Ncl-alaska-poorly run cruise line-great cruise

[Sooners]

Like Brunolvr, I think I was on the same cruise. Still trying to get caught up on things so don't really have time to do a full review but thought some comments might be appopriate.

 

This was my second trip on the Pearl and it is still a great ship. We did run into some problems the first couple of days. Service was really slow. The first night in Summer Palace dinner took almost 3 hours. I'm pretty laid back so I just rolled with it but unlike last year when we never heard a single complaint, I did here some complaning about poor service & mixed up orders.

 

This is what I think was the real story behind the problems.

 

(1) They were implementing 2.0 on our cruise

 

(2) They had Noro outbreak on the previous 2 cruises so they went into top alert and were not allowing any self service in the buffet. This pulled staff from other locations and the crew were working an additional 2 hours a day. We even saw senior crew members like Hotel Director Michael Klieverik chipping in and cleaning tables. I commend the Pearl for taking this action.

 

(3) They had quite a few new crew members on board for our cruise

 

I organized the M&G for our roll call and we had about 80 people attend. We sailed in a mini suite but they ended up giving me many VIP perks like VIP cocktail party, a free dinner with bottle of wine and a bottle of wine delivered to our cabin. Not sure if that was because our roll call was large, problems they were having the first few days or because we sailed with them officers last year....who really cares, it was very nice.

 

Excursions were great again. The best was renting a car in Skagway and driving to Emerald lake. We saw one black bear on the way up that didn't linger long but on the way back we saw a mom and two cubs right beside the road. They hung out about 10 feet away from the car for about ten minutes. Amazing!!! The next best excursion was an orca tour with Prince of whales in Victoria. We caught up with a family of 26 whales called J Pod....one of them breached around 5 times.

 

Almost forgot about the weather. Unbeliavable, it was sunny and warm for two days in Seattle and the entire trip. The only rain I remember is really early Sunday morning in Seattle the day of departure.

 

I will add more later. Just wanted to add a small comment acknowledging they did have some issues but from what I seen I'm not sure how they could of been avoided without putting more passengers at risk to the dreaded Noro vius.

[cruizinwithkids]

(3) They had quite a few new crew members on board for our cruise

 

 

This is the issue that I would love to know more about. I think Nita mentioned something I was thinking earlier. Generally there is crew coming and going at regular intervals. I wonder what happened here.

 

After the Dream did it's repo and drydock in Boston there seemed to be big staff shortages for the 2 night CTN and I read that after the America came out of drydock it too had a staff shortage.

 

I wonder what happened with the Pearl.

[Sooners]

This is the issue that I would love to know more about. I think Nita mentioned something I was thinking earlier. Generally there is crew coming and going at regular intervals. I wonder what happened here.

 

After the Dream did it's repo and drydock in Boston there seemed to be big staff shortages for the 2 night CTN and I read that after the America came out of drydock it too had a staff shortage.

 

I wonder what happened with the Pearl.

 

LOL...don't take that statement as fact. I heard this from someone but I do not believe it was a crew member. It could of been the Noro prevention steps taken as well as trying to get 2.0 implemented that caused the problem. To be honest with you, by day two I thought things were getting back to normal for me.

 

We all have different taste, but I think this was the best entertainment I have seen on a cruise. I loved all the special entertainers they brought onboard. The comedian, juggling act and singing group called Chapter 6 were all very good.

[kat89447]

Too bad you didn't enjoy your cruise. Would I let your review discourage me from that cruise, no. I also wouldn't pick a cruise because one person wrote glowing reports either. Everyone has different levels of comfort and issues they are sensitive too, that is to be expected. As far as the table cloths, I have heard that fleet wide they tend not to change those between sittings, that's gross. If one of their enhancements is that they choose to have these cloths, then they should have figured in changing them between sittings. They can be a huge source of illness otherwise. The trays at the buffet may be gone for health reasons as well. Unless they are sanitized well they can be a huge source of noro. A little inconvienance, but healthier.

I don't expect to have someone wait on me hand and foot on NCL, it is part of the trade off. If I want that kind of cruise there are ship lines that cater and price it accordingly. NCL and others price their cruises lower, but that means that there are buffets, and more casual dinning. Some nickle and diming, for many that is a plus, pay for what you actually use. Maybe this cruise line isn't for you, it's not for everyone. Being higher a maintenance type of cruiser isn't a bad thing, but you have to find the cruise line that caters to your level of comfort and maintenace.

[nancyfancy40]

My husband and I were on this same cruise (or at least I think we were):confused:

 

When I have a little more time I'll go into details, but we had a wonderful cruise with great food and wonderful service.

 

Because the previous cruise had some cases of norovirus, the first few days of our cruise they had the staff serving in the buffet so this may have made it slower in clearing tables. The times we walked through the Garden Cafe and the 2 times we ate there, tables were cleared very efficiently -- some times almost too efficiently. You went up to get a refill on your drink, came back and your plate was gone!:eek: It was a nice touch to have tablecloths and candles on the tables in the buffet at dinner time.

 

Some new staff came onboard on Sunday and you just needed to have a little bit of patience and understanding, however we did not see a problem with this at all. They were working 12 hour days the first 2 1/2 days of our cruise since staff had to be pulled from other areas to serve in the Garden Cafe.

 

We ate the majority of our dinners in Summer Palace and had nothing but GREAT SERVICE!

 

It shows you that two people can be on the same cruise and have completely different experiences.:rolleyes: However, we knew we were going to have a wonderful cruise and not let the little things bother us. A positive attitude and patience go a long way! We talked to a lot of people on the cruise and everyone we talked to were in agreement with us--they were having a great cruise on the Pearl to Alaska!:D

 

 

I ditto this review. We were on the same cruise and never was an upleasant face to be seen. Our room steward was great and always left the room clean. One day we forget to remove the "Do not disturb" sign, and he even left a nice note saying he came and saw the note, so did not do the room. However if we wanted the room done, just call him.

 

It was such a nice cruise, we will be back on NCL and back to alaska hopefully soon. This was our first NCL cruise and certainly not our last. The staff was wonderful. They left you alone if you wanted it, but were always there for to answer a question or do anything for you.

 

The only bad experience was with a rowdy group of people in the Blue Lagoon who harrased the hostess and made everyone in the resturant miserable. She was truly a saint and handled the whole situation like a real angel, have to say better than I would have done.

 

Nancy

[SailorJack]

Well, just to put everything in perspective, it was reported today that the International Space Station managed to fix their toilet today. We could hear the "aaahhhhs" from down here.

[HokiePoq]

I think the OP is right on target about NCL with many of her comments.

 

We just returned from the Majesty to Bermuda and found the crew attitude and service abominable. Stateroom left unserviced for three out of seven days, terrible, ordinary food on the buffet. (It was the first time I've seen bologna sandwiches and baked beans on a cruise.) No staff assistance for those who needed it around the ship, dirty tables and beer bottles everywhere, no trays anywhere.

 

Worst drink pushing we've ever seen in 40 years of cruising and not a smile in sight from any staff person.

 

We are middle aged and have cruised NCL off and on for many years, but unless the itinerary is important, as this one was, we will not sail them again anytime soon.

 

We more often than not cruise Holland America and this NCL cruise made me appreciate the good service and quality food on Holland America even more.

 

NCL has a lot of work to do.

 

 

Wonder if OP had also come to expect HAL type service from all cruise lines? I don't think NCL employees are satisfied as a group. From what one former NCL employee said to us, they are not treated well by management. I know that is only one person I heard it from but the behavior reported in this thread is an example of that and/or poor supervision.

[Warmer Climes]

Would I let your review discourage me from that cruise, no. I also wouldn't pick a cruise because one person wrote glowing reports either. Everyone has different levels of comfort and issues they are sensitive too, that is to be expected.

 

I absolutely agree with this. Everyone who cruises has different priorities and expectations and should pick the line/ship that seems to correspond to those areas. For example, I know that a lot of people love HAL, but we cruise with a nine year old and want to be on ships with plenty of other kids for her. Some people want to dress up every night for dinner and want personal service (and can afford it) and they love Cunard. (I might love Cunard but with two in college a cruise like that is not going to happen for us.) For other people the spa or the casino or the shows are crucial- I'm completely indifferent to those things. The mass market lines that cater to families at a reasonable price are for us, but obviously not for everyone else.

 

It's easy to see why two different posters take the same cruise and have completely different experiences, but for me to have a bad cruise I would have to have consistently rude service, a dirty ship and no beer. Other than that I am all set. :)

[chrisbd1]

Thanks Ms. Belp. Did you or anyone from your rollcall post a review? I would love to read it. I especially like reading what everyone did in the ports. . .there is so much to choose from.

From our May 4th Roll Call

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=42043

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=42008

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=41858

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=42034

[NowVoyager908]

I can't imagine anything more subjective than a vacation. No two people are looking for the same thing and no two people are going to react the same way to any situation.

 

I remember reading two reviews about the food on a particular cruise (can't remember which one). The only commonality was that both reviewers were disappointed in the dinner offerings. But while one person wrote that there was nothing on the menu that he recognized, the other mentioned that everything on the menu was something he could get at home. :eek: You couldn't get two more opposite viewpoints. LOL. Without knowing these two guys and what they like and dislike, how helpful is that information?

 

Reviews which highlight both positive and negative can be extremely informative. Even a negative experience can be portrayed in a way that comes off as matter of fact or even funny, as opposed to whiny and petulant.

 

Problems arise when posters assume their opinion is something more than just that . . . their opinion.

 

JMHO. :D

[newmexicoNita]

Wonder if OP had also come to expect HAL type service from all cruise lines? I don't think NCL employees are satisfied as a group. From what one former NCL employee said to us, they are not treated well by management. I know that is only one person I heard it from but the behavior reported in this thread is an example of that and/or poor supervision.

let me just tell you our experience, 10 NCl cruises, most of the crew we have spoken with and we speak with them at every opportunity have been with NCL 3 to 15 years and all look forward to their next contract. We have visited with members from all over the world. you just made a really unusual statement: you talked to one employee. How can you possibly make such a blanket statement. for us, we have actually had 2 crew members on more than one cruise. our wait person on the old Sea (then the Seaward) was our wait person on a cruise a few years ago and the Concierrne on the Sea (as it was called then) was ours again 3 years later. Does this show unhappy crew members. Before I retired from a major hotel chain I heard lots of complaints from employees, that was 11 years ago, it is amazing how many are still with that company with 10 to 20 seniority.

 

Nita

[SailAways]

Before I retired from a major hotel chain I heard lots of complaints from employees, that was 11 years ago, it is amazing how many are still with that company with 10 to 20 seniority.

Nita

 

Almost sounds like any good marriage - the arguments and complaints continue, but so does the marriage and the love - just the way of things.

No two people see anything "exactly" the same, with likes and dislikes always being a constant.

We somehow get past them, and ultimately have a wonderful time after-all.

Opinions can be very important and informative - but only as long as the opinionated one realizes that other's may have an entirely different take on the situation.

These boards amaze me with all of the information which is posted daily - be it fact, or opinion - something is to be learned or ignored.

This is our personal choice.

[newmexicoNita]

Almost sounds like any good marriage - the arguments and complaints continue, but so does the marriage and the love - just the way of things.

No two people see anything "exactly" the same, with likes and dislikes always being a constant.

We somehow get past them, and ultimately have a wonderful time after-all.

Opinions can be very important and informative - but only as long as the opinionated one realizes that other's may have an entirely different take on the situation.

These boards amaze me with all of the information which is posted daily - be it fact, or opinion - something is to be learned or ignored.

This is our personal choice.

Very true...

[theduffys]

From our May 4th Roll Call

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=42043

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=42008

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=41858

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=42034

Sorry to hijack this thread but--

chrisbd1--Just had to comment that you are the only other cruiser I've seen that actually cruised on the Dolphen. We sailed on her in March of 93 and thought she was great.

[mali06]

Sorry I have come to this thread a little late but I just wanted to clarify one thing . . . we have sailed the Star Princess twice; once to Alaska and once last year to the Caribbean. Both times we had trays for the buffet haded to us and our silverware service handed to us as well, on many different occasions. There are definitely still other cruise lines that have buffet "service". Also, Princess does not have freestyle in the same sense that NCL has. We still do the permanent table with the same staff every night in the same dining room as anyone who comes to eat at no set time. However, they usually have to wait in line and we do not. We are looking forward to our cruise n January 09 to Hawaii on NCL but to be honest we have some reservations. Our last experience with NCL was not up to all of our other cruises on many different lines. However, we chose by itinerary first and we always go with an open mind. 100% of the time we have lots of fun and roll with the punches. We will make the best of whatever happens. Usually we are so happy that it rubs off on everyone else including the staff. This will be a celebration of four 60th birthdays and the end of my chemo so it would be hard for anything to ruin it. (However, just between you and me I do like trays with my buffet . . . sh-sh-sh!)

[newmexicoNita]

Sorry I have come to this thread a little late but I just wanted to clarify one thing . . . we have sailed the Star Princess twice; once to Alaska and once last year to the Caribbean. Both times we had trays for the buffet haded to us and our silverware service handed to us as well, on many different occasions. There are definitely still other cruise lines that have buffet "service". Also, Princess does not have freestyle in the same sense that NCL has. We still do the permanent table with the same staff every night in the same dining room as anyone who comes to eat at no set time. However, they usually have to wait in line and we do not. We are looking forward to our cruise n January 09 to Hawaii on NCL but to be honest we have some reservations. Our last experience with NCL was not up to all of our other cruises on many different lines. However, we chose by itinerary first and we always go with an open mind. 100% of the time we have lots of fun and roll with the punches. We will make the best of whatever happens. Usually we are so happy that it rubs off on everyone else including the staff. This will be a celebration of four 60th birthdays and the end of my chemo so it would be hard for anything to ruin it. (However, just between you and me I do like trays with my buffet . . . sh-sh-sh!)

Good luck and good health to you. As for the trays, first I never have paid that much attention. When we sailed Jewel with no trays I didn't even noticed until someone mentioned it, so I certainly am not one that would be unhappy. I think many feel this way but there are some who just can't accpect changes as easily as others. Princess discontinued trays not long ago, I think it was the first of the year.

 

As for flex dining, NCL versus Princess, you are right about differences. As much as I absolutely love freestyle I do know there are those who prefer traditional dining. If NCL were to offer a choice true freestyle would lose it's meaning.

 

Enjoy the Islands, I understand sometimes we book for itinerary and not cruise line. We choose price and itinerary. If NCL has as good or better prices and the itinerary we want we book with them as they are our cruise line of choice, but we certainly cruise other lines.

 

Nita

[MarilynTX]

Who thinks CruisnGram works for NCL? She takes it as a personal insult if you have negative comments against NCL. At least twice she has accused people of name calling when they disagree with her. I thought this was cruise critics. Do you want an honest opinion?

[mbisson]

Who thinks CruisnGram works for NCL?

 

Not me-but then I've been accused (on the various CC boards) of working for 3 different cruise lines---so IMO, charging someone with working for a cruise line is pretty lame. Worst part is that I've yet to get a paycheck from any of the ones I supposedly work for

 

Most charges against me recently have been that I've cruised with "rose colored glasses on". To that I just figure if it makes the cruise more enjoyable...so be it :D

[newmexicoNita]

Not me-but then I've been accused (on the various CC boards) of working for 3 different cruise lines---so IMO, charging someone with working for a cruise line is pretty lame. Worst part is that I've yet to get a paycheck from any of the ones I supposedly work for

Gee it isn't me this time being accused of working for them> To be honest I would love to but it won't happen so I will have to be content to sell cuises for a living. LOL

 

Nita

[Cooks_Bay]

I absolutely agree with this. Everyone who cruises has different priorities and expectations and should pick the line/ship that seems to correspond to those areas. For example, I know that a lot of people love HAL, but we cruise with a nine year old and want to be on ships with plenty of other kids for her. Some people want to dress up every night for dinner and want personal service (and can afford it) and they love Cunard. (I might love Cunard but with two in college a cruise like that is not going to happen for us.) For other people the spa or the casino or the shows are crucial- I'm completely indifferent to those things. The mass market lines that cater to families at a reasonable price are for us, but obviously not for everyone else.

 

It's easy to see why two different posters take the same cruise and have completely different experiences, but for me to have a bad cruise I would have to have consistently rude service, a dirty ship and no beer. Other than that I am all set. :)

 

What A Great Post!

[Sooners]

Most charges against me recently have been that I've cruised with "rose colored glasses on". To that I just figure if it makes the cruise more enjoyable...so be it :D

 

Can't think of a better way to cruise. Where do I get a pair?:D

[mbisson]

Can't think of a better way to cruise. Where do I get a pair?:D

 

 

They're in the mail...but remember, you'll still be able to see legitimate problems. You're just won't be able to let the small stuff ruin your cruise ;)

[Zeno]

Who thinks CruisnGram works for NCL? She takes it as a personal insult if you have negative comments against NCL. At least twice she has accused people of name calling when they disagree with her. I thought this was cruise critics. Do you want an honest opinion?

 

How pathetic! Someone disagrees with you - so therefore they are be an employee of the cruiseline. Apparently you don't want "honest" opinions just ones that agree with YOU!

 

Decided to 'edit' the above - since I realized in my first sentence that I was too harsh on Marilyn

Marilyn: Mbisson, NMNita and I and a few others have all at various times been accused of working for NCL - none of us does - so we tend to get a little ticked off when someone is accused of working for NCL - hence my annoyance when you implied that CruisnGram works for NCL. Accuse us of being too "partial" or whatever but plz can the "employee" accusation - it REALLY grates.

[Zeno]

They're in the mail...but remember, you'll still be able to see legitimate problems. You're just won't be able to let the small stuff ruin your cruise ;)

 

So Monte - where is my cheque from NCL? I have been waiting for YEARS!

Obviously since I have enjoyed all my NCL cruises I must be an employee too!

[mbisson]

So Monte - where is my cheque from NCL? I have been waiting for YEARS!

Obviously since I have enjoyed all my NCL cruises I must be an employee too!

 

Can't help ya Z. Like I said, I haven't gotten any checks (cheques eh? LOL) either.