It's all about attitude....

[insidecabin]

I can see why some people can have problems If they are looking for perfection. Freestyle, big ship there are bound to be a few imperfections but you have to look beyond them or work round them.

Island Escape a British ship had a TV crew filming the first few weeks a couple of years ago and you would not believe the problems real basic stuff.(In some ways it sounds similar to the POA stories). Most boiled down to poor managment and lack of training most have been resolved now but even though the ship was being show in a bad like for 10weeks on TV people still booked. A lot of the ongoing issues I see on the ships we have been on it is the same problem, supervision should be spotting the problems and fixing them. In NCL's case the ADMIN is a problem which can have people chasing issues before they even set sail. There have been a number of cases of missing OBC and it seems to be a problem getting it resolved onboard(was on the sun).

On our recent trip Embarkation area(SUN ex-LA) no paper in the photo copier and someone forgot to put out the passport receits for non US. Took 15mins to sort out(we were first in line). Just should not happen with good planning and an embarkation check list(they should have a box with all the forms in that they can just carry off the ship). PROBLEM - not for us but a niggle on the list.

[sterling2]

Thanks for posting this -- attitude is the most important and about the only thing you can control on a cruise. Just remember, there are two sides to every story -- we were on the same cruise with Ms. M and what we witnessed left me feeling very sorry for the crew member she had a problem with. Someone posted a review of the Crown a few days ago, which I cannot find, but said something to the effect of treating the crew with the respect they deserve and they will bend over backwards for you. That was certainly our experience.

 

Sue

[TheDivineMsM]

Out of seventeen hundred passengers who knew what happened, you were the only one who lacked compassion...which says nothing about me, but says volumns about you.

 

Even the Shore Excursion Manager was absolutely livid when he found out what happened. I missed Paris due to sheer incompetence..nothing else.

[ColoradoJuli]

The people with the bad attitudes and the the constant complainers were the ones who usually wrote or voiced the opinion.

QUOTE]

 

Gary - Thanks for your comment. You are correct that it is the ones that have a complaint that seem to be the loudest while those that are satisfied stay silent. Sure wish it was the other way around. I will just ignore the reviews and go have a great time with the family. Anyway, if this cruise isn't everything I hope for it to be then I still have my birthday cruise to look forward to in May.

 

Thanks again - you helped me out.

[swoosh2005]

we encountered a couple who we shared a van with last cruise in Tortola and all the 2 of them did was yap about how bad everything was ??? We could only shake our heads in amazement wondering if we were all on the same cruise because we we're all having such a great time and the service was excellent-

I just don't understand some folks!!!???

[Host CMLA]

I guess people cant find fun in the events of a day. Its like brides on their wedding day that freak at any little mishap. Its the mishaps that make like memorable.

I guess I'm a glass half full traveler/person like many of you. On my wedding day a month ago my new mother in law took our rental car from the ceremony without saying goodbye then she called us at 11 PM ON OUR WEDDING NIGHT and told my new husband that the only way we could get our car was for him to come get it right then because their flight was at 7 AM the next day. He had to go. Did I mention that it was our wedding night? Anyway the point is, glitches like that don't ruin my experience. I'm a traveler not a tourist. Expect the unexpected and adjust as you go along. ;)

[johnslig]

ok cecilia, that is worth freaking about!! Geez. I was thinking more along the lines of the wrong cake flavour lol. Glitches like that would irk me for some time. Maybe I'm not as nice as I want to think :)

[Host CMLA]

ok cecilia, that is worth freaking about!! Geez. I was thinking more along the lines of the wrong cake flavour lol. Glitches like that would irk me for some time. Maybe I'm not as nice as I want to think :)

LOL I was irked but let it go. It's now a mother in law story. :D Everyone needs a good MIL story to talk to their friends about. I guess I tend to roll with the punches. With cruises I've had plenty of upsets. Missed ports that were the main reason I went on the cruise. Air conditioner broke in the cabin. Cold dinners. Long waits to disembark. I once had someone from the maintenance crew of the Dream call me a bi**h because I didn't stop to talk to him at 2 in the morning when I was on my way back to my room (I was traveling alone). Before my dad passed away he used to tell me that there were two rules to live by. 1) Don't sweat the small stuff. 2) Everything is small stuff. :)

[ABoatNerd]

Dear CC members:

 

I offer a slight "take" on this post.

 

It is very true that any cruise is better than being a work for example.

 

However, a so called "positive" attitude does not always make for an acceptable cruise experience. I always feel I am a very lucky human to be able to take a cruise and this ensures I at least start out with a "positive" attitude.

 

My analysis of some postings across the entire range of cruise line CC boards has led me to this observation - there are many posters who absolutely INSIST that you must have a "positive attitude" and there can not be a poor cruise experience, there can not be poorly behaved patrons, poor food etc. It is my impression that these individuals do not like negativity, dissent, etc and also they insist that everyone be "positive" in order to EXCUSE the:

 

a) Poor behavior of other cruise patrons

b) Poor delivery of the actual cruise product

 

I am a very challenging consumer in that I expect to receive the product offering that is advertised by the service provider. Period. While I can exclude unforseen circumstances, I will not "graciously accept" significant variances from what was advertised and that I paid for.

 

My reviews and posts are not ever based on what I think I should have got on my cruise - rather, my reviews are based on the "variances" from what the brochure says I AM TO RECEIVE from food, shipboard dress code, cruise environment, activities etc. I always take the cruiselines marketing materials with me, I have used them to my advantage when the product offering is not as advertised.

 

I have posted on the Celebrity and Princess boards about recent cruises where the product offering was NOT as was advertised as the typical offering of either cruise line. I did not have a "positive attitude" at the end of the cruise and the regular group of posters lambasted me about my "negative attitude".

 

So, my message here is - try not to allow your "positive attitude" to delude one into accepting a poor product offering. If this happens often enough, the cruiselines will provide an ever lower product offering while maintaing the same price - Cruise patron loses - Common stock holder wins.

 

ABoatNerd

[Zeno]

Attitude certainly has a lot to do with it. I don't get upset about small things and even big things if they are promptly fixed don't bother me either. On our very first cruise, two of our tablemates did nothing but complain EVERY night. This did not ruin our cruise but it certainly made our evening meal less pleasant than it could have been (This is one reason why I LOVE freestyle dining - I am never stuck with whiners for a week). On our first NCL cruise on the Sky we had two plumbing problems. They were promptly and completely fixed. We were so satisfied with the plumbing service that we commended the plumber on our comment card. He arrived promptly, made sure he understood exactly what the problem was, fixed it, cleaned up completely after his work and was very polite. Some people unfortunately would have just focused on the fact that they had a plumbing problem and not that it was fixed immediately.

[Host CMLA]

So, my message here is - try not to allow your "positive attitude" to delude one into accepting a poor product offering.

I don't think this is what people are talking about on this thread. First, many of the things you talk about are subjective. The brochure says the food is great. You don't think so. Someone else does think so. Is it a poor product or just differing opinions on something?

 

I don't think every cruise experience is a good experience. And a bad day cruising isn't necessarily better than a good day at work. I've had some pretty phenominal days at work where I was on top of the world and some pretty terrible days in the North Atlantic on a cruise ship where I would have given an arm to get off the rocking ship. I think the point of this thread is if you're on a bad cruise, try and find something to enjoy. Try and be optimistic instead of pessimistic. In the end, it still may be the worst cruise you've ever taken but for your own sake try and salvage what you can. Be positive. :)

[mbisson]

IAnd a bad day cruising isn't necessarily better than a good day at work.

 

Wanna Bet?

 

-Monte

[newmexicoNita]

Dear CC members:

 

I offer a slight "take" on this post.

 

It is very true that any cruise is better than being a work for example.

 

However, a so called "positive" attitude does not always make for an acceptable cruise experience. I always feel I am a very lucky human to be able to take a cruise and this ensures I at least start out with a "positive" attitude.

 

My analysis of some postings across the entire range of cruise line CC boards has led me to this observation - there are many posters who absolutely INSIST that you must have a "positive attitude" and there can not be a poor cruise experience, there can not be poorly behaved patrons, poor food etc. It is my impression that these individuals do not like negativity, dissent, etc and also they insist that everyone be "positive" in order to EXCUSE the:

 

a) Poor behavior of other cruise patrons

b) Poor delivery of the actual cruise product

 

I am a very challenging consumer in that I expect to receive the product offering that is advertised by the service provider. Period. While I can exclude unforseen circumstances, I will not "graciously accept" significant variances from what was advertised and that I paid for.

 

My reviews and posts are not ever based on what I think I should have got on my cruise - rather, my reviews are based on the "variances" from what the brochure says I AM TO RECEIVE from food, shipboard dress code, cruise environment, activities etc. I always take the cruiselines marketing materials with me, I have used them to my advantage when the product offering is not as advertised.

 

I have posted on the Celebrity and Princess boards about recent cruises where the product offering was NOT as was advertised as the typical offering of either cruise line. I did not have a "positive attitude" at the end of the cruise and the regular group of posters lambasted me about my "negative attitude".

 

So, my message here is - try not to allow your "positive attitude" to delude one into accepting a poor product offering. If this happens often enough, the cruiselines will provide an ever lower product offering while maintaing the same price - Cruise patron loses - Common stock holder wins.

 

ABoatNerd

 

 

And if we all expected what any brochure or ad claims we would continue to be disappointed. Basically we should expect to have a good time, but to think that everything we read or hear will come true is niave. We look at the pictures of the wonderful food, served perfectly, to the beautiful couple with thier perfect clothes and lovely looking faces! Wow, or those with the lovely sun tans, or those winning in the casino or those laying on a lounge, near an uncrowded pool with only a few people on the deck! In reality, the food, though often very good normally doesn't look like the pictures or taste the way it's discribed: most of the cruisers are not the perfect faced, perfect bodied people in the pictures, but normal with many being way too skinny or way too heavy and most are not sunbathing on a lounge free of passengers, but fighting for a chair to use near the pool. As for the casino, the loosers are easier to spot any night than the winners. Get the point? Attitude is very much a part of an overall experience. NMNIta

[Lithium]

This thread needs to be posted on the Holland forum. Three-fourths of that board needs to take this thread to heart. :D

[fin]

"And if we all expected what any brochure or ad claims we would continue to be disappointed."

 

My initial post on my Norwegian "Sea" experience was characterised as ultra nit picking, and I accepted the criticism w/o complaint. However, and I think this cannot be over stressed - the lower a person's expectations, the less likely they are to be disappointed. But the other side of that coin is this: that if any supplier of goods and services is not made aware of the fact that they have misrepresented their product, the quality will decline as low as economics will permit.

 

I do not believe that expecting Norwegian Cruise lines to accurately market and advertise their product is 'unrealistic' nor do I feel that I would be 'nit picking' to expect them to live up to expectations which they have created, by brochure or other advertising. IMO, it is the LACK of complaints which allow companies to let their service deteriorate to the point where many of their customers are in fact disatisfied to some degree or another.

 

Again, in my own case, my disappointment in NCL was NOT caused by their advertisements nor by their brochures or any other claims. It was the direct result of the fact that I had just returned from a different cruise on a different line and had seen many things handled differently on the two cruises. And I continue to have some degree of uncomfortability in an atomosphere which stifles dissent and tries to pretend that anyone who voices a negative opinion is therefore an unhappy chronic crybaby.

[TheDivineMsM]

I, too, was a voice of dissent and severly chastized for it.

 

Afternote:

 

I recieved an personal e-mail from the President of NCL in response to my well documented letter. He aplogized for the unprofessional (his word, not mine) behavior of a particular staff member. I also will recieve a free cruise.

 

So, despite what you read on these boards, there are a few people who work on NCL ships who simply do not belong there. Repect should not be given just because they are wearing a nametag.:eek:

[Host CMLA]

I, too, was a voice of dissent and severly chastized for it.

What does that have to do with having a good attitude while cruising? The point of this thread was to emphasize that even under the worst conditions you can still have a good attitude and not let your whole experience be ruined. You're talking about how you were treated after you got home by people on this board, which by the way, if you were treated badly, you should let that be known.

And I continue to have some degree of uncomfortability in an atomosphere which stifles dissent and tries to pretend that anyone who voices a negative opinion is therefore an unhappy chronic crybaby.

Where is this being said? How is it possible to take a positive uplifting post that reminds people about the good things in any way calling anyone names?

[TheDivineMsM]

My 'bad attitude' was ship related and could not have been overcome in the best of circumstances.

[Host CMLA]

My 'bad attitude' was ship related and could not be overlooked in the best of circumstances.

I'm sorry about that MsM. That's unfortunate if you let that ruin your whole vacation. I read about your experience and I don't know if I would have let that ruin my whole trip. Even when we have a pretty bad vacation, we always try and find something good about it even if it's having a nice flight attendant on the trip home. But that's just us.

[shiprat]

DivineMsM,

 

Not sure what happened to you - except saw you missed Paris. That's certainly a bummer. Maybe even a reason to choose another cruise line next time. BUT, YOU GOT A FREE CRUISE OUT OF IT!!!!!!! And, a personal apology from the CEO of Norwegian. It took several posts for you to even mention that!

 

That's very interesting!

 

shiprat

[newmexicoNita]

Shiprat, good point and it still boils down to attitude. The worst cruise we had was on RCI, not totally their fault but we still laugh about the entire vacation. It rained from the time we left our daughters in Orlando til we got to Miami. We stopped at the outlet mall in Ft Lauderdale (one of my favorites) to find that most everything is sold out on Saturday after Turkey day as everyone shops on Friday. We got to our hotel, had a wonderful sutie and planned on laying out by the pool. It just wouldn't stop raining. Same thing the next day: Monday, sailing day, weather was ok, but cabin was the biggest joke in the world as were our table mates. The trip just went from bad to worse. We still had about 9 days away from work and hassles. This was 5 years ago and still vivid in our minds. Other vacataions have been interesting to say the least, but we roll with the punches and thank goodness never dwell on the past. As kids say today "get over it" NMNita

[shiprat]

Sounds like you handled it great Nita! It poured rain on our Disney cruise the entire time too! We slogged around Nassau shopping and bar hopping. Then at Castaway Cay, we rented a Hobie Cat and sailed it in the rain.

 

It was still a blast!

 

shiprat

 

PS - I didn't think this thread would amount to much, but it seems to have picked up STEAM!

[shiprat]

Oh ya - just remembered our week in London! Sweltering heat and a hotel room on street level outside a concert hall. There were people yelling outside our window all night long, and we couldn't close our windows or we'd roast.

 

By the end of the week we were vampires! We slept all day and then went out to check out the city at night!!

 

Talk about adapting to the situation!

 

shiprat

[TheDivineMsM]

The matter was only resolved the day before yesterday..l only brought it up because this thread came back into view.

 

Perhaps my reason for booking this cruise may seem misguided to some of you. If it were not for the stop in LeHavre, I wouldn't have even considered booking this cruise in the first place. To miss Paris after carefully planning it out for eighteen months was a blow to say the least. I did not miss it due to weather or any other reason beyond my control...l could have handled that; but to miss it because someone didn't know what she was doing was inexcusable.

 

If you want positive, I won three trivia contests. I came home with a bookmark, a keychain and a deck of cards...but somehow it just doesn't make up for not seeing Paris.

 

Nuff said.

[Host CMLA]

If you want positive, I won three trivia contests. I came home with a bookmark, a keychain and a deck of cards...but somehow it just doesn't make up for not seeing Paris.

I completely understand the desire to see Paris and how just the thought of it can engulf you for hours. I feel the same way about Paris. Fortunately, I'm going to Paris for the first time on December 26, 2004. I'm going there for my honeymoon. It's a once in a lifetime trip. I sometimes can't sleep because I get so caught up in just the idea of Paris. I wish you would have gotten to have your time there.

 

It may be cold comfort but when I've ever felt like I got the raw end of the deal, I remember all that I have. No, it's not OK for you to be treated badly or have so many mistakes made but sometimes things happen. Since the bad thing can't be taken back now, all that's left is to try and make the best of the situation. Again, I feel for your situation. But you heard directly from the head of NCL and you got a free cruise. What happens next? Do you make the best of it and have a positive attitude or does the heartache of the past keep you from enjoying the next cruise? I wish you the best and I hope you do get to see Paris. In the meantime, since I'm going, let me know if I can do anything to bring Paris to you. ;)