We just returned from an NCL on the Pride of Hawaii. I have been on several cruises and this one was aweful. The service was terrible,some passengers never had clean sheets, all the employees were americans and their work ethic is not like the foreign workers. Debarkation was a night mare.I have written also..we'll see what happens. I don't expect much.

I just returned from an NCL cruise and I tell you what. The island hopping was WONDERFUL, however, the cruise ship SUCKS!!!! The cabins are too small, majority of the staff is on the ship for a paycheck. This was my fifth cruise and my first on NCL. If I was offered a free trip I would not accept it. One of the ladies in my party was bitten by bed bugs. She is currently on antibotics for the bites. The linen was dirty when we arrived, the toliet had feces in it. NCL needs to look at Carnival and Royal Carribean. This would not have happened.

Another major problem with NCL. Prior to arriving I contacted the ship coordinator via email and asked if MS Office was on the computers. I was told yes, I got to the ship and their was no MS Office. NCL is a bunch of liars and I would not recommend anyone sailing with them.

Prior to going on vacation I read the reviews and thought it can't be that bad...well listen up people it is REALLY BAD...

We disembarked today and our experience was the same as mentioned by you all. NCL's treatment of their passengers is just TERRIBLE. Our family has fun being together but the "freestyle" dining was a joke, our cabins dirty upon embarkation and the staff rude with a few exceptions. We will never cruise with NCL again.

WE JUST RETURNED FROM HAWAII, PRIDE OF ALOHA, MY SISTERS AND I HAVE BEEN ON MANY CRUISES, AND BY A LANDSLIDE THE WORST SHIP EVER.
THE SHIP WAS DIRTY, RAN OUT OF FOOD, COKE CARD WAS TWICE THE PRICE OF ANY OTHER CRUISE LINE AND HAD TO BUY A CUP IF WANTED ONE, AND ONLY BAR AREA TO GET A DRINK AND NOT IN YOUR ROOM LIKE OTHERS. WASTED MY MONEY THERE.
HAD TO HANDLE ALL MY LUGGAGE FROM BAGGAGE CLAIMS IN AIRPORT TO A TRUCK, WHERE THEY THREW IT UP ONTO THE TRUCK AND BROKE A FRIEND FRAME TO THE LUGGAGE.
ALOT OF THE STAFF WAS RUDE, AND FOUND OUT MANY EMPLOYEES LEFT SHIP MID TRIP. THEY WERE WEARING UNIFORMS THAT WERE WRINKLED, DIDN'T FIT, AND COULD SEE STRIPED UNDERWEAR ON A OFFICERS PANTS.
FREE STYLE ATTIRE WAS NOT ENFORCED, WE WERE TURNED DOWN AT A RESTAURANT TWICE RUDEL, TWO OF US WERE WEARING PANTS MADE OF LEVI MATERIAL. HE CAME FROM PODIUM TO LOOK UP AND DOWN, AND TOLD US THE CHANGE CLOTHS. WE ALREADY HAD EATEN THERE 3 TIMES.
BUFFET FOOD AND ROOM SERVICE FOOD WAS LIMITED AND NEVER CHANGED. NEVER RECEIVING WHAT WE ORDERED, SAYING THEY WERE OUT OF THAT...
OUR ROOM STEWARDESS SARA, AND TWO SETS OF RESTAURANT PERSONEL CHRIS & CECELA, AND DURWIN,WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL.
ON THE WHOLE IT WAS TERRIBLE, ROOMS SMALLER THAN EXPECTED, ASKED FOR TWIN BEDS AND GO A DOUBLES, ONLY ENTERTAINMENT WAS A STAFF TALENT SHOW, OTHER HAD TO PAY FOR. ATE KIDS MEAL THREE TIME IN ROOM, HOT DOGS AND SOAGY CHIPS AND HARD BOILED EGG WHITES AND WAS REFUSED THREE TIMES FOR A OMELET SAY HE WAS TOOK BUSY. ORDERED BREAKFAST AND TOLD THEM WE HAD A EXCURSION TO GO TO, WAITED 40 MINS AND WHEN BREAKFAST CAME ATE A COUPLE BITES AND HAD TO LEAVE.
I WILL NEVER USE N.C.L. AGAIN, WILL GO BACK TO PRINCESS OR ROYAL CARRIBEAN.

NCL Cruise Warning:First hand experience. My family & I experienced the NCL Cruise from hell from Charleston between Christmas and new Years last year. Some highlights-the decrepit ship almost sank,and engine blew rendering us dead in the water, barely limped back to port, ship without AC for 2 days in 90 degree heat, most passangers had to sleep on the stairs or on the top deck, cabin doors had to be left open, surly service,all ships personnel dissappeared so passangers were helpless,beans & franks food for 2 days- could go on forever. To add insult no forthcoming apology from NCL, no refund, no nothing- oh, excuse me we received a offer two months later for 25% off next cruise! Some lawyers are doing a class action. Moral of story: don't cruise NCL unless you have a death wish and hate yourself.

This is my third cruise, my first on NCL Dawn to Bahamas/Bermuda in August. This is my last cruise on NCL. Here's why: We were on a budget and had to settle for inside stateroom or call it a sardine can. We had two single beds - soft, mushy beds - I would expect at a cheap motel. Barely enough room to walk. Toilet did not flush on two occasions and coffee machine did not work. The TV remote was Scotch taped together.

The regular dining was decent but the buffet area was filthy, crowded, and the food was very bad. It reminded me of an old fashioned cafeteria that don't exist anymore. The fake eggs and wrinkled sausage were not acceptable.

There were no lounge chairs available unless you went out at 5:00 a.m. and put a towel down. Kids of all ages running wild all over area and all over ship unsupervised. It was as if I was at a day camp.

The entertainment was barely adequate.

As far as the health spa, I never heard of paying for the sauna and inside jacuzzi (never happened on other ships) as my previous complaints showed.

The last two days of the cruise the ship smelled terrible. Certain areas smelled like urine (I'm not lying).

They announced the ship had about 2800 passengers. It seems it should hold only about 1500.

That's about it. I will go back to Carnival or another cruise line.

I worked all 3 ships for ncl in hawaii. the pride of america, pride of aloha, and pride of hawaii. ok the america there a bunch of dicks. no one cares about anyone and they would rather see you hurt. the hawaii is my favorite one. pretty chill to work on, and the aloha was far the worse old disgusting thing i have ever seen. they hire all of the idiots for that ship, and the ones who have the most behavior problems, and pretty much the ugliest. lol

And let me tell you the worse experience in my entire life!!!! The ships are dirty, disgusting, not to mention the toilets and bathrooms were so gross i had to clean em myself to even use them, im not kidding, feces on the floor dosgusting. We were treated like slaves and barely got 3 hrs to sleep a day. They would put us somewhere and hide us and make us clean white walls that already had been cleaned for 8 hrs, to make us look like we were busy., sooo annoying.

We had a girl get her arm sliced apart by a sheet machine. not a pretty picture. We had to sleep 4 ppl to a tiny room with out a window, and not to mention next to the engine room. I was on the ship 2 nights and finally i complained enough i wanted to get off, they finally got some lady to take me off the ship and she took me to the hospital.

They kept taking my blood then brought me to a mental institution. I had no way of gettng home and no money and they would not send me home. I dont understand why. I had to stay for a week in a psych center before they would send me home. I think this was to be safe on there side. im still not too sure.

I really had a bad experience and wouldnt like to see anyone have to go through what i did. these ships suck no matter what you hear and what you do!!

Honestly you will get sick on these ships and there is no one to help you. goodluck!! I can honestly say everyone who worked on there worked there to get a paycheck and get the hell out of there. we had to be on there for 5 months then we would get one paid at the end of it. big deal right>>>>>

the food on there is gross by the way!! i got paid 7.15 an hr. and time 1/2 paid crap. if you have any questions about anything just ask i probably know the answer.

you can email me at ihatencl@yahoo.com
cant wait to answer any questions you may have!!

I just returned from a back to back cruise on the Pride Of America, starting September 1, 2007 to September 8, 2007 and September 8, 2007 to September 15, 2007.

We were in bad need of R&R and wanted to stretch our excursions over two weeks. We booked a cabin with a window on lowest deck for the first week and then a cabin with a balcony on the 9th deck. The cabin on the 4th deck. They charged about $15.00/litre for the bottled water that should have been provided at $5.00,( no service charge ),
no coffee maker( $10.00 ) to get it. Annoying, yes. Catastrophic, no. Lack of clear, concise policy. Workers not clear as to policy. Ships administration very well protected, management system is in bad need of revamping, critique at end of voyage is a joke. You get to critique the workers, not the management, when the managers are responsible for the actions of the workers. I am not getting paid the big bucks to do his work. Annoying, yes. Catastrophic, no.

Second week, September 8, 2007. Moved to deck 9, with balcony. Hell week, no hot water, phoned down to reception, said they would get back to us, of course, nobody did. My neighbor complained, he got hot water as soon as we sailed, we figured, small glitch, no problem, wrong! I went to see reception every day after that, over time,the girl at reception was almost in tears, apologising profusely, why, she wasn't the problem. The captain had stated at the latitudes cocktail, "he would look after the ship, and we were just to enjoy ourselves" or words to that effect? On thursday we got hot water, scalding hot water, no cold water, I complained, next day we got cold again, it still had not been fixed when we left the ship. I pity the next people that got our cabin. We, the people above us and below us and to either side of us had a balcony conference, a unique experience, a vertical conference table, anyway the upshot(no pun intended) of that, was that we were all having the same problem from scalding water to cold water and they had all complained with the same results I had. I tried to talk to the office manager, and I was told he would phone back, he never did.

My husband and I sailed on the Pride of Aloha on 10/20/2007 for a 11 day cruise, this was the worst cruise I have been. This was our 6th cruise, the 1st with NCL and this was our last with NCL. Entertainment non-existant during the day, buffet food neither looked nor tasted good,the closet space a joke, took a inside superior guaranteed received a room next to the crew staterooms, the door banged all night, area by restaurant smelled probably because there was only one toilet each, tendering to islands were terrible, crew scared me if there was an emergency my husband said we had better jump overboard then depend on the crew. Poor mgmt. Food ran out, coffe stations empty for milk, coffee and plain old Lipton Tea. No little cute towel animals, mints every other night, bedding had stains, liquid soap out, 2 days bed not made. Everyone we spoke to on the cruise was unhappy. Don't spend your hard earned money on this cruise, use a differnt cruise line.

10/24 sailing of Dream from Miami. NIGHTMARE IT WAS IT WAS. luggage delivered wet! Soaking. Just dropped in room. RECEPTION NO HELP. No apoligy from Senior Staff, never saw one for 11 days. No final reason or one hard to believe. No one seemed to care. Senior staff totally disconnected. Same menu two weeks...what cruise line does that!!! NCL IS A DISGRACE TO THE CRUISE INDUSTRY. The tip in advance insures not so good service. 5th cruise, 1st on NCL, NO MORE NIGHTMARES for us. We would tell everyone take another cruise line. We won't even get into the debark disaster. It was to be our last trip due to my husbands dimentia. What a shame it was so awful. The only redemption was going thru the Canal!

I obviously was on a different planet last month; funny, because I thought I was on the "PRIDE OF ALOHA". That is my attempt at sarcasm. I am sorry that some folks apparently have had less than terrific experiences on this ship; because I took the November 21, 2007 cruise and enjoyed myself immensely. It was first cruise and I WILL BE RECOMMENDING IT to others.
I found the crew to be extremely hardworking under sometimes very trying circumstances (Just read the complaints posted above!). I had a twin inside stateroom, where, though very compact, was certainly serviceable. Luggage had to be stowed beneath the beds; but there was ample hanging space for two people for 10 days. The bathroom is tiny, but water was hot and mirror big. Plenty of small shelves for toiletries and racks for towels. Airconditioning worked extremely well and any requests I had were attended to in a reasonable timeframe. Our TV lost picture at one point; was fixed as soon as they could send someone down. We were informed that new TVs are to be installed very soon.
As for the food at the restaurants (we tried them all) and the buffets; most of the time I always found something to my liking; if not most things.
I am a pretty easy-going person and have endless patience most of the time. Unless you had a hot date or were in a screaming hurry to get fed and off the ship for some reason; the "lines" to the food were more than reasonable and mostly non-existant. I don't suffer fools gladly, however; and I have little tolerance for rude, obnoxious, self-important people. Thankfully, I only witnessed a couple of brief incidents of these types and they were fellow passengers; NOT CREW!.
Yes, the crew work hard, long hours. Many I spoke to were eager to go home for leave and relished any opportunity for shore breaks. The way that I saw them work; they deserved any breaks they got. But, overall, most crew I met said that they found the transition to life on the ship initially difficult(exhausted, weary and sore bodies);and after a couple of weeks adjusted and settled in for the long haul.
PRIDE OF ALOHA is an relaxed-pace vessel that should suit ordinary folks just fine. If you have a real issue; take appropriate measures. Inform the correct parties and the matter will be dealt with accordingly. That is how I saw things happen on the ship.
There is as much fun as you want to have; but you have to make some effort.
I think some people live to complain and make other peoples' lives a misery. I could not help but think that when I read some of the preceding letters.
I have only good to say of my experience on the NCL ship "PRIDE OF ALOHA". I will sail with them again and hope that my next cruise will again not disappoint.

Let me tell you a story about my son and his girl friend who got jobs on NCL Hawaii. The recruters promised them they would be together event though their written policy said no promises. The kids told them if we can't be together we don't want to go. The recruiter said no problem. They went through the hiring process taking 6 months. Drug and medical tests and homeland security check.

They got the call that they would be leaving on Jan5th. Once there they would be in coast guard training for a week. These two kids were so excited to have the job.

They flew for 13 hours and arrived at hthe ship to start their training. NCL paid their ticket there $525. each and they paid their back ground checks. $3000. each. Three days in the kids called me and said they put us on different ships.
They went to the personal office and begged for three more days to be put on the same ship. They could put in for transfer and it would take 3 months..
The horror stories started comming in. Kids hired to work in a gift shop made to wash dishes. My son and his girl got off the ship and are comming home to no jobs and all the bills they left with. The tickets home were at their expense. Their dreams busted.

So it is no wonder the employees are not happy and not doing a good jobs.

I've been on 3 NCL cruises and always had a great experience. All cruise ships have their issues; we've been on Carnival and that was a terrible cruise. NCL has never disappointed me!

Cruise from hell. Booked suite with 2 beds & 2 baths & received "suite with 1 bedroom for adults & 1 bathroom only. Second bedroom had divan that opened up to 5' long. I'm 5'9" & my husband is 6'! We had to sleep on the couch in the sitting room. No privacy & no longer a suite in which we paid extra. When we complained we were told this room was an upgrade!

I'm writing to the Attorney General & if no results will take them to small claims court. Hated everything about the ship! Pride of America my foot.

Well don't worry anymore this isn't an American ship anymore.

Sailed on Pride of Aloha on 3/5/2008, worst cruise I have ever taken. Cabin was a fousome and with the king size bed in the middle, averytime we got out of bed our head would bump on the top bed that was folded up against the wall. Mattress was so hard in felt like sleeping on the floor. Asked cabin attendent to gives us two additional quilts that we placed under the sheet to make it more barebable. Cleanliness was not a major concern. Buffett on deck 11 was always the same for ten day's no variety of food.
Not always available if a certain brand of cold cerial was asked for.
Crew members left something to be desired, not attentive to guest as on other ships. French restaurant on board cost as much as $25. per person to eat in.
NCL not my favorite cruise line just became the line not to cruise on, will never reccommand it to friends. This is not an isolated case, so many passangers where discontent with the experience.

Sailed May 5/08 Mediterrean Cruise .Garden Cafe crowded! No flow to it. Always out of coffee. Fruit juices poor quality, usually empty. Poor set-up at coffee urns. Everyone falling over each other to add their cr and sugar and get juice all in small space.
Food poor, tasteless. Fruit utterly tasteless all 12 days. Staff unfriendly to rude, disinterested!
No pool lounger unless claimed by 6:00am.
Horrificly scarey incident one evening when 2 gyros malfunctioned and ship ran amuk, did an acute u-turn on its own, listing to a dangerous angle, pools and spas emptied, elevators (13 floors aft)out of comission as a result
Will not travel with NCL again.
posted May 22/08

Anyone know how to contact Colin Veight and Andrew Stuart of NCL? Phone or email address would be perfect.

Thank you.

I just returned on June 28th from the Spirit NCL

This cruise line is horrible. I had no life jacket in my room,no robes as promised with a balcony purchase.

Bathrooms in commom areas are not clean also no toilet paper or paper towels.

Entertainment is nonexistent. Food is tastless.
Reservations are welcome according to all staff and written information but that is only in the specialty resturants, absurd.

Service is great if you are drinking but otherwise forget about anyone waiting on you if the is not an additional dollar to be made on you then you are invisable.

I will never return to this lne and I will tell anyone who will listen not to cruise frrestyle

Freestyle means they work less and deliver no services. We waited more then an hour for dinner they want you to use the buffet or places you pay an addtional fee.

Excursions are also a joke none were the lenght of time promised Junkaroo beach is a ripoff.

As you can tell by this rant the trip was not what I expected.

I have cruised RC and I will return to them for future cruises

Yes, I have received a card like the above from NCL. And they did not respond UNTIL I called and
requested a supervisor. It took going through two more people, and refusing to hang up! Finally, a
supervisor found the ship coordinator of my particular ship, whom sent a response letter by fax to me. NCL is very guarded about what they put in writing....and they are very honest when it comes to admitting their mistakes.

I have a very important question for any of your bloggers...Do you know of anyone else
that arrived LATE to any of their ships, and was boarded. The cruise denies they have done this, but, I know first hand they will board guests an hour prior to departure...I just need to know of anyone else they gave this courtesy to????
Please E-Mail me direct the details if you could.

yourtravelmaker@sbcglobal.net

THANK-YOU....

I've cruised 7 different cruise lines; just got back from "Majesty" cruise from Charleston to the Bahamas. Never again--too many good cruise lines to have to use NCL! We ate at the Bistro (additional surcharge) the last night--terrible service, and I refused to eat the "boulebaise". A rabbi was on board for Passover, but no Christian minister to celebrate Palm Sunday or Good Friday (first ship with no minister). "Formal night" was a joke--could not make reservations for dinner, so we had to sit around for an hour while being hounded by the ship's photographer ($19.95 a shot is way out of line). Again, the service was awful. No rapport with any staff--they don't need it because the tipping is automatic! And on and on and on--can't put it all down!

My suggestion? Royal Caribbean is a much better cruise line to the Bahamas and Bermuda--highly recommended!

man I thought NCL was so great from the ads and the photos I have seen, I cant believe all the crap I just read, I am so glad people take the time to share there experiences with the rest of us who really dont know the truth. I have cruised Disney and Royal Carrb, and only had great things to say. I thought maybe NCL will be our next family adventure, no way ! thanks for the truth!!

It's funny to hear about all that grief you guys or girls are giving, i was in may 2009 on NCL jewel, and let me tell you all, that this cruise was one of the best i have had, i have previously been on Jewel of the seas, navigator of the seas, and i have also been on carnival splendor, all these cruises have made it to my top 4, but this one with NCL Jewel, was the best of all, the food was absolutely great, i was eating in the Cagneys, in the Mama's, and Tango's, all places was 5 star food, BUT REMEMBER ONE THING, TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU LIKE TO BE TREATED.

I'm very outgoing, and the personnel on Jewel was sooo cool and all guest was feeling well there, and even boooking further cruises on with them, SO THAT BAD IT CAN'T BE.

Another thing, i always come with no expectations, and then i can only get either surprised or go from there with the same expecations i came with, we tried the berlin tour's with ncl also, and in Skt. petersburg and in helsinki, and the tours were absolutely FANTASTIC, the tours was hold to the length and even more just because they didn't like to dissapoint the guests, (BUT REMEMBER, NCL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL EXCURSION, BUT ONLY TO SELL THEM) IT'S THE COMPANY "EXCURSION COMPANY" YOU SOULD COMPLAIN TO IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY, AND IF YOU STILL ARE UNHAPPY, THEN MAYBE TRY TO JUST SAY, (WELL THAT'S IT, AND THEN FORGET ABOUT IT).

ONE LAST THING, you all sound like small children that hasn't gotten their candy, BECAUSE ALL OF THE CRUISE CAN'T BE BAD, if i would rate the ships i have been with together with this, it will get the 4+, compared ro RCCl's Jewel of the seas, and Navigator and (rcl) Splendor it will only get a 4, so PLEEEEAAAASSE, for god sake, stop wining and instead of that, just say well this was not the best and then say hey i will just use RCCL instead of, and don't NAG on them the way you do.....

My husband and I were on the Pride of America (Should be named Disappointment of America) cruise departing 9/12/09.
What a nightmare, N.C.L. should stand for Nightmare Cruise Line. The ship was filthy the staff was...(well my mother said if you can't say anything good about someone don't say anything at all). The carpet in our stateroom was so dirty I would not go barefoot. The dust on the furniture was so thick, there is no way the room was cleaned before we embarked. I have no idea how many people were sick on board but in our party of 4 I was the only one that did not get sick and have to see the doctor. When my husband went to see the doctor the line was out the door. I asked for a bowl of jello for my husband and I was given a bowl of jelly. My napkin that had the silverware wrapped in had lipstick on it and I was not wearing any. The food was horid, and they charged you for everything. so much for all inclusive except for alcoholic beverages.
I will tell everyone I know to stay away, FAR away from N.C.L.

We left on the Spirit on Oct 9 from Boston. Our cabin had construction going on above and to the side. I complained for 4 days that I could not sleep. I even slipped into the area where the work was going on and they were working on something called the Tivoli Pool. So on day 4 I informed the registration desk that we were getting off and my wife was on the phone with our lawyer. They called back offering to move us to an outside cabin. The next cabin was quiet and our last 3 days were OK. But, I am still angry, as would vacation was absolute !@#$%.

Sorry, I left out that they were using pneumatic jack hammers above and to the sides of us. It was so loud that each time I called the registration desk to complain, they had trouble hearing me. It was jack hammers mostly, and occasionally, they dropped large pieces of steel on the floor above us.
I slipped into the access room and photographed the large pieces of steel, which I will show to my lawyer this week. I actually found the Hotel Manager and complained about the noise, directly to him, but he never got back to me or did anything.

We had terrible experience in our May 16, Hawaii 7-day trip. Our room was used as theft's warehouse. Somebody frequently came to check their 'staff', without caring our 'do not disturb' sign on the door. We wrote feedback after the trip, but did not hear anything from the NCL.

just got off the Pride of America as part of the crew... absolutely the BIGGEST disappointment I 've ever had in a job. Cramped disgusting, dirty living quarters, everyone walks around miserable. Everyone, including managers/supervisors HATE their job and it shows. The food is always a pathetic attempt, and never trust any of the meat, trust the wilted salad I guess. NCL LIES ABOUT YOUR WORK REQUIREMENTS, THEN YOU FIND OUT WHEN YOU GET THERE THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU WERE TOLD. THEY END UP WORKING YOU TO THE BONE, DISHWASHING, CLEANING BASEBOARDS, WHEN YOU WERE HIRED AS A SERVER!
and yes you are sick and they dont give a sh*t about it. medical hasnt a clue what they're doing. GI is everywhere, people throwing up 24/7.
I left after 2 weeks of HELL and never looked back.
The sooner NCL shuts down the BETTER