#1 Complaint on NCL

That would fall under "Other". Thank you for specifying.

No. Not 'other'.

The cruddy beer selection is THE SINGLE MOST EGREGIOUS negative of cruising NCL.

I can't book a balcony because I'm afraid of getting stuck with smokers next door. NCL is behind the times with their way to liberal smoking policy.

Another complaint left off the list and it is my #1 complaint

The ship always comes back to port

:(

I don't like NCL's smoking policy. Most cruise lines have changed policy and disallow smoking on balconies.

There are cases of fires on ship started by smokers throwing butts that fall into a cabin and alight something.

I'm a non smoker, but I would love to see a couple of these cases pointed out. Never heard of anything like that??

I voted "Other". Quality of the food (and service) in the MDR was severely lacking.......food and service in the specialty restaurants was great.

Nice list, John. Looks like the only one you missed was "not enough variety in itineraries". Of course, it always seems like those who make that complaint only sail a small number the ships and then only from one or two (close to home) ports.

That is my "other". I prefer NCl and have had a great time on every cruise. We want to see the world, however, not just the Caribbean and some parts of Europe. Have to use other lines for that. We also like HAL but they are not as good a value although they are a great cruise line. Stray to RCCL and Celebrity just to get itineraries not available on NCL. Booked our upcoming Celebrity cruise before we knew that NCL was going back to South America. We might have tried to work out out own package if we'd known that. The rumor was out there for a couple of years before it was confirmed. I wonder how many bookings were lost in the mean time due to the delay.

I'm a non smoker, but I would love to see a couple of these cases pointed out. Never heard of anything like that??

I think at least one of the cases was on a Princess ship.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11975460/ns/us_news-life/t/cigarette-eyed-cause-cruise-blaze/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/29/cruise-ship-returns-to-seattle-following-fire/

As some have said, I voted other due to insufficient number of, and poor, itineraries.

Another complaint left off the list and it is my #1 complaint

The ship always comes back to port

:(

You'd rather not return to port? :eek:

Other: they allege the cruise is over and they insist that you leave the ship. :eek:

For me is when people are refilling their water bottles. It against NCL policies but NCL is doing nothing. It is disgusting... I once saw one bottle with food on it while the person was doing his refill.

For me it is smoking on balconies. I do wish they would either disallow, or only allow on one side and then I'd pick a balcony on the other side of the ship. I don't gamble so the casino isn't a problem for me, but the balcony next to me with chain smokers is disgusting and preventing me from using my balcony.

I selected "other". As has already been mentioned, they need to mix it up a little bit by offering new itineraries and ports. I realize they have a limited amount of ports and ships and all that, but they should be able to do a little something with what they have.

If I want to do the St. Thomas/St. Martin eastern Carib. again, does NCL really think I'll take the same ship with the same entertainment all over again? No. If I have to see the same ports again then at least I'll do it on a different ship. And chances are it'll be a rival ship.

You are making your vacation too much like work! :) I would NEVER go on a vacation where very second of every day was pre-planned.

Which is EXACTLY why I just informed DH that I will only cruise on megaships in the future for TWO weeks, not one!

You are asking a bunch of NCL "fans" what their #complaint about NCL is. Of course, most don't have many or if they do it is more about the other passengers 9smokers, chair hogs, rude) than about the cruise line itself. If it were more about the line, they'd sail on another. if you ask non-NCL "fans", I think you'd get a different answer. As a travel industry professional, what I hear the most from non-experienced cruisers new to NCL- "everything had an additional charge" They feel nickel and dimed to death.

As an experienced cruiser, I KNOW this going on. Many do not and are annoyed that many, many things have an additional cost. A very common complaint I hear is that the food was bad everywhere but the pay for restaurants. People perceive that as very unfair.

You are asking a bunch of NCL "fans" what their #complaint about NCL is. Of course, most don't have many or if they do it is more about the other passengers 9smokers, chair hogs, rude) than about the cruise line itself. If it were more about the line, they'd sail on another. if you ask non-NCL "fans", I think you'd get a different answer. As a travel industry professional, what I hear the most from non-experienced cruisers new to NCL- "everything had an additional charge" They feel nickel and dimed to death.

 

As an experienced cruiser, I KNOW this going on. Many do not and are annoyed that many, many things have an additional cost. A very common complaint I hear is that the food was bad everywhere but the pay for restaurants. People perceive that as very unfair.

You are, of course, right that this is a skewed poll since it's on the NCL forum. However, I never claimed or intended the poll to be representative of the cruising public at large. I'm more interested in what NCL veterans have to say.

As for your hearing from non-experienced cruisers new to NCL that they feel nickel and dimed to death, that doesn't surprise me. But it's also an uninformed opinion, based on hearsay or second-hand accounts. That's meaningless to me. As for the food, that's so subjective. And while you say that you hear the common complaint that the food is bad everywhere, I don't hear that at all.

There are been many threads concerning nickel-and-diming. Most of the time, people who complain about it can't come up with much that doesn't apply to most other mainstream cruise lines. Sure, there are a few items here and there perhaps, but for the most part they ALL charge extra for mostly the same items (i.e., souvenirs, specialty restaurants, booze, spa treatments, gambling, excursions, etc.). So far, only 4 out of 160 votes have indicated that nickel-and-diming is their #1 complaint with NCL. Yes, I realize that it's a small sample and that it could be their #2 or #3 complaint, but it's still a very low number. To me, that indicates that it's not nearly as prevalent as some claim.

So, you haven't heard people say the MDR food is not very good? C'mon! Lots of people say that. Even right here on he NCL fans forum. I personally disagree especially after our cruise a few weeks ago. I thought the MDR food and menu was much improved over a less-than-stellar Epic experience. Maybe they are listening to the feedback!

So, you haven't heard people say the MDR food is not very good? C'mon! Lots of people say that. Even right here on he NCL fans forum. I personally disagree especially after our cruise a few weeks ago. I thought the MDR food and menu was much improved over a less-than-stellar Epic experience. Maybe they are listening to the feedback!

Of course I've heard and read it. But that happens on EVERY mainstream cruise line forum. I also hear and read from many cruisers that they think the food is perfectly fine.

Nickel and dimed is a lame term used by people who either haven't done their homework prior to trying a cruise line or by people who are just downright tight with their wallets.

Nickel and dimed is a lame term used by people who either haven't done their homework prior to trying a cruise line or by people who are just downright tight with their wallets.

Agreed.

I think my one complaint would be the balconies on the Breakaway are small, otherwise we love NCL and all her ships!

Having read one CCer's opinion on the #1 complaint on NCL (which I wholeheartedly disagree with), I thought it might be interesting to poll CCers and get an idea of what irks NCL passengers the most.

 

So, what is your #1 complaint about sailing on an NCL ship?

 

My apologies in advance for grouping certain items. Polling is limited to 14 line items, so I omitted and/or grouped certain items.

My biggest complaint would be the limited breakfast menu for room service. We used to be able to order an omelet but that disappeared from the 24-hour choices. However, that is an extremely minor complaint and in no way would ruin a cruise.

Agree with whoever said complaining about "nickel and diming" is a result of not doing homework. I've never sailed on Disney but understand it's a great line and probably includes more....it sure should for double the price of NCL. HAL includes fresh squeezed orange juice...and is usually more expensive except for some bargains out of FLA we've gotten in off weeks.

I found Celebrity and RCCL to be pretty much the same in terms of extras. I find the MDR food just fine and far better than MDR food on RCCL.

You get what you pay for. People who say this seem to want a luxury line experience for a pretty low price cruise line. I've paid as little as $314pp for a 7 day cruise. Just the food and hotel room adds up to more than that and it included transportation all the way to Western Caribbean ports. On top of that we got platinum benefits on that cruise.

Every line we've sailed has charged for bingo, excursions, drinks, specialty meals, gratuities. I can't figure out where this complaint comes from but do realize people have personal preferences in line they feel most comfortable with....and have never heard the term defined in what they are paying extra for that they get for free elsewhere for the same price.

I think at least one of the cases was on a Princess ship.

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11975460/ns/us_news-life/t/cigarette-eyed-cause-cruise-blaze/

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/29/cruise-ship-returns-to-seattle-following-fire/

The first link is broken and the second does not mention anything about smoking being a cause.

The first link worked just now, anyway here is the story:

Must have been a gremlin, it does seem to work now. Interesting read. FYU I was not doubting that thsi type of thing happens. I have family who are fire fighters. I know all too well how destructive a cigarette can be other than the horrid health implications for the smoker and those around him as well.