Top Notch Customer Service
It’s been a tough go for the cruise industry. Eighteen
months ago, the industry basically shut down. Many of us have endured multiple
cruise cancellations and have stories, tinged with frustration of being kept
apart from our favorite activity on the face of the earth. It’s taken quite a
lot of effort to get cruise ships back in the water, so to speak. We all have
battle scars; passengers, employees, crew members and stockholders. Not
everyone is handling this rocky restart with grace and patience and I am
certain that some cruise line employees are bearing the brunt of people’s
frustrations. Then there are those out there who are rooting against the
cruise restart, altogether. I don’t
understand those folks but evidently, they exist.
In the eighteen or so months since this all began; we have
gone through three different cruise consultants with Norwegian Cruise Lines. I
don’t know what happened to the three consultants who helped us through our
cancellations and rebooking, but I am hoping they are all doing well. Today,
minutes after I asked the Great Google how many days were left until November
21st, our next Norwegian cruise, my phone rang. I looked down at my
phone and the Caller ID read Norwegian Cruise Lines. Coincidence? Sure, if you
believe in such things.
Today’s caller was my new cruise consultant from NCL, Ashle
(no, I didn’t misspell it, that is how she spells it). She called to see
if I had any questions about our November cruise or the one booked next summer.
She wanted to make sure I had a way to reach her if I did have any
questions in the next few weeks. She was absolutely delightful. I did have a
couple of questions and wanted to verify how the flights into Miami would work.
She answered all my questions with a professionalism that is often lacking in
today’s customer service agents. She made sure that I was familiar with the
current protocols, reminding me that everything is still a little fluid. We are
vaccinated and aren’t planning on bringing any children on this trip so we are
good for the moment. Since we have to get tested for the cruise we are taking
this weekend, I figure we will be old hats at the whole testing thing if the
need arises in November.
With all the confusion and changing protocols the industry
is experiencing at the moment, it sure made Norwegian shine like the sun that I
got a personal call to make sure I was set for our next NCL cruise. I just
wanted to take a moment to show some appreciation to all the cruise line staff
and crew who are doing the best they can.
It reminded me why I love Norwegian.
See you shipside!
