Norwegian Dawn damaged by wave

[ivanova]

Honestly, the captain of the Dawn probably has 20-30 years of experience with maritime operations. He is also going to be the MOST FAMILIAR with the workings of his ship and what she can handle. Whether or not the passengers get nauseous is really not his concern. Getting them to wherever they are going - alive - is. While I don't know the captain from Adam I am willing to put trust in him just as I do the captain's of the cruise ships that I have been on, the pilots on the plane, the engineers the on the train... Is it possible that the call was put to the Coast Guard and it was not received? Further, NCL has no ability to allow or disallow lawsuits - that's up to the courts. What I find interesting, and pathetic, is that this man disembarked on Sunday and he's already spoken to a lawyer and is filing? That, in itself, is very telling.

Erin

I bet if you read the NCL fine print in the cruise docs (like DCL's fine print) you'll basically find something along the lines of you can't sue, you have to go through arbitration, NCL isn't responsible if the ship sinks, etc etc etc.

 

[ivanova]

edited to add
NCL is giving customers one day pro-rata refund, the ship made it back to NYC one day early and a $200 stateroom credit. PATHETIC, if I was on that cruise I'd be talking to an attorney.

The $200 stateroom credit and one day refund is for the folks on the NEXT cruise who lost a day (leaving Monday instead of Sunday).

The folks on the ship during the instance got a 50% refund for that cruise PLUS a 50% off discount for a future booking (so in total 2 cruises for the price of one) in addition to anything done onboard to help minimize stress, reduce tension/panic, etc. (like the attempt to give away free drinks .. maybe not a good idea since alcohol can increase already simmering rage).

 

[rejobako]

Very well said, goofymama! As I said a couple of posts back, what more do they want? 50% refund and 50% off next cruise is basically 100% refund.

I'm not going to take sides in the great Dawn debate about whether the passengers deserve a refund, etc., but I would take slight issue with the above comment. Refunding 50% and 50% off of the next cruise is by no means a 100% refund. Many customers would probably gnaw their own arms off rather than cruise NCL again, which is what they have to agree to do in order to obtain their "full refund". What this amounts to is "buy one, get one free", which is a discount, not a full refund. Ironically, in order to obtain the full benefits of this "100% refund", the customer has to spend his initial 50% refund toward another cruise. Bottom line is the customer still pays the full cost of a cruise, and that's no "full refund" at all.

Carry on with the debate; just wanted to chime in with my two-cents. If you feel cheated, I'll refund you a cent if you pay another one to hear another nugget of wisdom.

 

[Aisling]

What I find amazing is the ship docked in NYC at 10:00am, and was sailing down the Hudson River at 5:00pm, with new passsengers. From the reports I heard 65 staterooms needed to be cleaned up, as well as common areas. I think the crew must be amazing to achieve such results in a short amount of time.

I was thinking the same thing!

 

[gottaluvdis]

oops - double post!

 

[gottaluvdis]

I just heard on the news that the captain wanted to get the ship back to NY half a day early in order to film a Honda commercial onboard, and that's what made him take the chance with the storm .

Has anyone heard this?

Apparently it's even better than that - now news is coming out that the ship had to get to NYC by 5 am on Sunday morning in order to be filmed for an episode of The Apprentice. I've also read that Norwegian paid around a million dollars to get that "product placement", although they are denying it. Apparently passengers were told a couple of days before embarkation that their itinerary was changed and that they would not be going to Nassau but back to New York instead on the last day of the trip. A radio station in Boston has been reporting this all morning, and a search on Google brought up 2 stories about this today, one that was told to the New York Times. Ironically the Dawn didn't make it back to NY in time for The Apprentice shoot due to the freak wave. I won't ever sail with them if this story turns out to be true.

Me thinks Norwegian has some 'splainin to do!

 

[Lewisc]

Apparently it's even better than that - now news is coming out that the ship had to get to NYC by 5 am on Sunday morning in order to be filmed for an episode of The Apprentice. I've also read that Norwegian paid around a million dollars to get that "product placement", although they are denying it. Apparently passengers were told a couple of days before embarkation that their itinerary was changed and that they would not be going to Nassau but back to New York instead on the last day of the trip. A radio station in Boston has been reporting this all morning, and a search on Google brought up 2 stories about this today, one that was told to the New York Times. Ironically the Dawn didn't make it back to NY in time for The Apprentice shoot due to the freak wave. I won't ever sail with them if this story turns out to be true.

Me thinks Norwegian has some 'splainin to do!

I read NCL denied the ship was rushing back to film a commercial but had no comment when they were asked if it was for the Apprentice.

The changed the itinerary. Not only did they drop a day at Nassau but they went to Miami after Nassau and the private island. Everyone had to leave the boat and stay outside so the boat could clear customs. If they weren't rushing back they probably would have missed the storm.

The customers lost a stop due the apprentice and then got hit with the storm. I'm not even buying the rogue wave story. The seas were known to have 25 foot waves and waves 2-2.5 time the size of the average waves are common. I'm one of the few people on this thread that takes the side of the passengers. I think they're entitled to a 100% refund.

Yes, the passengers need a lawyer if they have any hope of getting through the fine print.

 

[KAR3600]

I just read in the N.Y. Post the cruise ship was to arrive early on Sunday to film somethng for Trump's Apprentience Show.

 

[invaderzim]

Apparently it's even better than that - now news is coming out that the ship had to get to NYC by 5 am on Sunday morning in order to be filmed for an episode of The Apprentice. I've also read that Norwegian paid around a million dollars to get that "product placement", although they are denying it. Apparently passengers were told a couple of days before embarkation that their itinerary was changed and that they would not be going to Nassau but back to New York instead on the last day of the trip. A radio station in Boston has been reporting this all morning, and a search on Google brought up 2 stories about this today, one that was told to the New York Times. Ironically the Dawn didn't make it back to NY in time for The Apprentice shoot due to the freak wave. I won't ever sail with them if this story turns out to be true.

Me thinks Norwegian has some 'splainin to do!

If all this turns out to be true and NCL was indeed putting glamour before passenger safety, then I take back my comment about the 50/50 refund. Yes, they should get 100% refund and NOT be required to sail on NCL again to get it. It sounds like NCL's priorities may be in question. Together with the fact that now word is coming out that the Captain claims to have notified the Coast Guard, but the CG is denying ever receiving any distress transmissions. If he lied about that -- makes you wonder what else is up.

 

[rejobako]

I've got two words for that Captain:

"You're fired".

 

[bonnielynn]

. The capain's idea of compensation was free drinks DURING THE DURATION OF THE STORM. Tables and glass were flying, people were sick and the captain is offering free drinks. Sorry but there was no common sense.

I have to agree that being compensated with drinks while in the middle of what happened to those passengers isn't very wise. I know alcohol would have not made me feel better, but allowed me to panic just a bit more! Besides who wants to be drinking when you think your life is at stake and you may just have to make life/death decisions.

Free drinks to all... WOW

 

[invaderzim]

I have to agree that being compensated with drinks while in the middle of what happened to those passengers isn't very wise. I know alcohol would have not made me feel better, but allowed me to panic just a bit more! Besides who wants to be drinking when you think your life is at stake and you may just have to make life/death decisions.

Free drinks to all... WOW

AND.....who wants to be pouring drinks into passengers who are already nauseous and seasick? Duh -- let's give them more reasons to throw up.

 

[TheWog]

http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/20/news/newsmakers/trump_boat/

The Article about the The Donald....

 

[Lewisc]

If all this turns out to be true and NCL was indeed putting glamour before passenger safety, then I take back my comment about the 50/50 refund. Yes, they should get 100% refund and NOT be required to sail on NCL again to get it. It sounds like NCL's priorities may be in question. Together with the fact that now word is coming out that the Captain claims to have notified the Coast Guard, but the CG is denying ever receiving any distress transmissions. If he lied about that -- makes you wonder what else is up.

The passengers were already screwed out of one of the Bahamas stops and got delayed having to go through customs in Miami due to the poor scheduling.

It's not even clear if it was a "rogue" wave. The sustained waves were over 25 feet and it's normal to have some wave 2 to 2.5 time higher than the average waves.

Sorry but I don't have any doubt that if the ship didn't have to be back for the Donald they would have just joined the other ships close to shore wating for the storm to pass.

 

[Aisling]

I've got two words for that Captain:

"You're fired".

 

[sailorgirl]

Everyone is stating there opinion, how about an opinion from someone on board? Glasses shattering in my stateroom near my 17 month old sleeping infant, items being thrown about, noises and vibrations like a jack hammer under my bed, blah blah blah, I was terrified for my life, and for my family. NCL sold me a cruise which it never intended to take,the notified us of a change to the itinereary 3 days in advance, it risked our lives by going into a dangerous, and avoidable storm...it must be obvious to everyone by now that a payment of $1,000,000 to be on NBC's The Apprentice would highly motivate Corporate Offices to pressure the Capitan to get into the Port Of NY on a timely basis. This debate shouldn't even be a debate. That is why the NTSB is investigating

1978: Innagural Cruise of Carnival Festivale
1982: Innagural Cruise of Carnival Tropicale
1985: Innaugural Cruise of Carnival Holiday
Also sailed aboard the Mardi Gras and Carnivale

 

[LakeAriel]

You don't even think you should pay for the 6 days of cruising and fun you did have? Acts of nature are unfortunate but no ones fault. I am so grateful no one was hurt! You are also I'm sure. Though I am certain it was very frightening it was no ones "fault".

 

[sailorgirl]

Let's see, we left 4 pm Sunday, and the storm started 9 am Friday, so I would count that as 4.5 days of cruising prior to the storm. And no one's fault? Are you crazy? Cruise Ships AVOID serious weather systems, they don't go right into them! Unless they paid $1,000,000 to NBC in advertising fees to be on THE APPRENTICE, and pressured the Capitan to get to port on time! So, it wasn't an act of GOD, it was an act of stupidity by NCL. Additionally, I paid for a cruise that stopped in Nassau Bahamas. Changing my itinerary to accommodate a TV schedule is offensive, don't you think? I guess you would feel differently had this happened to you.
And no one was hurt??? Who is your source? The man in the room on the 10th floor had 21 stitches to his head, that sounds pretty painful to me! Educate yourself about the topic before chiming in!

 

[sailorgirl]

Let's see, we left 4 pm Sunday, and the storm started 9 am Friday, so I would cound that as 4.5 days of cruising prior to the storm. And no one's fault? Are you crazy? Cruise Ships AVOID serious weather systems, they don't do right into them! Unless they paid $1,000,000 to be on THE APPRENTICE, and pressured the Capitan to get to port on time! So, it wasn't an act of GOD, it was an act of stupidity by NCL. Additionally, I paid for a cruise that stopped in Nassau Bahamas. Changing my itinerary to accommodate a TV schedule is offensive, don't you think? I guess you would feel differently had this happened to you.
And no one was hurt??? Who is your source? The man in the room on the 10th floor had 21 stitches to his head, that sounds pretty painful to me! Educate yourself about the topic before chiming in!

 

[sailorgirl]

Let's see, we left 4 pm Sunday, and the storm started 9 am Friday, so I would count that as 4.5 days of cruising prior to the storm. And no one's fault? Are you crazy? Cruise Ships AVOID serious weather systems, they don't go right into them! Unless they paid $1,000,000 to NBC in advertising fees to be on THE APPRENTICE, and pressured the Capitan to get to port on time! So, it wasn't an act of GOD, it was an act of stupidity by NCL. Additionally, I paid for a cruise that stopped in Nassau Bahamas. Changing my itinerary to accommodate a TV schedule is offensive, don't you think? I guess you would feel differently had this happened to you.
And no one was hurt??? Who is your source? The man in the room on the 10th floor had 21 stitches to his head, that sounds pretty painful to me! Educate yourself about the topic before chiming in!