Listen to our
interview with
Cruise Director,
Ray Carr
Ray Carr
Listen to our
interview with
Hotel Director
Prem Kainikkara
Prem Kainikkara
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A Mediterranean romance onboard the Norwegian Gem – the newest ship in the NCL fleet
Cruising the Mediterranean is a excellent way to explore the history and beauty of Malta, Italy and Southern France
The Norwegian Gem is the newest ship in the fleet
Since
the Phoenicians began using it to ply their commerce thousands of years
ago, the Mediterranean has been crucial to international trade and
commerce. Today, a major part of that commerce is generated by cruise
ships that make travel to Europe accessible and very, very comfortable.
Norwegian Cruise Lines has been a leader in European pleasure cruising
with a variety of itineraries. We recently sailed on board the
Norwegian Gem, the newest ship in the NCL fleet. Our seven day voyage
started in Barcelona, and after a relaxing day at sea, we visited
Malta, Naples (Sorrento & Pompeii), Citivecchia (Rome), Livorno
(Florence & Pisa) and Villefranche (Nice & Monaco) before
returning to Barcelona.
The Gem is the sixth in a
series of ships built for NCL since 2001, beginning with the Norwegian
Star, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade,
and the most recent, The Norwegian Gem, completed in 2007. With each
ship the company and their shipbuilder have made improvements in the
design and onboard technology.
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The Courtyard Suites have their own private
terrace and pool
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Some are little things – like elevators
so smooth you don’t feel them move – to more obvious creature comforts
such the latest in mattresses and luxurious duvet covers. A cruise
industry first is having wireless computer access is available
throughout the ship.
| The Gem has 13 restaurants, 11 bars and
lounges, a bowling alley, a fully equipped gym and the Yin & Yang
Spa and Beauty Centre where you can unwind, indulge and pamper
yourselves. In addition to the treatments offered, you can use the spa
facilities (steam room, sauna, whirlpool, therapeutic pool, and private
lounge area) for a small daily fee or purchase a weekly pass. |
Treat yourselves to a deluxe one-bedroom
balcony
suite
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The Body
Waves fitness staff offer supervised fitness classes or work out on
your own – the center is open 24 hours a day.
The Pool Deck is
the centre of daytime activity with four hot tubs, two heated pools
(one with a corkscrew slide and the other for adults only), Topsiders
Bar, sheltered tables and lounging areas. Overlooking the pool on deck
13 there are more lounge areas, a jogging track (2 ½ times around is a
mile), golf driving range, and basketball court. You’ll also find the
supervised climbing wall, which is hugely popular with the younger,
more nimble crowd. The variety of activities makes The Gem an ideal
ship for a family vacation.
| NCL has continued with the popular
Courtyard Suites, and Garden Villas on The Gem. The Courtyard Suites
have their own private sundeck, and are ideal for families. The Garden
Villas, with their own living and dining rooms, can open out to include
two other bedrooms in addition to the huge master bedroom. |
The elegant Bistro features fine
continental
cuisine
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Concierge
and butler service are included. Again, if you’re travelling with the
family and have the financial means – these suites and villas offer an
excellent opportunity to be together – and at the same time provide
everyone with their personal space.
There is a variety of
accommodations to suit most budgets, from inside to balcony staterooms.
The Gem also offers a large number of adjoining cabins for people
travelling with children.
| During the evening, the
entertainment options on The Gem shift into high gear. The main shows
in the Stardust Theatre (a lovely venue with seating for 1,300) are
high quality productions that could easily be successful in Las Vegas
or Atlantic City. NCL has been a leader in providing first class
entertainment, and the shows we saw on The Gem received enthusiastic
audience response. |
The Pantheon was built in 27 AD,
and
‘recycled’ as a church
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Throughout the ship, you’ll find piano players,
dance bands, and even a string quartet that performed nightly in the
Crystal Atrium, which is the centre of activity onboard.
The
Gem is a great example of the advantages of Freestyle Cruising.
Arriving back from an excursion at 6pm, you have plenty of time to
freshen up before going to dinner because there are no set seatings.
You dine when and where you choose. The Grand Pacific main dining room,
with a sweeping staircase and warm South Pacific décor is a favourite.
While formal dress is optional, this is the “dress-up” dining room for
those two evenings. The specialty restaurants of Cagney’s Steakhouse
and the continental style of Le Bistro are also very popular. Every
meal is “showtime” in the Teppanyaki Restaurant, where Japanese chefs
entertain with their skilful preparation of your meal right in front of
you. Great entertainment for a family dinner or to meet other guests.
| As
the flagship of the Norwegian fleet, The Gem has been the testing
ground for the next generation of Freestyle Cruising, aptly called
Freestyle 2.0. Guests are offered champagne when boarding, Freestyle
Tasting of different menu items from the restaurants, and a Pillow
Menu, (guests can choose from a variety of pillow types), and your
selection of fresh fruit, delivered to your stateroom daily. |
The sun-drenched town centre of Sorrento |
The whole
focus of Freestyle is that the cruise experience is centered on the
guest, rather that ship scheduling. More staff is required to deliver
the a-la-carte services. Instead of mass preparation of food, every
dish is prepared individually. Even the traditional “buffet has evolved
to “action food stations” where much of the food is prepared, rather
that being pre-cooked in the kitchen. In the evening, white linen table
cloths and intimate banquettes transform the Garden Café into a very
pleasant dining area. Long gone are the days of cafeteria-style
dining.
| “The main reason that most of our guests choose this
cruise is because of the excursions we offer to so many historical
places” say Hotel Director Prem Kainikkara. “To be able to visit Malta,
where Western and Middle Eastern civilizations meet; Naples, with
visits to Sorrento and Pompeii; Rome and the Vatican; Florence, Pisa
and the Tuscan countryside; and Villefranche, with visits to Monte
Carlo or Nice; all combine to make this a very dynamic cruise.” |
St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church
and a soul-moving experience |
Prem
is a veteran of the hotel and hospitality industry, have trained with
Hyatt after graduating from Hotel Management school. He went on to hold
management positions with Sofitel before signing on with NCL. His depth
of experience, especially in the 5 star hotel category is a great
benefit to staff and guests on board The Gem. “I am truly proud of our
staff and crew. They come from 64 nations and we all work together.
It’s a fine example of how people from different cultures and
backgrounds can get along.”
| There’s a practical consideration to
opt for ship-organized excursions. The Euro is very strong, but your
excursions are paid onboard in American currency; taking advantage of
the cruise line’s buying power. This isn’t like finding the best beach
in the Caribbean – these are fabulous cities of historical significance
– and a tours with an informed guide are very rewarding. |
The Trevi Fountain – we threw in a coin and yes-
we’ll go back to Rome |
Indeed,
the guests we interviewed were enthusiastic about their tours. The
historical significance of each port of call is compelling. The
limestone walls of Valetta seemingly turn to gold in the morning
sunlight as you sail into Malta. Walking the same streets as the
Crusaders and visiting the huge co-cathedral of St. John and St. Paul,
home of the Knights of St. John is awe-inspiring.
In Naples,
we elected to take an excursion to Sorrento. The local guide provided
an entertaining and informative background to the scenic coastal area
on our way, and we had ample free time to stroll the narrow streets and
sun-drenched village squares of this post-card perfect town. It’s easy
to see why many Montrealers enjoy the temperate winter climate of
Sorrento.
Citivecchia is the port city of Rome, and the only
problem is… which excursion to take? Most of the tours include The
Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica (the world’s largest church) – so
it’s more a question of whether to visit Baroque Rome or Ancient Rome.
I selected Baroque, and visited the narrow cobble stone streets of
central Rome, the Trevi Fountain, the Italian Senate building, the
Pantheon, (built in 27AD and still visited by thousands every day), The
Novorno Square, and finished up with St. Peter’s. In addition the
Basilica, the burial crypts for the Popes, is open downstairs, and it
is a moving experience. They’re all there; beginning with the Apostle
Peter, who went on to become the first Pope.
Our next stop was
Livorno, the port city for Florence, Pisa and the Tuscan countryside.
Again – which tour to take? After a day in Rome – we opted for a
countryside tour of the coastal villages of Cinque Terre. Charming
fishing villages – some accessible only by boat – where the scenery is
terrific and the villagers extend a warm welcome.
Villefranche
is the port city for Monaco and Nice. The cliff-side village of
Villefranche itself is captivatingly beautiful. In addition to the
organized tours, there is train and bus service available - to the
right for Monaco and the Monte Carlo Casino – and to the left for the
beaches of Nice and the famous seaside Boulevard des Anglais.
Then
- it’s all aboard for the return to Barcelona. A fabulous week of
visiting the historical beginnings of The Crusades and the charitable
Knights of St. John in Malta, the rugged beauty of the sun-drenched
Amalfi Coast, Rome, Florence and Villefranche. There is so much to see
that you might want to give serious consideration to a back-to-back two
week cruise, with different types of excursions – a city tour one week
and a countryside excursion the next.
Travel Planner
The
Norwegian Gem sails a 7 day roundtrip itinerary from Barcelona until
mid-November. She then will sail 7 day Bahama & Florida cruises;
(plus a 10 day Southern Caribbean itinerary in January and early
February) before returning to Europe for another Mediterranean season
in April 2009. The Norwegian Jade offers a variety of 10, 12, 13, 14
and two 21 day Mediterranean cruises; and the company also has ships in
other parts of Europe. Transat Holidays offers packages that include
air; with optional hotel extensions in Barcelona. For more information,
please see your travel agent; or visit: www.ncl.com or www.transatholidays.com or call: 1- 866-234-0292. Bon voyage!
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