Disappointed…

[S. Bergen]

First of all, let me be clear here, I do understand that Norwegian has no control over the weather, and the time of year has a lot to do with it that, nonetheless, this was not our first cruise, or our second for that matter… it was however our first time cruising with Norwegian, and will definitely be our last.

We had 23 in our group; fourteen of which were family members, adults and grandchildren (eighteen months to fifteen), as our son was getting married in St.Thomas.

That said, here’s the list of the things that made our family vacation disappointing;

** The entire cruise was spent navigating the rock of the ship:

I do understand that the larger ships are more susceptible to this, being larger and taller etc. but I have never been on an entire cruise that was so bad.

** The elevators were so incredibly slow:

By the time one came, if it wasn't already so overcrowded because everyone had to wait SO long at the elevator lobbies for them, and it was not uncommon that at east 3-4 elevators would stop on our floor, and we would have to pass on because they were already busting at the seams.

We honestly, (of course I did not chat with everyone on the ship) did chat with other guests and when the subject of the elevators or sway of the ship came up, we didn’t talk to anyone who as well, wasn't disappointed in the rocking or the elevator wait.

** Our dinner reservations we’re screwed up:

After being pre-made for 5:30 every night in the main dining room, for the fourteen of us, every night, there was an issue every night…and here’s the kicker, it was the same gentleman navigating the reservations, and the flow into the main dining room.

Now, I understand that there were four thousand + people on the ship, and it would be silly to expect that they would remember us, but…we were mostly fourteen, at the same time, with kids and two strollers…every time.

What are the odds that the reservations could be screwed up EVERY night?

Would you consider that be coincidence, lack of professionalism or just plain “too bad, too sad?”

We only had one specialty dining resturant that wasn't, really, only one!

** The water slides were shut down half of the cruise, and the rope course was literally open for about thirty minutes, one day (we know this because we always congregated in the area tucked in under part of the water slide, by the back entrance of the kids pool) and then closed because there was “ash” spewing from the exhaust stacks on the course and a portion of the deck.

** We were reprimanded by a deck employee because we brought a collapsing bucket for the not one, mind you, but two of my eighteen month old grandsons to play in.

The reason: because we were getting water on the floor in the “pool area”! REALLY!

** We were unable to port in Pourta Plata:

Now, I do understand if the weather makes it unsafe to port, and in all fairness, we were reimbursed $20 per person for our dock fees but, I feel, since the alternative was staying on the ship, the ship that was in the weather that made it to rough to port, the ship that because of which rocked even more than normal, we should have been compensated accordingly, either in on board credit or more time in another port, not just our dock fees.

Again to be fair, we were given a bit more time in St. Thomas, but it was on the front end of our port there, in the early morning.

** Also, explain to me why we docked at Tortola at 6:00am?

There was NOTHING for us; meaning us that did not schedule excursions, to do at 6:00am?

Most of the shops were not open at 6:00am, and it was too chilly to go directly to a beach, especially with my younger grandchildren!

Then…when we came back to the ship at 2:00pm, we’re all standing on the dock in a virtual windy “DOWNPOUR.”

Also, when they did start letting people back on the ship, it was a few at a time, and so slow that we were ALL literally drenched!

Personally, as irritating as it was for me, I was worried more about my grand children, especially the babies.

** The food in the “garden café” was for the most part, the same for breakfast and lunch, which was okay, and expected (which is sometimes nice) but it was never hotter than a bit above warm.

How is that possible…every day?

** We were disappointed in the availability of places to shop:

There were only a few stores and though it doesn’t have to be an entire deck like the other cruise ships we’ve been on, I wonder what the comments would’ve been had the Casino’s area been the same square footage as the retail area.

** And then there was the smoking area…

Personally, I am the worlds most paranoid smoker; never inside, not directly around people, never in my vehicles etc…only outside.

That said, walking to the seventeenth floor, at the back of the ship was more of a nuisance than anything else, but okay, not my sandbox, not my sand.

That said, It would have been nice to have a smoking area mid ship, like the smoking…the inside smoking area, you have for cigar smokers.

** We purchased the “Starbucks” drink package:

When I went there on the Sunday, (the second day) I discovered that they did not have a regular menu selection like the regular stores have, which okay, I get it…but had I known that, I would not have PAID for that drink package. It was a treat for my birthday…I could have saved the money and just gotten coffee at the buffet.

** Customer service:

Our entire cruise was booked through my daughter who is a seasoned, and very good travel agent.

She herself had to go to the concierge seven times to correct problems for her family of seven, and though your representatives, at face value, corrected the problems, she ultimately just said “whatever” as she was tired of trying to get the problems repeatedly corrected.

We, as many do, researched Norwegian, and the Escape, through social media, cruise blogs and word of mouth. Over all, there were good and bad comments, via person preferences, so though we were cautious in booking with Norwegian, we did mostly because we as a family are pretty good at going with the flow.

We all understand there are glitches and unforeseen things that happen when your dealing with this amount of people, in a confined area, but that only goes so far.

All that said, we were SO disappointed in the entire week!!

 

 

 

[david_sobe]

I am sorry your cruise did not live up to your expectations.  Cruising can involve issues with mother nature such as rain and rocky seas.

Ships dock at all times in the morning or afternoon.  If they dock early in the morning you don't have to get off the ship that early. Get off at your leisure. Sorry you got wet in St Thomas.

Not all cruises are the same. My first cruise was meh.  It was not until my second cruise that I got the cruise bug.  The weather was not on your side but you have to build that into your expectations. If you take another cruise, I wish you safe and calm sailings. No cruise line will give you compensation for a missed port except the port taxes.

Edited February 7 by david_sobe

[DCGuy64]

It definitely sounds like NCL is not the right fit for OP. Sorry things didn't go as planned. I'd only say that, given such large group as he had, there are bound to be issues at the restaurants. That's a lot of people to cater to all at once. Weather and docking times are outside their control, as OP noted. The collapsing buckets not being allowed? That one has me scratching my head. I'm assuming you were given a reason? Anyway, one of the great things about the cruise industry is that OP has tons of other options. Taking his business elsewhere might be the best course of action here.

[Two Wheels Only]

26 minutes ago, S. Bergen said:

We were reprimanded by a deck employee because we brought a collapsing bucket for the not one, mind you, but two of my eighteen month old grandsons to play in.

The reason: because we were getting water on the floor in the “pool area”! REALLY!

 

Were the children wearing diapers or potty trained?

That could have been the problem because diapers/untrained babies aren't allowed in the pool and even though you were using your own "pool", that potentially fecal-contaminated water could have ended up in the actual pool. Where was the bucket being dumped?

 

 

[Liljo22]

21 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

It definitely sounds like NCL is not the right fit for OP. Sorry things didn't go as planned. I'd only say that, given such large group as he had, there are bound to be issues at the restaurants. That's a lot of people to cater to all at once. Weather and docking times are outside their control, as OP noted. The collapsing buckets not being allowed? That one has me scratching my head. I'm assuming you were given a reason? Anyway, one of the great things about the cruise industry is that OP has tons of other options. Taking his business elsewhere might be the best course of action here.

Not a head scratcher to me.  Pool toys are not allowed on almost all cruise lines.  Even Disney has a no pool toy policy. 

[calcruiser64]

56 minutes ago, S. Bergen said:

though we were cautious in booking with Norwegian, we did mostly because we as a family are pretty good at going with the flow.

[Spit take]

[Liljo22]

3 minutes ago, calcruiser64 said:

[Spit take]

Ha. Agreed.  You can't say you are good at going with the flow and 90% of your complaints are weather related.  

[pezgirlroy77]

I am not surprised by the collapsing buckets not being allowed.  They shouldn't be. No pool toys are allowed on almost all cruise lines. It does cause a problem with water on the desk. I am sorry you didn't have an enjoyable cruise but most of these things are not things that NCL can manage or control.  I have to say I don't really understand complaining about elevators. If you need to use an elevator because you cannot take the steps okay I can see needing to use them but they are what they are. Honestly I am impressed they were able to accommodate a group of 14 at all. 

[DCGuy64]

15 minutes ago, Liljo22 said:

Not a head scratcher to me.  Pool toys are not allowed on almost all cruise lines.  Even Disney has a no pool toy policy. 

Thank you, not having kids, I have never dealt with this issue and wasn't aware. The OP says he's not new to cruising, so I inferred that NCL's policy differed from other cruise lines'. Thanks again.

[wolft927]

So I will say I was on the Escape less then a month ago and our experience was completely opposite yours. As far as Tortola docking at 6am? Pretty sure you knew this prior to booking. Weather is out of anyone's control. As for the smoking there is a midship smoking area at the bar above the pool deck as well as at Spice H2O. Also wanting to be compensated more because of weather? That is crazy. All cruise lines in your cruise contract stipulates itineraries can be changed and ports can be dropped for any reason. Complaining that elevators were full is also insane...cruise lines cant control that passenger traffic of an elevator. We were on the Escape less then a month ago and found that the ship was fantastic. Food was excellent never any issues with reservations (but then again was not 14 of us). As far as the ropes course and the slides, looks like you had windy weather and rough seas if the ship was moving that much as you claim, so think it would be smart to have people going on the ropes course 20 stories up while the ship is moving in windy conditions? Maybe you should stick with land based vacations. 

Edited February 7 by wolft927

[detroitlions]

Cruising is not for everyone. I know a few people that tried it and did not like it.

You should have booked a land resort vacation this would of solved most of your issues.

I would have never wanted to connect dining with that large group.

I have gone with large groups and just made sure myself and my immediate family were with me. I would not want to keep up with 18 people all at the same time for dining and getting off the ship for excursions. 

[hallux]

So, 90% of the complaints are weather related, nothing NCL can do about that.  I was on the Escape last year and I will admit that there was a bit more motion at sea than on previous cruises with NCL.  However, I'm on the Bliss right now (for the 3rd time) and feeling motion more than on previous times on the ship. The weather is just... Different

[yakcruiser]

1 hour ago, S. Bergen said:

, we should have been compensated accordingly, 

 

 

 

Key phrase.

[Liljo22]

1 minute ago, yakcruiser said:

Key phrase.

Well they also said NCL should have given them more time in the next port.  They then mentioned next that they did get more in St Thomas but didn't like that it was in the morning.  I am not sure what they expected because if NCL added time to the afternoon, the ship probably doesn't make it to the next port in time.  

 

 

[DCGuy64]

2 hours ago, S. Bergen said:

When I went there on the Sunday, (the second day) I discovered that they did not have a regular menu selection like the regular stores have, which okay, I get it…but had I known that, I would not have PAID for that drink package. It was a treat for my birthday…I could have saved the money and just gotten coffee at the buffet.

I would love to know what @S. Bergen means by "they did not have a regular menu selection like the regular stores have." What items were missing from the Starbucks menu on the ship that varied so dramatically from a land-based location? I'm not a Starbucks fan, but I will occasionally drop by, and from what I've seen, the menu onboard the NCL ships is pretty extensive.

[Two Wheels Only]

2 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

What items were missing from the Starbucks menu on the ship that varied so dramatically from a land-based location?

 

Even on land, one Starbucks might not have items that another Starbucks has. It happens. 

[Turtles06]

59 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

Maybe you should stick with land based vacations. 

That was my conclusion. 

[DCGuy64]

1 minute ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

Even on land, one Starbucks might not have items that another Starbucks has. It happens. 

Oh definitely, I agree. I was just surprised that the author thought there was nothing (or nearly) at the onboard Starbucks, that it was better getting the free coffee at the buffet. I don't think I follow that logic. Even a limited menu would be better than "just" coffee. Anyway, the point is moot since OP has decided it's one and done with NCL.

[Liljo22]

8 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

I would love to know what @S. Bergen means by "they did not have a regular menu selection like the regular stores have." What items were missing from the Starbucks menu on the ship that varied so dramatically from a land-based location? I'm not a Starbucks fan, but I will occasionally drop by, and from what I've seen, the menu onboard the NCL ships is pretty extensive.

All my cruises have had both their regular and seasonal menus.  On my last cruise, they actually switched from their fall menu to their winter menu mid cruise.  

[Asawi]

2 hours ago, S. Bergen said:

 

** Also, explain to me why we docked at Tortola at 6:00am?

There was NOTHING for us; meaning us that did not schedule excursions, to do at 6:00am?

 

This part I really don't get. it's not like you have to get off the ship as soon as it docks! Getting ashore early is an OPTION that I sometimes take advantage of and appreciate. 

[DCGuy64]

5 minutes ago, Liljo22 said:

All my cruises have had both their regular and seasonal menus.  On my last cruise, they actually switched from their fall menu to their winter menu mid cruise.  

Then I'm double-stymied why the drink package wasn't even worth it, apparently. Is there really just ONE menu item OP likes, and the lack of it made the drink package worthless? Who knows... Also, OP joins the ranks of many people who just joined Cruise Critic today, posted 1 time, and it's a rant against the cruise line. There should be a "one and done" hall of fame sticky on CC. 

Edited February 7 by DCGuy64

[schmoopie17]

I would have loved to read your post, but the font size is barely registering on these old eyes. I gave up about a tenth of the way in. 

 

Of course, maybe I should blame the font size on the weather.

[smillerholmes]

24 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

 Who knows... Also, OP joins the ranks of many people who just joined Cruise Critic today, posted 1 time, and it's a rant against the cruise line. There should be a "one and done" hall of fame sticky on CC. 

Oh, I like that - very good idea.  An NCL/never again sticky. How do we make this happen?

[cruiseny4life]

I'm sorry you had such a bad time. If only you had worked with a travel agent that knew NCL and their product. They could have informed you about what "issues" you were going to have Gove your family's proclivities. And, of course the agent could have given you a warning about what happens if bad weather is encountered.

 

Hope you find a better vacation that will be more conducive to the experience you desire. 

[schmoopie17]

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

Anyway, the point is moot since OP has decided it's one and done with NCL.

Probably one and done on CC, as well.