TX-Patriots-Fan

Hi,

I am planning on purchasing a 7 day Mediterranean in October of 2008. This will be a gift to my wife for our 5 year wedding anniversary.

I am considering 2 cruises / ships:
(1) The Norwegian Gem (sister ship to Pearl)
(2) The Voyager of the Seas

I am very happy with the alternative dining on the Gem (and Pearl) as well as the rock climbing wall and bowling alley...all things that my wife and I would love.

Right now, the Gem is offering better deals for balcony rooms. In particular category BD rooms on deck 8.

I am a little concerned as these rooms appear to have the steel enclosure as opposed to plexi-glass / railing.

I was curious to know if anyone had any experience with staying in a BD category cabin with balcony and whether or not the steel enclosure significantly impacted the view and/or room on the balcony.

Any help / advice you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

alphakitty

Hi TX Patriots Fan....Nice member name there I'm a huge Pats fan myself. It looks to me like the balconies on the Gem are plexiglass. I found these photos ...Hope it helps

Cruise Ships from Papenburg / Germany - Norwegian Gem - August 2007

__________________
Mary

Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

Cruising on Oasis of the Seas
1/23/2010

Carnival Destiny Cruising in: 79 day(s), 8 hour(s), 44 minute(s)

TX-Patriots-Fan

Thanks for the reply, alphakitty.

Yeah, I grew up in Massachusetts (Watertown) and New Hampshire (near Lake Winnepausakee) and am an avid Patriots and Red Sox fan. I live in Texas now, so I get my fill of DirecTV NFL sunday ticket and see the Patriots live whenever they play the Texans (in 2003, we went out to Houston to see them) and the Cowboys (going to see them this year, in Dallas, in October).


Anyway, on the ship...yeah, most of the balcony cabins do have the standard plex-glass 'wall' with stomach high bannister. But, the BD category do not. Take a look at this picture from the site you linked to:
Cruise Ships from Papenburg / Germany - Norwegian Gem - August 2007/wwwIMGP4428

The BDs are the balcony cabins on the 8th deck (the same deck where the life boats are hanging). If you look from front to back, you'll see 5 oceanview cabin windows and then the start of the balcony cabins. You'll see these have the steel enclosure around the balconies rather than the railing / plexi-glass only.

I was just curious to see if anyone has stayed in those type of balcony cabins (BD or BE) on the Pearl and if they had any feedback.


Thanks!

alphakitty

Oh I see what you are saying now They are more enclosed, which might mean more privacy.

__________________
Mary

Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

Cruising on Oasis of the Seas
1/23/2010

Carnival Destiny Cruising in: 79 day(s), 8 hour(s), 44 minute(s)