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NCL Dream - Mini Review



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 22nd, 2004, 01:13 PM
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Default NCL Dream - Mini Review

We just got back from the March 22 transatlantic cruise on the Dream - this
post is delayed, since we spent a couple of weeks in Italy post cruise.



While I have not read all of the recent posts that might have discussed
engine trouble and therefore may repeat some aspects of earlier discussions,
the existence of engine problems is not the focus of this post. Rather it is
the way NCL handled - or failed to handle the problem that is a major issue.



This was our 6th NCL cruise, and we knew that the Dream was an older ship -
we cruise on her in the 90s, prior to the stretch - when she was the
Dreamward.



Departure from Miami was delayed for about 3 hours - one reason being that
the art for the auction was delivered late. For some reason, never
adequately explained, we found other passengers' possessions in our cabin.
It took more than an hour for NCL to respond to the problem - we did not
want to simply put these items into the hall, nor did we want to leave our
possessions in the cabin with other passengers apparently having access to
the cabin. Eventually, the other passengers were paged and move to the
correct cabin.



Generally the crew were eager to please, some really going beyond
expectations to do so. Duane, the DJ and Ramona, a dining room hostess were
particularly friendly and helpful.



The medical staff was outstanding. I happened to be in the infirmary when
there was a cardiac emergency. The response was rapid and well drilled, and
the Doctor was able to revive the victim with a defibrillator. The patient,
who was on a ventilator, could not be evacuated to the scheduled first port,
but had to remain onboard for 2-3 additional days, since we missed Madeira
and had to go to Gibraltar, an unscheduled stop, to refuel - more about this
later.



The entertainment was not up to the usual level provided by the Ryan
Company, and daily onboard activities were sparse - the staff seemed
inadequate to provide a decent level of activities, and NCL seems to be
cutting corners wherever possible. We had sailed just 3 months earlier on
the Dawn, and the decline in service was very noticeable.



A minor irritation was the elimination of the daily news summary that used
to be standard - now news is only available if one purchases multipage
summaries of various newspapers, printed onboard, for $3.95 per day. On a
cruise which ultimately had the first 10 days or so at sea, summaries should
be provided.



The food was good - not gourmet - but up to the general lever normally
provided by NCL. Never had to wait more than a few minutes unless you wanted
a table for two - but if you would join others at a larger table, which we
preferred, there was never a problem. Service takes longer with freestyle
because of the logistics of having tables at different stages of meal
completion, but the timing flexibility outweighs the disadvantage of slower
service. The poolside meals were very good - if you like ribs and such - but
the winds and rainy days caused many of these to be cancelled.



The major problem, of course, was the engine and missed ports. Had NCL told
passengers of the problem, which existed on the preceding cruise from New
Orleans, and given passengers the option of canceling, no doubt most would
have sailed. However, no one was told. The part - a shaft one technician
told us - was ordered but not delivered at Miami, so we departed with some
manufacturer's service reps onboard, and we were told that they were trying
to fabricate the part while in transit.



Unfortunately, the captain was never forthcoming with the truth. His words
were carefully parsed to avoid the truth. For example, he answered
passengers' inquiries by saying that there had not been engine problems 'for
a year' as rumored, but did not admit that there had been problems for any
period of time prior to this cruise. He also said that we were using 100%
power - 'as much as we can'. Moreover, even after announcing that we would
also miss the schedule stop in Genoa, he sent a letter to all passengers
stating that we would proceed from France on the originally scheduled
itinerary. Unfortunately, the scheduled next port was Genoa.



As compensation for the missed ports, the Captain said that there would be a
$50 credit per person - not in cash or for tips or the casino - but only on
onboard purchases, namely items with a built-in profit margin for NCL. A
tacky move. In fact, some passengers gathered signatures for a petition
complaining and demanding an adjustment, but, according to one of these
passengers, the Captain and officers appeared at her cabin and demanded she
stop, intimating she would be put off the ship if she did not.



Interestingly, one of our tablemates at dinner one night was the captain of
a tanker - strange vacation for him but he is Portuguese and wanted to go to
Madeira - and he asserted that the ship had to divert to Gibraltar to refuel
since there was not a full load on departure from the US, and he claimed
that the fuel would be cheaper in Gibraltar and that this was the reason for
not taking on a full fuel load. I have no way of verifying this



Despite all of the aggravation and missed ports, we tried our best to enjoy
ourselves and made new friends



However, and sadly, this will likely be our last NCL cruise. We have had too
many good experiences on other lines.



Bob





  #2  
Old April 23rd, 2004, 12:25 AM
Howie
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default NCL Dream - Mini Review

Thanks for the fair and forthright mini review.

Howie

4 wrote:
We just got back from the March 22 transatlantic cruise on the Dream - this
post is delayed, since we spent a couple of weeks in Italy post cruise.



While I have not read all of the recent posts that might have discussed
engine trouble and therefore may repeat some aspects of earlier discussions,
the existence of engine problems is not the focus of this post. Rather it is
the way NCL handled - or failed to handle the problem that is a major issue.



This was our 6th NCL cruise, and we knew that the Dream was an older ship -
we cruise on her in the 90s, prior to the stretch - when she was the
Dreamward.



Departure from Miami was delayed for about 3 hours - one reason being that
the art for the auction was delivered late. For some reason, never
adequately explained, we found other passengers' possessions in our cabin.
It took more than an hour for NCL to respond to the problem - we did not
want to simply put these items into the hall, nor did we want to leave our
possessions in the cabin with other passengers apparently having access to
the cabin. Eventually, the other passengers were paged and move to the
correct cabin.



Generally the crew were eager to please, some really going beyond
expectations to do so. Duane, the DJ and Ramona, a dining room hostess were
particularly friendly and helpful.



The medical staff was outstanding. I happened to be in the infirmary when
there was a cardiac emergency. The response was rapid and well drilled, and
the Doctor was able to revive the victim with a defibrillator. The patient,
who was on a ventilator, could not be evacuated to the scheduled first port,
but had to remain onboard for 2-3 additional days, since we missed Madeira
and had to go to Gibraltar, an unscheduled stop, to refuel - more about this
later.



The entertainment was not up to the usual level provided by the Ryan
Company, and daily onboard activities were sparse - the staff seemed
inadequate to provide a decent level of activities, and NCL seems to be
cutting corners wherever possible. We had sailed just 3 months earlier on
the Dawn, and the decline in service was very noticeable.



A minor irritation was the elimination of the daily news summary that used
to be standard - now news is only available if one purchases multipage
summaries of various newspapers, printed onboard, for $3.95 per day. On a
cruise which ultimately had the first 10 days or so at sea, summaries should
be provided.



The food was good - not gourmet - but up to the general lever normally
provided by NCL. Never had to wait more than a few minutes unless you wanted
a table for two - but if you would join others at a larger table, which we
preferred, there was never a problem. Service takes longer with freestyle
because of the logistics of having tables at different stages of meal
completion, but the timing flexibility outweighs the disadvantage of slower
service. The poolside meals were very good - if you like ribs and such - but
the winds and rainy days caused many of these to be cancelled.



The major problem, of course, was the engine and missed ports. Had NCL told
passengers of the problem, which existed on the preceding cruise from New
Orleans, and given passengers the option of canceling, no doubt most would
have sailed. However, no one was told. The part - a shaft one technician
told us - was ordered but not delivered at Miami, so we departed with some
manufacturer's service reps onboard, and we were told that they were trying
to fabricate the part while in transit.



Unfortunately, the captain was never forthcoming with the truth. His words
were carefully parsed to avoid the truth. For example, he answered
passengers' inquiries by saying that there had not been engine problems 'for
a year' as rumored, but did not admit that there had been problems for any
period of time prior to this cruise. He also said that we were using 100%
power - 'as much as we can'. Moreover, even after announcing that we would
also miss the schedule stop in Genoa, he sent a letter to all passengers
stating that we would proceed from France on the originally scheduled
itinerary. Unfortunately, the scheduled next port was Genoa.



As compensation for the missed ports, the Captain said that there would be a
$50 credit per person - not in cash or for tips or the casino - but only on
onboard purchases, namely items with a built-in profit margin for NCL. A
tacky move. In fact, some passengers gathered signatures for a petition
complaining and demanding an adjustment, but, according to one of these
passengers, the Captain and officers appeared at her cabin and demanded she
stop, intimating she would be put off the ship if she did not.



Interestingly, one of our tablemates at dinner one night was the captain of
a tanker - strange vacation for him but he is Portuguese and wanted to go to
Madeira - and he asserted that the ship had to divert to Gibraltar to refuel
since there was not a full load on departure from the US, and he claimed
that the fuel would be cheaper in Gibraltar and that this was the reason for
not taking on a full fuel load. I have no way of verifying this



Despite all of the aggravation and missed ports, we tried our best to enjoy
ourselves and made new friends



However, and sadly, this will likely be our last NCL cruise. We have had too
many good experiences on other lines.



Bob






 




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