Norwegian Dream engine problems inconvenience passengers
Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dream, one of the line's older ships built in 1992, experienced engine problems in Alaska that slowed the ship, causing missed ports and flights and a six+ hour late arrival in Seattle on August 11.
An amusing side note here is that the Coast Guard was alerted to the problem, which by all accounts impacted speed but not safety, via phone by a passenger onboard the ship. The Coast Guard subsequently met the vessel in Seattle and found two of its four engines under repair but the ship still seaworthy.
Now we don't fault a cruise line for the occasional mechanical difficulty, which is a fact of life as anyone knows who has ever owned anything with a motor in it. However, press reports suggest that Norwegian's handling of the passengers affected by the delay could have been better. For example, passengers who expected to be boarding the ship for a 4pm sailing were instead shuttled to a hotel, where a promised lunch and city tour turned out to be chips without a tour, and eventually sailed at 9pm.
Seattle Times: Ship fix lands guests in hotel
Update 8/25/05: On August 25 Norwegian told us the ship, while sailing, is still not yet capable of full speed.
Update 9/9/05: Ship still not repaired, still operating on one engine at slower-than-normal speed. Awaiting parts.
Seattle Times: Norwegian Dream trip haunts some
An amusing side note here is that the Coast Guard was alerted to the problem, which by all accounts impacted speed but not safety, via phone by a passenger onboard the ship. The Coast Guard subsequently met the vessel in Seattle and found two of its four engines under repair but the ship still seaworthy.
Now we don't fault a cruise line for the occasional mechanical difficulty, which is a fact of life as anyone knows who has ever owned anything with a motor in it. However, press reports suggest that Norwegian's handling of the passengers affected by the delay could have been better. For example, passengers who expected to be boarding the ship for a 4pm sailing were instead shuttled to a hotel, where a promised lunch and city tour turned out to be chips without a tour, and eventually sailed at 9pm.
Seattle Times: Ship fix lands guests in hotel
Update 8/25/05: On August 25 Norwegian told us the ship, while sailing, is still not yet capable of full speed.
Update 9/9/05: Ship still not repaired, still operating on one engine at slower-than-normal speed. Awaiting parts.
Seattle Times: Norwegian Dream trip haunts some
Labels: Norwegian Cruise Line
2 Comments:
was on the cruise departing Seattle 22nd August on which the advertised Sitka stop was cancelled. In my judgement the ship could have made Sitka as on some days it was averaging 19 kts, even with reduced power availability - this was confirmed with a handheld GPS. One of the crew let slip that the cancellation saves port fees, and passengers spend more with Norwegian when at sea rather than at a port. There are other aspects of Norwerian which will ensure I will never sail with again.
I was on the ship on leaving Texass on Oct. 15th and all I can say is that I do not know how NCL can book a trip months in advance knowing that they would not be able to make all of their ports. We left at 11:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m. Never made Belize, Honduras and Cozumel, though they knew they could never make Honduras because the ship was traveling too slow. Prices were upped by 35% on drinks to cover the wopping $100.00 we were credited (max $200.00 per cabin) and we were not refunded any of our port fees as they were part of the $100.00. They ship made alot of money because no one could go anywhere and people were spending money buying drinks, shopping and gambling all the while NCL fraudulently books cruises that will not happen. I will never recommend this cruise line nor will ever sail on it again. No attempt was made to reimburse passengers for a terrible cruise.
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