Passengers Criticize NCL's New Hawaii Tour!!!

steinbrenner wrote:

Yankees 5, Tampa 1, bottom of 4th.

http://www.kxtv.com/storyfull1.asp?id=8017

Passengers Criticize Norwegian Cruise Line's New Hawaii Tour

Norwegian Cruise Lines says it is working hard to improve service on a
new series of inter-island cruises around Hawaii. The otherwise well-
regarded line has been generally panned by customers who took the
cruises this summer.

The criticism concerns the cruise line's newly christened ship Pride of
Aloha. In July, the ship, which flies an American flag and carries and
American crew, began offering cruises around all five Hawaiian Islands.
Vacationers say Hawaii was great, but the service on the ship left a
lot to be desired.

"Our room was dirty. There were fuzzballs under the beds. The counters
were dirty. The bathrooms were dirty. The shower curtain was moldy,"
said cruise passenger Kathy Hackley, who lives in Auburn.

Hackley said she and her mother waited two hours or longer for meals to
be served. They finally gave up and bought fast food on shore. It
wasn't what she expected when she paid $4,723.44 to book their cruise.

Travel agent Judi Stiles has heard similar tales from her own clients.
She blames the crew, which she said was not well-trained in cruise line
standard service. "Inexperienced, young, cocky, don't know how to
say 'Yes, sir' and don't know how to serve a plate," said
Stiles. "That's what's happening

A written statement from Norwegian Cruise Lines reads, in part: "...
the company has faced a number of start-up challenges... and would like
to apologize for that."

The cruise line is offering Hackley and other dissatisfied customers 20
percent off any future cruise. Hackley says she's not interested, but
some other local travelers have decided not to cancel cruises this fall
because they believe the company can work out the problems in Hawaii.

The ship's having an American crew is probably most of the problem. The
international crews on most cruises are a lot of what makes a cruise fun
and adds a special flavor to the vacation. Also, it appears, the
international crews are more willing to do their jobs in a professional
manner, even though some of the jobs are somewhat menial in nature.

Yankees 5, Tampa 1, bottom of 4th.

http://www.kxtv.com/storyfull1.asp?id=8017

Passengers Criticize Norwegian Cruise Line's New Hawaii Tour

Norwegian Cruise Lines says it is working hard to improve service on a
new series of inter-island cruises around Hawaii. The otherwise well-
regarded line has been generally panned by customers who took the
cruises this summer.

The criticism concerns the cruise line's newly christened ship Pride of
Aloha. In July, the ship, which flies an American flag and carries and
American crew, began offering cruises around all five Hawaiian Islands.
Vacationers say Hawaii was great, but the service on the ship left a
lot to be desired.

"Our room was dirty. There were fuzzballs under the beds. The counters
were dirty. The bathrooms were dirty. The shower curtain was moldy,"
said cruise passenger Kathy Hackley, who lives in Auburn.

Hackley said she and her mother waited two hours or longer for meals to
be served. They finally gave up and bought fast food on shore. It
wasn't what she expected when she paid $4,723.44 to book their cruise.

Travel agent Judi Stiles has heard similar tales from her own clients.
She blames the crew, which she said was not well-trained in cruise line
standard service. "Inexperienced, young, cocky, don't know how to
say 'Yes, sir' and don't know how to serve a plate," said
Stiles. "That's what's happening

A written statement from Norwegian Cruise Lines reads, in part: "...
the company has faced a number of start-up challenges... and would like
to apologize for that."

The cruise line is offering Hackley and other dissatisfied customers 20
percent off any future cruise. Hackley says she's not interested, but
some other local travelers have decided not to cancel cruises this fall
because they believe the company can work out the problems in Hawaii.

wrote in message
...

http://www.kxtv.com/storyfull1.asp?id=8017

Passengers Criticize Norwegian Cruise Line's New Hawaii Tour

Norwegian Cruise Lines says it is working hard to improve service on a
new series of inter-island cruises around Hawaii. The otherwise well-
regarded line has been generally panned by customers who took the
cruises this summer.

The criticism concerns the cruise line's newly christened ship Pride of
Aloha. In July, the ship, which flies an American flag and carries and
American crew, began offering cruises around all five Hawaiian Islands.
Vacationers say Hawaii was great, but the service on the ship left a
lot to be desired.


Travel agent Judi Stiles has heard similar tales from her own clients.
She blames the crew, which she said was not well-trained in cruise line
standard service. "Inexperienced, young, cocky, don't know how to
say 'Yes, sir' and don't know how to serve a plate," said
Stiles. "That's what's happening



The ship's having an American crew is probably most of the problem. The
international crews on most cruises are a lot of what makes a cruise fun
and adds a special flavor to the vacation. Also, it appears, the
international crews are more willing to do their jobs in a professional
manner, even though some of the jobs are somewhat menial in nature.

If you read all the reviews you'll find out it's not the crew. Most all pax
that have written reviews have stated the american workers are busting their
butts but they are short about 300 crewmembers.

That is the main problem and the inedible buffet food.
It's like trying to play a football game with your team only fielding 7 men
instead of 11. They are just going to get overwhelmed.

Bill

We certainly got wonderful service from the American crew on our
cruise on the former American Hawaii's old SS Independence in 2000.
(Even if the food wasn't so great.)


On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 02:14:58 GMT, "William Coleman"
wrote:
If you read all the reviews you'll find out it's not the crew. Most all pax
that have written reviews have stated the american workers are busting their
butts but they are short about 300 crewmembers.

Mike Christie
mike [at] csquared [dot] com

And, the American crew is not going to be willing to work 70+ hours a
week 6+ days a week and even if they were NCL could not afford to pay
them to do it.

Our waiter on our last cruise (Celebrity) indicated he worked 'at
least' 70 hours a week and many more on top of that to take on extra
duties that furthered his career. He served breakfast, lunch, two
seating at dinner, plus served the senior officers in a 3rd seating
that wound up about 2AM. All that for $3.50pp/pd

I think NCL will sink the whole project in a year and re-flag/re-name
the ship. They are getting slammed across their entire brand for the
unsolveable problems on one ship.

-D

"William Coleman" wrote in message news:C680d.337$AM3.144@trndny02...
wrote in message
...

http://www.kxtv.com/storyfull1.asp?id=8017

Passengers Criticize Norwegian Cruise Line's New Hawaii Tour

Norwegian Cruise Lines says it is working hard to improve service on a
new series of inter-island cruises around Hawaii. The otherwise well-
regarded line has been generally panned by customers who took the
cruises this summer.

The criticism concerns the cruise line's newly christened ship Pride of
Aloha. In July, the ship, which flies an American flag and carries and
American crew, began offering cruises around all five Hawaiian Islands.
Vacationers say Hawaii was great, but the service on the ship left a
lot to be desired.


Travel agent Judi Stiles has heard similar tales from her own clients.
She blames the crew, which she said was not well-trained in cruise line
standard service. "Inexperienced, young, cocky, don't know how to
say 'Yes, sir' and don't know how to serve a plate," said
Stiles. "That's what's happening



The ship's having an American crew is probably most of the problem. The
international crews on most cruises are a lot of what makes a cruise fun
and adds a special flavor to the vacation. Also, it appears, the
international crews are more willing to do their jobs in a professional
manner, even though some of the jobs are somewhat menial in nature.

If you read all the reviews you'll find out it's not the crew. Most all pax
that have written reviews have stated the american workers are busting their
butts but they are short about 300 crewmembers.

That is the main problem and the inedible buffet food.
It's like trying to play a football game with your team only fielding 7 men
instead of 11. They are just going to get overwhelmed.

Bill

And, the American crew is not going to be willing to work 70+ hours a
week 6+ days a week and even if they were NCL could not afford to pay
them to do it.

Our waiter on our last cruise (Celebrity) indicated he worked 'at
least' 70 hours a week and many more on top of that to take on extra
duties that furthered his career. He served breakfast, lunch, two
seating at dinner, plus served the senior officers in a 3rd seating
that wound up about 2AM. All that for $3.50pp/pd

I think NCL will sink the whole project in a year and re-flag/re-name
the ship. They are getting slammed across their entire brand for the
unsolveable problems on one ship.

-D

"William Coleman" wrote in message news:C680d.337$AM3.144@trndny02...
wrote in message
...

http://www.kxtv.com/storyfull1.asp?id=8017

Passengers Criticize Norwegian Cruise Line's New Hawaii Tour

Norwegian Cruise Lines says it is working hard to improve service on a
new series of inter-island cruises around Hawaii. The otherwise well-
regarded line has been generally panned by customers who took the
cruises this summer.

The criticism concerns the cruise line's newly christened ship Pride of
Aloha. In July, the ship, which flies an American flag and carries and
American crew, began offering cruises around all five Hawaiian Islands.
Vacationers say Hawaii was great, but the service on the ship left a
lot to be desired.


Travel agent Judi Stiles has heard similar tales from her own clients.
She blames the crew, which she said was not well-trained in cruise line
standard service. "Inexperienced, young, cocky, don't know how to
say 'Yes, sir' and don't know how to serve a plate," said
Stiles. "That's what's happening



The ship's having an American crew is probably most of the problem. The
international crews on most cruises are a lot of what makes a cruise fun
and adds a special flavor to the vacation. Also, it appears, the
international crews are more willing to do their jobs in a professional
manner, even though some of the jobs are somewhat menial in nature.

If you read all the reviews you'll find out it's not the crew. Most all pax
that have written reviews have stated the american workers are busting their
butts but they are short about 300 crewmembers.

That is the main problem and the inedible buffet food.
It's like trying to play a football game with your team only fielding 7 men
instead of 11. They are just going to get overwhelmed.

Bill

On 11 Sep 2004 10:31:12 -0700, (dep_blueman)
wrote:

And, the American crew is not going to be willing to work 70+ hours a
week 6+ days a week and even if they were NCL could not afford to pay
them to do it.

Our waiter on our last cruise (Celebrity) indicated he worked 'at
least' 70 hours a week and many more on top of that to take on extra
duties that furthered his career. He served breakfast, lunch, two
seating at dinner, plus served the senior officers in a 3rd seating
that wound up about 2AM. All that for $3.50pp/pd

I think NCL will sink the whole project in a year and re-flag/re-name
the ship. They are getting slammed across their entire brand for the
unsolveable problems on one ship.


But don't you think that the $70 "service charge" hurts, too?
--
dillon

When I was a kid, I thought the angel's name was Hark
and the horse's name was Bob.

You bet! I am sure the folks LOVE to be told they have to pay
$10/pp/pd for service that is not acceptable to them. And, the crew
is very happy I am sure at not getting any 'additional' tips when
15%-20% is standard in the US.

It* is a very interesting look into the global economy. Most average
Americans are not exposed directly to the massive difference in the
standard (and cost) of living of the 3rd world. A cruise is one way
to peek over the wall and look at the other side; a place where
$3.50/pp/pd as wages plus room and board is enough to provide for your
family, put your kids through higher education, support your parents,
bothers, sisters, etc. Just, fair, ethical? Not for me to say.
Reality? No doubt about it.

-D

*being on a non-US cruise ship and/or seeing the difference in service
levels between the US NCL ship and others

Dillon Pyron wrote in message . ..
On 11 Sep 2004 10:31:12 -0700, (dep_blueman)
wrote:
But don't you think that the $70 "service charge" hurts, too?

"dep_blueman" wrote in message
om...
You bet! I am sure the folks LOVE to be told they have to pay
$10/pp/pd for service that is not acceptable to them. And, the crew
is very happy I am sure at not getting any 'additional' tips when
15%-20% is standard in the US.

It* is a very interesting look into the global economy. Most average
Americans are not exposed directly to the massive difference in the
standard (and cost) of living of the 3rd world. A cruise is one way
to peek over the wall and look at the other side; a place where
$3.50/pp/pd as wages plus room and board is enough to provide for your
family, put your kids through higher education, support your parents,
bothers, sisters, etc. Just, fair, ethical? Not for me to say.
Reality? No doubt about it.

-D

*being on a non-US cruise ship and/or seeing the difference in service
levels between the US NCL ship and others

Dillon Pyron wrote in message
. ..
On 11 Sep 2004 10:31:12 -0700, (dep_blueman)
wrote:
But don't you think that the $70 "service charge" hurts, too?

If the crew isn't very happy not receiving additional tips who do they have
to blame? They must have been told at the outset that tips weren't required
by the pax on this ship. At least that's the way NCL lead the public to
believe.

Bill
--
visit my Caribbean Princess website
www.cruisingthecaribbeanprincess.com

I really don't know what they were told by NCL but I would GUESS that
they were told that they would be paid $X a month + room and board +
any tips they receive.

Tips are not required in the vast majority of eating establishment in
the US but they are expected by the service staff. Try stiffing your
waiter and see how excited he/she is the next time you come in
....just don't eat the gumbo!

-D

"William Coleman" wrote in message news:HmP0d.1459$IO5.830@trndny04...
If the crew isn't very happy not receiving additional tips who do they have
to blame? They must have been told at the outset that tips weren't required
by the pax on this ship. At least that's the way NCL lead the public to
believe.

Bill