MHS

Just learned that "engine problems" which cause Crown to eliminate 1 port on one Baltic trip and 1/2 of the ports on the next is still not fixed. Customers are being shorted time in ports. <BR> <BR>If you are thinking of this boat for a future cruise, you may wish to think twice. Unfortunately it's too late for us and the Baltic cruise. <BR>

Paul Therault

<BR>Dear MHS, <BR> <BR>If you are speaking of Orient Lines Crown this is the ship that was transferred from Norwegian after they destroyed it. <BR> <BR>I was hoping that Orient would bring it back to it's old glory. They did spend quite a bit of money. Apparently it is beyond hope. <BR> <BR>Thanks for the info. <BR> <BR>Paul

bill

Yes please are you speaking of orient crown odyessey because I am scheduelded to be on her in sept and would relly like to know

Irv

I was wondering why people were bashing this Paul Therault person. He seemed to be only trying to be helpful. Now I can see why. As an experienced travel agent that he's supposed to be, he should be aware that Crown Odyssey does not go to the Baltic. At least, not in the catalog that I have. He seems to want to take every opportunity to bash Orient just as he did Renaissance last year.

MHS

This is the Crown Princess - Baltic cruise. Using the times stated on another board and comments in a review, <BR>these were the delays: <BR> <BR>Left Copenhagen 2 hours early -- at 9pm not 11 pm. <BR>Lost in Stocklholm -- 1/2 hr. <BR>Lost in Helsinki -- 1/2 hr. -- time in market cut short <BR>Lost in St. Petersburg -- 1/2 hr. (St. Catherines night tour canceled) <BR>Lost in Tallin -- 3/4 hr. (sites open at 10am/ tour left Tallin at 11am) <BR>Lost in Gdansk - 1.5 hrs. <BR> <BR>They also lost 2.5 hrs on the Warnemunde/Berlin stop. <BR> <BR>Princess home office, if they know anything, are stonewalling both customers and TAs. Just typical US business....think Ford & tires! <BR> <BR>Have never heard of a land tour that dared eliminate sites/stops on their customers.

Paul Therault

<BR>I only presumed the writer was speaking of the Crown Odyssey since when it was transferred from NCL last year it sailed the Balic. I am still waiting for a some proper reports to see what Orient has done with the ship. I am not interested in selling the ship until that time therefore I am not following it's itinerary. <BR> <BR>I only came down on Renaissance due to our industry policies. I am here for consumer awareness. <BR> <BR>Ships do break down the same as automobiles and since Princess is a quality cruise line I am sure the passengers will be taken care of in one form or another. It was refurbished in 2000. Possibly they are now neglecting their preventive maintenance since it is to be transferred to Aida Cruises next year. It is tough for me to say since I cannot sail every ship. I just have to listen to industry reports. <BR> <BR>Paul

MHS

Hi - <BR>On the tour which returned on July 25th, it was running 1/2 hour minimum to maximum of 2.5 hrs off official published schedule for each port -- leaving early or arriving late. As I stated in prior post. The problem has not been fixed. <BR> <BR>We are scheduled for Aug 4 trip & I'll do my best to keep accurate records and post info asap upon return. <BR> <BR>All info coming from Princess headquarters is that it was "fixed" ... departing on time (actually has left Copenhagen 2 hours early for past tours since the 3-day breakdown).... <BR>BIG DIFFERENCE between Princess corporate and US Air when they were facing possible strike several years ago. US Air told us they felt absolutely certain the union would settle before walkout (which it did), but would refund 100% of ticket costs (this was a non-refundable CT to FL ticket) either for RT or OW -- whatever we wanted either before or after the flight. We decided to go Southwest -- took husband less than 10 min during a lunch hour to get 100% refund & as result US Air has kept us as frequent flyers. <BR> <BR>Anyway, don't expect either your TA or Princess to clue you into this situation...keep checking the boards where blunt truth makes you an informed and enpowered consumer. <BR> <BR> <BR>As ex-Navy, my husband expects to see sailors (not the hotel staff) painting and cleaning whenever a ship is in port & comments on their presence or lack of it -- one of his ways of evaluating captain and crew. Therefore, a curiously interesting tidbit is that on the trip before the July 15th one, a customer reported that the Captain was "very concerned" and even picked up parts in Helsinki on a Sunday -- but not one returning customer from the July 15th tour (when the ship was in Copenhagen from 1pm & overnight prior to next day disembarking) mentioned mechanics or crew swarming about making repair! Draw your own conclusions. <BR> <BR>Paul, if you really are a TA, please please give a second thought to selling any upcoming Crown trips -- I really do think they are "running it into the ground" mechanically knowing that it will soon be someone else's problem.

Henry

Dear MHS, you really should stop referring to the Crown Princess, affectionately, as "The Crown". You are shaking up a lot of people who are booked on one of the other ships that have "Crown" in their title.

Paul Therault

<BR>You are correct MHS, I do not sell ships that are going to be transferred since they more than likely will avoid maintenance. <BR> <BR>I also do not sell ships or cruise lines that have a history of documented serious problems. Also cruise lines or tour companies that are not on solid ground financially. <BR> <BR>The only line that threw me for a loop was Commodore. <BR> <BR>Curious to see how Crown Princess sails in the next few months. There is no news being published. <BR> <BR>Paul

Rel

Paul: I don't know why you criticise cruise lines - then say things like "I presumed it was the Crown Odyssey". The Crown Odyssey did not go to the Baltic last year - it sailed the Med and I was on her, and so pleased I was - a brilliant cruise. <BR> <BR>You say you presumed and then go on to say: apparently it is beyond hope - and then it is not even the same ship. <BR> <BR>Forget it - talk about things/ships you know. It might be wiser if you know nothing, to say nothing. <BR> <BR>

Paul Therault

<BR>I do not ever state I know everything. You must read my posts more carefully. I have sailed the "Crown" when it was elegant and belonged to Royal Cruise Lines and I also sailed the "Crown" when it belonged to Norwegian. I have not sailed the "Crown" since it was transferred to Orient and had a massive refurbishment. <BR> <BR>I was asking for advice for those that have sailed her in the last year. <BR> <BR>Now go jump in your big pond Morris. <BR> <BR>Paul

Rel

Hi Paul: <BR> <BR>I'm definitely not getting into a slanging match but, no I MUST not read your posts more carefully at all. I'll read what I like than you. I also can't see on any of your posts that you were asking for advice. You only ever tell, not ask.

Pat

Paul- <BR>We sailed on the Crown ODYESSY (Orient Lines) several weeks ago. I don't have much to compare it to because our only other cruise was on HAL's Westerdam, which we loved. The CO was okay, but not up to HAL standards. A lot of other passengers loved it, and for many, it was their second cruise w/ CO. I did not see any obvious appearance problems. It was clean and pleasant. <BR> <BR>The only repair problems we noted did cause us some difficulty. The ship's heat/cool air balance needed work. Our cabin was too warm for comfortable sleeping. The cabin steward said others had also complained. Other passengers complain of too hot or too cold cabins and the public areas were too warm during the day when the ship's ac could not keep up w/ the solar heat intake. <BR> <BR>The other problem was w/ the public address system. Many cabins, including ours, could not hear the captain's announcement or the excursion announcements. A problem when, due to bad weather, our itinerary changed and many of us did not know what was happening! <BR> <BR>Overall, the cruise was a good one, but the ship itself did not WOW us. <BR> <BR>Pat <BR> <BR>

x

OH LOOK...Yet another "qualified" report from Paul. <BR> <BR>When are you going to take the hint and get lost?

Paul Therault

<BR>Dear Morris, <BR> <BR>Sorry I offended you. You are correct, I do not ask for advice but I do ask for opinions. I try not to sail a ship more than once. I do not know if a ship is self-destructing unless I hear it from the masses. I do not listen to generalizations. <BR> <BR>When I sail a ship I inspect it quite thoroughly and I believe I am qualified to give advice. I do the same with hotels. <BR> <BR>One does not have to listen to my advice but should try it out for themselves and then they can give the advice and I will listen. <BR> <BR>I always listen to qualified opinions such as the one given by Pat. This is what I like. Detailied and to the point. <BR> <BR>I never give advice on shore tours since everyone has their own lifestyle and what is good for one is not good for another. <BR> <BR>Travel is my life and I love it. <BR> <BR>Paul <BR> <BR> <BR>

judy

6 of us sailed the Crown Odyssey last fall and it was great. It was our 10th cruise. Two of our members were travel agents and they were inpressed. Very good service from all the staff. Even the people at the purser's office. Going on the Crown Princess and are worried about the problems.