Pride of Aloha Failed Health Inspection

[SailorJack]

In an article in USA Today, the paper reports that the Pride of Aloha failed its health inspection. Problems included finding bacteria in one of the ship's whirlpools, moldy ice machines,food kept past the seven-day post-preparation period; a dirty meat grinder; counters covered with mold; inadequate sneeze guards in the buffet; poorly washed, food-coated coffee cups and plates laid out for use; and live insect larvae :eek: growing at a station at the ship's buffet.

 

The paper gives credit to Cruise Critic for unearthing the CDC report which had been obfuscated in a report for several months.

 

If the CDC can hide results of inspections like this, it gives rise to the question of how often things like occur? One would like to think that this is a rarity and that most ships adhere religiously to CDC health guidelines.

 

The ship does leave NCL service this month, but I think it is going to another NCL related company.

[electricron]

SJ,

That inspection was performed last December, a good six months ago.

 

Most of the issues had been addressed before the CDC left the ship, all before the end of the month.

[SailorJack]

SJ,

That inspection was performed last December, a good six months ago.

 

Most of the issues had been addressed before the CDC left the ship, all before the end of the month.

 

You are correct. As the paper reported, the report was several months old and I am sure that the ship addressed the issues immediately. The concern is how that many violations could have occured in the first place.

 

The article in USA Today stated that it is extremely rare for a ship to get as low a rating (76, as I recall) as Aloha received.

[electricron]

You are correct. As the paper reported, the report was several months old and I am sure that the ship addressed the issues immediately. The concern is how that many violations could have occured in the first place.

 

The article in USA Today stated that it is extremely rare for a ship to get as low a rating (76, as I recall) as Aloha received.

 

If you read the CDC report closely, you'll discover that many of the CDC hits was on broken equipment, ie bad refer thermostats, cracked tile work both on the walls and decks, bad UV sensors, poor locations for paper towel dispensers, and poor cleaning behind heavy equipment. Most of the food preparation working surfaces were clean. The CDC even hit the Aloha galley staff on where an electric cord was ran.

 

Then take the time to read NCL's corrective action response. On the sneeze guards at the buffet, they just set the food trays back a few inches more. Now buffet passengers have to reach farther to scoop up their food.

 

As for the larvae issue, they were found on water puddles on the buffet floor. NCL's response was swabbing the floor more often. Are you planning on eating food on or off the floor?

 

I think people can over-react about the CDC scores. If there really was a significant health issue, the CDC can and will shut down the galley or buffet. Only one piece of equipment had to be removed from a galley, NCL didn't use it anymore, therefore didn't desire to replace or repair it. Note: The CDC did not shut the ship down.

[floridacruiser63]

By the time it starts sailing again, out of Miami, as the Sky, I am sure they will have addressed all the problems and it will receive a clean bill of health!!!

There is no other way it will be able to compete with Carnival's Imagination and Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas, doing the same 3/4 day routes out of the Port of Miami. Can't wait for this to happen.:D

[ohioNCLcruiser]

I feel much better eating in some restaurants now after I worked through some FDA/CDC inspections and know how they work. They can get you for things you would never guess. Did you know if you store a bag of granola next to coffee stir sticks its a few points off? Or sugar packets next to salt and pepper shakers? I remember when the America got inspected they checked the area where we store our ice cream toppings. One of the toppings they offer was jelly beans and one fell out of the bag and was sitting on the shelf. I think that was 3 points off.

[Globaliser]

The paper gives credit to Cruise Critic for unearthing the CDC report which had been obfuscated in a report for several months.

 

If the CDC can hide results of inspections like this, it gives rise to the question of how often things like occur?

I'm not sure how the CDC can be said to have "hidden" this. Hasn't it been on their website for months, just like all the other reports? And it's just that nobody bothered to look?

 

Anyway, the one thing that it hasn't been hidden from is CC members on these forums. After all, we've been discussing this for days now.

[SailorJack]

:eek:

I feel much better eating in some restaurants now after I worked through some FDA/CDC inspections and know how they work. They can get you for things you would never guess. Did you know if you store a bag of granola next to coffee stir sticks its a few points off? Or sugar packets next to salt and pepper shakers? I remember when the America got inspected they checked the area where we store our ice cream toppings. One of the toppings they offer was jelly beans and one fell out of the bag and was sitting on the shelf. I think that was 3 points off.

 

I think that sometimes we forget that a significant percentage of cruisers, if not a majority, have never heard of Cruise Critic and get most of their news from the mainstream media. I did not see the earlier string on this subject as I do not spend as much time on the Board as others may do.

I am a faithful reader of my metropolitan paper and US Today, and the report in the online UST was the first I had read of the December results of the health inspection under discussion in this thread. As Globalizer correctly pointed out (and helped to make my point), even Cruise Critic did not report the December 2007 results until nearly five months after the fact - (May 1).

In my town, and maybe yours too, restaurants are required to post the latest results of their health inspections in a conspicuous place. I assume that is not the case with cruise ships. Even those members of Cruise Critic who spend a considerable amount of time on the Board did not find out the results on the Aloha until five months had past.

With the constant threat of the Norovirus, one would think that cleanliness would be the first and foremost issue in a kitchen and dining room. As Electricon so succinctly put it, most people from Europe and the Northern States do not eat off the floor, but I have seen (and may Bruce Almighty strike me dead if I am making this up), I have seen people drop napkins on the floor and then pick them up and put them back on their lap! If you can believe it, I have even seen people drop a knife or fork, pick it up, wipe it off and use it. Fear of being flamed prevents me from guessing at what state they were from.

These less than fastidious diners were completely unaware that there was an alien colony (where is Sigourney Weaver when you need her!) of larvae :eek: setting up housekeeping on the dining room floor! Let alone moldy ice machines, moldy counters, and, apparently, at least one wayward Jelly Bean (licorice, by unofficial reports)!;)

As I stated earlier, I am sure the crew addressed these issues immediately, but the concern is (in the age of Norovirus) how had these conditions been allowed to grow and why did it take five months for the general (and cruising) public to become aware of the fact. Would quicker public notice provide added incentive to go the extra mile to provide clean dining venues?

As there have now been two threads on this subject (sorry about that) this is my last word on the subject. Let it rest in peace.

[floridacruiser63]

The Sky is definitely coming to Miami!!! It will dry dock in Miami to be re-fitted and will start 3 and 4 day cruises in mid July.:D

 

 

NCL WELCOMES RETURN OF NORWEGIAN SKY TO MIAMI

Ship to sail three and four-day cruises to the Bahamas

beginning mid-July 2008 with introductory kids sail free promotion

MIAMI – May 6, 2008

– NCL Corporation (NCL) announced today that it will reflag and rename Pride of Aloha and launch the ship as Norwegian Sky, offering three and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami commencing this summer. The 2,002-passenger ship, built in 1999, will return to the NCL international fleet, and will be outfitted with NCL’s Freestyle 2.0 enhancements. It will be the youngest and highest quality ship sailing three and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami beginning July 14, 2008. The new itineraries go on sale today with fares from $229 per person for an inside stateroom and from $329 per person for a balcony stateroom.

To welcome the ship to Miami, NCL is offering a "Kids Sail Free Summer Vacation" promotion for reservations on Norwegian Sky made from May 6, 2008 to May 31, 2008 for sailings taking place July 14, 2008 to September 26, 2008. Children ages six months to 17 are eligible to sail free (government taxes and fees and fuel supplement apply).

"NCL pioneered the first Bahamas cruise from Miami more than 41 years ago and last had a ship in the three and four-day cruise market from Miami in 2003. By reintroducing Norwegian Sky and positioning the ship in Miami sailing short cruises to the Bahamas, we are returning to our roots. At the same time, we are raising the bar by offering a modern Freestyle Cruising ship that features a variety of accommodations, including balconies and suites, a multitude of on-board amenities and a choice of six restaurants," said Colin Veitch, NCL’s president and CEO. "In addition, we will outfit Norwegian Sky with the Freestyle 2.0

enhancements currently being introduced across our fleet. This, coupled with the port-intensive itineraries, offers guests seeking a quick getaway an unmatched cruise experience. There is no doubt that NCL’s three and four-day Freestyle product on the industry’s newest ship offers the highest quality and best value for money in the market."

Norwegian Sky will depart Miami on Mondays sailing four-day Bahamas cruises with full-day stops in Grand Bahama Island, Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. On Fridays, the ship will sail a weekend getaway three-day Bahamas itinerary, departing Miami at 5 p.m. with all-day stops in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, returning to Miami at 7 a.m. on Monday mornings. These sailings are scheduled through April 17, 2009.

Norwegian Sky will enter a wet dock in Miami during which a casino will be added. In addition, the ship will receive the significant product and hardware upgrades that are part of the company’s major fleetwide initiative, Freestyle 2.0. These enhancements include: a major investment in the total dining experience such as all new menus and Lobster Galore; upgrading the stateroom experience; new wide ranging on-board activities for all guests; and additional recognition, service and amenities for balcony and suite guests.

Originally launched in 1999, Norwegian Sky has more than 240 balcony staterooms, a choice of six different restaurants, 10 bars and lounges, multiple entertainment venues, two pools, extensive children’s facilities, a sports deck and a variety of spacious public rooms. Norwegian Sky had been reflagged and renamed Pride of Aloha in 2004 and sailed Hawai`i inter-island cruises until May 2008.