OburgOrange

Is it best to park at the port or are there other alternatives? Any suggestions?

RC has definitely declined in food quality, service, and choice. I loved OSheehans on NCL.

RCI is not what it once was. I’ve been on 8 cruises with RCI. Went on FOS in January ( third time) and I was very disappointed. Cold food and poor service in the MDR. Same offerings in the windjammer day after day. Other issues as well. Time to venture out

Earlier in our cruise careers we would use rum runners, never got caught. At the time we were cruising with our kids, we took them with us everywhere when we went on vacation. So, we were trying to save some money. Now, there is just the 2 of us. We always buy the drink package and forgo the rum runners. Actually, we just got off Fredom last month and never touched the 2 bottles of wine we brought.Much easier and more relaxing. Saying all this, to each their own.

We are just off the Freedom last Saturday and we along with all at our table were disappointed with the main dining room. At our table were gold members, diamond plus and we are platinum.

We did not see a dedicated drink person at the beginning, or end of meals. Bread is no longer served by the assistant. Our waiter never bothered to learn our names. Coffee wasn't offered at the end of the meal and due to the new menus the resetting before desert was gone. In a nutshell all the formalities and extras that made the main dining room special have pretty much been scrapped. What wasn't scrapped was the photo people trying to take pictures. The food was about the same but was just quickly served as the waiter ran to serve the next table

Actually we found the service in the windjammer to be friendlier with staff removing plates, asking if more drinks or coffee was needed or handing out cookies.

I hope this isn't fleet wide as we have rhapsody booked next January.

This review perfectly sums it up for us as well. My wife actually said to me, why are there people walking around in the windjammer with trays of water, juice etc, but you can’t get a drink at dinner in the MDR!.? Sad

More wait staff

Hotter food

Dedicated bar service

I jumped in the middle of this thread. Did u post any pics of your cabin?

The Jan.14th sailing was the worst I have experienced on Freedom. It is not the norm. I really like that ship.

 

I think the norovirus issues have thrown them off their game. Of course that's speculation on my part. They don't communicate when there is a problem. The delay with opening the Windjammer the first day set the tone for a lot of passengers, starting off with a negative impression. RCCL should immediately communicate to let people know what is going on. That is my biggest complaint.

 

I still had a great cruise, but have had better on this ship.

Sandy

I was on that cruise. I agree with you. I’ve been on FOS 3 times. This was the worst.

There is a website that will compete for your cruise business. You put in what date, cabin, cruiseline and ship and then watch the quotes come back.

 

I love it

What’s the name of the website?

Monica was at Solarium, late morning early afternoon. Concierge lounge in the evening. Then in On Air 10:30 to close.

The only 3 bars I wasn’t at :p

I just got off FOS last week. The smoke was oppressive in the casino. We couldn’t go in it. Not only that, it wafted up the stairway to the Promenade. We could smell it sitting at the British pub in the outside section. It was pretty bad

We are also just off Freedom, 14th-20th. Yes, on embarkation day the food situation was odd. Cafe Promenade only had desserts (no sandwiches). the line for the Windjammer was out the door....passed the elevators and out on too the pool deck. Which in turn made the line for Sorrento's extremely long also.

 

We had real early My time dining everyday (5:45), never an issue with service.

 

We have good friend (bartender) who was working this sailing. It was actually the last one of her contract, that is why we picked it. She told us that this was the last sailing of 140 crew members contracts, and in 2 months that 90% of the bar staff would be different from the last day of this sailing.

 

Over all we found the staff extremely pleasant and enthusiastic. We participated in the Search For Nations Scavenger Hunt. 5 days long and had to find crew members form as many countries on board as possible. Everyone encountered, greeted us with a smile, looked over or sheet, signed if the could, and gave possible leads to where we could find some of the more elusive countries. Point being, we spoke to/interacted with a "boat load" of staff.

What Bar did she work at?

I am currently on FOS. There is a noticeable lack of service, especially in the MDR. Very slow and a lack of staff. Food has also gone downhill. Windjammer is fine, but unremarkable with the choices offered. This is my third cruise on FOS. It is a great ship, but a lot of things have changed

I’m assuming the ship has an ATM and that you can make change at the customer service desk on board , or whatever it is called?

Well we will be away 8 nights. We will consider it. U can get glazed of water at meals anytime I think. We usually order large bottles of water to our room

Yup. Everybody’s situation is different. Enjoy your cruise

Its $45 a day which we both have to buy. it would total $ 850.00 . would we really spend that much on drinks all week? They really get you on the drink deal. Actually it's not a deal at all.

We are on a 6 day cruise. It adds up. We will each drink about 4 bottles of water, or more per day (25$).Two glasses of wine each at dinner (40$). 6-7 other various drinks during the day and evening. So for us, it’s worth it

We sail next week. Just 10 minutes ago my wife got an email saying the drink package is offered for 45$/day. We paid 48 2 weeks ago. She is canceling it and buying today’s email deal.

Port Everglades has a great/easy to use app in the app store that lists all ships within 30 days of sailing/docking, Also the arriving dock will be on listed on the last Compass but will also be on the app. You cannot use/enter data on the Mobile Passport CBP app until the morning of arrival (4 hour window after you certify I-94). It works great at PEG (Port Everglades); there is a dedicated Mobile Passport line at CBP area. We did self assist on 12/21/17 and walked off ship and was through Customs in less than 10 minutes from our cabin door.

Thanks!

Check this in about 10 days:

https://pevvesseltraffic.broward.org/webx/

Thanks

It can vary, what date?

Returns 1/20

It can vary, what date?

We are sailing 1/14

i want to set up my mobile passport app and I need the terminal number.

They are given to the folks assigned to serve you. Your cabin attendant, waiters, ass't waiters and head waiter are the main recipients. Bartenders are tipped either "per drink" or "per package" depending if you're buying "a la carte" or if you bought a package.

 

No worries...they don't GET the tips until the cruise is over, so service doesn't suffer.

Thanks for a civil response.

Thank you. You may find this thread interesting. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2576205

So you edited your response to me. Way to save face

Welcome to CC. I don't and I don't concern myself with who gets what and how much. :rolleyes:

Sorry I asked. Just curious. New to CC. Guess I’ll keep to myself. Have a nice day.