Who bought NCL?
 

I know that NCL was purchased by Star and someone else this Spring but can't remember who. Wondering if there is any noticeable difference yet in the maintenance of the ships and the food and service.

<BR>Dear Leia, <BR>I am a travel agent and am still hesitant to sell NCL. <BR> <BR>I continue to hear of the maintenance problems. <BR> <BR>Star is the parent company of NCL and only Star. They are a very large cruise line company. <BR> <BR>Norwegian MUST raise their prices a bit and hire additional crew. I doubt if they can continue disappointing their passengers. <BR> <BR>Paul

I am amazed at the TA who continually downgrade NCL... With the takeover I understand there have been a few problems, but we sailed on the transitional cruise of the Sky and can't say enough for the crew and staff...We are doing the Majesty again for the 8th year. If the Majesty and NCL are in such bad shape...why is it so difficult to get desirable cabin when 50% of the cabins are sold to repeaters..do you think these people are stupid..... No, it's not the Princess or RCCL or Carnival.. Oh yes we are cruising on the SeaBreeze this weekend..another maligned cruise line..except for the passengers that claim they have received good value for their $$..

I am not amazed that TA's are reticent to sell NCL. I went on the NCL Wind last Feb and the ship was terrible - sewage was flowing on the bottom 3 crew decks for 5 of 7 days, a cruise staff member commented that the food was particularly bad that week, repeated engine breakdowns caused us to shorten 2 stops and we were 8 hours late into home port causing many missed connection flights. The crew were tired but tried to stay friendly but often appeared to just be going thru the motions, no real feelings. All that said, I do realize that most bad reviews have been about the Wind and have seen many good reviews of other NCL ships. But I would be leary - if the Wind is going downhill, what's to stop the others from soon following suit - not to mention the big hullabaloo about NCL's new casual dining program... <BR> <BR>Of course I have been spoiled by one trip on Crystal...

If I could afford to cruise on the Crystal I would probably look down my nose at NCL...

It's not a case of "looking down my nose..." It's a case of "I've sailed on cheap, medium, and expensive" and regardless of how expensive NCL Wind is, the ship still stank of human waste. I've been on cheaper lines that weren't as bad. (Dolphin, Carnival)