Norwegian Gem Update: Talking with the Captain and Hotel Director; Restaurant Reviews

Norwegian Gem continues to be one of the most popular ships sailing out of New York.  Indeed, I am told that she is one of the most popular ships in the Norwegian Cruise Lines fleet.

Norwegian, however, has never been one to rest on its laurels.  Thus, when I went on Gem in March, I was not surprised to find that the ship had continued to evolve.  Yes, there still were such familiar things as the beautiful Grand Pacific Dining Room and the sleek but cozy Cagney’s Steakhouse.  But there were also a bevy of new things going on.

I had heard of some of these things beforehand such as the new Moderno Churrascaria, which has replaced the ship’s Tex/Mex restaurant.  I had also heard that the Nickelodeon characters were now aboard.  But there were also many other things as well.

Accordingly, I sat down with Hotel Director Steve Knott to discuss what is new on Norwegian Gem.  The interview is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-gem-hotel-director-interview.html.

When I boarded the Gem, I intended to write a review only of the new restaurant, the Moderno.  However, I had such good meals at the Orchid Garden Asian fusion restaurant and Le Bistro, that I decided to share those experiences with you as well.  Thus, there is a review of the Moderno at  http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-gem-moderno-review.html.   The review of Le Bistro is at http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-gem-le-bistro-review.html  and the review of the Orchid Garden is at http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-gem-orchid-garden-review.html

Also, since the Costa Concordia tragedy, a number of people have asked me about cruise ship safety in general.  Therefore, I thought it might be reassuring to have an accomplished mariner talk about the approach to safety on his ship.  Accordingly, I spoke with Gem’s Captain Hakan Svedung about safety on Norwegian Gem.  That interview is posted at http://www.beyondships2.com/norwegian-gem-captain-interview.html        

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            In addition, new daily programs (Freestyle Daily); menus and other information has been added to the Norwegian Gem profile page http://www.beyondships.com/NCLGem-Profile.html and new photos to the Gem photo tour and review http://www.beyondships.com/NCLGem-Tour-1.html.