I understand that the NCL Dream has been involved in a collision. I am booked on the NCL Dream for a 12 day Holy Lands cruise in mid November and would appreciate your experiences both good and bad with this ship, the tours and the optional hotel packages that NCL offers. <BR> <BR>

Don't have much info for you about NCL dream but will comment on Norwegian. We just returned from cruise aboard the Norway. I have seen many people say nasty things about Norwegian and the Norway but our experience was a great one. Sure the boat is older than most but they make up for it with their service and all. We've done many lines but found Norwegian to be one of the bext we've done. They earned our business from now on. I think you'll say the same after your trip Mike. Enjoy. <BR>

Of all the cruise lines we have been on, NCL is the worst! They have cut costs, and the ships show it.

<BR>You bet Merriem, NCL ships are really falling apart. They are selling many ships to raise capital. <BR>At this time they have no ship to replace the Crown in Bermuda next year. This means they will lose their Bermuda contract. <BR> <BR>They are in big trouble, financially and otherwise. <BR> <BR>We wiil see how they recover from the massive class-action suits now being filed in Miami. <BR> <BR>Supervision during the evening hours is non-existent. True negligence. <BR> <BR>Sail NCL....save a few bucks...lose your life!!! <BR> <BR>

When we were doing the atlantic crossing on the Norway, we were sitting in our cabin, looking out at the tremendous ocean...and guess what, a huge freighter crossed from the left across our bow. A bit to close for comfort. Yes, the guys on the bridge looked like they were on loan from the high school. Frightening thought!..Then the fire in Barcelona AFTER the yard period...Bad ship, and bad company.

Sailed NCL's Sea this past June and had a ball..goin' on the Norway next June. Found NCL to provide a first class cruise and we've been on HAL.

<BR>Dear njteech, <BR> <BR>Have a good time on your next Norwegian cruise. Be sure to bring your rosary beads. <BR> <BR>Paul

I must take offense to your comments Paul. You make some outlandish claims. I've cruised many companies. Some good and some bad. The one constant I have noticed with all the lines is that they have bent over backwards to make our cruise an enjoyable one. Sure, there have been bad instances but not one of those spoiled our trip. We don't go into every cruise with the expectation that everything will be perfect. We aren't that stupid. You have made some comments that make me wonder. You say you are a travel agent?? You don't conduct yourself as one. A (real) travel agent would know that not every trip (be it cruise, air-flight, hotel) could be perfect in every detail. Most people wish but we all realize that it won't. To make a statement "cruise NCL and lose your life" shows just how immature you are. I just returned from a cruise on the Norway a few weeks ago and it was one of the best cruises I've ever been on. My family and I never felt "unsafe" or that we were in danger at anytime. I think your comments are inappropriate and unprofessional if you are what you say you are. I actually had someone email me (this was their first cruise ever) cause they were booked on a Norwegian cruise and read what you wrote. You had their kids scared. Is that what you set out to accomplish? You should be ashamed of yourself.

Jan - I've gotten the impression from reading Paul's responses throughout this web site that he is a Carnival fan: <BR>Carnival and only Carnival can do good. <BR>It's a shame that he doesn't seem to have an open mind. I have cruised Carnival in 1991 and my experience was so bad that it took me 8 years to cruise again and I was in the "target <BR>age group" that Carnival markets to (20's). I went this year on the Sea Princess to Alaska and now I am hooked <BR>on cruising. Next trip is on the Grand Princess in December. If I listened to Paul, I wouldn't go on any cruises because what he says is so horrible on <BR>other cruise lines is exactly why I won't go on a Carnival cruise again. <BR>Sorry this got so long winded, but it <BR>has been building up for a couple of weeks reading his posts.

Don't be so hard on Paul! I would not personally cruise on Carnival, nor would I ever go on NCL AGAIN! My spouse spent 25 years in the Navy, and he was shocked at what he saw on the Norway in the way of ship upkeep. He said if they scraped the paint back down to one or two coats...it would weigh many tons less. I do think that a cruise can be perfect...and it should come close to it because we pay enough. On one HAL cruise....we tried to think of one complaint after 7 days, and the only thing that we could think of was that the tomato juice brought to the cabin with the coffee was not cold. So, yes, and I have cruised on Celebrity twice, and again, never a complaint. Three times on NCL...the first, I was too stupid to notice....but years later and many more cruises, I can see that NCL is cutting costs. On the Norwegian Crown that we took around South America, it was probably the cleanest of the three NCL ships we were on. When a cruise line advertises that they are the cheapest at sea...such as NCL did on the Norway....you know that they are cutting costs, and I think maintenance and safety are at the top of their list. <BR>Sorry, but that's how I feel about that cruise line, and will never cruise with them again.

I have to agree with Jan, Lisa, and even Judy, to a point. For what we spend, we hope that the trip will be perfect. Each of us have our favorite and least favorite cruise lines. That's the great thing about freedom of speech. But, I have to agree with Jan and Lisa about Paul and his comments. Saying you will die on a cruise was a childish comment on his part. I doubt that these companies would put thousands of innocent people at risk as he says they do. And if what you are saying is true Paul, then prove it. I've seen you make comments and someone challenged you about it but the news source you sent them to said nothing about what you said it said. "does that make sense...whew...gave myself a headach there" <BR>I love all the constructive comments I see but I think the one's that say "if you cruise norwegian you will die" are not right at all. Way to go Jan and Lisa. Bout time someone said something. I wish I had sooner <BR>Cherrio

I have been reading and enjoying this forum for some time. One of the rules that I appreciate is NO ADVERTISING. To me, Paul is right on the edge of breaking that rule. Between his lines, I see a self serving interest in drumming up business, especially on Carnival cruises. Not only has he taken on NCL, but also Renaisance. I, too, am uncomfortable with some of his comments.

<BR>To answer Jan and Cindy: <BR> <BR>I am NOT trying to drum up business. If you read ALL my posts, I stress <BR>"contact your travel agent." I NEVER say contact me. <BR> <BR>I would rather not do business on the Net. I have to guarantee credit cards and am hesitant to do this for customers I do not know. <BR> <BR>I am defending Carnival since I (personal preference) think they are the most reasonable, have good service, goood food and great entertainment. The ships are maintained and are clean. <BR> <BR>There are much better cruise lines but they are more expensive. <BR> <BR>I will defend any cruise line that is being bashed except for Norwegian. <BR> <BR>I PERSONALLY BASHING NORWEGIAN since I have been on three NCL cruises this year and found them unsafe. <BR> <BR>When I state there is NO SUPERVISION during the evening, I MEAN IT! <BR> <BR>If this is frightening people, FINE. <BR> <BR>When I cruise, I inspect ships...THOROUGHLY and I pay full price. When I travel I do not identify myself as a travel agent. <BR> <BR>When I see NEGLIGENCE, I report it! <BR>A travel agent should NOT do this. I am affectively losing business. <BR> <BR>Re NCL: When water is coming down on main control panels during the evening anyone with half a brain will and should understand a disaster is in the making....and it DID on the Crown. <BR> <BR>When the Dream hits a monster barge in the North Sea, it is NEGLIGENCE...true and simple. <BR> <BR>I was FRIGHTENED, not scared, FRIGHTENED. If you have not experienced these disasters YOU CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT COME DOWN ON ME. <BR> <BR>When your lifeboat is cranked down and it is smashed, what would be your first thought? When the phones on board can not be used to call your family after the crash, what would you think? I could go on and on. <BR> <BR>Simply, NCL is NOT a reputable cruise line. If you have to pay more money to change your cruise line, do it! The extra money you pay will only be the amount you saved by booking NCL. <BR> <BR>I thank God we were in port on the Crown, otherwise who knows what the end result would have been. <BR> <BR>I am just stating the FACTS, people do what they want to do, so be it, but DON'T BASH ME UNLESS YOU WERE ON THESE SHIPS! <BR> <BR> <BR>

hi everyone, <BR> <BR>sorry paul, that everyone is getting on you, however i must say that if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen. please do it without shouting (using caps) at people in your responses... <BR> <BR>i have followed your responses in this forum and find that often they are childish, inflamatory and most inappropriate imho... <BR> <BR>i will remind everyone that travel agents have a vested interest in promoting or bashing the various cruise lines. <BR> <BR>i had posted some information regarding <BR>why this is and for those that missed it here it is.. <BR> <BR>"a little economics and consumer education.... <BR> <BR>Those who understand the override commission structure can certainly see <BR>why an agent would push a single line...after you sell a certain number of units the percentage increases or there is a further kick back payment... <BR>if an agency is only going to sell a certain number of cruises (for <BR>approximately the same total $ amount) the commissions will be higher when <BR>those sales are concentrated into a single line...." <BR> <BR>do your own research, rely on agents only for confirmation of the info. alas, there are few who will truly qualify you into the appropriate product. <BR> <BR>tom

Paul wrote: <BR>"I PERSONALLY BASHING NORWEGIAN since I have been on three NCL cruises this year <BR>and found them unsafe." <BR> <BR>My question to Paul is: <BR>If the first NCL cruise was found to be <BR>"unsafe" by your standards, why in heavens name did you book two more within the same year? <BR> <BR>Paul wrote: <BR>"When your lifeboat is cranked down and it is smashed, what would be your first thought?" <BR> <BR>My wife and I cruised the S/S Norway this past January on her Eastern Caribbean itinerary and again last month on her eastbound transatlantic crossing (if we were ever to be "frightened" on a ship, it should have been in the north Atlantic.) I grew up on the ocean, owned my own boats and worked on party fishing boats out of Plymouth Massachusetts so I have a pretty good idea of what to look for as far as safety afloat is concerned. I did not see anything that caused me concern. On both of these voyages, the Norway was involved in mandatory US Coast Guard inspections, the annual inspection in January and the "returning to US waters" after spending the summer abroad inspection in August. The January inspection required the launching and retrieval of all lifeboats on the starboard side, all completed without the loss a single lifeboat. The August inspection launched and retrieved 3 lifeboats, again all 3 continued the voyage with us. <BR> <BR>Who was to blame in the Dream accident? I will not attempt to second guess the circumstances. I will await the findings of the board of investigation. <BR>We sailed the Dream(ward) prior to her being stretched and felt as secure on her as on any of our other 5 cruises. <BR>I'm sure that anyone directly involved in ANY disaster would automatically form a negative opinion. <BR> <BR>Granted, NCL has had more than their share of problems recently but I offer the Carnival Ecstasy fire, the RCI Monarch of the Seas grounding (we have sailed on 3 RCI cruises) and HAL's hitting a whale in Alaska as evidence that many lines have their difficulties. <BR> <BR>I'm sure that many passengers on these cruises feel exactly the same about the respective cruise lines as Paul does about NCL. <BR> <BR>If I were to not sail a line that has had problems, I would probably never venture on to the ocean again. <BR> <BR>Not defending anyone, not accusing anyone, just stating my opinion. <BR> <BR>

I am sure you have check the Coast Guard inspections, and they have flunked many on the Norway...The one just before the eastern trans-atlantic crossing...and they were quickly re-inspected...and somehow passed. I don't think it speaks well for a ship that has a history of low or non-passing scores.

Geez Paul.....is that one of your "safe" boats out there stuck in the path of a hurricane?? <BR>Just goes to show you (as Jan said) that anyone and any company can have a problem at any time. Quit your babyish belly-aching Paul <BR>We've all grown very tired of it.