Unwanted Review

[rich40245]

I thought you posted a very good review.

 

My only recent NCL experience was on the Spirit last Oct.

Food

 

The range was from horrendous to very good. In the main dinning rooms, the food was dismal. … Even in the buffet at breakfast, the orange juice was so diluted that one was compelled to pay the extra price for the fresh squeezed juice that was being pushed.

 

While I would not call is ‘dismal’ it was definitely not on the same level as the specialty restaurants. I noticed the OJ thing, too, and it did irate me.

 

Service

If one slept late and didn’t leave the room until after 10:30, the room was not made up until after lunch.

 

On the one day I did sleep in, the room was not made up until about 4:30 PM

 

 

Overall

There were lines for everything. Even with reservations, there were lines to be seated in the restaurants. Even at off-peek times, there were lines for boarding and disembarking in the ports. There were even lines for the nightly special deserts and the extra charge OJ in the buffet. In my opinion, Free Style meant that one was free to stand on line and pay extra to get what one should have received with the price of the ticket. Given the price paid, especially after all of the extra charges, I would rank this NCL trip at the bottom of my list for value and only in the lower end for overall quality.

 

On the Spirit, I encountered very few lines at all. I think the only one I can remember was disembarkation when we had to tender. Maybe it was because the Spirit is smaller, or it was a repo cruise?

 

 

Rich

[beachchick]

Traveling Bob: I think you'll find that a very tiny percentage of members would consider tearing a review like yours to pieces. You stated the good points and the bad. You explained your experiences, concerns, and opinions. I can see why the embarkation situation with the wheelchair for your mother upset you. Unfortunately, it's not just NCL where the "land" hand doesn't know what the "ship" hand is doing (as it were). But there was no excuse for how you were treated or the attitude of the NCL employee. It really wouldn't have been hard to allow you the use of a wheelchair (as you had arranged) for your mother's embarkation. It's not as if you were asking to take one and keep it! In any case, you didn't just vaguely write, "Everything was terrible; the food was bad; the ship was ugly..." or what have you. I'm glad to read reviews like this and hope others are too.

 

My only quibble is in regard to this:

 

Free Style meant that one was free to stand on line and pay extra to get what one should have received with the price of the ticket.

 

This is an honest question and not intended to flame you in any way. While there are a number of things I think should be included in the cruise fare, but aren't on most mass-market lines, I wonder what you think you should have received without additional charge on NCL that you do receive without additional charge on Celebrity, HAL, Princess, and RCI? I don't mention the other lines you list because they are not in the same "mass market" middle-of-the-road category as NCL. I honestly can't think of anything that's included on RCI or Princess that wasn't included on NCL.

 

I'm sorry you experienced the "stand in line everywhere you go" that many people do. We've been very fortunate not to have had those issues. I'm sure that the embarkation day was crazy for everyone, so I'll let that kind of slide, but having to stand in line (or go sit and wait for a long time) for meals every day and night would not be the least bit enjoyable.

 

I'm glad you made the best of your cruise and didn't let the negatives ruin everything.

 

beachchick

[Chuck2810]

Sorry you encountered several 'stress risers'. Many of the items you encountered, turned out the opposite for me, on my trip on the Sky out of Miami, and I took notice of them. I left breakfast to run back to the room, since I had forgot to lock the safe, and was able to beat the steward, once. Every other time, after returning from breakfast (takes about a leisurely hour and a half at Cagney's) the room was done - I liked that. Also, although booked at 100%, I never saw a crowd, a line, or anything. Even on final disembarkation, we had VIP disembarkation, which would have let us 'skip' the line, but there was only 5-10 people in the disembark area. I was impressed with how well the Sky 'hides' all those people... Might want to try a trip out of South FL when you are able, and might finds a whole opposite experience. Also it helps if you can get on a slightly altered schedule - I am an early riser, usually up well before sunrise and that lets you enjoy the quiet even more.

[newmexicoNita]

I thought you posted a very good review.

 

My only recent NCL experience was on the Spirit last Oct.

 

 

While I would not call is ‘dismal’ it was definitely not on the same level as the specialty restaurants. I noticed the OJ thing, too, and it did irate me.

 

 

 

On the one day I did sleep in, the room was not made up until about 4:30 PM

 

 

 

 

On the Spirit, I encountered very few lines at all. I think the only one I can remember was disembarkation when we had to tender. Maybe it was because the Spirit is smaller, or it was a repo cruise?

 

 

Rich

 

Rich, we were on the Spirit after dry dock, just thought I would throw this in, though I am not a big supporter of buffets (land or sea) I did think the Spirit offered the best we have had at sea, before this I had always raved about HALs buffets, but the selection of fruit for breakfast on the Spirit was awesome, warm milk for your hot cereal, never ending supply of breads, plus wonderful waffles set it apart as did the salad selection and meats at lunch. We have cruised NCL 11 times, this was by far the best buffet. I just thought I would add that.

 

Nita

[*Wink*]

 

And to the person ragging on you about ...

 

Not cool.

[Surfgirl]

Thanks for the review. That's the problem with these mammoth floating neon boxes.. they're pack people in like sardines and there are lines, lines, and more lines. For the life of me, I'll never understand why people book cruises on these monstrosities.

[Mooder]

Thanks for the review. That's the problem with these mammoth floating neon boxes.. they're pack people in like sardines and there are lines, lines, and more lines. For the life of me, I'll never understand why people book cruises on these monstrosities.

 

Huh?

[terrymtex01]

Not cool.

 

I thought that was tacky as well.

[LauraS]

Hi Folks!

 

If you've had trouble submitting a review for publication, please write me and let me know about it. Any specifics you can share would be appreciated! I want to get it fixed.

 

Laura

[Arwenmark]

I can understand your frustration with the wheelchair for your Mom. Years ago we took my Mom to Disney in Florida. This was to be her last trip & we wanted her to be comfortable. We had a wheelchair at the hotel but Disney had assured me that it would be no trouble at all to rent one there. It just seemed easier. We arrived at the gates very early. There were no lines so I was able to speak to someone immediately about wheelchair rental. She said that I needed to bring my Mom to her to prove that she actually needed a wheelchair. I imagine that some people use a wheelchair so that they can get to the beginning of the line. I told the attendant very politely that my Mom couldn't walk & was on oxygen, so no, I couldn't get her there without a wheelchair. She started to get beligerant. Finally she "allowed" me to rent a chair. It kind of started our day out on the "wrong foot". I hope that your Mom enjoyed her vacation.

Bonni

 

 

I have no idea who you talked to at disney you talked to but you should have immediately asked for a supervisor. Disney does NOT require any proof , they cannot it is totally illegal for them to do so.

As for the front of line issue. a Wheelchair DOES NOT GET YOU TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE nor does it decrease the wait in most cases. AT Disney world the lines are mainstreamed and you go in the regular line until you reach a certain point they then take you to another area where you WAIT to be boarded.

So while some dorks do rent them with that idea in mind, it does not work that way. The one problem that I see is that when you rent the chair in the park it is NOT ALLOWED out the gate. there are complimentary wheelchairs at the HC parking area which are to be used to transport people TO the gate. That would likely be the reason you had trouble not over the rental itself.

Did you park in HC parking? or did you drop your mom at the drop off area? If you can't walk at all you need to be in HC parking and use the chairs provided to the to the main gate, then the WC center is just inside that area.

[Mooder]

I have no idea who you talked to at disney you talked to but you should have immediately asked for a supervisor. Disney does NOT require any proof , they cannot it is totally illegal for them to do so.

As for the front of line issue. a Wheelchair DOES NOT GET YOU TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE nor does it decrease the wait in most cases. AT Disney world the lines are mainstreamed and you go in the regular line until you reach a certain point they then take you to another area where you WAIT to be boarded.

So while some dorks do rent them with that idea in mind, it does not work that way. The one problem that I see is that when you rent the chair in the park it is NOT ALLOWED out the gate. there are complimentary wheelchairs at the HC parking area which are to be used to transport people TO the gate. That would likely be the reason you had trouble not over the rental itself.

Did you park in HC parking? or did you drop your mom at the drop off area? If you can't walk at all you need to be in HC parking and use the chairs provided to the to the main gate, then the WC center is just inside that area.

 

We found the WC got us on the rides faster the majority of the time (we were taking my mother). But it was NOT worth the incredible work of pushing that chair around the park if that is what someone is thinking. There are a lot more hills, rough patches, bumps, etc. than you realize when you are just walking. We were exhausted and saw far less than if we hadn't had the chair.

We didn't use HC parking because we stayed in the park. I must say DW has a wonderful bus system which made the chair possible. Time consuming, but wonderful.

[Rickdabear]

I walk with a cane most of the time. I always go to the front of the line for handicapped folks. I've done it on NCL, Carnival and Holland America.

Da Bear

[Arwenmark]

I walk with a cane most of the time. I always go to the front of the line for handicapped folks. I've done it on NCL, Carnival and Holland America.

Da Bear

 

Does that mean you cut in front of the Handicapped wheel chair folks in the line? LOL

[Rickdabear]

Does that mean you cut in front of the Handicapped wheel chair folks in the line? LOL

Never have yet. I have gotten a few to the front of the line. They didn't know they have preferencial treatment with most cruiselines. Plus, since I spent two years in a wheelchair, I know what they are going through. Neck's been broken twice and back four times in six places.

Da Bear

[Mooder]

Never have yet. I have gotten a few to the front of the line. They didn't know they have preferencial treatment with most cruiselines. Plus, since I spent two years in a wheelchair, I know what they are going through. Neck's been broken twice and back four times in six places.

Da Bear

 

Yikes! Bless you!!

[Rickdabear]

Quote by Arwenmark: I have no idea who you talked to at disney you talked to but you should have immediately asked for a supervisor. Disney does NOT require any proof , they cannot it is totally illegal for them to do so.

 

 

I have been asked to bring my handicapped registration, but never asked for it at the ship. It may be illegal, but it happens. I've also been told that I may lose a handicapped room to someone that is wheelchair bound and I don't have a problem with that, because they would need the shower and bathroom facilities more than I. That didn't come out right.

 

Okay. The shower in a handicapped room is big enough to get a wheelchair in. There are more bars around the toilet area. Does that help?

 

Da Bear

[terrymtex01]

I walk with a cane most of the time. I always go to the front of the line for handicapped folks. I've done it on NCL, Carnival and Holland America.

Da Bear

 

When we went to board the Star in LA going to the Mexican Riv., our butler was escorting us onboard. He directed us to follow him over to the elevator there at the terminal and when it opened, he told us to get onboard. Well..what he did not know is they were using that elevator at that time to board the people needing assistance . So he basically shoved us in the elevator with people in WC and scooters coming in behind us almost running us over.. (I am sure it had to look funny to some one watching). We tried to get off the elevator once we realized what was going on, but it was too late. The butler however stepped off right before the doors shut and we never saw him again.. I was MORTIFIED that people probably thought we were trying to get in before those needing assistance. But, like lambs to a slaughter, we werejust following the leader.

[Traveling Bob]

Thank you all for your encouraging posts. I hope that I get the same response when I write my next review.

[Rickdabear]

On the butler thing, that is common with people in suites and the penthouse. I'm in steerage most of the time. You pay for those nicities. Enjoy them.

Da Bear

[WonderMan3]

I thought that was tacky as well.

 

No more tacky than saying to someone...

 

"They do have other cabins to attend to and can't just stand by yours and watch for the minute you leave and drop everything they are doing and clean yours."

 

It's attitude-laced comments like that which make people afraid to post reviews in this section, hence the OP's worrying about people attacking his review.

[CanadianTwosome]

Once again we have a review with both good and bad, some well described actual experiences to support opinions, and the ridiculous notion that 'avid NCL fans' would tear it apart.

 

I'm not even going to comment on the review itself. I'm a reasonable, intelligent person, and I am capable of discerning real issues from irrational hate-spewing. Unfortunately at the moment, I just don't feel like saying what's on my mind because it all stems from the opening INSULT from the OP.

 

Have I mentioned enough how incredibly SICK I am of this attitude? What a load of crap. :mad:

[deckedout]

Service

 

While cheerful and friendly, the service was poor. Calls to the room steward were slow to be answered. If one slept late and didn’t leave the room until after 10:30, the room was not made up until after lunch.

.

 

 

I, too, thought this was a well thought out review. I did, however, want to point out this part of it, and hopefully clarify an issue.

 

If you sleep in very late, sometimes you will run into this problem of your room not being cleaned early. When we took our sons on a Carnival cruise, when the oldest was a teenager, their room rarely got cleaned twice a day because they would sleep in too late. Always got cleaned in the evening while they were at dinner. Except the one day that the oldest slept late and the youngest took a nap and slept through dinner.:eek:

 

The room stewards work very long hours. However, they are allowed a break from somewhere around noon til four. That is why it is almost impossible to find one during that time. They start around 630 or 7 work til noon or so than work again from 4- 10 or so. At least, this is what I was told. :o

[terrymtex01]

No more tacky than saying to someone...

 

"They do have other cabins to attend to and can't just stand by yours and watch for the minute you leave and drop everything they are doing and clean yours."

 

It's attitude-laced comments like that which make people afraid to post reviews in this section, hence the OP's worrying about people attacking his review.

 

There is a huge difference. Mine was offering a constructive idea on why the room stewards may not have gotten to their room by the time they returned from lunch. Yours was a direct attack on me.

[WonderMan3]

There is a huge difference. Mine was offering a constructive idea on why the room stewards may not have gotten to their room by the time they returned from lunch. Yours was a direct attack on me.

 

My original post was pointing out that you were making an unnecessary exaggerated attitude comment towards the OP. How amusing that calling someone on something like that is considered an "attack". LOL.

[terrymtex01]

My original post was pointing out that you were making an unnecessary exaggerated attitude comment towards the OP. How amusing that calling someone on something like that is considered an "attack". LOL.

 

That is just your opinion and you should say that, not state it as fact. I know my intention when posting that and it was to offer a suggestion of what may have been the root of the issue. You can come back and say what you want, but I'm done with this argument.