J
joteacher
Guest
Is anyone on the Dream on Feb 18? We are going to be part of a group of 6 and wondered who else will be there.
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J
jamfam
Guest
We sailed the dream on 10-15-05 this is our story; I pray this happens to no other norwegian cruise customer.
On Friday, October 14th we flew from Phoenix to Houston to be early for the Western Caribbean cruise that we were to set sail on Saturday, October 15th. Upon arrival to the port of Houston we were put into a tent along with our luggage and were then informed, via a memo dated October 13th, that due to “the ship being late†that we would not get to go to all ports, that we would be only going to Cozumel and Belize City. (Originally going to Cozumel, Cancun, Belize City & Roatan) Plus, we would not be able to board until 5 PM and would not set sail until midnight. But they did have buses ready to take us to a pier so that we could spend more money to buy our own lunch, or just sit in the tent for 8 hours. We all came to the conclusion that we couldn’t be upset at them if we weren’t there. They offered a $200 non refundable on board credit and a $100 travel voucher to each adult for a future cruise as compensation. (This was a joke)
Unfortunately this did not make sense to the crowd that was inside the tent as the ship returned only 1 ½ hours late, yet we were losing two ports because of it. The NCL crew handing out the flyers was no help and not sympathic at all, stating “what do you want me to do about it� Once the ship returned we talked to a few passengers that we coming off the ship. They too were not very happy. Then the rumors started about the safety and integrity of the ship. We heard that the ship had an engine that blew up and that to save on engine wear that during the last cruise a compressor was shut down leaving some cabins without air conditioning. However, this at the time was all speculation.
We finally made it onto the ship around 5 PM and was told that we would be embarking at 8 PM. Not true again, we left after midnight.
Sunday October 16th, the cruise itinerary now states that we will be in Progreso, Mexico on Monday, Cozumel on Tuesday and Belize on Wednesday. The captain then comes on the speaker, to introduce himself and make a few announcements. His first comment; “I know you must be disappointed to be going on only half a cruise, but don’t take it out on me or my staff†That’s an ice breaker!
However, he still does not mention anything about if we are going to Progreso or not. So, we started to look for a shore excursion in Progreso as it was provided to us. Still yet nobody knew if we were going or not. It was until we went to the shore excursion’s desk to find out if we were really going, and of course we were told no. it was a mistake that was printed on the schedule.
Monday, October 17th, more people were talking and a little more are getting upset as more rumors are flying. We had heard that some customers were contacted by NCL and some were not. We also heard one couple whose friends they were going with had the option to cancel, in which they did. This couple called NCL and they would not let them cancel. Come to find out that too many people were canceling that NCL stopped calling people for the moment. Then more people were contacted either the night before the cruise started or the day of telling them not to get to the dock until 5 PM because again “the ship was late coming in†and that we would be only going to two ports and that we would be leaving at midnight. Upon retiring for the evening the captain informs us that because of tropical storm Wilma we will not be going to Belize, but will be going to Progreso instead. From 1 PM until Midnight.
Tuesday, October 18th, we arrive in Cozumel, just glad to be getting off the ship. Upon, re-boarding the ship we all noticed the Norwegian Sun ship setting right next to us. We spoke to a few of the passengers on that ship and they informed us that they were headed to, you guessed it Belize City. However, as we were leaving Cozumel, there was yet another memo; at least this was dated the same day. Saying, that because of hurricane Wilma, we will not be going to Belize City. Finally this memo acknowledges (for the first time) that the ship was down a main engine. The captain came on board with an announcement that the Norwegian Sun’s captain was going to make the announcement that they too will NOT be going to Belize City, but will be following us to Progreso. That evening more and more guests was getting more and more upset with the cruise thus far.
Wednesday, October 19th, we arrive in Progreso about 1 PM; we took a shore excursion and met up with another family that we struck up a conversation with. They were telling us about a petition that was going around the ship and that they wanted NCL to refund our money. By this time we had found out that indeed an engine did blow up, a rod went through it and put a whole in it. We were only traveling on two engines and that, in talking with some of the staff, they did not want to get on the ship, and they deemed it unsafe. Yet they were either get on, be fired and be sent back to your country. This explains the staff’s attitude with the guests at times.
We were back on ship and having dinner, after dinner we happen to run into the group leading the petition. They drafted a letter to NCL expressing our concerns. They did research and discovered that the cruise line was still advertising the same cruise with the same ports for next week the 29th and for the following week November 5th. They were collecting signatures at a rapid pace. The biggest complaint, the lies that they told us. They requested a meeting with the captain and waited for an answer. We started leaving the port with the Norwegian Sun nowhere to be found, rumor had it they were going to Belize City. We met a couple on board; this was their “dream†vacation. They paid for a 30 day cruise, and they were stuck like this the entire time.
Thursday, October 19th, we held a meeting of the concerned passengers. Because of the amount of people and the noise we were making security was called to disperse us. We asked to speak with the captain and waited for an answer. He agreed, but only wanted to meet with two people and at 5 PM. By this time the petition had over 900 signatures on it. The meeting took place and then we had a meeting to discuss what the captain said.
Finally, the captain admitted that the ship was only running on two of its four engines. Two were running, with one for reserve just in case one of the two running engines breaks down. Here’s the kicker, he admitted that the real reason that we did not go to all the ports is because we did not have the engine power to get to them all. With us running on two engines, it was impossible, time wise to make it to all ports. He also told us that the ship has been this way for at least 4 months. The ship had TWO appointments for the ship to be dry docked to be fixed, but that never happened. He also told us that he is just following orders from corporate in Miami. I wonder if Steve Reister, Vice President Planning & Analysis or Colin the President of NCL would like their family, friends or better yet, their wives or kids on a ship like this?
Our conclusion is that we were misled, lied to and defrauded. They knew that they could not do this cruise from the moment I purchased it. I am requesting a FULL REFUND from NCL.
On Friday, October 14th we flew from Phoenix to Houston to be early for the Western Caribbean cruise that we were to set sail on Saturday, October 15th. Upon arrival to the port of Houston we were put into a tent along with our luggage and were then informed, via a memo dated October 13th, that due to “the ship being late†that we would not get to go to all ports, that we would be only going to Cozumel and Belize City. (Originally going to Cozumel, Cancun, Belize City & Roatan) Plus, we would not be able to board until 5 PM and would not set sail until midnight. But they did have buses ready to take us to a pier so that we could spend more money to buy our own lunch, or just sit in the tent for 8 hours. We all came to the conclusion that we couldn’t be upset at them if we weren’t there. They offered a $200 non refundable on board credit and a $100 travel voucher to each adult for a future cruise as compensation. (This was a joke)
Unfortunately this did not make sense to the crowd that was inside the tent as the ship returned only 1 ½ hours late, yet we were losing two ports because of it. The NCL crew handing out the flyers was no help and not sympathic at all, stating “what do you want me to do about it� Once the ship returned we talked to a few passengers that we coming off the ship. They too were not very happy. Then the rumors started about the safety and integrity of the ship. We heard that the ship had an engine that blew up and that to save on engine wear that during the last cruise a compressor was shut down leaving some cabins without air conditioning. However, this at the time was all speculation.
We finally made it onto the ship around 5 PM and was told that we would be embarking at 8 PM. Not true again, we left after midnight.
Sunday October 16th, the cruise itinerary now states that we will be in Progreso, Mexico on Monday, Cozumel on Tuesday and Belize on Wednesday. The captain then comes on the speaker, to introduce himself and make a few announcements. His first comment; “I know you must be disappointed to be going on only half a cruise, but don’t take it out on me or my staff†That’s an ice breaker!
However, he still does not mention anything about if we are going to Progreso or not. So, we started to look for a shore excursion in Progreso as it was provided to us. Still yet nobody knew if we were going or not. It was until we went to the shore excursion’s desk to find out if we were really going, and of course we were told no. it was a mistake that was printed on the schedule.
Monday, October 17th, more people were talking and a little more are getting upset as more rumors are flying. We had heard that some customers were contacted by NCL and some were not. We also heard one couple whose friends they were going with had the option to cancel, in which they did. This couple called NCL and they would not let them cancel. Come to find out that too many people were canceling that NCL stopped calling people for the moment. Then more people were contacted either the night before the cruise started or the day of telling them not to get to the dock until 5 PM because again “the ship was late coming in†and that we would be only going to two ports and that we would be leaving at midnight. Upon retiring for the evening the captain informs us that because of tropical storm Wilma we will not be going to Belize, but will be going to Progreso instead. From 1 PM until Midnight.
Tuesday, October 18th, we arrive in Cozumel, just glad to be getting off the ship. Upon, re-boarding the ship we all noticed the Norwegian Sun ship setting right next to us. We spoke to a few of the passengers on that ship and they informed us that they were headed to, you guessed it Belize City. However, as we were leaving Cozumel, there was yet another memo; at least this was dated the same day. Saying, that because of hurricane Wilma, we will not be going to Belize City. Finally this memo acknowledges (for the first time) that the ship was down a main engine. The captain came on board with an announcement that the Norwegian Sun’s captain was going to make the announcement that they too will NOT be going to Belize City, but will be following us to Progreso. That evening more and more guests was getting more and more upset with the cruise thus far.
Wednesday, October 19th, we arrive in Progreso about 1 PM; we took a shore excursion and met up with another family that we struck up a conversation with. They were telling us about a petition that was going around the ship and that they wanted NCL to refund our money. By this time we had found out that indeed an engine did blow up, a rod went through it and put a whole in it. We were only traveling on two engines and that, in talking with some of the staff, they did not want to get on the ship, and they deemed it unsafe. Yet they were either get on, be fired and be sent back to your country. This explains the staff’s attitude with the guests at times.
We were back on ship and having dinner, after dinner we happen to run into the group leading the petition. They drafted a letter to NCL expressing our concerns. They did research and discovered that the cruise line was still advertising the same cruise with the same ports for next week the 29th and for the following week November 5th. They were collecting signatures at a rapid pace. The biggest complaint, the lies that they told us. They requested a meeting with the captain and waited for an answer. We started leaving the port with the Norwegian Sun nowhere to be found, rumor had it they were going to Belize City. We met a couple on board; this was their “dream†vacation. They paid for a 30 day cruise, and they were stuck like this the entire time.
Thursday, October 19th, we held a meeting of the concerned passengers. Because of the amount of people and the noise we were making security was called to disperse us. We asked to speak with the captain and waited for an answer. He agreed, but only wanted to meet with two people and at 5 PM. By this time the petition had over 900 signatures on it. The meeting took place and then we had a meeting to discuss what the captain said.
Finally, the captain admitted that the ship was only running on two of its four engines. Two were running, with one for reserve just in case one of the two running engines breaks down. Here’s the kicker, he admitted that the real reason that we did not go to all the ports is because we did not have the engine power to get to them all. With us running on two engines, it was impossible, time wise to make it to all ports. He also told us that the ship has been this way for at least 4 months. The ship had TWO appointments for the ship to be dry docked to be fixed, but that never happened. He also told us that he is just following orders from corporate in Miami. I wonder if Steve Reister, Vice President Planning & Analysis or Colin the President of NCL would like their family, friends or better yet, their wives or kids on a ship like this?
Our conclusion is that we were misled, lied to and defrauded. They knew that they could not do this cruise from the moment I purchased it. I am requesting a FULL REFUND from NCL.
V
vanhoven
Guest
My family and I were also on this cruise and we had a great time considering the circumstances! Sure it was disappointing missing several ports, especially Belize, but I do not fault NCL for cancelling it. Anyone who suggests that we should have gone to the port does not understand hurricanes, weather, etc. Since Belize is a tendering port, if we had gone there chances are we could not have tendered with the conditions that were starting to exist there.
As for being lied to, I would like to clarify some of the lies from the previous post. Yes the Dream arrived late, but not 1.5 hrs as stated but 4 hrs. We arrived at the port about 11:30am and the first few passengers were just leaving the ship. We were handed a flyer that showed our most updated schedule for the week. It stated that departure would be at midnight, not 8pm as stated. We actually left port shortly before midnight.
The list with the 3 ports was an old list from several days prior, not the current one used by the NCL staff.
The annnouncement for the cancellation of Belize as a port was made on Monday afternoon at 3pm as announced by the captain during his noon update.
As for the Sun, they did not go to Belize as implied previously, and were not scheduled to be in Progreso the same day as our ship.
Any lack of knowledge before getting on the ship about the engine problem is due to a lack of research. It has been widely reported on multiple boards the problems the Dream was encountering.
Yes NCL lied to us about the ports, but we were on vacation and had a great time. I overheard so many passengers complain all week that there was no way that they could ever be happy. Some of them seemed to enjoy being upset and probably are most of the time. Some people can never be happy.
For those considering the Dream, just realize that some changes to the itinerary may happen. The staff were great! The food was very good! I would sail NCL and the Dream again.
As for being lied to, I would like to clarify some of the lies from the previous post. Yes the Dream arrived late, but not 1.5 hrs as stated but 4 hrs. We arrived at the port about 11:30am and the first few passengers were just leaving the ship. We were handed a flyer that showed our most updated schedule for the week. It stated that departure would be at midnight, not 8pm as stated. We actually left port shortly before midnight.
The list with the 3 ports was an old list from several days prior, not the current one used by the NCL staff.
The annnouncement for the cancellation of Belize as a port was made on Monday afternoon at 3pm as announced by the captain during his noon update.
As for the Sun, they did not go to Belize as implied previously, and were not scheduled to be in Progreso the same day as our ship.
Any lack of knowledge before getting on the ship about the engine problem is due to a lack of research. It has been widely reported on multiple boards the problems the Dream was encountering.
Yes NCL lied to us about the ports, but we were on vacation and had a great time. I overheard so many passengers complain all week that there was no way that they could ever be happy. Some of them seemed to enjoy being upset and probably are most of the time. Some people can never be happy.
For those considering the Dream, just realize that some changes to the itinerary may happen. The staff were great! The food was very good! I would sail NCL and the Dream again.
