NCL Sky 12/4-12/7 - Ups and downs

[pianomanorlando]

So... we just got back from a 3 night on Sky. I've read all kinds of positive and negative reviews of this ship. After 17 cruises with various cruise lines, I don't know what people complain about. The ship is modern, spacious, and for sure beats anything RCCL or Carnival have going in the short-cruise market.

 

That being said, there were some issues. We missed Great Stirrup Cay due to weather. I know... it happens... but this is our second cruise with NCL and it happened both times (it has happened to us on RCCL too). I could live with that. As we were setting off to dinner and a night of [excessive?] gambling on our last evening, there was an announcement that there was a medical emergency on board and we would be returning to Miami immediately. The casinos and shops would all be closing shortly as a result. No gambling for us.

 

In 17 cruises where plenty of the typical 'issues' have occurred, I have never once asked to be compensated for anything. My wife and I are not now, nor have we ever been complainers. However, this time I think enough went wrong that we should have been offered something. All of our plans for both the daytime and evening of the day were scrapped.

 

I am curious to know what others think. Is it worth complaining to NCL? As a non-complainer, I am curious what others have done.

[Planer's Edge]

What else went wrong other than the medical evac and missing GSC? :confused:

 

PE

[SeaShark]

So... we just got back from a 3 night on Sky. I've read all kinds of positive and negative reviews of this ship. After 17 cruises with various cruise lines, I don't know what people complain about. The ship is modern, spacious, and for sure beats anything RCCL or Carnival have going in the short-cruise market.

 

That being said, there were some issues. We missed Great Stirrup Cay due to weather. I know... it happens... but this is our second cruise with NCL and it happened both times (it has happened to us on RCCL too). I could live with that. As we were setting off to dinner and a night of [excessive?] gambling on our last evening, there was an announcement that there was a medical emergency on board and we would be returning to Miami immediately. The casinos and shops would all be closing shortly as a result. No gambling for us.

 

In 17 cruises where plenty of the typical 'issues' have occurred, I have never once asked to be compensated for anything. My wife and I are not now, nor have we ever been complainers. However, this time I think enough went wrong that we should have been offered something. All of our plans for both the daytime and evening of the day were scrapped.

 

I am curious to know what others think. Is it worth complaining to NCL? As a non-complainer, I am curious what others have done.

 

I realize that you missed a port because the weather was too rough to safely transport guests ashore.

 

I also realize that your plans had to be scrapped because some guest (possibly crewmember?) was suffering a medical emergency.

 

I don't know if those were the only issues, however, they are the only ones that you mentioned.

 

In order to give a proper opinion, I'd like to have more information. Specifically, what did you do...while onboard the ship...to address your concerns. To whom did you address these concerns? How did you present it? What was their reaction? What was done/offered as compensation? What did you expect to be offered?

 

With more information I might be able to give a reasoned opinion. However, unless you took care of this on the ship, I believe that you didn't handle this correctly. Sorry, but I firmly believe that issues (real and or perceived) should be addressed while onboard....preferably immediately. The degree of sympathy that I can offer drops sharply after disembarkation when nothing was addressed onboard.

[LJH1]

However, this time I think enough went wrong

 

 

So what else went wrong? You mentioned GSC and you had to come home early.

[sottovoce]

I suppose they could have dumped the medevac person over the side just so you could have gambled.:rolleyes: I'm sure NCL would rather have had a casino filled with gamblers than having to return to Miami. Let it go. Stuff happens.

[BIG_Steve]

Why not ask? Let us know what they say.

[*Wink*]

As long as the bars were serving booze, IMHO, you don't have a leg to stand on. LOL!! :p

[DMH15]

Poor NCL, a little bad luck. The Dawn's electrical and the Sky's medical emergency prematurely ending the cruise. What's next.

 

I don't think anything should be given for a port being cancelled, weather happens. It is a roll of the dice.

 

How much time did you lose having to head back early to Miami? Just curious.

 

I'm sorry a few monkey wrenches were thrown into your vacation. I know we all have expectations and it's a bummer that stuff happens. I really do feel bad for you.

 

I hope the person for whom the emergency situation was for is okay.

[cruisinreunion]

I don't blame the OP for being a little disappointed as this was only a short cruise and you want to spend as much time doing stuff as possible while on board. Missing GSC happens but when it is one of your only stops it really makes it frustrating, I know, has happened to me also. It must have been a real bad medical emergency to send a ship home early, but I agree, NCL should have done something for the passengers who gave up a percentage of their cruise for this. Not to say that they shouldn't have done what they did for the person needing help, but alot of other people were inconvenienced by this.

[NYcruzzer]

I suppose they could have dumped the medevac person over the side just so you could have gambled.:rolleyes: I'm sure NCL would rather have had a casino filled with gamblers than having to return to Miami. Let it go. Stuff happens.

 

OP merely asked what other would have done under the same circumstances. I am one of NCL's biggest fans and have gone on enough cruises to know stuff happens. I for one would not expect any compensation for missing a port or arriving early due to a medical emergency. I hope whoever was ill is doing better..

[Kathyh1313]

I would have expected port charges for GCS to be refunded, no matter how small the dollar amount.

 

As to any compensation due to the medical emergency of another human being- well- be happy you were not that person.:o

 

Gambling versus human life......Human life wins hands down!

 

Nice to hear your compliments of the ship leading up to a less than pleasant second and last day of your cruise.

 

Got to be tough to have things go awry on such a short vacation.

[mikkimatic]

First of all, I was on the Dec 4th cruise as well, got home at about 1 PM. I know that weather happens, and myself and several people that I work with went on this cruise together, and were disappointed , however the weather is not under anyone's control, That being said: the issue of the woman being taken from the Port of Miami due to ill health, well let me tell you..... It was overheard by one of my friends that the on board Dr. did not want to jeopardize anyone on the ship by having her helivacked off of the ship...she was in a stabilized condition. NOW, If I was that lady I would have wanted immediate attention, helicopter or Coast Guard to get me to a hospital, not 3 hours later so that they could get to shore in Miami????. I think that is where the irresponsibility lies. What do you think? If they had done that , not only would have that women had a quicker chance to get to an ER, and the guests on the ship , including myself would have have time at sea for the casino,... please, don't get me wrong --- a life is worth more than people gambling. I just think that this could have been handled in a better manner. Also, why were the 2 guys kicked off of the ship in Nassau? Overheard something about a video in a WAY unappropriate situation in a public place at nite. As well as 2 days of emptying the pools with Hazmat attire and sanitizing the pools. Anyone got any info?

[*Wink*]

You're assuming that what you just posted are facts. There's no way we can tell you what we'd do if it's only hypothetical... which it is.

[pianomanorlando]

I appreciate the comments from everyone. However, I have been in other situations (on Princess) where there was far less impact than on this cruise and a $25 OBC was given.

 

I certainly feel for the person who was taken from the ship and like I said, I have missed plenty of ports over the years. I am just annoyed that no effort was put forth by the cruise line.

[SeaShark]

I appreciate the comments from everyone. However, I have been in other situations (on Princess) where there was far less impact than on this cruise and a $25 OBC was given.

 

I certainly feel for the person who was taken from the ship and like I said, I have missed plenty of ports over the years. I am just annoyed that no effort was put forth by the cruise line.

 

No effort?

 

Didn't NCL give up the $$ they would have made on GSC in order to keep you safe?

 

Didn't NCL give up the $$ they would have made from the Casino, Shops, etc to divert to Miami in response to the medical emergency? (Not to mention the extra added expense of an unscheduled docking in Miami...those union workers at the dock don't come cheap).

 

And...if I get this right...you seem to think that NCL should PAY YOU because they had to look out for the health and safety of their guests?

 

 

Am I on Candid Camera ???? :eek:

[SeaShark]

I appreciate the comments from everyone. However, I have been in other situations (on Princess) where there was far less impact than on this cruise and a $25 OBC was given.

 

I certainly feel for the person who was taken from the ship and like I said, I have missed plenty of ports over the years. I am just annoyed that no effort was put forth by the cruise line.

 

And looking at the Princess issue...

 

 

I wanted to do a comparison.

 

 

Princess doesn't do 3-day cruises in the Caribbean, but they do have a 5 day. These are starting at $499 per person.

 

NCL also offers a 5 day....for $299 per person.

 

So, Princess can give you a $25 OBC and still be $175 ahead of NCL.

 

 

So you can pay a minimum of $200 per person more for each cruise on Princess so that IF something goes wrong you get $25.

 

OR

 

You can sail NCL, get no money when something minor occurs, and pay a minimum of $200 per person less EXVERY SINGLE TIME.

[BIG_Steve]

It was overheard by one of my friends that the on board Dr. did not want to jeopardize anyone on the ship by having her helivacked off of the ship...she was in a stabilized condition. NOW, If I was that lady I would have wanted immediate attention, helicopter or Coast Guard to get me to a hospital, not 3 hours later so that they could get to shore in Miami????. I think that is where the irresponsibility lies. What do you think?

 

I think evacuations at Sea are inherently dangerous. If the Dr. had her stabilized, it doesn't seem out of line to me to be under a Drs' care for a few hours, especially since you didn't say what her problem was. You can't really say what you would have wanted if you were that lady. You don't know what her medical problem was.

[sottovoce]

SeaShark, you're missing the point. The point is: ME, ME, ME, ME.:cool: Somebody's misfortune inconvenienced ME, so something should be given to ME.

[SeaShark]

SeaShark, you're missing the point. The point is: ME, ME, ME, ME.:cool: Somebody's misfortune inconvenienced ME, so something should be given to ME.

 

LOL...

 

No...I got that.

 

 

I was just kinda hoping that the light would go on without having to open the refridgerator door.

[familyof4cruising]

Interesting enough I have been to GSC 8 times and was told only once that we could not tender. We have had medical emergency more frequent than missing ports on our cruises.

 

We have had tender problems in Grand Cayman and RCCL private island. Its not just GSC. In August we had a crew member that was hurt so bad we were going to stop in NC( on our way home to NYC), but instead a helicopter came to get him. We have had three passengers that had to be helicopter off also at different times.

 

Things happen. The weather is not the cruise lines fault and getting someone safe to get medical aide is not their fault.

[CruisinMaterial]

OP: I do empathize with your situation of missing GSC. The casino onboard I'm sure would have been a donation to NCL anyway. I really don't think NCL owes you anything IMHO. I am not a complainer either and go into a cruise with no expectations to come out pleasantly surprised. I was on the Hurricane Wilma mystery Star Princess cruise and we didn't go anywhere we were supposed to, no compensation outside of refunded port charges were given. However, we gambled in and of itself by cruising during hurricane season.

 

If anything NCL owes a refund of the port charge for Bahamas that day and that's it. If they refunded that then I do agree with other poster's... you're owed nothing. :(

[Planer's Edge]

I would have expected port charges for GCS to be refunded, no matter how small the dollar amount.

 

There are no port charges for GSC since NCL owns the island.

 

PE

[spider3455]

I was also on this cruise, and was disappointed with the way it was handled. I think the difference for me lies in the fact that this was only a 3 day cruise. We basically lost 12 hours of our vacation, not to mention we missed a whole beach day. I understand they can't control the weather or the health of people on board, but I still lost a entire night of my vacation. The whole mood of the ship changed when the captain announced we were going back to Miami 12 hours early. This was my first Norwegian cruise, and I really don't think I will go back. This was one of many small issues, no major ones, just small ones. I think Princess does it just a little better.

[SeaShark]

I was also on this cruise, and was disappointed with the way it was handled. I think the difference for me lies in the fact that this was only a 3 day cruise. We basically lost 12 hours of our vacation, not to mention we missed a whole beach day. I understand they can't control the weather or the health of people on board, but I still lost a entire night of my vacation. The whole mood of the ship changed when the captain announced we were going back to Miami 12 hours early. This was my first Norwegian cruise, and I really don't think I will go back. This was one of many small issues, no major ones, just small ones. I think Princess does it just a little better.

 

Wow...

 

I'm confused on how you lost vacation. Its not like your vacation ended, the ship was just in a different location. You weren't at work...you were still on vacation.

 

Sorry that everything went horribly wrong because of NCL's concern for passenger safety and health.

 

Not very surprised about the mood changing on the ship. It would be awfully cold-hearted for everyone to remain in a "festive" mood when someone's health was in severe danger. I'm glad to hear that everyone was more concerned with the stricken guest than they were with having fun.

 

 

I am curious about Princess. Especially, since you've stated that they do it "just a little better". I have not sailed on Princess, so I don't really know how Princess would react, but I would appreciate it if you could share your insight as a past Princess cruiser.

 

The weather was bad enough that passenger safety was in jeopardy. NCL chose to not tender guests in the bad weather. What exactly would Princess do in the same situation?

 

A guest experienced a medical emergency severe enough that the Doctor deemed it necessary to get them to a hospital ASAP. NCL chose to divert out of concern for the health/safety of this guest. What exactly would Princess do in the same situation?

 

Maybe if Princess has a better way of handling these things, we could communicate them to NCL in the hopes of things changing for the better.

[BIG_Steve]

OP,

Ask them if they can do anything. I've been on airplanes that had to divert, and they always tried to do something, like free drinks, or a taxi voucher, in the interest of customer service. All they can do is say "no." Judging from your post, I'm sure you would just accept that without pitching a fit. I guarantee NCL will have some type of policy in place. You could not possibly be the first to have asked a question like this.

 

Ignore your naysayers here. This type of venue (electronic forum) always attracts the self righteous, without fail, regardless of subject or board theme. I think it's because no one has to look you in the eyes when they talk. ;)