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It was apparent from day one that NCL has made a concerted effort to cut back on all types of services. We sailed on Pride of America and, hopefully, our experience is not indicative of the entire fleet. I feel cheated in one sense. We have cruised two times with them before. We had generously sized accommodations, an aft suite. The first two days in Honolulu all the optional restaurants were closed. That means simply, no sushi, Chinese, Italian, steak house, etc. The entertainment had been seriously cut back. For example, there was no show group, no dancers and singers, nothing that resembled a show, leave only the required Hawaiian dance. The same magician made three separate appearances! The featured singer, with only a piano, was the cruise director, who did not know the songs by heart and read from sheet music. Rarely was there anything but recorded music until late into the day or early evening, and the three main musicians were overworked, from packing a singer at night to pretending to be a jazz trio, only to end up playing the theme from Nintendo for the children whose parents brought them to the pricey Jazz Brunch.
On three occasions what we ordered was not available. But, we were told this after waiting twenty minutes for a main course. One night, in the surcharge Italian restaurant, I had ordered Osso Bucco and the waiter raved about how good it is, how he will bring me a marrow fork. Beef arrived with a quote, "Why don't you eat this? This is what the chef made. We don't have any Osso Bucco." Another day it was the wine - the very wine printed on the menu and suggested. At the end of a meal my son ordered the Macadamia Nut ice cream with brownie to be told, "We don't have that."
These things happened early on and throughout the cruise. The sales staff and crew oversold the excursions. We did not participate, noting the congested wait areas and long lines when in port. On days or nights when there were excursions, most everything on board was closed! Not even shuffleboard things were left out! We know Hawaii and had a good time on our own.
The food simply was uneventful and the portions in the surcharge restaurants were minute.
We left the main dining room for breakfast after watching a staff member touch her nose twice and then reach for a basket of pastries that was for us. She was annoyed when I asked her to change it and perhaps use the disinfectant liquid provided by the ship steps away. We gave up after being told at 7 AM that the Eggs Benedict would take 45 minutes.
Be advised that there are significant voids where there is NO food available. If you go wandering for the late night snack or ice cream, better wander early.
Some of the staff was rude. We made some changes early on.
Our suite had some repair problems. The butler assigned was arrogant, even after being tipped handsomely. Eventually, it was sorted out, but with the kind of stress nobody wants on a cruise. I have gotten better service and attention in a regular stateroom. Odd, we received a snack on one day and it never appeared again.
Bottom line: NCL has cut back. Be advised and be aware. I would avoid this cruise. It's the only show in town of its size now in Hawaii, but no matter how much you like cruising, you will be disappointed. After paying full fare for my accommodations and tipping generously (the tipping policy is very confusing) feel ripped off. The coddling of the concierge, butler, etc. eventually came off as disingenuous. They were glad to get on to the next week. Few if any actually said goodbye with the exception of an extraordinary waiter named Lloyd who worked in Lazy Jays. He's due to retire soon and when they lose him, NCL will have little left of the good old days of service and peace on a cruise.
NCL management should be ashamed.
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