uvadover

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

Also saw a short set with Matt Yee. We'll have to go back

The same Matt Yee my wife and I saw ~11 years ago on Mariner of the Seas on a redirected west coast trip north vs south due to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico?  He did Billy Joel schtick in the Piano Lounge and was absolutely awesome.  Ironically, we were back on RCL on Oasis 12/29 for our first cruise since having kids and missed him.  Would have been amazing to see him again.

We were on the New Years sailing of Oasis, which was absolutely packed to the gills.  That said, while the main shows (Aqua 80, One Sky, Headline Guy, Ice Show, and stupid Cats) all "required" reservations, most had plenty of available seats for walk-ups.  We were typically at the early shows (e.g. 8:30pm starts) and I don't recall anyone verifying that we actually had a reservation, let alone turn people away because there was no space.  The most filled was probably the Ice Show (relatively small venue), followed by Aqua 80.  Still, arriving 10-15 minutes early would almost certainly get you decent seats at any venue.

As I understand it, the adult comedy guys were a hard ticket, but they added a show in the main theater on the last night which had more than enough capacity for everyone to get a chance to see it.

I think they would be fine.

3 hours ago, CP3o said:

It used to be my argument that a cruise ship is better than other crowded holiday vacation venues (Orlando theme parks anyone?). 

Coincidentally, I've now done both the past two years.  The Orlando Theme Park can get extraordinarily busy at the rides (prohibitively so), but there are still plenty of outlets to enjoy on the periphery - e.g. catching parades, visiting different hotels (Animal Kingdom Lodge to see animals), etc.  On sea days on Oasis, it's hard not to spend at least some amount of time on the pool deck, IMO.  And that's where things simply were untenable.  The stalking of deck chairs with no policing, literally wall to wall people in the pools, etc.  I have no basis to compare before or after the drydock, which added rooms, but my experience was such that I can't imagine I'll take another holiday cruise.  

On Oasis last week.  Cabin steward offered to put a pad on top of the couch and making the bed as a small single, OR to expand it by pulling the lower half out and making it as a small double.  The former provides more space to walk around, the latter provides more space to sleep.  Since it was our 10 year old sleeping on the pull out, we opted for the smaller bed/more room setup.  Hope this helps.

22 minutes ago, Mikew0805 said:

Not sure what else I would expect on a popular holiday cruise. I prefer sticking to just after Thanksgiving, or Jan, Feb, and early March.

The difference is clearly between crowded and overcrowded.  And given the additional cabins added, the multiple-time re-categorization of certain cabins, and the typical holiday week surge, it may have been too much after all.  While we generally enjoyed the cruise, things were quite untenable on the pool deck during sea days.  Simple as that.

Forgot to add a MISS.  Cats is apparently still downright awful.  My daughter was very excited to see it, so my wife was kind enough to take her.  They made it about 30 minutes before leaving, along with many others.  Apparently just disjointed songs, no focus at all, and downright weird.  

Started at 6:30 on the 12/29 sailing we just got home from.

All -

Just back from the Oasis 12/29 Western Caribbean sailing and wanted to provide my random list of Hits and Misses that I loosely compiled during the trip.  Most have shared detailed, day-by-day accounts of similar voyages, so these are meant to be a bit more "off the beaten trail" - and in no particular order.  For some perspective, this was probably my 20th or so cruise (across RCCL, Cunard, Princess, and HAL), but first on an Oasis class ship.  I was sailing with my wife and kids, all aged 10 and under.  

HITS

• The boarding process was extremely smooth at the Miami Terminal.  We had The Key, but that was unnecessary (and ultimately useless).  
• The ship was beautiful and amazing - the unique features such as Central Park, the Aqua Theater, the Carousel, etc are truly stunning, especially all on one ship.  People can complain about the aesthetics of the new Abyss Slide, but I thought the new refurbishments fit great with the overall look and feel of the ship.
• The stateroom showers are small, but awesome.  Literally the best water pressure of any shower I can recall on earth - like a literal avalanche of water.  
• The Aqua 80 Show was absolutely tremendous.  Can't overstate how impressive it was.  We went twice, and caught glimpses of a few other performances.
• Strip steaks and minute steaks were great across the ship.  Always well prepared, tasty, etc.
• Chops Grill was exceptional.  We ate their twice, Giovanni's Table once (which was just OK).  Our waiter, Claudio, provided a tremendous experience, and even went out of his way to squeeze us in later in the week.  The Seafood Tower was indulgent and delicious, and I thought the Prime NY Strip was great both nights we ate there.
• Despite all of the words of caution around here about Falmouth, it was a perfectly good cruise port.  Absolutely no more "scary" than any other port in the Caribbean.  Yes, outside the walls you might get hustled to buy crap, but that's basically everywhere in that area.  So stay within the limits of the port, or take an excursion somewhere.  We opted for a day at the Hyatt Ziva resort (about 25 min away) and it was a great day.
• Labadee is a very good day.  In hindsight, our splurge for the Beachfront Cabana at Nellie's Beach was unnecessary, as there was plenty of time/room to get a shady spot and a bunch of beach chairs, instead.  Boat docked at 7am, we went onshore around 930am, and there was still AMPLE room until at least 11am (and still plenty for everyone throughout the day).  We rode the roller coaster twice - a great experience, and just the right amount of speed and control for people of most ages.  
• Cozumel was awesome.  We booked a private jeep excursion through a third party and had a blast.  Yes, there is some of the typical haggling, but some of the most beautiful vistas I've seen anywhere in the world - the view at Punta Sur is simply surreal.
• The new Solarium looks great, though I didn't spend any real time there due to the kids.  I would note that it is STIFLING hot with almost no air flow, even on the at sea day I popped my head in.  
• RCCL blocked off the Solarium for a crew party on New Year's Eve, which I think is awesome.  It shows a willingness to devote a key space to the staff - very well deserved, IMO.  We found nearly every crew member to be extremely friendly and engaging - this is partly a function of how the cruise line treats them, and I was happy to see that seems to be well managed.
• Sorrentos pizza was great, and was typically well stocked with only a modest delay at peak times.  
• Food at Loco Fresh was good, though the condiment bar was a bit sloppy and gross - e.g. there simply isn't an elegant way for buffett-goers to slather on sour cream.
• The food at Port Side BBQ is also good, though the price may not be worth it given the other options onboard.
• We did the Behind the Scenes Tour, which was super cool.  I could have spent all day in the Engine Control Room alone, learning about all of the mechanical and environmental aspects of the ship.  Other spots include the kitchen/galley, laundry, ship refrigerators, the bridge, and all of the crew pathways in between.
• My Time Dining was great.  We had reservations each day ranging from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.  We never waited more than a few minutes for a table, and each of our waiters/assistant waiters were outstanding.  I was slightly nervous about the lack of continuity via the My Time Option, and that was completely unfounded.  Awesome job all around.
• The Splashaway Bay area was great for the kids.  They loved it.  And even though it was crowded, they didn't seem to care.
• FWIW, we stayed at the Hilton Downtown Miami for 2 nights before the cruise.  Perfect spot, and we got magically upgraded to the Presidential Suite - big baller zone!  Biggest room I've ever seen, amazing views, and a cool way to kick things off.  I assured the kids our accommodations wouldn't be this spacious on the cruise (two connecting standard balcony staterooms).  

MISSES

• The Key is virtually useless.  Embarkation would have been the same speed with or without.  Yes, we got one lunch in the MDR, which was fine.  The "preferred seats" at the shows were easy to get anyway - for nearly all shows, there were plenty of seats up until showtime, with primo seats easily available 15 minutes ahead (at which time, they open up The Key seats anyway).  Bottom line, if you think The Key is worth it for internet plus a slight bit of extras, sure go for it.  But it is absolutely no necessary, and hardly a "value"
• We prebooked (and prepaid) a spa appointment on the first at-sea day, just before the first formal dinner.  When we arrived for the service, they said "oops there was an issue and your appointment didn't make it into our system."  They were now full and could only offer a 20% discount to come back midday the next day (when we had a $579 cabana at Labadee).  Obviously no help.  They assured us that it would, at least, be refunded that evening.  It took until the last day of the cruise and several phone calls to resolve - we were ping-ponged between the spa and guest relations, finance and guest relations, and ship vs shore issue, and back again.  It took FAR too long to sort out.
• My son and I got haircuts onboard.  Absolutely awful.  Like embarrassingly bad.  And we both have very boring, short hair that simply needs to be trimmed a bit.  This was a running joke for our family the rest of the cruise.
• The ship was absolutely packed to the gills - expected during a holiday week, but man it was crowded.  This manifested itself worst on the pool deck, where folks were crammed like sardines in the pool.  Worst of all...
• The ship does an absolutely piss poor, awful, wretched job of policing the poaching of deck chairs.  Hours would pass with beach chairs occupied only by a hat, or a random t-shirt, with no regard from the staff.  When questioned, they indicated that there was a guy who did patrol but I simply don't believe it.  We spent hours a day standing around watching out kids in the Splashaway Bay, while countless deck chairs went unused.  This was probably the most frustrating aspect of the cruise.
• While I liked the food at Loco Fresh, the line is absurdly slow.  I don't know if it's the nature of "make your own Mexican food," but the line moved at a snail's pace.  It's also a weird disconnect with Port Side BBQ on the other side, which is almost always half (or more empty) due to the additional cost.  While I would hate to do away with it, it seems it would be far more efficient to devote both sides to El Loco Fresh, if that's the venue passengers prefer more.
• As much as I liked the strip steaks on board, the tenderloins and roasts were poor.  Frankly, I think this primarily has to do with how they are prepared.  As we learned in the Behind the Scenes Tour, items like the MDR beef tenderloin are seared early in the day, then extremely slow roasted for hours before service.  While this reverse sear/sous-vide type preparation can work, it can also lead to tasteless, mealy meats.  I found the filets and prime rib to both be poor, in the MDR and Chops (where I tried my wife's meal).  So my suggestion is to stick with the strips/sirloins, which are more cooked to order.  
• The drinks at the Robot Bar (name already escapes me) are incredibly sweet and syrupy - grossly so.  Since I had the drinks package, I sampled a few - all were terrible.  Folks didn't seem to linger there, either, so I think it's just a novelty where most will sample something and quickly move to a real bar.
• The Video Game Arcade is downright theft.  $2.50-$3.00 per typical arcade game, which might last a minute or two.  This is 2x-3x more than any normal arcade.  They also had some paltry ticket/prize system, yet the redemption machine was broken for the entire cruise.  Granted, you "earn" back pennies on the dollar, but you can't charge premium prices and have the "payout" broken.
• Smoke in the casino.  I only spent an hour or so there, but I simply don't understand how it is still allowed this day and age.  5% of the population smokes, yet 70% of the population transforms into a smoker when a slot machine button is at their fingertips.  The smoke pervades the entire room, and spills out into the entrance to the 4th floor dining room.  I used to smoke, too, but times have changed.  Knock it off, RCL.
• Timing on room service breakfast was absurd.  We ordered in 5 of the 7 days, ordering via the hang tag the night before.  If you asked for 8-830am, the breakfast would arrive at 715am.  OK, let's try 9am...8:05am.  I understand a few minutes variance, but coming nearly an hour early is crazy.  
• There are no power outlets anywhere near the bed.  So anyone who likes a phone or tablet plugged in will need to place it on the desk across the room.
• One of the senior officers (though a young guy) on the bridge during the ship tour was the most arrogant, obnoxious person I've ever met on a ship.  His disdain for the passengers was palpable, basically gloating at the fact that he didn't have to interact with any of them for the next 10 weeks when his current tour expired.  He was like the villain in a D-list movie - just a bizarre experience - on a ship otherwise filled with amazing folks at all levels.   
• Cab line during disembarkation was extremely long - probably took close to an hour to get a cab.  In hindsight, should have gone with an airport transfer, I suppose.  Don't think Uber would have been much help, because they would need to go through the same loop to get to you as the regular cabs.

Overall, we very much enjoyed our experience.  That said, a slight bad taste in our mouth given the crowd levels on the pool deck, which really hampered the 3 days at sea.  Alas, this is the tough part of holiday week cruising - you absolutely pay a premium (for cruise fare, air fare, etc) and it's STILL the most crowded it will be during the year.  Our next cruise is booked for Ovation on 8/7 - a different experience in Alaska for sure.  I am 51% sure we'll follow through on that reservation, though my wife is still unconvinced.  She's more of a land lover than me anyway.

Hope some of these items are helpful and/or interesting.  Glad to share other thoughts as well.  Hope everyone has a happy 2020.

16 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Commenting on grammar and sentence structure is a violation of CC rules

The guidelines say "be tolerant."  And I certainly am.  I'd never even think about posters' grammar unless they were "ranting" about the poor communication ability of a customer service rep.  But I am happily moving on from this thread.  Flying to Miami for Oasis on Sunday!  Booyah!

31 minutes ago, PhoenixCruiser said:

There are many things available and included on some Royal ships that are not available or included on other Royal ships. For those who haven't cruised with Royal for years this all would be confusing.

 

Just ask here

Completely agree.  Tons of complexity to some of the offerings on the many ships of RCCL.  Should the customer service reps know, or at least have access to, ALL the answers?  Perhaps.  But the thought of being a member of this site, calling with a fairly nuanced question (perhaps poorly articulated), then racing back here to "rant or complain"  that "they didn't even understand" is silly.  

7 minutes ago, FireEMT978 said:

Seems legit, to me. Shouldn't customer service be the ones, to answer these questions?

Poster didn't even indicate what answer the rep provided.  Was just focused on an apparent lack of understanding.  

5 hours ago, dlwolf72 said:

This is either a complaint or a rant, but I don’t know which one.

I tried to find out from RC on the telephone, assuming I buy a “Refreshment Package”, whether I can get a milkshake at “Sugar Beach” on Oasis and if I would need to pay the cover charge at “Johnny Rockets” to get one. What was frustrating is getting someone representing RC that I can’t understand and doesn’t understand me. I’m wondering if RC gets there people who answer telephone calls from “Comcast”.

Your post isn't exactly well written, so to demean customer service folks for for lack of understanding seems a bit ironic and unnecessary.  

Merry Christmas, Chris.  Meet you next week aboard Oasis!

On 12/19/2019 at 11:59 PM, queeniev said:

Should I contact my attorney?

Give me a break.  Contact your attorney?  Asinine.

We've changed our plans to take a private Jeep tour on the island.  From what we understand, snorkeling from the shore at Punta Sur is, indeed, still allowed.  El Cielo is definitely closed for the foreseeable future.  Shame, but hopefully improves things for the long term.

8 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

Trust me they are not moving 3500 people to other ships

Definitely not for Christmas and New Years sailings.

@twangster were seas particularly rough today?  we'll be in cozumel in two weeks, so hope it's still in one piece!

Is this just the reef area of El Cielo, or basically the entire water access to the beach?  

1 minute ago, twangster said:

 

I'd rather sail with millennials any day.  Old people have a much greater act of entitlement on ships in my experience.  

OP is FURIOUS!  FURIOUS!  

So the reef area of El Cielo remains closed.  Does that affect the ability for private charters to access the beach?  We splurged on a private excursion and the beach at El Cielo would seemingly be the highlight of the trip.  

23 minutes ago, Ysya said:

Is any one else furious about Royal Caribbean taking away priority boarding for Diamond and Diamond plus members on Liberty of the Seas?

We have been put in the general boarding line instead of our own line like we had back last spring. 

They have given the "Key" passengers access to board with Pinnacle and Suite passengers and put the Diamond and Diamond plus members in general line.

Just one more thing that Royal Caribbean has taken away from us. 

Wise up Royal Caribbean, we have paid more for our ammenities that we have earned than any "Key" cruiser will.

Stop taking our earned ammenities from us.

Maybe we need to bombard Royal Caribbean with complaints.

How long did the boarding process take?

Still a bit confused how you rate "most aspects of the cruise better on Royal," yet you characterize it as "not a good trip."  The typical cynics seem to be piling on about some conspiracy to push specialty dining and/or other upcharges, but many others reporting a typically good experience in the MDR.  I am looking forward to being back on Royal in a few short weeks, and will certainly share my opinion when we get back.

Put me down for a vote that $2 bills are silly.  More likely assumed fake due to their rarity in circulation.  Just make things easy on the staff.  Tip in USD, the universally accepted currency (and the onboard currency).

At some point, isn't the value of your time worth more than a modest savings on a dining experience in the context of a cruise that can cost a few thousand dollars?  I appreciate that folks enjoy the endless banter around here, and everyone enjoys the "thrill of the hunt" for a good deal, but ultimately you need to take the plunge and decide whether a $40 experience is worth it to you, yet the same experience at $50 is not.  Obviously there are limits to how much we will all pay for things, but these are quite small in the grand scheme of things.  Same applies to the endless questions about saving a few bucks a day on a drinks package -  $18 per day is a tremendous deal, but does $58 vs $60 really make that much of a difference?