Saturday, April 13, 2024

The CDC inspects and scores cruise ships heres what those scores mean

worst cruise ships

Several guests felt that service was underwhelming, especially considering the ship’s aesthetics which many agreed was commendable. The entertainment provided was criticised for its lack of variety and appeal. This ship scored just 2 out of 5 according to TripAdvisor, although reviewers on Cruiseline seemed to quite like it, giving it a 4. One of the more dramatic events shared by a reviewer was a meeting arranged with an English-speaking hospitality representative in response to the multitude of complaints. Whether it’s cold food, cramped cabins, or disorganised excursions, these ships have made waves for all the wrong reasons. Cruising is an industry in constant evolution, striving to meet the demands of modern travelers.

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Maintenance decisions, like servicing coffee machines during peak breakfast hours or washing balconies while guests were enjoying breakfast below, raised eyebrows. Entertainment was a mixed bag, with some praising offerings while others found it lacking. However, several pointed out the subpar service, especially at buffet counters, where staff could sometimes ignore guests or make inappropriate comments in other languages. Many reviewers conveyed strong dissatisfaction with their experience on the Costa Pacifica. Even though the majority of the crew spoke some English, most of the ship’s announcements were in other languages, leading to communication challenges. Another significant pain point was the lack of consistent and efficient service.

Costa Favolosa

Instead, guests will embark and disembark at most ports on the cruise – your first day might be halfway through someone else’s cruise on the ship. The flexibility is good, but it can also make each port visit a little hectic. Costa’s cruises are some of the cheapest available, and that can show with the quality of a cruise holiday onboard, but if you’re on a budget and you know what to expect then you can still have a great time. With a score of 3 out of 5, there are a lot of people who have a great time and an equal number who rate the cruise line very poorly.

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The vast majority of people who book a cruise have an amazing time – it’s the kind of holiday that people just keep coming back to. Many passengers say they paid very little for their cruise but still don’t like it if they consider the quality/price ratio. Along with the food, the drinks system also encountered many complaints. Guests say they had to wait a long time to receive their drinks once they were requested. A major issue for many was the boredom faced when shore excursions were canceled, leaving guests with very few entertainment options.

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Guests also criticised the overall quality of the cabins including very small bathrooms and furnishings that are worn out. Olsen, and those that there are have been accrued over a number of years. But there are a few themes that do stand out, including the food, which some guests found repetitive and a little bland, although there were just as many reviews praising the dining options too. A Norwegian Cruise Line cruise is typically aimed at families and at younger adults, with a lot more amenities for enjoying a day packed with fun. The latest ships even have the only go-kart tracks at sea, while you can expect thrilling water slides, rock climbing walls, bowling and more. The ship’s unusual “drink ticket” system was criticised as confusing, inefficient, and poorly organised.

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See the full results below to find out which companies provide enough room, and which ones pack you in like sardines. VSP's purpose is to train cruise ship employees on public health practices. While Adventure Canada offers unique itineraries focusing on Canadian destinations and the Arctic, it has had mixed reviews compared to the top expedition brands. If you want to really delve into the regions that Pearl Seas Cruises offers, then it’s still worth considering – an average score of 3.7 out of 5 shows that most do have a good time. Most of the negative reviews focus on things outside of the cruise line’s control, including the weather either causing itinerary changes or spoiling excursions for the Northern Lights. The ships are quite old now, but have been carefully refurbished to keep them comfortable.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Triumph

On approaching the bars directly, guests were met with limited drink knowledge and, at times, unwelcoming attitudes. Many Costa Firenze reviews mentioned the food quality, with one cruiser stating that the food was “horrible,” and waiting times to enter restaurants often stretched to 30 or 40 minutes. When it came to dining, choices seemed scarce, especially for vegetarians, vegans, or those with dietary restrictions against pork or seafood. The food quality was repeatedly described as lacklustre in reviews, with the same menu on rotation for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Passengers complain about poor food quality in both the restaurant and the buffet. Many guests have voiced their dissatisfaction about the food on the Costa Fascinosa. Reviewers commented that they often had to ask for everything at meals, including basics like salt and pepper. They also noted that food quality was inconsistent, with even pasta dishes – a staple in Italian cuisine – not meeting expectations. Reviewers pointed out that the entertainment was sparse and repetitive, with limited options for those who wanted to relax in their cabins.

Costa Smeralda

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's worst rated cruise ship. Here's what it was really like. - Royal Caribbean Blog

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's worst rated cruise ship. Here's what it was really like..

Posted: Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The smaller ships provide a more intimate atmosphere, and the line offers luxurious touches without the staggering price tag of ultra-luxury cruises. Oceania Cruises, on the other hand, focuses on culinary excellence and personalized service. Its smaller ships offer a high staff-to-guest ratio, ensuring attention to detail and a tailored cruising experience. Before diving into the rankings, it’s essential to clarify the criteria that form the backbone of this analysis. Amenities, for instance, cover a broad range of factors, from food and beverage options to onboard entertainment and room quality.

As is commonplace on a Costa Cruise, multiple languages were used, leading to lengthy and disruptive interjections throughout the day. Service staff, especially those from the Philippines and India, were often mentioned for their exemplary service. Still, many other aspects of the voyage seemed to mar the overall experience. Drink packages seemed to be an area of contention, with limitations on offerings and the exclusion of bottled water being especially galling for some. This was exacerbated by poor communication about package details and a lack of clarification on additional charges. It was also noted that certain basic amenities like tissues, washcloths, and even sheets on beds were conspicuously absent.

They’re described as a resort at sea – this is more about the onboard party experience than your destinations, though you will at least get to experience at least one port on your cruise. Guests also said that the cruises sometimes felt that the senior crew weren’t organised, and that excursions were missed due to poor management. The buffet is described as overcrowded and even chaotic by some guests, with poor management. This is something I can attest to – as even with no seats available in the buffet, crew members prevented me from taking my food and sitting at one of the hundreds of seats outside.

The sea conditions worsened that night, leading to the ship rolling from side to side, and eventually, an explosion was heard due to a lack of repairs for the waste disposal system. This all led to the ship losing power and water filling its generator room, so the generators were shut down and the ship was led adrift. A distress call was sent and answered by numerous South African helicopters and a Dutch container ship. Shockingly, the captain and many crew members were among the first to be airlifted to shore, leaving the entertainment staff to coordinate the rescue efforts and help passengers to safety. All 571 passengers and crew members were saved by the time the ship sank nose-first into the sea. A cruise can be an oasis of calm in rough waters, but it’s also a petri dish of disease where viruses ricochet from passenger to passenger.

worst cruise ships

Like other systems at the time, the Titanic’s lifeboats were designed to shepherd passengers to nearby rescue ships, not take them to shore. Unfortunately, help was many hours away in the wee hours of April 15 when the boat was going under. The poor crew organization also caused many lifeboats to leave the ship at far less than full capacity.

One cruiser made a poignant observation that if the management treats its employees poorly or overworks them, it inevitably results in a subpar experience for the guests. This sentiment seemed to be echoed by many, with repeated references to the hardworking crew that seemed stretched thin. Despite the ship’s promise of an “Italian influence”, many found it missing, with one traveller remarking that it felt like “basic transportation”. Some stated that the same buffet was offered daily, with few to no hot food options unless one dined at the restaurant, which was reportedly always crowded. The internet plan aboard the ship also came under scrutiny, with many describing it as a scam.

Issues ranged from disorganisation, miscommunication regarding dinner timings and drink packages, and overcrowded buffets. Even on the logistics front, passengers noted challenges with luggage delays, trouble securing tour bookings, and general confusion regarding ship policies and amenities. Guests also recounted issues like overcrowding, with one likening the buffet area to a “rush hour underground.” This resulted in extended waits for almost everything, from drinks to water slides to shows. Lines for basics like restrooms and breakfast were disappointingly long. Additionally, many guests were upset with the general cleanliness and state of the ship. Rooms were cited as not being well-maintained, with one reviewer even finding leftover underwear on their balcony from a previous cruise.

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