|
View
My Photos of Norwegian Gem
Emilio Robba Floral
Sculptures
& Dale
Chihuly Chandelier |
*The*
meeting place for all A-listers & "It" Girls is
the centrepiece of Norwegian Gem, the Crystal Atrium [Deck 7, mid]
surrounded by Tequila Latin/Tapas Restaurant & Blue Lagoon on
Deck 8 above. Dale Chihuly glass chandelier with 4 Emilio Robba
floral sculptures, two-storey LED high-definition screen [for Wii],
fun and funky colourful furniture [which is actually comfortable to
sit on]. Around the Crystal Atrium is the Reception Desk [aft], Shore
Excursions [port], Internet Café [port] with various Time
Plans available, Port 'O Call Gift Shop [stb] and the Java Café
[stb]. |
4 Emilio Robba Floral
Sculptures
& Dale
Chihuly Chandelier |
Java Café -
Speciality coffees as you like, teas and full bar, delicious
pastries. 105 guests.
Trade Routes
Boutiques [stb past Orchid Garden]. Brand names & speciality
goods, logo stuff, sundry items, fragrances & jewellery, china
& more. I am sure NCL could earn some extra $ by selling some of
the more unusual carpets from their fleet, |
Dale Chihuly Chandelier |
Crystal Atrium |
Reception Desk |
Trade Routes Boutiques |
Java Café |
Art Gallery |
Aft of the Crystal
Atrium is the Photo Gallery to stb, which does not cause a blockage
when open and Art Gallery to port, full of paintings for purchase,
but not on this trip due to VAT regulations. Both nice areas, but
used as passageways from midships to.... Ahhh... 'Bliss'... read on .. |
Photo Gallery |
Bliss Sculptures |
Aft on Deck 7 is
Bliss Ultra Lounge & Night Club where one goes to "See
& be seen in this ultra chic, velvety atmosphere!". Fantasy
& mythological themed with 2 x 2 lane bowling alleys and another
section of slot machines; "The happening nightclub with wicked
DJs; VIP private areas; Perfect for 176 guests". Oh My! This has
to be seen to be believed. One has to be 6yrs old to bowl, but no
children are allowed in here in the evenings. The Adult Disco from
9pm with DJ Rommel and Shadow Dancers later on. Voulez-vous coucher
avec moi (ce soir), playing in the back ground sets the scene for our
walk through. A vibrant lounge in the evenings, but dead during the
day with no windows. I would not want to look too closely at what may
go on in the VIP areas or on the double beds placed around either.
Bliss Ultra
Lounge - VIP Boudoir |
Bliss in a Harem? |
Bliss Ultra
Lounge - Bowling Alley |
Bliss on a
Double Bed? |
Top
We now go up to
Deck 12 and back to reality. An "It" Girl must look good
& to assist, here we find to port fwd the
Body Waves Fitness Center complete with "State-of-the-art
machines & a spectacular ocean view that will leave you
breathless!" An aerobic room, free weights, cardio machines with
flat screen TVs. High/low impact aerobics, yoga, body sculpting &
spinning classes. Open 24/7. A nice area, but seemingly little used
on our trip; perhaps people are not worried over 2 nights of indulgence.
Body Waves
Fitness Center |
Body Waves
Fitness Center |
Yin & Yang
Spa Reception |
Deck 12 fwd is the
huge Yin & Yang Spa & Beauty Salon. Hair, Nails, Thermal
Suite - Steam Rooms & Saunas, Thalassotherapy Pool, Relaxation
Areas with a great forward view plus many types of treatments
including Acupuncture. [Mandara Spa]. I lost count of the number of
treatment rooms, but this really is a lovely area; shame everything
has a price tag. You can be rejuvenated after that evening spent in
Bliss, have your teeth whitened after all the red wine and don't
forget to ask about the fennel colon cleanse.. [that spoils it a bit!]. |
Thalassotherapy Pool |
Hair Salon |
Treatment Room |
Also on Deck 12,
mid to port, are the Teens Leopard Lounge, Video Arcade & Tree
Tops Kid's Club - Norwegian Gem. The Leopard Lounge - "Chic,
modern and way too cool for parents." 13 - 17yr olds, movies,
parties, sports, activities & get-togethers. Dance floor, non-alcoholic
bar, video juke box, table football & air hockey. 3 x 42"
plasma & 2 x 23" LCD flat screen TVs. Supervised by NCL
Youth Councillors & transforms into a teen disco |
Teens Leopard Lounge |
Tree Tops Kid's
Club - "Kids rule. It's all about their wants and needs. After
all they're on vacation too." Kid's crew programme for kids 2 -
12. Computer & movie room - Nintendo Wii. Wading pool, soft play
area & jungle gym. Children's activities supervised by fun and
qualified councillors. This is a bright fun area, with lovely sea
views. All the youngsters seemed to be having a whale of a time. Each
child needs to be registered and signed in and out by a parent/guardian. |
Teens Leopard Lounge |
The long hallway
leading to the Leopard Lounge is lined with framed posters of singers
more akin to my era than the current generation I felt [unless some
have made a come-back of course].
The Video Arcade
is small but seemed to be well utilised with a number of machines. |
Tree Tops Kid's Club |
Finally up Deck 13
fwd, is the Spinnaker Lounge, my favourite lounge. Off the port
entrance is a small Chapel where one can renew wedding vows. The
Chapel also doubles as a meeting room for 24. The Spinnaker Lounge is
the home of Norwegian Gem's funky chairs. Spoon shaped, sunflowers,
double bright yellow sofas and more line the sides; certainly
interesting and surprisingly comfortable. This is an observation
lounge with wonderful views especially from a bright blue sunflower
in the area forward over a bridge wing. The centre of the lounge is
more conservative with seating arranged around tables to watch the
bands, ballroom dancing, 50s & 60s Sock Hop, Karaoke, Disco or
whatever else may be going on. A lively venue during the day with
various indoor games being played, Foosball, darts, pinball,
shuffleboard etc, as well as at night.
Spinnaker Lounge |
Funky Chairs |
My Blue
Sunflower - otherwise occupied |
Star Bar
through to Cagney's |
The Star Bar,
perfect for the pre-dinner cocktail when dining at Cagney's, or at
any other time from noon onwards. A lovely lounge with wonderful
views to stb and over the Tahitian Pools areas forward. "Think
of the gangsters-of-the-roaring-twenties décor", guns as
door handles and bullet holes in the name plaque. Cagney's Steakhouse
encompasses two areas, the smaller area being through the Star Bar
with the larger area and open kitchen across a hallway. La Cucina
Italian Restaurant [Deck 12, aft] also has a small outdoor eating
area, part of The Great Outdoors, and is really very much akin to an
open air country kitchen with 'Mama's Cooking'.. curiously the tiles
on the floor are carpet. |
Cagney's Steakhouse |
Each of the 3
Stairwells aboard Norwegian Gem is decorated with large murals of
different themes. The cabin hallways are bright in colours, with the
cabins having 'slatted' doors and dials to let the cabin steward know
when to make up or turn down one's cabin, if you remember to turn it
that is!
All over Norwegian
Gem are various pieces of interesting artwork to look at, the lights
too are worth a mention. Much thought has gone into the detail of the
fixtures and fittings, which I hope not too many passengers just pass by. |
Forward
Stairwell, Decks 5/6 |
Forward
Stairwell, Decks 11/12 |
Deckplans |
Deck 7 Directions |
Deck 9 Hallways |
Meyer Werft Plaque |
There is a Bridge
viewing area to port on Deck 11, but the curtains are only open when
not in port and during the daytime. Unfortunately although I visited
twice, on both occasions they were closed. There are also a couple of
radar and information screens to peer at following the ship's route.
The uppermost
interior areas of Norwegian Gem are the Courtyard [41 & 53sq m]
and Garden Villas [311sq m], midships on deck 14, with two Owner's
Suites [77sq m] above on Deck 15. What wonderful views! All have a
separate living room, private balcony, dining room, butler &
concierge service with access to a private courtyard with pool, hot
tub and private sun deck. The Garden Villas have a Grand Piano, 3
separate bedrooms, each with a private bathroom and one with
whirlpool tub, along with a private garden containing a hot tub,
terrace, dining area and sun deck. All very comfortable and luxurious
with many other incidentals included depending on the type of Villa chosen.
Much of my time
aboard Norwegian Gem was spent looking at the ground. No, not at my
feet, but the carpets;) They are all fun, bright and often depict the
lounge or bar one is in at the time. Not carpets one would have in
one's own home, but still, I am sure if small rugs were available in
the boutiques aboard any of NCL's newer ships, many would be purchased.
Tequila |
Photo Gallery |
Gem Club Casino |
Blue Lagoon |
Shakers Martini
& Cock'l Bar |
Norwegian Gem is
indeed lovely ship and there is so much more one could show in
detail. This is only a fairly brief overview to outline the various
lounges, restaurants and entertainment facilities aboard. Many more
photos, including some menus, prices and scanned Freestyle Dailies
can be found here.
|
|