Read Reviews and Canceled Cruise

[Bamagal in FL]

I think an important thing to remember when reading reviews it that they are VERY SUBJECTIVE. One person will see one situation one way and another person will see the EXACT SAME situation COMPLETELY opposite. I think it is unfair to make a dcision based solely on these reviews.

We were on NCL Pearl in Alaska last May. For us it was a wonderful experience, crew was attentive, food was good but we went into it knowing the good, the bad and the ugly and made our own opinions. We heard one man proclaim quite loudly one evening "he was tired of this Alaska stuff"......what did he expect on an ALASKAN cruise???........Attitude plays a HUGE role in the success of your vacation. It is what YOU make of it.

[momofmeg]

even without the porn??? lol

 

Actually I think most of us choose our cruises pretty much the way you do even if we have a preferance to a line. Everyone knows I love NCL, but this year it is going to be Princess and because of the economy and a must take trip next month we will probably only do one cruise. We always look for itinerary, dates that work for us and price. All being somewhat equal we will choose NCL, but if something else works better for us. we opt away from NCL>

 

there are a couple of lines we most likely will not take again, not because the are awful, but because we have 3 lines we prefer and can always seem to get what we want on one of them.

Nita

 

 

Nita, with me it is ship classes on certain lines I stay away from as I dislike more than the line itself. I simply do not like ships that carry over 3000 PAX-no worry about that though for the Panama Canal though I guess.

 

I am assuming that is why Mariner of the Seas went around the horn instead of through the canal. (too big) My hubby read a thread where a couple got off in chili from the MOS as they were so seasick. I have always heard that is true of going around the horn, but why get off in Chili, they had gone through the worst.

[Carnac767]

We just finished our third NCL cruise in 18 months. Each one has been terrific, especially the Baltic and the Mediterranean. We've already booked two more. I guess we think NCL is okay.

[mickeysgal]

We just finished our third NCL cruise in 18 months. Each one has been terrific, especially the Baltic and the Mediterranean. We've already booked two more. I guess we think NCL is okay.

 

I loved your Mediterranean review. Did you do one for the Baltic?

[PamIam]

I think you have to take everything with a grain of salt. Some people will complain about everything! Sometimes I feel sad for the people that post the really negative reviews....that they could not find one nice thing about their vacation. I really like reading the CC threads and reviews- you definitely get many different views. The opinion from a cruiser bringing family on board is quite a different perspective than from a single 20ish individual.

 

As for food....puleeze .... when you're cooking for 2000 people it's not going to be the same caliber as your posh neighborhood restaurant. There's going to be some hits and misses. I do however expect a better quality in the restaurants that charge a fee. What's most important is that when I'm on vacation I am the one NOT COOKING :p!

[sottovoce]

the theater design is awful and the architect of that should be shot.

The theater design on Jewel-class ships is terrific, better than on Maasdam or Galaxy. How wrong it is for someone to make a derogatory generalization like that with nothing to support it.

[chapichapo]

I think you have to take everything with a grain of salt. Some people will complain about everything! Sometimes I feel sad for the people that post the really negative reviews....that they could not find one nice thing about their vacation. I really like reading the CC threads and reviews- you definitely get many different views. The opinion from a cruiser bringing family on board is quite a different perspective than from a single 20ish individual.

 

As for food....puleeze .... when you're cooking for 2000 people it's not going to be the same caliber as your posh neighborhood restaurant. There's going to be some hits and misses. I do however expect a better quality in the restaurants that charge a fee. What's most important is that when I'm on vacation I am the one NOT COOKING :p!

True that. I once read so many bad reviews about a cruise I was thinking of taking that I decided to have a look at the one I had taken last year. :eek: Glad I didn't do that before cruising... We had the time of our lives, this was the most terrific holidays and someone had posted a review complaining about everything. I mean, she might me right in some aspects, but you can't look at things that way, other wise you will never have fun. Things aren't always perfect (or else you really have to pay the price of perfection).

 

We were disapointed in some aspects but I will not base my holidays on some things I didn't like. I would much rather forget about it and just take profit of what's great. I can give you one silly example: I love brunches. And so does my husband. It isn't much of a european thing, at least in my country, but we really like the idea of it. But to me a brunch is a late breakfast, with pancakes and scones and juices, strawberries and I don't know - suprise me! But when we got to sunday brunch they had a lot of fish salads, heavy roasted meats, exquisite elaborate deserts. Really really hard to pick something for breakfast... We felt like we should have come for lunch buffet rather than late breakfast. Nothing appealed to us (but the ice sculptures hehe). And so... am I really going to bother to feel irritated about it?! How sad that would be. We just tried to eat something that wouldn't make us feel sick in the morning and head on to the pool for family fun. I don't see myself thinking about it all trough the trip and making memos of how to write a nasty review when I get home... :rolleyes:

[can'twaittogoagain]

We booked several months ago, not knowing anything about NCL. When we came here to Cruise Critic, and read some of the reviews, we were shocked. After a long discussion -- and we discussed it in great depth -- we decided that the risk was too great and canceled the cruise.

 

The reviews do make a difference.

 

 

Wow. Which ship/cruise were you considering?

[Tokaybean]

We booked several months ago, not knowing anything about NCL. When we came here to Cruise Critic, and read some of the reviews, we were shocked. After a long discussion -- and we discussed it in great depth -- we decided that the risk was too great and canceled the cruise.

 

The reviews do make a difference.

 

What a sad way to go through life letting others (complete strangers I might add) decide for you.

What is your purpose of even letting the rest of us know about your uninformed attitude? Who cares?

[Carnac767]

I loved your Mediterranean review. Did you do one for the Baltic?

 

Thank you, and yes, I did one for the Baltic. It's on main page under featured member reviews. Whoops, wait a minute . . . the Dream has been retired and evidently so has my review. I'll see if I can find a copy of it somewhere on my hard drive.

[Carnac767]

I had big plans for today but just read in the paper that the weather will be bad, so I'm canceling my day and staying in bed.

[Carnac767]

 

As for food....puleeze .... when you're cooking for 2000 people it's not going to be the same caliber as your posh neighborhood restaurant. There's going to be some hits and misses. I do however expect a better quality in the restaurants that charge a fee. What's most important is that when I'm on vacation I am the one NOT COOKING :p!

 

Amen, PamYouAre. Someone else does the cooking, cleaning, turns down your bed every night, leaves you those swell little mints on your pillow, and let's not forget the TOWEL MONKEYS. What's not to like?

[MrPete]

I had big plans for today but just read in the paper that the weather will be bad, so I'm canceling my day and staying in bed.

 

Good one!

 

The sun is shining here! I hope it's as warrm as yesterday! Have a great weedend!

[mickeysgal]

Thank you, and yes, I did one for the Baltic. It's on main page under featured member reviews. Whoops, wait a minute . . . the Dream has been retired and evidently so has my review. I'll see if I can find a copy of it somewhere on my hard drive.

 

Thank you. I'd love to read it.

[mickeysgal]

Why do you think any one else would care?

 

Why would you post this? What relation to cruising or this thread subject?

 

Why waste every ones time? are you so self centered you believe we need to know this when we are trying to find information about cruising?

 

Are you needing a friend? there are other sites for that.

Are you trying to be funny or clever? there are other sites for that.

 

Whoa...take it easy Zambini. No need for a tirade.

[DMH15]

zambini

 

I would rather read 2 lines of banter than 8 lines of criticism. Please lighten up. Hope I don't get flames for wasting 20 seconds of your time.

[tabby313]

Some people are too easily influenced by reviews. Before our first NCL cruise we read some pretty nasty reviews (but we also read between the lines carefully - looking for things that REALLY would bother US and obvious exaggerations and agendas.). We went anyway and had a great time. HOWEVER I am also one who does not believe a vacation should be a source of stress and aprehension. SO - if the reviews concerned you that much then it was better to cancel.

 

My family and I just came off the Gem two weeks ago. It was our first cruise ever. I cannot wait to book another! I loved NCL and I would continue to book with them. We had read some reviews here on CC. I agree with what you said about exaggerations. There are 2 sides to every story and unfortunately we only get one side here. I sometimes would love to hear the other side.

[*Wink*]

I had big plans for today but just read in the paper that the weather will be bad, so I'm canceling my day and staying in bed.

LOL.. I thought it was funny. This is a cruise community, where quips like this add flavor to all the information. Carmac has given relevant information in other postings.

 

BTW.. I cannot stress the importance of yoga or physical activity to alleviate stress in our lives... and also a good laugh.

[CC Help Michell]

Why do you think any one else would care?

 

Why would you post this? What relation to cruising or this thread subject?

 

Why waste every ones time? are you so self centered you believe we need to know this when we are trying to find information about cruising?

 

Are you needing a friend? there are other sites for that.

Are you trying to be funny or clever? there are other sites for that.

 

It was a joke; sorry you didn't get it, but I also thought it was funny.

 

Just curious -- did you seriously read ten pages and 193 posts on this thread because you are "trying to find information about cruising?" If so, you might want to head over to "Ask a Cruise Question," or "First Time Cruisers" -- that's where a lot of the "what is cruising all about" type information is posted.

[cruizinrican]

We booked several months ago, not knowing anything about NCL. When we came here to Cruise Critic, and read some of the reviews, we were shocked. After a long discussion -- and we discussed it in great depth -- we decided that the risk was too great and canceled the cruise.

 

The reviews do make a difference.

 

That's unfortunate, bc I am a firm believer that the cruise is what YOU make it. After this week, I will have completed more than 20-something cruises; 4 of which on NCL and NOT A ONE has ever been a bad cruise. I think had you decided to give NCL a try, you would have been happy you did.:)

[cruizinrican]

I had big plans for today but just read in the paper that the weather will be bad, so I'm canceling my day and staying in bed.

 

???WHAT??? Did I miss something???:confused:

[Lvteks]

For another's very weak reason, I had to cancel our Celebrity So America cruise and was not a happy camper. Soon after, the idea for the cruise was back on. However I could not get the Celebrity cruise previously planned.

 

Very reluctantly I booked the NCL Crown for December. Well, through CC we had a host of others to meet and greet when we boarded. And to date it was the very best cruise of all for my DH as well. He loved the informality and option dining. Sometimes if we met people on an excursion, we would plan dinner and continue our experiences.

 

Besides that, we had outstanding , gloriously sunny weather and just treasured every moment. I learned my lesson. Go with the flow and get out of my minute analytical approach to an adventure. Recently we did sail Celebrity and I was disappointed. Just booked NCL Majesty for Cananda/New England and I'm glad to be back. Happy Sails.

 

Blessings,

 

Gail

[*Wink*]

For another's very weak reason, I had to cancel our Celebrity So America cruise and was not a happy camper. Soon after, the idea for the cruise was back on. However I could not get the Celebrity cruise previously planned.

 

Very reluctantly I booked the NCL Crown for December. Well, through CC we had a host of others to meet and greet when we boarded. And to date it was the very best cruise of all for my DH as well. He loved the informality and option dining. Sometimes if we met people on an excursion, we would plan dinner and continue our experiences.

 

Besides that, we had outstanding , gloriously sunny weather and just treasured every moment. I learned my lesson. Go with the flow and get out of my minute analytical approach to an adventure. Recently we did sail Celebrity and I was disappointed. Just booked NCL Majesty for Cananda/New England and I'm glad to be back. Happy Sails.

 

Blessings,

 

Gail

Gail... With your great attitude, I just know you'll love Majesty. We've been spoiled by her and can't stand that she's leaving the fleet. 28 days we'll get to say good-bye.

 

I just know you'll be just as sad as we are after you cruise her. :)

[tabby313]

Amen, PamYouAre. Someone else does the cooking, cleaning, turns down your bed every night, leaves you those swell little mints on your pillow, and let's not forget the TOWEL MONKEYS. What's not to like?

 

so much I bought the DVD! Am I a dork or what?

[dustyroad]

Wow, what a sad thing that you put all your power in someone else's hand.

 

so true. if i had let the '' carnival is nothing but a drunken party ship '' reveiws controll me i would never have sailed her for my first cruise too alaska on the spirit. i had a wonderful time and loved the crew, food and passengers so much i have been on her 2 times and will sail the spirit again next year. i hope other peoples opinions dont controll the other choices you have to make in life. be a judge for yourself.