Whining Passengers Booted from Cruise Ship

[drwong]

After waiting more than 10 hours to board a celebratory cruise, Nathan and Jennifer Leslie were stunned when the ship's captain kicked them off the ship Sunday and left them stranded in the Bahamas.

Their crime?

Complaining about the bevy of problems they had experienced with Carnival Cruise Lines' Sensation, which began when they were locked inside a Port Canaveral terminal Thursday, waiting because the ship failed inspections. Cruise officials say they were aggressive.

Read the full article at:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-strande...0,4919505.story (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-stranded2806mar28,0,4919505.story)

[tdew]

My first reaction is that there has to be more to the story...

[jfrenaye]

"I feared for my life," Leslie said, because he was in an unfamiliar city. "I feared for my wife's life."

OK, the guys is back from Iraq and is "fear(ing) for his life" because he is in an unfamiliar city. An oooh Nassau is just so fearsome!

[weblet]

Anita!! Are you on this case yet?!? ;)

[tdew]

Originally posted by jfrenaye@Apr 3 2006, 08:21 AM
OK, the guys is back from Iraq and is "fear(ing) for his life" because he is in an unfamiliar city.* An oooh Nassau is just so fearsome!
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Actually, I remember a time when Nassau was a pretty scary place!
Two cousins and I had flown stand-by on Pan Am to get to a funeral in FL.
In those days (1965 or so) an international carrier had to fly out of the country.
So, we flew to Nassau then to Miami and drove to the funeral.
On the way back home we got bumped in Nassau.
It was night time, we had almost no money, (this was pre-credit cards for us anyway) and we had never been out of the country before.
We followed the directions of the airline crew and took a cab to a suggested hotel.

Once we left the airport, the roads were pitch black and we were driving on the wrong side of the road at break neck speed!
We couldn't even see the driver in the front seat.
The hotel was not great and we were very nervous about sleeping.
The next morning, the sun was shining and everything looked completely different!
I had to find a way to call NY to tell them that I wouldn't be at work that day because I was stranded in Nassau....
We did get on a plane that day - but it was close.
I have a vivid memory of one cousin running through the airport to catch us before we bought magazines
- to tell us that we had to pay a tax in order to be allowed to leave the country.
We had to pool our money to pay for the three of us to be able to go.

[Ned]

Originally posted by jfrenaye@Apr 3 2006, 09:21 AM
OK, the guys is back from Iraq and is "fear(ing) for his life" because he is in an unfamiliar city.* An oooh Nassau is just so fearsome!
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John...didn't you know that all of Nassau is just like the worst areas of Philadelphia, Washington, and New York?

There must be something here that isn't being told.

I was on a cruise several years ago in Europe. It was for two weeks going from Barcelona to Istanbul with stops in France, Monaco, Italy, and Greece. For my wife and I, it was the cruise from hell. We, along with others, complained often on that cruise and the only reaction we got from the captain, other officers and the crew was their assistance and efforts to help, but the cruise was out of control.

Two months after the cruise was over (there were redeeming times during the cruise and some wonderful sites seen, by the way) the cruise line, having read our letter of complaint and our travel agent's letter as well, gave us coupons good for two years for any two week or less cruise at 50% off each. We thought that was fair compensation for the myriad of problems encountered.

[REDJIM]

This story and situation is hilarious...no, wait a minute, I have to call it outrageous. Its going to go into my ever expanding satchel of reasons I'll NEVER spend my hard-earned money on sailing the seven seas with tens of thousands of others on a tin crapper.

Bad food. Bad accomodations. Rude employees. Pirate attacks. Sexual assualts. Persons Missing At Sea. What a great way to spend a couple of grand!

[Jason's Storm]

If they were kicked off at an American port, they wouldn't have many problems. Being on a foriegn island is different, because you would be stuck there without previous research. They should of taken care of them as it was their fault (Carnival's) that they were delayed and not clean. I think the captain might get a negative letter put in his file, and I wouldn't be surprised if Carnival gets sued. Had those passengers been arrested, then that might of been a different point, but they weren't so this should get interesting.

~JS

[Ned]

Originally posted by REDJIM@Apr 3 2006, 07:46 PM
This story and situation is hilarious...no, wait a minute, I have to call it outrageous. Its going to go into my ever expanding satchel of reasons I'll NEVER spend my hard-earned money on sailing the seven seas with tens of thousands of others on a tin crapper.

Bad food. Bad accomodations. Rude employees. Pirate attacks. Sexual assualts. Persons Missing At Sea. What a great way to spend a couple of grand!
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I've been taking cruises for years RJ. I've had one bad experience among all my cruises. What I have experienced on my cruises was great food, excellent accomodations, wonderful and friendly crew members, no pirate attacks, in fact excellent security, and well run shore excursions. While I don't want every vacation to be a cruise, I hope to be taking them for a long time to come. Some places are definitely best seen from a cruise.

I will say that I have no interest in cruising on some of the new behemoth ships. My wife and I intend to sail on ships no larger than about 2300 passengers, but prefer ships which are somewhat smaller. On some cruises it's best to be on ships no larger than 100 passengers.

[jfrenaye]

I agree with Ned. I have approximately 20 cruises under my belt (not including ship inspections) and have yet to have a bad time. I am booked on the Freedom (a behomoth) on August--primarily just to see.

[BPoland]

Originally posted by tdew@Apr 3 2006, 06:20 AM
My first reaction is that there has to be more to the story...
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I agree, there has to be more to this story.
I have been on many cruises, and you have to be pretty bad to be asked to leave the ship B) As a matter of fact, I've only known of one couple that got booted. Couple drinking too much, then fighting (go figure :D ) One of them decided that as a dramatic gesture, she would jump overboard and kill herself. Of course we were docked in Cozumel, so she just jumped into the water! Both of them had their bags paked by crew members and were immediately put off the ship! Did you know, BTW, that on NCL (at least about 10 years ago when this happened) the announcement for man (or in this case woman) overboard is "Code Oscar" :P

[REDJIM]

Originally posted by Ned@Apr 3 2006, 08:38 PM
I've been taking cruises for years RJ.* I've had one bad experience among all my cruises.* What I have experienced on my cruises was great food, excellent accomodations, wonderful and friendly crew members, no pirate attacks, in fact excellent security, and well run shore excursions.* While I don't want every vacation to be a cruise, I hope to be taking them for a long time to come.* Some places are definitely best seen from a cruise.

I will say that I have no interest in cruising on some of the new behemoth ships.* My wife and I intend to sail on ships no larger than about 2300 passengers, but prefer ships which are somewhat smaller.* On some cruises it's best to be on ships no larger than 100 passengers.
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Timidly coming back at you, Ned...

My response was a bit influenced by a bone-dry, Martini haze.

I apologize to you and the other Tripso correspondents.

[Ned]

Originally posted by REDJIM@Apr 4 2006, 05:07 PM
Timidly coming back at you, Ned...

My response was a bit influenced by a bone-dry, Martini haze.

I apologize to you and the other Tripso correspondents.
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No apology needed RJ. I look forward to your postings. I hope the haze didn't turn into a headache.

[Jason's Storm]

Originally posted by BPoland@Apr 4 2006, 04:00 AM
Did you know, BTW, that on NCL (at least about 10 years ago when this happened) the announcement for man (or in this case woman) overboard is "Code Oscar"* :P
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I'm surprised that it isn't Code Bob.;)

~JS

[silver cloud]

11+ cruises and one more booked and I've never had a problem.

I've had (and I'm speaking honestly) absolutely no problems on any cruise I've taken. The food has always been good and no one has given me any problems except for the few drunk folks on the dance floor. As most of you know, it's my #1 favorite method of travel.

There must be more to the story.

;) mar



Originally posted by Jason's Storm@Apr 5 2006, 12:01 AM
I'm surprised that it isn't Code Bob.;)

~JS
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[Anita Dunham-Potter]

Originally posted by weblet@Apr 3 2006, 08:34 AM
Anita!!* Are you on this case yet?!?* ;)
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Hey Weblet,
I am trying to find out more about this one. Talked to a few people "familiar" with the situation and they say things got really "profane." I think Carnival ought to sign up for a reality series like Southwest does with "Airline" on the Discovery Channel. It seems the industry is going the way of the airlines. Can you see it now? "Cruise Ship," watch all the people get slap-eyed and silly -- hopefully nobody does a belly flop off the ship.

Anita

[weblet]

Originally posted by Anita Dunham-Potter@Apr 5 2006, 06:20 PM
Hey Weblet,
I am trying to find out more about this one.* Talked to a few people "familiar" with the situation and they say things got really "profane."* I think Carnival ought to sign up for a reality series like Southwest does with "Airline" on the Discovery Channel.* It seems the industry is going the way of the airlines.* Can you see it now?* "Cruise Ship," watch all the people get slap-eyed and silly -- hopefully nobody does a belly flop off the ship.*

Anita
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Well, we'll be waiting to hear! As I think you can see by previous posts, most of us think there's more to the story.... (I mean, really, as JF says, the guy is just back from Iraq and he's afraid for his life???) :mellow:

[deangreenhoe]

Yeah, I'm afraid I'm enjoying this one just a wee bit too much. :P

Sounds like a lot of "media posturing" on the part of the passengers, especially the deal about the formerly deployed to Iraq soldier being afraid for his life in Nassau. I know it's technically a foreign port but honestly, anyone who's spent any time there knows it seems more like a particularly boring section of the Florida coast broke off and floated out to sea. :lol:

I must admit to having a bad attitude about those 3/4 night Bahamas cruises out of south Florida. They tend to attract a much more rowdy and less well traveled crowd with the unrealistic expectation that they are going to get the "luxury cruise" experience for the price they'd pay for a push lawnmower at Sears.

Don't get me wrong...I'm not being elitist. It's a viable vacation product as long as you realistically know what to expect. But I make it quite clear to my clients they are not going to experience the same atmosphere or level of service they would on a traditional 7 night or longer sea cruise. I've done a couple of those Carnival Bahamas cruises on a lark and both times I was quite shocked at the difference. At times it just seems as if the staff throw their hands up in despair when things get a bit out of control.

And it often does seem to feel like you're trapped at a frat party at sea. I have lots of funny stories about my experiences on the short cruises but we'll save those for a more appropriate venue. But they all center around very bad behaviour on the part of the passengers and vain attempts by the crew to remain professional amid the mayhem.

Suffice it to say that after a particularly outrageous 3 night experience on the Ecstasy, the more sedate passengers were actually applauding upon disembarkation as they witnessed a number of the chronic offenders being detained by security (police?) just inside the cruise terminal. (We all recognized them.) In my opinion, Carnival should have 86'd them in the Bahamas as well. B)

[jfrenaye]

I love the lawn mower analogy.......

Why not start a thread on bad travel experiences...it would be a great read....

Hmmm..I wonder if there is anything to the name "Ecstacy"....

[pezmanffx]

I did a 4 nighter on the Fantasy in december. People were drunk by 10 am. Picture this, a very large man in his late 40's with long hair and beird singing the theme song to the titanic to me in the elevator. I'm not sure if it was the length of the cruise or because it was a very inexpensive cruise but I wanted to get off the boat and fly home.

[deangreenhoe]

Hmmm..I wonder if there is anything to the name "Ecstacy"....


Um...yeah. We could start a thread on it but it would have to be rated at least "R." ("X" if only I would have taken photos in the disco.) :rolleyes:

[Jeanie821]

Originally posted by Jason's Storm@Apr 4 2006, 11:01 PM
I'm surprised that it isn't Code Bob.;)

~JS
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Oh, that was bad. :rolleyes: :lol: