The way it used to be! But, not so friendly or accomodating staff today!

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APtravelnews-March 29th, -Norwegian Cruise Lines at the Port of Miami-Provided by David and Melissa-
Remember when the last time you took a cruise, the overall experience and service was at the very least, exceptional and made you “keeper”, pleasant memories. Well, Cruising good service then and now things are not as they used to be. If you were on a cruise more than 5 years ago, you remember your server/waiter/ busboy- where they were from and something about why they are on the ship, likely to support their family in a far away country. If you have recently gone cruising at least on a Norwegian Liner, then you probably have very little happy memories at least about their food services. The new super-ships are beautiful and offer many new restaurant options-but!. Part of my family memories with my parents brother and children were bonding over dinner, and the servers all were part of that experience to some important extent.

Today’s cruise (on Norwegian) is all about freestyle cruising and very little personal attention. My friends and our kids recently did a 7 day cruise and lamented with our kids that the experience is not as fulfilling, and definitely would like to see service being part of the equation and put back in the experience. Tipping is now automatic on the bill, so there is small incentive for the staff to give that 110-percent to their customers, as was, and is so important for future returns and cruiser satisfaction. After speaking to one maitre de’, he told me that “It was more common now, that unless smomeone complains, then they just pump it out for that customer, but it’s not de riguer, for worrying about other cruisers that don’t complain, they are taken more for granted now under the auto-tip to the bill, just no incentive” said this staff member ” At least he definitely made our experience better for the one meal, but that is not the full point of the experience. He immediately subtracted our 20-dollars up charge for steak or a lobster. I explained not the money, but the experience and to enjoy dinner, not as just food to live and enjoy, but the dining food atmosphere to enjoy. The boats now have 20-plus restaurants to choose from, but then we might as well be in NYC, as reservations are required well before even getting on the cruise. Overall, we would never retake any cruise that made us feel “taken” in an over-crowded, raucous atmosphere that our Norwegian Cruise provided that was totally unexpected, for the vacation of all of our lifetimes!!!