Cruise Talk: Cruise standards?

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Norwegian Cruise Line celebrated the debut of the all-new Norwegian Aqua to Port Canaveral, Fla. on Saturday, April 26, 2025, where she commenced her inaugural season of round-trip Caribbean cruises as the newest ship in port. This past weekend, approximately 3,700 guests embarked on Norwegian Aqua's first week-long voyage to the Caribbean from Port Canaveral, Fla., her initial homeport ...

Latest News...Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) today reported first quarter Earnings per Share ("EPS") of $2.70 and Adjusted EPS of $2.71. These results were better than the company's guidance due to stronger than expected pricing on close-in demand and lower costs mainly due to timing. Royal Caribbean said that it is increasing its full year 2025 Adjusted EPS guidance to $14.55 to $15.55...

Latest News...Holland America Line announced itineraries for its two Grand Voyages sailing in 2027, offering guests the choice to embark on an ambitious 129-day circumnavigation of the globe on the 2027 Grand World Voyage or a 70-day, region-specific in-depth exploration on the Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage. As revealed today by the cruise line's president Beth Bodensteiner to guests on board...

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Cruise standards?

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Cruise standards?

Brenda
First Class Passenger
Member # 1377

posted 12-21-2000 01:31 PM

From reading many of the messages on this site I am aware of the appalling standards aboard some of the cruise ships. Smells of sewage, illness, sanitation problems, etc. What are the port health authorities doing? It appears to me that there is a breakdown in the reporting system. Or is it that there are more important decisions such as commercial decisions, where it is cost effective to let a ship sail rather then keep it in port incurring even higher costs. At the end of the day, its the passengers who always suffer from these failures. Comments please.

Posts: 52 | From: UK | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 12-21-2000 03:54 PM

Oddly enough I reported on the sewage smell aboard the Sundream recently.It gave rise to little or no concern on the part of respondents

The report was not and could not be contested.

I am at a loss to know how Airtours get away with this.

[This message has been edited by topgun (edited 12-21-2000).]

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 12-21-2000 05:44 PM

If you travel or cruise enough 1-100 times something can go wrong on any ship or any lines no matter if was free or you paid the most. We have had things go wrong including toilet problems. We try to rate a cruise line or ship on how they respond to a complaint. HAL and NCL seem to us to handle complaints the best. They take each one seriously and try to remove the complaint quickly. Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 12-21-2000 08:58 PM

topgun - I noted your report on the sewage smell aboard the Sundream - not having planned a trip on that ship it was, quite frankly, of little concern to me.
"It gave rise to little or no concern on the part of respondents" - are you referring to TP posters or Airtours??
I personally have an extremely sensitive nose and have been known to quickly leave offending hotels, restaurants and apartment buildings because of unpleasant (to me) odours. I most certainly would have complained about sewage and demanded answers and, if possible, a solution to the problem. Failing such solution, a generous refund for a ruined cruise would surely be requested.
As you are, I believe, an experienced cruiser, I would assume that you followed that course of action.
As K&K state, "We try to rate a cruise line or ship on how they respond to a complaint."
I've never travelled on an Airtours package and can make no judgements - I've heard both glowing and negative reports. Sewage and other unpleasant things aside, don't you think your personal expectations determine your enjoyment of any vacation - at sea or on land?

A joyous Christma, good health and contentment in 2001 to you and yours.

Happy cruisin'

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 12-22-2000 11:28 AM

Green, your points are well taken.

I did submit a short report on this cruise earlier this week. I did try to be fair by complimenting the tour operator on its general improvements to its service and the itinerary

Neither the sewer gas odor or the air conditioning problems ruined the cruise overall but detracted from an otherwise perfect situation. The smell was not fortunately in the area of our cabin. Air conditioning failed on about three evenings while we were preparing for dinner. Unpleasant but tolerable.

It is probably unfair not to draw these situations to the attention of either Sunquest, Airtours or both so that we can see if they will respond .

If anyone has E Mail addresses for these companies, please let me know. I shall be glad to record my letter to them on this forum, and any reply, if I get one.

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Paddy
First Class Passenger
Member # 357

posted 12-22-2000 02:12 PM

Topgun, if you go to the Airtours corporate website http://www.airtours.com , there is an area for correspondance to the company, and I think you would be best going to the "site map" and looking for it from there. Word of advice - try and compliment them before the complaint, they seem to like this. I read in the travel pages of a British Sunday newspaper that if you are ever writing a complaint to a travel company, make sure it looks neat, reads well and seems interesting, and if possible, try and inject a level of humour into it - they are more unlikely to bother taking illegiable droning into account.

I have to say that when I was on the Carousel in 98, there was a very faint odour, but it was only noticable at Purser's Square on Main Deck, and the aft staircase on A Deck, and not near any of the cabins. A friend was on it this summer and said there was no smells at all and she had been refurbished inside too, and I understand Seawing has just been in for refurbishment.

Paddy.

Posts: 763 | From: Belfast, Ireland | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 12-22-2000 05:14 PM

I once dated a girl many years ago who loved the smell of silage. Maybe that is who some of these ships are trying to attract.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

Paddy
First Class Passenger
Member # 357

posted 12-22-2000 06:50 PM

My only reply is a non-committal "Hmmm...". Oh, and my cat's breath smells like cat food.

Paddy.

Posts: 763 | From: Belfast, Ireland | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

10X
First Class Passenger
Member # 2

posted 12-22-2000 07:42 PM

I once cruised on the NCL Westward (now the Black Watch) and we had a small leak in the shower. Nothing major but I thought the ship might like to fix it. It actually wouldn't have bothered me if they hadn't but why waste water?

The leak was fixed while we were in port. When we got back to our cabin, everything in the bathroom was soaked. The floor was saturated into the cabin area and water had leaked into the cabin next door and into the hall. My wife and I laughed at what it must have looked like when that plumber dismantled the fixtures without first turning off the water. I still smile when I think about it.

NCL wanted to give us another cabin but we refused. We were comfortable, next door to our friends who's floor was also wet, and afterall, it was just water. However, the cruise line responded quickly to the leak and offered the new cabin without us asking. They bent over backward to make sure we were happy.

Things can, do, and will go wrong. How you and the cruise line respond can make all the difference in the world.

Posts: 51 | From: Lansing, MI USA | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...