Pride of Aloha - August 13-20, 2006

[MarineMom126]

Is it just us or was the service on the Pride, particularly the Main Dining Room service and the supposedly 'Freestyle Dining' system a huge disappointment? Could it be true that all the staff has been redirected to the Spirit thus leaving the Pride workers understaffed and undertrained? Based on my lousy experience, I'll never go on NCL again! Why pay for 'specialty' dining to get what other cruise lines give you all-inclusive? How about you?:mad:

 

We were on the same cruise. I agree w/you. It was the pitts. Poor service, long lines for food, restaruants were a joke took forever (3/12 hrs.) to get served, and cabins the size of a shoebox. 11 in our group and 1 toddler.

Hawaii was beautiful and I would go again but NEVER ON NCL...........Should put that ship in "Moth Balls"

[newlywedcruisers]

We sailed on the Pride of Aloha Aug. 13 - 20, 2006. There were 11 adults and 1 toddler in our group. IT WAS THE PITTS!!! Our cabin was the size of a shoebox, 3 adults and the toddler roomed together. Never had clean linens and room was never vacuumed the entire trip. Long lines at the buffets and the restaurants took 31/2 hrs. to get served. $10 per day per person service charge is a joke.......WHAT SERVICE!!! Called for room service twice and they never delivered.

Hawaii was beautiful and would go again but NEVER on NCL. The ship should be put in "Moth Balls".

 

Right, and you probably had an inside cabin in a lower category and said, hmmn I can't read the square footage size so I'll assume that its big enough for three adults.

 

Actually, what I really think is you are the OP trying to boost yourself up, considering you have ONLY ever posted on this thread.

 

Cheers.

[mikedw]

Schools back, creative writing assignment. Stop Feeding The Trolls.:)

 

Michael

[hotspur]

Well...we hate free style,we love to dress up for formal night,we love Baked Alaska Walk and "champain" waterfalls,we love good food and good service even we have to pay a little more for this.Every one for his own.

1. If you hate freestyle, why do you waste your time and annoy us by coming to the NCL board with your petty rants. NCL is freestyle-only. So there's no point in your being involved here.

 

2. We love good food and good service, too, so we cruise NCL, where the food and service is as good as we found on HAL and Celebrity.

 

3. HAL, Celebrity and the like cost no more than NCL. They are all mass-market lines. If you're paying more you're a poor shopper.

[mbisson]

I was on the Pride of Aloha in 2004 and the service was the worst of any cruise I have been on but to brand the entire NCL operation as bad because of the POA is not even remotely true.

.

 

I appreciate this posting from someone who has tried both and not based a decision on one due to an experience on the other.

 

We're considering cruising Hawaii, but at this time are more prone to cruising on the Sun than any of the "Pride" ships. We love NCL but I'm not so sure we would enjoy NCLA as much.

 

jmo

-Monte

[Zeno]

I appreciate this posting from someone who has tried both and not based a decision on one due to an experience on the other.

 

We're considering cruising Hawaii, but at this time are more prone to cruising on the Sun than any of the "Pride" ships. We love NCL but I'm not so sure we would enjoy NCLA as much.

 

jmo

-Monte

 

I am like you Monte - considering an NCLA cruise but somewhat hesitant - simply because we loved our NCL cruises so much. Well at least I don't have to make a decision soon.

[newmexicoNita]

We were on the same cruise. I agree w/you. It was the pitts. Poor service, long lines for food, restaruants were a joke took forever (3/12 hrs.) to get served, and cabins the size of a shoebox. 11 in our group and 1 toddler.

Hawaii was beautiful and I would go again but NEVER ON NCL...........Should put that ship in "Moth Balls"

Interesting, you are from NJ just like Bob and have posted the same number of times and were on the same sailing. Could you be one in the same or part of the same group? As for 3 adults and a toddler in one cabin, what did you think? you would have room to play basketball? Obviously you did absolutely no research and had a TA that did nothing for you. HAL and Carnival have the largest cabins; even they would be very crowded with 3 adults and a toddler. The toddler is the one I feel sorry for.

 

I must question 3 1/2 hours to get served? I will tell you groups of 12 on any ship would run into problems. Most ships have table designed for 8 or 10 max. 11 plus a toddler is consided 12. If the staff was willing to put you altogether you should be thankful. BTW, how many times have you cruised and how much research did you do? NMNita

[mbisson]

I am like you Monte - .

 

Zeno, you're the only person to have met me that's ever made that statement! You must be crazy! LOL

 

-Monte

[Zeno]

Zeno, you're the only person to have met me that's ever made that statement! You must be crazy! LOL

 

-Monte

Well perhaps not physically (*looks at very short, dumpy female self and compares to memory of rather tall and mustachioed male Monte - sees not much in common physically*) Nope - I don't think we will be mistaken for each other at a CC get-together.

[GOLDENBONNY]

1. If you hate freestyle, why do you waste your time and annoy us by coming to the NCL board with your petty rants. NCL is freestyle-only. So there's no point in your being involved here.

 

2. We love good food and good service, too, so we cruise NCL, where the food and service is as good as we found on HAL and Celebrity.

 

I you sure you ever been on Celebrity or HAl??:confused:

 

3. HAL, Celebrity and the like cost no more than NCL. They are all mass-market lines. If you're paying more you're a poor shopper.

 

One thing I dont understand why you people get angry with cruisers who did not like NCL?Be angry with line itself because we did not get a good service or food,we did not go there not to love them we paid our money to have a best vacation they did not provide it it our foult???:confused: Any way itss better for you less people go on NCL better price you get))))so be happy we did not like NCL:D

[hotspur]

One thing I dont understand why you people get angry with cruisers who did not like NCL?Be angry with line itself because we did not get a good service or food,we did not go there not to love them we paid our money to have a best vacation they did not provide it it our foult???:confused: Any way itss better for you less people go on NCL better price you get))))so be happy we did not like NCL:D

Yes, I've been on Celebrity and HAL, and they were nothing special.

 

Some (you?) may be fooled by all the sucking up done by the wait staff, and some (you?) may think it's wonderful to be required to dress up for no good reason, but most of us here see through that silliness and are able to judge on the substance of what they offer, not their little facades. Enjoy those cruise lines, and please stick with their Cruise Critic boards.

[mbisson]

compares to memory of rather tall and mustachioed male Monte - .

 

Memory must be failing you or you would've mentioned "exceedingly handsome, almost hunkish" ;) LOL

 

Now we can be sure that the water is deep enough to float a cruiseship!

 

-Monte

[Zeno]

Memory must be failing you or you would've mentioned "exceedingly handsome, almost hunkish" ;) LOL

 

Now we can be sure that the water is deep enough to float a cruiseship!

 

-Monte

 

Monte - It's getting pretty deep!

[Zeno]

GB, you know better than that: try to say one negative thing about Celebrity for example. all the boards have loyalist. It just amazes me why someone who has nothing to offer except a blast here and there would want to spend time on a board like this. I have a couple of lines I am not crazy over but rather than get on their boards and blast away, I just don't go near them.

 

NMNita

 

I would love to see GB make the same kind of complaints she made about NCL about Carnival on the Carnival board! They make NCL fans look laid back.

[Toddcan]

We were on the Aug 13-20th Pride of Aloha cruise and loved it! We read all the posts on this forum, and were at one point considering cancelling because of a few neg reviews.

 

I will post more later (we honestly just got in the door 4 hours ago from hawaii - spending 10 days on Oahu after the cruise).

 

We went out of our way to try ALL restaurants - all 3 specialty, the Palace, and the Crossings, the buffet, and room service. We tend to eat early (getting to the restaurant no later than 6:30pm), and waited 0 minutes at all restaurants. Yes, that's right.. zero. Even going at 6:30 we had zero wait. We did notice that the Bistro Restaurant (the long skinny one on the ship's starboard side) had slow service, but the food was outstanding in all 3 specialties, and was good in the Palace and the Crossings. The buffet was - a buffet. Expect buffet quality food. I found it just fine. Room service was ok as well.

 

But, other than sleeping, I'll bet we were on the ship no more than an average of 3 hours per day. It's Hawaii people! Get out on shore and DO stuff :)

 

More to come.

[Zeno]

Thx Todd - anxious to read your review - especially happy to hear about lack of wait time to get into restaurants!

[mbisson]

Thx Todd - anxious to read your review - especially happy to hear about lack of wait time to get into restaurants!

 

And maybe we'll get the final answer to the question "do I have to make reservations for the main dining rooms?". ;)

 

-Monte

[hotspur]

We were on the Aug 13-20th Pride of Aloha cruise and loved it! We read all the posts on this forum, and were at one point considering cancelling because of a few neg reviews.

We have a good friend--an experienced traveler--who cruised Pride of Aloha about a year ago and just loved it, too.

[ce2000]

Zeno and tomluvsaida, you both make some good points. Of course if, after a few more years NCLA isn't working the ships will just start doing Fanning Island or something similar. The line is not going under. One other point that is often mentioned; sailing the islands only on an American flagged ship is a different experience which does require some research. It is a wonderful way to see the islands in a short period of time and is very cost effective. It is not like sailing on any other itinerary. Most of us cruise for the cruising experience, cruising the Hawaiian Islands is for the island experience. The sooner this point is known by all who cruise the sooner the complaints will stop. NMNita

nmNita, I have never sailed with NCLA, but I agree with your statement. I have noticed that first time cruisers are very satisfied with the Pride ships. They really have nothing to compare it to. It seems to me that the biggest complainers of the Pride ships have cruised many times before. They were expecting a cruise experience similar to others, but also able to see Hawaii in seven days. I, too would like to see Hawaii in seven days, but I would also like the food, service and entertainment to be very good also. Since the Pride ships do not have a casino, I think that they should provide some very good evening entertainment. Even though some evenings I may be to tired to watch the entertainment, I would still like the option. I really would like to see NCLA become a more premium cruise line, even better food, service and entertainment than NCL, am I the only one?

[Toddcan]

And maybe we'll get the final answer to the question "do I have to make reservations for the main dining rooms?". ;)

 

-Monte

 

At The Crossings and The Palace (2 main dining rooms), they will NOT even take a reservation unless you have 6 or more in your party.

 

At the 3 specialty restaurants, a reservation is, of course, a must. There is a phone number to call from your cabin, or you can go down to the reservation desk in the museum (not the excursion reservation desk, and not the main reception desk).

 

There are no reservations at the buffet ;)

 

Room service might cuckle at a request for a reservation :p

 

At least this is how it was on our Pride of Aloha cruise Aug13-20, 2006.

[Zeno]

At The Crossings and The Palace (2 main dining rooms), they will NOT even take a reservation unless you have 6 or more in your party.

 

At the 3 specialty restaurants, a reservation is, of course, a must. There is a phone number to call from your cabin, or you can go down to the reservation desk in the museum (not the excursion reservation desk, and not the main reception desk).

 

There are no reservations at the buffet ;)

 

Room service might cuckle at a request for a reservation :p

 

At least this is how it was on our Pride of Aloha cruise Aug13-20, 2006.

 

Thanks Todd for finally answering the burning question - do we have to make reservations for the main dining rooms - much appreciated.

[weary traveler]

Really enjoyed reading this thread from start to finish.. as i read a few things come to mind... i'll preface everything i say with that fact that i have enjoyed each and every sailing on NCL (over 12) that i've done.. but truth be told.. i'm not pro or con ncl/ncla or any other cruise line. These are just my opinions... so dont bite..

1. Took a 7 day Carnival cruise on the Festivale back in 1984, total cost with airfare from Boston was $2,500 back then. Taking a 7 day Bermuda cruise aboard the Majesty in just three weeks. Total cost $650 pp for a total of $1,300. Difference?.. back then i didnt pay for the service level of specialty restaurants now being charged. I didnt have to pay for lemonade and other smaller items now being charged for. My opinion is that every cruise line (with the exception of a few) lowball you up front and pocket all the extras you now pay for and dont have to commission it.

2. Freestyle dining.. actually see the benefit to both structured and freestyle. I'm not one to dress up on vacation as some others are..and i've not always been sat immediately at a dining establishment on land vacations either. Me thinks that forewarned is forarmed...if you want 1st or 2nd seatings then choose a cruiseline that does it. if youre relaxed and laid back and dont mind a wait go with the freestyle.. at least you know in advance what's to come.

3. American crew vs international crew? none of us like to come off as sounding prejudice..a good point was made that a lot of the international crew has "worked it's way up" and that the american crew was placed into positions without seeing the whole picture due to timelines. given time i think things will work out again based on the incredible amount of information provided here you have been made knowledgeable of the pros and cons.

4. I laugh as i think of the 13 day repo on the RCCL Legend of the Seas where i had tablemates minimum 25-30 yrs older than me and falling asleep in their onion soup only to be startled by the waiters marching in singing country and western.. or wince the Carnival Sensation with the younger crowd who liked to yell and bang on doors at 2am having had a little too much to drink, unsupervised and rowdy at the least. Point? it's easy to be stereotyping on here regardless of the cruise line. They may have been bumps in the vacation but now are somewhat funny memories.

5. I'm amazed at the anger sometimes displayed on here, which is usually 90 percent misdirected as pointed out by an astute CC member here.

This space is meant to advise, inform and entertain.

6. Thanks to everyone who contributes in any fashion.. this source of information has been invaluable to me and everyone else...you couldnt ever possibly do the research that provides the level of expertise and information given here.

 

thanks again

Weary Traveler

[newmexicoNita]

Really enjoyed reading this thread from start to finish.. as i read a few things come to mind... i'll preface everything i say with that fact that i have enjoyed each and every sailing on NCL (over 12) that i've done.. but truth be told.. i'm not pro or con ncl/ncla or any other cruise line. These are just my opinions... so dont bite..

1. Took a 7 day Carnival cruise on the Festivale back in 1984, total cost with airfare from Boston was $2,500 back then. Taking a 7 day Bermuda cruise aboard the Majesty in just three weeks. Total cost $650 pp for a total of $1,300. Difference?.. back then i didnt pay for the service level of specialty restaurants now being charged. I didnt have to pay for lemonade and other smaller items now being charged for. My opinion is that every cruise line (with the exception of a few) lowball you up front and pocket all the extras you now pay for and dont have to commission it.

2. Freestyle dining.. actually see the benefit to both structured and freestyle. I'm not one to dress up on vacation as some others are..and i've not always been sat immediately at a dining establishment on land vacations either. Me thinks that forewarned is forarmed...if you want 1st or 2nd seatings then choose a cruiseline that does it. if youre relaxed and laid back and dont mind a wait go with the freestyle.. at least you know in advance what's to come.

3. American crew vs international crew? none of us like to come off as sounding prejudice..a good point was made that a lot of the international crew has "worked it's way up" and that the american crew was placed into positions without seeing the whole picture due to timelines. given time i think things will work out again based on the incredible amount of information provided here you have been made knowledgeable of the pros and cons.

4. I laugh as i think of the 13 day repo on the RCCL Legend of the Seas where i had tablemates minimum 25-30 yrs older than me and falling asleep in their onion soup only to be startled by the waiters marching in singing country and western.. or wince the Carnival Sensation with the younger crowd who liked to yell and bang on doors at 2am having had a little too much to drink, unsupervised and rowdy at the least. Point? it's easy to be stereotyping on here regardless of the cruise line. They may have been bumps in the vacation but now are somewhat funny memories.

5. I'm amazed at the anger sometimes displayed on here, which is usually 90 percent misdirected as pointed out by an astute CC member here.

This space is meant to advise, inform and entertain.

6. Thanks to everyone who contributes in any fashion.. this source of information has been invaluable to me and everyone else...you couldnt ever possibly do the research that provides the level of expertise and information given here.

 

thanks again

Weary Traveler

Weary Traveler,

 

Your points are made so objectively, many of us are saying the same thing, but not with the calmness you are putting into your words. Thank you so much. As for the cost of cruising, yes, this is what is happening, up front the price makes it a great value for the families which I feel in important. After you are on the ship it is up to you how much you want to spend and what you want to spend it on.

 

Oldsters 25-30 years older than you, I might be one of those, but I have yet to fall asleep in my soup. I always last until the wine bottle is empty.

 

Thanks again,

 

NMNita