Oversold and understaffed worst cruise I've ever been on

Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 9
Helpful Votes: 172

Overall rating:

2 out of 5
Norwegian Escape

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 03, 2016

Ship: Norwegian Escape

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 12216

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

My first complaint is the fact that I had to fly out after a hurricane hit North Florida soon as I knew my flight was going to be delayed at 9 AM I contacted Norwegian to let them know because I had prepaid for airport pick up

 

airport pick up never communicated with me did not pick me up after 10 minutes ovof trying to get them on the phone I hailed a   cab paid $37 to get to the cruise ship on time as it was I was the last person to board at exactly 6:21 PM.

I had booked a balcony cabin to share with a friend of mine who had already arrived before I did she had put her things away and I was to meet her for dinner I found my cabin steward as soon as I reached my cabin to let him know who I was and that I had just arrived on board.

as I was freshening up before dinner I heard a loud banging outside my cabin I opened the door to see what it was only to be greeted by a maintenance man vacuuming out the air-conditioner in which I am mediately began to cough .

at that point I realized the AC was not working accurately in my cabin or in the hallway and I went to guest services to complain as my throat was already beginning to have that all-too-familiar scratch when I am faced with pollutants and allergens I was told that they had a capacity of 5000 people on this trip and there were no extra rooms for me to switch with.

I reminded my cabin steward as well as guest services three times that I missed the safety boat drill and I have no idea where my life boat is located

i also complained to guest services three different times that they needed to refund me for my transfer since I was not picked up at airport and every time it took them 10 to 15 minutes to verify that I had pre-paid before hand

I also suffered full-blown sinus infection in  which I had to seek medical treatment as soon as I returned home this ship was so crowded there is no room in The very small pool I mostly stayed in the H2O area in which I witnessed many children present openly sitting out in the sun with their parents as well as in the waterfall area also known as the grotto.

I did not see many staff members in areas around the pool H2O or other outside deck venues there is no night club lounge area inside for adults only 

  Not many adult only areas and this by far was the worst trip I've ever taken on Norwegian not only do I believe I have suffered an illness due to their lackof healthy maintenance on the Air conditioning  systembut the failure to give me a lifeboat drill or that of the other two passengers who boarded when we reached our first port of Saint Thomas even after I brought it to the attention of guest services as well as my cabin steward Is very alarming  

I  did make mention of this to the hotel staff captain as I was exiting the ship and that was after I had complained repeatedly to guest services 

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
Small compared to balcony cabins on Spirit and Jade

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

3 out of 5

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

5 out of 5

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

5 out of 5

Nassau, Bahamas

3 out of 5
Was this review helpful? 36

14 Comments

texanjlc    8 years ago

The ship is not a year old. How can the air vent be so filthy? Let's complain complain complain.

nigel1722    8 years ago

😂😂😂

jmark1982    8 years ago

Do you see this => . That is called a period. See how I use it to prevent run on sentences? My only complaint is your utter disregard for proper grammar. After the suffering punishment of reading your never ending complaints, I feel the cruise line should offer me a credit too.

askoleern    8 years ago

Can't respond to busy to think of something to complain about

cruisincouple06    8 years ago

What makes it even funnier is the original post person never responds to any of the comments

mabis    8 years ago

This review gave me a headache just reading it! Oh boy ! Some people just walk around with a dark cloud over them huh? Lol brighten up

capeman    8 years ago

Sorry that things didn't go your way, once you start to focus on the negative, it all goes quickly down hill from there.  You have to see past the B/S, write a note to the Hotel Director and others concerned staff, and then relax.  I know some parents down follow the rules concerning the kids, just smile and look the other way, you may see them once then never again. 

msgtclem    8 years ago

Last year we were on the Pearl and it was a great cruise. Any way there was a lady who complained that the cream for her coffee was not cold enough. There was ice on the outside of the creamer. I am retired military and my first comment was " are you frigging bagging me". There are people who you can never please.

nigel1722    8 years ago

tzntay0208    8 years ago

Wow you're actually lucky they didn't just leave without you. You should've been S.O.L. it's not their fault your flight was delayed bc of a hurricane when you chose to cruise during hurricane season on the day of your cruise... they used to leave at 4 p.m. and you had to be there BEFORE but I've heard they have made their depature time later and you should be lucky and grateful for that. Also why not ask your friend about the lifeboat location or look at your room kep it's on there. It's not their fault that you weren't there and missed the whole drill. Again you're lucky they even waited for you. They're plenty of adult only areas and bars and places to dance I don't think you did enough research or enough exploring. I think you spent too much time complaining at the guest services desk instead of enjoying your vacation. If you are that much of a grinch that you couldn't stand to lie around where children are you could've just sat out on you balcony. All alone with your grumpy self. Cruising is not for you and I feel sorry for you that you couldn't enjoy all the positives of your cruise bc you're too negative!

cissie    8 years ago

I figure a cruise is only as good as you make it.....and I always be sure to make every cruise the best cruise ever

chiumento5    8 years ago

Punctuation please. This is very difficult to read and even more difficult to take seriously.

SvetlanaS    8 years ago

If you suffer from sinus infection all the time, should you keep some meds with you and do self first aid? Life boat will be right on your card. You payd for your balcony $1200 to $1600 and waisted your pressious vacation time complaining about $37? You could notify coustomer service by phone and clear the matter at home by phone or internet. Be happy and don't sweat over small issues.

banaford    8 years ago

Wouldn't your "friend" not tell you where your life boat would be? Isn't it on your card? I will say this is the 1st complaint I have ever seen about missing muster drill. Especially since they are the same on every ship, and you had been on a few.

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