Would this have ruined your cruise?

[littlemoonrabbit]

Hubby and I were talking tonight, and reminiscing about our two previous cruises. It has been mentioned on here that once you start getting into the 5th or 6th cruise, everyone is going to have a "bad one", or one that sticks out in your head as not being all too great.

 

So we started taking inventory of our first cruise, one that we LOVED and got us addicted to cruising. During that trip:

 

- We had one of our excursions cancelled

- My husband's glasses broke

- I got horribly sick the last night... vomiting and "the other end", simultaneously, all night (coupled with an asthma attack). Finally fell asleep at 4 am. Still not sure what caused it.

- PR customs was shut down due to a computer malfunction, and we were delayed getting off ship by 3 or 4 hours

- Because of Carnival's lack of communication during the customs issue, we missed our debarkation excursion (with our transport to the airport) and had to pay for a bus ride back to the airport. (we later got reimbursed for it, but it was out of pocket at the time)

 

Now, I have read all sorts of complaints on here about other people's cruises. Some, seem perfectly justified... and some seem downright silly. But I guess it's all about perception and people's expectations.

 

Personally, that trip was the best week of my life, regardless of the difficulties. My husband and I are both "roll with the punches" people... we try to make the best out of every situation. However, I realize that cruises are expensive endeavors, so when things go wrong, I can understand the stress involved.

 

So, I'd love it if people weighed in... would the things I listed have ruined your cruise? Under what circumstances do you let something bother you, vs. just shrugging it off? If you have had a handful of cruises and have figured out which one was your "bad one"... what made THAT one your "bad" one?

[rednose83]

I had a similar cruise minus the customs malfunction and still enjoyed it.

[mrsneurotic]

We found out about the Swine Flu outbreak in the Gulf of Mexico on the way to Jamaica...had to forego Cozumel later in the cruise. My husband got sick-not swine fle. I fell at Tulum on another cruise. Never has anything ruined the cruise though. Other than someone becoming seriously ill and having to be airlifted off the ship, can't think of what would.:)

[waitin4acruise]

I have been thru tropical storm olga Hurricane Dean and the swine flu. TS the ship was rockin n rolling tilted so bad pool got empty everything off shelf broke my new camcorder.Dean missed Jamaica 15 foot waves.Swine flu missed all ports came back a day early.And i get seasick and still i cruise.;)

[G'ma]

In over 32 years of cruises, I've never had one ruined by anything.

 

Ship happens anytime you leave the comfort of home....especially when traveling - landbased or on a ship.

 

When hitches happen, glitches to any "system", things go awry, flights are delayed or cancelled, hotel never heard of you even though you are standing there, confirmation number in hand, weather has messed up your week in Rome or Rio and the myriad other things that can happen, that's simply what it is.

 

Some folks feel so out of control and/or helpless that any little thing will set them on a road to dissatisfaction. Others are good travelers, always with a plan "B" or able to develop one real quick. Some are unable to do for themselves and look to others to fix things; others are able to do for themselves and are proactive in overcoming whatever it is that's at hand.

 

I think whatever the attitude or capability, it isn't just cruise ships or other travel that turns these folks to jelly or sour lemons. I have a feeling that most of those who allow their cruise to be "ruined" are simply that way in their daily lives too. They are always looking for a parent to make things right instead of grabbing on and dealing with it.

[Baystate]

I guess I would've thought that most of the week was good, but the very end of the vacation was lousy.

[halos]

Let's see..I've had

A noro type illness on a PC crossing,

Have caught a cold of some kind on at least 50% of my cruises,

Cruised through remnants of a hurricane on a couple occasions,

Had to live for 7 days with the sewage odor on the Fantasy (out of dry dock),

Docked in Aruba after a night of torrential rains that positively flooded the island (which is normally as dry as a desert) and had our excursion cancelled,

Positively FROZE once during a cold spell in the Bahamas,

Tripped and smashed up my knees in Belize,

Found out through a heart-stopping frantic message from home on my cabin phone that my grandmother passed away.

 

 

That's life.

Nope....never have considered any of these cruises awful.

[NH Cruisers]

If I were to miss the ship at the last port of call and miss a day or two of sea days, I guess that would put a damper on how fun the cruise was. Just can't allow that to happen!!

 

All my cruises have been great, no real dissapointments.

[dan40]

I've had half a hundred terrific FIRST cruises. Next one will be another first cruise. [the old ones are bye-bye gones]

 

Some cruises had an adventure or 2, some were packed with adventures. When those unplanned adventures happen, we just look at one another and say, "The adventure continues!"

Missed ports, hurricanes, exploding smoke markers, 40 foot waves, 80 knot winds, but no sinkings!

[halos]

I've had half a hundred terrific FIRST cruises. Next one will be another first cruise. [the old ones are bye-bye gones]

 

Some cruises had an adventure or 2, some were packed with adventures. When those unplanned adventures happen, we just look at one another and say, "The adventure continues!"

Missed ports, hurricanes, exploding smoke markers, 40 foot waves, 80 knot winds, but no sinkings!

 

:eek:

The word 'adventure' just made me remember an incident that I had forgotten

Don't ask me HOW I could have forgotten this one!)

 

While zip lining in Costa Rica, on the 3rd line, it was discovered by the guide who went down the line before us, that a tree had fallen on the line and it was unusable. My dh the two guides and I then had to go back UP the two very long zip lines we had already done, pulling ourselves hand over hand because there is no way down from the platforms, other than the lines.

 

This was as close to a nightmare as you can get.

Did it spoil our cruise??

No.

Looking back, it should have. I think we must be a little nuts.

:eek:

[Ken076]

We TRY our best to turn unavoidable, uncontrollable ship into "part of the adventure" and roll with it. Anything "controllable" by the cruiseline, I deal with at leisure after the trip. ken

[dan40]

:eek:

The word 'adventure' just made me remember an incident that I had forgotten

Don't ask me HOW I could have forgotten this one!)

 

While zip lining in Costa Rica, on the 3rd line, it was discovered by the guide who went down the line before us, that a tree had fallen on the line and it was unusable. My dh the two guides and I then had to go back UP the two very long zip lines we had already done, pulling ourselves hand over hand because there is no way down from the platforms, other than the lines.

 

This was as close to a nightmare as you can get.

Did it spoil our cruise??

No.

Looking back, it should have. I think we must be a little nuts.

:eek:

 

I'm too old for that kind of crap,,,,,,,,,,,and the monkeys don't like me zip lining in my Speedo.:eek:

 

http://www.speedousa.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3107141&cp=3124322.3124332.3124364

[Colorado Kat]

No - those things are all dissappointing, but not enough to ruin a cruise. Just bad luck. Now, I have been on a small boat that sank, years ago.......That will indeed ruin a vaction. Kathy

[cruisekwazee]

On our first cruise that was on Princess Sun to Alaska we missed the ship sail because our flight went down in a small town in Wyoming and we had to be bused three hrs to Salt Lake City and be flown to Seattle where we were put up in a Hotel for the night and then flown the next day to Ketchikan. Then on Tuesday Princess sent a van to pick us up and we finally got aboard the ship. We missed two days of our cruise but we had a fantastic time. The Captain and crew said the only thing we missed was really rough waters and everyone being sick. So I doubt anything could mess up my cruise if that can't!!! One day I am gonna do that trip again.

[lillian marie]

We were on the Legend during a tropical depression-storm with 70 mile an hour wind. The boat rocked and rolled and the outside decks were closed for a day and a half. Then the climate was gray and nasty. We had neighbors who chainsmoked next to us on the balcony 24-7 on the only 2 days we could sit outside. Of course it was their right, but with asthma it is pretty awful to sit downwind in. We had table mates who one upped you on everything and the wife - a size 1, kept encouraging me to diet at dinner-I wear a size 10-12. So here's the pluses, we didn't get sick, since most others were sick on the cruise there were no lines at the buffets, there were empty slots at the casino, and I enjoyed a 2nd roll, dessert etc. I just told my anorexic table mate I'd eat her share too. We had a lot of fun and took another cruise 6 months later.

[Megan_Strick]

I had a few terrible experiences. Those fools expected me to debark when we got back to our home port and they ruined my vacay for that. How dare they!!! I want some sort of compensation! Just kidding. I haven't had any bad experiences.

[hazeleyez3]

Well, lets see...Our honeymoon was wonderful... took a 7nt rounttrip Hawaii cruise on one of NCL's ships. We booked a Romance Suite (an aft suite) and had the time of our lives.

 

During that cruise..

• Got to our cabin only to find broken glass and an empty bottle
  
• We found out that the balcony was directly below a public area for smokers - balcony was filthy, had ashes fall into my hair a few times
  
• The stench from dirty laundry down the hall was pretty strong.
  
• 4 out of 7 of the nights they had "run out of" the dishes we ordered for dinner (or tried to).
  
• They "lost" our luggage - as well as everyone else that had priority debarkation due to your stateroom. Turned out they "forgot" about taking the luggage from the priority level - wasn't allowed to leave w/o it -- had to wait about 4 hours.
  

I will say the "ship" part was bad, and I did explain it to Norwegian; however, the ports were amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world. :)

[BND]

We've had delayed boarding due to the ship returning late because of a medical emergency. We've had a port cancelled because of strikes We've had excursions cancelled at the last minute. I got seasick on my first cruise and on my 5th cruise I got seasick even through I was taking something but the seas were a mess due to a gale. We've had a toilet leaking that got fixed at 1 am, finally. We've had one set of dinner table mates that I could have done without. I guess we could all name lots of things, but what we talk about when we get back is what fun we had and what went right, not the few things that might not have been perfect. Since when is anyone guaranteed perfection?

[Baystate]

Well, lets see...Our honeymoon was wonderful... took a 7nt rounttrip Hawaii cruise on one of NCL's ships. We booked a Romance Suite (an aft suite) and had the time of our lives.

 

During that cruise..

• 
  
• Got to our cabin only to find broken glass and an empty bottle
  
• We found out that the balcony was directly below a public area for smokers - balcony was filthy, had ashes fall into my hair a few times
  
• The stench from dirty laundry down the hall was pretty strong.
   
  

I will say the "ship" part was bad, and I did explain it to Norwegian; however, the ports were amazing and I wouldn't trade it for the world. :)

 

I would not have been happy at all, and the dirty laundry would've made me feel sick I'm sure. If that had been my first cruise I may have had trouble booking another, and if I did I'm sure it would not have been with NCL.

[Cindy]

The only bad cruise we've had was the one we had to disembark early because we got word my dad had unexpectedly passed away.:( That trip really stunk...we had to wait 2 days after we got word to get to a port where we could leave the ship and get a flight home. It kind of went from being a pleasure palace to a prison, but it had nothing to do with the cruise itself or the ship, it was circumstances. We got right back on the same ship the next year and had one of our best cruises.

Aside from that, I've had varying degrees of bad food, bad weather, missed ports, and lousy tablemates, but none of them have ruined a cruise!:D

[ruthie101]

Our 2nd cruise was on the Veracruz in 1985. The ship was so small there was never room on deck to sit. Our cabin was so small you could sit on the toilet, brush your teeth and take a shower without moving. Our suitcases could not be stored in the room because there wasn't room!

 

We were upset at first but we remembered how much fun our first cruise was and decided to make the best of it. We now are going on our 14th cruise on 1/31 on the Legend! We do not remember any other bad things on our cruises just what a great time we have!!

[cruzecontrol]

So, I'd love it if people weighed in... would the things I listed have ruined your cruise? Under what circumstances do you let something bother you, vs. just shrugging it off? If you have had a handful of cruises and have figured out which one was your "bad one"... what made THAT one your "bad" one?

 

I guess I wonder about a lot of people posting where they feel cruises are either 'ruined' or 'wonderful' or, "I still had a wonderful vacation in spite of 'whatever' ". I think I prefer 'more or less enjoyable'. We have been on a cruise where the sun came out for only two hours in the first six days. The rest of the time it was cloudy, rainy and chilly. Almost all of the beach shore excursions were canceled.

 

This was certainly not an enjoyable cruise and we tried to make the best of it, but it definitely was not our idea of a nice cruise. I understand that the cruise lines cannot control the weather, but IMHO that does not alter the fact that the cruise is nowhere near as enjoyable as it could have been.

[chachi]

I would have been disappointed that my excursion was cancelled, but there are so many that I would have just picked a different one. Glasses can break anywhere and that would not effect my perception of the cruise. Getting sick is not fun, but at least it was at the end of the trip. If you enjoyed the whole week I don't think that getting sick would change the great times I had during the week. Once I am off the ship my vacation is over. I wouldd be irritated with customs but that would have no influence on how I felt about my cruise.

[bluewatercrusin]

Our first cruise was our honeymoon cruise, this is the one that got us hooked.

On this six day cruise I was extremely sea sick to the point of not being able to eat or move around with out being sick for the first three days, at our first port which was Grand Turk we had someone try to steal my purse and our room steward was pretty much nonexsistant. We also dealt with moderate chop on a snorkleing tour (6 to 8 ft waves). However inspite of everything we still had a great time and promptly booked another. How can it be bad with the warm weather, blue water and sun!

[HAULNTA]

Any cruise is a good cruise!:cool: