kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 #1 Share Posted March 10, 2018 This would be my 7th Cruise and first on ncl. Mini suite is nice, food pretty good but that’s about it. Bar service...awful. Lines, being ignored. one time I was sittings at bar and was told to get in line if I wanted a drink. Really? WTH. Waiters by the pool? Nonexistent. Lost laundry. Ncl booked excursion Jeep tour with beach...no actually just an hour and a half in a sandbox because you can’t go in the water it’s not safe... rude staff everywhere. Guest services not really helpful. We’ll get back to you...no they won’t. I’m pretty sure the slow bar service is because of the UBP I believe they are trained to slow it down. None of them would survive a Friday night even at a local small bar. I feel sorry for people that didn’t get the UBP because they had to wait as well. I’m pretty sure there’s no way I spent even close to the cost of the package, I’ll know tomorrow if they itemized all the drinks on the final bill. Many times I just gave up. Dinner in the MDR was a 2.5-3hr endeavor. I carried my daughter back asleep a couple times. Didn’t matter when you went it was slow, this was also a way to push you to the pay restaurants. Some odd things, at one bar a drink could be 13.95 and 17.95 at another. Or one thing was covered the next day it wasn’t. Balcony never got cleaned from day one and had potato chips scattered about even after it was requested to be cleaned. That’s what immediately comes to mind. Let’s see how they can botch up disembarkation.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted March 10, 2018 #2 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Sorry it's not working out for you. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 Author #3 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Sorry it's not working out for you. Keith Live and learn... I’ve seen some similar complaints but hoped they were isolated Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StolidCruiser Posted March 10, 2018 #4 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Sounds like a real bummer of an experience. I guess you’ll be trying another line. I suggest Regent or Oceania for the experience you are likely looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjkacmom Posted March 10, 2018 #5 Share Posted March 10, 2018 It seems like overwhelmed bars are due to spring break, I had no problem getting a drink anywhere on the Breakaway. I don’t take ship tours, prefer to research 9n my own and get reviews. Some beaches get rough surf at times and get red flagged, we have that issue here at times during the summer. Mother Nature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armwinder Posted March 10, 2018 #6 Share Posted March 10, 2018 We were looking at the Getaway only having been on the Breakaway last month no problem getting a drink but the smoke around the waterfront and some restaurants was really bad. How is it on the Getaway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted March 10, 2018 #7 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I've never had a problem getting service at a bar with the UBP. As for it being "worth it", if you get it as a promo, just make sure that you get at least 2-3 drinks per day. I've never used the laundry service so I can't compare. I've never had a rude staff member on NCL or even Carnival (lucky, I guess). If I have a housekeeping issue, it gets taken care of within the day. Slow dining can vary. I've had specialty dinners that were longer than MDR dinners. I've had quick MDR dinners that were O'Sheehan's speed. Every cruise is different.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 Author #8 Share Posted March 10, 2018 It seems like overwhelmed bars are due to spring break, I had no problem getting a drink anywhere on the Breakaway. I don’t take ship tours, prefer to research 9n my own and get reviews. Some beaches get rough surf at times and get red flagged, we have that issue here at times during the summer. Mother Nature. This was more of a swamp Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 Author #9 Share Posted March 10, 2018 We were looking at the Getaway only having been on the Breakaway last month no problem getting a drink but the smoke around the waterfront and some restaurants was really bad. How is it on the Getaway? Yep same but that didn’t bother me too much. It was there but not overwhelming. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted March 10, 2018 #10 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Classic You have a potato chip phobia and rather than talking with your room steward about your fears, you flame the spud on cruise critic. Then a kind bartender allows an over price drink to slide by, rather than saying “thank you”, flaming away again when the next bartender charges you correctly. We have been in the GA and sister NCL mega ships 16 times (soon to be 18) and have rarely had a problem getting a drink within a minute or two. We are smart enough to look at a bar, it is busy, walk 30 seconds down to the next bar. We don’t look for and stand in the longest line and then complain about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 Author #11 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Sounds like a real bummer of an experience. I guess you’ll be trying another line. I suggest Regent or Oceania for the experience you are likely looking for. Ya I won’t risk it on ncl again. I don’t cruise every year as it’s pretty much the same. Every 2-3 years or so. Next two years already planned so I have plenty of time to research and plan. To be clear I’m not looking for ultra luxury etc. but when carnival had better service.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of a son of a ... Posted March 10, 2018 #12 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Cash tip your bartender and they will wave you out of the line next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of a son of a ... Posted March 10, 2018 #13 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Sorry you are having such a sad time. We had exactly the opposite experience on the Getaway. Beautiful ship and GREAT crew. BTW the ship and NCL have nothing at all to do with the excursions as they are run by independent contractors. They surely do not have any control over weather or sea conditions... Not entirely accurate ... we have received partial refunds for bad excursions. Once when the activity level was obviously inaccurate - damn near killed my older parents - and another when the guide on St Johns was 45 minutes late and another had to be substituted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutontow Posted March 10, 2018 #14 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I'm sorry you had a bad time on your cruise. If you are like me you really look forward to your vacations whether it be a cruise or something else. I too have had a cruise from hell and it seems like sometimes it just snowballs. Other times it is just one pleasure after an other. I hope your next cruise goes better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 Author #15 Share Posted March 10, 2018 You do realize that the vast majority of the debarkation is not under the control of NCL but rather the port and customs? Of course with your attitude of waiting to find out what is wrong I am absolutely 100% sure that you will find something that you do not like that will just ruin your entire cruise. Lol you people read into **** too much. Typical forum mob mentality. It was my opinion and there are plenty on here with the same opinion. I really couldn’t care less what you think nor should you. This is precisely why you don’t hear more of this. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forgotmyCCname Posted March 10, 2018 #16 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I’m pretty surprised- Getaway is our favorite ship so far. Only 4 trips, not 17 but the same experience as Bird Travels. Our last trip was September and it was a friendly , attentive staff. We did have a “meh” meal in Ocean Blu( I can’t remember if that the name[emoji23]) We did have a cruise from Hell on the Pearl a few years back and vowed to stay away from NCL forever. But it didn’t take, our first cruise back with them was Getaway in her inaugural year. Now we are back to really enjoying NCL Hope you have a smooth debarkation. I can’t speak much to it as we have always had the concierge escort us off with a group. We did encounter lazy bartenders in O’Sheehans pretty much every cruise on GA -they spent a lot of time arranging cherries and celery and ignoring my need for a brew. But it was a minor inconvenience . 2 1/2 hour dinner is just plain wrong. I’d be very perturbed, and having travelled with 3 in diapers - I feel your pain . Smoke- I found the casino bad at night- late night . I’m insomniac and would go down and play around 2am. But during dinner times it didn’t bother us at all in the Waterfront or noodle bar. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 Author #17 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Not entirely accurate ... we have received partial refunds for bad excursions. Once when the activity level was obviously inaccurate - damn near killed my older parents - and another when the guide on St Johns was 45 minutes late and another had to be substituted. Yep we got full refund. It had nothing to do with weather or conditions. It was literally a swamp. The guide even said it’s not clean water and do not even put your feet in it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 Author #18 Share Posted March 10, 2018 If you all think it’s perfect then great I’m happy for you. Your experience doesn’t negate mine. That’s all I got. Good day Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derek005 Posted March 10, 2018 #19 Share Posted March 10, 2018 Sounds like a real bummer of an experience. I guess you’ll be trying another line. I suggest Regent or Oceania for the experience you are likely looking for. Why not try NCL vice reading someone’s post. NCL is a great line. Some people complain just because they can and some will never be happy. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kzguns Posted March 10, 2018 Author #20 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I'm sorry you had a bad time on your cruise. If you are like me you really look forward to your vacations whether it be a cruise or something else. I too have had a cruise from hell and it seems like sometimes it just snowballs. Other times it is just one pleasure after an other. I hope your next cruise goes better. 100% I rarely have issues while traveling. This stood out so I thought I’d mention it. Some people literally hate admitting they had troubles. It’s fine with me if that’s what floats your boat. We’re with a group of 23 and unless it’s purely coincidental they’re experiencing the same. It’s hard to complain and not sound like sour grapes but it is what it is. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallnthensome Posted March 10, 2018 #21 Share Posted March 10, 2018 This could have been a spring break cruise and the staff could have been more overwhelmed then they are already. Some things can't be controlled regarding other matters. Sometimes walking to a different bar inside is faster then waiting by a pool bar where most people are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Wheels Only Posted March 10, 2018 #22 Share Posted March 10, 2018 It's possible that the service issues are the result of tough Spring Break cruises (like last week on Epic). The crew could just be burned out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of a son of a ... Posted March 10, 2018 #23 Share Posted March 10, 2018 I never mentioned anything to do with refunds. I simply said the excursions are run by independent contractors which is 100% accurate. No, you said that NCL has “nothing at all to do with the excursions.” However, NCL contracts with the excursion operators and will refund the passenger when there are excursion issues. It’s ok to be inaccurate once in a while ... I forgive you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshagan Posted March 10, 2018 #24 Share Posted March 10, 2018 This would be my 7th Cruise and first on ncl. I'm sorry you had such a bad time. The first cruise on a line really does set the stage for most people, and if you have a bad experience it's completely understandable that you would NOT pay to test that cruise line again. I think the vast majority of repeat customers on all the cruise lines have a fine time, so it's always interesting to hear people talk about their cruise experiences. There are two well respected cruise lines that we consider, but usually give the edge to NCL if price or itinerary are roughly equal. I know people who are exactly the opposite and NCL is last on their list. And none of us have had a truly bad experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdsted Posted March 10, 2018 #25 Share Posted March 10, 2018 We were on the Getaway last week and had an entirely different experience. No wait for drinks. Great service top-to-bottom. Cabin clean and tidy. In fact, of our 17 +/- NCL cruises, this one was near the top for good service. Either the crew completely turned over last weekend or the reviewer is impossible to please. You get what you give. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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