Noordam: Broken Toilet, Cold Showers, and a missed port to save money!

[Cindy]

What I think is really "rude" are those (Cheerleaders and Trolls) who have an attitude that since they have never had a problem...nobody really has problems and should never complain. We have spent more then 3 years on cruise ships (with many different lines) and probably 95% of the time have no issues. But bad things can happen on any ship...and lately it seems like HA has more then their share (some think its due to deferred maintenance). On our HA cruises in just the past 4 years (about 170 days on several ships) we have had numerous plumbing problems, A/C problems, and a Prinsendam cabin where the area around our porthole was rusting and corroded and the heavy night light structure literally fell off the headboard (they came and welded it and it fell again). So we are very sympathetic to the OPs plight and would not have been as understanding if it happened to us.

 

Hank

 

 

 

Call me unreasonable.

 

I expect to get what I pay for. No excuses, no ifs ands or buts. I am what they call a consumer.

 

When I pay for a cruise, I expect my cabin to be in good working order.

 

That does not mean that I do not tolerate the occasional issue that occurs and is fixed. That does NOT however include day after day of malfunctioning HVAC or plumbing systems.

 

And if I did experience day after day of a malfunctioning toilet, I certainly would not care about what anyone else says about the construction or operation of the ships sewage system. I would not care. It would only serve to distract me from my real issue......a malfunctioning toilet for eight days.

 

If anyone feels that this is acceptable, then my only hope is that you never reach a position of responsibility in the hospitality or cruise business.

 

I am also unreasonable. I expect my cabin to come complete with operational sanitary and comfort systems. If I had to wander around a ship in the middle of the night looking for a "pot to p--- in":eek: I would be very upset. My husband would also be upset, because chances are I would wake him up to escort me through the sleeping ship to locate a toilet. The next morning you would find me camped out at the front desk until someone in authority attended to the problem.

I think the people who are justifying this would be singing a very different tune if they were unable to use their cabin bathroom for 8 days! If you can honestly say you wouldn't be upset and angry, then obviously you have a very different standard of "acceptable" than I do.:(

I don't need data on toilets to know if they work. I've watched them in action for most of my 53 years. If they get rid of what goes in them, they function. If they let it sit there, they're broken.

[Not-My-Real-Name]

 

I don't need data on toilets to know if they work. I've watched them in action for most of my 53 years. If they get rid of what goes in them, they function. If they let it sit there, they're broken.

 

Applause, Applause. Well put!

[serendipity1499]

This sounds a bit like our cruise on the Prinsendam last year. When we finally did get hot water, then the air conditioning went out and our cabin was hot. We're going back to Crystal for this year's cruise.

 

 

Hmmmm...Before you make the switch, you might want to read this thread about broken toilets on the Symphony..

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1533629&highlight=toilet+problems

Unfortunately on older ships things go wrong such as vacuum toilets & air conditioning, however they should be fixed in a reasonable amount of time... IMO if they are not then the Hotel Mgr should become involved.I'm like Cindy, I would camp out until the HM agreed to see me!

Cheers..Betty

[sapper1]

Troll. How horribly rude. I hope your toilet explodes.

 

Now that would be karma for sure. :D:D

I like that curse better than the one about the fleas of a thousand camels and armpits. :D

[arewethereyet]

 

 

 

 

I am also unreasonable. I expect my cabin to come complete with operational sanitary and comfort systems. If I had to wander around a ship in the middle of the night looking for a "pot to p--- in":eek: I would be very upset. My husband would also be upset, because chances are I would wake him up to escort me through the sleeping ship to locate a toilet. The next morning you would find me camped out at the front desk until someone in authority attended to the problem.

 

I think the people who are justifying this would be singing a very different tune if they were unable to use their cabin bathroom for 8 days! If you can honestly say you wouldn't be upset and angry, then obviously you have a very different standard of "acceptable" than I do.:(

 

I don't need data on toilets to know if they work. I've watched them in action for most of my 53 years. If they get rid of what goes in them, they function. If they let it sit there, they're broken.

Seriously, that sums it up nicely.

[Hlitner]

I just want to talk about the folks I refer to as "Cheerleaders." This is not necessarily a bad thing but simply defines a type of poster who is personally vested in a single cruise line and thinks they can seldom do any wrong. These folks also tend to disagree or flame most folks who say negative things about their beloved cruise line. Now I recently did refer to a poster as a HA Cheerleader and she took that as a slur and denied the label. But that same person, in an earlier post made it clear she only will cruise on HA and has no intent (or reason) to cruise on any other line. And if you look at her posting history, nearly all her cruise line related posts are only found on the HA board.

 

There are certainly many HA Cheerleaders....and that is absolutely fine (and good for HA). But its hard to give a lot of credibility to many comparison comments given by somebody who admits they only cruise a single cruise line. To me its akin to the old man who has been driving in Volkswagon Bugs for 50 years....and thinks they are the best most luxurious car in the world. He has this view because he has not been in other cars. When we meet other 4 Star Mariners (or even 5 Star) on our HA cruises a major topic of discussion will always be cruising and travel. It is amazing how many cruisers will "trash" another cruise line upon which they have not ever cruised or not cruised for several years. They will usually say something like "I hear that line is no good," or perhaps "everyone knows that line is awful."

 

So my bottom line is that HA, when compared to their competition, has fallen quite rapidly in ranking in our own estimation. We base this on our own recent cruise experience and accept that much of this is very subjective. If we were to compare cruise lines in several categories (food, entertainment, quality of ships, ship design, service, itineraries) HA would only come out on top in a single category...which is itineraries. Just one guy's opinion.

 

Hank

[OlsSalt]

The persistent smell of human excrement over an extended period of time might be considered the "canary in the coal mine" when determining whether a toilet is flushing or not.

 

.

 

With the sealed lids, why would there be a "persistent smell" if someone has declared their toilet to be non-functioning and is using facilities elsewhere waiting for this to be repaired.?

[OlsSalt]

You never ever will:( so, you can either accept the report - or don't judge. HAL will never come on here and respond.

 

Accepting the report is the 100% truth is also a judgement. It is a report; but whether it is the truth or not is out of everyone's purview. Coat-tailing an unconfirmed negative report and then using it as a launching pad for attacks on HAL along with laments about the good old days and inferences about "deferred maintenance" is where posts go wrong.

 

A simple cluck, cluck is probably the better response from everyone. Sorry that person had such a bad trip as they reported. Maybe we can better understand why these set off so much uproar? Judgement is occurring on both sides. Recognition of an unconfirmed report for what ever reasons needs to be just that: a report. Investing way too much into this but there is a pattern and those that get dismissed cheerleaders have a valid point to make too. Cluck.

[RuthC]

I notice, OlsSalt, that you have not answered my question. Perhaps you forgot as you read through so many? I'll repeat:

How long does a toilet fail to flush for it to go from "delayed flush" to "broken"?

You are the one insisting that a delayed flush is acceptable. So, kindly tell us at what point does failure to flush become unacceptable? How long does one wait before notifying the Front Desk that there is a problem?

[sammiedawg]

I feel so bad for the OP and I am hopeful some financial refunds come his way. If this situation happened to me I would be beside myself.

I am a little upset reading a handful of comments that question the veracity and seriousness of the plumbing problems. I totally believe the OP. we were on the Veendam in 2012 and talked to fellow cruisers who had non functioning A/C and plumbing. They were not making it up.

[nutensteve]

Was it ever mentioned what cabin the OP was in? I'm hoping it is not the one I'm in in a few weeks. I have always heard so good things about the Noordam. Despite the problems the OP had I'm still planning on a great cruise.

[WpgCruise]

OLsSALT, I too would like to know your answer to RuthC's question.

 

IMHO avoiding an answer impacts your credibility

 

 

 

I notice, OlsSalt, that you have not answered my question. Perhaps you forgot as you read through so many? I'll repeat:

 

How long does a toilet fail to flush for it to go from "delayed flush" to "broken"?

 

You are the one insisting that a delayed flush is acceptable. So, kindly tell us at what point does failure to flush become unacceptable? How long does one wait before notifying the Front Desk that there is a problem?

[OlsSalt]

I notice, OlsSalt, that you have not answered my question. Perhaps you forgot as you read through so many? I'll repeat:

How long does a toilet fail to flush for it to go from "delayed flush" to "broken"?

You are the one insisting that a delayed flush is acceptable. So, kindly tell us at what point does failure to flush become unacceptable? How long does one wait before notifying the Front Desk that there is a problem?

 

Depends, Ruth, depends.

[OlsSalt]

OLsSALT, I too would like to know your answer to RuthC's question.

 

IMHO avoiding an answer impacts your credibility

 

My credibility? :confused: I am a mere collection of electrons. You can pick and choose. My answer is depends.

[WpgCruise]

Thank you. I now understand your purpose for posting

 

My response to your future posts:

 

Hello, Cruise Critic: Add one to the Ignore List please.

 

My credibility? :confused: I am a mere collection of electrons. You can pick and choose. My answer is depends.

[RuthC]

Depends, Ruth, depends.

In what, exactly? You are the one asserting that there is a difference between "delayed flush" and a "broken" toilet.

I am just trying to ascertain at what point that difference comes?

 

Or do you mean that if a passenger uses Depends, there is no problem???

[kazu]

In what, exactly? You are the one asserting that there is a difference between "delayed flush" and a "broken" toilet.

I am just trying to ascertain at what point that difference comes?

 

Or do you mean that if a passenger uses Depends, there is no problem???

 

they might have to use Depends in that cabin:p:p

 

Just too good Ruth - too good -and of course he didn't answer your question

 

So typical :D:p:rolleyes:

[VinTek]

My credibility? :confused: I am a mere collection of electrons. You can pick and choose. My answer is depends.

 

OlsSalt, I have a serious question and I want to be perceived as asking it in a respectable manner. I'm a fairly rational fellow. I strive to form my opinions based on data. When data is unavailable, I try to form my opinions by measuring. In the case of delayed flush, it's very difficult to ascertain what kind of delay would be expected as I determine if HAL is a good fit for me. I certainly respect that not all questions have a simple answer. So lacking a numerical standard from you on where the line crosses from normal to unacceptable, I have a follow-up question:

 

Depends on what?

[cruz chic]

 

Or do you mean that if a passenger uses Depends, there is no problem???

 

Ruth, I haven't felt like posting for several days but this comment is too funny:D!

[OlsSalt]

In what, exactly? You are the one asserting that there is a difference between "delayed flush" and a "broken" toilet.

I am just trying to ascertain at what point that difference comes?

 

Or do you mean that if a passenger uses Depends, there is no problem???

 

No hard and fast rule which you seem to want. it depends upon the passengers sensibilities. We have frequently had delay flush toilets and ignore them. So for us it never bothers us; part of the background buzz on ships with these new low-flow environmental toilets. Obviously others have less tolerance and declare them to be "non-working" toilets. So, it depends.

[RuthC]

No hard and fast rule which you seem to want. it depends upon the passengers sensibilities. We have frequently had delay flush toilets and ignore them. So for us it never bothers us; part of the background buzz on ships with these new low-flow environmental toilets. Obviously others have less tolerance and declare them to be "non-working" toilets. So, it depends.

Why am I not surprised. :rolleyes:

[OlsSalt]

OlsSalt, I have a serious question and I want to be perceived as asking it in a respectable manner. I'm a fairly rational fellow. I strive to form my opinions based on data. When data is unavailable, I try to form my opinions by measuring. In the case of delayed flush, it's very difficult to ascertain what kind of delay would be expected as I determine if HAL is a good fit for me. I certainly respect that not all questions have a simple answer. So lacking a numerical standard from you on where the line crosses from normal to unacceptable, I have a follow-up question:

 

Depends on what?

 

What I and others have been saying all along: some of us ignore a delay flush and others declare this to be a "non-working" or "broken toilet". I feel there needs to be a distinction made when one says their "toilet is broken" for X number of days.

 

That is too generic a description under the circumstances. Was it a delay flush problem for several hours, or was it a totally non-working toilet for days? You are right, data is important. Which one was it: delay flush or 100% non operational under any circumstances. That is all that is getting asked. Not sure why this is a cause of controversy.

 

Delay flush seems to be a several minutes to several hour phenomenon when it has happened to us. So if one wants to wait it out, fine. If one wants to march to the front desk, demand compensation and then come here to trash HAL ships that is their choice too. That is not my issue.

 

But I do think other readers should at least know there is conflicting "data" when one reads only "broken toilet". Is this clearer now?

[sapper1]

What I and others have been saying all along: some of us ignore a delay flush and others declare this to be a "non-working" or "broken toilet". I feel there needs to be a distinction made when one says their "toilet is broken" for X number of days.

 

That is too generic a description under the circumstances. Was it a delay flush problem for several hours, or was it a totally non-working toilet for days? You are right, data is important. Which one was it: delay flush or 100% non operational under any circumstances. That is all that is getting asked. Not sure why this is a cause of controversy.

 

Delay flush seems to be a several minutes to several hour phenomenon when it has happened to us. So if one wants to wait it out, fine. If one wants to march to the front desk, demand compensation and then come here to trash HAL ships that is their choice too. That is not my issue.

 

But I do think other readers should at least know there is conflicting "data" when one reads only "broken toilet". Is this clearer now?

 

Good grief, the man's toilet didn't work. Period. In that situation nobody is interested in a nit picking analysis.

[kazu]

What I and others have been saying all along: some of us ignore a delay flush and others declare this to be a "non-working" or "broken toilet". I feel there needs to be a distinction made when one says their "toilet is broken" for X number of days.

 

That is too generic a description under the circumstances. Was it a delay flush problem for several hours, or was it a totally non-working toilet for days? You are right, data is important. Which one was it: delay flush or 100% non operational under any circumstances. That is all that is getting asked. Not sure why this is a cause of controversy.

 

Delay flush seems to be a several minutes to several hour phenomenon when it has happened to us. So if one wants to wait it out, fine. If one wants to march to the front desk, demand compensation and then come here to trash HAL ships that is their choice too. That is not my issue.

 

But I do think other readers should at least know there is conflicting "data" when one reads only "broken toilet". Is this clearer now?

 

so if it's ok if your toilet doesn't work for one hour?????? or even longer??? what's the max - 3 hours?? , 6 hours??, 8 hours???

 

Are you sharing the stateroom with anyone???? I think you are.

 

I don't know about you - but both DH and I need facilities in the morning - and I don't think I am prepared to wait an hour or hours.

 

I guess if that is acceptable to you or your better half then you have much better holding power than the rest of us.

 

I just want to extend my congratulations to you both:rolleyes:

 

I don't have it - and I don't know about the rest - but I expect a clean toilet when I need the facilites - I don't need Depends yet:p

[arewethereyet]

We are in Cagliari today and had a day at sea yesterday. Had a fantastic dinner in Pinnacle. Perfect food and service. Again, I hate to complain about anything. I'm not that way. I'm not seeking problems. There are a lot of positives on this cruise.

 

However, I should not have to deal with these kind of negative things on vacation. I deal with enough stuff at home.

 

So, yesterday ( day 8), we wake up to a broken toilet, again. Upstairs to use the restroom. Another call and maintenance is sent up. This time a higher up shows up and tells us maybe we should use less toilet paper! Really?

 

It now works for a few hours and stops working again. Finally, after eight days, we get a call from a manager with some authority. She sends someone to fix the toilet. They replace a part and it seems to be working fine. Why did this take eight days? While there, the shower was fixed as well.

 

Evidently, they are also working on compensation.

 

One other note. We are down to one working drink machine in the Lido for 1800 people. It's been this way for three days. Maintenance seems to be an issue on this trip.

 

Cabin stewards continue to be incredible as well as most of the Indonesian crew. I will post a major review with pictures when I return.

Why are some posters questioning whether this toilet was broken? The only reason I can think of is that someone is building a monument to obtuseness one post at a time.