What is the worst Cruise line that you have sailed on

[celle]

Repositioning cruise, Alexandria (Egypt) to Southampton (UK).

 

The ship hit a mine in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and they had the nerve to kick us off the ship in the middle of the night! :eek:

 

What really happened: It was a troop ship of the British navy, returning troops to the UK from Egypt at the end of World War 2, in 1945. My very-pregnant mother and I (aged 3) were allowed to board, because my mother needed urgent medical care in the UK.

 

We were travelling in a convoy, so could be transferred to another ship without too much delay. I distinctly remember being lowered down to the deck of the second ship in a cargo net.

 

I don't remember the meals, but the "on-board entertainment" was excellent - lots of friendly soldiers willing to spoil and entertain a rather precocious little child. :)

[rvsullivan]

OMG my thoughts exactly! You pay for a suite on NCL , it's like a regular room on all others! I have been saying that forever. I have done this deal!

 

Wow, I thought on your other thread you were talking about how you only did Garden Villa's and Owners Suites? Weren't you mentioning that as one who is paying the highest rates on the ship, you should be getting the best service and render the lesser butlers to the lower classes? Now you are talking about how the Garden Villa is smaller than a regular room on other lines!!! Amazing!!! Garden Villa's are about 5,000 sq ft and larger.

[Cruzaholic41]

hard to accept , when almost this whole thread says NCL

 

That's the biggest problem with threads like this. Apologists for certain cruise lines get offended as though the line is a personal family member of theirs. They just can't accept that other people dislike their oh so holy cruise line. It's an insecurity complex.

 

That said, you are absolutely correct. NCL has been one of the most disliked cruise lines for as long as I can remember. While my absolute worst cruise experience was on Costa, and my least favorite line based on several cruises is Carnival, I can certainly see why NCL would be so disliked by others. There's really no "wow" factor to that line and the experience is so forgetable. Plus, to me, they have the worst food in the free venues of any cruise line.

[davecttr]

Strange. In the late '90s Song of America was said to be a good 'First Time Cruise'. We enjoyed it, our 2nd cruise as I recall, better IMO than NCL.

 

john

Song of America is still in service as Thomson Destiny for the british fly-cruise market. The cabins are no bigger though and the buffet leaves a lot to be desired in colder weather. However solo cruisers don't mind small cabins and the alcohol is free :D

 

I have cruised on her twice and will be aboard again next January for 14 nights in the Canaries.

[Aquahound]

Strange. In the late '90s Song of America was said to be a good 'First Time Cruise'. We enjoyed it, our 2nd cruise as I recall, better IMO than NCL.

 

After several cruises on NCL, I tried one of Sovereign's sister ships....the Monarch of the Seas. I was so blown away by the improvement in service, the ship itself, and the way RCI maintains their ships, it was 10 years and 23 cruises later before I finally tried another NCL cruise.

[mr green]

Song of America is still in service as Thomson Destiny for the british fly-cruise market. The cabins are no bigger though and the buffet leaves a lot to be desired in colder weather. However solo cruisers don't mind small cabins and the alcohol is free :D

 

I have cruised on her twice and will be aboard again next January for 14 nights in the Canaries.

 

Re Song of America. Just a wee bit of trivia, due to the 'wrap around' bar on the funnel, in the mid '90s she was the tallest ship afloat!

 

john

[Donder1]

It wasn't the worst cruise, but I think the Carnival Legend is about the gawdiest, ugliest ship I have ever been on. Egads, those urns everywhere....yuk!

 

OMG! I just looked at a ton of interior shots of the Legend. UGLY!!!

I have never sailed on Carnival Cruise Lines but, in reading these boards, I have learned that there is a big difference from ship to ship.

[fortinweb]

It wasn't the worst cruise, but I think the Carnival Legend is about the gawdiest, ugliest ship I have ever been on. Egads, those urns everywhere....yuk!

 

 

OMG! I just looked at a ton of interior shots of the Legend. UGLY!!!

I have never sailed on Carnival Cruise Lines but, in reading these boards, I have learned that there is a big difference from ship to ship.

 

I have never been on a Carnival ship, but after reading your comment I had to go looking for photos of the Legend. As Frank Barone used to say on the old sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (played by the great and late Peter Boyle) - "Holy Crap!". That is the gaudiest ship interior that I have ever had the misfortune of seeing. If I didn't know this was a real ship interior, I'd think it was a satire on bad interior decorating. Positively dreadful!!!

 

 

 

 

More photos on this CC thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1021853

[kennicott]

That is the gaudiest ship interior that I have ever had the misfortune of seeing. If I didn't know this was a real ship interior, I'd think it was a satire on bad interior decorating. Positively dreadful!!!

 

[

 

Can't help but agree, not at all to my taste either. Same goes for the music that accompanies such. However, I know lots who love it, but they aren't as long in the tooth as I either. To each his own. Or that is the way it should be, errrr:

 

"As for the degenerate artists, I forbid them to force their so-called experiences upon the public. If they do see fields blue, they are deranged, and should go to an asylum. If they only pretend to see them blue, they are criminals, and should go to prison. I will purge the nation of them." Adolf Hitler

[commodoredave]

Absolute worst was a St. Lawrence River cruise on the old Stephan Batory of Polish Ocean Lines. Food was appalling (best meal of the week was a paper-think minute steak that tasted like rubber); our cabin had no bathroom and we had to share communal toilest/showers with other folks and the cockroaches; entertainment highlight was a lame magician using a toy store magician's kit; only one bar besides the show lounge and it closed at 10:00 pm; and the service was communist style non-existant.

 

Second worse was a 5-day cruise to Mexico from New Orleans on an old Russian rust bucket converted to the Enchanted Capri, which was being used mainly as a floating casino. Ship smelled like mold, food tasted like TV dinners, cabins were dirty, and service delivered with an attitude. They didn't last long.

 

By comparison, NCL and Carnival were delightful!

[mafig]

I have never been on a Carnival ship, but after reading your comment I had to go looking for photos of the Legend. As Frank Barone used to say on the old sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (played by the great and late Peter Boyle) - "Holy Crap!". That is the gaudiest ship interior that I have ever had the misfortune of seeing. If I didn't know this was a real ship interior, I'd think it was a satire on bad interior decorating. Positively dreadful!!!

 

 

 

 

More photos on this CC thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1021853

 

 

We were on the Carnival Legend a couple of years ago. You do get used to the urns.:)

 

One thing I will say for her though. We were on the last sailing before she was to go to drydock. You'll find on some ships maintenance is deferred because they'll take care of it during drydock. Not the Legend. The ship was in great shape. You would never know drydock was coming up.

[Taxguy77]

I have never been on a Carnival ship, but after reading your comment I had to go looking for photos of the Legend. As Frank Barone used to say on the old sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (played by the great and late Peter Boyle) - "Holy Crap!". That is the gaudiest ship interior that I have ever had the misfortune of seeing. If I didn't know this was a real ship interior, I'd think it was a satire on bad interior decorating. Positively dreadful!!!

 

 

 

 

More photos on this CC thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1021853

Looks like a Vegas casino trying to confuse players!

[momofmeg]

What is the worst Cruise line that you have cruised on.What made it bad for you. Was it the ship, the service or the food.

 

Let,s all go to the Caribbean.:):):)

 

It wasn't line-it was a cruise, and we had taken other cruises on that line that we enjoyed. that is why I feel people should not base their opinion of a line from one cruise.-# 1 worst was ***** RCI Mariner of the Seas- that cruise it was an overcrowded ship of 3700 people. You could not get NEAR the pools on sea days or the promenade/shop area in the evening. My second worst was on Carnival Inspiration-nothing really terrible-it was just the food and entertainment were not up to par to the other Carnival cruises we had taken. My other Carnival and RCI cruises were fine for the most part. We did do a little RCI three day that had a good many unruly drunks-but that was because it was a 3 day-otherwise the cruise was enjoyable. I just knew never do a 3 day weekend cruise again. I read here where people had done a 3 day on HAL before the ship repositioned-and it seemed that they had the same problem. I can only guess that some people think they must get 7 days of "fun" compacted into a 3 day weekend cruise.

 

 

We are not cruise line loyalists. If it is hubby and I-we usually go for HAL or Celebrity. If our daughter goes with us, we usually pick NCL, as that is more affordable for her budget, and ours also if we are cruising together, since she works in our county school system-and so when she is off from her job-cruise prices are considerably more expensive.

 

However, our next family cruise is on RCI-which shows there are no set rules for us, we will cruise all of the mainstream lines.

[momofmeg]

RCCL Sovereign otS. The worst parts were the cabin (size), the service, AND the food! :D

 

I was on that ship twice-and yep-rooms were tiny-but I liked my cruises on her, although the 3 days had a bit too many drunks for my taste. Service was fine for us on both cruises. Food was so-so, but then I have to watch my portions because of my diabetes. So food is not as important to me.

[momofmeg]

I will say for her though. We were on the last sailing before she was to go to drydock. You'll find on some ships maintenance is deferred because they'll take care of it during drydock. Not the Legend. The ship was in great shape. You would never know drydock was coming up.

 

LOL! Her horrible decor. That does put me off Carnival. Unlike you though, I have found Carnival ships really show their age. I was on a Carnival ship once at 6 weeks old and that ship was great-but the other ships-not so great- one at 5 years old(Carnival Fascination in 2000) you would have sworn she was 20 years old- she looked rough!

[printingchick]

LOL! Her horrible decor. That does put me off Carnival. Unlike you though, I have found Carnival ships really show their age. I was on a Carnival ship once at 6 weeks old and that ship was great-but the other ships-not so great- one at 5 years old(Carnival Fascination in 2000) you would have sworn she was 20 years old- she looked rough!

 

I have to agree. I started out as a Carnival cruiser, as you'll see from my signature. I cruised on Imagination prior to the Fantasy-class refurb, and the ship was in MORE than rough shape!

 

The "greens" on the mini-golf course were all torn up. We had to carry a separate key for our cabin - the Sail & Sign cards did not serve that purpose on the older ship. Sewage smells were commonplace.

 

Maintenance is a feature we tend to over-look when it's well-done. My first cruise on an RCL ship, after six with Carnival, showed me that older ships don't need to LOOK like older ships. Maybe things have changed over the years, but I was amazed at the difference in how the two companies addressed maintenance and up-keep. It's striking when you it's noticeable!

[momofmeg]

I have to agree. I started out as a Carnival cruiser, as you'll see from my signature. I cruised on Imagination prior to the Fantasy-class refurb, and the ship was in MORE than rough shape!

 

The "greens" on the mini-golf course were all torn up. We had to carry a separate key for our cabin - the Sail & Sign cards did not serve that purpose on the older ship. Sewage smells were commonplace.

 

Maintenance is a feature we tend to over-look when it's well-done. My first cruise on an RCL ship, after six with Carnival, showed me that older ships don't need to LOOK like older ships. Maybe things have changed over the years, but I was amazed at the difference in how the two companies addressed maintenance and up-keep. It's striking when you it's noticeable!

 

Printing chick -all older ships you had to carry a separate key. We had to in 2002 on the original (Love Boat) Pacific Princess, and in 2006 on Celebrity Zenith.

 

Carnival was our first cruise also, and we loved the cruise but as you said, we tried other lines and preferred them. The last 2 Carnival cruises we did with friends who chose Carnival, not us. We did do another cruise with them, but it was Celebrity Zenith, our choice. They are really hooked on Carnival, (hated their Princess Alaska cruise) they invited us to do another Carnival this Thanksgiving week, but we chose RCI JOS Christmas week instead.

I really do not understand why many hate NCL so strongly. Yes the food is not so great, but neither is it on RCI. We did not find the ship dirty, as some said, we saw crew constantly cleaning. The only dirty we saw on our 3 NCL cruises,was bratty teens on the Sky who threw food all over a stair case near the Lido where they were hanging out-(never do a 4 day in the summer!-as bad as 3 day party cruise-but bad kids instead of bad disruptive drunks) at first the crew was cleaning after them-but then they gave up-too bad however they did not report to an officer who could have contacted their parents.

 

Now I do understand the newer RCI ships have more attractions, as in things to do for kids. Even the newest NCL ships have nothing to compare with the wave rider-but otherwise I am fine with NCL.

 

I do hope we do not have a similar experience on the 5 day Jewel of the Seas, as the Sky. That cruise is Christmas week-LOL!

 

I must say, hubby and I are burned out on Caribbean cruises. We only do those for our daughter who loves cruising and likes that to be our "family" vacation. As I previously said, when she can go it is more expensive-hence our reason for cruising NCL. We find NCL fine for a family cruise with her-I do think they are a decent BUDGET line. People do need to realize they are in competition with Carnival-not some of the better mainstream lines.

 

Also, I must say, whether NCL or other lines whenever we do the mytime/anytime dinning; there is always a wait UNLESS we go right at 5:30 pm. So we usually try to eat early unless we have a reservation in a restaurant, or decide to do the Lido. We like doing the mytime/anytime-and we will not have assigned dinning on RCI JOS Christmas week also.

[CujoK]

The worse ship I have been on was the Carnival Triumph !!! I am not a fan of Carnival !

 

My wife and I 15 friends cruised on the Carnival Triumph on her Inaugural cruise to the Caribbean in October 1999. The service in the MDR was absolutely spot on. Two waiters did it all, food, bar, wine, everything and they did it better than any other cruise I've been on where there are usually 4 people doing it. It sounds like maybe it went down hill. We were upgraded to a balcony which was a nice surprise. Our room steward wasn't the most friendly guy but he did a nice job. We've since sailed Carnival and it was okay.

[kristapb]

Ugh.....NOT~!:cool: At least not on Ecstacy.

 

We were on the Ecstacy last January, worst cruise I was ever on. But have also been on the Miracle, which was very nice.

[lovevacadays]

The worst for me was my very first one with my husband back in the 80's. It was the Carnival Tropicale. Oh my goodness. I had such different ideas of a cruise and this wasn't it. This ship was really dark, not decorated nice at all, food was mediocre but even given all of that I still was happy cruising as there really wasn't anything like being out to sea even on an ugly ship. Our second cruise on the other hand was fabulous. It was on RCI's Sovereign of the Seas back in 1989 or so when it was brand new. I remember walking on to that ship and saying to myself "ok this is what I expected a cruise ship to look like"

[lovevacadays]

havent had a BAD cruise but would have to say out of them all its CCL...

i dont even consider them when i think of cruising:(

 

Me neither.

[lovevacadays]

,whatever?

 

my thoughts exactly to that poster. It does appear from just general overview that there are alot of NCL negatives on here. But, it doesn't appear anyone is going in one by one and creating a "tally" thank goodness.

[lovevacadays]

This is precisely the reason why there are so many cruise lines and ships of all sizes.

 

A couple of you have reminisced about the Norway ... I couldn't stand it! Whether it was the element of surprise (I don't think that any two staterooms were alike, and some were as small as 80 sq. ft.), the lack of "flow" (having to go across the ship to get from one deck to another), the stench of diesel fuel when outdoors (far worse than today's ships) ... once was more than enough.

 

Lest you believe that I'm biased about older ships, we sailed Celebrity's Horizon in '03 and had a marvelous time. While we were sorry to see it go, we certainly understood why it wasn't very cost-effective for X.

 

The Carnival Miracle was panned by a few ... our cruise out of Tampa in '03 was wonderful, decor notwithstanding. I don't remember a better dining room staff, particularly Tatiana (our group still talks about her).

 

Our cruise line of choice is Princess ... but our trip aboard the Sapphire in March of '10 was perhaps the worst we've ever been on (stagnant indoor air literally sickened us, ship in poor condition, condescending management).

 

I think it's much more a matter of particular ships and staff than cruise line. The industry is competitive to the point of cutthroat, and the clunkers (Commodore, Dolphin, Premier, Renaissance, etc.) are long gone. All cruise lines deliver an acceptable product ... just not to the same people.

 

You are right - everyone seems to have a very different take on the same ships. I love the Sapphire and cruised her in January 2010 - a few months before you did. I've been on her 5 or 6 times and never found the air stagnant - especially not enough to sicken someone. First time I've seen that about her. I was just on the Sapphire this April and in no way is this ship in poor condition. Sorry to hear that there was condescending management on her when you sailed.

 

I'm just adding again - I can't imagine anyone thinking the Sapphire's condition could be ranked as poor. Huh?

[Smokeyham]

Carnival - can't remember the name of the ship (or have forced myself to forget). This was in the early 90s, and was our first cruise - Los Angeles to Ensenada. So many idiots on board, most of them drunk, loud, annoying. Too much of a frat party atmosphere, and it wasn't even spring break! Garish decorations, like a low end Las Vegas hotel. The food was so-so, and the service only adequate. We came away with such a poor experience it soured us on cruising for over a decade. At a friend's suggestion we decided to give it another try about 5 years ago, this time on Celebrity. Differences were like night and day! We've recently booked our fourth cruise with them. Now we are getting the cruise experience we were hoping for but didn't get on that first one.

 

I wish I'd had the benefit then of the research available today on the internet. Would have saved me a lot of disappointment.

 

I had a similiar experience on the Carnival LA to Ensenada route. I wouldn't completely rule out Carnival for another cruise, but it would not be my first choice, and I definitely would not do the LA to Ensenada trip again. See a drunk person vomitting in the hallway is not my idea of a great cruise experience!

[momofmeg]

I had a similiar experience on the Carnival LA to Ensenada route. I wouldn't completely rule out Carnival for another cruise, but it would not be my first choice, and I definitely would not do the LA to Ensenada trip again. See a drunk person vomitting in the hallway is not my idea of a great cruise experience!

 

That happened to my friend on Celebrity Zenith-not drunk just sea sick. She did her best to make it to the out side railing but did not make it. We were on the promenade deck in the shop-at least it was in the hallway leading to door outside, and not the shop. What really embarrassed her-although we told crew-no one cleaned it up for several hours. But even crew were ill. All the loungers on the lido deck were full (even though it was cool and over cast) with sick people huddled under blankets. We were in a bad gulf coast storm in February 2006. I finally got towels myself and got up what I could.