Please read this!!

[pink poodle]

When we knew that some kind CC's were coming to see us off at Portside on 27 Dec I made up a cardboard sign that said Cruise Critics so that we could wave it and make sure we all saw each other. Well it worked and I'd like to say thank you to the very kind CC's who were there. No one has ever seen us off before so it was a great feeling knowing you were there and I can't even begin to explain how much that meant to us.Thanks again!
We came up then with the idea of taking the sign off in the ports and taking a photo of us in a well known place holding the CC sign.It seems like a stupid idea know, but we were going to put the photos on here and call it something like spreading the CC word around the south Pacific.
We ended up with some funny photos that we thought you would enjoy, then towards the end of the cruise we decided to ask some crew members to be in the photos with the CC sign to see if people recognised any familiar faces. Every one was very happy to be in it, no problem at all.
We were wandering around and spotted a very, very, VERY senior person who didn't appear to be busy or in a hurry. I asked him if he would mind if we took a photo of us and him while I held the CC sign. All at once his whole attitude changed and his face took on the appearance of someone who has discovered three kilos of week old prawn heads in their bed.
"are you Cruise Critics?" he snarled at my poor husband, who has never been on CC in his life. Like an idiot, I didn't realize what was to come and I put out my hand to shake his and said "Hi. I'm Pink Poodle."
He totally ignored me but got stuck into my poor husband. "You people!!" he kept snarling. He went on to say that we go on CC hiding behind anonymous names, telling lies and paying out the cruise lines with wrong information. I tried to say this was our fourth cruise in four years and that we love cruising (as shown on the tee shirt I was wearing which says born to cruise) and we do not tell lies but the arrogant person wouldn't listen.
As this was taking place in a public area of the ship with passengers walking past hanging on every word you can imagine how embarrassing this was. When the very, very. VERY senior person ran out of puff he had the nerve to say he' d get in a photo with us as long as the sign wasn't in it. Hello! Would you want to be in a photo with someone who had just blasted you for nothing and said you told lies! I think he'd been at sea too long.
So much for the C.R.U.I.S.E code of customer service.If he didn't want to be in a CC photo all he had to say was no and that would've been the end of it. That was my 10th cruise, also the last. We were so embarrassed we went back to our cabins and decided that we will be canceling our Christmas 2008 cruise. Pink Poodle

[karmac]

That is terrible PP:eek: and totally unnecessary on his part.

Your idea of having your pic taken in every port with the sign was a good idea not a stupid one. I wouldn't let one person spoil cruising for me and cancell one though. You should go and have a good time. If the person you're refering to is who I think it is (from things I've read on here) and you're worried that he'll be on again for your next cruise, go on another ship;)

Karen

[Riffraff]

We on here all know how wonderful this site is, and I can understand that the idea of the CC sign is fun and it was a great idea.

But, to be fair, if I didn't know of this site, and I was watching a ship sailing and saw someone holding up a sign saying "Cruise Critic" my assumption would be that that person was on board to find fault, and was going to set out to criticise everything.
Although it's not the true meaning of the word, the word 'critic' has today come to mean someone who does not like something.

Obviously the person not wanting their photo taken had misunderstood the situation, and it must have been distressing for you but I can fully understand their point of view.

[karmac]

We on here all know how wonderful this site is, and I can understand that the idea of the CC sign is fun and it was a great idea.

But, to be fair, if I didn't know of this site, and I was watching a ship sailing and saw someone holding up a sign saying "Cruise Critic" my assumption would be that that person was on board to find fault, and was going to set out to criticise everything.
Although it's not the true meaning of the word, the word 'critic' has today come to mean someone who does not like something.

Obviously the person not wanting their photo taken had misunderstood the situation, and it must have been distressing for you but I can fully understand their point of view.


But from what PP said, the person knew about cruise critic & therefore would have known that they weren't there to criticise.

Karen

[Riffraff]

But from what PP said, the person knew about cruise critic & therefore would have known that they weren't there to criticise.

Karen

possibly, but they may have thought it was more anti-cruising, like events at sea, and others may be. They didn't realise that this is a friendly pro-cruising site!

I can see how they might know the website exists but get the content of it confused with other sites.

Anyway I agree with you: PP - don't let this one bad experience put you off..that way you miss out on a cruise, and that's not good!

[jckvpa0]

My question is, why the heck would you let one grumpy old man effect you so much that you would cancel a future cruise :rolleyes: !!!

[Whoey]

Firstly, I do feel for the obvious shock and offense this person imposed on you and your partner :( this senior person was completely out of line in my opinion.

I must admit reading what you wrote I agree with jckvpa0 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/member.php?u=120589) - NO ONE persons opinion should change what you think of cruising, it's your cruise not theirs!!! Your custom pays his wage, what right does he have to complain when you did nothing wrong???

How arrogant, unhelpful, rude to have that attitude to a photo with a non offensive sign. What a weird situation, if someone like that got my gander up I would have lodged a formal complaint against the CRUISE code straight away and demanded to see the captain about it. Furthermore I would, in writing, report them to head office in NSW.

My last thoughts are I probably would have asked him to give specific examples of poor CC behaviour (onboard) or otherwise.. perhaps he is not aware of the friendly, helpful, enthusiastic, 90% positive environment the P&O & Princess CC Australian group is???

[AuzzieCruiser]

CC would be very well known by crew on all ships worldwide. CC has 300,000 members at the moment, and growing. It may not be well known here, but in America, well that is another story!!:eek:
Perhaps he has had a bad experience with other CC's in the past, but still that is not a reason to get stuck into you.
I feel for you. It would have been embarrassing and humilating.:(
Imagine if you were in PP's shoes, and it happened to you...you would probably find it would put you off future cruises.
Just a shame that someone near the top can't lead by example.:(

[strawberrypatch81]

Firstly, I do feel for the obvious shock and offense this person imposed on you and your partner :( this senior person was completely out of line in my opinion.

I must admit reading what you wrote I agree with jckvpa0 (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/member.php?u=120589) - NO ONE persons opinion should change what you think of cruising, it's your cruise not theirs!!! Your custom pays his wage, what right does he have to complain when you did nothing wrong???

How arrogant, unhelpful, rude to have that attitude to a photo with a non offensive sign. What a weird situation, if someone like that got my gander up I would have lodged a formal complaint against the CRUISE code straight away and demanded to see the captain about it. Furthermore I would, in writing, report them to head office in NSW.

My last thoughts are I probably would have asked him to give specific examples of poor CC behaviour (onboard) or otherwise.. perhaps he is not aware of the friendly, helpful, enthusiastic, 90% positive environment the P&O & Princess CC Australian group is???

I totally agree with what other people said. Don't let some arogant grumpy old person put you off cruising. :mad:

How dare he speak to you and your husband like that! I am so sorry. I hope apart from that, your cruise was good. Also I think your sign was a great idea. Don't let that man put you off cruising!

So does he actually work on P&0? I know you coudn't say who but definetely make a formal complaint to P&O. :(

[cloakndagger]

Unfortunately, not all people on CC are like the Aussies. A lot of people throw it about like they expect royal treatment. If they don't get what they think they deserve, then they bag the ship, crew and company on these boards. As well as on the ships. I have seen it first hand.

Some of the Captains have had great reports from CC members and are quite friendly towards us. I believe the Captain on the Star at Easter invited the CC members for a bridge tour.

Hiding behind an anonymous name is a requirement on these boards. Perhaps the Captain.. sorry...senior officer...didn't understand that. Perhaps he would like to look at other sites that bag the cruise lines instead.

The anonymity protects you from being hounded and stalked by people who do not agree with you. Trust me...I am sure that some cruise companies would love to string some of us up for comments that they didn't like.

I am sorry that one person managed to spoil things for you. How was the rest of the cruise...or dare I not ask??:o

Keep smiling

Karen

[sunlover62]

I am afraid I was one person who when reading in the daily about cruise critic get-together, thought you were all getting together for a whinge. Well, the ladies at my dining table one night put me straight about that. I do think the name is a bit mis-leading and perhaps the answer is to explain a little bit more in the daily when announcing a meeting. Mind you, I guess you were lucky to even get a mention anyway. Maybe we could put in brackets after Cruise Critic (cruise fanatics)!!!

[karmac]

I am afraid I was one person who when reading in the daily about cruise critic get-together, thought you were all getting together for a whinge. Well, the ladies at my dining table one night put me straight about that. I do think the name is a bit mis-leading and perhaps the answer is to explain a little bit more in the daily when announcing a meeting. Mind you, I guess you were lucky to even get a mention anyway. Maybe we could put in brackets after Cruise Critic (cruise fanatics)!!!

It's a shame you didn't know about CC before the Dawn cruise. We could have met. BTW Who were the CC members that you did meet?

Karen

[sunlover62]

Sorry, I don't remember the names but I know they were sisters. We only sat together one night. I didn't go to the dining room every night but I definitely will be next time. I really like service there much better.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

My question is, why the heck would you let one grumpy old man effect you so much that you would cancel a future cruise :rolleyes: !!!

I have too agree with jckvpa0 here, why would you let one grumpy man (he may have been having a bad day anyway) put you off cursing???

When we where on our first cruise in July 2006, when we got back to Auckland I had a argument with a Russian couple over a trolley :rolleyes: & that did not put me off cursing (We are going on two cruises this year!!).

[karmac]

Sorry, I don't remember the names but I know they were sisters. We only sat together one night. I didn't go to the dining room every night but I definitely will be next time. I really like service there much better.


Who did you travel with sunlover? Maybe we ran into you at some stage.

Karen

[MsMinx]

Pinky and Teegiee,

It was an absolute pleasure to wave you guys off :D:D It was wonderful from our end too, to see all your excited smiling faces waving back to us :D

As for that "staff member" that you had the run in with - what a jerk!! I read Teegiee's post the other day before it went "poof", and thought it was disgusting of him then, and I still think it's disgusting now!!

So let me give you guys a giant E-Hug to make up for it!!

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r107/jobaas/acuddle.gif

Please don't let one person put you off doing something you love. Otherwise he wins and you lose, and that's just not fair.

[badgerbill]

It's exactly that type of incident and attitude that is the cause of adverse comments..... a lot more good is done through CC than bad ...the comments here are of great value to the shipping lines.....from what we write they if they have any intelligence can learn and they can improve their product ....those ridiculous comment sheets at the end of a cruise are a sham
....must say he/she/it takes the cake for fantastic customer service maybe someone needs to remind them exactly who pays their wages .it's us the PASSENGERS ... no passengers, no cruise, no job........... I feel for you all being left with the feeling of being publically humiliated thats not the sort of cruise memory you need or deserve.......cheers shiona

[kezza]

Ignore the silly senior man. I can't believe you'd let one SENIOR man get to you that much to cancel your next cruise. Don't be silly. Do your cruise and have a ball. You've done 10 before so you know they're great and this sort of thing doesn't happen often, you got unlucky with one person, get over it and go and have a ball on the next cruise.

[nzmatt]

hi there,

man if that senior officer did that to me and my wife,i would have hit him most likely or said a few words back to him?but not worth that,he will get his payback,write the company a letter better still i would have seen the master of the vessel and told him,and in put it in writing.hope the cruise went well otherwise.cheers matt

[qld cruiser]

Hi ,
unfortunately it sounds like the person referred to.. is the top.
I have never heard of any senior officer speak to a passenger with such "venom" in all my years of cruising , and with many different companies.

like mentioned before, write, call, fax the company expressing your distress at being spoken to like that.

I would like to know who was Captain on the particular cruise.???

and as mentioned before...don't let it ruin your cruising.


kind regards, Lorraine:) :)

[Neilius]

PP - please complain to p & o.

It spoils the whole experience to have one or two staff members with such a bad attitude, when most of them are so nice.

You're not making trouble, you're helping to prevent trouble in future.

Imagine how much money / business P&O have received from the good reports that come from these boards.

[bazzaw]

Just for some balance - I would like to remind everybody that we have only heard one side of a story here. I am not implying in any way that any "untruths" are being or have been told - but I have also discovered in a long lifetime that many stories take on a different complexion when the other side is heard.

We are probably not like to hear the other side - but regardless, I believe that everybody should think about that before making further damning statements or forming damning opinions.



Barry

[sunlover62]

Who did you travel with sunlover? Maybe we ran into you at some stage.

Karen

Just my DW (the masterpiece), and I on this last cruise. Wasn't aware of what CC was until towards the end of the cruise. Spent most of our time laying on the back deck reading. I'm only checking the site when at work so won't contribute very often but I do enjoy reading the different threads.

[fishtaco]

Why dont you just write a "Critic" about the person ? This is afterall "Cruise critic" message board not "hoorah for P&O we love everything about you" message board,and the moderators have no right to remove it if it is not defamatory. Nobody has a thread removed for praising a senior P&O staff member so one shouldn't be removed for criticizing one!
If you feel you have had a negative experience with a staff member from P&O just because you are a CC member then you owe it to all CC members to name this person so a similar incident does not occur.

Den

[strawberrypatch81]

Why dont you just write a "Critic" about the person ? This is afterall "Cruise critic" message board not "hoorah for P&O we love everything about you" message board,and the moderators have no right to remove it if it is not defamatory. Nobody has a thread removed for praising a senior P&O staff member so one shouldn't be removed for criticizing one!
If you feel you have had a negative experience with a staff member from P&O just because you are a CC member then you owe it to all CC members to name this person so a similar incident does not occur.

Den

I totally agree. That crew member should be ashamed for talking to a paying passenger like that, whether he was having a bad day or not. Cruises don't come cheap, so I would definetely be complaining to P&O.

[TommyH2006]

The word critic comes from the Greek κριτικός, kritikós - one who discerns, which itself arises from the Ancient Greek word κριτής, krités, meaning a person who offers reasoned judgement or analysis, value judgement, interpretation, or observation. ..

That is what this whole forum is about.
For fellow cruisers to give an honest opinion of their experiences.
We are not here to say P&O are wonderful. Or P&O are c#ap. But to let other, maybe less experienced cruisers, know how our cruises fared. If that opinion offends the cruise line, then maybe something is wrong, and they should take a look at themselves. They are here to serve the customer, after all.
And wouldn't it be a good idea if, like some other sites (not cruise sites) the companies had reps to answer questions on CC. It is, after all, the biggest cruise site on the net. (afaik)

Just another rant

Happy cruising :D

[Skyrules]

Why dont you just write a "Critic" about the person ? This is afterall "Cruise critic" message board not "hoorah for P&O we love everything about you" message board,and the moderators have no right to remove it if it is not defamatory. Nobody has a thread removed for praising a senior P&O staff member so one shouldn't be removed for criticizing one!
If you feel you have had a negative experience with a staff member from P&O just because you are a CC member then you owe it to all CC members to name this person so a similar incident does not occur.

Den


I believe the moderator removed the post at Teegie's request, not for any other reasons.

[fishtaco]

I believe the moderator removed the post at Teegie's request, not for any other reasons.


Ah yes I didnt see that bit,but it still seems pink poodle didnt name names through fear of having this thread removed because of the other thread?
So who was this very very senior person? I will just take it as being the captain then shall I ?

Den

[Skyrules]

Ah yes I didnt see that bit,but it still seems pink poodle didnt name names through fear of having this thread removed because of the other thread?
So who was this very very senior person? I will just take it as being the captain then shall I ?

Den

Based on what people who read the post before it was removed have said, I'd say you wouldn't be too far from the truth there.