fin

Have cruised NCL since 2004, under three CEOs.

My opinion...the line has gotten dramatically worse, to the point where it is no longer one that I will choose, instead of the first (often only) one I look at.

Not in the mood to be accused of 'nit picking', so will keep my specifics to myself. They have been articulated very plainly here, over and over and over again by a wide variety of people from differing backgrounds and often with extensive cruising experience.

What IS irritating are those self professed experts who believe that truth only comes from a four digit post count, people that respond to valid criticisms with "but all the lines are doing it" and people who continue with the oh so sad refrain "but at least I'm on a cruise" as if that compensates for smelly toilets, dripping ceilings, lying or at least incompetent staff, non responsive headquarters staff and so much more.

I am truly glad I had my experiences when I did, including trans oceanic and around the horn. It WAS nice while it lasted, but like so much else today, has turned to a basically mediocre, third rate, borderline experience. Sad.

If this is now considered normal, let alone acceptable behavior, I am sincerely glad that our three day Sky trip in August was out last on that ship.

Coupled with what happened at embarkation today, NCL seems to have created something of a monster here. I feel sincerely sorry for some passengers expecting something very different who find themselves enmeshed in this kind of insulting and arrogant behavior.

It used to be MUCH better!

I am still shaking my head over the idea that giving free booze on a cheap cruise is a good idea. Their markup on booze is one of their biggest money makers, and quick turnaround cruises to mediocre destinations at very low prices is going to already attract (and note it already has, ref the loudspeaker issue which WAS the same ship) the kind of people who will happily drink way too much if it is free.

Just for reference, we did recently sail that ship on a three nighter.

NO quality cruise line should permit that kind of behavior, with or without specific customer complaints. It is conditions like that which can brand the sky as a low-cost, low class operation.

Was the two nighter filled to capacity? Approx how much were rooms on the cruise to nowhere?

It just ain't the same since they quit the 747s. NOTHING can compare to being on Maho when one took off.

Why did it leave hours late last night?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and certainly a video is worth pages of uninformed speculation and conjecture.

Once something appears on the www, it does not go away. It may (or not) be removed by one source, but by then, as the saying goes, it is viral. Human nature being what it is, many people will want to watch it, in some cases probably multiple times.

It does appear that sincere efforts were made to assist him,

Further to the NCL suite experience as related by MMMD.

I dislike speaking in generalities, but having just recently experienced my first (and possibly last) NCL suite experience, I am left with the feeling that they promise a lot that they do not deliver.

It does seem plausible that one single lazy worker can create an experience a good deal less enjoyable than what one had paid for. Our cabin staff were pleasant and adequate, but nothing more. As with many of the cabin staff, I got the impression they were quite overworked (Not by their complaints however).

And I thank the OP for keeping me off crowded, badly designed and oversold floating hotels.

But know that the railings on some suites (8002) are high enough that while you can eat there, you won't be able to see much.

We met Barry in an elevator and enjoyed talking to him about some mutual interests. So we did catch his show, and yes, audience participation is certainly the cornerstone of his success. (He has been doing this for a great many years).

Today, Friday, is the second day in a row showing NO cruise ships in Nassau on the webcam located there. In fact I never knew that Atlantis lies in a direct line behind where they dock.

Current update. In Bahamas moving slowly southwest. Currently it is 5mph shy of being a cat 4.

If you need to ask, perhaps one bottle is too much.

This is the first day in my memory when the Nassau webcam shows no cruise ships at all there.

The storm is edging toward cat 4.

This is a partial cut and paste from the US Dept of State website, copied minutes ago...

CRIME: The criminal threat level for New Providence Island is rated as critical by the Department of State. New Providence Island has experienced a spike in crime that has adversely affected the traveling public, with a spate of more violent criminal activity between 2009 and 2013. The U.S. Embassy has received multiple reports indicating tourists have been robbed at gunpoint or knifepoint in tourist locations in the downtown areas of Nassau, to include the cruise ship docks and the Cable Beach commerce areas; several of these incidents occurred during daylight hours. Burglaries, larcenies and “snatch-and-grab” crimes happen in Nassau and U.S. citizens have been victims of these crimes as well. The U.S. Embassy has received reports of assaults, including sexual assaults, in diverse areas such as in casinos, outside hotels, or on cruise ships. The Bahamas has the highest incidence of rape in the Caribbean according to a 2007 United Nations report on crime, violence, and development trends. The majority of sexual assaults reported occurred after excessive consumption of alcohol. The loss of ability to remember facts and details due to alcohol consumption makes prosecution of sexual assaults more difficult. Much of the violent crime occurs outside tourist spots, such as in the “over-the-hill” section of Nassau (the area inland from Bay Street, to the South of Bay Street, behind the tourist district), but can occur anywhere, including in areas frequented by tourists. Home break-ins, theft, and

Well, it has already been said here and said well, but the basic truth, in my opinion, is that only boring people are bored for very long.

We were on that cruise too, and don't find much to disagree with what you say. I think some inside cabins may have gone for $147 per guest.

Others here will likely say the obvious, which is that if you choose to sail in hurricane season, your port choices are not guaranteed. But it is cheap.

Some of these comments range from jaw dropping to stomach churning.

IMO, one of the big reasons for our society being in the horrid mess which it seems to be in, is because the words PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY have been replaced by "Here are all the reasons it is NOT MY FAULT".

Of particular note to me was the inference that perhaps they are alcoholics. Seemingly this then gives them "just cause" to delay four thousand other passengers.

Sadly, it "don't work that way"!! Alcoholics hit a bottom and quit, or they die --- hopefully before killing others along the way. If they are, they just got their recovery postponed indefinitely by a well meaning Mom who obviously had little exposure to Al-Anon, where one learns that all the 'right' things to do with a suffering person work backwards with alcoholics.

007

Thanks for the good info here. When I booked my upcoming suite, they did not confirm either my email nor my physical address, and as a result both the email and other documents were delayed. Both had changed since my last cruise, and one or the other of us should have mentioned it.

I have read this and similar posts with great interest, because I have booked my first NCL cruise in over ten years for later this month.

Last decade, I cruised NCL six times and enjoyed some experiences which could only be accurately described as "unbelievable" (good, not bad).

Much of the wonderful nature of those cruises was an almost direct result of the CEO at the time, with whom I enjoyed a very pleasant series of email exchanges. From what I read here, it seems his replacement has now also left.

Does anyone have the email address of the new CEO of NCL to share here?

I have little expectation that my upcoming cruise will be any where near the level of several of some of the past ones, although delighted to see that there WILL be one holdover on the crew which is wonderful. And again, Cruise Critic has really enhanced the enjoyment of my cruising experiences, if only to tailor my expectations to realistic levels.

Thanks King, but as you said, the video pretty well covers it.

Can you see over the balcony railing while sitting in the furniture at the table?

Were your experiences with the staff pleasant?

Many thanks Max. JUST what I was looking for. Somewhat embarrassed now that I didn't even think to search anywhere OFF cruisecritic!