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When you are given lemons, you can have a sour puss or make lemonade.

I was on a tour in Greece many years ago. The farmers went on strike, and blocked the main roads. We took an alternate route through some scary mountain roads. Our tour bus was followed by three busloads of Italians trying to get to Athens to see Italy play Germany in the world cup. If we didn't get to Corinth in time for the last ferry, they would miss the game. When we got to the bottom of the mountain, there were another group of farmers blocking the road. The Italians, 150 of them, got off the bus and literally picked up the tractor blocking the road and threw it on its side. An unexpected, but great memory.

I really can't believe that any time on a curise ship could be that bad. Yes,you expect perfection. But seriously, nobody wants to hear about a perfect cruise. They will have memories for a lifetime.

Good that they (passengers) tried to make the best of a bad luck situation. But the bottom line is that they were not delivered what was contracted for. You generally don’t want to pay that kind of money for a trip that ended up being a case of “roughing it” when it was not sold as such. Sure accidents and bad luck happens, and the vendor has to make reasonable efforts to make things right. I guess that’s where the disagreements will center, can they make up for what many would consider a lousy trip. Having been in that spot myself (with airlines, not ships), it will depend on how that effort is perceived.

Big difference between what you experienced and what is looking like a lack of maintenance of a ship... which the passengers were captive to. In a land tour you can pretty much bail on the tour if they are not living up to expectations. On a ship you are captive to what they provide you.

Yep.

We were on Moorea in 2000 when the entire island went on strike. Our package was w/Sofitel (not the greatest, especially considering all the French management and French workers on a subsidized vacation)and the only hotel on the island that was not struck was the American Sheraton. It seems those Americans treated their workers well.

There was no service and no hot food at the French resort during the strike. All communication was by fax to France. Not one person in management was forthcoming with anything, mainly because the time difference meant they had zero guidance from HQ.

The Americans were having a party at the pool and sharing whatever food and drink we had in our rooms, the best of it courtesy of a newly-wed couple who had gratis fruit and champagne and juice. The French were pissed and continued to ignore anyone who wasn’t French. The Germans packed their bags and sat like overdressed robots in the heat while we all waited for the bus transfer to the Sheraton.

The Sheraton was far superior to the Sofitel. We were not charged extra for a considerable upgrade in amenities. To make it even better, the Sheraton was on the site we had loved back in 1975 when we first visited Moorea.

An adventure that ended well.