MsTabbyKats

I think the ops mistake was cruising the North Atlantic this time of the year. Odds are your going to get rough seas I would of suggested an short five day cruise out of Florida. Or an summer cruise where seas generally not always are gentler. Shame on your trave agent if you used one for not warning you.

NY to Bahamas....North Atlantic? Not on my map...........

OP said it was a family cruise. Sometimes you don't get to choose for everyone.

Someone can tell me a million times that plane turbulence doesn't mean the plane isn't about to crash....but I hold on for deal life anyway.

Although others didn't find her sailing "rocky"....she did. And she just wanted a little reassurance that the ship wasn't going down. I don't blame her.

 

The hype of the restaurant was comical to me, because it was just the same food from the buffet but used in different ways. So putting on a prom dress to eat the same food the gal in a bathing suit on the lido deck was eating was funny to me, but I went with it and even got some portraits to prove it.

Very entertaining review.

I love your take on the MDR (However, I think of it as putting on an old "maid of honor" dress)

Rough seas can really ruin a cruise. I did for me also about 5 years ago....I swore I'd never get on a ship again. But....I did. (50 mph winds & 50 ft waves!)

As far as the excursions......Disneyland while you're on a cruise is a waste of time. But...you live and you learn.

Now to the other passengers: Because Carnival offers inexpensive fares, it can attract a somewhat not very sophisticated traveler. The people on a specific cruise is "hit and miss".

Give it some time....and in a few years you may want to try again.

I am getting passports for me, my wife and daughter for our cruise which departs March 15th, 2014. How long will it take on average to get the passports?

 

Thanks!

Seriously....good for you.

I get so fed up when people ask "can I bring a copy of a birth certificate" or "my expired driver's license" etc. as proof of citizenship because they don't want to spend a few more $$$ and have peace of mind.

OP-Take a deep breath.

Carnival should honor "their mistake".

However, would you have booked the cruise at what they say the price should have been?

If yes....and after a lot of frustrating attempts to get it corrected...just relax and enjoy the trip.

If they refuse...maybe they will compromise with a nice upgrade or some OBC.

I find this really disgusting. They could tell anyone "Sorry...but your fare was a mistake. Here's your real price."

Hope not. That change would ultimately kill the community feel. Then it's just a bunch of people on a boat.

Unless it's a chartered cruise for people with something in common....it is just a bunch of people on a boat.

I don't sit with strangers in restaurants on land. Why would I want to do this at sea?

In addition, there are so many other areas where you can meet people....I never understood why people think "the MDR" is the place to do this.

The thread title is: "Disappointed in NCL - Won't bend policy for cancer victim ". So my question is would some be disappointed if they would not bend policy for:

 

-loss of a loved one?

-loss of job?

-victim of a disease other than cancer?

 

All of these things are what insurance is for. Odds are the passengers will get something out of this because they went to the press and got an article published by such an unbiased journalist who writes without sensationalism or inserting his own opinions.:rolleyes: Those who demand attention usually get it and are often rewarded for it.

It's that sense of entitlement that some people have.......

I'm more important than you....so rules don't apply to me.

And you're right....they probably will get something.

It's like "the customer is always right". Sometimes its easier for the business to appease that customer just to avoid bad public relations.

We all go on cruises to be pampered and have a good time. I know we save for months to be able to go on a cruise. We are not rich, but we enjoy that feeling of being taken care of.

And just imagine how you'd feel "pampering and taking care of" people who are alluding to being rich, while your home, friends and family are being washed away by a storm...and you haven't even been able to contact them.

Think about others....not just yourself.

Make a list of the cost of the cruise...and your payments....including the service charges.

Speak to a supervisor and ask him/her to explain what's going on.

In June 1979 my then husband and I cruised on the Norway for $1,500 each ($3, 000) which allegedly included air fare from Albany, NY to FLA. We were upgraded from standard oceanview to a mini suite at no additional cost.

 

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

I was cruising back then too.

At that time cruising was for "the affluent". Think in terms of if everyone sailed on Cunard today.

Thanks to the mass market lines, cruises are available to just about everyone.

I have to laugh when people have "the expectations of elegance" and complain about cut backs and going downhill. These people couldn't have afforded a cruise "in the old days".

Personally, although I can afford a lot more than I could 25 years ago....I prefer the "come as you are" and "eat what you want when you want" atmosphere. (I was looking for Mr Right back then....had to look "hot" 24/7. :))

Do something in one of the ports (or on the ship) that you wouldn't do...but he would like to do, so it's special for him.

I don't get the appeal of WCM cake at all. I have a wicked sweet tooth too.

 

I try to go to the gym most days and 95% of the time I take the stairs. My reward is eating and drinking whatever I want. I deal with the minimal weight gain when I get back.

I'm a chocoholic who specializes in dark chocolate. I didn't care for it either.

On my last Carnival cruise I thought all the desserts were lacking in taste. The only good chocolate, imho, where those little muffins at the buffet in the morning and a specific roll in the bread basket at the brunch.

Here's a professional opinion:

http://www.armstronggemmology.com/Blog.html?entry=crown-of-light-diamond-r

No...you aren't off base at all.

On the cruise I have booked...the rep told me final payment will be made automatically from my credit card. I happen to "work out of my home" and am on the computer just about all the time....so I'll give them a call a day or so before, just to confirm that it will be done. However, if I had "a busier life" and someone told me..."blah blah blah"....I would assume it gets done without me spending my time verifying.

You have a lot of cruises and I'm a bit confused. But I'd write "to someone" and tell them that unless they give you a $200 OBC that you'll be sailing with another company. After all...if they stick someone in that seat...whether he be a Carnival employee or a credit card company employee...they should take the final responsibility for whatever that employee does.

When comparing prices you have to keep in mind people finding sales, when a cruise was booked etc......

Last month I did an NCL....at a great rate. At the time of booking it was just about the same as Carnival for an almost identical cruise.

The NCL rate went up almost immediately (for the same category) by about 50%...while Carnival's price remained the same until the end.

So...I could say the rates were "the same"....but most of the other people paid a lot more for NCL than they would have on Carnival.

I appreciate your insights.

I have a cruise booked on the Splendor because the dates are perfect and the ports are OK.

However, on our last cruise, which was NCL Gem...the quality of just about everything was much better than that of our prior Miracle cruise.

DH doesn't even like cruising....he only goes because I like it. The Gem was the first cruise that he really enjoyed...based on entertainment and fruit. But, we both get bored on sea days. (Him more so than me....because I like to hang out in the casino.)

Is any part of the spa available...such as steam room or sauna...or is that just if you have a Spa Cabin or buy a pass?

I'm just not fully committed to taking this cruise yet....

What I love is that her title is about Carnival cutting corners "to save a buck".

Yet, she is sailing on Carnival "to save a buck".

Whenever people complain about Carnival cutting corners....they really should remember why they chose Carnival over any other cruise line.

The rep I booked my current cruise with told me that she used to be in "the upgrade dept." and it was completely random (wishful thinking).

I got a call twice.

Once-5 day cruise to Canada...I was on Lido Inside...I was offered a Lido Balcony. I forget the price....but a balcony to Canada just isn't worth it.

Next cruise...Miracle to Bahamas. I was in a 4K (French Door)...when I got a call to a mini-suite (not sure of the Label...but it was a large cabin with a very large balcony). For 8 days...$300. We took that one...and it taught me that I really don't need a balcony, even for the Bahamas. (I forced myself to sit out there and eat breakfast just to get use out of it.) But, it was worth it for the extra room. I'd do this upsell again.

I also booked on the Splendor....and was debating between and inside on the Lido...or OV on deck 2 (exact same thing). The decision had nothing to do with price.

I chose the Lido. The reason...it's close to everything, and I can step outside and get "the sunshine" and fresh air.

We really don't do much in the cabin other than sleep...and you can't see the ocean anyway in the dark. In addition, you have to "travel" from 2 to get to the active areas of the ship.

I prefer "the dark" for sleeping. DH likes OV better...but I do the booking. I guess we'll leave the TV on mute all night.

Never mind....

But I'd like the OP to explain why he didn't ask the steward to point out the robes...when the steward claimed he already had them.

I liked my last NCL cruise better than Carnival.

I found the food (buffet people) much better. The entertainment was much better. I liked "the population" better (it was healthy retirees).

But there are things on Carnival that you don't get on NCL (spa included & tea time for example)

Of course....each ship and each cruise is different.

Veer from the rules?!?!?!?!?!?! This man made up his own rules. To knock and enter is against the rules. You can't take the glasses out of the room? So are you supposed to drink out of dirty glasses during the cruise? They have replacements' date=' just look on their carts, they are on the top shelf.

 

There is NO EXCUSE for this behavior. The guy is a jerk. It does not matter where he is from. For the record, I would have adjusted his tip. A gratuity is just that. A reward for good service. Bad service does not warrant a reward. [/color']

Someone pointed out that there are new "glass rules".

About things like "said to the OP that he already had bathrobes"....if that were me, and the steward told me I already had something I didn't have....I would have simply asked him "where are they?" I fail to understand why the OP did not just ask..."If I have them, could you please show me where?" Considering the steward was friendly....I think he would have done this.

Please go back and read the OPs post.....there were so many times he could have "just asked where?"

The only thing I really think was "not right" was entering the room and closing the door behind him.

The rest...I attribute to lack of communications. In addition, I think the OP felt physically intimated because right away he gives us an image of a very large person. I bet if their sizes were equal, he wouldn't have mentioned it and might have been more assertive with the steward.

In closing....this tall friendly fellow from the Ukraine needs to learn to acquiesce or otherwise find himself a new career.

Not defending him at all...I think you were right to complain.

But...it sounds like he is "very structured" and cannot veer from "the rules". I think this is common among people from the former Soviet Union (and certain personality types).

I don't think this is the right job for him....

Just by his size I would have been intimated by him...but...that's something he can't help. (I'm short...I am always intimidated by tall people.)

For quality/value....I'd say "at home".

But...for sentimental reasons and a beautiful souvenir...on the ship or in port.

Keep in mind, an appraisal should come in at twice of what you pay, minimally...and an appraisal is for insurance purposes only.

Not sure how to feel about your picture or what I would do about it. I am sure there are many different interpretations of what he was doing, just wish he hadn't done it at all.

Look at it, roll your eyes if you want, and if it upsets you, delete it. Life is too short to care about a picture of someone you'll never see again.

You should eat in the buffet (as I do) because you can take what you want, as much as you want, and when you want.