Not happy with Paul Baya-CD on Jewel.

[7SeasLover]

Had I been the CD, and forgotten, I would have tried to make amends and reconvene the group. I would like to know what effort the group made to have someone show up.

[MidtheNight]

We finally were able to meet with Paul today…he gave us some idea of what was already in the planning and we gave him some feed back as well. All in all it was a good meeting. Our schedules for the past two days or so just didn't line up quite right (we kept trying and so did he but it just didn't work out soon) but we did get something accomplished.

 

BTW, today on board we played "In the Bag" and although it got quite rambunctious at times there were old and younger old (us young whippersnappers of 40 somethings) alike and it was a riot. I have not seen a game that was so much fun for everyone...great choice and I would suggest that if you are taking a cruise you talk the CD into putting this into the schedule (just don't put any chairs from the chapel into the list of items :))

 

Hey Paul...in case you are reading this (and I know that the staff does) tell Michaela that we still like here even though we didn't win at Bingo (again) tonight.

[jessinat]

Also was on the 4/30 Transatlantic (and am under 50) and have to say that I agree that In The Bag was really a great game but wish that we had understood what the game was prior to showing up to play, but next time "Captain Avocado's team" (you had to have been there to understand) will not only be better prepared but we will also sit at front so as to not be unfairly advantaged (AND NO, BENCHES FROM CHAPEL SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COUNTED AS CHAIRS) and Edward's leg looked awful later in the cruise.

 

As for other activities I thought that the Morning Trivia was entertaining (but once again I was on Captain Avocado's team - winning team for the week) and met the needs of old and young as well as US and European cruisers. And the Win Lose and Draw actiivity with the cast of Second City was great.

 

So overall I had plenty to do but maybe I am too close to being over 50 (am 48) and I thought that Paul Baya was the best CD that I have experienced but then again this was only cruise 8 for me.

[mbarnaby99]

I was on the cruise and thought Paul was great. He admitted he forgot and apoligized more than once and talked about it after the Second City show at Spinikers.

[Tomct]

Some of us under 50 cruisers wanted some livelier games instead of napkin folding and flower making. One of us met with Mr. Baya and he suggested that we get a bunch of the "under 50 crowd" togther and come up with some ideas and that he would be there to help lead the discussion and let us know what was already planned.

 

A bunch of us showed up and MR. PAUL BAYA DID NOT and neither did any of his junior staff! Needless to say that this has left a bad, bad taste with the younger crowd...I'm talk people in their late thirties and forties not teenagers or twenty something year olds either. Even if we didn't come up with anything it would have gone a long way if he had showed up to say to us that our business is just as important to NCL as the older crowd.

 

We intend to phone Mr. Baya later to find out exactly what his problem was however at first glance there are a number of us who are right now very disappointed with NCL and Mr. Paul Baya.

 

 

I'd like to add that of our 6 cruises, two have been with Paul, and he is certainly shares a top ranking with us. He's very talented, of course very busy, and would agree he is a very personable and caring human being. As said, stuff does happen, and who knows the reason he forgot - could have been a plain old slip up, forgot to write it down, whatever, or maybe something extremely important jumped up on him overshadowing his prior commitment, and he just forgot.

 

Anyway, someone should have gotten back to him, and if your group had any good ideas for him to consider, that would have been a great way to get his attention. I'm sure he would have given you some preferential treatment for implementation of any reasonable ideas. I'd say it was an opportunity lost on your group's part, and you shouldn't have let your emotions get in your way. It's also not too late to get your ideas to him, or at least through NCL. A nice letter explaining the circumstances and your thoughts would be a more meaningful response than venting here on the board.

[newmexicoNita]

I have cruised over 20 times and never had a CD and assistant that could compare with Paul and MIke. As for not enough to do: there is daily trivia which is for all ages. In fact we have said many times if you do not havae someone in their 30, 40, 50 and 60s you can't win as the questions are so varied: there are board games and card games not to mention golf clinics, Art Auctions, Martini clinics plus Margarita clinics and other such activities. What about the casino, or just reading a really good book. You can bring your own books or check something out in the well stocked library. We cruise, often with friends in their 60s, our kids in the their 40s and grandkids in their 20s; none of us have ever felt there wasn't something to do.

 

I understand you were upset when Paul didn't show and gave no excuse other than he forgot. Would it have been better if he had lied to you? I would appreciate his honestly. Sorry if I sound harsh, but I am tired of people thinking they need to be entertained every minute. NMNita

[The Brady Bunch]

I'm in the group of Paul Baya fans! This was our fourth cruise with NCL, and the ONLY cruise where the CD was as visible as Paul. He is funny, witty, hard-working, and he can SING too!

 

But guess what, Paul! G O L F really doesn't mean "Gentlemen only, ladies forbidden." That was a hoax begun on the internet. LOL

 

Thanks for a wonderful cruise PAUL!!! You rock!

 

Kathy and Rob Brady

 

Transatlantic 4/30

[F11]

Come on-that opening comment is like hitting below the belt!!!!I found napkin folding fun! I never realized you could do so much with a napkin!

 

CD is great,can you not think for yourselves!!!! I really do not cruise for such activities!!! Try pillow-fluffing-it is fun and educational....

[micheleg]

We were on the same cruise as the OP and we thought Paul was great! In fact, out of all of our cruises on all of the different lines, we thought Paul was far superior to every other CD we've ever had. As soon as we met Paul at our Cruisecritic meet and greet, he always greeted us by our names. Paul was always available for questions and listened to our concerns.

 

We thought Paul was very, very funny....was a great host of the morning madness trivia games...and...when he sang at the last show he absolutely blew us away...who knew he had such a powerful voice! :)

 

We are so looking forward to having Paul on one of our future sailings. He and his team along with the Officers, staff and crew of the Jewel made our wedding, honeymoon, and vacation a very special one!

 

More on our cruise when I post my review.

 

Michele :)

[fnewman]

I would hate to think that my enjoyment of a cruise depended on that the cruise director did or did not do.