WORST. CABIN. LOCATION. EVER. (Star -deck 8 - aft)

[Robin122]

So, we were excited to get an upgrade from mini suite to aft penthouse suite. Until bedtime last night.

 

We are in cabin 8672 which is right above the Spinnaker Lounge.

From 10pm u til 2am we had to listen to (and feel) the booming music from below. It was HORRIBLE. Today I have had a headache all day and I'm exhausted. Tried to nap this afternoon and couldn't because of the games in the Spinnaker. (Bingo, Deal or No Deal etc). Can hear almost everything as clear as if we were in the lounge ourselves.

 

Just to be clear, I am NOT one who finds fault in everything. For example, I found almost all the complaints about the POA on this forum to be completely unfounded. Loved the American crew. (Still Facebook friends with some!). The food was good, the service was great (aside from one incident at Cadillacs) and so on. I'm totally an "it is what YOU make it" type of gal. But this gal does need her sleep. And with DH having heart issues (cleared for travel) the last thing HE needs is poor sleep too.

 

So, there you go. WORST. CABIN. LOCATION. EVER.

And if I don't get some sleep it will become the worst vacation ever. :mad: :(

Edited December 21, 2015 by Robin122
Correcting autocorrect errors <roll eyes>

[takeadip]

Robin..I am sooo sorry for your bad experience...where was your orig cabin located? will they let you move there if its still available? I would try to contact passenger services and move somewhere maybe they could offer you an even better upgrade to a different location on the ship.

 

What your going through is one of our worst nightmares...you get the call/ email to upgrade and you think it will be the vacation of a lifetime but soon realize its one you wont soon forget..:( there needs to be something NCL can do to accommodate you with all that you have invested in this trip. Did you speak to any of your neighbors? are they also experiencing this same level of noise/ discomfort? did you pack ear plugs or Bose noise cancelling headphones? we always fly with our headphones.. maybe they could send some up to you from the gift shop.

 

again, im so sorry for this constant noise interruption...

 

Please keep all of us posted as to the way you were handled/ treated..

 

hoping you get some long overdue rest,

-Mark

[Shawnino]

Sorry to read this -- but thankful for the useful information.

Hope you find a solution.

Thank you for taking the time to post.

[aajusa]

Family member ran into this on the NCl Pearl, complained at Guest services and ended up getting another room to sleep in. Also they did turn down the music, so it never hurts to let them know you are not happy.

Hope it works out!

[hamrag]

So, we were excited to get an upgrade from mini suite to aft penthouse suite. Until bedtime last night.

 

We are in cabin 8672 which is right above the Spinnaker Lounge.

From 10pm u til 2am we had to listen to (and feel) the booming music from below. It was HORRIBLE. Today I have had a headache all day and I'm exhausted. Tried to nap this afternoon and couldn't because of the games in the Spinnaker. (Bingo, Deal or No Deal etc). Can hear almost everything as clear as if we were in the lounge ourselves.

 

Just to be clear, I am NOT one who finds fault in everything. For example, I found almost all the complaints about the POA on this forum to be completely unfounded. Loved the American crew. (Still Facebook friends with some!). The food was good, the service was great (aside from one incident at Cadillacs) and so on. I'm totally an "it is what YOU make it" type of gal. But this gal does need her sleep. And with DH having heart issues (cleared for travel) the last thing HE needs is poor sleep too.

 

So, there you go. WORST. CABIN. LOCATION. EVER.

And if I don't get some sleep it will become the worst vacation ever. :mad: :(

 

Next time you book, get your TA to indicate that you are NOT interested in a cabin upgrade.

[pieshops]

thats why when I book a cabin or get upgraded I pull up the deck plan and see what is on top, below and to the side of me. We were below the pool deck once and every morning at 6 we heard the chairs being puled out, after that i started looking

[candygirl27540]

I feel for you! The 8th deck aft cabins on the Star and the Dawn have been well documented for noise problems ever since they moved the nightclub to 7th aft.

So sorry you didn't realize this before you sailed. You should complain to guest services,they may have an extra cabin available just for sleeping. It's been done before.

Good Luck

[MOcruiserman]

Sorry to hear of your problems. I always go for a cabin location that's not directly above or below a common area or next to an elevator. I've always had inside cabins that have been nice and quiet. The cabins are small, but they're comfortable and I get a good night's sleep.

[Linda the Book Lover]

Sorry to hear about your noise issue. We stayed in aft suite 9732 and there was no noise, no soot, and we loved our wrap around. I am guessing since your cabin is directly above the Spinmaker really got an ear full.

[daffodiliaz]

I wonder if that penthouse (or nearby) was the one being given away at a bingo session when we cruised on the Star, and why it was vacant. I'd be livid if I paid for it and it was noisy.

[Robin122]

Since it is a Christmas sailing, it is sold out.

 

They did turn down the volume for the bingo game after we complained (and I hate complaining... I'd much rather give commendations and praise!!) and I was able to rest for a little bit before we had to get our son from kids club and get rid of my headache.

 

The sad thing is I am usually very careful about our cabin location. I just got too excited about the "amazing" deal and failed to look at the deck plans. Bad bad TA. Bad bad passenger. (Both me). I had never received an upgrade offer (it was a $$ one, but still a great deal compared to the current price - or, so we thought...)

 

Nope, no noise cancelling headphones. No ear plugs (although I have tinitis and ear plugs really intensify the ringing in my ears, so that probably would not be any better).

 

8pm now and whatever is going on down there is loud and we have to have our tv turned up louder than we like so we can hear it. Sigh. Maybe if we skip the Newlywed/Not So Newlywed game, which I did want to go to, and fall asleep before it's over we *might* stay asleep through the "disco hours" (as DH calls them)

 

While part of this certainly was venting in a safe place, it really was intended as a warning to future Dawn and Star passengers.

[bbryan5]

I stayed in 8670 on the dawn, and knew its location when we booked it. I can understand why it would be an issue for some.. there were times when you could hear the loud bass from the lounge. It didn't end up being a problem at all for us because we are always up till 2-3am on our cruises anyway (usually in the casino) For anyone that's a light sleeper, or an early to bed kinda person, I wouldn't recommend it! I hope it gets better for you, and your cruise isn't ruined!

[Da-Painter]

Its been a pretty well documented problem on some of the NCl ships, with the Theatre, or night club below these aft cabins on the 8th floor.

We have booked the 9th and 10th deck aft cabins, but would never stay on the 8th deck aft.

NCL knows of this issue, but it does not stop them from booking the cabins, nor telling folks about it ahead of time. Sometimes money is more important then full disclosure.

Let this be a good review for folks considering booking these suites.

[SuiteCruiser]

I stayed in 8670 on the dawn, and knew its location when we booked it. I can understand why it would be an issue for some.. there were times when you could hear the loud bass from the lounge. It didn't end up being a problem at all for us because we are always up till 2-3am on our cruises anyway (usually in the casino) For anyone that's a light sleeper, or an early to bed kinda person, I wouldn't recommend it! I hope it gets better for you, and your cruise isn't ruined!

 

We had the exact same cabin in August and didn't have any issues either. I'm a crazy light sleeper and we also spend lots of time in the casino, so it didn't affect us.

 

Sorry to the OP, that sucks and I think it's sad that you have to google your cabin # when offered an upsell to a suite, it should always be a good upgrade.

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[bbryan5]

We had the exact same cabin in August and didn't have any issues either. I'm a crazy light sleeper and we also spend lots of time in the casino, so it didn't affect us.

 

Yup, I think it will affect some people, and not others. I would book it again in a second! I can see why some people (light sleepers, cabin dwellers, ect..) wouldn't like it. As I said to my wife when we first booked this cabin, and had concerns.. if the partying is so loud that it's keeping us up, we will just have to join the party :D:D

[kjquilts]

Even though it is Christmas week it is very possible there is at least ONE stateroom open on the ship you could use just for sleeping. If you haven't already talked to the hotel director you might want to give it a try. If there is truly nothing available then continue pressing for the bass/volume to be turned down.

 

In 2010 my mom and I were booked in aft facing balcony 8634 on the Pearl .... above Bliss lounge. I had searched for noise complaints and found none. Daytime was fine but nighttime was really awful. My then 82 year old mom had severe short term memory loss so I not only had to deal with the floor and wall vibration and noise (music?) but also my mom's repeated complaints because she couldn't remember we had just discussed it.

 

I was first told there were no staterooms available. I knew this was not true because someone in our roll call meet and greet had actually upgraded to mini suite when they boarded. After working with the hotel director and front desk a couple of days we were given a side balcony for sleeping and allowed to keep the stern balcony for daytime use. We would have even taken an inside so were grateful a balcony stateroom was available. Traipsing back and forth between staterooms was a pain but at least we were able to sleep at night.

 

I'm not a complainer either but I wish these staterooms came with a warning that unless you are deaf or like to stay up very late and party you might want to choose another cabin.

 

 

 

[lax19]

Maybe you could drag your mattress out on the balcony and sleep there. Teh sound of the wake might be more pleasant.

[gtaylor]

We've been in both 8670 and 8170, and had no problems with noise.

 

gary

[TonyFred]

I would also note that I had an aft cabin---14274---on the Getaway. Right under Spice H2O which also played booming music well into the wee morning hours. I got very tired of the bass line from Another One Bites The Dust.

I wont make that mistake again. I love afts but I will have several decks between me and that giant stack of speakers if I cruise that class of ship again.

[Robin122]

Maybe you could drag your mattress out on the balcony and sleep there. Teh sound of the wake might be more pleasant.

 

This made me giggle. Thanks.

 

 

 

********

 

They offered us another cabin "to sleep in" when I called at 2:30am because the music was still going (was supposed to end at 1:30). Obviously we weren't going to wake our child and move at 2 or 3 in the morning. I was prepared for today though. If 9502 is available for us to sleep in, it is available, period. I looked it up this morning - same category, but forward facing. Cabins above and below.

They called just a minute ago and we will be moving today.

In general, yes we would consider this category again, but NEVER EVER deck 8.

 

Will be interesting to see what the forward facing cabin will be like. This was our first Aft - and it will be our first forward. (Assuming there is a bit of a wind break for the balcony, but as long as we can sleep in peace, I don't care about the balcony!)

[SuiteCruiser]

This made me giggle. Thanks.

 

 

 

********

 

They offered us another cabin "to sleep in" when I called at 2:30am because the music was still going (was supposed to end at 1:30). Obviously we weren't going to wake our child and move at 2 or 3 in the morning. I was prepared for today though. If 9502 is available for us to sleep in, it is available, period. I looked it up this morning - same category, but forward facing. Cabins above and below.

They called just a minute ago and we will be moving today.

In general, yes we would consider this category again, but NEVER EVER deck 8.

 

Will be interesting to see what the forward facing cabin will be like. This was our first Aft - and it will be our first forward. (Assuming there is a bit of a wind break for the balcony, but as long as we can sleep in peace, I don't care about the balcony!)

 

I'm so glad they sorted it out for you! Sleep well :)

[Heytoots]

I feel your pain!!! Hubby and I took a cruise a few years ago, when the Pride of Hawaii (now the Jade) was doing the Hawaiian Islands. We were upgraded to a 2 bedroom PH, and thought it couldn't get any better!!! What luck!!! WRONG......we were directly below the weight room, which happened to opened 24 hours a day, and all night, (who does this??) weights were being dropped on the floor. Not only were we getting the loud BOOM, but also, the walls vibrated, we were offered ear-plugs.....What a joke. Finally, after a few days of complaining, (and I am not a complainer, either) they closed the weight room at 11pm, and reopened at 6am. We now check what is below and above us. I wonder who designs the plans for the ship layout? Sadists??? LOL

[CruisinMaterial]

As an avid nightclub frequenter on NCL ships, I can say I was annoyed when the Dawn and Star had their Spinnakers moved to Deck 7 aft. Constantly noise complaints would come down for Deck 8 about loud bass or just volume so you ended up with a castrated disco. :( This was all for the sake of getting more suite revenue with the rooms forward on Deck 12. A nightclub should be nowhere around a passenger cabin deck. When they moved it I didn't think they would've installed proper sound proofing and the sound system could be better designed to not vibrate the deck above. It was a cheap money grab all the way around and has been a constant issue for both the nightclub goers (me) and the people above (OP).

 

Congrats OP on the move and hopefully NCL will heed this thread and FIX the nightclub on those two ships since Boston can't seem to shake the Dawn as her Boston to Bermuda run vessel. :(

[overeazy1]

They moved you to the front and how did you enjoy it there? Other then the noise how did you feel about the difference between the front and back suite?

[Robin122]

They moved you to the front and how did you enjoy it there? Other then the noise how did you feel about the difference between the front and back suite?

 

The cabin was basically the same and we didn't feel the motion was any different (although this was a very calm sailing - I actually like the motion...).

The balcony though...oh my!!! The aft balcony was pretty average - longer than a standard balcony, but still very narrow. The forward balcony was AMAZING!!!!!!! There was 1 chair and a small table and three loungers and so much room to spare! I would absolutely book this cabin again just for the balcony! Yes, it did get windy, but not as bad as I imagined.

There is a large metal door behind a cabin door and DS had a lot of fun "like caking" us in or out. (The large wheel to lock it was accessible on both sides so we weren't really locked out) the crew can access the balconies by climbing between them to secure lounge chairs and even put a steel plate over the window in case I f severe weather.

Butler service was the pits on 8 aft. Never saw the concierge at all either. 9 Forward we saw the butler on a frequent basis and the concierge was more visible too.

 

DS got sick from all the rich food (and a plate of bacon) and slept through the diarrhea attack. We had no choice to report it since our road m steward would see the result... (How embarrassing for us and how gross for her!)

It was Christmas Eve day and he was quarantined to the cabin. DH and I were given "permission" to leave the ship (Costa May) and wander the ship, but our 11 year old child was to stay in the cabin. Alone. On Christmas Eve. I don't think so! Even without the holiday we wouldn't leave him alone in the cabin to go ashore!

Missed caroling and the midnight service as well as a hard to get reservation at Le Bistro. (No cancel fee at least due to the quarantine). We ordered from Cagneys and ate in the cabin.

 

A bad day on vacation still beats a great day at home, right?

 

On our last night my med for depression fell down the sink drain. Sunday night our flight home was canceled. 2 nights without RX. Woke up Monday (Marriott at the airport) and I was bonkers. I had almost 0 control of my emotions, my heart was racing, my head was pounding, my ears ringing. I got a shuttle to the closest Walgreens and waited for my Dr.s office to one and call in the RX for me. DH doesn't think I would have been allowed on the plane the way I was!

 

So, I would have to say, most emphatically, a bad day on vacation does NOT beat a good day at home.

 

Woah -- I really wandered off topic. Overall, this was not one of our better vacations. But it was still nice to be at sea.