Carib Mark
12-21-2007, 12:06 PM
Just had lunch on the new Norwegian Cruise Lines Gem and I'd sum it up as the Paris Hilton of ships. Lots of glitz, especially if you want to spend money but no substance. The color scheme is tacky, even for NCL, from the Crystal Atrium to the cabins. The only sedate thing is the main dining room. It has bowling (for $5 per), a 20 foot Wii wall, $10 martinis (...calling a dry vodka "Classic"?? Shame!), and a few better restaurants that you can pay extra for. Speaking of food, I could bake a piece of salmon and toss ssome corn salsa on it as well as they did and the chicken looked more boiled than roasted. A quick taste of veal chop offered me a large vein of dessicated fat in the center. As for the staff, they were "courteous" but somewhat forced. Maybe they're all as new as the ship and learning how to do the act and refill water glasses now and then. Cabins were decent, many with balconies and all with flat screen. Anyway, it wasn't my style but I got to check it ouut before spending beaucoup dinero on her.