How is the work on Sky coming?

[nderoche]

Does anyone know how the Sky is coming along? I wonder how much they can accomplish in a relatively short time. It will be very interesting to read the first reviews and see how people will react.

We love the Sun so I hope we we'll like the Sky.

[mafig]

Good question!!! I'd like to know too.

 

We're booked on the first cruise (7/14):) so it's getting close.:D

 

 

DH knows I spend a lot of time here, and he's always asking me: "Any news yet?" I have to respond:

 

"no":( :o

[ktpc2005]

I was looking for info as well because I want to book a 3 day cruise on Columbus Day weekend for the DW and I's 1 year anniversary....

 

 

Can't tell much from the ship cam......

[caravellajn]

I am a newbie on NCL. We booked Sky for a 3 day to check out NCL. I have been trying to research, too. I have been reading everything I can about NCL and Sky on CC and have signed up for our roll call. I have so many questions!

 

I hope mafig and others come back with lots of info for us!

[nderoche]

I was looking for info as well because I want to book a 3 day cruise on Columbus Day weekend for the DW and I's 1 year anniversary....

 

Well one good thing NCL updated the deck plans and now shows the Sky club casino witch is brand new. Just don't know if it's done yet.

 

Nick

[caravellajn]

One of the things I'd like to know about Sky is what is served at the buffets? Do they have a fast food type like the Blue Lagoon that I've read about from other NCL ships and is it open 24hrs? DH would love to be able to get chicken wings any time he wanted and Blue Lagoon is not on the deck plans. I noticed there is an indoor buffet and a outdoor one.

[blackerbys17]

Good question!!! I'd like to know too.

 

We're booked on the first cruise (7/14):) so it's getting close.:D

 

 

DH knows I spend a lot of time here, and he's always asking me: "Any news yet?" I have to respond:

 

"no":( :o

 

DITTO! We'll be there on 7/14 as well. See you onboard in 13 days!!!

[ktpc2005]

I really like the Blue Lagoon for an afternoon or late night snack. I have only been on the Dawn and Gem, so I hope they have something similar on the Sky.

 

The price has gone down 50 bucks in the last week, so it might be time to buy or I might wait for the 90 day period. Its looking to be about $70/day all in, and the fare is about the same for a 3 day on the sky as the 2 day on the Pearl.

[DAGVBSB]

I really like the Blue Lagoon for an afternoon or late night snack. I have only been on the Dawn and Gem, so I hope they have something similar on the Sky.

 

 

Unless they added it in this refurb, there is no Blue Lagoon on the Sky. In fact, when I was on her as the Pride of Aloha, it was difficult to find something to eat when the buffet was closed.

 

As far as buffet set-up.... Part of Freestyle 2.0 are the action stations type buffet set-up as opposed to one long line. They could have made this change while in wet dock. I will say that seating in the indoor part of the POA's buffet was very limited and the lines didn't create a good traffic flow. Hope that is an area where they improve it.

 

When they converted the Sky to the Pride of Aloha in 2004, they had about 35 days and they were still working on things like laying carpet and signage when I was on the maiden voyage to Hawaii. They have had more time with this changeover, so things may be better.

 

I also caution those of you who are reading reviews of the Pride of Aloha... DON'T USE THOSE as an indication of your cruise. The POA was an American flagged vessel and had to have an all American crew. (and reports are that is why service was bad.) The new Sky will have an International Crew and I have never had anything but a great experience with NCL's International crews. Also, the changes and upgrades to the ship may take out alot of the things that you read about in the POA reviews.

[caravellajn]

Unless they added it in this refurb, there is no Blue Lagoon on the Sky. In fact, when I was on her as the Pride of Aloha, it was difficult to find something to eat when the buffet was closed.

 

I have wondered if there would anything 24 hour, or if it would just be room service. Do they have 24 hour pizza on NCL? I did see it on the 2.0 room service menu. What about ice cream? Is there a charge, or is it free?

 

I also caution those of you who are reading reviews of the Pride of Aloha... DON'T USE THOSE as an indication of your cruise. The POA was an American flagged vessel and had to have an all American crew. (and reports are that is why service was bad.) The new Sky will have an International Crew and I have never had anything but a great experience with NCL's International crews. Also, the changes and upgrades to the ship may take out alot of the things that you read about in the POA reviews.

 

We have taken that into consideration. We have always had great service on Carnival, and I'm sure that we will on NCL also.

 

Thanks for any info! We are really excited about trying NCL.

[triplej2484]

I also caution those of you who are reading reviews of the Pride of Aloha... DON'T USE THOSE as an indication of your cruise. The POA was an American flagged vessel and had to have an all American crew. (and reports are that is why service was bad.)

 

Actually, it was 70% American crew required. For those of us who worked for the company and quite frankly worked our @$$ off, comments like this are just rude and insulting. Last I checked, the average reviews for NCLA ship aren't that far off from other cruise lines (if not the same). The Aloha was hindered by a rough start and for some reason never could recover. The America's current rating on this site is a 4 as was the Hawai'i. The Aloha hovered around 3-4. Compare that to the rest of the NCL ships and your right on par.

 

As for work on the Sky, it was staffed from Hawai'i all the way to Freeport so work had already begun by the time she got there the first week of June. Should look brand new.

[DAGVBSB]

Actually, it was 70% American crew required. For those of us who worked for the company and quite frankly worked our @$$ off, comments like this are just rude and insulting. Last I checked, the average reviews for NCLA ship aren't that far off from other cruise lines (if not the same). The Aloha was hindered by a rough start and for some reason never could recover. The America's current rating on this site is a 4 as was the Hawai'i. The Aloha hovered around 3-4. Compare that to the rest of the NCL ships and your right on par.

 

As for work on the Sky, it was staffed from Hawai'i all the way to Freeport so work had already begun by the time she got there the first week of June. Should look brand new.

 

That is not exactly right... on the maiden voyage (and the early voyages), the US law required that the ship be 85% American crewed. (There was a trivia contest one night on the ship and that is the figure that the Cruise Director threw out for the answer.) The law was later changed to 70% because of the problems with finding enough workers.

 

I will stand by my comments that American workers are lazy and that has been a problem that has plagued the NCL-A operation from the start. I have talked to too many people and have too many examples to discount that.

1.) There was a strike by half of the waiters on the POA one night during our cruise. They were complaining about working 14 hour days.

2.) A maitre'd on the Dawn told me several stories about training the American workers on the Dawn before they were sent over. Stories of workers simply not showing up, of sleeping in booths in the restaurant during shifts, of simply leaving during shifts. The International workers hated working with the Americans, because the American work ethic made them look bad too.

3.) NCL refunded the Service charges to every passenger who sailed on the POA during her first 9 months of operation. The letter from NCL, which I still have, blames poor representation by the crew.

4.) A co-worker of mine sailed on the POAm last summer. Without first hearing my stories (I didn't know she was sailing on NCL until after she returned), she basically reported the SAME incidents of poor service and a lackluster crew. In the space of three years, I would think somethings would have been corrected.

 

It is the same in schools and on the job in many industries... the American worker is spoiled and lazy. They want things handed to them instead of working for them. When someone else has more due to working harder, they lazy people wanted it taken away, divided and given to them.

I'm sorry, I know that there are/were some good people on the NCLA ships... but for the most part the crews have been lazy Americans.

[nderoche]

I will stand by my comments that American workers are lazy and that has been a problem that has plagued the NCL-A operation from the start. I have talked to too many people and have too many examples to discount that.

It is the same in schools and on the job in many industries... the American worker is spoiled and lazy. They want things handed to them instead of working for them. When someone else has more due to working harder, they lazy people wanted it taken away, divided and given to them.

I'm sorry, I know that there are/were some good people on the NCLA ships... but for the most part the crews have been lazy Americans.

 

Start your own post about your topic.:mad: I wanted to know how work was coming on the Sky now......that's all.

 

Nick

[rolloman]

Not sure what your true agenda is but I think you need to tone down your anti-american sentiment.

 

Back on topic- I am looking forward to the Sky in Florida. I have no update but I truly hope it is a a quality ship. The competition will not be tough for this Bahama itenerary. RCCL Majesty, Sovereign do not impress and the carnival ships are way past their prime. Yet, if this comes out similar to the upkeep of NCL Majesty it will be sad.

[triplej2484]

3.) NCL refunded the Service charges to every passenger who sailed on the POA during her first 9 months of operation. The letter from NCL, which I still have, blames poor representation by the crew.

 

I did reference the Aloha's rough start, but in 2007 the ratings on board were way up as were reviews.

 

It's not so much "lazy Americans" as it was young kids not wanting to work thinking it's a party. Tolerance was very, very low last year for them. There was a huge layoff when the two ships left. I made the cut to stay on the America but hours were way to low to stay since Shore Ex kept everyone. That being said, you should see a huge improvement in service levels as they were able to weed out a lot of the "lazy Americans."

[nderoche]

I did reference the Aloha's rough start, but in 2007 the ratings on board were way up as were reviews.

 

It's not so much "lazy Americans" as it was young kids not wanting to work thinking it's a party. Tolerance was very, very low last year for them. There was a huge layoff when the two ships left. I made the cut to stay on the America but hours were way to low to stay since Shore Ex kept everyone. That being said, you should see a huge improvement in service levels as they were able to weed out a lot of the "lazy Americans."

 

You are both lazy Americans...you can't even start your own post.

This is about work on the Sky now...Not her past.

 

Nick

[doitallWMB]

Dear DAGVBSB

Go live in communist China with the rest of the cheap labor that is ruining our GREAT nation. We are the FINEST nation on earth, so love your fellow Americans for who they are, not who you think they ought to be. NCL did something that no other major cruise line even dared to try. I respect NCL for that. You should too. Jobs for Americans. People like you should realize that Americans like you who spout that garbage, were given that right by those Lazy Americans. Think about it, my misinformed associate.

[triplej2484]

You are both lazy Americans...you can't even start your own post.

This is about work on the Sky now...Not her past.

 

Nick

 

Get over it, you got your answer and I even added to the answer for your question.

[nderoche]

Dear DAGVBSB

Go live in communist China with the rest of the cheap labor that is ruining our GREAT nation. We are the FINEST nation on earth, so love your fellow Americans for who they are, not who you think they ought to be. NCL did something that no other major cruise line even dared to try. I respect NCL for that. You should too. Jobs for Americans. People like you should realize that Americans like you who spout that garbage, were given that right by those Lazy Americans. Think about it, my misinformed associate.

 

Thanks guys...you make us all proud. I'll bet you both leave big tips for that cheap labor.:mad:

 

So how is the work on the NCL Sky coming?

[triplej2484]

She'll be done the 13th with enough time to sail from Freeport to Miami.

[Ms belp]

Does anyone know how the Sky is coming along? I wonder how much they can accomplish in a relatively short time. It will be very interesting to read the first reviews and see how people will react.

We love the Sun so I hope we we'll like the Sky.

 

Coming along nicely so I've heard!

[nderoche]

Coming along nicely so I've heard!

 

Thank you Ms belp. It will be nice to have another choice of NCL ships and the three and four day sailings sound like they might be popular.

NCL has a sale going on with free upgrades...to bad these are not for suites.:cool:

 

Nick & Julie

[chezbo99]

I was on the Pride of Aloha in April and watched that crew work hard. I didn't have one complaint about service, attitude, work ethic, etc. They were very pleasant and added to a wonderful cruise.

[JJSlim]

She'll be done the 13th with enough time to sail from Freeport to Miami.

 

 

Sky will be in Miami by Sat. June 12 at the latest.

[Cruise_More_Often]

Sky will be in Miami by Sat. June 12 at the latest.

Then everyone should already know how lovely she is! :D I sure wish NCL would give us West Coast people a ship for Baja 3-4 day cruises. I'm really envious of all of you who get to cruise on the Sky.