Just Back from the STAR Aug 23 Sailing to Alaska; Doubt if I do NCL Again

[SueSea]

I gotta agree with Sheila on the food choices. I've written the same critique in my past reviews. In my case, though, I found the choices uninspiring on the dinner menu. On all my cruises on other lines, I usually had trouble picking just one entree because more than one appealed to me. NCL is the only line where I have had trouble picking one that did appeal to me. (No, I'm not a picky eater as my scale will attest!) At least for dinner I could ask for a steak. In my opinion, NCL's food quality does not equal the other lines I've sailed. Food is the main reason that NCL is at the bottom of my list of favorite cruise lines. Fortunately there are other things I do enjoy about NCL that offset the food. I'm really hoping that the Freestyle 2.0 changes will force me to move NCL up a few notches.

[akwaaba]

I'm thinking you might want to go back and re-read your original post about your Star cruise experience. You might want to rethink how you originally wrote your review.

 

After reading through responses to your original review, I have to agree with posters here that it sounds like you really didn't enjoy your cruise because your expectations weren't met and your comments regarding not being able to find anything on the lunch menu that you liked as well as comments regarding nothing you were interested in regarding the last sea day really stand out in your review.

 

I just have to say that in all the NCL cruises (and other cruises on other lines), DH & I always look at the menu posted outside the dining room before we enter the dining room for lunch. There have been times when we didn't see anything on the posted menu for lunch that appealed to us so we opted to get a quick bite at the buffet (which we rarely frequent) or eat at Blue Lagoon or just call room service. At each of our ``alternative'' lunch dining venues, we've always been eating ``sitting down,'' and have never felt that our dining experience was less than we would have had at home where we ``sit down,'' to eat a quickie lunch we cooked ourselves.

 

Just a thought, but perhaps your original post just came off the wrong way to many of the posters above.

 

Good to hear that your vacation wasn't ruined and that you did have fun on your cruise.

 

Dianne

 

I started out with the postive but almost everyone focused on the negative; you would have thought I said I hated NCL which I didn't and I don't, you would have thought I said I hated free style which I didn't and I don't, I just wanted more sit down choices. Since you can't hear my voice you really need to go on my words.

 

Sheila

[newmexicoNita]

I gotta agree with Sheila on the food choices. I've written the same critique in my past reviews. In my case, though, I found the choices uninspiring on the dinner menu. On all my cruises on other lines, I usually had trouble picking just one entree because more than one appealed to me. NCL is the only line where I have had trouble picking one that did appeal to me. (No, I'm not a picky eater as my scale will attest!) At least for dinner I could ask for a steak. In my opinion, NCL's food quality does not equal the other lines I've sailed. Food is the main reason that NCL is at the bottom of my list of favorite cruise lines. Fortunately there are other things I do enjoy about NCL that offset the food. I'm really hoping that the Freestyle 2.0 changes will force me to move NCL up a few notches.

did you know, on NCL you can always ask for a steak, chicken breast or Salmon? for many years this was on the menu, then it was removed (big mistake on NCLs part) now I hear, with 2.0 it has been added back. Just like Princess, those choices, shrimp cocktail, ceasar salad, baked potato, etc are always available.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

I started out with the postive but almost everyone focused on the negative; you would have thought I said I hated NCL which I didn't and I don't, you would have thought I said I hated free style which I didn't and I don't, I just wanted more sit down choices. Since you can't hear my voice you really need to go on my words.

 

Sheila

Sheila, did you go back and read your review and the title of it? I think that is what Charlie is talking about. Many times we do not realize how our comments come across to others, (me included) I don't think she needs to go by your words, I think you need to realize how your words come across. The statement about asking for steak at lunch is still a prime example of what some of us saw in your comments. I would like to beleive you didn't mean things the way they were worded, but is up to you to clarify what you meant, not us to understand your verbage.

 

NIta

[jingle5616]

We also sailed the Star this summer and ran into the staff refusing to sell us drinks not in their stupid plastic cups. On at least three occasions we ran into situation. I simply passed and NCL lost out on the revenue. The OP isn't making this up.

Other than this small irritation, we had a great time.

 

jingle

[rsinj]

Though you started out wih the positives, the reason everyone focused on the negatives and came to the conclusion you did hate NCL was because the words in the title for the thread say "Doubt if I do NCL Again". Would that not give the average person the impression that in your view the negatives clearly outweighed the positives?

 

Howard

[cruisingkimo]

I’ve sailed Carnival, RCCL, and NCL pre-freestyle; I enjoyed seeing Alaska and will go again but not on NCL; actually, I doubt if I’ll ever cruise with them again. Here are some good points before getting to the bad.

 

The Good:

Embarking and disembarking was a breeze, it was the best I’ve ever experienced.

NCL personnel were friendly and always greeted you

Except for one idiot waiter in the Aqua dinning room during breakfast, the wait staff was very good.

I enjoyed the nightly shows in the main theater.

 

The Bad:

Food choices – When I cruise I like to be waited on, so I only do the buffet a 3 or 4 times per cruise, even breakfast I prefer the dining room. Since meals are included in the cost of the cruise, I really expect to get a decent selection to choose from which wasn’t the case. Because of the number of specialty dining rooms, which you must pay extra to enjoy, it seems that menu choices were lacking in the main dining room; formal night had the best offerings. I ate at Cagney’s (very good) once for dinner, but didn’t expect to have to eat at specialty dining room to find something I wanted to eat. Once for lunch the menu in the dining room was so bad I couldn’t even find an appetizer that I could turn into a meal, I asked if I could order a steak and was told no. I’m in the middle of the ocean, so I felt captive.

 

 

The Spa – I had a massage, my hair done, and bought a product but wasn’t allowed to use the whirlpool, etc unless I paid an extra $20.00 for the day; last year on Carnival there wasn’t a charge for this. They did let me sit in the ‘relaxation room’, which has comfy chairs and floor to ceiling windows for 15 minutes before my massage.

 

 

Activities – free activities were lacking during the day, you could find bingo, auctions, gambling, etc. but it was hard to find anything else. I was OK with it until the last day which was completely at sea and I was bored.

 

 

The Irksome:

Souvenir Glasses – They kept serving drinks in souvenir glasses throughout the cruise, which of course cost you extra; twice I asked for my drink in a regular glass and was told “this is the way they come” and no, they wouldn’t put it in a regular glass. Before someone says you can use the same souvenir glass over and over, it didn’t always work out, so I stopped ordering those types of drinks.

 

Sheila

 

Sheila,

I know you are getting bombarded by others. I, too, am not a huge fan of NCL and felt it important to validate some of your feedback. I am really not a picky eater at all but I have lost weight (a couple pounds) on my 2 NCL cruises. I think that the food they offer in their specialty restaurants ranges from not quite as good to on par with the food in the main dining areas on the other lines I've sailed (Celebrity, HAL, RCCL). The food in NCL's buffets is also below the standards of the other lines, in my opinion. Dessert-I stopped ordering. That said, I don't vacation for the food so I keep my expectations low and that way I am not disappointed. I certainly ate and did not go hungry.

 

I was on the Majesty last week and twice ordered drinks in regular cups and twice received them in the souvenier cups. We stopped ordering drinks. We're not big drinkers anyway but NCL did lose some revenue by not serving the drinks as we ordered because we would have ordered a few more throughout the week.

 

I also wondered about the activities. When I was on the Pride of Aloha in October I found plenty of daytime, pool side activities (including contests, trivia games and Bingo) but did not find it to be the case on the Majesty. At least one activity, pool volleyball, was listed but did not occur. My husband and son wanted to play during the staff/passenger game but they only needed a few passengers and didn't rotate the players or offer another game so they lost out on that one. It was nice that the staff were able to relax a bit but I think that was the only daytime poolside activity that occured during our cruise. During the next scheduled game-which was listed as a passenger game-my husband and son sat by the pool for 30 minutes prior to the game to ensure they were early enough so that they would be able to play. A few other passengers showed up as well. No one from NCL ever showed up to organize the game or to deliver the supplies so it never happened. I found that the big push on the Majesty was for activities that created revenue for the line -art auctions, Bingo and the casino, the pub crawl (they even had a pub crawl reunion at the end of the week), martini tasting and wine tasting. On vacation I enjoy sitting with a good book so the lack of activities did not affect me. My husband and son and his teenage friend did get bored on the ship though. Son and friend are 17-too old to fit in with the rest of the kids that were involved in the teen club, too young for the adult stuff so poolside activities would have been ideal.

 

No, these things didn't ruin our experience and we still had a great vacation but they do leave an impression.

 

My husband and son enjoy not having to wear suits and being able to simply wear slacks and a decent shirt for dinner. On NCL there is the convenience of being able to eat dinner when we are ready, instead of at a set time.

 

I have not been on as many cruises as some on this board but when people ask me which line I like the best my response is always the same- "It depends on the experience you are seeking." For a casual, relaxed vacation NCL is the ticket. For a bit of pampering or a more refined experience, or if food is really important to you one should choose a different line. Currently if you want more time in Hawaii or Bermuda NCL is the only option. Hooray that HAL is returning to Bermuda. I am 42, not the elderly person that many think of as a HAL fan. No, I do not hate NCL but I'd like a bit more than NCL has offered in my experiences with them. In the future I will steer away from NCL unless I am lucky enough to return to Hawaii. In that case, NCL here I come.

 

All the above being said I am booked on the Dream in October (this cruise was actually booked in March before I booked the Majesty cruise that we did last week. My expectations are realistic. I will have a great time.

Kim

[newmexicoNita]

Sheila,

I know you are getting bombarded by others. I, too, am not a huge fan of NCL and felt it important to validate some of your feedback. I am really not a picky eater at all but I have lost weight (a couple pounds) on my 2 NCL cruises. I think that the food they offer in their specialty restaurants ranges from not quite as good to on par with the food in the main dining areas on the other lines I've sailed (Celebrity, HAL, RCCL). The food in NCL's buffets is also below the standards of the other lines, in my opinion. Dessert-I stopped ordering. That said, I don't vacation for the food so I keep my expectations low and that way I am not disappointed. I certainly ate and did not go hungry.

 

I was on the Majesty last week and twice ordered drinks in regular cups and twice received them in the souvenier cups. We stopped ordering drinks. We're not big drinkers anyway but NCL did lose some revenue by not serving the drinks as we ordered because we would have ordered a few more throughout the week.

 

I also wondered about the activities. When I was on the Pride of Aloha in October I found plenty of daytime, pool side activities (including contests, trivia games and Bingo) but did not find it to be the case on the Majesty. At least one activity, pool volleyball, was listed but did not occur. My husband and son wanted to play during the staff/passenger game but they only needed a few passengers and didn't rotate the players or offer another game so they lost out on that one. It was nice that the staff were able to relax a bit but I think that was the only daytime poolside activity that occured during our cruise. During the next scheduled game-which was listed as a passenger game-my husband and son sat by the pool for 30 minutes prior to the game to ensure they were early enough so that they would be able to play. A few other passengers showed up as well. No one from NCL ever showed up to organize the game or to deliver the supplies so it never happened. I found that the big push on the Majesty was for activities that created revenue for the line -art auctions, Bingo and the casino, the pub crawl (they even had a pub crawl reunion at the end of the week) , martini tasting and wine tasting. I enjoy sitting in the shade with a good book so the lack of outdoor activities did not affect me. My husband and son and his treenage friend did get bored on the ship though. Son and friend are 17-too old to fit in with the rest of the kids that were involved in the teen club, too young for the adult stuff so poolside activities would have been ideal.

 

No, these things didn't ruin our experience and we still had a great vacation but they do leave an impression.

 

My husband and son enjoy not having to wear suits and being able to simply wear slacks and a decent shirt for dinner. On NCL there is the convenience of being able to eat dinner when we are ready, instead of at a set time.

 

I have not been on as many cruises as some on this board but when people ask me which line I like the best my response is always the same- "It depends on the experience you are seeking." For a casual, relaxed vacation NCL is the ticket. For a bit of pampering or a more refined experience, or if food is really important to you one should choose a different line. Currently if you want more time in Hawaii or Bermuda NCL is the only option. Hooray that HAL is returning to Bermuda. I am 42, not the elderly person that many think of as a HAL fan. No, I do not hate NCL but I'd like a bit more than NCL has offered in my experiences with them. In the future I will steer away from NCL unless I am lucky enough to return to Hawaii. In that case, NCL here I come.

 

All the above being said I am booked on the Dream in October (this cruise was actually booked in March before I booked the Majesty cruise that we did last week. My expectations are realistic. I will have a great time.

Kim

Kim, though I might totally disagree with you on certain elements of your food appraisal you are being fair. This is what the boards are about. Everyone has his/her preferances for vacations and you are not sold on NCL, but you have pointed out a few positives. I hope you like the Dream, my guess you may not. Hopefully I am wrong, but like the Majesty she is a love/hate type of vessel. There in no inbetween. Keep us posted.

As for HAL, I do love the service and the food, but even being much older than you we found the ship lacking in activities and just too many people who could hardly get around. As the couple we were cruising with put it: HAL lacks energy. Oh, one other positive about HAL, the library is first class; the negative, for me, the casino sucks.....

 

Nita

[akwaaba]

Sheila, did you go back and read your review and the title of it? I think that is what Charlie is talking about. Many times we do not realize how our comments come across to others, (me included) I don't think she needs to go by your words, I think you need to realize how your words come across. The statement about asking for steak at lunch is still a prime example of what some of us saw in your comments. I would like to beleive you didn't mean things the way they were worded, but is up to you to clarify what you meant, not us to understand your verbage.

 

NIta

 

I did clarify, and without knowing me, seeing me, or hearing me, my words are all you have.

[akwaaba]

Though you started out wih the positives, the reason everyone focused on the negatives and came to the conclusion you did hate NCL was because the words in the title for the thread say "Doubt if I do NCL Again". Would that not give the average person the impression that in your view the negatives clearly outweighed the positives?

 

Howard

 

Point taken, but I did say 'doubt', not 'I will never' sail NCL again.

[akwaaba]

Sheila,

I know you are getting bombarded by others. I, too, am not a huge fan of NCL and felt it important to validate some of your feedback. I am really not a picky eater at all but I have lost weight (a couple pounds) on my 2 NCL cruises. I think that the food they offer in their specialty restaurants ranges from not quite as good to on par with the food in the main dining areas on the other lines I've sailed (Celebrity, HAL, RCCL). The food in NCL's buffets is also below the standards of the other lines, in my opinion. Dessert-I stopped ordering. That said, I don't vacation for the food so I keep my expectations low and that way I am not disappointed. I certainly ate and did not go hungry.

 

I was on the Majesty last week and twice ordered drinks in regular cups and twice received them in the souvenier cups. We stopped ordering drinks. We're not big drinkers anyway but NCL did lose some revenue by not serving the drinks as we ordered because we would have ordered a few more throughout the week.

 

I also wondered about the activities. When I was on the Pride of Aloha in October I found plenty of daytime, pool side activities (including contests, trivia games and Bingo) but did not find it to be the case on the Majesty. At least one activity, pool volleyball, was listed but did not occur. My husband and son wanted to play during the staff/passenger game but they only needed a few passengers and didn't rotate the players or offer another game so they lost out on that one. It was nice that the staff were able to relax a bit but I think that was the only daytime poolside activity that occured during our cruise. During the next scheduled game-which was listed as a passenger game-my husband and son sat by the pool for 30 minutes prior to the game to ensure they were early enough so that they would be able to play. A few other passengers showed up as well. No one from NCL ever showed up to organize the game or to deliver the supplies so it never happened. I found that the big push on the Majesty was for activities that created revenue for the line -art auctions, Bingo and the casino, the pub crawl (they even had a pub crawl reunion at the end of the week), martini tasting and wine tasting. On vacation I enjoy sitting with a good book so the lack of activities did not affect me. My husband and son and his teenage friend did get bored on the ship though. Son and friend are 17-too old to fit in with the rest of the kids that were involved in the teen club, too young for the adult stuff so poolside activities would have been ideal.

 

No, these things didn't ruin our experience and we still had a great vacation but they do leave an impression.

 

My husband and son enjoy not having to wear suits and being able to simply wear slacks and a decent shirt for dinner. On NCL there is the convenience of being able to eat dinner when we are ready, instead of at a set time.

 

I have not been on as many cruises as some on this board but when people ask me which line I like the best my response is always the same- "It depends on the experience you are seeking." For a casual, relaxed vacation NCL is the ticket. For a bit of pampering or a more refined experience, or if food is really important to you one should choose a different line. Currently if you want more time in Hawaii or Bermuda NCL is the only option. Hooray that HAL is returning to Bermuda. I am 42, not the elderly person that many think of as a HAL fan. No, I do not hate NCL but I'd like a bit more than NCL has offered in my experiences with them. In the future I will steer away from NCL unless I am lucky enough to return to Hawaii. In that case, NCL here I come.

 

All the above being said I am booked on the Dream in October (this cruise was actually booked in March before I booked the Majesty cruise that we did last week. My expectations are realistic. I will have a great time.

Kim

 

Thanks for your comments, I truly understand what you're saying. I think I lost weight as well, but since I've been trying to eat healthier for the past year or so and have dropped several dress sizes, I guess it was OK.

 

I also liked how you made a case for sailing NCL in the future.

 

Sheila

[Clutterlady]

As for HAL, I do love the service and the food, but even being much older than you we found the ship lacking in activities and just too many people who could hardly get around. As the couple we were cruising with put it: HAL lacks energy. Oh, one other positive about HAL, the library is first class; the negative, for me, the casino sucks.....

 

Nita

 

Nita, with HAL doing Bermuda, it's really all about the island and not so much about the ship. Would love to try HAL and am glad there is now some competition:)

[newmexicoNita]

Nita, with HAL doing Bermuda, it's really all about the island and not so much about the ship. Would love to try HAL and am glad there is now some competition:)

I agree completely.

 

Nita

[NoPiratesPlease]

OP:

As a veteran of 19 or 20 cruises on NCL, 3 times on the Star (one of our VERY favorite ships) I can say that you hit a lot of possible bad things all at once.

 

Under NO circumstances should you buy the BS from a lazy bar waiter that "That's the only way it comes" to hit you up for an extra $2.50 for a junky plastic glass. I know they work hard but he's still just a waiter and you don't have to accept it. I don't and I won't and if he says "that's the only way it comes" I will let him know in no uncertain terms I know better. If it gets back to the F&B manager, that waiter will have a BIG problem. OTOH, you shouldn't have to deal with it in the first place.

 

How much or little there is to do on the ship on sea days is the CD's job. A good one (a rarity but we had one on the Star last summer--in case you didn't figure it out I generally despise "cruise directors") will ALWAYS have lots of things going. A bad one won't. Even lectures, Spanish lessons, and trivia contests can be fun.

 

I think it would be more fun if they had discussion seminars, even political ones about touchy subjects so you could get into a good (or dumb) argument. But they don't.

 

However, if the nighttime entertainment is poor, then you are in big trouble. We VERY much enjoyed Stan Sykes on the Star in Carousel (2nd ugliest bar on an NCL ship) and Guys and Doll in Medusa on the Jade 2 weeks ago. I think a good CD will make sure there's SOME kind of dancing going on most of the time, or just about to start--that's what's great about G&D even if they had to play the same things over and over and over.

 

We found the Pearl's night-time to be very poor, and last time on the Dream wasn't too good either. As that was a CTN, there's NO excuse for not having dancing all the time for those who don't want to gamble.

 

But as personnel change so does the ship. We don't go to the shows too often so it's hard to notice it they really stink the place up.

 

I also think that if you have a bad experience your first time on a cruise line you will NEVER go back to that line. Our last time on the Dream, the May 9 CTN, would have been our ONLY time on NCL had it been our first. It wasn't much better than a 5 day we took on the Carnival Victory in June of 2007. Our first and last time on Carnival. For similar reasons we were only once on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean.

 

Notice I'm not trashing the OP because I think she has valid complaints. She saw NCL at its less-than-optimal, not its best. That's NCL's loss. "You only have one chance to make a first impression!"

 

Yet our last time on the Star our BIGGEST two complaints was that Miami, messing up as usual, didn't have our Latitudes info and sold some special private tours we had signed up for out from under us, and that the coffee was like black Draino. Otherwise we LOVED our Alaskan tour, and loved the Star.

 

We've been on the Dream twice and weren't crazy about it either time. Been on the Dawn 6 times, the old Norway twice (loved her), the Jewel twice (will go on her again), the Pearl twice (don't like her as much) and the Jade (lovely ship), and the Spirit once (odd, but lovely ship).

[arpie05]

We did the Star the end of May and had a great time. But we always checked the menu before we went in just in case we'd rather go to Blue Lagoon or Buffet.

I thought the food was always great and even the one time I thought the menu was weak, there were plenty of choices I could find something I liked - as did my 12 year old. he never ordered off the kids menu.

But I doubt we will sail NCL again because even though I love the concept of the speciality restaurants - they cost extra. Unless the cruise was a lot less and I then factored in an extra $20 per person for food into the price difference and NCL came out less - then I would do it again.

 

BY the way - did the Star ever get to the Sawyer glacier this year??!! if not they need to redo the trip description.

[arpie05]

PS - Loved the daily trivia games, and other on board activities. I found there was too much to do every day. I thought things should have been timed better because I couldnt' get to everything - for example I went to the Shore excursion lecture but did not go to the Port lecture because it started during the Shore excursion (could have been shopping excursion). I just thought if I was interested enough to go listen about the excursions then most likely I'd like to hear about the history of the port.

(though it was his first lecture - and he didn't do very well - my friend went and he had some historical inaccuracies in it)

[newmexicoNita]

PS - Loved the daily trivia games, and other on board activities. I found there was too much to do every day. I thought things should have been timed better because I couldnt' get to everything - for example I went to the Shore excursion lecture but did not go to the Port lecture because it started during the Shore excursion (could have been shopping excursion). I just thought if I was interested enough to go listen about the excursions then most likely I'd like to hear about the history of the port.

(though it was his first lecture - and he didn't do very well - my friend went and he had some historical inaccuracies in it)

 

We seem to always find the things we like overlapping. I think the ops problem wasn't that there were no activities, but what she like to do was not offered. I really don't think this is the fault of any cruise line. I have seen people make similar comments about other lines. What is available isn't always what one likes.

 

Nita

[Artanis]

You make the cruise what you want from it and I guess you were on a different ship last week than I was.

 

While I love these forums and have been lurking them for over 12 years (back when this was AOL Keyword: Cruise), this is the biggest reason I do not participate, but must now:

 

We sailed our 5th voyage this year and have cruised four different lines total.

It is fact that, on any given line, on any given vessel, it is pot luck in regard to the crew you will encounter. Four of the cruises were (normal) great cruises -- even with El Nino wreaking havoc on the first one and having a handbag swiped at the airport while arriving for the second.

 

Fifth cruise was much more expensive than the prior ones, so we anicipated service to be (at least) on par with Celebrity, with whom we'd sailed twice prior.

 

Luck of the draw; apparently many new, inexperienced crew members boarded with us and we happened upon them throghout our cruise. It DID make a HUGE difference, as we had shelled out a hefty sum to experience something a little better than what we can get at a strip mall at home.

 

Dining room service ... won't even go there.

 

We talked to a travel agent acquaintance on board laughing about experiences and, of course, he had received superb service upstairs in Fixed Dining and, yes, we may as well had been on two totally different vessels. But did he call our party of four liars?

No.

He said he had "real pros" taking care of them in his section. That's all.

 

Perhaps if we had read more objective reviews just prior to sailing, we would not have been so shocked by the carelessness observed onboard. (Yes, I did tell the powers that be that it was obvious crew was just thrown on with insufficient training.)

We realize this cruise was a fluke. Apparently something had happened which had made them short-staffed and they were in a crunch and didn't have ample time to train.

 

We are exploring NCL and all the lines for our next cruises because shelling out $$$ certainly does not guarantee a so-called "four star" cruise.

 

It all depends on the crew, the executive chef, the Hotel Manager ...on board for that cruise.

 

Reality is, more experienced ones get "promoted" to the newer ships. That's where that phenominal cabin steward from your last cruise is now, and that old Executive chef now has his own restaurant...some new guy is supervising the omelettes (now with mouthfuls of eggshells) and the waiter who should be at McDonald's and not on a cruise ship until he's been trained is as lost as his manager seems to be.

 

Luck of the draw when you cruise. Unlike a land business, you are not free to go elsewhere, and you've already paid up-front, therefore people have the right to share these experiences without being accused of lying (why would they?).

 

Please don't accuse people of lying just for sharing their observations and experiences because somebody was not there to take pictures and record it? It gives false (high) expectations because you just really never know. Could be us taking a salesperson's statement for gospel next time.

[cruisingkimo]

Kim, though I might totally disagree with you on certain elements of your food appraisal you are being fair. This is what the boards are about. Everyone has his/her preferances for vacations and you are not sold on NCL, but you have pointed out a few positives. I hope you like the Dream, my guess you may not. Hopefully I am wrong, but like the Majesty she is a love/hate type of vessel. There in no inbetween. Keep us posted.

As for HAL, I do love the service and the food, but even being much older than you we found the ship lacking in activities and just too many people who could hardly get around. As the couple we were cruising with put it: HAL lacks energy. Oh, one other positive about HAL, the library is first class; the negative, for me, the casino sucks.....

 

Nita

Nita,

You're right about the activities on HAL. The lack of activities typically doesn't bother me so much. I have only sailed HAL with my mom. Don't get me wrong though-my mom is still young. She's only 62. She does tend to be similar to me in terms of activities. Neither of us gamble so we don't care about the casinos and usually make efforts to find our way around the ships without having to pass through them (this is difficult on some ships). On one of our HAL cruises my mom's best friend and sister were also on board.

I have to admit that while on the ship I am a lounger. I like to just relax and read. When sailing with my mom we tend to pamper ourselves with spa treatments. Once in port I am one of those that goes non-stop. I usually have my port days planned long before the cruise. On the Pride of Aloha I did get more involved in on-board activities than I had on any other cruise because they made it so easy and appealing and offered so many choices. We had four sea days as we did the now extinct 11 day Hawaii which included traveling for four days back and forth to/from Fanning Island. I could just sit outside on the deck and take part in Trivia and Bingo. And, since we were in Hawaii after all, I did take part in the daily Hula lessons-when else will I ever do this? There was a show at the end of the cruise and all of us that had taken part in the Hula lessons put on for our fellow passengers. I even participated in arts and crafts and made necklaces for my niece and arts & crafts is usually not my thing. They also had a lot of hokey contests on the deck which were fun to watch even though I did not participate.

I wouldn't say that HAL is my favorite line. Actually I am not sure I have one. They are all so different. I hope to try Princess one day.

When I am on the Dream in October I will be with my best friend and her sister. The age of the ship doesn't concern me. Without my husband and two teenagers in tow the activity level being low won't be a concern. I enjoy the evening shows on every cruise. Even when they're only mediocre they still provide evening entertainment. I am not one of those that spends time in the bars so I tend to go many of the shows, even the passenger game shows. My friends are like me and are not big drinkers or gamblers. A couple frou-frou drinks throughout the week will be it for us. Maybe a game of Bingo. Now the food issue. That may be disappointing to my friends. Although I am not a fussy eater they tend to be. I have done my best to prepare them while not alarming them and have explained that the kitchens are preparing food for 1500+ passengers. It's not like having dinner at a 5 star restaurant. I have also made it clear that if they order a meal they don't care for they can simply ask for a different meal. We'll definitely go to Le Bistro-maybe more nights than not and that should help with the food issue for them. My friend has never been anywhere outide of the US. She is beside herself with anticipation for this cruise. Her sister has traveled a bit but not in many years and I think she'll love Bermuda. They are going on the cruise to get to Bermuda so I am quite hopeful and mostly confident that they'll have a great time. We plan to do lots of fun things -horseback riding on the beach, parasailing, snorkeling, the caves and, of course, visiting the beautiful beaches. My friend even wants to swim with the dolphins. I can't wait.

Kim

[DocJohnB]

Great Post!!!!

[newmexicoNita]

While I love these forums and have been lurking them for over 12 years (back when this was AOL Keyword: Cruise), this is the biggest reason I do not participate, but must now:

 

We sailed our 5th voyage this year and have cruised four different lines total.

It is fact that, on any given line, on any given vessel, it is pot luck in regard to the crew you will encounter. Four of the cruises were (normal) great cruises -- even with El Nino wreaking havoc on the first one and having a handbag swiped at the airport while arriving for the second.

 

Fifth cruise was much more expensive than the prior ones, so we anicipated service to be (at least) on par with Celebrity, with whom we'd sailed twice prior.

 

Luck of the draw; apparently many new, inexperienced crew members boarded with us and we happened upon them throghout our cruise. It DID make a HUGE difference, as we had shelled out a hefty sum to experience something a little better than what we can get at a strip mall at home.

 

Dining room service ... won't even go there.

 

We talked to a travel agent acquaintance on board laughing about experiences and, of course, he had received superb service upstairs in Fixed Dining and, yes, we may as well had been on two totally different vessels. But did he call our party of four liars?

No.

He said he had "real pros" taking care of them in his section. That's all.

 

Perhaps if we had read more objective reviews just prior to sailing, we would not have been so shocked by the carelessness observed onboard. (Yes, I did tell the powers that be that it was obvious crew was just thrown on with insufficient training.)

We realize this cruise was a fluke. Apparently something had happened which had made them short-staffed and they were in a crunch and didn't have ample time to train.

 

We are exploring NCL and all the lines for our next cruises because shelling out $$$ certainly does not guarantee a so-called "four star" cruise.

 

It all depends on the crew, the executive chef, the Hotel Manager ...on board for that cruise.

 

Reality is, more experienced ones get "promoted" to the newer ships. That's where that phenominal cabin steward from your last cruise is now, and that old Executive chef now has his own restaurant...some new guy is supervising the omelettes (now with mouthfuls of eggshells) and the waiter who should be at McDonald's and not on a cruise ship until he's been trained is as lost as his manager seems to be.

 

Luck of the draw when you cruise. Unlike a land business, you are not free to go elsewhere, and you've already paid up-front, therefore people have the right to share these experiences without being accused of lying (why would they?).

 

Please don't accuse people of lying just for sharing their observations and experiences because somebody was not there to take pictures and record it? It gives false (high) expectations because you just really never know. Could be us taking a salesperson's statement for gospel next time.

I am not sure many if any have called the op a liar, but pointed out where there may be disagreements. Generally the defense comes from the way a poster posts negatives. I do however, believe some posters do exagerate. One example, which always blows my mind: there was nothing to do, no activities. Normally, it boils down to there was nothing to do than interested me.

 

I do agree with what you are saying about luck of the draw. We have had a similar experience, but would not judge an entire line by one bad experience.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

Nita,

You're right about the activities on HAL. The lack of activities typically doesn't bother me so much. I have only sailed HAL with my mom. Don't get me wrong though-my mom is still young. She's only 62. She does tend to be similar to me in terms of activities. Neither of us gamble so we don't care about the casinos and usually make efforts to find our way around the ships without having to pass through them (this is difficult on some ships). On one of our HAL cruises my mom's best friend and sister were also on board.

I have to admit that while on the ship I am a lounger. I like to just relax and read. When sailing with my mom we tend to pamper ourselves with spa treatments. Once in port I am one of those that goes non-stop. I usually have my port days planned long before the cruise. On the Pride of Aloha I did get more involved in on-board activities than I had on any other cruise because they made it so easy and appealing and offered so many choices. We had four sea days as we did the now extinct 11 day Hawaii which included traveling for four days back and forth to/from Fanning Island. I could just sit outside on the deck and take part in Trivia and Bingo. And, since we were in Hawaii after all, I did take part in the daily Hula lessons-when else will I ever do this? There was a show at the end of the cruise and all of us that had taken part in the Hula lessons put on for our fellow passengers. I even participated in arts and crafts and made necklaces for my niece and arts & crafts is usually not my thing. They also had a lot of hokey contests on the deck which were fun to watch even though I did not participate.

I wouldn't say that HAL is my favorite line. Actually I am not sure I have one. They are all so different. I hope to try Princess one day.

When I am on the Dream in October I will be with my best friend and her sister. The age of the ship doesn't concern me. Without my husband and two teenagers in tow the activity level being low won't be a concern. I enjoy the evening shows on every cruise. Even when they're only mediocre they still provide evening entertainment. I am not one of those that spends time in the bars so I tend to go many of the shows, even the passenger game shows. My friends are like me and are not big drinkers or gamblers. A couple frou-frou drinks throughout the week will be it for us. Maybe a game of Bingo. Now the food issue. That may be disappointing to my friends. Although I am not a fussy eater they tend to be. I have done my best to prepare them while not alarming them and have explained that the kitchens are preparing food for 1500+ passengers. It's not like having dinner at a 5 star restaurant. I have also made it clear that if they order a meal they don't care for they can simply ask for a different meal. We'll definitely go to Le Bistro-maybe more nights than not and that should help with the food issue for them. My friend has never been anywhere outide of the US. She is beside herself with anticipation for this cruise. Her sister has traveled a bit but not in many years and I think she'll love Bermuda. They are going on the cruise to get to Bermuda so I am quite hopeful and mostly confident that they'll have a great time. We plan to do lots of fun things -horseback riding on the beach, parasailing, snorkeling, the caves and, of course, visiting the beautiful beaches. My friend even wants to swim with the dolphins. I can't wait.

Kim

Kim, HAL is our second favorite line, we don't have any lines we really don't like, but because we only cruise twice a year, there are a couple we may never cruise again. As for relaxing and reading, this does make HAL a perfect match for you and mom.

 

NIta

[zimmerjulie]

While I love these forums and have been lurking them for over 12 years (back when this was AOL Keyword: Cruise), this is the biggest reason I do not participate, but must now:

 

We sailed our 5th voyage this year and have cruised four different lines total.

It is fact that, on any given line, on any given vessel, it is pot luck in regard to the crew you will encounter. Four of the cruises were (normal) great cruises -- even with El Nino wreaking havoc on the first one and having a handbag swiped at the airport while arriving for the second.

 

Fifth cruise was much more expensive than the prior ones, so we anicipated service to be (at least) on par with Celebrity, with whom we'd sailed twice prior.

 

Luck of the draw; apparently many new, inexperienced crew members boarded with us and we happened upon them throghout our cruise. It DID make a HUGE difference, as we had shelled out a hefty sum to experience something a little better than what we can get at a strip mall at home.

 

Dining room service ... won't even go there.

 

We talked to a travel agent acquaintance on board laughing about experiences and, of course, he had received superb service upstairs in Fixed Dining and, yes, we may as well had been on two totally different vessels. But did he call our party of four liars?

No.

He said he had "real pros" taking care of them in his section. That's all.

 

Perhaps if we had read more objective reviews just prior to sailing, we would not have been so shocked by the carelessness observed onboard. (Yes, I did tell the powers that be that it was obvious crew was just thrown on with insufficient training.)

We realize this cruise was a fluke. Apparently something had happened which had made them short-staffed and they were in a crunch and didn't have ample time to train.

 

We are exploring NCL and all the lines for our next cruises because shelling out $$$ certainly does not guarantee a so-called "four star" cruise.

 

It all depends on the crew, the executive chef, the Hotel Manager ...on board for that cruise.

 

Reality is, more experienced ones get "promoted" to the newer ships. That's where that phenominal cabin steward from your last cruise is now, and that old Executive chef now has his own restaurant...some new guy is supervising the omelettes (now with mouthfuls of eggshells) and the waiter who should be at McDonald's and not on a cruise ship until he's been trained is as lost as his manager seems to be.

 

Luck of the draw when you cruise. Unlike a land business, you are not free to go elsewhere, and you've already paid up-front, therefore people have the right to share these experiences without being accused of lying (why would they?).

 

Please don't accuse people of lying just for sharing their observations and experiences because somebody was not there to take pictures and record it? It gives false (high) expectations because you just really never know. Could be us taking a salesperson's statement for gospel next time.

 

Great post, Artanis.