Staff changes on the reflagged Jade

[owl61]

The Pride of Hawaii will be drydocked in February for installation of a casino and some cosmetic touches. It will be reflagged, the name changed to the Jade and then it will sail thru the Panama canal to Miami, then on to Barcelona for service in the Med. I sail on her first Med voyage.

Does anyone know how the staff and crew changes will be handled? While flying the US flag, the US law required that a large % (90) of crew/staff had to be US citizens. US labor laws prohibited the normal sweat shop labor practices common on foreign flagged ships. Under the new Bahama flag it will be back to the business-as-usual labor practices and I imagine a lot of brand new staff will come aboard. Does anyone have any idea how NCL is planning to deal with employee changes ?

[Jiminkcmo]

I'm booked on the Jade in May out of Southampton and wanting to know how NCL is going to handle the staffing.

 

Plays a big part in either the enjoyment or disappointment.

 

Hopefully someone with some REAL knowledge will post an answer.

 

Jim

[cruizinwithkids]

The Jade will be internationally flagged and will probably be staffed the same as any new ship being launched.

 

I'll bet anyone who wants to stay on the ship and be paid the same wages as the international crew will be allowed to do so.

 

I'll also bet that since staffing is one of the issues on the NCLA ships, the top notch employees will certainly have job opportunities. I believe and hope the only people who will not have jobs are those who really shouldn't be employed in the service industry, but due to staff shortages have been able to keep their jobs.

[garycarla]

I had thought about the LA to Miami cruise, but am thinking we will skip it. That will be the first cruise after the changeover. I would guess an very high percentage of people will decide to get off and find other work meaning NCL will be flying plenty of people to Hawaii, LA and Miami to board the Jade.

 

Sure there will be jobs available, but at a new pay rate and schedule. Could be an interesting few weeks until they get it stable.

 

Interesting note - I have seen some Travel Agencies advertise the Jade as NCL's NEWEST ship. The name might be new, but the ship is not the newest. Not old, just not brand new.

[newmexicoNita]

The Pride of Hawaii will be drydocked in February for installation of a casino and some cosmetic touches. It will be reflagged, the name changed to the Jade and then it will sail thru the Panama canal to Miami, then on to Barcelona for service in the Med. I sail on her first Med voyage.

Does anyone know how the staff and crew changes will be handled? While flying the US flag, the US law required that a large % (90) of crew/staff had to be US citizens. US labor laws prohibited the normal sweat shop labor practices common on foreign flagged ships. Under the new Bahama flag it will be back to the business-as-usual labor practices and I imagine a lot of brand new staff will come aboard. Does anyone have any idea how NCL is planning to deal with employee changes ?

I certainly do not have the answer but am guessing from previous experience they will treat the Jade like a brand new ship and bring in some of the best crew from other NCL ships. NMnita

[newmexicoNita]

I had thought about the LA to Miami cruise, but am thinking we will skip it. That will be the first cruise after the changeover. I would guess an very high percentage of people will decide to get off and find other work meaning NCL will be flying plenty of people to Hawaii, LA and Miami to board the Jade.

 

Sure there will be jobs available, but at a new pay rate and schedule. Could be an interesting few weeks until they get it stable.

 

Interesting note - I have seen some Travel Agencies advertise the Jade as NCL's NEWEST ship. The name might be new, but the ship is not the newest. Not old, just not brand new.

you are right, not the newest but she is pretty new, with the addition of the casino and a few minor changes many will think of her as new.

 

Nita

[Baitman19]

The Pride of Hawaii will be drydocked in February for installation of a casino and some cosmetic touches. It will be reflagged, the name changed to the Jade and then it will sail thru the Panama canal to Miami, then on to Barcelona for service in the Med. I sail on her first Med voyage.

Does anyone know how the staff and crew changes will be handled? While flying the US flag, the US law required that a large % (90) of crew/staff had to be US citizens. US labor laws prohibited the normal sweat shop labor practices common on foreign flagged ships. Under the new Bahama flag it will be back to the business-as-usual labor practices and I imagine a lot of brand new staff will come aboard. Does anyone have any idea how NCL is planning to deal with employee changes ?

 

As with any new ship ie: the Gem & the Jade, NCL will transfer staff from all of their existing NCL ships to fill the need for crew to fill important jobs. The rest of the staff will be new employees. You can bet that none of the American crew will want to work for the pay and longer hours on the foriegn-flagged ships.

 

Most of our crew friends from the Dawn are going to the Gem.

 

We have only sailed on the foreign-flagged ships and the crew are really good.

 

Enjoy your cruise

[electricron]

you are right, not the newest but she is pretty new, with the addition of the casino and a few minor changes many will think of her as new. Nita

 

With a new casino, and a few other minor changes, the Jade will be newly refurbished ;)

[FTLAUDER]

With a new casino, and a few other minor changes, the Jade will be newly refurbished ;)

I am booked on the LA to Miami 13 day cruise, i wonder if they will consider this an inaugeral sailing, with some festivities?:confused:

[newmexicoNita]

I am booked on the LA to Miami 13 day cruise, i wonder if they will consider this an inaugeral sailing, with some festivities?:confused:

Let's hope so.

 

Nita

[calmac]

I am booked on the LA to Miami 13 day cruise, i wonder if they will consider this an inaugeral sailing, with some festivities?:confused:

 

We were on the Pearl's Transatlantic sailing in December which was the ship's first sailing of more than 2 days. Sorry to disapoint, but there were no festivites to mark the occasion. There was however a great team of officers and crew onboard to make for a smooth sailing (discounting the couple of hurricanes we encountered :D).

[NoPiratesPlease]

The Jade is STILL a Jewel-class ship, so despite being re-named will still be one of the 4 newest, along with the Jewel, the Pearl, and the Gem.

 

The next class of ships from NCL will be the Juggernaut Class--somewhere between 160,000 and 180,000 tons--like the Freedom...I cannot imagine how such a ship can function and still be a vacation. The QM2 seemed impossibly big but it costs a fortune to sail on because there are only 2,500 passengers. Plus it displaces 150,000 tons.

 

It occurs to me: Wouldn't it be cheaper to just attach a 170,000 ton ship to a peninsula and have pictures of scenery moving around it?

[smeyer418]

I would bet the major portion of NCLA service crew are going to stay in Hawaii. They have had trouble maintaining a full complement anyway for the NCLA ships so they need the staff in Hawaii and they will have an easier time getting non US people for the Jadep. They will take some crew from each of the other NCL ships promote some people and hire a significant number of new crew.

 

They have pretty much an endless supply in the far east so far.

[Dolphins]

As with any new ship ie: the Gem & the Jade, NCL will transfer staff from all of their existing NCL ships to fill the need for crew to fill important jobs. The rest of the staff will be new employees. You can bet that none of the American crew will want to work for the pay and longer hours on the foriegn-flagged ships.

 

Most of our crew friends from the Dawn are going to the Gem.

 

We have only sailed on the foreign-flagged ships and the crew are really good.

 

Enjoy your cruise

 

Hope you are right and we will see some familiar faces from the Dawn on the Gem in January.

[xyzxyz]

you are right, not the newest but she is pretty new, with the addition of the casino and a few minor changes many will think of her as new.

 

Nita

 

I didn't realise the Jade is merely a renamed PoH until I saw this thread. Why are they changing the name?

 

Now that I know it's the PoH, I've looked up the reviews and saw there was a novovirus outbreak late last year. Will the refurbishment include new carpets? It's all rather offputting to think that previous passengers have been throwing up all over the carpet that one is stepping on.

[CC Help Michell]

I didn't realise the Jade is merely a renamed PoH until I saw this thread. Why are they changing the name?

 

Now that I know it's the PoH, I've looked up the reviews and saw there was a novovirus outbreak late last year. Will the refurbishment include new carpets? It's all rather offputting to think that previous passengers have been throwing up all over the carpet that one is stepping on.

 

We were on the Pride of Hawaii last month... no norovirus, nothing like that. In fact, I read every review of POH (and PoA and PoAm) prior to our cruise and don't remember seeing any "norovirus" outbreak reported? Could you post a link (I was in pre-cruise euphoria and might have missed it! :))?

 

I would also add that there are a LOT of cruiseships that have experienced outbreaks of intestinal virus (as there would be of land-based hotels if their average guests stayed there an average of 4-7 days instead of just 1-2 before moving on). I'm not aware of ANY ship on ANY line, or hotel, convention center, sports arena, etc. that changes their semi-permanent fixtures such as carpet based on this kind of illness.

 

My best advice for this concern? 1) Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it a lot, 2) if your ship is one of those that offers it throughout the ship (Norwegian does) use it, 3) wash your hands with soap and water (sing Happy Birthday 2x while you do) before eating or putting your hands in/near your mouth, eyes, or nose, and 4) don't lick your shoes in case you stepped on something icky on the ship or on shore!

[xyzxyz]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=444650&highlight=review

[CC Help Michell]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=444650&highlight=review

 

Ah! Thank you for the link... I suppose since the reported cruise was eight months before our cruise, I kind of filtered it into "background reports," given the lack of any similar report since then. To be honest, any reports prior to about March of '07 I tended to take fairly lightly -- not to diminish the value of those reports when they were submitted; I appreciate the effort of anyone who posts a review. BUT NCLA has been constantly changing their staffing, service, policies, etc. on these ships trying to make them profitable and satisfying to consumers, so what was "true" a year ago may or may not be "true" now.

 

My SO couldn't understand why, during our cruise, I was insistent about keeping a journal and making notes -- he kept saying "but this ship is leaving!" My reply was "yes, but not for seven more months -- there are about 60,000 pax booked between now and then!"

 

I DO appreciate the link, and I do remember reading that review -- I remember the part about avoiding the "aha" tendency when encountering sub-par service here and there, given the myriad bad reviews, and that the poster stated they WOULD take this cruise again, absolutely. :)

 

To the OP... personally, I would view the Jade's inaugurals (the TA and in Europe) as being very similar to the launching of a new ship, and forget the POH stuff. Follow what happens with the Gem over the next six months -- it's my understanding that NCL will send their "swat team" from the Gem to the Jade for this transition. I WISH I could sail the Jade next spring -- my school schedule doesn't permit it... but without any human being aboard, service issues aside, I loved her as POH and hope someday I can sail her as the Jade! :)

[Markandrews]

It's all rather offputting to think that previous passengers have been throwing up all over the carpet that one is stepping on.

 

The carpet is cleaned regularly and esp after being puked on.

 

If you are uncomfortable wear slippers in your cabin.

 

People throw up at the Marriott too.

[Markandrews]

US labor laws prohibited the normal sweat shop labor practices common on foreign flagged ships.

 

Yes foreign flagged crew members work extremely hard. However, unlike a sweatshop they can leave if they don't like it. I was recently told by a crew member that after 3 contracts he was able to pay cash for a house in his country.

 

If you really believed it was that bad would you still cruise?

[owl61]

Yes foreign flagged crew members work extremely hard. However, unlike a sweatshop they can leave if they don't like it. I was recently told by a crew member that after 3 contracts he was able to pay cash for a house in his country.

 

If you really believed it was that bad would you still cruise?

 

Good question. And spoken like a true capitalist. Most non-USA flagged ship waitstaff and cabin attendants work in shifts totalling an excess of 10-12 hours thoughout the entire day and evening, 7 days a week with an occasional day off. They endure this kind of schedule to get a combination of wages and tips that would be considered a very good income in their home countries, which are almost exclusively non-western european or non-highly industrialized economies.

I confess I don't have accurate data, but I would guestimate that top earning waiters make no more than $4000 per month (+ room and board) with little or nothing in the way of other benefits. The largely female cabin attendants probably make less. Whatever the actual amount may be, the cruiselines manage the reward system to maintain a readily available workforce. They have to in order to stay in business.

It's my understanding that complying with US labor laws presents big problems for the US flagged ships as the largely US workforce just doesn't have the same motivation as your typical Indonesian, Phillipine, Romanian, or Jamaican native. NCL(A) wanted to make an end run around the Jones Act, but apparently labor costs made that too difficult ergo the flag switch.

To get back to your question, if the 3rd world crew are willing to work under the tough conditions imposed upon them because they can make a good living compared to what's available to them at home, I guess it doesn't offend my sense of ethics sufficiently to boycott cruising, but that doesn't mean I think it's the best of all possible worlds.

By the way, 3 contracts could be as long as 2 1/2 years and if the crew member you referred to saved diligently he could amass enough for a house in many 3rd world locations. That's a testament to his determination as well as a commentary on the disparity between home prices in various parts of the world.

[dadof2]

Good question. And spoken like a true capitalist. Most non-USA flagged ship waitstaff and cabin attendants work in shifts totalling an excess of 10-12 hours thoughout the entire day and evening, 7 days a week with an occasional day off. They endure this kind of schedule to get a combination of wages and tips that would be considered a very good income in their home countries, which are almost exclusively non-western european or non-highly industrialized economies.

I confess I don't have accurate data, but I would guestimate that top earning waiters make no more than $4000 per month (+ room and board) with little or nothing in the way of other benefits. The largely female cabin attendants probably make less. Whatever the actual amount may be, the cruiselines manage the reward system to maintain a readily available workforce. They have to in order to stay in business.

 

I won't go into the US flagged ships...a totally different story.

 

Yes, the staff does work long hours...hard for us to conceive or understand but they come out so far ahead in their home countries...believe me...we have spoken to butlers/cabin stewards/bartenders, at length, about this.

We always feel bad about them leaving their children/families but it is worth it for them. Especially if a husband and wife are working on a ship for a few years.

They do have medical benefits while on the ship, not during their vacation time.

 

They have ALL stated how good this works for them and their families. Good for them and us..as they treat us so well.

 

Cabin stewards, of late, are mostly male as are the butlers.

[xyzxyz]

Is anyone able to offer a good reason why the Poh is being renamed the Jade?

[ute_fan]

Is anyone able to offer a good reason why the Poh is being renamed the Jade?

 

To go along with the Jewel, the Pearl and the Gem?? I don't quite understand your question. If you mean why did they pick the name "Jade", I can't begin to guess. If you mean why is it being renamed altogether, it's because it's being transferred from the NCLA fleet to sail with the regular NCL ships. This will leave only two NCLA ships sailing in Hawaii: the Pride of Aloha, and the Pride of America.

[cliffd64]

Is anyone able to offer a good reason why the Poh is being renamed the Jade?

 

Yes.

 

The PoH is being removed (temporarily as the company line goes) from the Hawaiian market to reduce the number of available cabins, and stabilize pricing in that market. Apparently having so many cabins available was driving the prices down, and creating a glut, causing significant losses for NCLA (and NCL).