Pride of Hawaii worst cruise I've ever taken

[newmexicoNita]

I love it when people bash American Flagged Ships. I have clients who've been on Majestic American Lines and some of the other smaller lines doing costal cruises and the people loved it. First class service all the way. A couple weeks ago, I was listening to the NCL earnings call and Colin Veitch said that satisfaction levels are continuing to rise on the Pride Ships. I think what is happening is that we only hear from the passengers who did not enjoy there experience for one reason or another while not hearing from the other couple thousand who had a great time.

Mike, a couple of things come to mind here: 1-yes, I too beleive the Pride ships are getting more positive even though they will, most likely always fall short in some ways.

 

As for clients sailing the other American lines, don't you think their love for them has to do with sailing smaller ships with quite a bit higher prices, thus the staff is a little different. Someone said about a year ago, maybe the only way for a company to survive the Hawaiian route would be to sail the luxury yatch type of ships and price the cruise accordingly. I hope this isn't what will happen. Let's hope, hu? NMnita

[sreed41]

Now I'm not sure what to do. Our final payment is coming due for a July POA cruise and after reading some of the posts in this thread and others, I'm wondering if we need to reconsider using the cruise option. We decided to do this so that we'd have the opportunity to see several different places without having to unpack/pack every other day. I don't consider our group (3 couples) to be snobs but we have cruised on other lines and have enjoyed some of the things which seem to be (according to what I've read) absent from the Pride ships. I'm not expecting to be waited on hand and foot but my husband and I will definitely be bothered by a dirty room or poor quality food.

 

Help! Are we making a mistake taking this cruise?

[RSWBADGER]

Now I'm not sure what to do. Our final payment is coming due for a July POA cruise and after reading some of the posts in this thread and others, I'm wondering if we need to reconsider using the cruise option. We decided to do this so that we'd have the opportunity to see several different places without having to unpack/pack every other day. I don't consider our group (3 couples) to be snobs but we have cruised on other lines and have enjoyed some of the things which seem to be (according to what I've read) absent from the Pride ships. I'm not expecting to be waited on hand and foot but my husband and I will definitely be bothered by a dirty room or poor quality food.

 

Help! Are we making a mistake taking this cruise?

 

Go over to the Hawaii board and read all of the positive reviews about the ships, don't let a few spoil your cruise. I am leaving next weekend on what some call the worse (Pride of Aloha), I will have a great time and eat great food. I will let everyone know. :D

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=62

[spleenstomper]

Well, I'm also taking my first cruise for the same reasons you expressed and no one is going to be able to tell you what to do. How important is it to you to see more than 1 island? To us, that is the number one important aspect of this trip.

 

If you don't mind staying on 1 island, then you can skip the cruise. Or if you want to stay on Maui and sail to Lanai (sp?) then that's an option as well.

 

You can also check prices for inter-island flights and see the cost difference between the cruise and going at your own pace as well as the price of having to pack and unpack and move more.

 

What do YOU want to do? What is most important to YOU on this vacation?

[BeachBumMama]

Now I'm not sure what to do. Our final payment is coming due for a July POA cruise and after reading some of the posts in this thread and others, I'm wondering if we need to reconsider using the cruise option. We decided to do this so that we'd have the opportunity to see several different places without having to unpack/pack every other day. I don't consider our group (3 couples) to be snobs but we have cruised on other lines and have enjoyed some of the things which seem to be (according to what I've read) absent from the Pride ships. I'm not expecting to be waited on hand and foot but my husband and I will definitely be bothered by a dirty room or poor quality food.

 

Help! Are we making a mistake taking this cruise?

 

From personal experience, if I had listened to the negative reviews I never would have taken my ultimate favorite cruise to Bermuda. Experiences are different and though there is negative (as there is with any cruise line and any ship) you don't hear of all the positives. I don't recall the OP saying the room was dirty (I could be wrong), but I thought it was more no 'turn down' service. And as for the food, that is so subjective and the larger, newer ships have so many dining options I can't believe that there won't be someplace you can't find great food to enjoy. Besides, after all your planning, if you choose another cruise you'll only read negatives on that also and have to start over and never go anywhere.:eek:

 

Go and have a wonderful time! However, if you'd like to give it up I'll gladly take it!:D

[mikedw]

Mike, a couple of things come to mind here: 1-yes, I too beleive the Pride ships are getting more positive even though they will, most likely always fall short in some ways.

 

As for clients sailing the other American lines, don't you think their love for them has to do with sailing smaller ships with quite a bit higher prices, thus the staff is a little different. Someone said about a year ago, maybe the only way for a company to survive the Hawaiian route would be to sail the luxury yatch type of ships and price the cruise accordingly. I hope this isn't what will happen. Let's hope, hu? NMnita

 

You're right, most of these people love small ships. My co worker quoted a couple for a great lakes cruise and it was over $8,000.00 for 7 days, they decided against it, but I have several couples who will pay that in a heart beat.

 

Take care,

 

Michael

[newmexicoNita]

You're right, most of these people love small ships. My co worker quoted a couple for a great lakes cruise and it was over $8,000.00 for 7 days, they decided against it, but I have several couples who will pay that in a heart beat.

 

Take care,

 

Michael

I have only a couple of clients in that ball park. One loves SeaDream and keeps telling me to try it. I wonder if he realizes how much money we don't make. LOL

[puli]

Now I'm not sure what to do. Our final payment is coming due for a July POA cruise and after reading some of the posts in this thread and others, I'm wondering if we need to reconsider using the cruise option. We decided to do this so that we'd have the opportunity to see several different places without having to unpack/pack every other day. I don't consider our group (3 couples) to be snobs but we have cruised on other lines and have enjoyed some of the things which seem to be (according to what I've read) absent from the Pride ships. I'm not expecting to be waited on hand and foot but my husband and I will definitely be bothered by a dirty room or poor quality food.

 

Help! Are we making a mistake taking this cruise?

If by chance you booked through a TA I would suggest having a serious talk with her/him about your expections for a Hawaiian cruise. There are other Cruise lines that go to Hawaii both from the West Coast and also from Tahiti. You may need to evaluate all your options. It sounds like you are not really sure NCLA is for you and having doubts can certainly ruin any trip no matter how great the scenery nor what positives the ship does have. For most of us a Hawiian cruise is a big expense and it is better to be safe than sorry.

I think there have been positive and negative points made on this board. However, human nature being what it is it is so easy to take everything personally.Try to get past that aspect when reading these boards. Certainly NCLA does not come up to "luxury ship" standards but I do not believe it sells itself in that category.

Having lived in Hawaii I doubt that many native Hawaiians would wish to be employed other than being the "Hawaiian Specialist" as in giving hula lessons, and cultural history, or in other speciality areas. The cost of living in Hawaii is extremely high and most natives work several jobs to make ends meet. The minimum wage offered on NCLA would not surfice. Many of the Hawiian entry level work force are younger mainlanders who come to Hawaii to surf and enjoy a life of sun and fun. All over the Islands there is a problem with this type of work force. A cruise ship will be no different.

Running a cruise line exclusively in Hawaii must be extremely difficult but that being said, the end product should meet cruise standards and given the cost and distance, exceed expectations. Good luck in your decision making and once you have really decided then go for it!

[cod]

I was hoping to get to Hawaii while the Wind was still there...won't make it. Now with the Sun doing a turn-about I'm really at a loss as to how I would cruise the islands because I've decided, with all I've read for months, that it won't be on an NCLA ship.

 

Maybe I've missed something but I have yet to read a 'rave' review. They seem to range from just 'okay' to downright 'terrible'! Neither is something I would fly that distance to experience.

 

The op sounds very reasonable to me and I'm sorry his complaints are being picked apart by some. I would only add my voice to those who hope that he gives NCL another chance in the future. We enjoyed the Sea, Sky and Sun and are looking forward to the Spirit later this year. But no NCLA for us, thank you!

[Jane*20]

We are by no means experienced cruisers, however I must reply. We just returned from a 7 day Pride of Hawaii cruise (2/26 - 3/5). This was a BIG Beautiful ship, the crew was very friendly, courtious, and respectful.

On day 3 they did wrap the buffet with saran wrap and served us with gloved hands, also asking each person to sanatize their hands. I certainly appreciated this and assumed there must be some sickness they were trying to contained. The food was very good, we ate 3 times in the Cagney specialty restaruant, and had the most mouth watering steaks. Our waiter was very professional and catered to us wonderfully. We ate one night in the Alzar - service was a little slow, but we were sailing, so what was the rush. Our waiter was doing his best to service more tables than he should have been assigned. There was some rude people - who did not help the situation. We also ate in the Polinio, this was very very nice and wonderful waiters.

We had a very nice aft balcony 8th deck cabin, which was cleaned daily. We had turn down service after the 2nd night, mints and towel animals. Our shore excursions through NCL were very good. You do have a line to wait in - but it takes time to put that many people on busses.

I read every thing I could before we left, and had read so many negative reviews - I was definately worried that I would be dissapointed with this cruise. But I have no complaints and give this cruise ship A+ rating, and log this cruise as a "Wonderful Vacation".

[spleenstomper]

Maybe I've missed something but I have yet to read a 'rave' review. They seem to range from just 'okay' to downright 'terrible'! Neither is something I would fly that distance to experience.

 

Mr. Tractor really liked his voyage on the Pride of Hawaii. I've been corresponding with him since I read his review for tips and suggestions. Also, I've read several "5 whale" reviews on CC lately about POH. I'm not sure where you're looking....

[mikedw]

I have only a couple of clients in that ball park. One loves SeaDream and keeps telling me to try it. I wonder if he realizes how much money we don't make. LOL

 

I know what you mean, I've never bothered checking for an agent rate on some of the smaller lines, but I can only imagine that even with that, it's out of my price range:)LOL

[sreed41]

Thanks Jane and others for the reality check. I feel somewhat responsible for this trip since I'm the one who worked out the details with the TA, etc. However, I also know that a trip is as good as you make it. It sounds like the best thing to do is to go with a good attitude and recognize that nothing is ever going to be perfect. We're really not doing this cruise because of the "cruise factor" but rather the fact that it affords us the ability to see several places in Hawaii with ease. I am going to call our TA this week and just check in with her regarding what she's heard and/or experienced.

[BeachBumMama]

I read every thing I could before we left, and had read so many negative reviews - I was definately worried that I would be dissapointed with this cruise. But I have no complaints and give this cruise ship A+ rating, and log this cruise as a "Wonderful Vacation".

 

As I posted previously, I would have missed out on the best cruise to Bermuda if I had taken to heart what I'd read about it. Like you and many others, I guess I'm a person that likes to make up my own mind and experience it for myself, form my own opinions rather then rely on someone else's opinion. Glad you had a great time and welcome back, even though I'm sure you don't want to be here!:D

[whale-watcher]

....Maybe I've missed something but I have yet to read a 'rave' review. They seem to range from just 'okay' to downright 'terrible'! Neither is something I would fly that distance to experience...

Not sure where you are looking, but there have quite a few postive reveiws on this board...

for example:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=513179

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=512189

 

I personally am looking forward to a wonderful vacation with NCLA...even if it is still 10 months away!!

[Deck10 007]

Reading this long thread took me sometime.

My perspertive is far away in Star Cruises land here in Asia. When Tan Sri Lim, the owner of Star Cruises, NCL and NCLA, first look at the Hawaiin market it must look more than right to him. He had this large modern ship now called the NCL Spirit that can do 30 knots and reach Kiribati a foreign port and homeport in Hawaii. He could use his Asian crew and operate his casino. Then the world turned upside down for him. The small local cruise company managed to get the local Sanator to changed the existing law to prevent him from doing exactly what he want to do.

How he still decide to proceed with his investment in Hawaiii is the great unknown. Why the local community and other politcians did not help him is the other unknown. Just look at the tourist dollars flowing into Hawaii even now. Tan Sri Lim might be blind sighted because the Singapore government here has given him every encouragement because of the number of tourist he is bringing into Singapore.

The Singapore goverment do not insist that his ship be Singapore flagged or employed only Singaporeans. If you go on the Star Cruise ship now, out of 1000 crew you would not be able to count the numbers of Singaporean crew with one hand. The neighbouring third world countries are providing very cost crew for them even by Singaporean standards. But it is not just the pay. It is also the living confditions and working them till they drop. In the US I understand there is also the union to deal with. But apart from all this they still would not be able to get Singapoean on the ship because Singaporeans are used to a certain ambiance in life and just wont touch certain types of jobs.

It just cannot be done with an American crew. I know MikeKaye is going to slaghter me here because I said this in my previous postngs and he called me "the cheerleader for the demise of NCLA".

[beachchick]

I've said it before, and it bears repeating: Our PoH cruise experience was exactly the opposite of the OP's. There was no lack of work ethic onboard. Those crew members were working their whats-its off all day and night. I'm sick to death of having people say that all American workers are "lazy," when it simply isn't true. Some American crew members are no doubt lazy, just like you'll find in any company on land or at sea. Some American crew members no doubt signed on with visions of "The Love Boat" dancing in their heads and were in for a rude awakening. However, almost all of the crew and officers whom we met or had any interactions with were pleasant, hard-working, and very much in the aloha spirit.

 

I'm truly sorry that the OP had a lousy cruise, but a nightmare? C'mon.

 

And I'm not saying we should lower our expectations. We didn't, we just adjusted them to the type of cruise it was. There's no casino; there's no bingo; there aren't nearly as many onboard activities because it's a port-intensive itinerary. But that is not a reflection on the service you receive. Was our cruise perfect? No, of course not. We had a few small issues. You know what? We've had small issues on every cruise, no matter what cruise line. And how many of us have read "horror story" reviews from (often first time) posters about nearly every ship you can name.

 

It's true that NCLA probably isn't for everyone because the whole feel of the cruise is different. IMO, not better, not worse, just different.

 

I don't doubt that some pax have lousy cruises with NCLA, but certainly not all do. We had a great time.

 

beachchick

[Seago2]

It just cannot be done with an American crew. I know MikeKaye is going to slaghter me here because I said this in my previous postngs and he called me "the cheerleader for the demise of NCLA".

 

Being an American, I agree.

 

Don't worry about people coming down on you too hard. There are two people on this board that used to make m very upset, but now I just ignore them! Your perspective is unusual and I like reading what you have to say!

[MrPete]

I wish NCL would rename the Hawiian operations the Hawiian Pride Cruise Lines. Nothing with NCL in it. I am curious what others think?

 

Being you're asking, I am just curious as to why this is something you would want. How would this affect you?

 

Can't see how this would make anything better, except if they addressed the issues.

[RSWBADGER]

We are by no means experienced cruisers, however I must reply. We just returned from a 7 day Pride of Hawaii cruise (2/26 - 3/5). This was a BIG Beautiful ship, the crew was very friendly, courtious, and respectful.

On day 3 they did wrap the buffet with saran wrap and served us with gloved hands, also asking each person to sanatize their hands. I certainly appreciated this and assumed there must be some sickness they were trying to contained. The food was very good, we ate 3 times in the Cagney specialty restaruant, and had the most mouth watering steaks. Our waiter was very professional and catered to us wonderfully. We ate one night in the Alzar - service was a little slow, but we were sailing, so what was the rush. Our waiter was doing his best to service more tables than he should have been assigned. There was some rude people - who did not help the situation. We also ate in the Polinio, this was very very nice and wonderful waiters.

We had a very nice aft balcony 8th deck cabin, which was cleaned daily. We had turn down service after the 2nd night, mints and towel animals. Our shore excursions through NCL were very good. You do have a line to wait in - but it takes time to put that many people on busses.

I read every thing I could before we left, and had read so many negative reviews - I was definately worried that I would be dissapointed with this cruise. But I have no complaints and give this cruise ship A+ rating, and log this cruise as a "Wonderful Vacation".

 

Nice Review, A+ rating

[Jana]

I was on Pride of America 11 months ago. It was one of the most extraordinary experiences I have ever had. Was it different? Absolutely. Was it perfect? Absolutely not.

 

This was during the period of unprecedented rainfall. Seven people were killed in a Kauai mudslide. Roads were washed out and impassible. Sewage overflowed its tanks and spilled onto Waikiki beach, closing it for several days. Luaus were cancelled. Deck parties were brought indoors. The crew and staff did everything possible to create a comfortable ambiance in a decidedly uncomfortable situation. They worked as hard as they could and tried their best to satisfy every guest.

 

Still, there were many people screaming at the overworked crew because their time was ruined by weather.

 

We did have sunshine in Kona and Kauai, and the sail by the NaPali Coast was incredible. Unbelievable. We also had rainbows in Maui and saw whales breaching throughout our trip. The misty rain on our first night made the lava flowing into the ocean even more compelling.

 

The only service issue we had was in the Cadillac Diner at lunch one day. The waitstaff had a hard time dealing with triple the number of guests because of rained-out shore excursions. We understood and didn't mind the slow service or harried waiters/waitresses; what we objected to was the loud and inappropriate upbraiding of a waitress in front of everyone. To the poster who thinks this is ok, who thinks this is the way to solve issues on the spot... it isn't. It isn't appropriate in any culture. It was not fun watching it and it certainly was uncomfortable to be waited on by a teary waitress who had just been humiliated in a restaurant overfilled with guests.

 

It was admittedly difficult to be disappointed by weather-related cancellations, but we just look at it as an opportunity to do it again. It was a fabulous cruise, one of our all-time favorites, and I am anxious to see Hawaii the same way, again, but without the excess rain.

 

Jana

[BeachBumMama]

I am anxious to see Hawaii the same way, again, but without the excess rain.

I remember seeing this in the news and thought about all the cruisers and vacationers. Glad to see even this didn't ruin your trip. I've been in the middle of a hurricane before and even that didn't ruin my trip. Sometimes we just have to take what's given and make it work, but some people seem to put too much emphasis on making it 'others' responsibility to make their trip fantastic. And those same people want to blame those 'others' when things don't work out the way they want.

 

It's the nature of the person that will make the difference in vacations. Making the best of record rainfall weather on a cruise? Or complaining because there were no towel animals? Come on, if towel animals are important take the class that's offered and make your own.:p The original OP complained about the service and in the same review complained about no towel animals. If they were short staffed lot's of time was saved not having to make towel animals for 2,000 cabins, thereby trying to concentrate on more important things like turn down service. Sometimes we just can't have it all, I've adapted to that concept well.:D

 

All the 'love the towel animals' people can flame me, I don't care, I've just never been able to understand this complaint.:rolleyes:

[Jana]

I LOVE the towel animals! I love being cheered by them when I come "home." But if I wanted to guarantee that I'd have one, every night, I'd book on the line that has made them a signature. Not NCL.

 

I also love NCL's cheerful little pillow cards but it sure as hell wouldn't ruin my trip not to get one, and I can buy a box of Andre's mints for under $2 at my local CVS.

 

Jana

 

PS... they are much harder to make than one thinks, even with the class. I know, I've tried and failed many times.

[newmexicoNita]

Being you're asking, I am just curious as to why this is something you would want. How would this affect you?

 

Can't see how this would make anything better, except if they addressed the issues.

I beleive the reason Don thinks re-naming the line is and I only guessing: it would separate NCLA from NCL a little more. More people would understand they are two different companies. Is this going to improve the American Flagged ships? Probably not, but it may help NCLs imagine. Actually Orient line which operates the Marco Polo is part of Star as well, but no one things of them as part on NCL. NMnita

[BeachBumMama]

PS... they are much harder to make than one thinks, even with the class. I know, I've tried and failed many times.

 

Yes, nothing AGAINST the towel animals, I enjoy them when I get one, but it isn't going to make or break my cruise and I would never consider it a 'complaint' when I don't get one.:)