We arrived expecting to have to wait before check-in opened but it was already up and running so it was a case of out of the car and onto the ship...excellent.

The colourscheme is very toned down compared to NCL Jewel, and that was a good thing (obviously the designers listened to the shreeking of 'where are my sunglasses' from Jewel passengers )

There were a few niggles with the ship itself...Bliss (the brothel made to look like a bowling alley)...I opened one of the entrance doors and the door handle (about a meter or so in length) came off in my hand...and had not been put back when I got off the ship yesterday. The TV in 8505 would not reduce its volume.....and other silly niggles happened, which is why a shakedown cruise is done before the maiden, better that we get the niggly bits than the full fare paying guests

Cagneys was not good. I booked a table for 16 almost as soon as the booking table opened. (On Jewel shakedown we had a table of 14 in Le Bistro and we all sat at the same table), Cagneys was disjointed on 2 tables and one table was well behind the other in service. However, we did have fun...especially when Phil's son had a 24oz Porterhouse steak...that lad can eat though, he got through it The food made up for the service, so was not entirely a complete disaster. The birthday girl was caught right out, the 'deer in headlights' look was definately a picture

Overall, Gem is a stunning ship, the furnishings in the public areas are very different to the normal, even down to the sunloungers outside....there are alot of double beds everywhere, some are very plush and cosy. I am certain that Gem will join her sisters and become a very popular ship.

Personally I found her a bit to big, brash and well...just not my own taste...but that doesn't mean that the ship is lousy by any means, she is beautifully laid out (better flow than NCL Jewel)...I am not keen on the Bliss design and the ship overall size is just not my cup of tea