I've been tired of the RCL crap for some time. Im a pinnicle level now and so Im invested and pretty much forced to cruise on RCL. Since I started cruising in 1999, things have changed so much. The staff is so incompetent. I've learned to obtain 4 or 5 answers to the same question to get the right answer. The reason is because they like to tell you things that make them look like they know what they're doing when they are clueless. Since tips are automatically deducted now, crew is not as friendly as they once were. Newbees are friendly though. So, I always ask guest services to not charge tips to my seapass. I tip with cash to good service. Kids? RCL is all in on Family cruising now and so you better like lots of noisy kids because parents rarely control their kids. Parents with kids take over the dance floors in the evening and the adult games in the bars. Yes, kids are allowed in the bars. Eating with unsupervised kids is an experience. I would love it if I were a kid - no rules. Look at all the Amusement park stuff on top decks. Don't go during spring and holiday breaks or during the summer. Also, cruises lasting more than 7 days have less kids. RCL is hush hushing C&A benifits, you have to ask for them on board if you want them. They've discontinued top tier amenities and the ship tours and haven't told anyone. You have to ask for upgraded toiletries, robes, cruise compass, free wash & fold bag, ice and arrival drink. Actually, they will tell you that your drink is in the lounge along with your amenity. Have you noticed the absence of C&A priority lines at checkin? Have you ever gotten a free upgrade for C & A members if cabins aren't filled? (lately) Notice how RCL brags about that perk, then 2 weeks before sailing, you get an email asking if you want to bid on an upgrade. Cruising isn't as elegant on RCL as it once was. You have to go to a more expensive cruise line for that. I stick with RCL because Princess and Carninvals loyalty program sucks. Celebrity only matches loyalty tiers to the diamond level. Basically, we've cut our cruising down to 1 special one a year in Europe and one winter cruise. With no expectations. My bill at the end of the cruise is usually $10 or $20 because I never buy anything that RCL sells because since they're ripoffs. I book with 3rd party excursions - they guarantee return on time excursions for less than RCL. Signage is all wrong around the ship. Posted operating hours are incorrect. RCL's complete migration to the horrible app is their goal so that they don't have to deal with customer service. Every use that thing? Im an IT guy and Ill tell you, its bad and unreliable. If a show is full and you try to reserve it doesn't tll you its full. It just doesn't give an option to reserve. The app tells you about half of what the cruise compass used to tell. The other half has been dissected and integrated into the endless pull down vague menus that it utilizes. Anymore, I just use RCL for free food, C&A drinks, board, evening entertainment and transportation from port to port. People look to me for cruising advice because they know I've cruised a lot. I tell them, check around. They are all about the same but RCL is most kid friendly of them all. Remember, Kids Sail Free folks! Ha ha.
I've been tired of the RCL crap for some time. Im a pinnicle level now and so Im invested and pretty much forced to cruise on RCL. Since I started cruising in 1999, things have changed so much. The staff is so incompetent. I've learned to obtain 4 or 5 answers to the same question to get the right answer. The reason is because they like to tell you things that make them look like they know what they're doing when they are clueless. Since tips are automatically deducted now, crew is not as friendly as they once were. Newbees are friendly though. So, I always ask guest services to not charge tips to my seapass. I tip with cash to good service. Kids? RCL is all in on Family cruising now and so you better like lots of noisy kids because parents rarely control their kids. Parents with kids take over the dance floors in the evening and the adult games in the bars. Yes, kids are allowed in the bars. Eating with unsupervised kids is an experience. I would love it if I were a kid - no rules. Look at all the Amusement park stuff on top decks. Don't go during spring and holiday breaks or during the summer. Also, cruises lasting more than 7 days have less kids. RCL is hush hushing C&A benifits, you have to ask for them on board if you want them. They've discontinued top tier amenities and the ship tours and haven't told anyone. You have to ask for upgraded toiletries, robes, cruise compass, free wash & fold bag, ice and arrival drink. Actually, they will tell you that your drink is in the lounge along with your amenity. Have you noticed the absence of C&A priority lines at checkin? Have you ever gotten a free upgrade for C & A members if cabins aren't filled? (lately) Notice how RCL brags about that perk, then 2 weeks before sailing, you get an email asking if you want to bid on an upgrade. Cruising isn't as elegant on RCL as it once was. You have to go to a more expensive cruise line for that. I stick with RCL because Princess and Carninvals loyalty program sucks. Celebrity only matches loyalty tiers to the diamond level. Basically, we've cut our cruising down to 1 special one a year in Europe and one winter cruise. With no expectations. My bill at the end of the cruise is usually $10 or $20 because I never buy anything that RCL sells because since they're ripoffs. I book with 3rd party excursions - they guarantee return on time excursions for less than RCL. Signage is all wrong around the ship. Posted operating hours are incorrect. RCL's complete migration to the horrible app is their goal so that they don't have to deal with customer service. Every use that thing? Im an IT guy and Ill tell you, its bad and unreliable. If a show is full and you try to reserve it doesn't tll you its full. It just doesn't give an option to reserve. The app tells you about half of what the cruise compass used to tell. The other half has been dissected and integrated into the endless pull down vague menus that it utilizes. Anymore, I just use RCL for free food, C&A drinks, board, evening entertainment and transportation from port to port. People look to me for cruising advice because they know I've cruised a lot. I tell them, check around. They are all about the same but RCL is most kid friendly of them all. Remember, Kids Sail Free folks! Ha ha.
