My Experience On NCL Spirit

[newmexicoNita]

It's nice that you had different experience.. But I don't blame our attendant, he and his assistant did a very good job. Problem is they had too many cabins to clean.

 

I think we were one of the last cabins on their way.. and they had many. We were trying to put sign "Please make up my room", but after 2 days we understood that it wouldn't make any difference. :(

 

Other than that we had very good and prompt service from all crew members we met.

You know what? Yes, they do have several cabins to clean, but I do not think they are over worked, we have been at the beginning as well as the last cabin on our stewards route (if that is what you want to call it) Just like the mailperson, some get their mail at 9am others late afternoon. As long as we have an idea about what time they will be cleaning our cabin we are certainly satisfied. In the days of early or late seating, cleaning ran a little smoother I think.

 

Nita

[Tatka]

As long as we have an idea about what time they will be cleaning our cabin we are certainly satisfied. In the days of early or late seating, cleaning ran a little smoother I think.

 

Nita

 

Well, unlike me, who likes be by the pool a lot, my DH takes a walk on the promenade after breakfast, then a short swim... maybe some basketball/ping-pong and then he usually goes to the cabin to relax for a little bit.. Well, on most days our cabin wasn't made till 12 pm or even 1 pm, which is definitely not very convinient. Same in the evening.. after the dinner and some show we like to go to our cabin for drinks with snacks... again it wasn't made on many occasions till 9:30.

 

This was not a case on NCL Sun. I can assume that unusual number of children (800!!!) on Spirit could've been a case... to much of a cleaning, but still.

[Tatka]

Just to make myself clear... this service "issue" will not detract us from sailing on NCL, we liked it.. I even recommended Spirit to my parents for next year cruise to Bermuda from Boston. There is something special about this ship, asian warmth and design, nice smaller scale entertainment. :)

[Toyz711]

i agree the spirit is just the right size.

besides, service is going change with every cruise. last dec, our cabin was cleaned befor 9am each morning and turn-down was by 8:30 every night. our 2 room stewards worked well together.

[newmexicoNita]

Well, unlike me, who likes be by the pool a lot, my DH takes a walk on the promenade after breakfast, then a short swim... maybe some basketball/ping-pong and then he usually goes to the cabin to relax for a little bit.. Well, on most days our cabin wasn't made till 12 pm or even 1 pm, which is definitely not very convinient. Same in the evening.. after the dinner and some show we like to go to our cabin for drinks with snacks... again it wasn't made on many occasions till 9:30.

 

This was not a case on NCL Sun. I can assume that unusual number of children (800!!!) on Spirit could've been a case... to much of a cleaning, but still.

I understand what you are saying, but someone has to be last. We have been the early birds on occassion and like you, as late as noon. This has held true on PRincess and HAL as well. It is just the luck of the draw. I will say, 20 plus cruises for us and never has our cabin turn service been as late as 9:30pm. We have had it made up as late as 8pm.

 

Nita

[kirdo]

You know what? Yes, they do have several cabins to clean, but I do not think they are over worked, we have been at the beginning as well as the last cabin on our stewards route (if that is what you want to call it)

Nita

 

Methinks things are a-changin':confused: Our first Dawn cruise in'05,

we had a mini deck 11...our 2 stewards had 24 cabins. Last

Oct/Nov Dawn repo we had aft BA 10730....they had 30. This month Dawn to BDA...they had 34 or 36, all BA's. We only noticed inconvenient timing this last time and so informed staff. We have had nothing but praise for all the attendants...they really bust their butts! But as my favorite Blackjack dealer Arnold always said as I busted..."TOO MANY!";)

 

In the case of the casino server, I hope the OP made use of her STYLE card to report just what happened! Never heard anything like that happen!:(

 

Jim

[lgfromdg]

It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

 

 

 

OMG, I have tears streaming down my face. Thanks for the laugh.

[newmexicoNita]

OMG, I have tears streaming down my face. Thanks for the laugh.

me too, I told DH about this earlier today, he about cracked up.

 

Nita

[Tatka]

I understand what you are saying, but someone has to be last. We have been the early birds on occassion and like you, as late as noon. This has held true on PRincess and HAL as well. It is just the luck of the draw. I will say, 20 plus cruises for us and never has our cabin turn service been as late as 9:30pm. We have had it made up as late as 8pm.Nita

 

I agree, we had same issues with understaffing on HAL Zuiderdam in 2004, even worse as DR service was very slow because of this. As we understand the reason for this was HAL's lack of experince with large-sized ships.

 

But out of all our cruises these were only two we had this kind of problems.

[AuntieBarb]

I appreciate your review and candidness. Thank you for your experience from your perspective. I'm happy to read there were also some good things to report.

 

We've had only a few unfortunate encounters with crew members, collectively between all of our NCL cruises, and the exceptional experience far outweighed any isolated instances. If anything went awry that we felt warranted a report, we kept it to an immediate supervisor, trusted that they would address the matter appropriately and went on enjoying our cruise!

 

I'm sorry, but to me the front desk is not the complaint dumping ground. Asking their assistance in speaking to the appropriate person is one thing. If you have a problem with your stewards and can't resolve with them directly, ask for the housekeeping supervisor. The same for wait staff, or casino staff, etc.

 

I have no doubt that many confrontations can be resolved directly with the individual too. If there's a misunderstanding of sorts from the get go, just clarify what you want! I doubt wait staff in the casino would continue to press any drink issue if you clearly stated, as soon as you detected a miscommunication, that you'd like to BUY your daughter a drink! He was obviously trying to make sure HE was following the rules as well. I just sense attitude met attitude; that's all.

 

I shuttered to hear that your praise of the crew members was so limited. Although we've generally cruised on the Dawn, we can only sing praises about the crew aboard the Spirit last November and will be cruising on her again in September. We'll go into it expecting nothing less than what we're used to and will most certainly report back on our findings.

[aeu]

OMG, I have tears streaming down my face. Thanks for the laugh.

 

Heh. I'm glad I didn't offend anyone. I couldn't resist.

 

I'm on the Spirit right now using my cell phone to get Internet on my laptop, which is free in Puerto Rico. It's just after midnight and we're due to leave PR any minute.

[aeu]

Oops, we're pulling away from the dock. Gotta go! :)

[SailAways]

Oops, we're pulling away from the dock. Gotta go! :)

 

Isn't the Spirit a wonderful small ship?

We loved it, and would board her again in a heartbeat.

 

Where you going?

[Tatka]

Isn't the Spirit a wonderful small ship?

We loved it, and would board her again in a heartbeat.

 

Where you going?

 

I'd say that Spirit is a wonderfull right sized ship!

 

I would only add (somehow) adult only pool, and eveything will be perfect. Or limit number of children... :)

[theshireshihtzu]

Wonderful, well balanced review! Thanks for taking the time to post it.:D

[Tatka]

Wonderful, well balanced review! Thanks for taking the time to post it.:D

 

I LOVE your avatar... :) ;) Have a great cruise!

[roc1847]

I appreciate your review and candidness. Thank you for your experience from your perspective.

 

I'm sorry, but to me the front desk is not the complaint dumping ground. Asking their assistance in speaking to the appropriate person is one thing. If you have a problem with your stewards and can't resolve with them directly, ask for the housekeeping supervisor. The same for wait staff, or casino staff, etc.

 

I have no doubt that many confrontations can be resolved directly with the individual too. If there's a misunderstanding of sorts from the get go, just clarify what you want! I doubt wait staff in the casino would continue to press any drink issue if you clearly stated, as soon as you detected a miscommunication, that you'd like to BUY your daughter a drink! He was obviously trying to make sure HE was following the rules as well. I just sense attitude met attitude; that's all..

 

Thanks for your feed back. The Spirit was only my second cruise and I didn't lift a finger to plan it, so the Spirit was a great learning opportunity for me. I hope that I don't run into another problem like that on any other cruise but if I do I now know what to do thanks to the way you explained it. Take it to the supervisor of the department...!!

This is what I had read in a FAQ cruise site prior to me leaving for the voyage. I was reading about tipping and other problem solving stuff...

 

"If you are not satisfied with the service you receive, we encourage you to contact the Purser’s Information desk while onboard. This will allow us to address your concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion"

 

The Dawn was an exceptional cruise as far as the crew members. They could not have been nicer and they all looked hand picked from a modeling catalog........lol But the FAQ thing is why I went to the front desk to begin with. Not an excuse but and explanation.

One more thing.... I will probably sail NCL again as I said in my review...I also said I would not sail the Spirit again because I want to expand and try other ships not because I hated her. I had a great time on the cruise. We just got back from a 5 day vacation in FL with my whole family but found myself talking about the cruise all the time.

I really thought I gave both sides in my review and like I said in the OP..a review is just one persons opinion,,,,and mine was honest.

As far as the casino waiter....he didn't meet attitude.....he just had one!

Again I don't believe anyone should look for or make excuses for such bad behavior and I am just stumped at the attempt.

 

Lastly I found a cruise to Canada. Taking my 7 year old by myself for some alone time. We come home literally a day before school. I hope this will make him feel like he did something this summer and it will be fresh in his mind when the dreaded first day of school arrives. It will be his first cruise and I am excited to see it through his eyes.

 

Thanks to all who read my OP and gave constructive advice.....

[ce2000]

roc1847, you and your son will have a great time. Carnival really is a lot of fun and make sure that you try the chocolate melting cake for desert some evening.

[Ms belp]

It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

 

Too funny!!:D

[roc1847]

Thanks so much Ce. Boy you people are GOOD ...How'd ya know it was Carnival? I purposely didn't mention the name because I was in a NCL board....lol

 

Yes I am excited about the trip. I am trying to convince my mother who is 73 and has never been on a cruise. She has raised 9 children on her own. 4 babies in diapers all at the same time. Two sets of twins...She never leaves NY..but she is afraid to say yes then change her mind the day we leave. She is scared to cost me money. I really wish she could come.

 

Ce have you been on that 4 dayer?

If so how was it?

Any good info i should know?

And i will try that cake....you make me want it right now.....lol

 

Tee

[aeu]

Thanks so much Ce. Boy you people are GOOD ...How'd ya know it was Carnival? I purposely didn't mention the name because I was in a NCL board....lol

 

__________________

 

She must be psychic!