œmeh”, 5 = β€œbacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube