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.
Complete online check-in between October 19, 2024 - November 6, 2024 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.
During check-in, you'll be prompted to select a time to arrive at the terminal. This is not your boarding time. Boarding will begin after 11:30am.
The Port of Miami Terminal Address is:
Port of Miami
1015 N America Way
Miami, FL 33132
We'll tell you exactly which terminal to go to on embarkation morning!
Now that you've received your NCL reservation number, you may book a shore excursion for shore days in Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas, make dinner reservations for a specialty restaurant, or snag a thermal spa pass for Mandara Spa to relax and rejuvenate between all of the amazing music!
Use our festival 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
*If you have purchased a drink package you will not be charged a corkage fee. You are still required to check your wine or champagne in the terminal.
Learn more about our alcohol policy here.
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.
- 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.
- You don’t need to bring a beach towel (they’re supplied on board).
- Hair dryers. There are hair dryers included in all room types.
- Things to sell. No vending will be allowed on board.
- A Samsung Galaxy Note7. These are now prohibited by Norwegian Cruise Line.
- NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. Guests are prohibited from bringing soft drinks, water, juice, and other non-alcoholic drinks on board. See our beverage policy for more details.
- ALCOHOL AND ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES. Guests are prohibited from bringing liquor and beer on board. However, fine wine or champagne may be brought on board during embarkation. See our alcohol policy for more details. The legal drinking age on board is 21 and is strictly enforced. Alcoholic beverages purchased in a foreign port, or in the ship's gift shop, will be retained by Norwegian until the cruise is completed. Absolutely NO illegal substances are permitted and all persons and bags are subject to search by US Customs during embarkation and debarkation.
What else can't I bring onboard? Per Norwegian Policy: Passengers are not allowed to bring on board the vessel any firearms, weapons of any kind, ammunition, explosive substances or any goods of a dangerous nature, nor animals of any kind, except service or guide animals, provided the passenger notifies NCL prior to the cruise of their intention to bring such animal and agrees to take sole responsibility for any expense, damage, injuries or losses associated with or caused by such animal.
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 outside your cabin 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* of $15.00 each for a 750 ml Bottle or $30.00 each for a 1,500 ml Magnum. Yes, you still have to pay the corkage fee if it's a twist off bottle of wine.
*If you have purchased a drink package you will not be charged a corkage fee. You are still required to check your wine or champagne in the terminal.
I'm on board, now what?
The ship's crew will make an announcement over the loudspeaker when all cabins are ready and that happens around 2:00pm.
Remember, should you choose to check your bags outside the cruise terminal, know that they may be delivered outside of your cabin 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.
Orchid Garden (Deck 7, MID) - Asian Cuisine
Grand Pacific (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 at an additional charge. Make a reservation on board by visiting the Dinner Reservations Desk in O'Sheehan's (Deck 8, MID) on Embark day until 3:00pm or any other day in Garden Cafe (Deck 12, MID). You may also make Dinner Reservations from your cabin telephone.
Sushi and Sashimi Bar (Deck 7, MID)
Teppanyaki (Deck 7, MID) - Hibachi
La Cucina (Deck 12, MID) Italian
Cagney's Steakhouse (Deck 13, MID)
Moderno Churrascaria (Deck 13, MID) - Brazilian Steakhouse
At ANY TIME between when you board the ship and 4:00pm, reference the letter on the bottom right of your keycard for your designated assembly station and head that way to complete the mandatory safety briefing. Sixthman and Norwegian staff will be around to help direct you!
ASSEMBLY STATIONS:
A: Decks 6&7, FWD, Stardust Theater
B: Deck 7, MID, Promenade Deck, Starboard Side
C: Deck 7, MID, Orchid Garden
D: Deck 8 MID, O’Sheehans
E: Deck 6, MID, Le Bistro
F: Deck 6, MID, Magnum’s
G: Deck 6, MID, Indigo Dining
H: Deck 7, AFT, Grand Pacific Dining
K: Deck 7, MID, Promenade Deck, Port Side
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!
Visit BLISS Lounge (Deck 7, AFT) to purchase a beverage package. Please remember that any beverage packages purchased on board would be charged at the regular price for all beverage packages.
During the event
Blue/White CREW Shirts:
Event Needs
Yellow Shirts:
Security Needs
White Shirts:
Ship Needs
Cruise Norwegian is Norwegian Cruise Line's app where guests can access an array of information, pre-cruise and during the cruise. You can also access the messaging feature* to keep in touch with other AmFam cruisers.
Learn more about the features of the app.
*A one-time fee of $9.95 is required to use this feature.
We'll provide a full copy of the festival 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.
Follow along at Sixthman.net/today for live updates, announcements, and more (see more details below).
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.
Though we don’t advocate being absorbed in the “real world” via your mobile device for the whole trip, we have to admit, your phones give us a great way to communicate with you on board.
We’ve worked with NCL to allow access to sixthman.net/today for FREE if you’re connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi.
You’ll have access to:
- Latest Schedule: Due to weather or unforeseen circumstances schedule changes may occur. As soon as we make a change on board, it will be updated!
- Your Schedule: Did you customize your online schedule? View only your preferred shows and activities!
- Missed Announcements: Bing Bong! Were you rockin’ out at a show or chatting with a fellow cruiser and missed a ship announcement? No problem! Any important announcements and updates will be posted.
- Venues: Check out the schedule organized by specific venues.
- Ask Sixthman: If you have an event-specific issue or question for Sixthman and miss us during scheduled Guest Services Desk hours, send us a note! We’ll resolve your issue as quickly as possible between the hours of 10:00am and 10:00pm.
Go there now. Save a shortcut to your home screen and you’ll be all set, even before you board!
The hours for our merch store, Sixthman guest services, Friends of Bill, and more are listed at the bottom of our online schedule.
Visit our official Andrew McMahon's Holiday From Real Merch Store in the Library (Deck 12, FWD).
All shows will be general admission, so you can come and go as you please!
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.