Check In
Along with your eDocs, you'll need to bring your passport and/or required travel documentation. Every guest needs to have proper identification to board the ship.
Review what identification documents are accepted here.
Complete online check-in beginning 21 days prior to sailing, but no later than February 5, 2025 using the Reservation Number in the email titled "Your Reservation Number Is Here!". Before you begin your online check-in process, here is a helpful overview.
Is it 2 weeks prior to sailing and you still haven't received your reservation number? Contact us and we can help.
All purchases on the ship are made with your Norwegian keycard. As you complete online check-in, you will be asked to provide a method of payment for all your onboard purchases. All purchases you make on the ship will be tied to this method of payment. We recommend doing this during your online check-in!
If you prefer to wait, you may put down a method of payment or open a cash account once on board.
Read up on all the details here.
Once checked in, you may book a shore excursion for our Port Day in Costa Maya, make dinner reservations for a specialty restaurant, or book an appointment for Mandara Spa to relax and rejuvenate between all of the amazing music!
Use our event schedule to help plan a time that works best for you!
Once everyone in your cabin has completed online check-in with Norwegian, you can print out your eDocs. (You will not be able to print until all guests in the cabin are checked in.) If your party is traveling and arriving to the terminal together, you only need to print and bring one copy of your eDocs.
This option is available on Norwegian's website up to 72 hours prior to sailing.
Prepare
Need a contact number to give loved ones at home? From the USA, they can dial 1.888.NCSHIPS (1.888.627.4477). From anywhere outside of the USA, please dial 1.732.335.3280. Let them know the name of the ship is Norwegian Gem.
Photos and short video clips are allowed. However, please respect your fellow guests and be unobtrusive when taking photos or video clips.
The following are not permitted at any performances or activities:
- Detachable lenses longer than 3”
- Filming an entire performance
- Flash photography
- GoPro or similar style action cameras
- iPad or other tablets
- Professional audio or video equipment
- Selfie sticks, monopods or tripods
Sixthman reserves the right to ask guests to stop filming or taking photos at any time to preserve the guest experience and honor the wishes of our artists.
Please note that with the exception of wine and champagne, all guests are prohibited from bringing alcohol on board our ships.
The following corkage fees apply, per bottle, for any wine or champagne brought on board.
750 ml Bottle: $15.00 USD
1,000 ml Bottle: $20.00 USD
1,500 ml Magnum: $30.00 USD
To speed up the process of checking your wine or champagne at the port, print out this form and bring it with you.
Seat saving is not allowed.* While it is fine to run to the bathroom or grab a drink, leaving items in seats unattended in order to save them is not permitted.
Towels left on seats will be regularly cleared by Sixthman and NCL staff. Any personal items left unattended will be collected and turned into lost and found at the NCL Guest Services desk in the Atrium (Deck 7, MID).
Things that DO NOT save a seat:
- A towel.
- Tipping a chair forward.
- Your purse, backpack, notebook, or any other personal item.
- A friend or partner saving multiple seats for others that are not present. Again, a quick bathroom trip or heading to the bar to grab a drink is FINE! Heading to a show and leaving one person to hold seats is NOT.
- Anything other than you.
Things that do save a seat:
- YOU!
Always feel free to ask someone from NCL to pick up towels or clear chairs of items if a Sixthman person isn't around (our staff isn't working on the pool deck when there isn't programming).
*Limited accessible seating areas are available and a Sixthman representative will be working in those areas during show times if you are in need of any assistance.
Smoking is prohibited indoors, in staterooms and balconies, as well as outdoor dining areas, and other various outdoor areas on the ship. This includes regular cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.
Smoking is only permitted on the Port side of the Pool Deck (Decks 12 and 13), in the casino (limited to those engaged in active game play during gaming hours), and on the Starboard side of Deck 7.
Smoking inside your stateroom or on your balcony will result in a $250 USD cleaning charge added to your onboard account.
Packing
To check in at the Port of Miami and board the ship, you must have proper documentation. Do not place these items in your checked bag. Take it with you into the cruise terminal as you'll need to present it at the check in counter. You will not be allowed to board the ship without proper documentation.
If you printed out your eDocs, have them handy when you arrive at the port. It will help speed up the check in process!
If you were unable to print your eDocs prior to embarkation day, please proceed to the port with proper documentation. You will still be able to board the ship even if you don't have your eDocs.
Check out our helpful packing list here to make sure you're all set!
- Travel Documents. On boarding day, you should bring your printed e-documents with you as well as a PASSPORT or other accepted documentation. If you forget everything else, please remember your documents.
- Clothing or costumes for our Theme Nights.
- Please plan to carry on any fine wine or champagne you wish to enjoy on the cruise. You will pay the corkage fee in the port. To speed up the process of checking your wine or champagne at the port, print out this form and bring it with you. DON'T PACK ANY ALCOHOL IN YOUR LUGGAGE.
- Bring cash, if you plan to purchase items while in port.
- Lots of sunscreen!
- Please plan to carry on with you any essentials, particularly any medication or valuables, since it could take several hours for your checked bags to be delivered to your cabin. You can carry on items that measure 24''w x 16''h (there is no restriction on the length of the bag). Be sure you keep your boarding documentation with you (passport, etc). DON’T PACK YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS IN YOUR CHECKED BAG.
Review what to leave behind while you're packing your suitcase.
Tips for the Terminal
Lighten your load! Check your bags with a porter before you enter the cruise terminal for easy boarding.
Bags will be delivered to your room by 8:00pm ET so be sure to keep anything you might need in your carry-on bag (passport, medicine, etc.).
*Please note that curbside porters are not employees of Norwegian and it’s customary to tip them $1 per bag.
You can keep your shoes on but belts and laptops will need to go into a bin for screening. Also, wine and champagne need be taken out. Just like at the airport, throw away open drink containers and empty your pockets.
For your theme night attire, please keep in mind that anything that may look like a weapon may be seized by security agents so it's better to leave those items safely at home.
If you brought wine or champagne, stop at the table immediately after security to pay the corkage fee
The following corkage fees apply, per bottle, for any wine or champagne brought on board.
750 ml Bottle: $15.00 USD
1,000 ml Bottle: $20.00 USD
1,500 ml Magnum: $30.00 USD
To speed up the process of checking your wine or champagne at the port, print out this form and bring it with you. Please note, the corkage fee also applies to twist-off bottles.
I'm on board, now what?
The ship's crew will make an announcement over the loudspeaker when all cabins are ready!
Remember, should you choose to check your bags outside the cruise terminal, know that they may be delivered as late as 8:00pm, so keep items you’ll need until then in a carry-on.
If you choose to settle your account with cash, a minimum deposit of $150.00 USD will be required. To set up your cash account, please visit Norwegian Guest Services (located in the Atrium, Deck 7, MID) as soon as you board the ship.
Grab a bite to eat at one of our complimentary dining spaces!
Grand Pacific Main Dining Room (entrance on Deck 7, AFT) - American and Seasonal Fare
O'Sheehan's Bar & Grill (Deck 8, MID) - Pub Style
Garden Cafe (Deck 12, MID) - Buffet
Great Outdoors (Deck 12, AFT) - Buffet
Eat at one of these specialty dining restaurants for an additional charge. Make a dinner reservation on board by visiting Orchid Garden (Deck 7, MID) or via cabin telephone.
Sushi and Sashimi Bar (Deck 7, MID)
Teppanyaki (Deck 7, MID) - Hibachi
Orchid Garden (Deck 7, MID) - Asian Cuisine
La Cucina (Deck 12, MID) Italian
Cagney's Steakhouse (Deck 13, MID)
Moderno Churrascaria (Deck 13, MID) - Brazilian Steakhouse
Keep an eye out around the ship for our Sixthman photographers! They will be wearing Sixthman CREW shirts and will be snapping pics throughout your vacation. These photos will be available for digital download (for FREE!) approximately 7-10* days after debarkation.
*Our photographers are often sailing on several consecutive events so times for photo uploads may vary. Your patience is appreciated!
You will also see NCL photographers set up in different areas and walking around the ship. They will have on an NCL uniform consisting of a polo and their NCL name tag. These photos are available for purchase in the photo gallery (Deck 7, AFT) while we are sailing. These are no longer available once we debark the ship so be sure to pick yours up by the final day of sailing!
During the event
We'll provide a full copy of the event schedule in your cabin on embark day.
The schedule will be perforated where you can tear it off and carry it in your lanyard so you'll never miss a minute of the action. You can also check out the online schedule here!
Any schedule updates and announcements made in venues will be posted on sixthman.net/today and you are able to access this website for free when connected to the ship's Wi-Fi.
Cruise Norwegian is Norwegian Cruise Line's app where guests can access an array of information, pre-cruise and during the cruise.
Learn more about the features of the app here.
Instructions for using Sixthman.net/today:
- In your settings, put your mobile device in airplane mode.
- Connect to the ships WiFi (NCL_Internet_Gem) - no internet package needed!
- Navigate to sixthman.net/today. Follow steps 4 and 5 to add this to your home screen for easy access throughout your trip.
The hours for our merch store, Sixthman guest services, Friends of Bill, and more are listed at the bottom of our online schedule.
The hours for our merch store are listed at the bottom of our online schedule.
Visit our official Boots on the Water Merch Store in the Library (Deck 12, FWD).
Blue Shirts:
Event Needs
Yellow Shirts:
Security Needs
White Shirts:
Ship Needs
No problem! Visit Norwegian Guest Services in the Atrium (Deck 7, MID). They're open 24 hours and can replace your keycard.
Pro-tip: Norwegian's guest services team can also let you know your onboard spending balance at any time.
Use decks 7 and 12—you can walk all the way from the front to the back of the ship on these decks. Then take the FWD (front), MID, or AFT (back) elevators or stairs up or down.
TradeWinds boutiques are located on Deck 7, FWD. They're stocked with lots of the amenities you just can't live without.
Ring your stateroom steward at "00", and they will ensure your beds are arranged to your preference before evening turn down.