Is this normal on NCL???

[maarten288]

I sailed on Norwegian EPIC last month and wasn't impressed with Norwegian at all.

 

I found the overall staff didn't provide close to the service of RCCL and Carnival. When I arrived in my cabin there was hairs in the sink and shower, the carpet was dirty and trash was still in the can from the previous guests. How you can miss all this I don't know. The main dining room and especially buffett were well below what I expected (Specialty restaurants were very good). The bar service and overall friendliness of the staff was far below what I've encountered on previous cruiselines.

 

I have to say that the ship was beautiful but it'll be a long time before I return to NCL because of the service and overall food quality.

[fergusonvt]

I've never been on the EPIC but my first cruise on any line was on the Sun in January and our room was very clean. The staff was great and very helpful. We thought the food in both the MDR's and some of the choices on the buffet were very good. Sorry your experience wasn't the same.

[sparks1093]

It's not what we experienced on the Sky.

[KandJCruising]

Ditto on the consolations.

We've been on 5 NCL ships (including Epic) and haven't had any real issues with cleanliness or service. It has typically been excellent. The same for the food. The MDRs and buffets aren't five-star dining, but we've always been able to find something we enjoy. I'd say our experiences were comparable to our RCCL cruises.

[MissMega]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience.

 

We were on the Epic last year and this was definately not what we experienced. The staff was wonderful our room was always clean and well kept.

 

Hopefully you wont banish all of NCL just because of a bad experience on one ship.

[che5904]

No, it isn't typical. Our rooms were kept very clean and 99% of the staff onboard were very attentive to us and details.

 

Now not that it is unheard of for someone to have a bad experience, because the world, including cruise ships, are run by humans and humans make mistakes.

 

Did you bring this to anyones attention?? If this was the case I would be certain that the hotel director would be extremely interested in the condition your room was left in.

 

I'm sure supervisors in any company do sparadic checks on their employees but if customers never bring anything to them there is no way they would be aware that a problem with an employee existed.

[housepeepers]

Our experience on the Epic was just the opposite of yours; it was our best cruise yet with the service being above extraordinary and the food in the buffet and MDRs was the best we have had on any of our previous cruises. As others have said, if you were unhappy with things you should have contacted the Hotel Director immediately and made your complaints known.

[Warm Breezes]

I sailed on Norwegian EPIC last month and wasn't impressed with Norwegian at all.

 

I found the overall staff didn't provide close to the service of RCCL and Carnival. When I arrived in my cabin there was hairs in the sink and shower, the carpet was dirty and trash was still in the can from the previous guests. How you can miss all this I don't know. The main dining room and especially buffett were well below what I expected (Specialty restaurants were very good). The bar service and overall friendliness of the staff was far below what I've encountered on previous cruiselines.

 

I have to say that the ship was beautiful but it'll be a long time before I return to NCL because of the service and overall food quality.

I have to say that the NCL Jewel was the cleanest ship we ever sailed on. The service was up to par with all of our cruises. We weren't so fond of the MDR room food, but the buffet was superior to CCL. I am of the opinion that you can't judge a whole line from one ship or even judge a ship from one cruise. Circumstances, passengers, and crew are constantly changing. Each cruise is a new adventure for me.

[emcelh]

I've never experienced anything but excellent service on any NCL ship. The cabins we had were always spotless as well as the ship itself. As for the food, I didn't expect a 5-star dining experience but always enjoyed what I had. Sorry your experience was not good, but I don't think it's the norm.

[cantwaitforoasis]

we have sailed DCL and RCC. Last March on the Oasis there was trash in the garbage from the last people.

[4774Papa]

I sailed on Norwegian EPIC last month and wasn't impressed with Norwegian at all.

 

I found the overall staff didn't provide close to the service of RCCL and Carnival. When I arrived in my cabin there was hairs in the sink and shower, the carpet was dirty and trash was still in the can from the previous guests. How you can miss all this I don't know. The main dining room and especially buffett were well below what I expected (Specialty restaurants were very good). The bar service and overall friendliness of the staff was far below what I've encountered on previous cruiselines.

 

I have to say that the ship was beautiful but it'll be a long time before I return to NCL because of the service and overall food quality.

 

 

Have not experienced that on the Gem and Jade. In fact, the custodians seem to overspray that disinfectant everywhere, so that you can smell it bigtime. My Wife even had an allergy problem to the disinfectant.

[Warmer Climes]

Wow, that certainly wasn't our experience on the Epic in February. Service was excellent and our cabin was kept scrupulously clean. As far as the food went, it was comparable to our RCCL cruises.

[spacepotatoes]

Definitely not the norm. It was not our experience on the Pride of America or the Sky. It can certainly happen on any ship, but hasn't happened to us.

[Suesan Jean]

Ditto on the consolations.

 

We've been on 5 NCL ships (including Epic) and haven't had any real issues with cleanliness or service. It has typically been excellent. The same for the food. The MDRs and buffets aren't five-star dining, but we've always been able to find something we enjoy. I'd say our experiences were comparable to our RCCL cruises.

 

I too am sorry to hear that you were not happy with your first NCL cruise.

I wish it had been a great cruise for you! :)

Next month we are going on our eighth NCL cruise and I have our ninth one already booked for next year! :D We have ALWAYS had a WONDERFULL TIME on ALL our NCL cruises. Our cabins have been clean and the staff were top notch. I do have to admit that sometimes I have been disapointed with some of the food on occasion.

I don't even bother with the soups anymore and sometimes the entrees just don't quite do it for me. But, I always try to find something that I like, an appetizer or a dessert. :D ;)

I have to say that the wait staff in the main dining rooms on the Dawn were super!!! Last August, my teenage DD was not eating any of the menu selections, but, she LOVES Pasta, so, she would ask for all different types of Pasta, with Meat Sauce, plain sauce or Alfredo. She would get whatever she asked for at no extra charge.

I hope your future cruises are as lovely as you would like them to be.

[Hikini]

To answer your question in a nutshell - is this normal for NCL, the answer is no.

 

Now, to go outside of the nutshell:cool:

 

We have been on 6 NCL cruises on 4 different ships, and have 2 more booked in the near and far future. We keep going back to NCL specifically because we have had such wonderful experiences each time. The service has been top notch and the ships have been very clean.

 

And we think the food is anywhere from good to fantastic. Very few things have we found in all of those cruises that weren't too our liking.

 

I'm sorry your cruise was not a good one for you.

[gopherhockey]

I sailed on Norwegian EPIC last month and wasn't impressed with Norwegian at all.

 

I found the overall staff didn't provide close to the service of RCCL and Carnival. When I arrived in my cabin there was hairs in the sink and shower, the carpet was dirty and trash was still in the can from the previous guests. How you can miss all this I don't know. The main dining room and especially buffett were well below what I expected (Specialty restaurants were very good). The bar service and overall friendliness of the staff was far below what I've encountered on previous cruiselines.

 

I have to say that the ship was beautiful but it'll be a long time before I return to NCL because of the service and overall food quality.

 

I think with so many different cabin attendants people's experiences will vary. Ours on the EPIC was pretty good, but compared to Celebrity, more than a step below. Then again I really do think you get what you pay for - NCL is to us on the lower end of the cruise chain... you'll get less quality food, the boat was even lesser quality, etc.

 

I noticed attention to detail on EPIC was really lacking. On the Celebrity solstice there was more stone and glass, on the EPIC it was linoleum and cheap carpet.

 

Despite a few annoying passengers and other things we did enjoy our cruise and would go on EPIC again. I fell in love with the water slides alone. I've posted a few negative things but I was able to walk away fairly happy.

 

Will we ever expect NCL to outshine Celebrity or even the more expensive lines? Nope.

 

Its been a while since I was on RC... we are booked to try the Allure next spring. That may change, but it will be interesting to compare.

 

(P.S. we were only on Princess once, but thats where we found the worst customer service.)

[che5904]

I think with so many different cabin attendants people's experiences will vary. Ours on the EPIC was pretty good, but compared to Celebrity, more than a step below.....

 

Well for one thing I would never compare 2 ship lines. That would be like comparing vacationing in 2 countries or 2 different States etc. Every cruise line I’m sure has it’s merits.

“Then again I really do think you get what you pay for - NCL is to us on the lower end of the cruise chain” I really feel that statement is harsh and not true to all. (yes I realize you stated “to us”) Considering your last statement was Princess was found to have the worst customer service, which to my understanding would cost me more than NCL.

“I noticed attention to detail on EPIC was really lacking. On the Celebrity solstice there was more stone and glass, on the EPIC it was linoleum and cheap carpet.” Interior decorating is really not that important to me. If they are going to charge less than most other lines for a cruise it stands to reason that they would have to cut costs somewhere and I would rather it be in the flooring than to cut down wait staff in the dining room for example. NCL has been noted as you state above to be less expensive than most. Where would you like them to have the cost cutting done? Flooring does seem to be less intrusive to the passengers enjoyment don’t you think?

I’m glad over all you had an enjoyable cruise.

[Agent999]

I sailed on Norwegian EPIC last month and wasn't impressed with Norwegian at all.

 

I found the overall staff didn't provide close to the service of RCCL and Carnival. When I arrived in my cabin there was hairs in the sink and shower, the carpet was dirty and trash was still in the can from the previous guests. How you can miss all this I don't know. The main dining room and especially buffett were well below what I expected (Specialty restaurants were very good). The bar service and overall friendliness of the staff was far below what I've encountered on previous cruiselines.

 

I have to say that the ship was beautiful but it'll be a long time before I return to NCL because of the service and overall food quality.

 

 

Is it just me, or does this post not pass the smell test?

 

#1 - This poster indicates that they were in a SUITE. Aren't guests in suites escorted directly to their staterooms? If so, an NCL staffer was present when they arrived and would have seen the condition of the stateroom (and been mortified!).

 

#2 - Suite-level staterooms are usually assigned to the best stewards...unlikely that they would have done such a poor job.

 

#3 - Buffet? Considering the private dining available to courtyard guests, why would you elect to go to the buffet?

 

#4 - If there is one area where NCL far outshines the competition it is in suites. Very hard to believe that the service was anywhere near what was claimed.

 

 

Something doesn't seem right here....:rolleyes:

[Medtech2]

I sailed on Norwegian EPIC last month and wasn't impressed with Norwegian at all.

 

I found the overall staff didn't provide close to the service of RCCL and Carnival. When I arrived in my cabin there was hairs in the sink and shower, the carpet was dirty and trash was still in the can from the previous guests. How you can miss all this I don't know. The main dining room and especially buffett were well below what I expected (Specialty restaurants were very good). The bar service and overall friendliness of the staff was far below what I've encountered on previous cruiselines.

 

I have to say that the ship was beautiful but it'll be a long time before I return to NCL because of the service and overall food quality.

Sorry you had a bad experience--a polar opposite to our own.

 

Did you report the cleanliness issues upon arrival? What was the outcome?

 

Remember on any NCL ship the HD's number is 8888.

[Agent999]

You base your entire judgment on the fact they were in a suite. But I've re-read their post several times and I don't understand why you think they were in a suite. I see the word 'cabin' but nowhere do I see any hint of their being in a suite. What am I missing -- or is it in some other post??

 

It almost seems as though you were looking for a way to say "you're wrong - gotcha".

 

 

No need to read and re-read their post. The countdown clock for their Epic sailing says "COURTYARD PENTHOUSE", so it is obvious that they were in a suite.

[STARFISH*4]

havent been on the Epic but on 4 different ships for 9 cruises, NEVER experienced anything like that...so for us and all the others i know that cruise NCL the OPs experience wasnt "normal" for NCL!!

[tiyana4]

We have personally enjoyed every cruise we have been on including the 5 on NCL. If we had bashed an entire cruise line based on our first "not so perfect" cruise, I would NEVER sail with RCL in the future. The LOS was our least favorite cruise but it has not turned us off of that line entirely.

 

It is good to know the OP enjoyed SOME aspects of the cruise, but based on the highly negative tone of their previous posts, I will say there isn't much they find positive. It's a shame really. The Epic is a unique ship and I can't wait to sail on it next year.

[nathand95]

I was just off the Epic April 9th and found it to have the best food I have ever had,way better than Carnival. One thing I do agree with you on is that in my parent's cabin there was trash in the bottom of the closet, but my studio cabin was IMMACULATE!!!!! I found 90% of the staff to be very good and seemed genuinely happy to see you and serve you. I do believe you had just a rare experience. I hope you choose to return to NCL soon.

[sdmike]

The Epic was immaculate when I was on it, as was our room each day. In the future, if you have issues with your room, contact the hotel director. Your problem will be fixed immediately, and it won't happen again. Coming here to complain after the fact gets you nothing.

[clarkg]

I have been on 8 NCL cruises and only once did we have a problem with the room. A quick call to housekeeping and the issue was solved very quickly.