gardenbug22

I sat down after my cruise on NCL and thought about what cuts bothered me the most.

I was sad the the MDR food quality and variety had been greatly reduced. I was not too impressed with portions when I recieved a spear of broccoli that was the size I cut for dips.

I felt with the cuts in staffing, or additions to their day that the  staff was un neccessarily stressed out, and it showed. it took the shine off the cruise.ONe of the things I always enjoy is my interaction with the crew they were pleasant but definately on the run.

  I was further disapointed with  the lack of good entertainment/ shows and the lack of good live  music all over the ship I missed the ship's band and entertainment crew.  

I am not sure why they had an activities schedule, as it was primarily only trival pursuit games and spa pushes.  There was not of the fun stuff .. staff introductions of folks from various countries, no ice sculpture demo, or  towel folding demos. no mr hairy legs competition..no staff variety show. Craft classes.. Basically it was a flat schedule. 

Oh and did I mention our cd was invisible...?

And yes I do miss the turn down of my bedding at night and towel animal... but that is the least of my complaints..

On 8/30/2023 at 5:15 PM, Cruise till you drop said:

I completely understand that cruise lines suffered financially during the Covid lockdown.  It’s abundantly clear that in order to get out of debt, things need to change.

However, for me there are 2 things

 

1) I wish cruise lines would be a little bit more transparent about these moves instead of just cramming it down our throats while bookings are high

 

2) I don’t think this is a forever problem as they will get out of debt at some point.  However I worry that some of the changes will be forever and only serve the cruise line profitability long after debts are paid

I don't think you are wrong. I suspect once they have financially recovered their debt that they will not restore the level of service of service we once enjoyed.

22 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Have they REALLY raised fares all that much?  It sure does not look like it in promotional ads.

 

But there is NO DOUBT about their cutting services — which was ordained a few years before Covid hit when they ordered their new classes of mega-ships.  Are you aware of how long it takes to start filling cabins after a line decides to order a ship?

It's funny I wondered how much the mega ships that they keep pushing out had something to do with the cuts. Altho.. covid is a convient excuse.   We were docked next to the Prima in Bermuda and I spoke to one of the passengers asking how she liked the ship ... she said she was more envious of us with the smaller Pearl, that the Prima was not all that and a bag of chips. 

34 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

Carnival and Royal did the same.

As well as taking the turn down service and the towel animals going away... NCL has increased the  assigned number of rooms  a housekeeper has to clean per day. I believe I was told that they are responsible for 35 rooms per day.  You could tell that they were frazzled. there was no more  friendly chat with us as we traveled up the hall way to our rooms, and it was a courtesy "good morning Mamm "  if we encountered our room cleaner coming out of our room. Normally they "check in" to see if we are having a good time and make suggestions... I noticed staff overall was understandably pretty stressed out and it  showed in their interactions with us in the MDR, at the Desk in the Attrium and our room stewards.   

19 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

Which cruise line?

NCL.. 

 I was excited to finally be back on a ship after covid calmed down. It was my 10th cruise. 

Things I notced and missed on the ship where the lack of varied activities.  However they sure didn't lack in trivial games and what I call spa pushes!  The Theater was under untilized. We never had the shows put on by the entertainment dancers and band .. which were always something to look forward to. Our ship had a comedian who was  crude do 3 shows and there was a woman who's claim to fame seemed to be kicking up her right leg after every song she sang or story she told. .  The choices, as well as the quality in the food offered in the MDR were greatly reduced. Staff was very stressed out and it showed in the dining room.   The music around the ship is normally top of the line ... this time not so much... Anyone have any thoughts ?  

On 7/13/2023 at 11:24 AM, laudergayle said:

We understand the reason for the cuts, but they are  DEEP and have started to greatly impact the NCL cruise experience.  We have one more cruise in 2023–which was booked in 2022 before the 2023 budget constraints.  Even though I continue to shop for cruises, we currently have no NCL cruises booked for 2024.  There are a couple we would like to book but likely won’t book anything until after January 2024 when another round of budgetary impacts (good or bad) are announced.  We do have a “trial” MSC cruise in August, I just wished MSC had more US departure ports and itineraries. Might have to do a look-see at Carnival Celebration and Mardi Gras.  

I too understand the need for the cuts, however I think they have been deeper than needed or even wise. ( NCL.. I hope you are listening!)  I just completed my 10th cruise... and if it had been my first I would have never had taken the next 9. The quality and quanity of the food in the MDR was greatly reduced. Our wait staff was clearly disgruntled and stressed out . I always raved about the music and entertainment on the ships..alas this was not the case.  We had a raunchy comedian, and a singer who like to kick her left leg up about every 90 seconds. NO NCL production shows! The theater was under utilized..  Our CD was the invisible woman... the activities scheduled were either trivia or spa pushes... Really People ? 

Any one know when the CD switch will occur for the Grandeur and who might be the replacement ? Historically Carly B steps in for one of these but I don't see her anywhere listed.

On 11/18/2018 at 3:33 PM, twangster said:

Most of the time the double (or triple for solo suite) are automatic.  1/3 of the time I have to call.  It's easy to do.  Just call them and explain, they'll call resolutions and get it adjusted.  No hassles.  

 

Studio cabins do not get double points.  When you upgraded was it to a studio balcony or a 'normal' double occupancy balcony?  

 Alas I just called RCCL and was told that they do not give double points to solo travelers.  

2004, the NCL Majesty. I was a fill-in for friends, who had someone cancel. I really was not excited about the thought of cruising.h but loved spending time with my friends and the ship was headed to my favorite destination... Bermuda. I loved the smaller ships. Thankfully it was nothing like the Love Boat and I became hooked on cruising. What I noticed that has changed is there is less enrichment classes and more things like mini golf, ropes course, water slides and the like.

I have seen the dogs a couple times on my cruises to Bermuda, in both cases they were walking down the hall with their handler. One trip after a dog visit, we watched a man get escorted off the ship and his wife(?) was instructed to pack up the cabin and received the same escort off. The law is clear not to bring drugs into Bermuda. As we are guest on their island ....we need to be respectful.

I use a local TA for my cruises and have been very happy with her. On a whim for a last minute cruise I booked directly with NCL last year, and found I was not a happy camper with the experience. I do better cabin wise as well as with deals and perks with my TA. As far as maintaining control of my trip... I have never found that I lost control of anything when booking with her. She is good about watching the prices and no cost upgrades too.