Managing Your Cruise Expectations on NCL and other Cruise Brands

[Sthrngary]

@Sthrngary here and I hope everyone is having a outstanding day.  In my life prior to retirement, I spend time learning about meeting and exceeding clients expectations.  A focus was on the "Luxury" buyer and how their needs constantly evolve.  The reality is every single buyers wants, needs and motivations constantly evolve not just a luxury buyer.  We would deep dive into survey systems.  We would do the same for review sites.  Our goal was to really learn in great detail what would improve the client experience leading to them becoming what is know as an advocate.  Someone who would go out of their way to tell other people how much they loved the brand.  

 

We on CruiseCritic.com have an obligation to each other, regardless of the brand, to be as accurate as possible with our writings.  When I read reviews, comments and posts, it sometimes looks like every aspect of the persons cruise experience was over the top perfect in every way.  Things were done for them that were special yet they establish it as a every day thing.  On the other extreme hand, others share that their entire experience the worst of a life time with no redeeming value. 

 

These two extremes really create a false narrative of what a persons experience will be and when it is not achieved, they are disappoint.  Their expectations were unrealistic from the get go. That is not fair to those that read your comments.  I see this a lot from marketers, influencers and Travel Agents.  I want to give some examples of how our comments can negatively effect a cruisers experience:

 

• Vibe Beach Club:  I really like the Vibe Beach Club and have written about it many times.  One small thing I never wrote about until today is what happened one lunch time.  If you have read all my Op-Eds on the "Secrets of the Haven",  you know I truly know the Haven and all the amenities so I share them. How do these two items relate.  One day I was at the Vibe Bar cruising out-side of the Haven, the Vibe manager asked me if I would like a Haven Burger (exclusive to the Haven) for lunch.  This only happened once, it was not a perk of the Vibe.  I never until now brought this up because it would set an unrealistic expectation, even for this to happen to me again.  It was just someone being extremely nice to me. 
• Haven Access to Smaller Shows:  No where on the Haven Amenities does it say you can get access to the smaller show venues like the Beatles in the Cavern Club or the Comedy Club.  These venues are first come and first serve.  Yet people all the time are asking about this.  All this is because just like my Burger in the Vibe, a Haven crew member once brought a Haven Guest through the back door of one of these venues before the crowd came in.  Now someone new to the Haven or NCL expects this and they don't get it.  Unrealistic expectations.  
• Bottle of Wine In Suite/Cabin:  My wife and I don't like the sparkling wine in the room that comes with certain Cabins.  I have asked many times if we could exchange this bottle for a bottle of Chardonnay.  I have asked five times and it happened once.  On all five times we had the Premium Plus Beverage Package which provides a bottle of selected wines with meals instead of a glass.  This does not apply to room service, cabin steward or butler.  If I say I got a wine swap, everyone expects it and it is no policy.  Again, someone was being nice. 
• Escorted Access to the Ship: This is another thing that I have never shared until this writing.  It was unusual and will never happen again.  Others have written about it and then I read a review where some one was disappointed when they cruised.  My family and I, end of November 2021 finally (four cancelation) did our 42nd (should have been 4th) wedding anniversary cruise. We were in the elusive (H2) Haven Deluxe Owners Suite.  While in the Haven Port Lounge at the New Terminal in Miami, a Haven crew member was looking for me.  I was completely surprised and thought there was something wrong.  He said that he wanted to escort my family and I on board and to our suite before anyone else was boarded.  Now for the rest of the story.  I communicate extensively with the pre-ship Haven desk.  I make friends because that is who I am.  I also give updates of my experience unsolicited to the NCL executives (long story here for another post).  It seems, this was a very special kindness for me this one and only time.  When it says Haven guest are escorted on board, it is a group of haven gets not just one family.  When you read this amenity it gets convoluted all the time.  Unrealistic expectation. 

 

There are so many other examples where folk share things that are not policy so they could happen normally.  Other folks read it and are disappointed when it does not happen for them. We owe fellow CruiseCritic.com members accuracy and honesty.  No cruise is perfect and no cruise is completely a mess.  Those are extremes.  In survey evaluation we toss the best and worst review out to focus on the 80% in the middle.  We should read comments and posts on CruiseCritic.com the same way.  My goal is and always will be to promote "Realistic Expectations".  I hope this makes sense and helps folks have the best cruise possible. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.   

 

[complawyer]

sthrngary: i havent responded to any  of your well thought out posts in quite some time.

 

however, i would like to comment on this one.

 

i have commented before, that merely getting on board, to my cabin, sitting on  my balcony watching the ocean go by, is enough to meet my expectations. sometimes, im not crazy about the food (since ncl is preparing meals for 1000's of people) it's not a major issue, ive had bad food in major restaurants on land, 

im rarely, if ever disappointed in any ncl cruise ive ever taken (19 so far). my only expectation is to enjoy what im doing while on the cruise. by and large, i have yet to be disappointed. you have posted mainly and often about life in the haven.to me, it's amazing!  my wife and i took a close friend of mine on the jade last april and had a 2 bedroom suite. to say that she was blown away by the cabin/service, etc would be a massive understatement. 

 

my wife is so spoiled by the haven experience (as am I) that if i cannot book a haven, she wont go!

we just got off the ncl bliss and had a club balcony suite. ( it was comped so we really couldnt b**ch about anything,) nevertheless, the difference is glaring and quite obvious.(LOL)

 

i guess some people are just pompous and have heightened expectations (consequently, they will probably be disappointed) and then there is our good friend chiefmatejrk, who is as happy as i am just being on a ship. youve gotta love the guy for his honest and refreshing points of view and the subtle way he presents them!

 

he has an uncanny knack for knocking the wind out of people that come on board with a sense/feeling of entitlement.

 

 

i have a personal philosophy dealing with expectations "never expect anything from anyone! this way you wont be disappointed if you dont get it and pleasantly surprised if you do.

 

good responding to you again!

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

sthrngary: i havent responded to any  of your well thought out posts in quite some time.

 

however, i would like to comment on this one.

 

i have commented before, that merely getting on board, to my cabin, sitting on  my balcony watching the ocean go by, is enough to meet my expectations. sometimes, im not crazy about the food (since ncl is preparing meals for 1000's of people) it's not a major issue, ive had bad food in major restaurants on land, 

im rarely, if ever disappointed in any ncl cruise ive ever taken (19 so far). my only expectation is to enjoy what im doing while on the cruise. by and large, i have yet to be disappointed. you have posted mainly and often about life in the haven.to me, it's amazing!  my wife and i took a close friend of mine on the jade last april and had a 2 bedroom suite. to say that she was blown away by the cabin/service, etc would be a massive understatement. 

 

my wife is so spoiled by the haven experience (as am I) that if i cannot book a haven, she wont go!

we just got off the ncl bliss and had a club balcony suite. ( it was comped so we really couldnt b**ch about anything,) nevertheless, the difference is glaring and quite obvious.(LOL)

 

i guess some people are just pompous and have heightened expectations (consequently, they will probably be disappointed) and then there is our good friend chiefmatejrk, who is as happy as i am just being on a ship. youve gotta love the guy for his honest and refreshing points of view and the subtle way he presents them!

 

he has an uncanny knack for knocking the wind out of people that come on board with a sense/feeling of entitlement.

 

 

i have a personal philosophy dealing with expectations "never expect anything from anyone! this way you wont be disappointed if you dont get it and pleasantly surprised if you do.

 

good responding to you again!

I appreciate any and all your comments.  You are an excellent writer and appreciated. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[Markanddonna]

Very well written thoughts and helpful advice. I would add that I am on the other end of the cruising spectrum and book anywhere from inside to balcony. I've been in the Haven once, and while it was nice, I am a person who is very content in life and doesn't truly enjoy a lot of the extras. A butler was an uncomfortable situation for us, although he was very kind.

 

I usually cruise to get to my target (Europe, Israel,  Australia, etc.) The ship experience is a secondary experience and just a very nice way to get there.

 

Your statements, though, are equally valid for people like me. When I read that a CC is referring to the NCL Haven, I whisk by their comments. We always need to keep in mind what we paid for and not expect the same services as other who paid for a higher level.

[Sthrngary]

32 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

Very well written thoughts and helpful advice. I would add that I am on the other end of the cruising spectrum and book anywhere from inside to balcony. I've been in the Haven once, and while it was nice, I am a person who is very content in life and doesn't truly enjoy a lot of the extras. A butler was an uncomfortable situation for us, although he was very kind.

 

I usually cruise to get to my target (Europe, Israel,  Australia, etc.) The ship experience is a secondary experience and just a very nice way to get there.

 

Your statements, though, are equally valid for people like me. When I read that a CC is referring to the NCL Haven, I whisk by their comments. We always need to keep in mind what we paid for and not expect the same services as other who paid for a higher level.

Thank you for your kind reply.  The real issue is not about the Haven.  It is we as CruiseCritic.com member reply, comment or do a stream; don't inflate the experience.  Be accurate from you the cruisers experience and opinion.  I also cruise in Balcony's, Club Balcony's and in the past Inside Cabins.  I have had just as good a time there as in fancy suites in the Haven.  

 

It breaks my heart when people outline their experiences that I know are just not going to happen for everyone.  Then the person that took the advice reviews their disappointment.  Life is so much better when you expectations are realistic and you are positively surprised.  

 

I love the way you travel.  Very exciting and cool.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[Georgia_Peaches]

I recently read a review about one of MSC's ships that we are embarking on soon.  We are trying the Yacht Club to compare with the Haven.  To say I'm leery about what's to come based on reviews is an understatement.  The last two reviews I've read for the YC on this particular ship are absolutely horrendous.  My dread factor for embarkation is at an all time high.  One reviewer stated the entire experience was horrible because the YC concierge was unable to adjust the price of their cabin after the travelers found out that they paid more than their travel companions in the same category.  An outrageous request IMO and one that I would never make but the reviewer painted the picture that MSC customer service in general and YC in particular, are nothing short of third world entities.  Yes, I can absolutely dismiss this type of review as nonsense but you make a very interesting point about one's tendency to over/under inflate a cruise review.  Striking a balance is hard.  Personally, I never leave a bad review but I will highlight areas of concern if they existed within my cruise experience.  Conversely, I'm afraid that I may over inflate my cruise experience because I'm just so damn happy to be cruising that everything seems wonderful.  So thank you for the reminder that we all need to temper our experiences so as not to overwhelm fellow cruisers with hyper expectations, good or bad.

[ALKID]

1 hour ago, Sthrngary said:

Thank you for your kind reply.  The real issue is not about the Haven.  It is we as CruiseCritic.com member reply, comment or do a stream; don't inflate the experience.  Be accurate from you the cruisers experience and opinion.  I also cruise in Balcony's, Club Balcony's and in the past Inside Cabins.  I have had just as good a time there as in fancy suites in the Haven.  

 

It breaks my heart when people outline their experiences that I know are just not going to happen for everyone.  Then the person that took the advice reviews their disappointment.  Life is so much better when you expectations are realistic and you are positively surprised.  

 

I love the way you travel.  Very exciting and cool.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Breaks my heart too.  LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

[mearsfansinboise]

Great post, @Sthrngary - I always appreciate your insight and expertise.

When I have read about things (perks) I think to myself and tell my family something like "I heard we may get this ... " or "they may do xxx for us, we'll have to ask ...." and we've never been disappointed.  We expect to sail, relax, and be fed - that's it.  Beyond that - (whether Haven or not) - we appreciate and enjoy.  Very few experiences have left us upset.  i.e. when we sailed another cruise line and our room steward discarded all my son's prescription medications ... and, he was sleeping on a bed that was broken.  But by and large our expectations are low and the come-through is high. 

We're on a ship; yippeeeee! 🥳

Edited August 21, 2022 by mearsfansinboise

[TominNC]

Great info as always Sthrngary.  

 

My wife and I usually have our expectations met, because we don't have lofty expectations.  We can afford a balcony cabin, so that's what we get.  We eat breakfast at the buffet and only eat dinner at the for pay restaurants when it's included in the cruise.  We get the drink package because it gives us a "don't worry about it" feeling.  As long as the staff is polite and the food is fresh, we're ok.

 

So far we've had no problems on our NCL (or RCCL) cruises.  I don't expect a Haven experience, because I'm not paying for one.

 

Here's to everyone enjoying their cruise experience there way.

[MyTMo777]

Apparently I am not active enough on CruiseCritic to have come across your previous writings, @Sthrngary, but I just can't say enough how much I appreciate this post. So very well stated. We each have our own level of cruising happiness, whether that's Haven or an inside cabin. Realistic expectations are what makes a cruise delightful or not. Recognize that just because something happened a certain way on a certain ship doesn't mean that it will always be that way on every cruise - whether that something was negative or positive. 

[Sthrngary]

33 minutes ago, MyTMo777 said:

Apparently I am not active enough on CruiseCritic to have come across your previous writings, @Sthrngary, but I just can't say enough how much I appreciate this post. So very well stated. We each have our own level of cruising happiness, whether that's Haven or an inside cabin. Realistic expectations are what makes a cruise delightful or not. Recognize that just because something happened a certain way on a certain ship doesn't mean that it will always be that way on every cruise - whether that something was negative or positive. 

Thank you for the kind words.

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[imacruiser99]

Totally agree with the comments.  I think some Cruise Critic member can be a little "snarky"  with their comments, but always appreciate positive comments and feed back.  Wife and I have been sailed in all cabin types (except interior), but for us, based upon our life style, the Haven is over the top.  We are not ones who enjoy or take advantage of the pampering some folks expect (or deserve in the Haven), but still enjoyed the amenities it had to offer.  To be honest, we spent more time in the common areas when we stayed in the Haven then we actually in the Haven.

 

Thanks for the frank and honest comments and keep them up.  Always refreshing to see comments such as these.

 

Cruising is the best, no matter where you are on the ship, just enjoy the experience.

Totally agree with the comments.  I think some Cruise Critic member can be a little "snarky"  with their comments, but always appreciate positive comments and feed back.  Wife and I have been sailed in all cabin types (except interior), but for us, based upon our life style, the Haven is over the top.  We are not ones who enjoy or take advantage of the pampering some folks expect (or deserve in the Haven), but still enjoyed the amenities it had to offer.  To be honest, we spent more time in the common areas when we stayed in the Haven then we actually in the Haven.

 

Thanks for the frank and honest comments and keep them up.  Always refreshing to see comments such as these.

 

Cruising is the best, no matter where you are on the ship, just enjoy the experience.

[phillygwm]

I completely agree with your sentiment.  I frequently use review sites, whether CC, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Opentable...whatever.  Disproportionately, the ratings are 5 star or 1 star.  The 5 star ratings were undeserved (there were no issues with the meal/stay) and 1 star ratings are often over something trivial (i.e. I told them not to put pickles on my burger and they did.)  We live in a society where grade inflation is expected.  People get 4.2 GPAs out of a theoretical 4.0 and anything under a B is terrible.  And there are a fair share of "Karens" out there 🙂

 

I believe in a bell curve: the vast majority of my reviews anywhere are 3-4 stars.  Why?  Because I equate 3 stars with average and my definition of average is ~50% of my experiences have been better and 50% have been worse, taking into account the relative cost. 

 

But when I get a survey and give 3 stars, I often get a call/email asking what they could do to rectify the situation when there's really nothing to rectify:  It was perfectly adequate.  People take offense at this, but rating every interaction at the extremes lessens the impact when something legitimately IS a superior -- or awful -- experience.

Edited August 21, 2022 by phillygwm

[GeezerCouple]

7 hours ago, mearsfansinboise said:

...  Very few experiences have left us upset.  i.e. when we sailed another cruise line and our room steward discarded all my son's prescription medications ... and, he was sleeping on a bed that was broken.  But by and large our expectations are low and the come-through is high. 

We're on a ship; yippeeeee! 🥳

[emphasis added]

 

WHAT!?

A steward discarded all of someone's prescription medication?  Discarding even one is absolutely, positively a *NO*!

That could be critically necessary medication, and someone on a cruise may be, to put it mildly, "far from an ER/hospital" if the med is critical and not easy to replace while traveling.

 

I cannot even imagine such a thing.  It's actually frightening to consider.

 

We do keep our meds out of sight... or we certainly try to remember to do that.

But on a cruise, a steward might enter when one isn't expecting them, and one might have just left the cabin briefly to get something......

 

In our case, I go so far as to keep most of our meds locked up when traveling, with just a small supply of anything needed regularly at hand, perhaps in a night table drawer (especially if it's something that might be needed in the middle of the night or on short notice).

 

I'm just having trouble processing the idea that anyone employed in the hospitality business would do such a thing.

 

Truly - 😱 !

 

GC

Edited August 21, 2022 by GeezerCouple

[ChiefMateJRK]

16 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

In our case, I go so far as to keep most of our meds locked up when traveling, with just a small supply of anything needed regularly at hand

Most medications are small and portable.  We always carry on enough meds for the entire trip and then pack an equal number in our suitcases as backups.  Will we need them?  Highly unlikely.  Will we be glad we have them if 💩happens?  Absolutely.

Edited August 21, 2022 by ChiefMateJRK

[Sthrngary]

1 hour ago, phillygwm said:

But when I get a survey and give 3 stars, I often get a call/email asking what they could do to rectify the situation when there's really nothing to rectify:  It was perfectly adequate.  People take offense at this, but rating every interaction at the extremes lessens the impact when something legitimately IS a superior -- or awful -- experience.

Yep, as I stated, I worked with reviews and surveys in my prior life.  It is supposed to give an organization a way of knowing where to put some effort.  Instead, we feel bad for telling the truth with our scores.  

 

Lots of reason for this Need for Top scores.  It really is the companies lack of understanding and the way scores are used in Marketing. I say, score what you got but play fair.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

[mearsfansinboise]

14 hours ago, GeezerCouple said:

[emphasis added]

 

WHAT!?

A steward discarded all of someone's prescription medication?  Discarding even one is absolutely, positively a *NO*!

That could be critically necessary medication, and someone on a cruise may be, to put it mildly, "far from an ER/hospital" if the med is critical and not easy to replace while traveling.

 

I cannot even imagine such a thing.  It's actually frightening to consider.

 

We do keep our meds out of sight... or we certainly try to remember to do that.

But on a cruise, a steward might enter when one isn't expecting them, and one might have just left the cabin briefly to get something......

 

In our case, I go so far as to keep most of our meds locked up when traveling, with just a small supply of anything needed regularly at hand, perhaps in a night table drawer (especially if it's something that might be needed in the middle of the night or on short notice).

 

I'm just having trouble processing the idea that anyone employed in the hospitality business would do such a thing.

 

Truly - 😱 !

 

GC

 

Oh, it was a nightmare.  He was planning to take them in the morning, but we didn't order in-room breakfast that morning.  So, we left for breakfast --- his bed (the couch) had just one flat sheet on it and the pill bottles were on it ---- you could not miss them, large orange bottles with blue tops ---- and when we returned, they were gone.

(We usually keep meds put away/hidden .... and, our steward normally did not come that early in the morning ... but perhaps caught us leaving and thought they could get in earlier that usual.)

It was a BIG deal.  They searched laundry bags and down in the laundry, etc. to no avail. 

They offered us a deck of playing cards for the inconvenience ...

  🤦‍♀️

[steveknj]

While I appreciate the sentiment of the OP, none of us have the expertise that the OP has, in both writing, objectively critiquing our cruise or even knowing the types of things that other cruisers are looking for.  Some of us easily overlook every little issue we might have on board, and generally look at our overall cruise as opposed to critiquing ever aspect.   And if you frequent many of these types of boards, you also know that quite often what's here are not critiques per se, but observations, opinions and information as much as critiques.  I don't think any of us SHOULD have any type of "GOAL" here.   I don't expect a professional critique, nor should we (one of the problems/best parts with social media IS that you don't have professionals who do this job, but every day people who share their love of a certain topic, in this case cruising and are also looking for more than just "I liked this", or, "I had trouble with so and so room steward".  We all come here for different reasons.   To expect any kind of nuanced review from most of us here does not make a whole lot of sense, in an open forum.  That's what professionals do.  I just want general impressions from people who have been on this or that cruise, not any type of nuanced review.   Tell me what you liked, tell me what you didn't, and whatever rating you give it, for whatever reason, that's fine with me (and also realize, that quite often you have "planted" reviews...i.e. reviews put online by the companies that they are reviewing to try and skew ratings in a certain direction....not saying that's happening here, but it's a problem with reviews in general all over the internet.)

[complawyer]

did you suggest to them what they might do with their  deck of playing cards? 

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 hour ago, mearsfansinboise said:

 

Oh, it was a nightmare.  He was planning to take them in the morning, but we didn't order in-room breakfast that morning.  So, we left for breakfast --- his bed (the couch) had just one flat sheet on it and the pill bottles were on it ---- you could not miss them, large orange bottles with blue tops ---- and when we returned, they were gone.

(We usually keep meds put away/hidden .... and, our steward normally did not come that early in the morning ... but perhaps caught us leaving and thought they could get in earlier that usual.)

It was a BIG deal.  They searched laundry bags and down in the laundry, etc. to no avail. 

They offered us a deck of playing cards for the inconvenience ...

  🤦‍♀️

This sounds like an honest mistake.  I'm sure the stewards are very rushed and likely tossed some other laundry onto the couch prior to removing the sheets.  Lesson learned = keep the medicines in a better place than on top of a bed that is about to be remade.

[CDR Benson]

16 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

This sounds like an honest mistake.  I'm sure the stewards are very rushed and likely tossed some other laundry onto the couch prior to removing the sheets.  Lesson learned = keep the medicines in a better place than on top of a bed that is about to be remade.

 

Both of your points are valid.  Still, what surprises me is the ship's underwhelming response to the situation.

 

One would think that:

 

■  Foremost, for humanitarian reasons

 

■  And, in view of the medical situation that could evolve, to avoid a lawsuit that Helen Keller could see coming . . .

 

the ship/NCL would take extraordinary action to replace the lad's meds, either from the ship's sickbay or from a medical facility at the next port visit, even if NCL had to have the replacement meds shipped in overnight.

 

The mind boggles over decisions made by bean-counters.

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2022 by CDR Benson

[mearsfansinboise]

35 minutes ago, CDR Benson said:

 

Both of your points are valid.  Still, what surprises me is the ship's underwhelming response to the situation.

 

One would think that:

 

■  Foremost, for humanitarian reasons

 

■  And, in view of the medical situation that could evolve, to avoid a lawsuit that Helen Keller could see coming . . .

 

the ship/NCL would take extraordinary action to replace the lad's meds, either from the ship's sickbay or from a medical facility at the next port visit, even if NCL had to have the replacement meds shipped in overnight.

 

The mind boggles over decisions made by bean-counters.

 

 

 

 

Thank you - our sentiments exactly.

THEY 👏 GAVE 👏 US 👏 A  👏DECK 👏 OF 👏 CARDS "for any inconvenience this may have caused." - though they gave it to us with a nice letter.  🙄 

 

(the claps are what the kids use on social media for separate word emphasis - lol)

[Sthrngary]

3 hours ago, steveknj said:

While I appreciate the sentiment of the OP, none of us have the expertise that the OP has, in both writing, objectively critiquing our cruise or even knowing the types of things that other cruisers are looking for.  Some of us easily overlook every little issue we might have on board, and generally look at our overall cruise as opposed to critiquing ever aspect.   And if you frequent many of these types of boards, you also know that quite often what's here are not critiques per se, but observations, opinions and information as much as critiques.  I don't think any of us SHOULD have any type of "GOAL" here.   I don't expect a professional critique, nor should we (one of the problems/best parts with social media IS that you don't have professionals who do this job, but every day people who share their love of a certain topic, in this case cruising and are also looking for more than just "I liked this", or, "I had trouble with so and so room steward".  We all come here for different reasons.   To expect any kind of nuanced review from most of us here does not make a whole lot of sense, in an open forum.  That's what professionals do.  I just want general impressions from people who have been on this or that cruise, not any type of nuanced review.   Tell me what you liked, tell me what you didn't, and whatever rating you give it, for whatever reason, that's fine with me (and also realize, that quite often you have "planted" reviews...i.e. reviews put online by the companies that they are reviewing to try and skew ratings in a certain direction....not saying that's happening here, but it's a problem with reviews in general all over the internet.)

@steveknjI am the op-ed.  You are absolutely right that my experiences are unique to me.  When I wrote this op-ed I was hoping everyone would get something out of an aspect in the article.  You said it best.  "While I appreciated the sentiment of the OP".  

Your comments clearly show why I really like CruiseCritic.com.  Your writing was clear, understandable and expressed your position in a very logical way.  Thank you is all I can say and please comment more.  

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

[phillygwm]

6 hours ago, steveknj said:

Tell me what you liked, tell me what you didn't, and whatever rating you give it, for whatever reason, that's fine with me (and also realize, that quite often you have "planted" reviews...i.e. reviews put online by the companies that they are reviewing to try and skew ratings in a certain direction....not saying that's happening here, but it's a problem with reviews in general all over the internet.)

This.  I took the same cruise as friends of mine.  We stayed in the same category of cabin, ate in the same restaurants, drank in the same bars, took the same tours, etc.  They hated it, I generally enjoyed it.  I would argue that their expectations were unrealistic -- these people would never pay for Haven access --  but those were their expectations.  Eh, they were drunk for most of the cruise anyway 🙂

 

I do try to weed out planted reviews (all these reviewers from across the U.S. visited a local pizza place?  I had no idea that my suburban residential neighborhood was such a tourist destination!)  And I usually read the narratives because so many people give 1 or 5 stars that I tend to discount the usefulness of that.