joanne

We just returned from The Great Steamboat Race and would like to share our experiences with the service staff. We have been on over 40 cruises, both small and large ships and from Radisson to Commodore lines, and the service, or lack of it, on this boat was apalling and the worst ever. The attitude of most of the staff needs alot of improvement. <BR>For instance, one morning at open seating, I ordered the Corned Beef Hash and the wiater brought Hash Brown potatoes. When I said I didn't order Hash Browns, the waiter said "That's what you ordered" instead of apologizing and bringing what I ordered. My husband and four others heard me order Corned Beef hash. <BR>One evening, it took 3 requests and 25 minutes for my husband to get a cup of coffee. <BR>Our regular dinner waiter kept calling my husband "Man" instead of "Sir". I can't remember a dinner where all the orders were correct for our table for 6. <BR>I would like to commend one waitress, Carly, who was very pleasant. Unfortunately, we only had her twice for open seating breakfast. <BR>One day we forgot to put out the "Make up the room sign" and when we got back. the steward scolded us and said he had to have the purser call the room and he had to do our room last. <BR>I don't know what the problem was with the staff. Maybe they don't get enough training in customer service and haven't heard the old saying "The customer is always right". <BR>We were not the only people complaining. <BR>The other problem was Security in the ports. People were coming on board without being checked and in fact I went to the Delta Queen to look around and I just flashed my Mississippi Queen room key and was let on board. <BR>We would not recommend this boat if you have been on other boats and expect a certain level of service. Look elsewhere. <BR>Would be interested in other comments about this trip if you were on this boat for the Great Steamboat Race, June 24. Maybe you had a better experience. Would also like feedback if you had a similiar experience to ours. Thanks

sable

I think you should write to Delta Queen and explain the problems you had. Sounds like something we should avoid.

sue

Joanne, <BR>Sounds like this was almost a cruise from hell. I have no feedback and am wondering if Paul Therault has any experience with the Delta Queen Co. and especially recently with the Mississippi Queen. Anybody else have any recent trouble on this boat? I used to think this would be a great trip, but now I don't think so.

joanne

Greetings again, <BR>Just wondering if anyone would be kind enough to post their experience with the Mississippi Queen. Especially if they were on recently. Thank you.

marlene

Joanne, <BR>Sounds like you had a terrible time with the service. I would encourage you to write to Conde Nast Ombudsman, Consumer Reports Travel Letter, N.Y. Times & L.A. Times Travel Section which probably get big bucks in advertising revenue from Delta Queen. <BR>I'm surprised no one else has voiced similar opinions, as you said you weren't the only ones complaining. I hope they respond here. <BR>And where is Paul's opinion? <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Paul Therault

<BR>Hi Joanne, <BR> <BR>I have sailed the Mississippi Queen in 1996 and did not experience a problem. <BR> <BR>It is very unusual for a passenger to have problems both with a waiter and a room steward. You must have stepped in something. <BR> <BR>Definitely you had a waiter with no experience, did not care for his job or both. You should have addressed you complaints to the maitre d' or the head waiter but most passengers do not know this. <BR> <BR>If you had only one problem with the cabin steward it was not too bad. The only thing I can think of is that you may have vacated the cabin too late and your steward left for the afternoon break. I tend to sleep late and this happens to me quite often. The "make up stateroom" sign means nothing. It is not necessary to put in on the doorknob. The stewards know when the cabin has not been made up. If you wish to have your cabin make up immediately, find the steward and notify him. Did you have any other problems with your steward? <BR> <BR>I looked at my old Mississippi Queen and American Queen boarding cards and they are the same color and very similar. I am sure this is the reason for the lack in security. I presume they never expected this to occur. It is unusual for passengers from a ship to board another ship. <BR> <BR>I am positive most of the wait staff is professional as you mentioned being served by Carly who was excllent. <BR> <BR>Since you did have an unpleasant experience with your waiter I would advise you to have your travel agent write a letter for you. If you do not have a travel agent you should write to Delta Queen Steamboat Company, Customer Service, 1380 Port of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70130. <BR> <BR>Do not expect more than vouchers that will entitle you to money off a future cruise with an expiration date. <BR> <BR>I am very surprised that you have sailed over 40 cruises and never had an unpleasant experience. Apparently this cruise must have been extremely bad. <BR> <BR>Sorry to hear of your misfortune. <BR> <BR>Paul <BR>

joanne

Paul, <BR>Thank you for your response. I don't think we "stepped in anything". We are very easy going and don't appreciate being called a liar by a waiter. <BR>Regarding the cabin steward, we left the cabin right after breakfast for shore, which was our regular routine. <BR>We did speak to the Head Waiter, Daniel, who evidently had a big talking to to the staff, because that evening, our waiter greeted us "Hello, How are you", etc., But by the time the entrees were served , he was back to calling my husband "Man". And still had trouble getting coffee with his dinner. So we did speak to the Head Waiter. Also spoke to a man who sails frequently with Delta , and he was going to mention our Hash Brown experience to the M"d. <BR>I thank you for your input and hopefully, I will get some more feedback on this particular boat and a more recent trip. <BR>J

Paul Therault

<BR>Hi Joanne, <BR> <BR>I guess you did get stiffed by your cabin steward. You should also mention that experience in your letter. <BR> <BR>You do know of course that you can call room-service for clean towels, pillowcases etc. at any time but it must have been a shock to come back from your tour and see the beds not made up. <BR> <BR>Be sure to write and send a copy of the original letter every couple of weeks until you get a proper response. <BR> <BR>You certainly did not have very good luck on your cruise. You must have had the worse waiter on the entire ship and I am sure he will not hold his job for very long. <BR> <BR>Good luck, <BR> <BR>Paul <BR> <BR>

curious

Joanne, <BR>Regarding the Mississippi Queen, did you write your letter to Delta Queen Co? What was their response, if any? <BR>Please post. <BR>

joanne

Just a follow up on my original post. I did write to Delta and have not heard from them. <BR> <BR>I sent copies to various travel organizations including ASTA. ASTA wrote back stating that Delta is not a member of ASTA. Well, I was very surprised because on the DELTA brochure(2000) they have the ASTA logo prominently displayed right under their address. ASTA has resuested that I send them the brochure page showing this. I will be eager to see what the outcome of this is.

Paul Therault

<BR>Hi Joanne, <BR> <BR>Now you really peaked my curiosity. The ASTA logo does appear even on their new brochures. <BR> <BR>Did you follow up with duplicate letters to Delta Queen? <BR> <BR>I know they do not belong to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) which is a very important association for all cruise lines. <BR> <BR>Thanks for the follow-up. Please post again. I usually give a cruiseline about 6 months for their investigation and then you should at least receive a reply. Possibly ASTA will shake them up. <BR> <BR>Paul

Lisa L

We traveled last year on the American Queen & had a bad experience when they refused to give us 2nd seating dining when we had 2nd seating confirmed in a separate letter from Delta Queen. We didn't know, but 2nd seating had been sold out to private group & they ultimately gave it to us, but put us at a tiny table for two, alone. We never met or sat with any of the other passengers. We immediately registered our complaint with passenger service agt. & head waiter. Also called our travel agt. long distance to complain. Once home, we wrote long letters documenting our problem & asking for partial refund. They sent discount vouchers. We had no interest in future cruises on this line & sent them back with a demand for refund. Surprisingly enough, after several months, they did send us the refund, & we certainly appreciated that, but for a line which emphasizes their commitment to customer satisfaction, I thought our whole episode incredibly bad management & customer relations. Stick to your guns & your letter writing & maybe it'll bear some fruit. Lisa