Norwegians shocking demise of quality on all fronts

[PATRLR]

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?q=cutbacks&quick=1

Great.  I did agree with you that there is discussion of cutbacks in all forums, so not sure what your point is here.

[drew69]

NCL like any other company makes the decisions best for them and will continue to do so until their decisions negatively impact their profits.  That is business and quite a normal practice.

 

We, as consumers, have one choice - take our business elsewhere if we choose.

 

Endlessly debating and complaining about it on a forum does nothing and as long as NCL or any cruise line is getting business and making a profit, they will continue along the path they choose and could care less about someone complaining on a forum.

 

Actions speak louder than words.  If unhappy with NCL or any other business, then take your business and money away from them.

[ChiefMateJRK]

12 minutes ago, drew69 said:

Endlessly debating and complaining about it on a forum does nothing and as long as NCL or any cruise line is getting business and making a profit, they will continue along the path they choose and could care less about someone complaining on a forum.

 

Actions speak louder than words.  If unhappy with NCL or any other business, then take your business and money away from them.

That's really not how the internet works.🤣  Are you new to this?

[schmoopie17]

2 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

MSC is definitely my go-to line now and I am looking forward to sailings in October and January on the Meraviglia. I am convinced that MSC is the best value for your money right now and they still offer many of the services I had come to miss on NCL. 

We looked at MSC, but since we never do seven day cruises, both Princess and MSC have funky itineraries for 14 (or more) days. They both end up going back to the originating port (Miami, etc.) mid-cruise.  Who wants to go back and sit in Miami (or wherever) for a full day in the middle of the 14 days?

 

Yes, I realize that these are essentially back-to-back cruises. But still, if I'm committing 14 days to a cruise, I really don't want to waste one of those days sitting back in the originating port.

[drew69]

2 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

That's really not how the internet works.🤣  Are you new to this?

🤣🤣So True!

[ChiefMateJRK]

38 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

Yes, I realize that these are essentially back-to-back cruises. But still, if I'm committing 14 days to a cruise, I really don't want to waste one of those days sitting back in the originating port.

Some of us love B2B 14 day cruises.  You don't need to waste an entire day in the original port.

a) have a late leisurely breakfast with a couple of screwdrivers

b) report to the assigned area about 9:00 to be not-escorted off the ship

c) have a seat in the atrium and watch the other poor suckers get booted off the ship

d) make wagers about which of the final named people is the last one to get called

e) be first in line to make whatever on-board reservations you need to for week two

f) sit in amusement as the first of the Haven parades goes by (you know, the well dressed crewmember holding up a sign that says "make way - haven coming through" followed by a line of the "good people")

g) have beer-in-hand in the Local NLT 11:00 am

 

I'm counting maybe an hour of "wasted time" (see d - f above)

 

Have you been doing it wrong? 🤣

Edited June 13 by ChiefMateJRK

[RocketMan275]

12 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

 

f) sit in amusement as the first of the Haven parades goes by (you know, the well dressed crewmember holding up a sign that says "make way - haven coming through" followed by a line of the "good people")

I was certain that steerage passengers have to prostrate themselves when the Haven parade goes by.

[ChiefMateJRK]

12 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

I was certain that steerage passengers have to prostrate themselves when the Haven parade goes by.

Does it matter which direction I face?  🤣

 

(jk) I have some very good friends that sail in the Haven regularly.  🐀🐀  If it's worth it to them, and they gain more enjoyment, then I'm happy for them.  Since we're friends, they can make fun of me in steerage (they don't) and I can make fun of them in the Haven (I don't).  That doesn't mean that I still can't be amused by the elite parade coming through.  That's just fun for everybody (likely for different reasons 🤣)

[RocketMan275]

29 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Does it matter which direction I face?  🤣

 

(jk) I have some very good friends that sail in the Haven regularly.  🐀🐀  If it's worth it to them, and they gain more enjoyment, then I'm happy for them.  Since we're friends, they can make fun of me in steerage (they don't) and I can make fun of them in the Haven (I don't).  That doesn't mean that I still can't be amused by the elite parade coming through.  That's just fun for everybody (likely for different reasons 🤣)

You know, in three cruises, I've never seen that parade at embarkation.  I have seen the concierge escort a small group of Haven passengers off the ship.  Maybe two or four passengers. Certainly wouldn't call it a parade.

 

 

To answer your question, you should be facing the group.  I'm surprised that wasn't in the pre-boarding orientation in the steerage lounge.

Edited June 13 by RocketMan275

[PATRLR]

1 hour ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Some of us love B2B 14 day cruises.  You don't need to waste an entire day in the original port.

a) have a late leisurely breakfast with a couple of screwdrivers

b) report to the assigned area about 9:00 to be not-escorted off the ship

c) have a seat in the atrium and watch the other poor suckers get booted off the ship

d) make wagers about which of the final named people is the last one to get called

e) be first in line to make whatever on-board reservations you need to for week two

f) sit in amusement as the first of the Haven parades goes by (you know, the well dressed crewmember holding up a sign that says "make way - haven coming through" followed by a line of the "good people")

g) have beer-in-hand in the Local NLT 11:00 am

Or, if we're talking about a port you haven't been to, take the day to explore that port and maybe save yourself a hotel night pre or post cruise.  Years ago we did a B2B with Aruba being the embark/disembark port.  We rented a jeep and explored the island.  Saved us from staying an extra day to see/explore.

Edited June 13 by PATRLR

[ChiefMateJRK]

2 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

You know, in three cruises, I've never seen that parade at embarkation. 

I did an AK B2B last April.  The first leg was onto an empty ship.  We walked right on and were seated at the Local prior to 11:00.  The second leg, we never left the ship and had a seat in the local prior to 11:00.  They weren't serving lunch yet, but were happy to get me beer.😎  We were seated at the railing both times, and watched in amusement/amazement as those small parades passed by.

 

That said, it was all just noise.  I was on a cruise ship and there for only one reason.  FUN!!

 

If marching in a parade is fun for those folks, then more power to them!  

[ChiefMateJRK]

6 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

To answer your question, you should be facing the group.

I really didn't ask for directions......🤣

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 minute ago, PATRLR said:

Or, if we're talking about a port you haven't been to, take the day to explore that port and maybe save yourself a hotel night pre or post cruise.  Years ago we did a B2B with Aruba being the embark/disembark port.  We rented a jeep and explored the island.  Saved us from staying an extra day to see/explore (this was many years ago when air travel was simpler and more reliable and we regularly flew into port on embarkation day).

Yep.  Great advice!

 

My B2B's are generally Seattle or Miami, and I've seen as much of those cities as I care to.

[RocketMan275]

39 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I really didn't ask for directions......🤣

see post #534.

[ChiefMateJRK]

17 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

see post #534.

Read post #534.

1 hour ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Does it matter which direction I face?  🤣

I already knew which direction I would (figuratively) face.🤣  I just asked if mattered (ostensibly to the audience).

 

ETA: if I ever do spring for the Haven, I certainly won't enjoy being paraded around as a marketing tool by NCL.

Edited June 13 by ChiefMateJRK

[JamieLogical]

3 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

We looked at MSC, but since we never do seven day cruises, both Princess and MSC have funky itineraries for 14 (or more) days. They both end up going back to the originating port (Miami, etc.) mid-cruise.  Who wants to go back and sit in Miami (or wherever) for a full day in the middle of the 14 days?

 

Yes, I realize that these are essentially back-to-back cruises. But still, if I'm committing 14 days to a cruise, I really don't want to waste one of those days sitting back in the originating port.

 

Huh? I have been on three 11-days and a 10-day on MSC so far and I have another 10-day booked in January. There are definitely more than just 7-day options available...

[ready2cruzagain]

8 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Huh? I have been on three 11-days and a 10-day on MSC so far and I have another 10-day booked in January. There are definitely more than just 7-day options available...

I agree but they are getting to be rare. We did an 11, 10, 11 day b2b2b on the Divina and loved it. Divina still does them out of Miami. Hate going to Miami so looking at the Grandiosa out of PC for a 6, 7, 7 day cruise. Would rather do a  7, 7 b2b out of PC than an 11 day on Princess out of Ft. Lauderdale just for the convenience.

[jrt.mom]

13 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

I was certain that steerage passengers have to prostrate themselves when the Haven parade goes by.

Actually, the steerage passengers are supposed to be giving  the Haven passengers piggy back rides so they don't have to walk...

[Oakman58]

14 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Does it matter which direction I face?  🤣

 

(jk) I have some very good friends that sail in the Haven regularly.  🐀🐀  If it's worth it to them, and they gain more enjoyment, then I'm happy for them.  Since we're friends, they can make fun of me in steerage (they don't) and I can make fun of them in the Haven (I don't).  That doesn't mean that I still can't be amused by the elite parade coming through.  That's just fun for everybody (likely for different reasons 🤣)

 

Many years ago, we were cruising with my sister and her husband who were in a suite on the star on a Panama Canal cruise. One evening while we were having a drink with them in a bar their concierge happened by and began talking to them.  My brother-in-law introduced us, and the concierge completely ignored us, didn't even acknowledge us.  Apparently we were nothing more than flotsam and jetsam to the concierge.  It happened a second time while the four of us were on the Lido deck only this time the concierge made a point of having her back to us.  For the rest of the cruise the four of us joked about me and my wife being the lowly trash on the ship.

[JamieLogical]

3 hours ago, ready2cruzagain said:

I agree but they are getting to be rare. We did an 11, 10, 11 day b2b2b on the Divina and loved it. Divina still does them out of Miami. Hate going to Miami so looking at the Grandiosa out of PC for a 6, 7, 7 day cruise. Would rather do a  7, 7 b2b out of PC than an 11 day on Princess out of Ft. Lauderdale just for the convenience.

 

There are an 11-day and 10-day on the Meraviglia out of NYC in January 2025. I am booked on the 10-day on January 23rd.

[schmoopie17]

13 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Huh? I have been on three 11-days and a 10-day on MSC so far and I have another 10-day booked in January. There are definitely more than just 7-day options available...

That's nice...but I specifically was referring to 14 day (or more) cruises. 

For us, anything less than that is hardly worth it, since the time goes by so quickly. 

 

Edited June 14 by schmoopie17

[laudergayle]

50 minutes ago, schmoopie17 said:

That's nice...but I specifically was referring to 14 day (or more) cruises. 

For us, anything less than that is hardly worth it, since the time goes by so quickly. 

 

Like NCL, many of Princess non-US cruises are more than 7 days.  We’re doing a 14 day Iceland/Norway cruise next summer.  R/T from Southampton…which is fine for us since you can do both London and Southampton pre/post cruise.  And eith London, you can also pop over to Paris for a couple days.

[BirdTravels]

20 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

We looked at MSC, but since we never do seven day cruises, both Princess and MSC have funky itineraries for 14 (or more) days. They both end up going back to the originating port (Miami, etc.) mid-cruise.  Who wants to go back and sit in Miami (or wherever) for a full day in the middle of the 14 days?

 

Yes, I realize that these are essentially back-to-back cruises. But still, if I'm committing 14 days to a cruise, I really don't want to waste one of those days sitting back in the originating port.

I think that you are acknowledging that MSC is sell this as two 7-day cruises East/West or one 14-day cruise. And that the 14 day cruise is a back-to-back sold as a single voyage. They are selling to their European customers (who make up  a large portion of the passengers onboard) for a 14-day Caribbean cruise. And who would probably not mind a day in Miami. 

[schmoopie17]

12 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

They are selling to their European customers (who make up  a large portion of the passengers onboard) for a 14-day Caribbean cruise. And who would probably not mind a day in Miami. 

I guess that makes sense.

[ready2cruzagain]

7 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

There are an 11-day and 10-day on the Meraviglia out of NYC in January 2025. I am booked on the 10-day on January 23rd.

Sorry, I missed that probably because I would never sail out of NY. There isn't enough money in the world for that!