Could NCL America have painted a more glamorous picture of shipboard life then reality? As these crew members are US citizens they are in an entirely different situation then foreign flag crew members. If they leave the ship chances are they can get a better job on shore with better working conditions and higher pay. This is not the case with foreign flag crew members as usually the ship equals a better life (and much better pay) then they have back home. I'm certain NCL America must have thought of this?

One thing is for certain. NCL America has seen more than it's share of problems since the venture was originally announced. I wish them luck but it seems the odds are against them.

Ernie


From Seatrade Insider:
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Pride of Aloha cancels three nights of previews
17/6/2004

NCL America canceled Pride of Aloha’s two-night San Francisco travel agent cruise ‘in order to give the crew a well-deserved rest’ in preparation for the 12-day trans-Pacific cruise to Hawaii and arrival into Honolulu on July 2.
A one-night party cruise in Honolulu on July 2 was also canceled ‘to add to the crew’s opportunity to recharge’ prior to the start of the regular service in Hawaii on July 4, NCL America said in a statement.

NCL apologized to travel agents and passengers while also commending the crew for ‘an outstanding job.’ The company said its crew has been working ‘around the clock’ to launch the US-flag product. The statement also noted that the crew went through ‘a very intense drydock,’ which was completed on June 7. During several weeks of work in San Francisco, the former Norwegian Sky was converted into Pride of Aloha.

"Flogging will continue until ship's morale improves."

The drydock was intensif my god and al those other crews a/b other ships Bahamian, Panam, Brittish, Italian, German, Dutch flagged must they rest after a docking period. Even the ships wich have past a intensif refit.

Believing that the problems with the crew wriiten in other topics are just real. And that NCLA take the chanse to do something on this problem before the real work begins.

Does this mean that every month they're going to cancel a sailing because the crew is stressed out?

Wait 'til the real fun begins ... they have no idea what's about to hit 'em.

The ‘truth’ is probably that the staff were so poorly trained in the first place, that NCL have cancelled the previews in order to try and get them up to par.

Ernie

ps - having worked onboard ship myself as well as being a frequent passenger on many lines, I have never seen a cruise line that was concerned about the crew being tired before. The basic rule ... if you can't cut it, see ya! Certainly canceling a cruise because of it is unprecedented. I've also done dry-docks before. Many times the work is actually less as the crew gets massive shore leave as trained tradesman have invaded the ship. Many times the ship does not even have full power while in dry-dock so the crew is put up at hotels. Not sure what the case was with POA?

[ 06-17-2004: Message edited by: eroller ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Marlowe:
I...use sticks and they're gone, but what carrots can they offer?

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So what is the crew going to do during this extended time off in San Francisco? Party of course! They are going to go out and get completely trashed just like crews do all over the world. My point is I wouldn't exactly call it "rest". They will probably come back to work even more worn out then before the time off.

quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:
They are going to go out and get completely trashed just like crews do all over the world. My point is I wouldn't exactly call it "rest".

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quote:

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Originally posted by gpcruisedude:
Despite what may seem a little odd NCL is acting on their own views and others too Im sure, and Malcolm is right if they have to cancel cruises for travel agents then thats an excellent move, cause like Malcolm said a T.A. cruise could be disastrous if the crew has problems and everything is not up to par!!

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Even more important then travel agents is having the crew and ship in fine shape for paying passengers.

[ 06-18-2004: Message edited by: chrisrotlmacin ]

quote:

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Originally posted by chrisrotlmacin:
Unoficial from my point of wiew whatever is the reason to cancell the cruise is a good one. 12 days to Hawaii will be fun for them. Many sea days
I am wonder when will be the day to see a ship named Pride of Romania .

[ 06-18-2004: Message edited by: chrisrotlmacin ]

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Just FYI, the 12-day transpacific cruise was not canceled. Only the 2-day travel agent preview cruise, and then a cruise to no-where once the ship arrives in Hawaii.

NCL is trying buy off passengers on the transpacific cruise to reduce the capacity.

This entire saga continues to grow more and more interesting. There is a great thread four pages long on that other cruise message board that shall remain nameless. What is so interesting is that NCL's Public Relations Department has made a couple posts to the board which in itself is bizarre, but what is really crazy is their posts have made things even worse! It's a PR disaster, but certainly interesting that NCL reads the message boards.

quote:

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Originally posted by chrisrotlmacin:

What make you have that opinion ?

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I have that opinion because that was my experience when I was a crew member. Sorry it's not that way on NCL. Sounds like they have taken all the fun out of working onboard, but I heard this happened at NCL when Star took over.

Basically the ship will be sitting in San Francisco for two days with no passengers and no work to do. NCL has announced this will be free time for the crew to do as they please. Being American and having been young once, I know they will be hitting the town and having a great time. Does this mean drinking? Absolutely! ..... regardless of what NCL's rules are while onboard the ship. This is their free time and I'm certain NCL will turn the other cheek. I also don't think NCL can afford to lose anymore US crew members.

Sorry you feel differently.

quote:

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Originally posted by Globaliser:
Morale certainly took a big knock when the new alcohol rules came in on NCL, although what I have been told was that it was more to do with the crew's actual response to the fire on board the Norway than any theoretically-based decisions imposed from Star.

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I would have thought that all crew when sailing with passengers aboard should at all times have an alcohol blood level below some limit, maybe akin to that for driving? Similar to on-call drs, firemen etc. many other jobs too for various reasons, even when I used to take home certain keys from work, I could be called out 24/7 by the police if they were required in an emergency. I would have been fired on the spot if I ever had to admit to not being able to get them anywhere as I'd drunk too much to drive. All part of the job.

But when in port/dry dock, with no pax aboard, and off duty, a different matter I think.