posted 09-14-2000 08:35 PM               

Premier Cruise Lines apparently knew it would strand over a thousand passengers when it first sailed earlier in the week, but neglected to tell them in order to take their money. Our ship was not stocked with nearly enough wine (stocks ran dry after only the second day), bathrooms did not have toiletries, and tipping info, as well as the Summary of Purchases (usually left on the last day of a seven-day cruise) was distributed early on the second day, IN PORT; though passengers weren't told of the company's shutdown until late that night at sea. Throughout the cruise, the crew was guarded and uncomfortable in answering questions about anything several days hence.

Premier's refusal to share info with the passengers prior to sailing (when charges could be cancelled) netted the company huge amounts of money, at the expense of thousands of dollars, huge inconveniences and loss of lifetime vacations to the stranded passengers, many of whom, were elderly.

When we were returned to Halifax, Premier told us to wait on the ship all day, packed and ready, then transfer by bus to another ship (The Big Red Boat 2); and it would sail straight for New York that night. The problem was, the passengers expected to arrive in Montreal, and the Rembrandt's Captain told us, personally, that there would be only enough cabins to accomodate less than half of us in the manner Premier promised us. He did not know what would happen to the rest of us and hoped most people wouldn't find out.

Even prior to the cancellation, we were very disappointed in the cruise quality. We expected a grand old boat with Titanic-like appointments...we got a floating Motel 6, with a shower whose pipes groaned, a TV with three channels (CNN and the same two movies ad nauseum) a pathetic excuse for a gym, roaches, etc.

We took one look at the impending chaos in transferring 864 passengers all day, to another booked ship which will probably be seized before she can sail; a cruise company out of operation; a dock fueler who could not in good conscience fuel a company that didn't pay its bills...and we got off the ship. In fact, we were the very first two passengers off. We asked Canadian Customs officials if we were legally cleared to leave and he replied, "By Customs, yes; but you need to check with the Purser." We thought that was pretty funny and we opened the gangway door and walked off.

We booked an Air Canada flight back to Washington, DC and we're back home, now...smarter but poorer.

As an aside, a passenger I met was sailing on his free compensation cruise for a huge problem Premier caused him last year. He didn't even get halfway.