Norwegian Cruise Lines - Norwegian Spirit Bed bugs, food poisoning, horrible food and NO service! ripoff Miami, Florida

Rosanne:

Just to forewarn you, I've had equally bad experiences on multiple cruise lines, and have had wonderful experiences with NCL. So, despite your personal experiences, I'm inclined to agree with most of the current literature about food poisoning on cruise ships, it's extremely rare and usually caused by common bacteria passed from human to human, rarely from food to human, unless the food was touched by a contaminated person first.

The cruise industry has become almost sickeningly (no pun intended) superfluous in its attempts to reduce even the most remote chances of food poisoning. Sanitizers are prolific throughout ships, and are found at restaurant openings, restrooms, and even in elevators. Rather than relying on integrity of each passenger, ship's personnel are stationed in front of common areas, spraying the hands of every person. They've also positioned designated sprayers for every person boarding in every port.

Most bacteria that cause legitimate food poisoning are killed in the cooking process. Legitimate food poisoning is extraordinarily rare, even on cruise ships, despite all the bad press. When it happens, it doesn't just happen to a few passengers; usually large amounts of passengers AND crew are infected, which you didn't indicate in your description.

To complicate things, some medical personnel simply use the term "food poisoning" inaccurately to cover a wide variety of symptoms -- and of course -- to keep terminology simplistic enough to accommodate patients of different backgrounds and educational levels.

One major fact that seems to escape most people making the accusation; legitimate food poisoning rarely lasts for just 24 hours, and it's much worse than a little diarrhea.

As for the bed bugs - wouldn't you agree that you're basing your certainty on nothing more than a cursory examination? You described it as a "quick once-over." The symptoms you've described are certainly indicative of insect bites, but they're also indicative of an allergic reaction to commercially used laundry detergent, dust, hives, sunlight, pollen, and chlorine. All look very similar. Having spent many years in the medical field while in the military, and frequently in less than cruise line type conditions, I've seen bed bug bites many times on many soldiers. Here's the important part: I can also tell you that if you had bed bugs, it's unfathomable that your husband didn't.



Now, about some of your specific complaints:

Dirty balcony window: Granted, the logistics of cleaning a balcony on a cruise ship are complicated, I think that since you paid a premium for the privilege of having a balcony, it's more than a reasonable expectation to be able to see through it. The prior posting from someone dismissing that as unimportant is just incorrigibility on their part.

It's hard to barter with any cruise line about money they've already collected. I usually use a countermeasure. I would have asked that either the glass be cleaned, or I be moved to a comparable room before the boat even left the first dock with the understanding that "if this problem isn't taken care of, I'm going to dispute the difference between this room, and a non-balcony room on my credit card when I get home."

I agree with your frustrations about the soda experience. That's simply an area that the cruise lines are choosing to be greedy. It's ridicules, and it goes to a ridicules length. When I sailed this summer to Alaska on the NCL Pearl, the soda fee was about $49.00. I'm of the opinion that anyone needing to drink so much soda that it justifies that kind of expenditure should have a serious talk with their dentist. I shouldn't talk; I drank my weight in coffee while on board, but at least that was free. It's compounded by the fact that they don't financially compensate the wait staff for bring sodas. That's like Best Buy pushing employees to sell extended warranties, and not paying them unless they do. Best Buy eventually figured out that customers hatred that; I wonder why the cruise lines haven't.

Sorry to hear of your poor experiance on your 1st cruise. I usually don't contribute when I read such reports but I felt I had too. I have been a travel agent for 11 years and I have been on 24 cruises with more to follow. I have also stayed at 4 and 5 star resorts as well.

First off some of the things you experienced were unaccaptable. Not sure who told you NCL was one of the better cruise lines but they are not the top of the line. I cruise on them and like them but it is what it is. They are MASS market ships that are equivelant to 3 star resorts. But you have to go realizing this. I have been on the Spirit and that is one of their older ships. If I were you and you are accustomed to 4 amd 5 star resorts I would have went with Celebrity or something even nicer. But I understand that they do not leave from NYC either and maybe they did not fit in with your schedule.

As for cruises being more than a 5 star hotel I just don't see that. Just came back from the Wynn in Las Vegas and their standard room was a nice amount of money $300 per night and the food was high. Wonderful place though. I also just returned from Enchantment Resort in Sedona, AZ. At $400 a night (plus tax) I had what look like roaches coming out of my bathtub drain, dents and cracks in the bathroom walls, dirty cups left in the room and the smell of mildew in the room. They could do nothing. Oh well! Unfortunately these things happen when you travel. And talk about expensive on the breakfast menu a bagel with creamcheese was $7.00!!!!!! I mean I don't mind paying but thats a bit much. My two days at Enchantment came to over $1200. That was room, tax, breakfast and dinner. I think a cruise is a better value BUT as with resorts you need to choose a cruise that fits you! Of course there are exceptions I like 5 star but the Enchantment was not up to par. Doesn't mean I will stop going to 5 star resorts. I would most definately give a cruise another try. Really I have been selling cruises for decades and they have the highest satisfaction rate going.

Despite what you experience cruise ships sailing from US ports are probably one ofthe cleaniest places you will vacation in. The CDC by law inspects and grades cruise ships on cleanliness. And almost all cruise ships pass. I know your husband had food poisining and that is rare but it does happen sometime unfortunately. It also happened to my father when he went out to dinner last month at a local Italian place right here at home. Despite things you here in the news cruise ships are cleaner than resorts. What resort is inspected by a government health agency? None I know. The resports of sicknesses on cruise ships you hear is the Norwalk virus as one poster explained above. The norwalk virus is the stomach flue spread by people not by a dirty ship. A few years ago there was a massive outbreak of this virus in NYC hospitals but it did not make the news. Someone I know who works at Sloan in NYC advised me of it. Otherwise no one talks about it. In fact the 1st place to get the Norwalk virus are schools, hospitals and planes. Its on the CDC's website.

Try cruising again. You unfortunately had a negative 1st cruise. Beleive me its a WONDERFUL vacation experience. I love 4 and 5 star resorts but when I am at sea I enjoy it the most. The resorts just sit there a cruise moves you! Best of luck!

Heidi - While I'm sure your comments were well intentioned, how can you tell me that the Spirit is not nearly as bad as I make it out to be when you have no idea what we went through? Reading a post is not the same as experiencing it.

I consider it expensive based on what was given for the price. And I am a person who gives no thought to dropping $200 or more on a great meal at a great restaurant. So I know quality and in my opinion, NCL Spirit was sorely lacking. Again, that is my opinion and as you are aware, we are all entitled to our opinions. What I say happened actually happened - it was not my interpretation of the service.

I am well aware of what I paid for the balcony room. The cost didn't upset me - it was the fact that the balcony was filthy - tell me, do you have the endurance to spend an entire afternoon STANDING to look out at the view? If you do, more power to you. But I'm on vacation and I have a right to relax and if I want to sit on my balcony to look out at the ocean, I should be able to SIT on my balcony and see the sights, not have to stand. You can justify that any way you like. It's called getting what you paid for. And believe me, there will be no next time. If you took the time to actually read the post, you will see I said our window was never touched during cleaning - I don't care what they use to clean the windows - the point was, it was not used on ours - no one cleaned our balcony. And no, I don't expect to have a servant standing there wiping every speck of sea spray on the window. What I expect is to be able to at least see through the window a little bit.

Despite what you imply, I did plenty of research before taking this trip. I knew how much the soda cards were going to be. I didn't mention the juice and tea because I didn't drink it after the first day - the tea was warm and I don't drink juice - hence the reason I paid for the soda card. And please don't patronize me about the feeling I should have been able to use my card room service. The only reason we ordered room service was because we had to. And again, if you read my post, you would see what I wrote about my husband going to the buffet.

Bland food? No, I don't expect it spiced up so other passengers gag. I expect at least a bit of flavor. Maybe it was a diabetic cruise - I have no idea and I don't even care at this point. I'm also not the only one who has ever said the food was bland - read cruise critic. You'll find bland food mentioned plenty of times. Travelling is subjective and we all have different ideas of what is good and what isn't. Are you not understanding that? It seems like you're taking my post way too personally. Are you an employee of NCL?

I'm glad you find the bit about food poisoning funny. First off, it wasn't Norwalk - and I know that because the ship medic tried in vain to get us and other people to admit we ate on St. Thomas and not on the boat. How you come to that conclusion, I haven't a clue. Regardless of what you say about uncleanliness, how come I've read that NCL is the ONLY boat that has hand sanitizers everywhere? Could it be that they need to have them because it is their staff who can't keep the boat clean? Can you explain how at least 10 other people that I know of who ate at the buffet also were all at the medic for the very same reason and adamant that they hadn't eaten anywhere on St. Thomas? Put 2 and 2 together - get 4 and realize that it's not Norwalk, but food poisoning. And for the record, I am one of the cleanest persons out there and I find it offensive that you suggest uncleanliness on our part. And we did use the hand sanitizer - I carry my own on a daily basis because I so distrust people as the majority of them are disgusting. And believe me, there were plenty of less than desireables on our particular cruise.

And I never expected them to accept my insurance - again - please read and actually understand my post before insinuating. My point, which obviously escapes you, is that if you are the cause for my illness, you are liable. Period.

And I'm glad you are so thoroughly amused by the bedbugs claim. If the bedspread is kept UNDER the bed, bugs can attach themselves at any time - or do you believe the bugs are supposed to realize the ships' itinerary and appear immediately upon boarding? And I love the way you say I was attacked. Didn't say it that way but I'm glad your imagination is so vivid. I was going to ask if you were a doctor but clearly you're an entomologist! And another passenger on our ship who happened to be a doctor confirmed the bites were from bed bugs. He and his wife had heard other claims of that and food poisoning and when they overheard my husband and I talking, they approached us. He wanted to see for himself so I let him see. He confirmed it because these types of bites are distinct - they have a red pinhole in the center. I love that I got a total stranger who happens to be a doctor confirm my story yet you can't believe it? Again, you can believe what you want. To answer your "And they don't bite just one leg of one person and then run away" - as soon as I realized I was bit, I had the head of hospitality come in and replace all linens, de-bug and sanitize our room. Figure it out from there. It's not rocket science.

I love the way you state I made a big deal about the staff not knowing which island we just visited. I was merely demonstrating the ignorance of his accusation - not his ignorance of our itinerary. And for the record, you should know that EVERY DAY they bombard you with information on which island you're on. You mean to tell me no one on the ship gets that information? And no, they weren't cleaning up after me, they were cleaning up after the bunch of drunk idiots who puked on deck or generally left garbage and unattended children wherever they went. My husband and I aren't snobs - though you might think we are from my post. Perhaps you are the person the hotel director spoke about - you know, those who have never seen such a large ship and are amazed? Maybe he was right about us New Yorkers (where I'm from originally) - we are used to the latest and greatest and therefore not easily impressed. I really think i's just his cop out way of saying that they'd rather cater to the less cosmopolitan crowd because they don't know any better.

And I bullied my way into a free meal? I would be annoyed at your comment if I wasn't hysterically laughing. And for the record, I don't bully anyone and I certainly didn't bully the hotel director. I didn't ask him for the free meal - he offered it and if they did nothing wrong, as you say, they shouldn't have caved in to my "bullying". Not sure if you're seeing the pattern here, but I actually apply logic to my arguments. See how it got me a free meal?

Wow!!! You stayed in room 11662 too? What an amazing coincidence!

And to answer your comment of trying a different line that will pamper me? I will stick with staying at 4 and 5 star resorts that pamper me simply because I am their guest and that's just good business, not because I demand it. I'll take that over a floating Motel 6 any day! I'll leave that to those who find my report "lol" funny.

I'm so sorry you had such an awful vacation. I too have traveled on this ship a few times; it's not luxury but it's nowhere near as bad as you make it out to be!

If you consider this expensive, then I don't know what to say. Perhaps your timeshares cost you less per night for the lodging, but when you add in the food, and the drink (excluding soda), and the entertainment, and the travel... it's still a bargain. When you fall asleep in a timeshare you wake up in the same place. On a cruise you can wake up in another country.

Balcony rooms cost more than window or interior rooms. If the cost upsets you so much, next time don't get a balcony room. You're paying for it. As for the view - why couldn't you enjoy it? The plexiglass you speak of is only chest high and very easy to see over. Salt water tends to make it dirty. Not much can be done about that. Would you have been happy to have someone outside your cabin every day washing the exterior of the glass? It's not a windex/paper towel solution.

The soda card is expensive. That's a given. And the price is clearly stated on Norwegian's website, in their brochures, etc. You failed to mention that juice, iced tea, etc is free at all times. An obvious solution is to skip soda for a week and drink something else. And the terms of the soda card clearly state it's not to be used for room service.

I never had a problem with the restaurants serving an entire course at once. I'm not sure why you did, but if you found it that time consuming why didn't you just go to the buffet and get it all at once?

As for an empty cup from the Cafe, that's how they keep track of the coffee sold. Just like at a convenience store - cups equal sales. With the buffets still open at that hour there's no reason you couldn't have picked up a cup there, or even - gasp - had room service bring you a pot of coffee, free.

Bland food? You expect it spiced up so the other passengers gag? Add seasonings to your taste. The cooks there will prepare individual stir-fry or pasta dishes on the spot, seasoned the way you like them. It's just a fact of life. That particular buffet is hard to manage, as there is no kitchen behind it. The ship was not designed for all the food service areas they have now, so keeping the buffet perfect is a challenge. It was an Asian gambling ship originally, but that's another story...

Food poisoning? Lol. As you were told by another reader, Norwalk virus. Very, very common. Comes from uncleanliness. Sad but true. Again, if you had read up on life at sea you would have known. And it's a virus, which explains the quarantine. Did you want to infect others? You are asked to use hand sanitizer when you pick up your plates, etc. The sanitizer stations are everywhere. Did you use them?

The ships's medic charges. Just like any other health care professional. That too is on the information about the cruise. And it is posted in the infirmary. If you visit the medic/doctor you will be charged. They do not accept insurance. Posted.

I had to laugh at the bedbugs claim. I'm sorry. After all those days in the room you're claiming that bedbugs suddenly came in and attacked you? Oh my. You yourself said you had 4 days with no problems. Bedbugs don't just appear. And they don't bite just one leg of one person and then run away.

You make a big deal about the staff not knowing which island you had just visited, etc. The route changes, the stops change. So they didn't pay much attention - that's a reason to find fault with them? While you're out on the island they are cleaning up after you.

You bullied your way into a free dinner at a specialty restaurant. That's worth a few sodas.

As for vibration in your room... your point? It's a ship with a motor, not a sailboat. And it's nowhere near as bad as you claim.

While the Spirit is not one of my favorite ships, it offers convenience for many with NYC departures. Beats flying down south to pick up a ship. The ship itself is very pretty inside with all the wood paneling, etc. It is unique. As for the idiosyncrasies of cruising, it seems you didn't read up on the whole concept ahead of time. Cruising is entirely different from plunking down in a time share. However the details are not exactly secret. If you could find cruise critics after your vacation to complain, then you could have found them prior to research.

Perhaps the Spirit just isn't the right ship for you. Don't give up on cruising, try a 'fancier' ship next time. One that will cater to you and pamper you.

Roseanne, I just read your report yesterday, and now today, have received an email with some really helpful information regarding medical expenses while on a cruise.

The way I first heard of Ripoff Reports, years ago, was through a great consumer financial website, bankrate.com. They mentioned this site in an article, and oh boy, I was hooked!! Today I got an email about a featured article "She racks up $30,0000 debt while in a coma". It turns out a woman wrote to bankrate.com because her mother was on a cruise, fell ill, went into a coma, and then died. The woman was asking if she was liable to pay the $30,000 credit card debt that the cruise line charged her mother's card for her medical expenses. The answer was no, as long as the daughter wasn't a joint account holder.

There is more to the answer, and most importantly for this report here, very good information about purchasing types of travel insurance to protect against having this kind of nightmare occur between the credit card company and the medical insurance company, etc.

The URL for the article is bankrate.com/nltrack/news/debt/20070608a1_credit_card_coma.asp?ec_id=brmint_ns_cc_20070611

In it, the author, Steve Bucci, notes that he never considered travel insurance prior to receiving the woman's email, and since researching the subject, he has very helpful things to say.

As much as I endorse Ripoff Reports, I also endorse bankrate.com, for the same reasons --- the only protection a consumer has in this world is KNOWLEDGE. We have to know all we can cause it's a jungle out there alright, and we need weapons for self-defense. Both these sites sure do make those available!!!

Roseanne, I sure am sorry to hear about your cruise and I hope maybe I can tell you of my experience so you won't write off cruises altogether.

In 2003, my parents had their 50th wedding anniversary, and my sisters and I wanted to pitch in money so they could go on another long cruise like they had for their 45th. Well, they wanted a cruise, alright, but they wanted all three of us daughters to go, too, lololol. Okay!! We had a year or two to save up for plane fare, cruise fare, etc., so in January 2004 we went to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean.

If we'd had to do like Nicole suggested, constant alcohol wipes, etc., well, not gonna happen, that is ridiculous that some place should be that dirty. I did nothing of the sort outside of normal hygiene procedures, and no one got sick, ever. Our group included my parents, 3 daughters, a son-in-law, a female cousin, two aunts and an uncle. We all are of varying health and germophobicness lololol, and there were no complaints that I have heard of. If there had been complaints, kind of betting I would've known!

The fees for the cruise were certainly more than I've ever spent, but not outrageous at all seeing that you are getting on a ship that is a city on the water. That definitely will cost money. I don't think you are out of line for what you have said about your fares, not at all, and especially not in light of your service, but no, cruises aren't cheap.

We did have a wonderful time. There were hordes of people everywhere, but that's what I expected, and the services provided were just fine as far as meals. I don't remember anything in particular about soda, and since all I drink is soda, lololol, it either wasn't outrageous, or I was willing to live with it. I know there was no ''soda pass'', I surely would've gotten one had there been.

My sister and I shared our room and there were no issues, at all. We're both pretty picky people, and while I was less than thrilled with the bathroom layout and all, there was nothing that stuck out in mind as unacceptable.

I don't know the difference in prices and all between Royal Carribbean and Norwegian, but I know RC is a step or 2 above other cruise lines we could've taken, but we all figured it was well worth the price difference to go on RC. My experience bore out that expectation.

I just loved the cruise so much, and would hate for you and your husband to give up on them because of this lousy experience. Maybe in the future, if you want to consider one, you could find an online forum and get recommendations from a lot of different people and come up with the best option. I sure wish you well in forgetting this trip and hope it doesn't sour you forever on cruises. But if it does, I sure can't blame you!! I'd be just as unhappy as you are, and even more after I read your full post, I bet!!

Thanks for posting this, I sure will keep it mind when/if I ever get to go again!

Roseanne, I sure am sorry to hear about your cruise and I hope maybe I can tell you of my experience so you won't write off cruises altogether.

In 2003, my parents had their 50th wedding anniversary, and my sisters and I wanted to pitch in money so they could go on another long cruise like they had for their 45th. Well, they wanted a cruise, alright, but they wanted all three of us daughters to go, too, lololol. Okay!! We had a year or two to save up for plane fare, cruise fare, etc., so in January 2004 we went to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean.

If we'd had to do like Nicole suggested, constant alcohol wipes, etc., well, not gonna happen, that is ridiculous that some place should be that dirty. I did nothing of the sort outside of normal hygiene procedures, and no one got sick, ever. Our group included my parents, 3 daughters, a son-in-law, a female cousin, two aunts and an uncle. We all are of varying health and germophobicness lololol, and there were no complaints that I have heard of. If there had been complaints, kind of betting I would've known!

The fees for the cruise were certainly more than I've ever spent, but not outrageous at all seeing that you are getting on a ship that is a city on the water. That definitely will cost money. I don't think you are out of line for what you have said about your fares, not at all, and especially not in light of your service, but no, cruises aren't cheap.

We did have a wonderful time. There were hordes of people everywhere, but that's what I expected, and the services provided were just fine as far as meals. I don't remember anything in particular about soda, and since all I drink is soda, lololol, it either wasn't outrageous, or I was willing to live with it. I know there was no ''soda pass'', I surely would've gotten one had there been.

My sister and I shared our room and there were no issues, at all. We're both pretty picky people, and while I was less than thrilled with the bathroom layout and all, there was nothing that stuck out in mind as unacceptable.

I don't know the difference in prices and all between Royal Carribbean and Norwegian, but I know RC is a step or 2 above other cruise lines we could've taken, but we all figured it was well worth the price difference to go on RC. My experience bore out that expectation.

I just loved the cruise so much, and would hate for you and your husband to give up on them because of this lousy experience. Maybe in the future, if you want to consider one, you could find an online forum and get recommendations from a lot of different people and come up with the best option. I sure wish you well in forgetting this trip and hope it doesn't sour you forever on cruises. But if it does, I sure can't blame you!! I'd be just as unhappy as you are, and even more after I read your full post, I bet!!

Thanks for posting this, I sure will keep it mind when/if I ever get to go again!

Roseanne, I sure am sorry to hear about your cruise and I hope maybe I can tell you of my experience so you won't write off cruises altogether.

In 2003, my parents had their 50th wedding anniversary, and my sisters and I wanted to pitch in money so they could go on another long cruise like they had for their 45th. Well, they wanted a cruise, alright, but they wanted all three of us daughters to go, too, lololol. Okay!! We had a year or two to save up for plane fare, cruise fare, etc., so in January 2004 we went to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean.

If we'd had to do like Nicole suggested, constant alcohol wipes, etc., well, not gonna happen, that is ridiculous that some place should be that dirty. I did nothing of the sort outside of normal hygiene procedures, and no one got sick, ever. Our group included my parents, 3 daughters, a son-in-law, a female cousin, two aunts and an uncle. We all are of varying health and germophobicness lololol, and there were no complaints that I have heard of. If there had been complaints, kind of betting I would've known!

The fees for the cruise were certainly more than I've ever spent, but not outrageous at all seeing that you are getting on a ship that is a city on the water. That definitely will cost money. I don't think you are out of line for what you have said about your fares, not at all, and especially not in light of your service, but no, cruises aren't cheap.

We did have a wonderful time. There were hordes of people everywhere, but that's what I expected, and the services provided were just fine as far as meals. I don't remember anything in particular about soda, and since all I drink is soda, lololol, it either wasn't outrageous, or I was willing to live with it. I know there was no ''soda pass'', I surely would've gotten one had there been.

My sister and I shared our room and there were no issues, at all. We're both pretty picky people, and while I was less than thrilled with the bathroom layout and all, there was nothing that stuck out in mind as unacceptable.

I don't know the difference in prices and all between Royal Carribbean and Norwegian, but I know RC is a step or 2 above other cruise lines we could've taken, but we all figured it was well worth the price difference to go on RC. My experience bore out that expectation.

I just loved the cruise so much, and would hate for you and your husband to give up on them because of this lousy experience. Maybe in the future, if you want to consider one, you could find an online forum and get recommendations from a lot of different people and come up with the best option. I sure wish you well in forgetting this trip and hope it doesn't sour you forever on cruises. But if it does, I sure can't blame you!! I'd be just as unhappy as you are, and even more after I read your full post, I bet!!

Thanks for posting this, I sure will keep it mind when/if I ever get to go again!

Nicole, thanks for offering your opinion. My full experience is written on cruise critic - with every detail. Never once were we told my husband had Norwalk - the ship medic told us it was food poisoning and spent a lot of time trying to get us to admit we didn't eat on the boat at Raffles but in St. Thomas somewhere (which we didn't.) The medic did the same with the others.

For the record, I am a germ freak so buffets aren't exactly my favorite and my husband and I wash our hands all the time before meals and desanitize - especially on this boat since it was so convenient. If you read my cruise critic post (under rgiudice) you will see what I am talking about. We did ask for the balcony to be cleaned more than once and no one ever came. The day I got bit by bed bugs was the same day we were quarantined.

It doesn't matter how it happened, what matters is that it happened. As for it being the most expensive, we own timeshare and have been to Hawaii and stayed in 5 star resorts for less than what this cruise cost. The reason we didn't get on the Dawn was because it didn't coincide with my son's school vacation and we had to fly to New York to drop him off at my parents. (We now live in AZ so when it comes to babysitting, we are at their mercy). The Spirit was the only ship (besides the Queen Mary) that was leaving that week out of New York. As far as the cost, I'll be glad to photocopy my receipts for you to show you the total amount spent - I have saved everything.

I realize travelling is subjective - some only do luxury vacations, others prefer to camp but the bottom line is you need to get what you pay for and we didn't. At some point, maybe we will cruise again, though I doubt it. Again, I appreciate your taking the time to respond - NCL needs to have more like you because I can assure you, not one employee on that boat took as much time as you did to actually write or refute anything. No hard feelings.

I am going to do a paragraph by paragraph response so I make sure I cover everthing:

1. I am glad you heard good things about NCL (I work for NCLA, the American flagged ships in Hawaii).

2. It was the most expensive? Really? Even when you consider in the cost of food, lodging, entertainment? Where do you normally travel? But I get the point, it sucked.

3. That "scum" is salt that hits the windows (yes even deck 11 on windy nights). I know it sucks, and I wish they would wash the windows better, our ships get the same thing. You should have been allowed to call your room steward to have them washed.

4. $69 per person? Ours are $33 per person. Odd. especially since everything else on the American ships is more expensive than on the International ships (that you were on)

5. The meal issue is just poor service. No if's and's or but's. It should have been handled by a Maitre D'. I am a Maitre D' onboard, and I do not tolerate this kind of thing. I am sorry your staff did not take better care of you.

6. The coffee thing is just odd. No cups, maybe the dishwasher was down? Happens far too often at night. Next time, if you ever cruise with anyone again and you want coffee at night. Order it from room service, there should be no charge and you get a whole caraff (sp?).

7. Ok here is where you aren't going to like me. It was NOT food poisening. It simply wasn't. It was something called GI, or Norwalk. Know how I know? They quarantined you, which means his tests came up positive (or he had all the symptoms for) Norwalk. Which is HIGHLY contagious and it basically makes you feel like you are going to die. NOW, here is the part you are really not going to like. While the ship hold some responsibility, most of it lays with the passengers. Norwalk is passed by ingesting or coming into contact with a certain bacteria. This bacteria is killed during the cooking process of food. Which means your husband probably touched something and then didn't wash his hands before he ate. And yes, it is possible that the reason they were all from the same restaurant was the contaminated item was IN that restaurant. Which means someone (a passenger or crew) touched it, contaminated it, and everyone else got sick.

It sucks. The number one way to avoid this, use rubbing alcohol ALL THE TIME while onboard, and wash with steaming hot water for 45seconds after you touch the menu and before you eat. Norwalk is found on all ships at all times. No one really knows much about it, although it is believed to be caused by fecal (ew) bacteria.

They would not have quarantined for food poisoning. They have to (by law) for Norwalk, or risk an outbreak.

8. The bugs could have been bedbugs, or could have been from one of the islands, or come on with you, or could have been anything. I don't know enough, but I do know that bedspread should not have been under your bed. I also know that your room was not 'bombed' the chemicals from bug bombs would have created a risk for other passengers and yourself. You would have been locked out for at least 24hours. Either way, it is gross to think of bugs in the rooms. Sick.

9. The charges are the same on my ship (but higher) for the Dr. It is like seeing a dr. on shore. Except, being on a ship, they have no system to charge insurance, as there are difficulties if you are way at sea. So they leave it to you to be reimbursed. This is SOP, right or wrong.

10. Again, just odd with the soda, I have no explaination for it, just odd.

11. The aft is always a bad place for a quiet room It is directly above the screws, or "rutters" I worked in a restaurant aft of the ship and we got the same problem when we are up to speed. But personally, I love it, and a lot of passengers accept that the view is worth the noise.

All in all, it sounds like you had a lousy trip. Most of which can be accounted for. Sorry to say, but you probably wont get your money back. You stayed aboard. Had you left, you probably would have been reimbursed, but cruise ships have great precedent in never refunding anything ever if you complete the cruise.

Might I suggest you try cruising again, but this time don't go for convenience, get what you really want. If you want the Dawn, get on the Dawn, not the Spirit (which I agree needs some SERIOUS work). I would like to invite you to come to Hawaii and enjoy some Aloha spirit on the US flagged and crewed ships. While all ships will have some problems and wont be able to please everyone all the time (as you stated), I know we can proved better service. Or heck, even try another cruise line. Just don't give it up entirely, there is nothing like being on the ocean. Nothing.

I am going to do a paragraph by paragraph response so I make sure I cover everthing:

1. I am glad you heard good things about NCL (I work for NCLA, the American flagged ships in Hawaii).

2. It was the most expensive? Really? Even when you consider in the cost of food, lodging, entertainment? Where do you normally travel? But I get the point, it sucked.

3. That "scum" is salt that hits the windows (yes even deck 11 on windy nights). I know it sucks, and I wish they would wash the windows better, our ships get the same thing. You should have been allowed to call your room steward to have them washed.

4. $69 per person? Ours are $33 per person. Odd. especially since everything else on the American ships is more expensive than on the International ships (that you were on)

5. The meal issue is just poor service. No if's and's or but's. It should have been handled by a Maitre D'. I am a Maitre D' onboard, and I do not tolerate this kind of thing. I am sorry your staff did not take better care of you.

6. The coffee thing is just odd. No cups, maybe the dishwasher was down? Happens far too often at night. Next time, if you ever cruise with anyone again and you want coffee at night. Order it from room service, there should be no charge and you get a whole caraff (sp?).

7. Ok here is where you aren't going to like me. It was NOT food poisening. It simply wasn't. It was something called GI, or Norwalk. Know how I know? They quarantined you, which means his tests came up positive (or he had all the symptoms for) Norwalk. Which is HIGHLY contagious and it basically makes you feel like you are going to die. NOW, here is the part you are really not going to like. While the ship hold some responsibility, most of it lays with the passengers. Norwalk is passed by ingesting or coming into contact with a certain bacteria. This bacteria is killed during the cooking process of food. Which means your husband probably touched something and then didn't wash his hands before he ate. And yes, it is possible that the reason they were all from the same restaurant was the contaminated item was IN that restaurant. Which means someone (a passenger or crew) touched it, contaminated it, and everyone else got sick.

It sucks. The number one way to avoid this, use rubbing alcohol ALL THE TIME while onboard, and wash with steaming hot water for 45seconds after you touch the menu and before you eat. Norwalk is found on all ships at all times. No one really knows much about it, although it is believed to be caused by fecal (ew) bacteria.

They would not have quarantined for food poisoning. They have to (by law) for Norwalk, or risk an outbreak.

8. The bugs could have been bedbugs, or could have been from one of the islands, or come on with you, or could have been anything. I don't know enough, but I do know that bedspread should not have been under your bed. I also know that your room was not 'bombed' the chemicals from bug bombs would have created a risk for other passengers and yourself. You would have been locked out for at least 24hours. Either way, it is gross to think of bugs in the rooms. Sick.

9. The charges are the same on my ship (but higher) for the Dr. It is like seeing a dr. on shore. Except, being on a ship, they have no system to charge insurance, as there are difficulties if you are way at sea. So they leave it to you to be reimbursed. This is SOP, right or wrong.

10. Again, just odd with the soda, I have no explaination for it, just odd.

11. The aft is always a bad place for a quiet room It is directly above the screws, or "rutters" I worked in a restaurant aft of the ship and we got the same problem when we are up to speed. But personally, I love it, and a lot of passengers accept that the view is worth the noise.

All in all, it sounds like you had a lousy trip. Most of which can be accounted for. Sorry to say, but you probably wont get your money back. You stayed aboard. Had you left, you probably would have been reimbursed, but cruise ships have great precedent in never refunding anything ever if you complete the cruise.

Might I suggest you try cruising again, but this time don't go for convenience, get what you really want. If you want the Dawn, get on the Dawn, not the Spirit (which I agree needs some SERIOUS work). I would like to invite you to come to Hawaii and enjoy some Aloha spirit on the US flagged and crewed ships. While all ships will have some problems and wont be able to please everyone all the time (as you stated), I know we can proved better service. Or heck, even try another cruise line. Just don't give it up entirely, there is nothing like being on the ocean. Nothing.