Trouble on and off the Dawn

[Disappointed Cruiser]

First, I will say..if this had been our first cruise, it would be our last. We have cruised many times before and have not had any problems, but this was a trip to "shore excursion" torture. Our first excursion was in Halifax and it worked out ok. Nothing to write home about, but enjoyable. This was on Tues. (5th) after leaving NY on the 2nd we just wanted to go ashore. Two days at sea gets a little old..you can play just so much BINGO. Wednesday we got to Bar Harbor, the fog was so thick you couldn't see 10 feet in any direction. We had an excursion scheduled for 8:15am (3 1/2 hrs.) and one at 1pm (3 1/2 hrs). We did not get on shore until after 9 am. This ran the 2 excursions so close (1/2 hr) that we didn't have time to eat and get to the next one. And who would want to go at all after a see-nothing (except a gift shop) fog enclosed trip to the top of Cadilac Mt. where the guide would say..if you could see this would be...

and then on to the sea part of this wonderful excursion. On board a nice sailing vessel, with a park ranger (who tried very hard to make the trip interesting) and a crew of "sailors" who didn't. Now it starts to rain, and the fog is the same..it really feels like we're in a pirates movie. There is nowhere to go to get out of the rain except a small area below with a very strong smell of sewer. We begged to go back, but were told we had to stay the 3 1/2 hrs or the cruise ship would complain. I don't know why, they didn't seems to care about us or our complaints. There is more, but this is getting very long. We complained to the shore excursion desk and was told that they would give us 1/2 off one excursion and if we didn't like that we'd need to find someone off the ship to complain to, because that is the way it was! Needless to say we will NOT cruise on the DAWN again. There must be an internal management problem. I don't think all of NCL is this way, unless it has changed since our curise in 2005.

[2inTul]

Let me start by saying I'm sorry your shore excursions were a disappointment, however, I need to ask, in all seriousness: How can NCL be responsible for the weather?

[patnjohn]

If the fog was so bad, why didn't they cancel the shore excursions?????

[johnql]

I can't believe NCL was good enough to offer you 1/2 off an excursion. It wasn't THEIR fault that the excursion was disappointing. No one can control the weather.

[jo-v]

Easy does it Newlywed, I was on the Dawn last week and it wasn't just the weather Disappointed Cruiser would be referring to. No time for lunch in between shore excursions appeared to be caused by late tendering and immigration processes. Many many people were expressing irritation over what appeared could be lack of organization, lack of staff/tender boats, management, whatever - something was definitely wrong. Extensive delays in getting ashore were being experienced and this was not caused by weather.

I have cruised many times in the past and have never experienced the kinds of delays in getting off the ship as I did last week. Many many people were saying the same thing. I will say the Norwegian staff left to handle the unhappy travellers should be commended - I observed them doing their best to handle things as best they could.

[calmac]

Surely the OP has encountered less than glorious weather at some point on their previous cruises :confused: Hardly NCL's fault that the weather was less than perfect, at least in the eyes of the OP.

 

Perhaps some background reading before going on the cruise would have helped. Maybe then you would have realised that fog and rain were a possibility.

[2inTul]

Easy does it Newlywed, I was on the Dawn last week and it wasn't just the weather Disappointed Cruiser would be referring to. No time for lunch in between shore excursions appeared to be caused by late tendering and immigration processes. Many many people were expressing irritation over what appeared could be lack of organization, lack of staff/tender boats, management, whatever - something was definely wrong. Extensive delays in getting ashore were being experienced and this was not caused by weather.

I have cruised many times in the past and have never experienced the kinds of delays in getting off the ship as I did last week. Many many people were saying the same thing. I will say the Norwegian staff left to handle the unhappy travellers should be commended - I observed them doing their best to handle things as best they could.

 

The OP did not mention anything about "immigration" delaying tendering they only complained about the weather.

 

Here again, if the tendering was delayed due to immigration delays……How can NCL be held responsible?

[jo-v]

Last year's trip to Alaska on Norwegian Sun rained every day - happy and no problems. Everyone takes their chances on the weather and you can blame noone. This was a totally different experience which was far less than pleasant.

[Cruising Ken]

Listen hear you lot, it shows nice pictures of sunny beaches in the brochure, so that's how it should be.:D:D

[calmac]

Listen hear you lot, it shows nice pictures of sunny beaches in the brochure, so that's how it should be.:D:D

 

Does that mean we'll see lots of sunny beaches on our Transatlantic?? :D:D

[smeyer418]

This was a no win situation for NCL. If they cancelled people would have complained as well. Is this the only problem? One port with weather?

 

BTW didn't the brochure say that Bar Harbor was not a tender port. If you would like I can post beautiful views of cadillac mountain and Bar Harbor in the Sun....from the cruise that was supposed to go to Bermuda and wound up in Canada...want to switch complaints? The cruise line can't control the weather...it ain't Disneyland.

[tmccrary]

I have been on over 30 cruises and this cruise was the worst. I think all September 2-9 Dawn cruisers should write letters to NCL. If you had asked me 2 weeks ago, my favorite cruise line I would have said NCL. NOT anymore.... We talked to immigration officials about the delay and was told that NCL cancelled 1/2 of their agents the day of arrival.... Because, guess what, NCL has to pay for them. My husband & I had VIP tender passes and still did not get to shore until 2 hours later. Our biggest complaint was that after waiting a very long time to embark and disembark, the crew would break up in front and embark or disembark in front of paying customers. This happened at every port.

 

When we arrived back to NYC, it was a mad house... We asked 2 NCL agents where to go for transfers to LaGuardia and they both told us "I Don't Know... Go that way", we told them that we had been that way, so they said "Then go the other way".

 

My butler Huda and Christine from the activities dept were great!

 

Bottom Line:

Organization - F

Food - C

Shore Excursions - F

Butler - A

Christine - A

On-Board Activities - D

 

For those of you that gave Disappointed Cruiser a hard time.... Happy Sailing to you on the NCL Dawn..... Then report back.:(

[Bondso]

Sounds like you should get a refund from Mother nature. It's not NCL's fault you booked during Hurricane season. You're complaints are all weather related, what do you want them to do, follow you around with a heat lamp all day?

[Guest BeckyThane]

what do you want them to do, follow you around with a heat lamp all day?

Oooh! Is that something I can get one of them fancy butlers to do for me?!? :D

[newmexicoNita]

Interesting: 2 first time posters, both not happy with their cruise: one believing that NCL hires imingration people, very interesting; that's a new one on me and I am sure others. The op is upset cause the tour was ruined: NCL must have ordered the fog. We all know NCL controls the weather and should refund everything to everybody. At the same time there were 2 postings yesterday by people who just got off the same cruise: 2 separate threads mind you; both had nothing but positive things to say. I know, I always get accused of defending NCL: yes, I am a loyalist, but that isn't the reason: one of my pet peeves is whiners; my dad's favorite words when I was upset cause my sister just hit me with a broom or something (LOL) was stop whining or I won't listen to what you are trying to say> to this day I do not handle whiners well. Constructive criticism, fine; an unhappy experience, fine, but when I read stuff like this, by first time posters to boot, my hair starts to stand on end. LOL

 

Nita

[mikedw]

It doesn't surprise me that the Reps at the pier in New York didn't know much. Most of the different people that you deal with at check in don't even work for the cruise line. They just change there scarf or tie depending on what ship is in. Most of them work for either an event organizer or sometimes the port authority and when people are doing a part time low paying job, well you get what you pay for.

 

My question is, if you saw it was so foggy, why did you even take that particular excursion, should have cancelled and try to get your money back.

 

Michael

[seahorse]

I have been on over 30 cruises and this cruise was the worst. I think all September 2-9 Dawn cruisers should write letters to NCL. If you had asked me 2 weeks ago, my favorite cruise line I would have said NCL. NOT anymore.... We talked to immigration officials about the delay and was told that NCL cancelled 1/2 of their agents the day of arrival.... Because, guess what, NCL has to pay for them. My husband & I had VIP tender passes and still did not get to shore until 2 hours later. Our biggest complaint was that after waiting a very long time to embark and disembark, the crew would break up in front and embark or disembark in front of paying customers. This happened at every port.

 

When we arrived back to NYC, it was a mad house... We asked 2 NCL agents where to go for transfers to LaGuardia and they both told us "I Don't Know... Go that way", we told them that we had been that way, so they said "Then go the other way".

 

My butler Huda and Christine from the activities dept were great!

 

Bottom Line:

Organization - F

Food - C

Shore Excursions - F

Butler - A

Christine - A

On-Board Activities - D

 

For those of you that gave Disappointed Cruiser a hard time.... Happy Sailing to you on the NCL Dawn..... Then report back.:(

 

"Go that way" then "Go the other way".:D I must be tired but I find this hilarious:D

 

Listen people.......Canadian immigration is the worst...sailing to Canada in the fall........fog and rain (pretty much a given)........If you can`t find anything to do on a beautiful ship with your loved ones, you have a problem:rolleyes:

 

Remember what day it is today people and get your priorities in order.

 

(I still find that hilarious, sorry:D )

[tmccrary]

Forgive me, I thought this was Cruise Critic... How many times does a user have to post, before they can whine or tell other cruisers their experiences... Maybe you should start a new website.... NCL RULES.com No experiences welcome

 

Fortunately for me, I have never had bad experiences such as these, until the NCL Dawn. I was only quoting what the immigration agent told us, when we complained to them.

 

How about explaining the crew embarking & disembarking ahead of paying customers?

 

Hope you enjoy your cruises with NCL.

[seahorse]

Forgive me, I thought this was Cruise Critic... How many times does a user have to post, before they can whine or tell other cruisers their experiences... Maybe you should start a new website.... NCL RULES.com No experiences welcome

 

Fortunately for me, I have never had bad experiences such as these, until the NCL Dawn. I was only quoting what the immigration agent told us, when we complained to them.

 

How about explaining the crew embarking & disembarking ahead of paying customers?

 

Hope you enjoy your cruises with NCL.

 

You complained to Immigration:eek: That is a no-no in travel.

 

I don`t think anyone likes a whiner.

 

Perhaps the crew members had urgent business in port.

[Host CMLA]

Our biggest complaint was that after waiting a very long time to embark and disembark, the crew would break up in front and embark or disembark in front of paying customers. This happened at every port.

Sorry you had a bad cruise. As for your biggest complaint...I never get upset that the crew sometimes gets to cut the line in order to get back on time. They work sometimes with no days off for weeks. If they get to go ashore, they usually call home then have to rush back. I can wait a few extra minutes for that. But that's just me.

For those of you that gave Disappointed Cruiser a hard time.... Happy Sailing to you on the NCL Dawn..... Then report back.:(

Many have sailed the Dawn and far fewer report back with what you've said. I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just stating facts.

[nancyfancy40]

Being new to NCL and not having actually cruise on a NCL ship. I am ready the threads, beacause we are planning our first NCL cruise next year and want to get all the good info before we go.

 

All I can say about a negative cruise experience is that it is still better than being at home, mowing lawns, doing laundry, packing kids to and from school, ect., ect. ect.

;)

Nancy

[electricron]

Fog comes rolling in, you can't see anything, and you want your excursion to return back to the ship and you want your money back. How did others on the excursion feel?

 

Would you have still wanted your money back if the excursion returned back early? Suppose the fog lifted on the way back, think about how mad the other excusionsists would have felt about you?

 

We can play the what if game forever. NCL has no control over the weather.

You take your chances. I'm sorry your excursion turned out so badly you wanted all your money back.

 

Last year, on a trip to Belize, I had to endure a hard thunderstorm on an open boat during one of my excursions, each drop striking me like a knife. You would think I had a miserable time, but it was one of the best excursions I have ever had even though I got really soaked. Why, because when faced with lemons, you make lemonade.

[scoobysteve]

I hate to be picky Seahorse but I think if you take another look at the original posting, the ladies complaint was with American Immgration not Canadian unless Bar Harbor has defected to New Brunswick:confused: . By the way both Immigration services be they Canadian or American do an outstanding Job given the Age of difficulty we all live in. We sailed on the Dawn last May and a had a great time:) ! Good service, wonderful room steward and terrific meals. The Shore excursion desk was also great when we had to cancel an excursion at the last minute due to an illness. We received a full refund and a touch of sympathy as well! I guess the old adage is true "You can't keep everybody happy!:D

[2inTul]

I wonder if anyone took a picture of the bad weather? Maybe NCL could put it in their brochure.

[seahorse]

I hate to be picky Seahorse but I think if you take another look at the original posting, the ladies complaint was with American Immgration not Canadian unless Bar Harbor has defected to New Brunswick . By the way both Immigration services be they Canadian or American do an outstanding Job given the Age of difficulty we all live in. We sailed on the Dawn last May and a had a great time:) ! Good service, wonderful room steward and terrific meals. The Shore excursion desk was also great when we had to cancel an excursion at the last minute due to an illness. We received a full refund and a touch of sympathy as well! I guess the old adage is true "You can't keep everybody happy!:D

 

:D Sorry...I was still giggling. Told you I was tired:D I am not saying that they are not doing their job but sometimes............:rolleyes: