If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
NCL Dream - Mini Review
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
MSC Lirica Mini Review | cruisecluestoo | Cruises | 5 | February 20th, 2004 10:28 PM |
Splendour Review (Mini) | \Van\ Van Doorne | Cruises | 4 | January 28th, 2004 05:39 PM |
NCL Dream Review 12-21-03 Long | grantme | Cruises | 0 | December 31st, 2003 12:09 AM |
Navigator Mini Review | ArleneL | Cruises | 3 | December 22nd, 2003 03:16 AM |
Horizon from Philly to Bermuda - mini review | [email protected] | Cruises | 3 | October 7th, 2003 11:49 PM |