Donoilman

NCL JOY First, This was our Third NCL Joy Haven cruise in 12 months. My applause to the crew aboard the Joy. My experience in the Haven the first week in July was interesting. Most of the situations on board were due to changes in policy from NCL head office.....Are you listening? We always purchase the premium upgrade on the beverage package due to our taste for good Champagne. Champagne being French Brut. None in the Haven....discontinued serving Veuve at the haven bar...OK what do you have?....Rose Champagne. Ok...supply problems we were told. My problem is that you sold me a premium beverage package that on your web site said Veuve was available also Moet Chandon....no notice about changes were sent. The second problem I have is that the officers aboard have no clue about customer service. They might be good at managing their job but as far as communication and good customer service they are lost. The beverage manager, on the first day onboard told my wife and I he would get back to us with a solution...which he did after we mentioned to the Haven Maitre D' about the situation. His response was "I was waiting for time". WHAT! No one likes to wait for bad news, nothing he can do. The sommelier in Le Bistro took time to explain what the problem actually was and how they are working on it. He had impeccable customer service. One of the best aboard in my opinion. This started a week that we both noticed cuts in food quality....thank God not crew quality! Our Butler, Jane, was one of the best we had experienced on NCL. Also our room steward Raju, was fantastic. We are casino players so the casino is part of our vacation. I can say the casino staff is top notch and always has been since Gareth took over the casino department. The dealers and pit crew are second to none. The casino host and his staff....as with our last cruise on the Joy...useless. Answering questions without listening to the question.....who trains these people. The Haven experience....the staff is excellent. The menu in the haven restaurant does not change at all. They do make requested items. This got old as the week went along. Another problem, this is sold as a luxury experience yet for dinner, people dressed in shorts and flip flops, young ladies dressed like they are going to a rage, hats worn by men throughout dinner. May sound a little elitist, My intention is to draw attention to the slipping of policy. Food was always cooked as requested and served hot to warm. I think that some things brought out stayed on the Pass too long. Staffing issue or chef issue...not sure. The sun deck was mostly mobbed. Inside pool area crowded and loud. I know its school vacation and we booked outside the Haven proper because of that. That being said, If I paid $5500 per person for that week I would feel like I got ripped off. A note to NCL. Lee Iaccoca once said about business " There are those that lead, those that follow, and those that get left behind". NCL has to decide which one they want to be...not in their head but in their product. Another quote from a most respected business man "Don't give your customers a reason to look elsewhere". We have been loyal NCL (sapphire) cruisers for quite some time and what keeps us coming back are the people....the policies enacted due to economic restraints are causing us to look at other cruise lines. Le Bistro continues to be our favorite restaurant......what do you know.....we can get Veuve there by the glass. We ate in Le Bistro three nights. Food Republic is also a hidden gem on the Joy. In the Local, food was served cold and not hot 2 times, chicken wings and eggs. That is not acceptable. We were disappointed with our latest NCL Joy experience. Will we do another NCL cruise...yes after they get their situation sorted out. MSC Meraviglia This was our second experience in the Yacht Club. The first was the MSC Seaside out of Miami September 2019. I wrote a review at that time and was very disappointed with that week. WOW....MSC has totally turned things around. Right from the start, The yacht club exuded "We get the luxury experience on big ships". The ship is absolutely beautiful. The Galleria was a spectacular two floors by day shops and eateries...by night a party like I've never seen on a ship. The bands and music we heard that week were the best on the sea so far. Gelato that is really gelato....Holas Taco's not to be missed. In the Yacht Club...different chocolates left next to the bed at night....nice touch. The only negative for one week...the ship seems to have a design flaw that in semi rough seas the bow has a" right to left " shimmy and it sounds like air gets caught in the bow thrusters that creates a slight bang sound from time to time. The Yacht club...talk about a complete 360 degree turn a round. The staff was amazing. The concierges had it going on...requests taken care of with impeccable customer service. The restaurant menu changed every day for dinner. Food was amazing. One note...the cheese trays....oh that parmaggiano that we can't get in the US....best I've ever had. This brings me to the staff. Every single staff we encountered were top notch. Obviously trained in impeccable customer service...never once did I hear the word "NO". Gracious and engaging and anticipating what you would like. The Yacht club restaurant on day one lunch..I ordered a simple pasta with marinara...I figured I would get a feel for the rest of the week....I was not disappointed the whole week. The Maitre D' was fantastic...great conversationalist. My gold star goes to Rudolph the Sommelier He was everything I didn't know I wanted...his choices for wine were spot on, special attention to the cheese plate every night before dinner..diverse and special selections that were over the top and he was everywhere all the time. My wine glass never...never got to the bottom. The wait staff and assistants were again...over the top. The last night was Italian night...right up my alley being in the restaurant business. I was excited to find a menu diverse with selections. My test dish "Eggplant Parm"...Just five words "The best I've ever had!" The Yacht Club Bar again...staff over the top. The bartender in the morning saw me coming and had started Two Latte's before I ordered. The wait staff kept the buffet area stocked with really good selections all day long. Comfortable lounge with compatible music at night. The pool deck. Very crowded being summer vacation season. There has been chatter about people outside the Yacht Club sneaking in or on our cruise Yacht Club guests bringing in outside people. Not cool during such a busy time. Never the less we did enjoy the sundeck but did not partake of the Bar and Grill upstairs. Always fresh towels and a sun glass cleaning station...what a great Idea. The casino was on the small side. The staff was adequate and started loosening up after the first day. We meet two people from MSC Corporate from the Casino. Both very engaging and welcoming...My special thanks to Borkay for sitting in on my Wifes hand during her bathroom break...a man of his word!!!!. The dealers tried to make loosing money fun. Special note to Lucky the Casino Host. Absolutely the best casino host I have ever experienced on land or sea....no doubt about it. The drink servers were a little slow, probably needed a couple more. One side does have smoking at the slot machines, occasionally you could smell it on the other side. Final Assessment We came off the Meraviglia elated with the prospect of sailing again. We have cancelled two NCL cruises in the Haven for next year and booked MSC Yacht Club in April. I am gleefully admitting that MSC has captured our hearts for a true Luxury Experience on big ships. As for the private islands, MSC Ocean Cay was docked with a private section for the Yacht Club.... where NCL Great Stirrup Cay was tendered and if you want their Haven on the island, get ready to fork over some bucks. Not once during Meravaglia week did we see anything but spotless silverware and glasses, not so on NCL Joy, constant lipstick stains on glasses.... soiled silverware and dirty napkins all over the ship. I believe that MSC Yacht Club is leading with NCL Haven being left behind...not following but left behind! My intention is not to "dog" NCL...but you gotta wake up. I would not buy NCL stock after what we had experienced the first week..if its share holders who they are listening to and not Hospitality....my condolences. The policies enacted make it very difficult to see value for that expense. MSC keep doing what you are doing....amazing week.

I am encouraged to hear that the Yacht Club has improved since 2019. I am going to post reviews for both after voyages just not here. I wish you all calm seas and safe journey's.....I am out

Dear Morpheusthese....My point is that per my opinion....they missed the mark in 2019. Opinions are personal and if I insulted either you or MSC by that comment I apologize. That said...we were practically kicked off the ship on the last day, Bartender in Yacht club insulting female clients with attitude. Casino pit boss yelling at clients, Butler that was useless and never around. This was our experience....and my point is, I hope they cleaned it up...that is all. Not looking for a social media battle here. edited to correct to 2019

Dear Morpheusthese....My point is that per my opinion....they missed the mark in 1979. Opinions are personal and if I insulted either you or MSC by that comment I apologize. That said...we were practically kicked off the ship on the last day, Bartender in Yacht club insulting female clients with attitude. Casino pit boss yelling at clients, Butler that was useless and never around. This was our experience....and my point is, I hope they cleaned it up...that is all. Not looking for a social media battle here.

My wife and I will be sailing a combined back to back. We have been in the Haven twice on the Joy and MSC Seaside Yacht Club once in 2019.. Looking forward to how far MSC has risen since 2019 and the Meravaglia. Our first MSC cruise in the yacht club was nice.....but they didn't understand the American experience at that time. I am going to hold off on compare and contrast to be fair to both. I may post from time to time during the two weeks. Any questions....I will try to answer.