Dream still has problems??-help

[CoCoNut Willie]

I just got off the phone with NCL Lattitudes, and got this update. The agent told me that the 10/22 and 10/29 sailings have been changed with Roatan being dropped, but adding Progresso, Mexico in it's place. This makes sense as all these ports are very close to each other. November cruises haven't been changed, but my travel agent told me that they usually don't announce itinerary changes until 2 weeks prior to sailing.

[Joe1690]

I realize NCL changes itineraries at the drop of a fly but I don't understand why everyone is so sure that the dream will leave the NCL fleet at the end of 2006. Afterall, she has scheduled itineraries through April 2007 sailing out of houston. In addition, as I mentioned on a previous thread, the Sea which was transferred had small cabins & lacked any balconies. The only other ship that fits this critieria in the current NCL fleet is the Majesty. Therefore, I would think NCL would keep the Dream because of the number of balcony cabins it has and get rid of the Majesty since balcony cabins can command a premium rate over oceanview cabins.

 

So why does everyone seem to think the dream will leave the NCL fleet at the end of 2006?

 

JC

[newmexicoNita]

I realize NCL changes itineraries at the drop of a fly but I don't understand why everyone is so sure that the dream will leave the NCL fleet at the end of 2006. Afterall, she has scheduled itineraries through April 2007 sailing out of houston. In addition, as I mentioned on a previous thread, the Sea which was transferred had small cabins & lacked any balconies. The only other ship that fits this critieria in the current NCL fleet is the Majesty. Therefore, I would think NCL would keep the Dream because of the number of balcony cabins it has and get rid of the Majesty since balcony cabins can command a premium rate over oceanview cabins.

 

So why does everyone seem to think the dream will leave the NCL fleet at the end of 2006?

 

JC

Have you ever heard "a dream is a wish your heart makes?" Sorry, that isn't very nice. I think we all know the Dream, Wind, Crown and Majesty will be gone within the next 3 years or so, if not sooner. Because of the Dream's problems it just seems she would head to some other place. With the Sun temporarily in Houston there would be nothing preventing NCL from bringing her back to Houston after she does her Alaskan tour next summer. We are all just speculating. There is a possibility that none will leave til spring of 2007. Just think of all the thoughts that will come up between now and the actual announcement. NMNita

[Goldryder]

Not forgetting, of course, NCL have Pride of Hawaii being delivered in Spring 2006, another in Autumn 2006, and two on order for 2007 so it makes economic sense to send the older ships over to Star to make room for the new ones.

[Hillslug]

Got this from my TA yesterday. We werer originally booked on the Dream on the 22nd before we switched to the Sun on the 23rd.

 

I am writing you to inform you about changes to your itinerary just

announced by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).

NCL has sent the following Important Update:

"Due to a technical problem affecting Norwegian Dream's speed, we

will be unable to call into Roatan, Bay Island, Honduras and Cancun,

Mexico. Instead we will be spending a full day in Progreso, Mexico

on Monday followed a call to Cozumel, Mexico on Tuesday.

Because of this schedule change, guests will receive a $50 per

person onboard credit (maximum $100 per stateroom, including 1st

and

2nd guest), applicable to all items excluding the Casino and

service

charges. This credit includes reimbursement for government taxes

and fees, if applicable.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience by the change and

thank

you in advance for your understanding."

My question though, is why did the people on the 15th sailing get a $100 credit per person and $100 towards a future cruise. And why does this $50 credit include reimbursement for government taxes and fees. After our problem with Carnival I was starting to be real happy with Norwegian but this is giving me doubts about them.:(

 

Cody

[Goldryder]

That is why I never ever go by itinerary cos it often does not work out, weather, mechanicals etc always happen, they are unavoidable and the cruiselines do their best to cover for them and not let things ruin your holiday. Its why all cruise lines print disclaimers about their itineraries...nothing is or can be guaranteed, end of story.

 

If you absolutely definately must see somewhere, then get on a holiday that is based there...you cannot expect or depend a cruise ship to stick to itinerary come what may...it just does not happen, 90% of cruises do stick to itinerary but its something that can never be banked on. Its the nature of the beast, I'm afraid. Take it and roll with it...or choose a landbased/hotelbased holiday.

[Hillslug]

Personally, it wouldn't matter to me if they made any ports. A bad day cruising is still better than a good day at work. My problem is that Norwegian doesn't seem to be consitent in the way they treat their customers. I saw the same thing on some of the post from people on the alaska cruises that missed ports. Some people were getting $50.00 credit, some $100.00 and some got nothing at all. If they are going to do something to make up for missed port and any inconvenience they should do the same thing for all affected passengers.

 

Anyway, I hope everyone on the Dream has a good time anyway. We'll be on the Sun but we'll be in Belize at the same time (I hope).

 

Cody

[Goldryder]

When I am on Dream's last Transatlantic next September from the UK to Texas, they can extend the sailing time as much as they like...12 days at sea at the moment and the more the merrier IMHO :)

[nurseone]

shows the changes on the web site but have heard nothing about a shipboard credit for us. Will check with NCL tomorrow. I had really wanted to go to Rotan but Oh Well things happen at least I can cruise and will enjoy regardless. Will be interested to see if and when my TA hears anything that's why I read the boards. Watching the weather also wonder what this new storm will do.

[newmexicoNita]

Got this from my TA yesterday. We werer originally booked on the Dream on the 22nd before we switched to the Sun on the 23rd.

 

I am writing you to inform you about changes to your itinerary just

announced by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).

NCL has sent the following Important Update:

"Due to a technical problem affecting Norwegian Dream's speed, we

will be unable to call into Roatan, Bay Island, Honduras and Cancun,

Mexico. Instead we will be spending a full day in Progreso, Mexico

on Monday followed a call to Cozumel, Mexico on Tuesday.

Because of this schedule change, guests will receive a $50 per

person onboard credit (maximum $100 per stateroom, including 1st

and

2nd guest), applicable to all items excluding the Casino and

service

charges. This credit includes reimbursement for government taxes

and fees, if applicable.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience by the change and

thank

you in advance for your understanding."

My question though, is why did the people on the 15th sailing get a $100 credit per person and $100 towards a future cruise. And why does this $50 credit include reimbursement for government taxes and fees. After our problem with Carnival I was starting to be real happy with Norwegian but this is giving me doubts about them.:(

 

Cody

I am guesing it has to do with notification prior to sailing versus while on the ship. I don't know this to be a fact, but makes sense. NMNita

[Don Haynes]

The first cruise started 5 hours late, and lost a port, whereas the second cruise started on time and changed a port.There is a difference of losing a port of call and having a port of call changed. So NCL isn't providing the same compensation....

 

You are still going to the two most important ports, Cozumel and Belize. Rooatan isn't anywhere near as developed as the others. Progresso is probably a better port anyway....

[Retired not Expired]

I am guesing it has to do with notification prior to sailing versus while on the ship. I don't know this to be a fact, but makes sense. NMNita

 

I believe it's more because this week they embarked late and left late causing some to incur more expenses staying late in their hotels and possibly an extra meal prior to boarding. Next week they plan to be on time.

[electricron]

Actually, NCL is getting just one ship next year, the Pride of Hawaii. NCL has posted its first cruise in June, but I'd expect some earlier cruises will be announced while the POH sails from Germany to Hawaii.

The next new ship doesn't arrive until spring 2007 and the last ship ordered by NCL so far should arrive in fall 2007. NCL only has three new ships on order today, but four more ships have already been sold to Star Cruises.

NCL is presently leasing the Crown, Dream, Majesty, and Wind.

[Don Haynes]

While the Dream and Wind do have balconies, they don't have three or more decks of balconies as the new ships. NCL has bit the bullet and has ordered five new ships, two became operational this year, one next year, and two the next. That is a significant number of ships for a cruise line with only 10-12 ships in its fleet considering that NCL had five ships in its fleet built since 1999. And some of us suspect NCL may be ordering another one or two ships for delivery in 2009.

[timberlane]

My wife and I returned to Houston yesterday after the 18-day cruise from LA through the Panama Canal. As indicated elsewhere, the ship arrived some three hours late--we were supposed to arrive at 7:00 AM and instead arrived at 10:00 AM. We had dinner with one of the captains during the week and were told that because of insurance company expectations, the damaged engine will have to be replaced and that can be done only in dry dock. An engine is very large and can be replaced only by cutting a hole in the side of the ship. Doing so will take at least a month, but having a new engine built takes eight months. A crew came aboard in LA to provide a short-term fix, but that had not been done as of yesterday and obviously will not happen soon.

In an effort to keep the ship sailing, the other three engines had to be run at virtually full speed at all times in order for us to return by Saturday. We can only guess about what that does to those engines. Running on three engines also necessitated the rationing of air conditioning, so nights in the tropics were quite warm. The captain even said on about Wednesday that if we wanted to make it to Houston on Saturday, we'd have to tolerate the heat in our rooms.

The Dream is a crippled ship. NCL is running the risk of some long term damage, to its reputation and to its ship, by keeping it on-line.

[Goldryder]

My wife and I returned to Houston yesterday after the 18-day cruise from LA through the Panama Canal. As indicated elsewhere, the ship arrived some three hours late--we were supposed to arrive at 7:00 AM and instead arrived at 10:00 AM. We had dinner with one of the captains during the week and were told that because of insurance company expectations, the damaged engine will have to be replaced and that can be done only in dry dock. An engine is very large and can be replaced only by cutting a hole in the side of the ship. Doing so will take at least a month, but having a new engine built takes eight months. A crew came aboard in LA to provide a short-term fix, but that had not been done as of yesterday and obviously will not happen soon.

In an effort to keep the ship sailing, the other three engines had to be run at virtually full speed at all times in order for us to return by Saturday. We can only guess about what that does to those engines. Running on three engines also necessitated the rationing of air conditioning, so nights in the tropics were quite warm. The captain even said on about Wednesday that if we wanted to make it to Houston on Saturday, we'd have to tolerate the heat in our rooms.

The Dream is a crippled ship. NCL is running the risk of some long term damage, to its reputation and to its ship, by keeping it on-line.

 

 

 

NCL are caught tween a rock and a hard place. If they keep using her they are likely to get numerous complaints about missed ports, late arrivals and so on. If they take her out of service they face numerous complaints about dropped cruises for the next 3-4 months while they cut the engine out and replace it.

 

P&O Aurora was in same position and it cost P&O over £40m in compensation and lost revenue while she was taken out of service for an new engine. She is still running at a loss trying to make up for that loss, not to mention disgruntled passengers who didn't/couldn't/wouldn't understand the position P&O were in. Aurora was due to do a full World Cruise and didn't get out of the English Channel.

 

NCL are doing their best to meet everyone's expectations and will replace the engine as soon as it is viable to do so, which won't be for a while. I just wish that people would appreciate that the engine problem isn't something that is a quick fix nor is it something they can just do at the drop of a hat once the replacement is ready.

[Host CMLA]

Every time some one posted on this board from a recent Dream cruise, it seemed that they had new stories that they had been told by the Capitain, on their cruise about how soon the engine would be fixed.

I agree with you that a straight answer is the best thing. I also have to say I don't think this board should be tasked with the place to get that straight answer. If you spend any amount of time on this board, you'll hear seven different things about one thing. I don't mean to say that people intentionally lie but people do tend to interpret things differently or listen to rumors, etc. I don't know what official word NCL has put out about the down engine but I'd need to hear something solid from NCL that's been released to the public before I'd believe rumors or message boards. That's just me. I'm not on the current cruises so I choose to get answers from official press releases and not from past passengers that may or may not have the whole story correct.

[sunshine 229]

I agree with you that a straight answer is the best thing. I also have to say I don't think this board should be tasked with the place to get that straight answer. If you spend any amount of time on this board, you'll hear seven different things about one thing. I don't mean to say that people intentionally lie but people do tend to interpret things differently or listen to rumors, etc. I don't know what official word NCL has put out about the down engine but I'd need to hear something solid from NCL that's been released to the public before I'd believe rumors or message boards. That's just me. I'm not on the current cruises so I choose to get answers from official press releases and not from past passengers that may or may not have the whole story correct.

I agree, I think in a situation like this it would be best if NCL gave a clear accurate press release, over time, if the did this regularily they would create a reputation for giving believable honest information. Then, maybe, people would not feel that they have to call Customer service 3 or 4 times to get the correct answer or scour the board to find out what is really going on. Unfortunately I don't think NCL has been doing this.

 

On the thread dealing with NCL moving the Sun from NOLA to Houston and all the surrounding reservation mix ups etc. several board members have expressed the opinion that it was up to the individual customer to keep themselves informed about what is going on. They seemed to suggest thst anyone with half a brian would know to check-out boards like this to keep informed and not wait to hear anything official from NCL. I know that might not be your opinion, I just mention it to point out that there are a number of people out there who don't think it is a feasible option to wait to hear officially from NCL

 

Also, on different threads all over this board, posters have mentioned that they were glad they read this board or they would never have known about changes to their cruises because NCL did not inform them.

 

So, while I agree that this board should not be tasked with providing straight answers, due to NCL's inability to provide those answers in a timely manner it seems that this board has become the place people come to to look for that kind of info.

[Don Haynes]

From what I read recently the much needed part arrived in Los Angeles. I'm sure within the next few weeks the repair will be made to the faulty diesel. Once the repair is made the ship should resume her normal speed. As it is she is soldiering on minus one diesel, but will make her new changed intinerary out of Houston on time, just like she made her new changed Alaskan intinerary out of Seattle on time. A new diesel requires a long time in drydock ripping and rewelding the ship. When and where the Dream's next drydock is scheduled is probably a year or two away, since she came out of drydock this past spring with all four engines working. More than likely at the time of her next drydock she would be transferred to Star Cruises.

 

Mechanical difficulties with any ship is one of the details of the seldom read binding contract when you accepted and booked your cruise. However, unlike the Alaskan situation, no one is posting on this board that they want to cancel their upcoming cruises without penalty for missing a port. Hopefully they don't, I think the passengers are better off doing whatever intinerary the ship can do and with some compensation if the ship is late with onboard credits.

[Host CMLA]

So, while I agree that this board should not be tasked with providing straight answers, due to NCL's inability to provide those answers in a timely manner it seems that this board has become the place people come to to look for that kind of info.

Definitely. I meant to include that. I don't think this should be a source for 100% reliable information although it often is. I think boards like Cruise Critic should be used as a supplement to what they can get officially from the cruise line. That way you have two sources confirming the same thing. Oh how nice that would be in a perfect world... :)

[sunshine 229]

From what I read recently the much needed part arrived in Los Angeles. I'm sure within the next few weeks the repair will be made to the faulty diesel. Once the repair is made the ship should resume her normal speed. As it is she is soldiering on minus one diesel, but will make her new changed intinerary out of Houston on time, just like she made her new changed Alaskan intinerary out of Seattle on time. A new diesel requires a long time in drydock ripping and rewelding the ship. When and where the Dream's next drydock is scheduled is probably a year or two away, since she came out of drydock this past spring with all four engines working. More than likely at the time of her next drydock she would be transferred to Star Cruises.

 

Mechanical difficulties with any ship is one of the details of the seldom read binding contract when you accepted and booked your cruise. However, unlike the Alaskan situation, no one is posting on this board that they want to cancel their upcoming cruises without penalty for missing a port. Hopefully they don't, I think the passengers are better off doing whatever intinerary the ship can do and with some compensation if the ship is late with onboard credits.

 

Just wondering if you read post#42 by timberlane before posting your response. His post seems to cast a slightly different light on things. Doesn't seem that NCL will be able to wait a year or two to do the dry dock if I read his post correctly.

Originally posted by Cecilia

Definitely. I meant to include that. I don't think this should be a source for 100% reliable information although it often is. I think boards like Cruise Critic should be used as a supplement to what they can get officially from the cruise line. That way you have two sources confirming the same thing. Oh how nice that would be in a perfect world... :)

 

I agree, wouldn't it be nice if we could all push the 'perfect' button. In the meantime...:D

[Don Haynes]

NCL has another schedule impossiblity coming with the Suns exotic eastern caribbean cruise out of Houston. Its still posted as if it were being done from New Orleans at NCL's website, and it can't go the extra 350 miles in the same time frame to Houston as if to New Orleans. Something is going to have to give, probably a port of call on this Christmas cruise. Otherwise, 350 miles divided by the extra 350 miles equals 17 and a half hours.....

[topsports]

(QUOTE) Goldryder

 

NCL are doing their best to meet everyone's expectations and will replace the engine as soon as it is viable to do so, which won't be for a while. I just wish that people would appreciate that the engine problem isn't something that is a quick fix nor is it something they can just do at the drop of a hat once the replacement is ready.

__________________

 

NCL knew about this a long time ago.

#1. We should of been informed about this information long ago, so we would of had options. Cancel or Transfer to another Ship or even say O.K. I will take my chances. We have a group of 13 and to me, that isn't chump change. I still have not heard one thing from anybody about this situation. TA or NCL ?

#2. In my book, their (Norwegian) reputation is shot ! I would be "OUT OF BUSINESS" if I ran it like Norwegian.

#3. Norwegian, Bite the Bullet and put The Dream in dry dock and fix the darn engines. If NOT, Let EVERYONE know about the situation. Through your own website, your e-letters to former Cruisers and inform the TA's so they don't get the flack, for you. What did Carnival do when they offered the Ships to New Orleans ? Little different, but not really.

It should not of come to this.

[onegooddoggy]

I was booked on the Dream for 10/15. On 10/14 NCL called to inform me that boarding would be delayed up to 9 hours, and two ports were being dropped. They stated this was due to mechanical problems which reduced the speed of the ship from 24 to 12 knots. NCL has known about this problem since June or July, and is well aware of the ship's speed restriction. Yet they continued to advertise it as a 4 port sailing up to the day before departure. I now hear that the 10/22 and 10/29 sailings will include Progresso as a third port, but the next sailing is expected to return to the original four port itinerary. I also understand that the problem with the ship is a blown engine which will require drydock and extensive repair to remedy. Am I missing something here, or is it fair for me to assume that NCL feels that the uproar over this snafu will have subsided in two weeks and they can return to advertising and selling an itinerary which they know they cannot deliver?

[electricron]

Then which ship would NCL sail out of Houston for the Texacaribbean cruises?

It seems to me that the Dream will last until the end of the season, about mid April 2007, at least.