Sailing Solo on the Norwegian Gem: A Surprising Oceanview Adventure
Ok, Ok. OK! It’s been a minute, and I apologize adventurers. There isn’t any excuse for the delay in a post, but creating great vacations for clients, and now planning my own Disney Wedding has taking a bit more time out of my schedule. Today is just for your reading. Let’s talk about Norwegian Cruise Line, my first experience on their product, and my first time sailing alone!
Every Crown Has a Gem, Wait… I’m from The Gem City. IRONY?
Norwegian Gem may not be the newest in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet—launched in 2007 as part of the Jewel class—but she has a reputation for delivering a classic, comfortable cruise experience. Carrying just over 2,300 passengers, the Gem offers a nice balance: large enough for variety, small enough that you can actually recognize familiar faces by day two. Maybe this was a sign as I began planning for my first NCL experience. The memories in store were more gems for my crown of memories.
Boarding as a Solo Traveler
Boarding was smooth and efficient—no stress, no chaos, just that exciting moment when you step onto the ship and realize you’ve officially left land behind. Every one was so friendly and offering advice in the arrivals hall of the cruise line. I guess the smell of NEWBIE has lingering. It’s one thing I actually love to do when traveling. It isn’t just my perspective, but others too. Whether lifers, first timers, or even if they think they are aficionados, I want to collaborate their thoughts. I booked an Oceanview stateroom for myself, which felt practical for a solo sailor. It was a bit small for even me around the bed, which would make me feel cramped with a cabin mate, unless we had the beds separated into two twins. The bathroom was a typical cruise line bathroom. SMALL. I would have liked to have it designed a bit different. On Disney you have two split bathrooms in most cabins to allow more than one person to get ready at the same time.
The one thing I found lacking was my stateroom attendant. Yes, I did receive my bid for an upgrade 3 days before, but the amenities that was to be delivered for being an advisor never arrived. I received a knock shortly after arriving for my luggage, but I had already received mine and had unpacked. The last guests who evidently upgraded too didn’t reprint their tags, but the room next to me were family and said the bags were there. I never saw my stateroom host after that. Completely non-existent. I like that on other products, you see your stateroom host, and they make sure your stay is everything you wanted, needed and more. The caveat to that,… I believe staterooms are for sleeping, getting ready to eat, and showering. So it isn’t a loss there, I guess I could have called if I needed anything.
BACK TO SOLO SAILING
I’ll admit, I had a moment of doubt. Cruising solo sounds adventurous, but would it actually be fun? Would I be eating dinner by myself, watching families and couples around me? Spoiler alert: I was wrong. Within hours, I had met fellow cruisers who were friendly, welcoming, and ready to include me in the fun. Who knew I would already have received a dinner invite from a new friend, had two martinis with a group of three that would become daily conversation… and then my newest cruise buddies, Tracy and Bradley.
Norwegian is known for being solo-traveler-friendly, and the More at Sea program is a big reason why. Events and gatherings gave me a natural way to meet other travelers. One highlight was meeting Tracy—the only Ambassador-level Latitudes member on the ship. She was a walking cruise encyclopedia, full of stories that made me feel like I’d known her for years. Tracy was great fun to learn about her experiences on NCL, why it’s her favorite, but laughing and getting to know her was a great experience in my book of travel. Bradley is another. One of the most unexpected joys of this sailing was meeting another solo traveler, a fellow gay cruiser who was rediscovering his rhythm after a breakup. Sharing meals and conversations reminded me that cruising solo doesn’t mean being alone—it often means finding people you’d never have met otherwise.
Dining: Hits & Comparisons
One of my favorite parts of any cruise: the dining. On Gem, two dinners stood out:
Moderno Churrascaria – Norwegian’s Brazilian steakhouse, where you’ll lose track of how many skewers of grilled meats arrive at your table. Fantastic atmosphere and flavors.
Cagney’s Steakhouse – often called the best steakhouse at sea. And while it was excellent, my personal ranking still has Palo Steakhouse on Disney in first place, with Chops Grille on Royal Caribbean as runner-up. (I’ll keep giving Cagney’s a chance to win me over, though.) Tracy joined us after inviting us to lunch with her. She loves a good wine, and I’m here for it. I can’t wait to match our schedules to sail again.
Ports of Call
Nassau, Bahamas – I stayed onboard. Once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it, and sometimes a quiet ship day is the real luxury. I had more time and space to explore!
Great Stirrup Cay – Norwegian’s private island. Small but beautiful, with crystal-clear water. A storm canceled ziplining, and activity options felt limited, but I could see the potential. With Norwegian’s ongoing updates, I have no doubt it’ll shine brighter on my next visit.
Meanwhile, Greg and his family were only about 10 miles away on Disney’s Castaway Cay. Two islands, two cruise lines, one big coincidence—and yes, both ended the day under the same thunderstorms.
Final Impressions
The last evening brought great conversation, laughter, and that bittersweet feeling of an adventure ending. Of course, in true “me” fashion, I managed to slip on a wet deck (graceful as ever). Thankfully, Norwegian’s crew was outstanding—helpful, attentive, and quick to make sure I was fine. I do write this as I wait for my scheduled MRI on my knee Thursday. UGH. An older injury that’s definitely been woken up again. WHY ME.
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. Sailing solo on Norwegian Gem turned out to be one of my most memorable cruise experiences. The ship felt welcoming, the solo programs worked exactly as intended, and the dining delivered some great highlights.
For anyone considering a solo cruise—or even those debating between cruise lines—Norwegian Gem proved that the right ship can make all the difference. If you’re curious about Norwegian or wondering which cruise line might be the best fit for your travel style, let’s chat. I’d be happy to help you find the perfect sailing, whether it’s with NCL, Disney, Royal Caribbean, or beyond.
