Weird Vibe On Pride of America

I'm on NCL Pride of America- we boarded yesterday, the 12th of August, and set sail at 7 pm.

Boarding was fine, no issues. I had broken my foot at a Neil Diamond concert a few weeks before - and they were very kind about wheel chair assistance. It's when we boarded things felt a little weird.

We went to Cagneys for lunch, and the staff were actually sniping at each other, raised voices etc... in all the times I've cruised I've never experienced that.

The food was off - not terrible but not Cagney standards. Again weird.

We booked a suite- so we met our butler and steward who were/are super amazing.

But the rest of the ship and lots of the staff just don't seem to be happy to be here. Again weird.

The conceirge seems a little off as well.

Has anyone who's sailed on PoA experienced anything like this - staff not as friendly, service weird etc...

I'm not a wave maker (no pun intended) so I'm not going to complain. But I'm not sure I'd cruise Hawaii again. Weird. 🤷🏽*♀️

yes we noticed this years ago when we did Hawaii. Very odd experience. We thought it was because it was our first American ship, but there was absolutely no atmosphere on board and most staff were rude or bored.

yes we noticed this years ago when we did Hawaii. Very odd experience. We thought it was because it was our first American ship, but there was absolutely no atmosphere on board and most staff were rude or bored.

You hit the nail on the head - bored, no atmosphere, this side of rude. I know I won't cruise to Hawaii again whereas I'd go to Alaska over and over.

We sailed POA last year , in Owners Suite. We also noticed a different attitude from some of the staff. Room steward and butler were great. Very surprised at curt attitude from concierge. Told they do not do in suite dining , which surprised me. Butler said concierge makes the rules and a letter to our Suite laid out his rules for the cruise. No Suite seating for entertainment etc. If we wanted escort off ship, we had to make it at his time. One escort per port.

Did go to HD and leave a comment. I had organized the Cruise Critic M & G and had chatted with him then. He apologized for a couple of incidents and ended up sending wine to our cabin.

Butler, did bring us dinner one evening, as a special favor to us, hope he did not get in trouble. We had specialty dining for each night of cruise, so we had him bring Cagney's.

Since POA has to hire a certain number of Americans as staff, many are not accustomed to NCL work schedule. We spent most time off ship, renting a car at a couple of ports and driving in Maui and Kauai . Went snorkeling at Poipu beach, and then Grand Canyon of Kauai.

Try to ignore grumbling and enjoy your cruise. It is the best way to experience all the islands. We have spent many years going to Maui and Kauai. It was cool to see the other islands.

PLEASE , have a great time on the islands...

Also.....

Love going to Alaska....going again next month on the Pearl ...

We sailed POA last year , in Owners Suite. We also noticed a different attitude from some of the staff. Room steward and butler were great. Very surprised at curt attitude from concierge. Told they do not do in suite dining , which surprised me. Butler said concierge makes the rules and a letter to our Suite laid out his rules for the cruise. No Suite seating for entertainment etc. If we wanted escort off ship, we had to make it at his time. One escort per port.

Butler, did bring us dinner one evening, as a special favor to us, hope he did not get in trouble. We had specialty dining for each night of cruise, so we had him bring Cagney's.

Since POA has to hire a certain number of Americans as staff, many are not accustomed to NCL work schedule. We spent most time off ship, renting a car at a couple of ports and driving in Maui and Kauai . Went snorkeling at Poipu beach, and then Grand Canyon of Kauai.

Try to ignore grumbling and enjoy your cruise. It is the best way to experience all the islands. We have spent many years going to Maui and Kauai. It was cool to see the other islands.

Yep sounds pretty much the same. We are in a Deluxe penthouse. Curt would be an accurate word. Peter is our butler and super sweet. My kid is a musician so we inquired if it was possibly a piano available for him to practice songs while he was here - The outgoing cruise director said no problem but the incoming cruise director said absolutely not – very weird. For instance they wanted to see any YouTube for any proof that he was really a musician. And I thought it was kind of stupid to make him prove that he was a serious musician just because he is 16. So we decided that he did live if he didn't get to play piano for a week you'll just have to practice that much harder when I get home :)

Thanks for your reply and support and will take care advice :)

A while back I posted a thread about how miserable the crew aboard Jewel seemed during a Mexican Riviera cruise last April. It was a unique experience for me after 20-something cruises. Unfortunately the phenomenon is not unique to P of A. Who knows what causes it.

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We were on the POA for the San Francisco - Honolulu repositioning cruise after the SFO drydock last year March 2016, and it did include the 6 days islands. We had a great time altho' we did find staff a bit indifferent, as compared to other cruises we have been on. We found some staff exceptional, like our room steward (wow, he was one of the best), a couple of cocktail waitresses, some CD staff, and a handful others, that's it.

Although we had a great cruise in our own way - we loved visiting the islands, we will not cruise on POA again - far too expensive (the SFO-HNL was about 40% of the normal cruise price, that was why we grabbed the one-off cruise), American-flagged (75% crew have to be American) and NO CASINO!

If we are to return to Hawaii, we'd fly and stay on land.

Boarding was fine, no issues. I had broken my foot at a Neil Diamond concert a few weeks before - and they were very kind about wheel chair assistance.

When will they finally put an end to mosh pits at Neil Diamond concerts?!?

You hit the nail on the head - bored, no atmosphere, this side of rude. I know I won't cruise to Hawaii again whereas I'd go to Alaska over and over.

You're not alone. One and done for me on POA. By far the worst service I've ever had on a cruise.

But that said, I've done other Hawaiian cruises on other lines. Of course, they were longer and not exclusively Hawaii. Night and day difference in service. This crap service is a NCLA thing. Always has been.

You've got me worried now. We sail on the 26th. I've read bad things but sort of dismissed them, thinking we wouldn't be on the ship that much, it's not like other cruises, etc etc, but my mother is in a wheelchair and I really would like the staff to be nice to her! She will be on the ship more than I will - I'm doing a couple of excursions without her so she can have "days off" - but she'll be going to the buffet on her own when I'm not there. Hopefully everyone will be helpful?

I think we were kind of spoiled because our first cruise together (and her first cruise in a wheelchair) was on the Queen Mary 2, and they really couldn't do enough for you and fell all over themselves to help. So I will lower my expectations a bit. :)

When will they finally put an end to mosh pits at Neil Diamond concerts?!?

I know, right Andy?

You've got me worried now. We sail on the 26th. I've read bad things but sort of dismissed them, thinking we wouldn't be on the ship that much, it's not like other cruises, etc etc, but my mother is in a wheelchair and I really would like the staff to be nice to her! She will be on the ship more than I will - I'm doing a couple of excursions without her so she can have "days off" - but she'll be going to the buffet on her own when I'm not there. Hopefully everyone will be helpful?

 

I think we were kind of spoiled because our first cruise together (and her first cruise in a wheelchair) was on the Queen Mary 2, and they really couldn't do enough for you and fell all over themselves to help. So I will lower my expectations a bit. :)

They were very helpful, accommodating, and cool when we boarded. And I get the whole spoiled thing. Are you in a suite? If so make sure you tell your butler she'll need help - and really they will help:) Just ask.

When will they finally put an end to mosh pits at Neil Diamond concerts?!?

She probably tripped over someone's walker...........;p

She probably tripped over someone's walker...........;p

Ha Andy! You are right the majority of the audience were the older generation. In my case I danced too much and then tripped up the stair. I bet you didn't know you could do that? I am the queen of being a klutz. 🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂🤦🏽*♀️

This is what happens with a US flagged ship. Crew complacency.

Is NCL aware of all these complaints? It would be helpful to future passengers ( like myself ) if they were. They have no access to this thread...I don't think... There's just no excuse for poor service and attitude. There's too many people out there that would love to work on a ship that circles the Hawaiian Isles.

Is NCL aware of all these complaints? It would be helpful to future passengers ( like myself ) if they were. They have no access to this thread...I don't think... There's just no excuse for poor service and attitude. There's too many people out there that would love to work on a ship that circles the Hawaiian Isles.

The Americans probably love it for about a month and then hate the grueling work, low pay, and cramped crew quarters. Unlike crew from developing countries, they have an attitude that they don't "need" to be there. And they probably don't thanks to our generous welfare system.

Was on this cruise in April and had a great time, and except for one cocktail waitress, the service from the crew was excellent.

This is what happens with a US flagged ship. Crew complacency.

Geez, we are going on our first NCL cruise. I sure hope this bad crew attitude is a single ship problem and not to the entire fleet. :(

I don't have high expectations when I travel. I usually don't travel to be pampered as my husband and I go to see the sights and have a few good meals. We do expect people to be helpful when we have questions. We have only cruised on Carnival and we are not huge cruise people. We are taking this cruise as we want to see as much as Hawaii as we can in a short amount of time.(we do have a few days before the cruise in Honolulu.)

I have read the reviews on this ship and it seems reviews are mixed. As long as staff is not rude and the ship is as pretty as it looks on their website we will be happy.

I don't have high expectations when I travel. I usually don't travel to be pampered as my husband and I go to see the sights and have a few good meals. We do expect people to be helpful when we have questions. We have only cruised on Carnival and we are not huge cruise people. We are taking this cruise as we want to see as much as Hawaii as we can in a short amount of time.(we do have a few days before the cruise in Honolulu.)

I have read the reviews on this ship and it seems reviews are mixed. As long as staff is not rude and the ship is as pretty as it looks on their website we will be happy.

These were my exact expectations when i cruised the POA the first time.....you will have a great time and hopefully be exhausted lol. We enjoyed this itinerary so much we are doing it again in March.

Took this cruise several months ago and can totally relate to the OP's comments. I posted a very similar mini review and was rebuked by many folks on this board. Dedicated NCL folks, and I understand that.

The truth of the matter is, and it makes me uncomfortable saying this but a ship crewed by Americans cannot compare to other ships crewed by folks who really want and appreciate the opportunity to work. I have sailed on other NCL ships and received far better service, attitude and food than POA.

I will say that the over all experience was worthwhile but because of the destination not the ship. NCL has a monopoly on this format and obviously, as long as they keep POA full, these issues are not important enough to fix.

Out POA Cruise out of Hawaii was unlike any other cruise we have ever been on. Probably because most people will only be on the boat when absolutely necessary. Almost no activities, don't even remember 1 show, the food eh, it was like a hotel room on water, just plain boring! But the Islands were amazing!

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Is NCL aware of all these complaints? It would be helpful to future passengers ( like myself ) if they were. They have no access to this thread...I don't think... There's just no excuse for poor service and attitude. There's too many people out there that would love to work on a ship that circles the Hawaiian Isles.

I'm on NCL Pride of America- we boarded yesterday, the 12th of August, and set sail at 7 pm.

 

Boarding was fine, no issues. I had broken my foot at a Neil Diamond concert a few weeks before - and they were very kind about wheel chair assistance. It's when we boarded things felt a little weird.

 

 

We went to Cagneys for lunch, and the staff were actually sniping at each other, raised voices etc... in all the times I've cruised I've never experienced that.

 

 

The food was off - not terrible but not Cagney standards. Again weird.

 

 

We booked a suite- so we met our butler and steward who were/are super amazing.

 

 

But the rest of the ship and lots of the staff just don't seem to be happy to be here. Again weird.

 

The conceirge seems a little off as well.

 

Has anyone who's sailed on PoA experienced anything like this - staff not as friendly, service weird etc...

 

I'm not a wave maker (no pun intended) so I'm not going to complain. But I'm not sure I'd cruise Hawaii again. Weird. 🤷🏽*♀️

To the OP, bottom line is, the POA has the best Hawaiian itinerary, hands down, if your goal is to spend max time on islands the closest to Paradise we'll see. Yet, you say you're not sure you'd sail Hawaii again....weird!😉. Have cruised POA twice, and would not hesitate to sail a 3rd time. We spent very little time on the ship.

The mostly American crew is different, pretty much the same service we get in regular life here at home, and yet we survive. I agree with Sunkist Cruiser, rather than post here, I'd be making my feelings known to the Concierge, HD and NCL, especially if I had booked a suite. It's the only way things will ever change.

It sounds like the Concierge has changed, either temporary or permanent. Perhaps the HD as well? Anyone know? Staff attitude and expectations flow from the top down. They can get complacent too. Our concierge Thomas was the best we have experienced to date. I believe he had been on the POA for years. He touched base with us at least a couple times a day to see what he could do for us. We had dinners and breakfasts delivered to our suite. Thomas made it clear to us that his boss, Klaus Lugmaier, VP Fleet Hotel Operations, had very high expectations. We had a nice conversation with Klaus on the POA post dry dock cruise, and I can see that this is true.

Concierge's should not be making up their own rules. I'd let the Concierge and HD know, loud and clear, that this is not the same suite service you get on other NCL ships. You might want to send an email outlining your experience and disappointment to klugmaier@ncl.com.

Out POA Cruise out of Hawaii was unlike any other cruise we have ever been on. Probably because most people will only be on the boat when absolutely necessary. Almost no activities, don't even remember 1 show, the food eh, it was like a hotel room on water, just plain boring! But the Islands were amazing!

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Are you kidding me?! There were many activities on the ship throughout the day, and a new show in the Theatre each night, as well as various other musical entertainment at various lounges. There are POA Freestyle Dailies posted on CC, take a look for yourself. It seemed a shame to miss most of it, but Hawaii came first, and we were exhausted when we reboarded at the end of a very long day. And after all, that's why we cruised Hawaii. Not for cruise ship activities.