NCL Cruises, Pride Of America Review

Overall Rating

Regarding the Pride of America 18 july 2009 Hawaii sailing
From the start we found that staff put their rules above customer service. We tried to put our daughter 2 weeks from her 10th birthday (and a 5th grader) into the 10-12 kids club, rather than with her 7 y/o brother in the 6-9 y/o group, but they refused. Next, a staff member yelled at my wife for taking some popcorn from the popcorn maker before that staff wanted to serve it. (This I still do not understand) Later, I wanted my children to walk on the running machines while I ran (in the otherwise empty gym), so that I could keep an eye on them while I exercised, but was told that they were to young to use the machines. Finally. I entered the buffet at 0955, got into the omlette line, and while waiting for it they closed the rest of the buffet and pulled out all the other food, shooing people away around me. I would not expect them to put more out at 10:00, but it was a waste to deny it to us. I am sure that what they removed had to them be discarded. Finally, the coffee tasted like hot water. In Hawaii, they should be at least using a kona blend. It was almost impossible to get pool towels. And I think that they advertise sushi at the buffet. Sushi is supposed to have raw fish in it. All they served at the sushi station was vegetables and rice wrapped in seaweed. Finally, I happened to hear other passengers complain about a few things during the cruise. Staff never seemed to try to correct the problems. For example, a man at the table next to me complained about his entree, and while they staff said he was sorry, he did not offer to bring him something else. Customer service was sorely lacking.

Members' Comments onGuest's Review

• educator on the high seas on 6th Dec 2009

  FYI ...kids club cruise staff have mandates from corporate that children have to be with the age group that they currently are in...even if their birthday is a few days, weeks or months away. I know when you go on vacation and spend your money...you feel entitled to anything that you want...but just try to broaden you perspective some and think if there were not rules regarding children in place...imagine how chaotic the ship could become.
  
  Keep in mind there are thousands of passengers, and hundreds of children each and every week. If they were to allow your child to go to the older group (or run on walk on the tredmill)then what about all the other children...and where do you draw the line.... what about parents who want their children to enroll in an older group because their b day is 3 weeks away, or 4 weeks away...
  
  I am a teacher in a large school system, and we have a cut off date as to when a child can enter a particular grade, birth dates have to fall before or on sep 30th of that year...if the child is born Oct 1 ...which is only 1 day past the cut off date, the child will have to enroll in the previous grade. This is life, there are rules, and there must be to ensure a civil society...and that even goes for cruise ships!
  
  I say that your complaint is not an issue of bad coustomer service...those rules are in place because they are critical to the smooth running of the ship...and I am sorry that you feel that rules don't apply when you are on vacation...and if they are not bent for you and your family then you have recieved poor customer service. However, I greatly disagree...and hope in the future you will have a broader perspective!
  
  Disclaimer:I am not speaking on behalf of NCLA....just my own personal opinion.